US3916834A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fish husbandry system
Assignee: Marine Protein Corp
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Filing: 1974-01-10
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1994-01-10
Abstract
Abstract A fish husbandry system which provides for intensive raising of fish under controlled conditions. The fish are confined in one or more upright, water-filled tanks through which water is conducted in serial flow by conduits. Oxygen is introduced into the water by suitable means to provide a desired oxygen level. The flow of water within each tank is from the bottom to the top at a sufficient upward laminar flow rate so that fish waste products are carried upwardly and out of the tank and also so that the head of water within the tank assists solution of the oxygen and maintenance of the desired oxygen level in the water. Waste products, solid and dissolved, are removed from the water as it passes from one tank to the next.
Inventors
- 👤 Keen W Buss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:08
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K61/00; A01K61/10; A01K63/00; A01K63/04; A01K63/042; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/80; Y02A40/81; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/75
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of rearing fish at high density in a controlled environment, characterized by the steps of confining the fish during their period of growth in at least one vertically extending space the ratio of height to width of which is about 3 to 1 and which contains a body of water at or near oxygen saturation level, continuously supplying water at or near oxygen saturation level to the bottom of said space, and continuously overflowing used water at the top of said space, the flow of water through the space being a quiescent substantially unidirectional upward laminar flow of about 1 foot per minute.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of rearing fish at high density in a controlled environment, characterized by the steps of confining the fish during their period of growth in at least one vertically extending space the ratio of height to width of which is about 3 to 1 and which contains a body of water at or near oxygen saturation level, continuously supplying water at or near oxygen saturation level to the bottom of said space, and continuously overflowing used water at the top of said space, the flow of water through the space being a quiescent substantially unidirectional upward laminar flow of about 1 foot per minute.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
In the method of claim 1, said density being in excess of about 6 pounds of fish per cubic foot of water containing space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
In the method of claim 1, the relationship of the quantity of fish to the flow rate of water being up to about 50 pounds of fish for each gallon per minute flow of water through said space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 including the step of oxygenating said water prior to its upward passage through said space.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for growing fish under controlled environmental conditions, which comprises, providing at least one substantially vertical growth zone whose ratio of height to longest cross-sectional dimension is at least 3:1, moving a body of water continually upward in said zone by continually introducing water under pressure into the bottom of said zone, introducing a predetermined amount of substantially uniform sized fish to be grown into said growth zone, continually dissolving oxygen in said water from oxygen-containing gas introduced into the lower portion of said zone, regulating the rate of introduction of water into said zone so that water continually flowing therethrough is removed at an upper portion of the zone at a rate of approximately 1 foot per minute, periodically introducing fish feed into said growth zone, continually collecting fish offal from the flowing water at the top of said zone and removing the collected fish offal, continuing the introduction of water, oxygen-containing gas and feed until the desired fish growth is reached; and removing fish of increased size from the growth zone.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for growing fish under controlled environmental conditions, which comprises, providing at least one substantially vertical growth zone whose ratio of height to longest cross-sectional dimension is at least 3:1, moving a body of water continually upward in said zone by continually introducing water under pressure into the bottom of said zone, introducing a predetermined amount of substantially uniform sized fish to be grown into said growth zone, continually dissolving oxygen in said water from oxygen-containing gas introduced into the lower portion of said zone, regulating the rate of introduction of water into said zone so that water continually flowing therethrough is removed at an upper portion of the zone at a rate of approximately 1 foot per minute, periodically introducing fish feed into said growth zone, continually collecting fish offal from the flowing water at the top of said zone and removing the collected fish offal, continuing the introduction of water, oxygen-containing gas and feed until the desired fish growth is reached; and removing fish of increased size from the growth zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 5 in which ratio of height to cross-sectional dimension of the growth zone is approximately 3:
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 5 in which the conditions of growth medium simulate those found in the natural habitat of the fish species undergoing growth.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of intensive fish farming in a controllEd environment comprising the steps of confining the fish during their period of growth in at least one vertically extending space containing a body of water at about oxygen saturation level, conducting water through said space from bottom to top in a substantially uniform upward direction across the width of said space at a velocity of at least one foot per minute and removing the overflow of water containing waste matter peripherally at the top of said space, said space being generally cylindrical and having a vertical height to diameter relationship defined by the formula:
Claim 11
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of intensive fish farming in a controllEd environment comprising the steps of confining the fish during their period of growth in at least one vertically extending space containing a body of water at about oxygen saturation level, conducting water through said space from bottom to top in a substantially uniform upward direction across the width of said space at a velocity of at least one foot per minute and removing the overflow of water containing waste matter peripherally at the top of said space, said space being generally cylindrical and having a vertical height to diameter relationship defined by the formula:
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein F from about 10 to about 20 G from about 330 to about 1800 X at least about 6
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein F 13 X 8.5 G about 500
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) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |