TRAWL DOOR WITH ADJUSTMENT MEANS

Abstract

There is provided a spreading device, such as a trawl door used for trawl fishing, and more particularly, a trawl door adapted for stable and efficient operation. The door is equipped with flaps mounted below distal panels and connected to driving units, and the flaps are adapted to be controlled remotely, when the spreading device is being towed through the water; the lower distal panel and the upper distal panel have distal surfaces rendering them hollow, wherein the flaps constitute a part of the distal surface.

Claims

1. A spreading device, such as a trawl door, comprising: an upper frame defining a top edge of the device; a lower frame defining a bottom edge of the device; a middle frame defining an intermediate frame positioned between the upper and lower frames thereby establishing an upper and lower section; a lower proximal panel and lower distal panel provided in the lower section and connected between the lower and middle frames as well as an upper proximal panel and an upper distal panel provided in the upper section and connected between the middle and upper frames, said panels being of aerofoil construction and connected to the frames in their respective ends; and flaps mounted under the distal panels and connected to driving units, the flaps adapted to be controlled remotely, when the device is in use being towed through the water; wherein the proximal and distal panels are placed over each other, and wherein the lower distal panel and upper distal panel have a distal surface rendering them hollow, wherein the flaps constitute a part of the distal surface.

2. The spreading device of claim 1 further provided with movable panels of aerofoil construction rotatably connected to the frames in their respective ends, said movable panels being positioned further proximal to the respective proximal panels, wherein the movable panels are adapted to be remotely controlled.

3. The spreading device of claim 1, wherein the flaps are adapted to move relative to each other.

4. The spreading device of claim 1, wherein the flaps are integrated in the most distal parts of the distal panels.

5. The spreading device of claim 1, wherein a lower mesial panel is imposed between the lower proximal and distal panels.

6. The spreading device of claim 1, wherein an upper mesial panel is imposed between the upper proximal and distal panels.

7. The spreading device of claim 5, wherein the chord of the mesial panel is not parallel with the chords of the proximal and distal panels.

8. The spreading device of claim 1, wherein fixation means are provided in the device for pulling after a vessel.

9. The spreading device of claim 1, wherein one or more horizontal flaps are provided on the upper, middle, and/or lower frame.

10. The spreading device of claim 1, wherein the lower distal panel and upper distal panel have a distal surface rendering them hollow, wherein the flaps constitute a part of the distal surface.

11. The spreading device of claim 1, wherein the distal surface of each distal panel is concave.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 shows in perspective a trawl door of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows lower cut of the trawl door.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a trawl door with horizontal flap.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the trawl door with slats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a trawl door (1) of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It has an upper frame (2) defining a top edge of the door; a lower frame (3) defining a bottom edge of the door; a middle frame (4) defining an intermediate frame positioned between the upper (2) and lower (3) frames thereby establishing an upper and lower section; a lower proximal panel (5) and lower distal panel (6) provided in the lower section and connected between the lower (3) and middle (4) frames as well as an upper proximal panel (7) and an upper distal panel (8) provided in the upper section and connected between the middle (4) and upper (2) frames, said panels (5, 6, 7, 8) being of aerofoil construction and connected to the frames in their respective ends; and flaps (9) mounted below the distal panels (6, 8) and connected to driving units, the flaps (9) adapted to be controlled remotely, when the device is in use being towed through the water; wherein the proximal (5, 7) and distal (6, 8) panels are superimposed and parallel.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a sectional view of the trawl door of FIG. 1 in order to show the hollow distal flap.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown a special embodiment of the present invention wherein horizontal flap (12) has been provided on the middle frame. When the flap (12) is angled relative to the frame it will result in a vertical movement of the trawl door.

[0034] Vertical movement can also be achieved when the flaps (9) are moved relative to each other.

[0035] As appears from FIG. 4 the spreading device may be provided with movable panels (13, only the upper shown) of aerofoil construction rotatably connected to the frames in their respective ends. Such movable panels are positioned further proximal to the respective proximal panels (7, only the upper shown). These movable panels are adapted to be controlled remotely and further assist the horizontal flaps (12) to control the position of the spreading device in the water.