DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR REDUCING THE NUMBER OF EXTERIOR PARASITES ON FISH

Abstract

A device for reducing the number of exterior parasites on fish, comprising a hollow cylindrical filter member having an inlet and an outlet, the circumference of the inlet and/or outlet being provided with a nozzle, wherein the nozzle comprises a substantially annular slit along the circumference of the inlet and/or outlet for ejecting a fluid towards the interior of the cylindrical filter.

Claims

1.-19. (canceled)

20. A method for reducing the number of exterior parasites on fish, comprising: a. impinging the exterior parasites on the fish with a fluid ejected uniformly from an annular nozzle slit against substantially an entire circumference of the fish, wherein the fluid has a direction with an angle in a range of 10 degrees to 60 degrees relative to a movement direction of the fish, and b. filtering the exterior parasites that were detached from the fish during the impinging, where the fish is removed from an aqueous environment prior to the impinging, and where the impinging and filtering are performed before reentering the fish into the aqueous environment.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein in the impinging, the fluid is ejected from a nozzle formed by a number of discrete nozzle members, the discrete nozzle members each having a slit and being provided along the circumference of at least one of an inlet and an outlet.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the fluid is at least one of air and water.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the fluid is ejected with a velocity of above 100 meters per second at a slit opening of an annular nozzle.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the fluid is ejected with a velocity of above 50 meters per second at a slit opening of an annular nozzle.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the fluid is ejected at a subsonic velocity.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the fluid is air at a pressure of at least 1.0 MPa.

27. The method according to claim 20, wherein the fluid is provided as a substantially laminar flow ejected from the annular nozzle slit.

28. The method according to claim 20, wherein the annular nozzle slit has a slit opening in the range of 0.01 mm to 2 mm.

29. The method according to claim 20, wherein the angle is in a range of 20 degrees to 45 degrees relative to the movement direction of the fish.

30. The method according to claim 20, wherein the movement direction of the fish is towards or away from the annular nozzle slit.

31. The method according to claim 20, wherein the fish is a farmed fish.

32. The method according to claim 20, wherein the fish comprise at least one of carps, tilapias, pangasius, Roho labeo, salmon, croaker, salmonids, groupers, trouts, amberjack, seabreams, seabass, mullets, cyprinids, barramundis, and marble goby.

33. A method for reducing the number of exterior parasites on fish, comprising: a. separating a fish from water before transporting the fish towards a first predefined point, b. impinging the fish at the first predefined point with a fluid ejected uniformly from a first annular nozzle slit at an angle in a range of 10 degrees to 60 degrees relative to a movement direction of the fish against substantially an entire circumference of the fish to detach parasites from the fish, c. filtering the parasites detached from the fish.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising reentering the fish into the water.

35. The method according to claim 33, further comprising: a. transporting the fish from the first predefined point towards a second predefined point; and b. impinging the fish at the second predefined point with a fluid ejected uniformly from a second annular nozzle slit at an angle in the range of 10 degrees to 60 degrees relative to the movement direction of the fish against substantially the entire circumference of the fish.

36. The method according to claim 33, wherein the fluid comprises at least one of air and water.

37. The method according to claim 33, wherein the fluid is ejected with a velocity of above 100 meters per second at a slit opening of an annular nozzle.

38. The method according to claim 33, wherein the fluid is ejected with a velocity of above 50 meters per second at a slit opening of an annular nozzle.

39. The method according to claim 33, wherein the fluid is ejected at a subsonic velocity.

40. The method according to claim 36, wherein the fluid comprises air at a pressure of at least 1.0 MPa.

41. The method according to claim 36, wherein the fluid is provided as a substantially laminar flow ejected from the annular nozzle slit.

42. The method according to claim 36, wherein the annular nozzle slit has a slit opening in a range of 0.01 mm to 2 mm.

43. The method according to claim 36, wherein the angle is in a range of 20 degrees to 45 degrees relative to the movement direction of the fish.

44. The method according to claim 36, wherein the fish is a farmed fish.

45. The method according to claim 36, wherein the fish comprise at least one of carps, tilapias, pangasius, Roho labeo, salmon, croaker, salmonids, groupers, trouts, amberjack, seabreams, seabass, mullets, cyprinids, barramundis, and marble goby.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] In the following, exemplary embodiments of a device according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings in which:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the device according to a first exemplary embodiment.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a partly assembled device according to the first exemplary embodiment from a sectional view.

[0042] FIG. 3A shows a filter member according to an embodiment of the invention

[0043] FIG. 3B shows a nozzle according to an embodiment of the invention

[0044] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment wherein the filtering device from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, and the nozzles from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3B is used, FIG. 4 also shows the relative positioning of the components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The device according to the exemplary embodiment consists of multiple individual parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The device is comprised of two annular nozzles, 1a and 1b; two orifice plates, 2a and 2b; a filter member 3; six spacers 4, a housing 5, and a draining conduit 6.

[0046] The annular nozzles, 1a and 1b, are each provided with a fitting 100, adapted to be connected by suitable means to a fluid source. Each annular nozzle, 1a and 1b, is provided as two connected halves. Each orifice plate, 2a and 2b, is provided as two connected halves. The hollow cylindrical filter member 3, has an inlet, an outlet 301 and a body 302. The body 302 of the filter member obtains its filtering properties from perforation by a number of holes 303 provided in the body 302. The holes have a size that allows the parasites to pass while the fish is maintain the interior of the hollow cylindrical filter. The filter member 3 is constructed as two parts, each constituting half of the filter member 3. The housing 5 has a body 500 being a round hollow cylinder assembled from two halves, the two halves being connected along an edge 501 opposite an opening 502. The opening 502 is provided as a slit parallel to the axis of the housing between the two halves. The draining conduit 6 is comprised of a hollow cylinder, which is open at one end and closed in the other. The hollow cylinder has a longitudinal opening 601 adapted to fit the opening 502 of the housing. The open end of the draining conduit 6 provides an outlet 602 adapted to be connected with suitable draining means.

[0047] The filter member 3 is positioned within the housing 5, and held in place coaxially by the spacers 4. The spacers 4 are connected at one end to the outside of filter member 3 and at the other end to the inside of the housing 5, as seen on FIG. 2. At each end of the housing 5 an orifice ring, 2a or 2b, is connected forming a fluid tight connection between the housing 5 and the orifice rings, 2a and 2b. Around the opening 502, on the outside of the housing body 500 the draining conduit 6 is connected. The draining conduit is aligned so that the opening 601 and the opening 502 is in fluid connection with each other. The annular nozzle members are each connected to the side of the orifice ring, 2a and 2b facing away from the filter member 3.

[0048] When the ejected air from the nozzle 1b reaches the surface of the fish a first impact zone is formed around the circumference of the fish. Progressively as the fish moves through the nozzle 1b, the first impact zone between the surface of the fish and the ejected fluid moves along the entire length and circumference of the fish, ensuring a treatment of all parts of the exterior of the fish. The fish enters the device at the nozzle 1b, generally with the head first. As the nozzle ejects an air stream towards a predefined point in the interior of the hollow cylindrical filter 3 an angle will be formed between the surface of the fish and the direction of the ejected air.

[0049] Initially, the front end of the fish is impinged by an air current from the nozzle 1b. The air current forms a sharp angle with the surface of the front end of the fish. When the tail of the fish reaches the first zone of impact the angle will be less sharp due to the geometry of the fish. It is believed that some angles are more effective than others in scraping off the parasites from the skin of the fish. Therefore some parasites may remain on the surface of the fish after the first impact zone. When the fish reaches a second impact zone formed by the ejected air from nozzle 1a and the surface of the fish, parasites remaining on the surface of the fish will be treated with an air current having an angle, which is oriented in the opposite direction of the angle of the air current of the first impact zone. Thereby the entire surface of the fish is treated in two impact zones having different treatment angles.

[0050] The nozzles, 1a and 1b, may be of the commercially available type Ring Blade manufactured and sold by the company Nex Flow. In a Ring Blade, compressed air enters into an annular chamber and is throttled through a small ring nozzle at high velocity. This air stream clings to a Coanda profile directing the air stream towards the interior of the cylindrical filter. The air stream is angled to create a cone style-directed force to best clean and wipe the surface of the fish. Surrounding air is entrained, creating an amplified 360 degree conical airflow to uniformly wipe the surface of the fish passing through the Ring Blade. The Ring Blade is commercially available in interior diameters ranging from 25.4 mm (1) to 153 mm (6).

[0051] The filter member according to an embodiment is shown in FIG. 3A. The filter member 3 is made up from two halves, each containing seven rods 10 interspaced between two half rods 11. Each of the rods is sloped at the ends with the slope facing inwards towards the center of the filter member. When the two halves of the filter member are positioned against each other, they form a filter member with sixteen rods, evenly spaced around the circumference of the filter member 3. Two connectors 12a, 12b are provided at each half of the filter member. Each connector is attached near one end of the seven rods 10, and the two half rods 11 of one half of the filter member 3, keeping the rods parallel, and at distance from each other. Each connector 12 is shaped as a small beam forming a half circle around the half circle of rods and half rods on one half of the filter member. When the two halves of the filter member are attached to each other, two complementary connectors form a full cylinder around all sixteen rods.

[0052] The nozzle 20 shown in FIG. 3B contains two inlets 15, a total of sixteen nozzle members 13, and a conduit body 14 connecting the inlets 15 to the nozzle members 13. Each nozzle member 13 has an outlet slit 16, though which a fluid can be ejected to provide a thin ejector-blade of fluid. Eight nozzle members are positioned in one level around the circumference of the conduit body 14 of the nozzle 20, and the slits 16 of these eight nozzles are arranged so that they provide a substantially annular slit around the circumference of the nozzle 20. This in principle provides an ejector-blade effect in a similar manner as the earlier described continuous annular nozzle. Eight nozzle members 13 are positioned in another level, around the circumference of the nozzle 20, and likewise arranged so that they provide a substantially annular slit around the circumference of the nozzle 20. The nozzle members 13 of the nozzle 20 are positioned equidistantly from each other within each level and the nozzle members 13 of one level is off-set in relation to the nozzle members 13 of the other level.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows the filter member 3 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, and two nozzles 20 according to the embodiment shown in 3B in their relative position in an assembled state. One nozzle 20 is positioned at each end of the filter member 3.