Tank Array Patents (Class 119/224)
  • Patent number: 11375699
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a first farming plant including a central tank and one or more surrounding tanks, where the central tank is used for water treatment and the one or more surrounding tanks are used for the farming of fish. The fish farming plan may also include one or more flow applicators, whereby the flow rate of the water in the surrounding tanks are individually independent of the water exchange rate. The fish farming plant may include several movable permeable section walls in each of the surrounding tanks dividing each surrounding tank into tank sections. Each surrounding tank is equipped with one or more outlets and one or two inlets, and a substantially horizontal/laminar flow structure of the water in each one of the surrounding tanks is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support, SAS
    Inventor: Bent Urup
  • Patent number: 11116187
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for collecting and decompressing one or more live specimens from a relatively high-pressure environment. The apparatus includes at least one hyperbaric chamber having an inner jar and an outer jar, the inner jar being insertable into the outer jar. A pump is configured to provide a pressurized fluid to the hyperbaric chamber. The inner and outer jars are respectively dimensioned such that an annular gap is created between them when the inner jar is inserted into the outer jar. The annular gap is configured as a return path for the pressurized fluid to travel from a second outer end to a first outer end of the outer jar. At least one pressure control valve is operatively connected to and configured to control an internal pressure of the hyperbaric chamber. The pressure control valve is selectively adjusted to decompress the live specimens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: California Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Matt Wandell, William R. Shepherd, Hudson T. Pinheiro, Luiz A. Rocha, Toshiro Chiang
  • Patent number: 11089789
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning crustacea or game has a container, a pipe positioned adjacent to a wall of the container, and a connector fluidically connected to the pipe adjacent a lower end of the pipe and having a portion extending outwardly of the wall of the container. The pipe has a plurality of apertures adapted to direct a flow of water toward a portion of the wall spaced from the pipe such that the flow of water creates a cyclonic path in the container. The pipe extends generally vertically adjacent to the wall of the container. The plurality of apertures are formed in spaced relation to each other along a length of the pipe. A drain is affixed through a wall of the container adjacent to the bottom of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventor: Tim McDonald
  • Patent number: 11064680
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically delivering a substance to an animal or fish including a positioning system that positions each animal singularly and a sensor that detects the location of a predetermined targeted area on the animal. The system further includes a delivery device for delivering a substance to the targeted area. The position of the delivery device may be adjustable. The delivery device is in communication with the sensor. The delivery device adjusts its position in response to the data received from the sensor and delivers a substance to the targeted area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Applied LifeSciences and Systems LLC
    Inventor: Ramin Karimpour
  • Patent number: 10729110
    Abstract: An installation for the farming of fish is described and also a method to establish a water reservoir for the farming of the fish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventor: Geir Nordahl-Pedersen
  • Patent number: 10524456
    Abstract: Filtering device (20) to draw water from an aquarium and the like and make water circulate inside, including a container (30) comprising a first housing portion (32) having a first inlet (174) and a second inlet (176) for the entry of water taken from the aquarium into the first housing portion (32) which is able to contain at least one filter for filtering water, further including a flow control device (50) having an entry (60) for taking water from the aquarium and it has two operating positions, a first operating position or filtering position wherein the entry (60) is in communication with the first inlet (174), so that water taken from the aquarium is put into the first housing portion (32), passes through the first inlet (174), is filtered and then is put back into the aquarium, and a second operating position or cleaning position or backwash position, wherein the entry (60) is in communication with the second inlet (176), water taken from the aquarium enters into the first housing portion (32) through
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rolf C. Hagen Inc.
    Inventors: Valerio Bresolin, Robert Reid
  • Patent number: 10021860
    Abstract: A kit for an aquarium aquaponic assembly is disclosed. The kit comprises generally an aquarium module, a garden module, a reservoir module, drain conduits fluidly connecting the modules and a pump. The reservoir module has a top opening adapted to receive and maintained both the aquarium module and at least one garden module. Each garden module supports terrestrial plants and is located directly adjacent to one side of the aquarium module and located below a predetermined operating water level of the aquarium module. The aquarium module comprises a transparent tank adapted to be partially supported by the reservoir module. The system is designed such that the waste water from the aquarium module flows to the garden module for irrigating and feeding the plants. The waste water flowing from the garden module is filtered and directed to the reservoir module then pumped back to the aquarium module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Inventor: Robin Plante
  • Patent number: 9497939
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for testing and researching aquatic species is provided. The apparatus and system includes a housing rack for housing a tank. The apparatus and system further includes one or more dividers for dividing the at least one tank into one or more compartments. The apparatus further includes a collection channel and a downspout in each compartment for draining of water from each compartment. The apparatus further includes one or more lids for covering the one or more compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: R&D AQUATICS, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Anthony Castranova
  • Patent number: 8622025
    Abstract: An indoor fish tank has a of walls and bottoms interconnected to define distinct fish holding, sedimentation and bioreactor sections. Water flows out of the bioreactor section into the top of the fish holding section, and then from the bottom of the fish holding section into the sedimentation section. A frame structure with braces connected with the tank walls and bottoms supports the tank on a ground support, with at least the bottom of the fish holding section raised above the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Big Dutchman International GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Böer, Torsten Gritzka
  • Patent number: 8534228
    Abstract: A fish tank apparatus includes a plurality of fish tanks and water measuring apparatus. The water measuring apparatus includes a measuring member for detecting water parameter, and a switchable sample water diverting member having a plurality of inlets and at least one outlet. A central measurement conduit fluidically connects the outlet of the switchable sample water diverting member with the measuring member. A plurality of peripheral measurement conduits fluidically connect the fish tanks with the inlets of the switchable sample water diverting device, which is configured to selectively feed sample water from each one of the peripheral measurement conduits to the central measurement conduit to test the water in the fish tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Big Dutchman International GmbH
    Inventor: Meik Südkamp
  • Publication number: 20130008386
    Abstract: A sustainable food production system, known as aquaponics, is housed in at least a portion of an intermodal shipping container. In some embodiments, the food production system can be housed fully in one intermodal shipping container or may span multiple shipping containers that can be stacked vertically, end-to-end or side-to-side. An ecosystem is created in the shipping containers where fish fertilize plants and plants clarify the water for the fish. The containers are designed to be plug-and-play and are expandable. Because they are intermodal (ISO) shipping containers, they can be easily shipped anywhere in the world. In the area of a standard parking space (8 feet by 20 feet), about 1,500 fish per year and hundreds of vegetables monthly can be raised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Cameron Jacobs
  • Patent number: 8336498
    Abstract: A shrimp aquaculture structure including a set of at least two raceways each having a length, width, and at least one depth to give an average depth, and including two ends, two side walls having a top, a sloped bottom joining each side wall at two side wall junctions. Some of five raceways may be stacked at least partially on top of another of the five raceways. According to another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a process of shrimp aquaculture by using the set of five raceways and sequentially transferring shrimp form one raceway to another once the shrimp reach a given average size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventor: Addison Lawrence
  • Publication number: 20110290191
    Abstract: An indoor fish tank has a plurality of walls and bottoms interconnected to define distinct fish holding, sedimentation and bioreactor sections. Water flows out of the bioreactor section into the top of the fish holding section, and then from the bottom of the fish holding section into the sedimentation section. A frame structure with braces connected with the tank walls and bottoms supports the tank on a ground support, with at least the bottom of the fish holding section raised above the ground surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Marco Böer, Torsten Gritzka
  • Publication number: 20110005464
    Abstract: Problems to be solved by the present invention are: (i) to make it possible for bred fishes, such as tuna, to swim fully and safely without danger of collision to the wall; (ii) to make it possible for fry to safely survive without being eaten by young and grown fishes; (iii) to largely reduce energy consumption needed for water purification; and (iv) to largely reduce labor needed for cleaning and regenerating filter means. These problems are solved by the invention of equipment for migratory fish breeding, in which a breeding tank formed in a circle and a purified water tank formed in a shape lacking a part of a circle (an “occulted circle”) are included, both tanks closely set together like a pair of eye-glasses. The breeding tank is provided with water lanes for separating infant (fry), young, and grown fishes from each other, each given a circular water current. In the purified water tank, there is placed water filtering means and purified (filtered) water is stored there.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventor: Ichiro Washiyama
  • Publication number: 20090145368
    Abstract: A system and method provide an intensive aquaculture system for producing caviar or other goods. The system has a photosynthetic subsystem to consume waste from a production species, a food production subsystem to consume the photosynthetic species and be eaten by the production species. Optionally, the food production species may be pelletized or otherwise refined before being consumed by the production species. While each subsystem may have its own water chemistry, gas scrubbers may be used to control gas levels among the subsystems. In one implementation, an enclosure is used with a sensor to measure the gas above the water in the photosynthetic species. Water and species may be transferred among the subsystems as desired. Multiple aquaculture systems may be used in combination to provide age-specific systems operating in conjunction with one another and distribute risk of disease or failure across multiple systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: Richard S. Brauman
  • Patent number: 7467601
    Abstract: A system and method provide an intensive aquaculture system for producing caviar or other goods. The system has a photosynthetic subsystem to consume waste from a production species, a food production subsystem to consume the photosynthetic species and be eaten by the production species. Optionally, the food production species may be pelletized or otherwise refined before being consumed by the production species. While each subsystem may have its own water chemistry, gas scrubbers may be used to control gas levels among the subsystems. In one implementation, an enclosure is used with a sensor to measure the gas above the water in the photosynthetic species. Water and species may be transferred among the subsystems as desired. Multiple aquaculture systems may be used in combination to provide age-specific systems operating in conjunction with one another and distribute risk of disease or failure across multiple systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Inventor: Richard S. Brauman
  • Patent number: 7204203
    Abstract: An aquarium water changing and stabilization system consists of an initial tank designed to stabilize and condition water before it is entered into a subsequent tank that contains live aquatic animals such as fish. This system has a cabinet that is designed to aesthetically enclose, protect and support the components of the aquarium while providing access to the system. Water is introduced into the system from existing hot and cold water plumbing which is connected to this system. Water exits from this system into existing sewerage plumbing which is also connected to this system. Conditioned water from the conditioning tank enters the main fish tank via plumbing from one tank to the other. In case too much water is introduced to either tank, overflow drains in both tanks prevent water from overflowing over the top of either tank. Plumbing check valves and ball valves create safe and easy plumbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Inventor: Vincent Riemma
  • Patent number: 7168442
    Abstract: A liquid handling system transfers liquid (e.g. water, bearing marine animals) between two tanks each having a respective liner which is movable between a lining position (when filled with liquid) and an inverted position (when its respective tank is emptied). In an initial state, liquid is held in a first tank. By supplying air to a space between the first tank and its liner, its liner is progressively lifted and liquid passes along a channel onto the initially inverted second liner (which acts as a baffle to slow the liquid flow). Air in a space between the second liner and the second tank is vented so transferred liquid sinks the second liner to fill the second tank. A ballast liquid may be used in the spaces. Initially held in the second tank, the ballast liquid flows via a passage into the first tank as transfer of liquid progresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventor: Ian McRobert
  • Patent number: 7100535
    Abstract: A container 10 for rearing aquatic animals includes a floor portion 12 which defines a plurality of openings. A wall portion 100 bounds the floor portion 12 to form, together with the floor portion 12, a chamber for receiving the aquatic animals to be reared. A filter 105 is arranged in the openings of the floor portion 12. A closure plate 103 openably closes the openings in the floor portion 12. The invention extends also to a system which includes a plurality of the containers 10. The containers 10 are supported, in a partially immersed state in a vessel of the system. A circulating arrangement of the system circulates water through the containers 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Auckland Uniservices Limited
    Inventors: Peter Malcolm Cattin, Philip Stanley Crosier
  • Patent number: 6988394
    Abstract: A portable automated biomonitoring system for monitoring water quality includes an exposure chamber for housing an aquatic organism and a water inlet for directing water to the exposure chamber. The aquatic organism has ventilatory behavior and body movement sensitive to water quality. Electrodes sense electrical signals produced by the organism during its ventilatory behavior and body movement, and a controller responsive to signals from the electrodes determines a plurality of ventilatory parameters based on the signals. The ventilatory parameters are compared with corresponding thresholds to determine when the water to which the organism is exposed has caused physiological stress to the organism. The water being evaluated may be recirculated through the system for further analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Tommy R. Shedd, Mark W. Widder, Mark W. Brown, Murray S. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6443100
    Abstract: A debris separating system for separating debris in a fish tank is formed by a standpipe extending up through the bottom of tank at the center of tank and terminating in an open end. A cover covers the opening and is spaced therefrom to provide an inlet opening positioned above the bottom of the tank. A transition zone is formed at the bottom of the tank surrounding the standpipe and a debris outlet is provided from this zone through the bottom of the tank for removal of debris separated in the transition zone. Cleaned water from the transition zone flows up around the standpipe, through the inlet opening and into the standpipe for removal from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Future Sea Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Clayton Mearle Brenton
  • Patent number: 6393899
    Abstract: An automated biomonitoring system for monitoring water quality includes an exposure chamber for housing an aquatic organism having ventilatory behavior and body movement sensitive to water quality. Electrodes capture electrical signals produced by the organism during its ventilatory behavior and body movement, and a controller responsive to signals from the electrodes determines one or more ventilatory parameters based on the signals. The ventilatory parameters are compared with corresponding thresholds to determine when the water to which the organism is exposed has caused physiological stress to the organism. The signals captured by the electrodes may be corrected for variations in water conductivity so that the signals processed by the controlled are not influenced by conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Geo-Centers, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommy Ray Shedd, Mark Wesley Widder, Jeffrey Daniel Leach, William Hendrik Van Der Schalie, Robert Charles Bishoff
  • Patent number: 6187208
    Abstract: Tank cleaning system is formed by an upper deck having a spout potion and a deck portion, injectors and a separation chamber having a conical bottom wall and a top formed by a waste baffle. The injectors connect the deck portion with the separation chamber so that the waste baffle and upper deck are axially separated to provide an outlet passage therebetween. The injector passages direct water through the upper deck and waste baffle into the lower chamber and impart a significant velocity component tangential to the chamber to the water flowing therethrough to impart a helical flow to the water in the chamber. A debris outlet passage is provided adjacent to the bottom of the lower portion of the chamber. The dirt laden stream enters the chamber through the injectors and dirt is separated by centrifugal action in the chamber and rejected through the debris outlet while the cleaned water passes through the outlet passage and is returned to the surrounding water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Future Sea Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore Baxter White
  • Patent number: 6148769
    Abstract: The present invention provides a compact culture system to produce microalgae, live food animals and fish fry (new born fish) in a serial manner. The culture system is composed of three individual reactors of same size positioned in different levels on three shelves of a frame. In the top-level reactor, microalgae is grown symbiotically with fish. With so grown microalgae, live food animals in the middle-level reactor are fed. Finely, the live food animals are transferred into the bottom-level reactor to feed fry in it. Culture water in the system is self-cleaned by the metabolic activity of the photosynthetic microalgae, and is circulated through the reactors continuously or intermittently. Heaters, thermometers, aerators, illuminators, and water pumps are equipped in the system to offer optimal growth conditions for the organisms. Extra electric outlets are provided for the use of pH-meters, oxygen-meters, carbon dioxide-meters, ammonia-meters when needed to control the water quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology
    Inventor: Moo-Young Pack
  • Patent number: 6093320
    Abstract: Tank cleaning system is formed by an upper deck having a spout potion and a deck portion, injectors and a separation chamber having a conical bottom wall and a top formed by a waste baffle. The injectors connect the deck portion with the separation chamber so that the waste baffle and upper deck are axially separated to provide an outlet passage therebetween. The injector passages direct water through the upper deck and waste baffle into the lower chamber and impart a significant velocity component tangential to the chamber to the water flowing therethrough to impart a helical flow to the water in the chamber. A debris outlet passage is provided adjacent to the bottom of the lower portion of the chamber. The dirt laden stream enters the chamber through the injectors and dirt is separated by centrifugal action in the chamber and rejected through the debris outlet while the cleaned water passes through the outlet passage and is returned to the surrounding water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Future Sea Technologies Inc
    Inventor: Theodore Baxter White
  • Patent number: 6093566
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluating the effects of toxic substances in the environment on aquatic organisms is disclosed. The apparatus allows for exposure of test organisms, placed in test chambers made of partially submerged sieves, to water that is pumped from an urban creek at preset time intervals. The invention also allows for maintenance of cool temperatures in the exposure chambers, both for the treatment (i.e., creek water) and the experimental control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Revital Katznelson
  • Patent number: 5804705
    Abstract: Aquatic animals that emit electrical signals are used to detect changes in the operating conditions of an aqueous medium (e.g., the presence of a pollutant). In one embodiment, the aquatic test animals are fishes of a species known as Apteronotus albifrons, whose electrical signals have frequency variations on the order of 0.1% under constant operating conditions; the temperature of the aqueous medium is stabilized to within 0.1.degree. C.; each aquatic test animal is placed in a perforated refuge within a holding tank in which the aqueous medium flows in a vertical direction; and three or more aquatic test animals are used, wherein phases of nychthemeral activity of the aquatic test animals are artificially offset to achieve overlapping of the nychthemeral activity of the aquatic test animals. All of these combine to yield a highly sensitive and reliable system for real-time biological monitoring of physico-chemical parameters of an aqueous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Nancie--Centre International De L'Eau
    Inventors: Andre Florion, Denis Terver, Didier Cretien, Marielle Thomas
  • Patent number: 5636595
    Abstract: A device for removal of sediment particles from the water in a cultivating tank for aquatic organisms. The cultivating tank has a cylindrical outlet connected to an outlet tube located on the vertical axis of symmetry of the cultivating tank. A plate is spacedly positioned above the upper edge of an annular chamber formed at the bottom of the tank around the outlet to form a slotted opening into the annular chamber. The annular chamber has a separate outlet formed in or near the bottom for carrying away particles accumulated within the chamber. The portion of the cylindrical outlet near the upper area of the chamber includes a plurality of orifices arranged to collect and withdraw relatively clear water. In an other embodiment, the cultivating tank having a flat bottom can have a cone shaped inwardly tapering section surrounding the cylindrical outlet which forms the annular chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventors: Trygve Lunde, Steinar Skybakmoen, Idar Schei