IP Library Granted Patent US 10,251,375
Granted Patent B2
US 10,251,375 · App. 15/220,141 · Granted Apr 9, 2019

Aquaculture environment control apparatuses, systems, and methods

Inventors: Robert H. Gervais (Currie, MN); Kasey E. Holm (Balaton, MN); Dennis J. Johnson (Windom, MN); Michael B. Ziebell (Spicer, MN)
A01K63/042A01K61/00A01K63/04B01F3/0451B01F3/04113B01F3/04262B01F5/0403B01F2215/0052Y02P60/642
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,251,375
App. No.
15/220,141
Granted
Apr 9, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aquaculture environment control system comprising a plurality of discharge conduits positioned in a vessel, the discharge conduits including one or more orifices; a fluid source in fluid communication with the plurality of discharge conduits; a gas supply source in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of discharge conduits; wherein discharging fluid from the plurality of discharge conduits into the vessel creates or maintains a current throughout fluid present within the vessel. A method of controlling an aquaculture environment comprising supplying one or more of a fluid and a gas to a plurality of discharge conduits positioned in a vessel; and discharging the one or more of the fluid and the gas from at least one of the plurality of discharge conduits to the vessel, the discharging creating or maintaining a current within the vessel.

Claims (28)

1. An aquaculture environment control system, the system comprising:

a plurality of discharge conduits positioned in a vessel configured to house one or more aquatic organisms, the discharge conduits including one or more orifices;

a fluid source in fluid communication with the plurality of discharge conduits;

a gas supply source in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of discharge conduits;

wherein discharging fluid from the plurality of discharge conduits into the vessel creates or maintains a current throughout fluid present within the vessel, wherein at least a portion of the fluid discharged from one or more of the plurality of discharge conduits is discharged at an angle relative to a proximal vessel wall such that the fluid converges upon the proximal vessel wall.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of discharge conduits are positioned within the vessel at a position perpendicular to a proximal vessel wall.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of discharge conduits is positioned at the downstream end of a proximal vessel wall at a position generally parallel to the proximal vessel wall.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of discharge conduits are positioned within the vessel at a position perpendicular to a proximal vessel wall.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of discharge conduits are positioned within the vessel at a plurality of vertical positions relative to a vessel bottom.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid supply pipe in fluid communication with one or more of the plurality of discharge conduits and one or more of the fluid source and the gas supply source.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the gas supply source comprises an open end distal to the connection end with the fluid supply pipe located above a fluid level in the vessel.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more fluid intakes.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more temperature modulators that modulate temperature within the vessel.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more inclusion introducers that deliver one or more inclusions to the vessel.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more fluid treatment systems that treat fluid within the vessel.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors that sense one or more properties of a fluid within the vessel.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a partition that facilitates a current within the vessel.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein a bottom of the vessel comprises a partitioning geometry.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the partitioning geometry comprises an apex or a nadir.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein one or more of the plurality of discharge conduits comprises a plurality of orifices.

17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning solution source in fluid communication with one or more of the plurality of discharge conduits.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein discharging the cleaning solution from the one or more of the plurality of discharge conduits into the vessel cleans an aquaculture environment control system.

19. A method of controlling an aquaculture environment, the method comprising:

supplying, via at least one fluid source, a fluid to the plurality of discharge conduits positioned in a vessel configured to house one or more aquatic organisms;

supplying, via at least one gas source, a gas to the plurality of discharge conduits; and

discharging one or more of the fluid and the gas from at least one of the plurality of discharge conduits to the vessel, the discharging creating or maintaining a current within the vessel, wherein at least a portion of the fluid discharged from the plurality of discharge conduits is discharged at an angle relative to a proximal vessel wall such that the fluid converges upon the proximal vessel wall.

20. An aquaculture environment control system, the system comprising:

a plurality of discharge conduits positioned in a vessel configured to house one or more aquatic organisms , the discharge conduits including one or more orifices; a fluid source in fluid communication with the plurality of discharge conduits; a gas supply source in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of discharge conduits; wherein discharging fluid from the plurality of discharge conduits into the vessel creates of maintains a current throughout fluid present within the vessel, and further comprising a cleaning solution source in fluid communication with one or more of the plurality of discharge conduits.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 13, 2024
From: THE TRU SHRIMP COMPANIES, INC.
To: ITERRO, INC.
Reel/Frame 067397/0228 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 9, 2022
From: THE TRU SHRIMP COMPANY
To: THE TRU SHRIMP COMPANIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058980/0786 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2019
From: THE TRU SHRIMP COMPANY
To: EAGLE ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 049945/0297 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2018
From: RALCO NUTRITION, INC.
To: RNI AQUACULTURE, LLC
Reel/Frame 047793/0649 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2018
From: RNI AQUACULTURE, LLC
To: THE TRU SHRIMP COMPANY
Reel/Frame 047793/0661 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2017
From: GERVAIS, ROBERT H.; HOLM, KASEY E.; JOHNSON, DENNIS J.; ZIEBELL, MICHAEL B.
To: RALCO NUTRITION, INC.
Reel/Frame 040977/0826 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62290718 · Feb 3, 2016
Related Publication 20170215391A1 · Aug 3, 2017