SUBSTRATE STRUCTURE FOR A TANK FOR CRUSTACEANS

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a substrate structure (1) for a tank (12) for crustaceans, wherein the substrate structure comprises at least two support gratings (2) arranged parallel to each other. The substrate structure further comprises at least two interspacing units (3) arranged between the two support gratings for spacing the two support gratings at a distance of at least 20 mm, such that at least two floors (4) are formed, which provide support for the crustaceans. Further disclosed are a tank entity (11) comprising the substrate structure and use of the substrate structure for holding crustaceans.

Claims

1. Substrate structure (1) for a tank (12) for crustaceans, wherein the substrate structure (1) comprises: a. at least two support gratings (2) arranged parallel to each other; and b. at least two interspacing units (3) arranged between the two support gratings (2) for spacing the two support gratings (2) at a distance of at least 20 mm, such that at least two floors (4) are formed, which provide support for the crustaceans.

2. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the support gratings (2) have holes (5) sized from 1 mm.sup.2 to 10000 mm.sup.2.

3. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the substrate structure (1) comprises a plurality of the support gratings (2) forming three or more of the floors (4), wherein the floors (4) are spaced apart by a plurality of the interspacing units (3).

4. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the floors (4) are spaced apart at a distance from 20 mm to 300 mm.

5. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the floors (4) taper in length and/or width from an outermost bottom floor (8) having the largest length and/or width to an outermost top floor (9) having the smallest length and/or width.

6. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 5, wherein the width of the bottom floor (8) is from 300 mm to 5000 mm, and wherein the width of the top floor (9) is from 100 mm to 1000 mm.

7. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the floors (4) have a length from 100 mm to 3000 mm.

8. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein each support grating (2) comprises a first group of bars (6) arranged parallel to each other and a second group of bars (6) arranged parallel to each other, wherein the bars (6) of the first group cross the bars (6) of the second group at an angle from 20 to 160, such that the holes (5) are formed.

9. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 8, wherein the bars (6) have a width of less than 20 mm.

10. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the interspacing unit (3) is a cylinder.

11. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 10, wherein the cylinder has an inner diameter from 30 mm to 180 mm, defining the distance between the floors (4).

12. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein each support grating (2) comprises a connecting element (7) for releasably connecting two support gratings (2) with each other, wherein the connecting element (7) is arranged on an outer rim of the support grating (2).

13. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the substrate structure (1) further comprises a net and a ground floor (10) having the largest width and/or length of all floors wherein the ground floor (4) is at least partially covered with the net.

14. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the substrate structure (1) has a plastic surface and is made of plastic, wherein the plastic is any one or any combination of: low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene and polyurethane.

15. Tank entity (11) for crustaceans comprising a tank (12) and a substrate structure (1) according to claim 1.

16. Use of a tank entity (11) according to claim 15 for holding crustaceans.

17. Use according to claim 16, wherein the crustaceans are spiny lobsters.

18. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 10, wherein the cylinder extends parallel to the support gratings (2).

19. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 12, wherein the connecting element (7) is a tongue or a groove connection.

20. Substrate structure (1) according to claim 13, wherein the net has meshes sized less than 25 mm.sup.2.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The drawings are showing:

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the substrate structure from an isometric view;

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a tank entity;

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2-3;

[0062] FIG. 5 shows a first sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2-4 indicated by section line B;

[0063] FIG. 6 shows a second sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2-5 indicated by section line C;

[0064] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the method of holding crustaceans disclosed herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0065] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

[0066] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the substrate structure 1. The substrate structure 1 comprises a plurality of support gratings 2, which are arranged parallel to each other. The support gratings 2 lie in a horizontal plane defined by the x-and y-axis. The substrate structure 1 further comprises interspacing units 3, which are arranged between some of the support gratings 2. The support gratings 2 form a total of five floors 4. Each floor 4 comprises between one and ten support gratings 2. The support gratings 2 forming one floor 4 are arranged in the same plane, namely in the plane of the floor 4. The interspacing units 3 are arranged such that the floors 4 are spaced at a distance of 100 mm from each other. The distance between the floors refers to the distance in z-direction.

[0067] Each support grating 2 has a size of 30 cm30 cm and is made in this embodiment of PVC. Each support grating 2 comprises a plurality of bars 6. Half of the bars 6 are arranged parallel to each other and extend in the x-direction, while the other half of the bars are arranged parallel to each other and extend in the y-direction. The bars of the first group cross the bars of the second group at an angle of 90, such that rectangular cuboid holes 5 are formed having a square cross section. The cross section of the holes is 1 cm1 cm in size.

[0068] Each support grating 2 comprises a plurality of tongues and grooves (not shown in the figures), which are arranged on an outer rim of the support grating 2 and act as connecting elements 7. The support gratings 2 that belong to the same floor 4 are connected to each other by way of the tongues and grooves, which are connectable in a form-fit fashion.

[0069] The substrate structure 1 has a bottom floor 8 and a top floor 9 opposite the bottom floor 8. The width of the floors decreases from the bottom floor 8 to the top floor 9, such that a pyramidal shape is formed. In the illustrated embodiment, the top floor 9, the bottom floor 8 and the floors between the top floor 9 and the bottom floor 8 have the same length. The length extends in the y-direction, while the width extends in the x-direction. The bottom floor 8 has a width of 300 mm and a length of 1200 mm. The top floor 9 has a width of 300 mm and a length of 300 mm.

[0070] The substrate structure 1 further comprises a ground floor 10 arranged underneath the bottom floor 10. The ground floor 10 is significantly larger than the other floors, including the bottom floor 10. The ground 10 floor may also be covered with a net (not shown). According to this embodiment, the ground floor 10 has a width of 600 mm and a length of 1500 mm.

[0071] In the illustrated embodiment, the interspacing units 3 are realized as tubes which are connected to the support gratings 2. As an example, the tubes may be connected to the support gratings 2 by way of a string (not shown). Each support grating 2 is connected to one to two tubes on a bottom face of the support grating 2. To facilitate connecting the tubes and the support gratings 2, the tubes may be cut open.

[0072] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the tank entity 11 disclosed herein. The tank entity 11 comprises a substrate structure 1 and a tank 12. The tank 12 is a rectangular cuboid. The tank 12 has a width of 600 mm, extending in the x-direction. The tank 12 has a length of 1500 mm, extending in the y-direction. The tank 12 has a height of 700 mm, extending in the z-direction.

[0073] The tank 12 is filled with water. The substrate structure 1 is located inside the tank 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the ground floor 10 has the same size as the bottom of the tank and the substrate structure 1 restsby way of the tubes arranged on the bottom of the ground floor 10on the bottom of the tank 12.

[0074] In a further embodiment, the bottom of the tank tapers downwards below the ground floor 10, thereby forming an inverted pyramid shape. This embodiment facilitates collection of waste from the crustaceans, which falls below the ground floor 10 and is collected on the tip of the bottom tank. The ground floor 10, which covers the cross section of the tank 12 is for example arranged above the inverted pyramid shape and separates the area for the crustaceans comprising the support structure 1 from a waste collecting area.

[0075] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the embodiment of the tank entity 11 shown in FIG. 2.

[0076] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the embodiment of the tank entity 11 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0077] FIG. 5 shows a first sectional view of the embodiment of the tank entity 11 shown in FIGS. 2-4 indicated by section line B. Section line B is indicated in FIG. 4.

[0078] FIG. 6 shows a second sectional view of the embodiment of the tank entity 11 shown in FIGS. 2-5 indicated by section line C. Section line C is indicated in FIG. 4.

[0079] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the method of holding crustaceans disclosed herein. The method comprises, as a first step (A), providing a tank 12 filled with water and having crustaceans inside. The method further comprises, as a subsequent step (B), placing the substrate structure 1 inside the tank 12 within 300 mm from the bottom of the tank 12.

[0080] In the illustrated embodiment, the method further comprises, as a subsequent step (C), growing the crustaceans. In the illustrated embodiment, the method further comprises, as a subsequent step (D), collecting molts from the crustaceans.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0081] 1 substrate structure [0082] 2 support grating [0083] 3 interspacing unit [0084] 4 floor [0085] 5 hole [0086] 6 bar [0087] 7 connecting element [0088] 8 bottom floor [0089] 9 top floor [0090] 10 ground floor [0091] 11 tank entity [0092] 12 tank