Containment system for crab and crustacean aquaculture and pre-distribution storage
View Patent ↗A containment system specifically adapted to hold crabs and other crustaceans either in an aquaculture storage tank of a recirculating aquaculture system or outside of the storage tank includes tray compartments that slidably engage shelf projections or tracks extending from sidewalls or upright posts of a support frame. The top tray lid is latched, and handles are provided on the tray sidewalls. A removable sleeve attached to the tray deters crabs from evacuating the tray compartment when the tray lid is opened. The support frame is supported for rolling movement. Each tray compartment has porous walls and houses one or multiple crabs. Multiple tray compartments may be housed into the support frame in columns and rows as desired. The containment assembly (multiple frames and multiple tray compartments) may be lowered into or raised out of the aquaculture storage tank with automated equipment.
1 . A containment system for crabs or other crustaceans, comprising:
a frame supported for rolling movement within an aquaculture storage tank or on a support surface outside of the aquaculture storage tank, said frame having two or more upright walls or posts from which shelf projections or tracks extend;
at least one tray compartment, wherein the tray compartment has a top lid, a tray bottom, a front wall, a rear wall, and at least two sidewalls, and wherein the top lid, tray bottom, front wall, rear wall and sidewalls comprise a porous material through which a fluid may flow;
at least one pair of mount bearings associated with each tray compartment, with a first one of the mount bearings extending from the first sidewall and with a second one of the mount bearings extending from the second sidewall, said mount bearings configured to contact opposed shelf projections or tracks to support the tray compartment on or in said shelf projections or tracks;
at least one pair of handles associated with each tray compartment, with a first one of the handles extending from the first sidewall and with the second one of the handles extending from the second sidewall; and
a removable sleeve detachably securable to surround at least upper portions of the front wall and sidewalls of the tray compartment so as to increase height of the front wall and sidewalls, wherein said sleeve is configured to be secured while the top lid is closed and remain secured while the top lid is opened;
wherein each tray compartment is adapted to hold multiple crabs or crustaceans therein; and
wherein each tray compartment is dimensioned to be slidingly or rollingly received between two of the upright walls or posts and supported by the mount bearings on opposed shelf projections or tracks extending from respective two upright walls or posts.
2 . The containment system of claim 1 , wherein the tray compartment sidewalls have a height of not more than 7 inches.
3 . The containment system of claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises a mesh, a rigid vinyl mesh or a metal mesh.
4 . The containment system of claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises a mesh with honeycomb-shaped mesh openings.
5 . The containment system of claim 1 , wherein the top lid is hingedly connected to the rear wall of the tray compartment.
6 . The containment system of claim 5 , further comprising at least one toggle latch to secure the lid in closed position.
7 . The containment system of claim 1 , wherein the removable sleeve surrounds at least upper portions of the front wall, rear wall and sidewalls of the tray compartment.
8 . The containment system of claim 1 , further comprising securement straps to join the removable sleeve to the tray compartment.
9 . The containment system of claim 8 , further comprising at least one dimple sleeve insert formed in at least one of the front wall or sidewalls of the tray compartment or in at least one mount plate formed in or secured to a sidewall that is configured to receive a mating snap projection of one of the securement straps.
10 . The containment system of claim 1 , further comprising reinforcement straps in contact with the tray bottom.
11 . The containment system of claim 1 , further comprising reinforcement straps in contact with the tray lid.
12 . The containment system of claim 1 , further comprising mount plates secured to the sidewalls of the tray compartments.
13 . The containment system of claim 12 , wherein the handles are joined to the mount plates.
14 . The containment system of claim 12 , wherein the mount bearings project from the mount plates.
15 . An aquaculture system for crustaceans, comprising:
an aquaculture storage tank; and
a containment system disposed inside the aquaculture storage tank, said containment system comprising:
a frame supported for rolling movement within the aquaculture storage tank or on a support surface outside of the aquaculture storage tank, said frame having two or more upright walls or posts from which shelf projections or tracks extend;
at least one tray compartment, wherein the tray compartment comprises a porous material through which a fluid may flow, and wherein the tray has a top lid, a tray bottom, a front wall, a rear wall, and at least two sidewalls;
at least one pair of mount bearings associated with each tray compartment, with a first one of the mount bearings extending from the first sidewall and with a second one of the mount bearings extending from the second sidewall, said mount bearings configured to contact opposed shelf projections or tracks to support the tray compartment on or in said shelf projections or tracks; and
at least one pair of handles associated with each tray compartment, with a first one of the handles extending from the first sidewall and with the second one of the handles extending from the second sidewall;
and a removable sleeve detachably securable to surround at least upper portions of the front wall and sidewalls of the tray compartment so as to increase height of the front wall and sidewalls, wherein said sleeve is configured to be secured while the top lid is closed and remain secured while the top lid is opened
wherein each tray compartment is adapted to hold multiple crabs or crustaceans therein;
wherein each tray compartment is dimensioned to be slidingly or rollingly received between two of the upright walls or posts and supported by the mount bearings on opposed shelf projections or tracks extending from respective two upright walls or posts; and
wherein the aquaculture storage tank is filled with water in a volume that is sufficient to fully submerge each tray compartment in the containment system disposed inside the aquaculture storage tank.
16 . The aquaculture system of claim 15 , further comprising:
one or more pumps for pumping water into the aquaculture storage tank;
wherein water is pumped in a volume that is sufficient to flow into and retain each tray compartment in the containment system submerged in water while disposed inside the aquaculture storage tank.
17 . The aquaculture system of claim 16 , further comprising a heater to control temperature of the water that is pumped into the aquaculture storage tank, wherein the water comprises temperature controlled recirculated water.
18 . The aquaculture system of claim 15 , wherein the containment system comprises a first plurality of tray compartments arranged in a first column, and further comprises a second plurality of tray compartments arranged in a second column, with both columns of tray compartments disposed in the aquaculture storage tank and fully submerged by water in the aquaculture storage tank.
19 . The aquaculture system of claim 18 , wherein the second column of tray compartments is stacked onto the first column of tray compartments of the containment system.
20 . The aquaculture system of claim 18 , wherein the second column of tray compartments is adjacent to the first column of tray compartments of the containment system.