US4559902A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for holding and cultivating aquatic crustaceans
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-05-24
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Granted: 1985-12-24
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Expires: 2004-05-24
Abstract
Abstract There is described a method and apparatus for holding and cultivating aquatic crustaceans and like shellfish. The apparatus comprises a well for holding water, a plurality of buoyant trays each sub-divided into a plurality of compartments sized to house a crustacean and having a perforated bottom, the trays being adapted for submersion within the well to form a column of trays whereby the weight of one tray maintains the trays beneath it in a submerged condition. The apparatus further includes an airlift to simultaneously lift water from the vicinity of the bottom of the well for recirculation to the top of the well and to aerate the water as it is being lifted. There is further included an outlet to introduce a supply of fresh extraneous water to the top of the well and to drain water from the bottom of the well in amounts corresponding substantially to that added to the top of the well.
Inventors
- 👤 Edgar G. Mason
- 👤 Harold Clark
- 👤 James A. Forsythe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:48
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/04; A01K63/042; A01K61/00; A01K61/50; A01K61/59; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/80; Y02A40/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for holding and cultivating shellfish and the like comprising: a well having an open top and a closed bottom for holding water; a plurality of buoyant trays each subdivided into a plurality of compartments sized to house a shellfish and having a perforated bottom, said trays being adapted for submersion within the well to form a column of trays; means to maintain said column of trays in a submerged condition; means to draw water from the vicinity of the bottom of said well and to lift and aerate the same for recirculation to the top of the well; means to introduce a supply of fresh treated water to the top of the well; and drain means to drain water from the bottom of said well.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for holding and cultivating shellfish and the like comprising: a well having an open top and a closed bottom for holding water; a plurality of buoyant trays each subdivided into a plurality of compartments sized to house a shellfish and having a perforated bottom, said trays being adapted for submersion within the well to form a column of trays; means to maintain said column of trays in a submerged condition; means to draw water from the vicinity of the bottom of said well and to lift and aerate the same for recirculation to the top of the well; means to introduce a supply of fresh treated water to the top of the well; and drain means to drain water from the bottom of said well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said wells are positioned adjacent one another to form a row of wells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to maintain said column of trays in a submerged condition include retaining means having perforations formed therein, said retaining means being fitted to the top of the well to overlie said column of trays and maintain the same in a submerged condition, said fresh treated and recirculated water being discharged onto said retaining means for even distribution to the well through said perforations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the surfaces of the well at said bottom thereof taper inwardly and downwardly to form, when seen in elevation, a substantially V-shaped base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means to draw water comprise conduit means having an intake end thereof disposed within said V-shaped base to draw in water and an outlet end arranged to discharge the water into said top of the well, and blower means for injecting air into said conduit means to cause air lifting of the water to said top of the well and to aerate the same prior to the discharge thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further including a shield member disposed about said intake end of said conduit means to inhibit entry of particulate matter thereinto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further including means for introducing ozone in predetermined amounts to said fresh water to oxidize particulates and contaminants therein prior to discharge of said fresh water into said top of the well.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further including means for removing particulates and contaminants from the water drained from said bottom of the well and reservoir means to store the water from which said particulates and contaminants have been removed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said reservoir means is the source of said fresh treated water added to said top of the well.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means to remove said particulates and contaminants include at least one settling tank for removing relatively large particles and at least one filter means for removing remaining particulates and contaminants.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means to remove said particulates and contaminants further includes means for introducing ozone in predetermined amounts to said water drained from said bottom of the well for oxidation of said particulates and contaminants.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said drain means include a drain located at the bottom of said base and conduit means also in fluid communication with the bottom of said well and arranged hydrostatically to continuously maintain the water in said well at a predetermined level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said conduit means comprise a vertically arranged pipe communicating at its lower end with the water in said base and including at its upper end a downwardly turned portion adapted for connection to a second drain, the height of said upper end corresponding to said predetermined level of water in the well.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said drain located at the bottom of said base includes a valve which when opened permits rapid flushing of water from said well into a third drain for the purpose of carrying away accumulated particulates and contaminants.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein water drained into said second or third drains may be either purified and recycled into said well via said reservoir means or disposed of as waste.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further including a water supply line for the flow of fresh treated water between said reservoir means and said well.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the inwardly tapering surfaces of said V-shaped base are sloped at an angle in the range of 45° to 70° from the horizontal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the inwardly tapering surfaces of said V-shaped base are sloped at an angle of substantially 60° from the horizontal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the rate of injection of air into said air lift conduit means is controlled by a valve member to control the rate of lifting of water to said top of the well.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein a plurality of said wells are positioned adjacent one another to form a row of wells.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for holding and cultivating marine shellfish and like organisms including the steps of holding water in a well; housing a single shellfish in a compartment a plurality of which are formed in a buoyant tray and submerging a plurality of said buoyant trays within said well to form a column of trays; maintaining said column of trays in a submerged condition within said well; drawing water from the vicinity of the bottom of said well and recirculating the same for discharge to the top of said well; aerating said recirculated water prior to the discharge thereof; adding a supply of fresh treated water to the top of said well, the volume of said fresh treated water being substantially less than the volume of said recirculated water; draining water from the bottom of said well in amounts corresponding substantially to the amounts of said fresh treated water added to the top thereof; and intermittently draining larger amounts of water from the well to flush away accumulated particulates and contaminants.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for holding and cultivating marine shellfish and like organisms including the steps of holding water in a well; housing a single shellfish in a compartment a plurality of which are formed in a buoyant tray and submerging a plurality of said buoyant trays within said well to form a column of trays; maintaining said column of trays in a submerged condition within said well; drawing water from the vicinity of the bottom of said well and recirculating the same for discharge to the top of said well; aerating said recirculated water prior to the discharge thereof; adding a supply of fresh treated water to the top of said well, the volume of said fresh treated water being substantially less than the volume of said recirculated water; draining water from the bottom of said well in amounts corresponding substantially to the amounts of said fresh treated water added to the top thereof; and intermittently draining larger amounts of water from the well to flush away accumulated particulates and contaminants.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said column of trays is maintained in a submerged condition by means of perforated retaining means affixed to the top of the well to overlie said column.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22 wherein water drained from said well is purified and recirculated to said well or disposed of as waste.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said water drained from said well is purified at least in part by adding ozone thereto in predetermined amounts to oxidize particulates and contaminants in said water.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-23 | 1989-06-24 | 1989-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-23 | 1993-06-24 | 1993-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-23 | 1997-06-24 | 1997-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |