Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY
FIELD OF APPLICATION
The present invention belongs to the area of the aquaculture industry, and in
particular to a
cleaning device for fishing nets.
BACKGROUND
In the global aquaculture industry, due to the effects of the marine
environment fouling, algae
and seeds of marine crustaceans from the farming areas that hinder the
oxygenation of the
fish inside the cages are adhered to the nets. Currently, there are different
devices that are
intended for cleaning fishing nets, in particular, for detaching these and
other elements
attached to the nets.
Document EP 2348828 describes an on-site underwater net cleaner comprising a
sliding
chassis adapted to slide smoothly and snare free across the surface of that
net, a means of
flotation associated with that chassis to provide buoyancy to that cleaner, a
means of
operation adapted to cooperate with that net and maneuver that cleaner on the
surface of
that net, a means of propulsion adapted to propel such cleaner and maintain
contact with
that net and a means of cleaning adapted to remove contaminants from that net
including
biofouling from the surface of that net to clean the net. Cleaning media are
vacuum-based
adapted to extract water and contaminants through and from the surface of the
net. The
cleaner of the invention is also provided with a centrally mounted propeller-
shaped
propulsion medium adapted to provide a measured propulsion force to ensure
that the
cleaner is gently maintained against the underwater net during operation. In
addition, and
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separately from the vacuum function of the net cleaning device, the device may
be also
provided of a series of high pressure water jets preferably mounted on the
sliding chassis
and directed downwards to allow the invention device to direct a high-pressure
water spray
over the net to assist in the cleaning operation.
On the other hand, document CL 201400729 a waterproof cleaning robot to clean
a
submerged object by throwing water at high pressure from a cleaning nozzle
provided in a
nozzle unit to a surface of the cleaning object as it moves along the surface
of the cleaning
object, in which the cleaning nozzle unit is provided in a lower portion of a
revolving shaft
supported in a rotating way by a robot body, in which a displacement device is
provided to
move the robot body, where the mobile device includes first displacement units
used for a
normal path provided on the left and right sides of the robot body and second
displacement
units to pass over a protrusion of the cleaning object, where the second
displacement units
have a diameter less than the first displacement units , where the lower ends
of the first
displacement units are ground contact surfaces, and the lower ends of the
second
displacement units are positioned higher than the lower ends of the first
travel units, and
where, a motion direction in which the waterproof cleaning robot moves
linearly through the
first displacement units is defined as a front and back direction of the robot
body, and an
orthogonal direction to the front and back direction is defined as a left and
right direction of
the robot body, in which the first displacement units and the second
displacement units move
to turn in the same direction. The second displacement units include second
front and back
displacement units that are provided in the robot body in the front and back
direction to face
up to the respective inner sides in the left and right direction of the robot
body compared to
the first displacement units.
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CL 201100049 describes a cleaning device for removing biofouling from nets and
pens
below the surface comprising at least one device for maneuvering and
propelling the
cleaning device in which each of the maneuvering and propulsion devices
comprises at least
one; an induction part adapted to supply a fluid under high pressure; a nozzle
with an inlet
for supplying the fluid under high pressure, and a tubular body with an
induction side and an
outlet where said nozzle is arranged near the induction side. The device also
comprises a
plate-like body with one or more rotating cleaning units mounted thereon and
that one or
more of such maneuvering and propelling devices are mounted on the plate-like
body such
that the devices for maneuvering and propelling have their induction part that
covers a plate-
like opening in the body while the outlet protrudes from the back of the plate-
like body.
These solutions are not economical from the energy point of view, since they
require energy
not only for propulsion, but also for cleaning systems, which increases their
consumption.
On the other hand, they are not always suitable for cleaning large areas per
hour, which is
why periodic net changes are frequently required, which worsens oxygenation
inside the
cages with fish.
On the other hand, these solutions have proven to be inefficient, in that it
frequently presents
the plugging of injectors, which makes the devices lose functionality, being
necessary to
remove them to repair or unclog said injectors.
SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a fishing net cleaning device. The device
corresponds
mainly to a flat metal structure, operated remotely using electric wires,
hydraulic hoses and
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a minimum 70 m long seawater high pressure hose, from the surface in a boat,
with the
purpose of moving over the salmon farm nets. The device has the capacity to
pull on the net
with the thrust of two propellers and also comprises six discs rotating at
high revolutions with
water pressure, which fulfil the purpose of releasing mussel, fouling, algae,
etc., attached to
the nets and thus fulfilling the aim of cleaning farm nets.
The main purpose is to clean large quantities of square meters per hour of
approximately
1200 m2 per hour minimum, therefore avoiding the change of periodic nets, thus
improving
oxygenation inside the cages with fish. The present invention in general is
also applicable
in the cleaning of hulls and marine structures.
The advantages of the present invention regarding the state of the art is that
it has a
propulsion capacity with attachment traction and pressure on the net by means
of at least
two propellers with a capacity of 140 kgf to perform cleaning more
efficiently. It provides
advantages for regulating high pressure seawater pumps and lower fuel
consumption
compared to existing technologies. Finally, the device of the invention has
the capacity of
traction on the net with four independent tracks with more efficient
displacement than
currently existing technologies.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows a right perspective view of the device, according to a
preferred embodiment
of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a left perspective view of the device, according to a preferred
embodiment
of the invention.
Figure 3 shows a top and bottom view of the device, according to a preferred
embodiment
of the invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fishing net cleaning device (100). The
device (100)
corresponds to a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) with the capacity to clean
fishing farm
nets, up to 70 m deep.
The device (100) comprises a structure (1), preferably metallic of stainless
steel, which
comprises geometric divisions for the different components and mechanisms of
the device
(100). In an embodiment of the invention, the structure (1) has a rectangular
geometry, with
dimensions of 2,422 x 910 mm surface and 172 mm high.
On the structure (1) at least one base (2) is provided, preferably curved. In
an embodiment
of the invention, the base (2) is projected upwards on the structure (1),
preferably from the
center of one of the major sides of the rectangular surface towards the center
of the structure
surface, and where the base curvature (1) is provided towards the upper
surface of the
structure (1). The curved base (2) is intended to support at least one camera
(6) and a
plurality of lights (5), which in a preferred embodiment may be LED lights. In
a preferred
embodiment of the invention, the base (2) is made of aluminum, 180 mm wide and
273 mm
high.
In some of the geometric divisions of the structure (1) there are at least two
propellers (3)
with nozzles, which are propelled by hydraulic motors (7). In an embodiment of
the invention,
the propellers (3) have a diameter of 285 mm, and the hydraulic motors have a
speed of
1000 rpm with a capacity of 20 I/min, for driving the propellers (3) with
nozzles.
The device (100) also comprises at least three high-pressure rotating cores
(4) with a
mechanical seal system inside, which reduces the flow rate of the water from
each core (4)
to some rotating discs (8) to increase the outlet pressure.
As indicated above, on the curved base (2) there are at least four light bulbs
(5), preferably
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LEDs, of adjustable intensity, and at least one camera (6). In one embodiment
of the
invention, the light bulbs (5) are adjustable in intensity and have 49mm
diameter. The
camera (6) is a high definition camera with a 270 movement capacity
regarding the
horizontal and vertical axes, and also equipped with compass, depth and
temperature
sensors.
The hydraulic motors (7) are preferably four, and in one embodiment of the
invention, the
hydraulic motors (7) are 4x4 traction motors arranged on each track (1q), with
a speed of
600 rpm, and adjustable by a proportional joystick.
The rotating discs (8) comprises at least three injectors with the capacity to
resist the high
outlet pressures. Each rotating disk (8) comprises a metallic disk embedded in
its lower part
that helps to withstand the rubbing of crustaceans and make it resistant to
wear. In a
preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotating discs (8) are six and have
a 400mm
diameter.
The device (100) also comprises power transmission elements (9), preferably
gears. In an
embodiment of the invention, the power transmission elements (9) are made of
high-density
plastic. In an embodiment of the invention, the power transmission elements
(9) have
147mm diameter, with 20mm gear in passband, where the passband guarantees
traction
and prevents any lag.
The device (100) also comprises a plurality of spikes (10), preferably of the
star-like, located
by each track (11) for effective grip on the weave section of aquaculture
nets. In one
embodiment of the invention, the star-like spikes (10) have three tips, two of
which are
located per each track.
The tracks (11) are comprised of at least four belts, each equipped with its
respective
hydraulic motor (7) and at least three gears (9).
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For control from the surface, at least one electronic ROV controller is
provided.
The device also has at least two sealed boxes with distribution of solenoid
valves hydraulic
connections, distribution to the surface of at least three hoses that
distribute the pressures
and returns of hydraulic energy, and at least one energy conductor underwater
electrical
wire for lights and video. The energy required to operate the cleaning
rotating discs (8) with
high-pressure seawater is by means of a high-pressure pump with a high-flow
rate capacity
of liters per minute and high pressure. The high pressure seawater pump is
powered by a
motor, preferably diesel. Regarding the hydraulic motors (7) required for this
device (100),
they are also powered by the high pressure pump motor, according to an
embodiment of
the invention.
The device (100) can be operated from the surface, on a platform or boat, by
means of an
electronic controller that has a screen, a joystick, and sensors and total
control of the
movements and elements of the ROV from the surface.
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