IP Library Granted Patent US 12,465,028
Granted Patent B2
US 12,465,028 · App. 17/477,189 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Raceways and systems thereof

Inventor: Robert H. Gervais (Currie, MN)
Assignee: Iterro, Inc
A01K61/90A01K61/59
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,465,028
App. No.
17/477,189
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A raceway for collecting molts and removing waste comprises a sloped base with an apex, a divider extending upward from the apex, two side walls, each opposing and parallel to the divider sufficient to form two elongated channels on the sloped base; and at least two tapered ends in fluid communication with the channels, each tapered end including an end wall, a pit, and a sloped floor extending from the sloped base to the end wall or pit.

Claims (40)

1 . A raceway for shrimp production, comprising:

a sloped base with an apex,

a divider extending upward from the apex,

two side walls, each opposing and parallel to the divider sufficient to form two elongated channels on the sloped base; and

at least two tapered ends in fluid communication with the channels, each tapered end configured as a recovery zone and comprising:

an end wall,

a pit,

a sloped floor extending from the sloped base to the end wall or pit

and arranged between the sloped base and the pit such that the sloped floor has a downward slope of an angle of 1 to 45 degrees relative to a vertical reference towards one or more of the end walls and is in contact with the tapered ends to increase a cross-sectional area of the channel; wherein the sloped floor meets the sloped base at a first point at the two side walls and at a second point at the apex and the first point is closer to the end wall than the second point;

the end walls including an inlet where a pump supplies fluid to the raceway, the inlet being provided in-line with an outlet channel;

the sloped base having an angle of about 6 degrees to about 8 degrees relative to the horizontal axis; and

a collection zone located in the pit, the collection zone comprising one or more openings, and

a filter or screen in the one or more openings for the collection of molts.

2 . The raceway of claim 1 , wherein the divider minimizes turbulent flow in each of the channels.

3 . The raceway of claim 1 , wherein the length of the divider and apex is the same.

4 . The raceway of claim 1 , wherein a length of the divider is less than a length of the apex.

5 . The raceway of claim 1 , wherein the channels have a symmetric configuration.

6 . The raceway of claim 1 , wherein the channels have an asymmetric configuration.

7 . The raceway of claim 1 , wherein each channel includes one or more of an expansion zone, a contraction zone, and a non-expansion zone.

8 . The raceway of claim 7 , wherein the expansion zone encourages settling of molts and the contraction zone increases a fluid flow rate.

9 . The raceway of claim 1 , wherein each of the two channels includes an expansion region and a contraction region and the corresponding expansion regions and contraction regions of the two channels have the same cross-sectional area and/or angle relative to a horizontal axis line along the length of the channels.

10 . The raceway of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the tapered ends are configured as a recovery zone that encourages settling of molts.

11 . The raceway of claim 1 , wherein the raceway collects molts.

12 . A raceway for removal of components that are present and/or generated during shrimp production, the raceway comprising:

first and second side walls arranged in parallel;

first and second end walls arranged in parallel and oriented generally perpendicular to each of the first and second side walls;

a sloped base arranged between the first and second side walls and having an apex, the apex extending between the first and second end walls, and at least a portion of the apex is parallel to the first and second side walls;

a first channel formed between the first sidewall and the apex;

a second channel formed between the second side wall and the apex; and

a tapered end in fluid communication with the first and second channels, the tapered end configured as a recovery zone and further comprising:

a sloped floor extending downward from the sloped base toward the first or second end wall at an angle of 1 to 45 degrees relative to a vertical reference; wherein the sloped floor meets the sloped base at a first point at the two side walls and at a second point at the apex and the first point is closer to the end wall than the second point;

the sloped base having an angle of about 6 degrees to about 8 degrees relative to the horizontal axis;

a pit located between the sloped floor and the first or second end wall, the pit configured for collecting molts; and

a collection zone located in the pit, the collection zone comprising one or more openings,

a filter of screen in the one or more openings for the collection of molts,

wherein the end walls including an inlet where a pump supplies fluid to the raceway, the inlet being provided in-line with an outlet channel; and

wherein the sloped floor is arranged between the sloped base and the pit such that the sloped floor is in contact with the tapered ends to increase a cross-sectional area of the channel.

13 . The raceway of claim 12 , further comprising:

a divider extending upward from the apex.

14 . The raceway of claim 12 wherein each of the first and second channels includes one or more of an expansion zone, a contraction zone and a non-expansion zone for controlling a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the first and second channels.

Assignments (2)
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 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16433887 · Jun 6, 2019
Provisional Application 62681882 · Jun 7, 2018
Related Publication 20220000081A1 · Jan 6, 2022
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