US3777388A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shrimp fishing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-10-03
•
Granted: 1973-12-11
•
Expires: 1992-10-03
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for daylight shrimp fishing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of Otter trawls each having an electrode array and a pulse circuit. Each pulse circuit includes a capacitor which is discharged by a reversal of current to the capacitor which fires an SCR. A control unit located on the boat effects the discharging of the respective capacitors in a predetermined sequence to equalize the load on an alternating current generator. The electrode array has a plurality of electrodes which trail behind a bus extending between the trawl doors at a distance above the bottom. The electrodes are weighted to slide along the bottom and have an insulating material disposed above the conductor so that the electric current pulses are directed into the bottom rather than being dissipated upwardly into the water. The design of the bus and the electrode array is such as to insure uniform current density over the array.
Inventors
- 👤 J Newman
- 👤 M Hawthorne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:00
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K80/00; A01K73/00; A01K73/02; A01K79/00; A01K79/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
The electrical trawling system which comprises: a boat; an alternating current generator carried by the boat; a plurality of trawl nets each pulled by a tow cable from the boat, each trawl net having an electrode array including at least two electrodes; a pulse circuit connected to each trawl net having a capacitor and circuit means for charging the capacitor and for selectively discharging the capacitor across said at least two electrodes when triggered from the boat; and control circuit means on the boat electrically connecting the generator to each of the pulse circuits for charging the capacitors of the respective pulse circuits and for triggering the respective pulse circuits in a predetermined sequence to average the load on the generator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
The electrical trawling system which comprises: a boat; an alternating current generator carried by the boat; a plurality of trawl nets each pulled by a tow cable from the boat, each trawl net having an electrode array including at least two electrodes; a pulse circuit connected to each trawl net having a capacitor and circuit means for charging the capacitor and for selectively discharging the capacitor across said at least two electrodes when triggered from the boat; and control circuit means on the boat electrically connecting the generator to each of the pulse circuits for charging the capacitors of the respective pulse circuits and for triggering the respective pulse circuits in a predetermined sequence to average the load on the generator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each pulse circuit comprises: a first terminal; a capacitor connected between the first terminal and one of the electrodes for storing a charge as a result of current of one polarity applied at the first terminal; a gate controlled rectifier connecting the capacitor to the other electrode for discharging the charge stored on the capacitor across the electrodes when turned on; and gate circuit means responsive to current of the other polarity from the capacitor to the output terminal for turning the gate controlled rectifier on before the capacitor has discharged whereby the charge on the capacitor will be largely dissipated through the gate controlled rectifier means and across the electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the gate circuit means is inductively coupled to the circuit between the capacitor and the input terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the control circuit means includes: rectifier means connecting the generator to the first terminals of the respective pulse circuits for charging the capacitor with current of said one polarity, and switching means for selectively discharging, in the predetermined sequence, the respective capacitors by bypassing the rectifier means to produce the current of said other polarity and thereby trigger the gate controlled rectifier means of the respective pulse generator on.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the switching means starts the discharge of the respective capacitors during the portion of the generator cycle when no current is being supplied to charge the capacitors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the switching means connects the input terminals of the respective pulse generator means to the generator during the portion of the generator cycle that has an opposite potential to the charge on the respective capacitors whereby the respective gate controlled rectifier device will be back biased and turned off after the respective capacitor has been discharged.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the input terminal of each pulse circuit is connected to the generator by an insulated electrical conductor extending from the boat to the pulse circuit and said one electrode is electrically connected to the tow cable which is an electrical conductor and is grounded to the boat and water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit means comprises: a counter for counting the cycles of the generator through a reset cycle having a reset rate of from about 3 cycles to about 7 cycles per second, decoder means for detecting a different count of the counter during each reset cycle for each pulse circuit, and means for triggering the respective pulse circuits upon the detection of the respective different counts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
The electric trawling system which comprises: a boat; a source of electrical power carried by the boat; a trawl net pulled by a tow cable from the boat including an electrode array having aT least one electrode, a pulse circuit connected to the trawl net having a capacitor and circuit means for charging the capacitor and for discharging the capacitor to the electrode when triggered from the boat, and control circuit means on the boat electrically connecting the source of electrical power to the pulse circuit for charging the capacitor and for triggering the pulse circuit at a rate controlled from the boat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
The electric trawling system which comprises: a boat; a source of electrical power carried by the boat; a trawl net pulled by a tow cable from the boat including an electrode array having aT least one electrode, a pulse circuit connected to the trawl net having a capacitor and circuit means for charging the capacitor and for discharging the capacitor to the electrode when triggered from the boat, and control circuit means on the boat electrically connecting the source of electrical power to the pulse circuit for charging the capacitor and for triggering the pulse circuit at a rate controlled from the boat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
In an electric fishing apparatus, the combination of: a source of electrical power, a trawl net, an electrically conductive noninsulated tow cable for pulling the trawl net through the water, the tow cable being electrically connected to one terminal of the source of electrical power, at least two electrodes associated with the trawl net, one of the electrodes being electrically connected to the tow cable, a pulse generator associated with the trawl net and connected to supply electrical pulses to another of the electrodes, and a single insulated electrical conductor electrically connecting the other terminal of the source of electrical power to the pulse generator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
In an electric fishing apparatus, the combination of: a source of electrical power, a trawl net, an electrically conductive noninsulated tow cable for pulling the trawl net through the water, the tow cable being electrically connected to one terminal of the source of electrical power, at least two electrodes associated with the trawl net, one of the electrodes being electrically connected to the tow cable, a pulse generator associated with the trawl net and connected to supply electrical pulses to another of the electrodes, and a single insulated electrical conductor electrically connecting the other terminal of the source of electrical power to the pulse generator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
A trawl net comprising, a pair of Otter doors, a trawl connected to the Otter doors by a headrope and a footrope, a bus wire connected to the Otter doors and extending therebetween having at least two electrical conductors, and a plurality of electrodes connected at one end to the bus wire with the other ends trailing free, at least a portion of the electrodes comprising an elongated electrical conductor with an insulating strip wider than the conductor disposed above the conductor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
A trawl net comprising, a pair of Otter doors, a trawl connected to the Otter doors by a headrope and a footrope, a bus wire connected to the Otter doors and extending therebetween having at least two electrical conductors, and a plurality of electrodes connected at one end to the bus wire with the other ends trailing free, at least a portion of the electrodes comprising an elongated electrical conductor with an insulating strip wider than the conductor disposed above the conductor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The trawl net of claim 11 wherein the electrical conductor is a flat cable comprised of a plurality of individual wires connected to a flat insulating strip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
A trawl net comprising: a pair of Otter doors, a trawl connected to the Otter doors by a headrope and a footrope, a bus wire connected to the Otter doors and extending therebetween having at least two electrical conductors, and a plurality of electrical conductors connected at one end to the bus wire with the other ends trailing free, the conductors being partially insulated such as to leave electrodes exposed to the water only at staggered intervals whereby a potential applied to adjacent conductors will result in current flowing diagonally of the conductors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
93 words
A trawl net comprising: a pair of Otter doors, a trawl connected to the Otter doors by a headrope and a footrope, a bus wire connected to the Otter doors and extending therebetween having at least two electrical conductors, and a plurality of electrical conductors connected at one end to the bus wire with the other ends trailing free, the conductors being partially insulated such as to leave electrodes exposed to the water only at staggered intervals whereby a potential applied to adjacent conductors will result in current flowing diagonally of the conductors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a fishing apparatus having a pair of Otter doors and a trawl net connected to the Otter doors by a headrope and a footrope, the improvement comprising: an electric pulse generator mounted on one Otter door having a pair of output terminals, a first wire connected to one of the terminals and extending toward the other Otter door, a second wire connected to the other terminal having a first reach extending substantially to the other Otter door and a second reach returning at least a portion of the way, the first reach being substantially electrically insulated, and electrode means connected to the first wire and to the second reach of the second wire for producing an electrical field in the water adjacent the trawl.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a fishing apparatus having a pair of Otter doors and a trawl net connected to the Otter doors by a headrope and a footrope, the improvement comprising: an electric pulse generator mounted on one Otter door having a pair of output terminals, a first wire connected to one of the terminals and extending toward the other Otter door, a second wire connected to the other terminal having a first reach extending substantially to the other Otter door and a second reach returning at least a portion of the way, the first reach being substantially electrically insulated, and electrode means connected to the first wire and to the second reach of the second wire for producing an electrical field in the water adjacent the trawl.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
In an electrical fishing apparatus, the improvement comprising at least two electrodes extending in generally parallel relationship and insulation means on at least a portion of the electrodes substantially reducing the exposed surface area of the electrode over a substantial length of the portion of the electrode which dissipates current into the water for controlling the electric field produced in the water by a potential applied to the electrodes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
69 words
In an electrical fishing apparatus, the improvement comprising at least two electrodes extending in generally parallel relationship and insulation means on at least a portion of the electrodes substantially reducing the exposed surface area of the electrode over a substantial length of the portion of the electrode which dissipates current into the water for controlling the electric field produced in the water by a potential applied to the electrodes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement of claim 15 wherein the electrodes are exposed to the water only at staggered intervals to produce an electric field that is polarized diagonally of the electrodes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
146 words
An electrical fishing apparatus comprising: a pair of Otter doors, a bus wire connected to the Otter doors and extending therebetween having at least two electrIcal conductors, a plurality of electrodes connected at one end to the bus wire with the other ends trailing free, a source of electrical pulses connected to one of the Otter doors and having a pair of electrical output terminals, one of the conductors of the bus being connected to one of the output terminals and extending from the source toward the other door, the other of the conductors of the bus being connected to the other of the output terminals and extending from the source toward the other door and returning, and one group of the electrodes being electrically connected to said one conductor and another group of the electrodes being electrically connected to the return of the other conductor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
146 words
An electrical fishing apparatus comprising: a pair of Otter doors, a bus wire connected to the Otter doors and extending therebetween having at least two electrIcal conductors, a plurality of electrodes connected at one end to the bus wire with the other ends trailing free, a source of electrical pulses connected to one of the Otter doors and having a pair of electrical output terminals, one of the conductors of the bus being connected to one of the output terminals and extending from the source toward the other door, the other of the conductors of the bus being connected to the other of the output terminals and extending from the source toward the other door and returning, and one group of the electrodes being electrically connected to said one conductor and another group of the electrodes being electrically connected to the return of the other conductor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electrical fishing apparatus comprising: a pair of Otter doors, a bus wire connected to the Otter doors and extending therebetween having at least two electrical conductors, a plurality of electrodes connected at one end to the bus wire with the other ends trailing free, a source of electrical pulses connected to each of the Otter doors, each source having a pair of electrical output terminals, each conductor of the bus being electrically connected to one terminal of each source, and one group of the electrodes being electrically connected to one of the conductors and another group of the electrodes being electrically connected to the other conductor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electrical fishing apparatus comprising: a pair of Otter doors, a bus wire connected to the Otter doors and extending therebetween having at least two electrical conductors, a plurality of electrodes connected at one end to the bus wire with the other ends trailing free, a source of electrical pulses connected to each of the Otter doors, each source having a pair of electrical output terminals, each conductor of the bus being electrically connected to one terminal of each source, and one group of the electrodes being electrically connected to one of the conductors and another group of the electrodes being electrically connected to the other conductor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
57 words
The electric fishing apparatus comprising the combination of: an electrical conductor, an electrical insulator disposed on one side of the conductor for increasing the current flowing away from the insulator, and means for maintaining the insulator in a predetermined relationship to the conductor as the two are moved through water directing the current in a predetermined manner.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
57 words
The electric fishing apparatus comprising the combination of: an electrical conductor, an electrical insulator disposed on one side of the conductor for increasing the current flowing away from the insulator, and means for maintaining the insulator in a predetermined relationship to the conductor as the two are moved through water directing the current in a predetermined manner.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 19 wherein the insulator is maintained above the conductor as the two are moved through the water near the bottom for increasing the current directed into the bottom.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 19 wherein the conductor is a flat cable of braided wires and the cable is fixed to one surface of a flat strip of insulating material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |