Patent ID: 9474256
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: A01K,B63B,G01V

Claim Text:
1. A spreading device for trawl fishing and seismic survey operations, the device comprising: an upper frame defining a top edge of the device; a lower frame defining a bottom edge of the device; a middle frame between the upper and lower frame; at least two upper panels connected between the upper frame and the middle frame, wherein each of the at least two upper panels have a leading edge and a trailing edge; at least two lower panels connected between the middle frame and the lower frame, wherein each of the at least two lower panels have a leading edge and a trailing edge; driving units mounted on (1) the upper frame and the lower frame; or (2) the middle frame; or (3) the upper frame, the lower frame and the middle frame, and adapted to alter the position of at least one of the upper panels or the lower panels, the driving units adapted to be controlled remotely, when the device is in use being towed through the water, wherein at least one of the at least two lower panels or at least one of the at least two upper panels is adjustable independently with respect to the other panel of the at least two lower panels or the other panel of the at least two upper panels respectively to adjust the position of the panels closer to each other or further apart to control water flow through the device between the at least two upper panels from the leading edge to the trailing edge and between the at least two lower panels from the leading edge to the trailing edge.