Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a container for the
storage or transportation of live lobsters.
Lobsters are usually transported by air, which
is exceedingly expensive.
The object of this invention is to provide a
facility for maintaining lobsters alive for extended
periods of time to permit transportation by sea or land
or, if desired, to provide a storage pound.
In accordance with this invention a container
is provided for the storage or transportation of live
lobsters comprising an outer shell, partitions and
shelves within said shell to provide individual storage
compartments for lobsters. The shelves are shaped and
located to provide spaces for the circulation of water
~- 15 through the storage compartments. Access is provided to
the storage compartments for the insertion, removal and
retention of lobsters. The water in the shell :is aerated
to cause aerate~ water to circulate through the storage
compartments. The spacing of the shelves has several
advantages. It assists circulation. ~t also facilitates
`~ removal of the lobsters which must be carefully handled.
It furthermore provides adequate support for the
lobsters.
~- Other inventive features of the invention in
its preferred aspect include:
(a) retaining means ~such as flexible posts at open
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ends of the storage compartment, which can be biased to
permit the insertion or removal o~ lobsters while
preventing the lobsters from escaping from the
compartments. This is an important design feature as it
; eliminates the need for gates, doors, hinges or sliding
mechanisms.
(b) removable inserts including partitions to
separate individual lobsters ~rom laterally adjacent
~; ; 35 lobsters and ~shelves to support the lobsters spaced to
provide for the circulation of water through the storage
compartments . The removable inserts can be located at
~` positions adjustable depending on the size of the
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lobster. Preferably the location is by channels in the
top wall and base wall of the outer shell and projection
at the top and bottom of the inserts to engage the
channels. Preferably some of the shelves extend
horizontally on each side of the partitions and others
of the shelves extend horizontally from the side walls.
This adjustment feature allows every case to accommodate
lobsters in various sizes between about 1 and 2 lbs.
Practically all live lobsters exported fit into this
weight category. Without this feature~ space would be
under-utilized and a variety of different sized
compartments would be necessary.
(c) aeration by an air chamber at the base of the
shell, a duct for the admission of compressed air
communicating with the air chamber and a plurality of
outlets from the air chamber arranged to direct air to
the storage compartments. Preferably there is an air
inlet valve at one end of the duct ànd a mating air
outlet valve at the other end of the duct so that
containers can be stacked and aerated from a single
source of compressed air;
(d) the partitions and shelves are buoyant and
preferably hollow. Molded plastic may be used. Solid
foam inserts can also be used. However, hollow inserts
are durable, conserve raw material and reduce weight.
; (e) provision for the circulation o~ aerated water
is maximized. Thus the storage compartments preferably
; have openings at the top, bottom, each side and each end
for the circulation of aerated water.
(f) At least the top and bottom of the outer shell
is apertured to permit circulation of water through
containers stacked on top of each other.
;~ (g) There is provision for aerating stacked
containers from a single source of compressed air.
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In the drawings which illustrate the preferred
embodiments of this invention:
Figure 1 is an elevation view of a container in
accordance with this invention;
5Figure 2 is a perspective elevation view of a
removable insert;
Figure 3 is an end elevation view showing
several containers in a tank;
Figure 4 is an end elevation view of an
~- 10alternative embodiment to Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective elevation view of a
container according to another embodiment of this
~; invention;
~ Figure 6 is a sectional side view on the line
:: 156-6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a bottom view of Figure 5;
:~ Figure 8 is a perspective elevation view of
~: removable inserts in accordance with a ~urther ambodiment
of this invention;
: 20Figure 9 is a plan view partly in section on
the line 7-7 o~ Figure 6.
Figure 10 is a sectional elevation view of a
~ holding pound in accordance with another embodiment of
`: : ~llis invelltioll;
25Fl~ure 11 i~- ~ plal~ view of ~ holdlng L~ou~ o~
t.ho t.y~ shown ;n ~ i r~
Figure 12 is a plan view of a refrigerated
. transport container;
Figure 13 is an e.levation view of the container
30in Figure 12;
~ ul^c ~ ; a :CCtion~l clov~tion viow Or ~.hc
;, conta.iner of Figure 1.~;
;l ~Figure 15 .is an end sectional elevation view on
the line 15-15 of Figure 13;
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Figures ]6, 17 and 18 are end elevation viewsshowing the folding of the end flaps of the bag in the
container of Figure 12.
Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawinys,
Figure 1 illustrates a container generally indicated ~y
the numeral 10 including top wall 11, bottom wall 12 and
end walls 13 and 14. The front is open. The back may be
open, as shown, or closed. Top wall 11 has transverse
channels 15 and bottom wall 12 has transverse channels 16
to receive mating projections such as rails 17 and 18 at
the top and bottom respectively of removable inserts 19.
Inserts 19 are shown in detail in Figure 2.
Inserts 19 include central generally vertically
extending partitions 20 and generally horizontally
e~tending shelves 21. However as illustrated, these may
be rounded to give a smooth transition between the
partitions and shelves. It is preferred that partitions
20 have apertures 22 to promote the free circulation of
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water. At the ends of each shelf there are flexlble
posts 23 and 24 to retain the lobsters while permitting
them to be inserted or removed. As illustrated in Figure
1, adjacent inserts 19 and l9a cooperate to provide a
storage compartment for lobster 25. A pair of flexible
posts 23 and 23a retain the lobster in position while not
interfering with the back of the lobster being grasped
by hand for removal from the compartment. Posts 23 and
23a and their associated shelves 21 and 21a are spaced at
26 so that there will be free circulation of water into
and through each compartment. This spacing 26 can be
adjusted to enlarge the compartments, depending on the
size of the lobsters as additional channels such as 15a
and 16a are provided for the location of the removable
inserts 19.
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In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, bottom
wall 12 has a hollow air chamber which is connected by a
number of apertures 28 to the spaces 26 between the
shelves so as to cause air to transfuse upwardly. This
results in water circulation as well as ensuriny that
the water is aerated, which is necessary to keep the
lobsters in good condition.
Side wall 13 has a duct 29 to conduct air from
an air inlet valve 30 to air chamber 27. A mating air
outlet valve 31 permits containers 10 to be stacked on
top of each other and fed by a single source of
compressed air. Both side walls 13 and 14 are shaped to
`~ provide shelves 32 and flexible retaining posts 33
matching those of the inserts. Alternatively, :cemovable
half inserts could be provided shaped like inserts l9 but
divided down the centre line. Removable half inserts
will have an advantage in that both the inserts and
removable half inserts can be taken out to remove the
lobsters. It is however preferred that half inserts be
~ 20 avoided. Providing shelves as part of the side walls
I adds structural integrity. Also it is desirable to
remove the lobsters with care instead of dumping them.
Inserts 19 are preferably of hollow molded
water resistant plastic such as polypropylene. This will
then provide buoyancy. Another possibility is to use a
foamed plastic such as rigid polyurethane foam. In this
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case the posts 23 would be attachments of some flexible
material.
i As shown in Figure 3, containers lOa and lObmay be stacked on top of each other and placed in an
outer tank 34 having side walls 35, end walls 36 and
~¦ bottom wall 36A. Similarly, another pair of containers
~! lOc and lOd can be stacked on top of each other. Air
compressor 37 supplies air to pipe 38 which communicates
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with pipes 39 and 40 which are connected to air inlet
valves 30. Containers lOa, lOb, lOc and lOd are of the
structure shown in Figure 1. Therefore air supplied to
inlet nozzle 30 of container lOa is partly distributed in
- 5 the air chamber 27 of container lOa and partly exits
through valve 31 of container lOa -to enter inlct valve 30
of container lOb. Air is distributed in a similar
fashion to container lOc and lOd. Container lOa and lOb
are spaced from containers lOc and lOd and each stack is
spaced from side walls 35 to provide room for the
circulation of aerated water ~1 and also to leave enough
clearance for the removal of conta~ners lOa, lOb, lOc and
lOd from tank 34.
Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment in
' 15 which stacks of containers lOe - lOf and lOg - lOh are
,~ supported in tank 42 by shelf 4~ which may be a
~, perforat~d plate. Air ~omprcs~or 4~ ~e~ds ~ir tllrough
pipe 45 to air distributor 46 having a large number of
small holes 47. Air then diffuses up through bottom
walls 48 of container lOf and lOh and around these
~, containers. Walls ~ sho~ h~ve open;n~s to permit the
~; circulation of aerated water.
Figure 5 is a perspective elevation view of
another embodiment of the container suitable for use with
2r~ a separate air die~lser ;).s ill~strate(l in ~i~J~re ~.
Fi~ure 5 ~hows containcr 5~i, thc o~ltcr sholl 51 of which
~, has a top wall 52 formed from front and back beams,53 and
54 connected by corner angle pieces 56 and inverted
flanged webs 57 which provide channels 58 to receive
rails 59 of removable inserts 60. Bottom wall 61 is
formed similarly to top wall 52 to include webs 57.
However it includes supports 61a. Side walls 62 have '
openings as indicated at 63 to facilitate the free
; circu].ation of aerated water. This construction enables
; 35 aerated water to circulate freely within outer tank 42
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shown in Flgure 4. In particular the structure of top
wall 52 and bottom wall 61 permits water aerated by air
distributor 46 to circulate up through container lOf and
from thence through container lOe, stacked above
container lOf.
Figure 5 shows handles 64 in bracket 56 to
assist in removing the containers from tank 42.
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a sectional
side view top, and a bottom view of Figure 5;
Figures 8 and 9 show removable inserts in
accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
These views also illustrate the positioning of the
lobsters.
Removable insert 70 is generally similar to
inserts 1~ and 60 except that it has a valve 71 for the
~-~ admission of air into its hollow interior 72. Shelves
73 have a large number of small holes 74 which cause air
to diffuse into the water right where lobsters 75 are
located.
Appropriate dimensions for a container adapted
to receive five rows each containing six lobsters are 22
inches from top to bottom and 27~ inches from end wall to
end wall and 12 inches in depth (outside measurements).
~; The channels 15 may have a width of ~ inch and a centre
to centre spacing of 1~ inches to accommodate some larger
lobsters, in which event each row will only accept five
and not six lobsters. Each case ordinarily has five
removable inserts.
Figure 10 illustrates a holding pound
comprising a tank 79 having end walls 80, side walls 81
and base 82. Base 82 is on a gravel bed 83. A number of
; containers 84 are located within the tank. Generally
they are stacked as shown for e~ample, by 84a and 84b,
but there may be an odd single container 84c. They may
be oriented at random as illustrated. Sea water, the
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surface of which is indicated at 85, immerses the
containers. Air pump 86 feeds air line 87 which in turn
supplies air hoses such as hose 88 connected to container
84. Others of the air hoses 89 are coiled ready for
connection to containers additional to those illustrated.
The containers 84 are of the type illustrated in Figure
1, so that air passing through hose 88 will go to each of
~ containers 84 and 84d and will be dispersed at the bottom
; of each of these containers.
Figure 11 is a plan view of a holding pound of
the type shown in Figure 8 with the containers such as
84e connected to hoses 88a and arranyed in different
random locations as compared with Figure 10.
Figures 12 to 18 illustrate a refrigerated
transport system for use with containers in accordance
with this invention. A standard refrigerated container
generally designated as 90 is converted into a holding
tank or temporary aquarium. The standard refrigerated
container includes side walls 91 and 92, end wall 93,
adjacent to which there is partition webs 94 at one end
and hinged doors 95 at the other end. There is a top
wall 96 and a base 97.
Partition web 94 defines a compartment 98
within which there is an air pump with filter 99 for
delivering air to line 100.
A custom made bag 90a of polypropylene or other
suitable plastic provides a waterproof lines for
transport container 90. It loosely fits top 96, bottom
97, side walls 91 and 92 and partition web 94. At the
other end which is the rear or loading end, there are
flaps 101, 102, 103, 10~. As illustratsd in Figures 16,
17 and 18 flaps lO1, 102, 103 and 104 are initially open
to receive the cargo, namely, containers 105 of the type
shown in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 17, flap 103 is
folded over to centre. Flap 104 is also folded over to
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centre meeting flap 103. Flap 102 is folded upwards and
over flaps 103 and 104. Flap 102 is then heat sealed
along seam 106 and 107 of flaps 103 and 104. Finally as
shown in Figure 18, flaps 101 is folded down over flaps
102, 103 and 104. Seams 108 along flap 101 are heat
sealed to flap 102 and made water tight. Following this,
the container doors 95 may be closed and locked.
After doors 95 are closed and locked, sea
water is pumped into the polypropylene bay 90a through
10 water intake valve 109, the air within the bag escapes
through air vents 110.
As best shown in Figure 13 the lobster cases
105 are closely packed in the polypropylene bag 90a. ~ir
pump 99 delivers air along line 100 which communicates
15 with the interior of bag 90a and connects with
perforated plastic air hoses 111 which are also inside
~, bag 90a and which conveniently fit within alternate
; grooves 112 of floor 97 which preferably is a T-section
~; floor. Air is then provided to diffuse upwardly through
the lobster cases. Others of grooves 112a are left open
~ so that air in duct 113 can circulate along the floor in
; the usual fashion. This air then returns to along the
.
top in a space 114 between bag 90a and roof 96.
rrhe air pump and filter 99 can be uncoupled and
reused. The bag 90a and hoses 111 could be disposable on
arrival and unloading. The refrigerated container would
then be available for other uses. There would be no need
for designated container status requiring return of the
container to home port.
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