Abstract:
The present invention is a jetter assembly for cleaning aquaculture nets in situ. The jetter assembly includes a high-pressure rotational union connected to an outer shroud assembly and an inner washing ring assembly. The rotational union includes a hose inlet connected to a fluid hose, a shaft and a plurality of inner ring segments securing the rotational union to the outer shroud assembly. The outer shroud assembly includes several supporting gussets connecting the outer shroud assembly to the rotational union and several inner and outer shroud sandwich plates connecting several shroud sections. The inner washing ring assembly includes a manifold, several spray bars and a centrifugal vortex plate that generates a fluid vortex to clean the nets.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/955,597 filed Mar. 19, 2014. The above application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of aquaculture, and more specifically to a jetter assembly for cleaning aquaculture nets “in situ”. 
       2. Description of Related Art 
       [0003]    Net cleaning is vital to ensuring that fish stock in aquaculture remains healthy and edible. Because aquaculture allows husbandry of marine animals in environments controlled, yet still exposed to the sea, the pens and cages in which the animals are raised can be expanded and supplied with food more readily than on-land fisheries or ones located in smaller bodies of water. This allows for controlled production of large quantities of fish without exacerbating the ecological difficulties caused by over-fishing. However, this open environment also requires constant cleaning. 
         [0004]    Fishing nets tend to accumulate naturally occurring marine organisms during seasons—notably mussels, bryozoans, and caprillids. As these fouling organisms develop, they restrict life-giving water flow to the penned fish. Left to mature, they harbor harmful bacteria, tax oxygen levels and weigh down attachment points, floatation and anchoring systems. Historically, net cleaning was a reactive measure, foregone until the fouling community had grown enough to become problematic. 
         [0005]    Historical net washing procedures involve removing a fouled net and replacing it with a clean one. This process involves substantial equipment, expense, labor and time. Feeding time is often lost and fish experience increased stress due to handling. The fouled net must travel to a land-based facility for washing in huge drums. Once washed, the net must be untangled, feathered out, inspected and repaired of any incidental damage incurred during washing. Drum washing is a significant factor contributing to net degradation. 
         [0006]    In an effort to minimize net handling, industry standard practice continues to be coating nets with an active copper compound to delay organic accumulation. This chemical releases ions from the heavy metal, creating a less favorable environment for fouling organisms. While this coating on the net fibers is considered generally effective, its success depends entirely on site specifics and its ionic release capability. The coating is an expensive application. Furthermore, aquaculture experts have reconsidered the coating&#39;s use in efforts to maintain the highest standards of environmental sensitivity. 
         [0007]    There is an unmet need in the art for a means to rapidly and effectively clean aquaculture nets “in situ”, without resorting to damaging drum washers or expensive, potentially toxic chemical compounds. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An exemplary embodiment of a jetter assembly includes a high-pressure rotational union, an outer shroud assembly and an inner washing ring assembly. The high-pressure rotational union includes a hose inlet connected to a fluid hose, a shaft, at least one outer body and a plurality of inner ring segments. The outer shroud assembly includes a plurality of supporting gussets coupled to the plurality of inner ring segments. The plurality of supporting gussets operatively connect to a plurality of inner shroud sandwich plates, a plurality of outer shroud sandwich plates and a plurality of shroud sections. The inner washing ring assembly includes a manifold operatively connected to a plurality of spray bars and a centrifugal vortex plate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIGS. 1 a -1 g    illustrate perspective, first and second partial enlarged perspective, over, side and first and second partial cross-sectional views of an exemplary embodiment of a jetter assembly, respectively. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner washing ring assembly of a jetter assembly. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3 a -3 d    illustrate an overview of assembled inner ring segments, inner ring apertures and inner ring connectors, a cross-sectional view of an inner ring segment and inner ring aperture, a front view of an inner ring segment and inner ring aperture and a back view of an inner ring segment and inner ring aperture, respectively. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4 a -4 d    illustrate a perspective view of an angular foot, a second perspective view of an angular foot, a side view of an angular foot and a bottom view of an angular foot, respectively. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 5 a -5 c    illustrate a perspective view of an inner shroud sandwich plate, a top view of an inner shroud sandwich plate and a side view of an inner shroud sandwich plate, respectively. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6 a -6 c    illustrate a perspective view of an outer shroud sandwich plate, a top view of an outer shroud sandwich plate and a side view of an outer shroud sandwich plate, respectively. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 7 a -7 c    illustrate a perspective view of a supporting gusset, a side view of a supporting gusset and a distal-end view of a supporting gusset, respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]      FIGS. 1 a -1 g    illustrate perspective, first and second partial enlarged perspective, over, side and first and second partial cross-sectional views of an exemplary embodiment of a jetter assembly  100 , respectively. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 a   , jetter assembly  100  is composed of a high-pressure rotational union  10 , an outer shroud assembly  30 , and an inner washing ring assembly  60 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 1 b    illustrates in greater detail elements of high-pressure rotational union  10  as well as elements of outer shroud assembly  30 , while  FIG. 1 c    illustrates in greater detail elements of outer shroud assembly  30 . As shown in  FIG. 1 b   , high-pressure rotational union  10  is composed of hose inlet  11 , shaft  12 , outer body  13  and inner ring segments  17   a - 17   e . Outer shroud assembly  30  includes supporting gussets  31   a - 31   e , angular feet  32   a - 32   e , threaded foot rods  33   a - 33   e , inner shroud sandwich plates  34   a - 34   e , outer shroud sandwich plates  35   a - 35   e  and shroud sections  36   a - 36   e.    
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 1 b   , hose inlet  11  is located at the upper-most point of high-pressure rotational union  10 . Hose inlet  11  has an approximately one-inch female thread for connecting to a source of pressurized fluid (not shown). In an exemplary embodiment, the source of pressurized fluid may be a high-pressure hose connected to a fluid pump. In an exemplary embodiment, the pressurized fluid may be fresh water or seawater. As further shown in  FIG. 1 b   , shaft  12  is located below hose inlet  11  within high-pressure rotational union  10 . Shaft  12  has an approximately one-inch male thread for connecting to other components. As further shown in  FIG. 1 b   , outer body  13  surrounds at least part of hose inlet  11  and shaft  12 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 1 b   , inner ring segments  17   a - 17   e  attach to outer body  13  on high-pressure rotational union  10 . Each of inner ring segments  17   a - 17   e  interconnects to one of supporting gussets  31   a - 31   e  using inner ring apertures  18   a - 18   e . Inner ring apertures  18   a - 18   e  are threaded, angled apertures, each of which receives a threaded proximal end of one of supporting gussets  31   a - 31   e . Each of inner ring segments  17   a - 17   e  interconnects to another of inner ring segments  17   a - 17   e  by means of inner ring connectors  19   a - 19   e . Inner ring connectors  19   a - 19   e  may be screws, bolts, or other fasteners known in the art. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 1 c   , supporting gussets  31   a - 31   e  extend from inner ring segments  17   a - 17   e  to angular feet  32   a - 32   e . Supporting gussets  31   a - 31   e  adjustably connect to angular feet  32   a - 32   e  by threaded rods  33   a - 33   e  integral to angular feet  32   a - 32   e . Threaded rods  33   a - 33   e  have male threading which allows them to mate with female-threaded distal ends of supporting gussets  31   a - 31   e . A user may adjust the distance between supporting gussets  31   a - 31   e  and angular feet  32   a - 32   e  by rotating supporting gussets  31   a - 31   e  relative to angular feet  32   a - 32   e.    
         [0021]    As further shown in  FIGS. 1 c  and 1 f   , angular feet  32   a - 32   e  attach to inner shroud sandwich plates  34   a - 34   e  via screws, bolts, or other fasteners known in the art. Inner shroud sandwich plates  34   a - 34   e  connect the ends of shroud sections  36   a - 36   e  in conjunction with outer shroud sandwich plates  35   a - 35   e . Shroud sections  36   a - 36   e  are placed end-to-end while inner shroud sandwich plates  34   a - 34   e  and outer shroud sandwich plates  35   a - 35   e  connect the ends. Inner shroud sandwich plates  34   a - 34   e  and outer shroud sandwich plates  35   a - 35   e  may be connected together using screws, bolts, or other fasteners known in the art to clamp shroud sections  36   a - 36   e  into place. 
         [0022]    Shroud sections  36   a - 36   e  are approximately 8 inches in width and approximately 0.5 inches wide. In the exemplary embodiment, shroud sections  36   a - 36   e  are a polymer such as, but not limited to, high-density polyethylene or arena board. While the exemplary embodiment of outer shroud assembly  30  utilizes five shroud sections  36   a - 36   e , with corresponding numbers of associated elements such as supporting gussets  31   a - 31   e  and angular feet  32   a - 32   e , alternate embodiments may increase or decrease the number of shroud sections with a corresponding change in the numbers of associated elements. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1 e    shows outer shroud sandwich plates  35   a  and  35   e  (remaining outer shroud sandwich plates  35   b - 35   d  not visible), as well as the 34-degree angle formed by shroud sections  36   a - 36   e . While  FIG. 1 e    only specifically shows the angle formed by shroud section  36   d , the remaining unlabeled shroud sections  36   a - 36   c  and  36   e  form identical angles. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 1 g   , high-pressure rotational union  10  includes hose inlet  11 , shaft  12 , outer body  13 , inlet pivot  14 , shaft pivot  15  and outer body pivot  16 . Inlet pivot  14  allows hose inlet  11  to rotate relative to and independently of shaft  12  and outer body  13 . Shaft pivot  15  allows shaft  12  to rotate relative to and independently of hose inlet  11  and outer body  13 . Outer body pivot  16  allows outer body  13  to rotate relative to and independently of hose inlet  11  and shaft  12 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner washing ring assembly  60  of a jetter assembly  100 . Inner washing ring assembly  60  is composed of manifold  62 , spray bars  64   a  and  64   b , compression fittings  66   a  and  66   b , arm clamps  68   a  and  68   b , pressure washer nozzles  70   a  and  70   b , upper vortex sandwich plate  72 , lower vortex sandwich plate  73 , centrifugal vortex plate  74 , manifold bolts  76 , plate bolts  78 , washing locknuts  80  and optional port plug  82 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , manifold  62  attaches to shaft  12 . This allows shaft  12  and inner washing ring assembly  60  to rotate when pressurized fluid is introduced through high-pressure rotational union  10 . Compression fittings  66   a  and  66   b  connect manifold  62  to spray bars  64   a  and  64   b . Compression fittings  66   a  and  66   b  swivel to allow spray bars  64   a  and  64   b  to adjust the angle they form with manifold  62 . Locking jam nuts (not labeled) on the flare fittings (not labeled) of compression fittings  66   a  and  66   b  prevent the spray bars  64   a  and  64   b  from freely swiveling during use. During use, arm clamps  68   a  and  68   b  also prevent movement of spray bars  64   a  and  64   b . At the distal ends of spray bars  64  and  64   b , pressure washer nozzles  70   a  and  70   b  turn the flow of pressurized fluid into a pressure jet. The apertures of these pressure washer nozzles  70   a  and  70   b  are sized according to the capacity of the fluid pump and may be interchanged according to changing fluid pump capacity. 
         [0027]    As further shown in  FIG. 2 , arm clamps  68   a  and  68   b  also connect to upper vortex sandwich plate  72 , lower vortex sandwich plate  73  and centrifugal vortex plate  74  through plate bolts  78 , providing additional stability to spray bars  64   a  and  64   b.    
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , centrifugal vortex plate  74  is sandwiched between upper vortex sandwich plate  72  and lower vortex sandwich plate  73 . Centrifugal vortex plate  74  is a machined polymer material such as Lexan™ polycarbonate. The spinning movement of centrifugal vortex plate  74  creates a fluid vortex replicating a typhoon that more effectively cleans nets. Furthermore, centrifugal vortex plate  74  prevents nets from snagging on spray bars  64   a  and  64   b , thereby preventing damage to the nets. 
         [0029]    As further shown in  FIG. 2 , centrifugal vortex plate  74  is sandwiched between upper vortex sandwich plate  72  and lower vortex sandwich plate  73  via manifold bolts  76  and plate bolts  78 . Manifold bolts  76  also serve to connect upper vortex sandwich plate  72  and manifold  62 . Nylon washing locknuts  80  hold manifold bolts  76  and plate bolts  78  in place. 
         [0030]    Optionally, at least one port plug  82  may be used in the inner washing ring assembly  60  in place of at least one of spray bars  64   a  and  64   b . A user can increase the power of the pressurized fluid delivered by inner washing ring assembly  60  by reducing the number of spray bars and increasing the aperture size of the remaining pressure washer nozzles  70   a  and  70   b.    
         [0031]      FIGS. 3 a -3 d    illustrate an overview of assembled inner ring segments  17   a - 17   e , inner ring apertures  18   a - 18   e  and inner ring connectors  19   a - 19   e , a cross-sectional view of inner ring segment  17   a  and inner ring aperture  18   a , a front view of inner ring segment  17   a  and inner ring aperture  18   a  and a back view of inner ring segment  17   a  and inner ring aperture  18   a , respectively. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 4 a -4 d    illustrate a perspective view of an angular foot  32   a , a second perspective view of an angular foot  32   a , a side view of an angular foot  32   a  and a bottom view of an angular foot  32   a , respectively. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 5 a -5 c    illustrate a perspective view of an inner shroud sandwich plate  34   a , a top view of an inner shroud sandwich plate  34   a  and a side view of an inner shroud sandwich plate  34   a , respectively. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 6 a -6 c    illustrate a perspective view of an outer shroud sandwich plate  35   a , a top view of an outer shroud sandwich plate  35   a  and a side view of an outer shroud sandwich plate  35   a , respectively. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 7 a -7 c    illustrate a perspective view of a supporting gusset  31   a , a side view of a supporting gusset  31   a  and a distal-end view of a supporting gusset  31   a , respectively. 
         [0036]    It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, procedures and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. Moreover, the term “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. 
         [0037]    It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale; instead, emphasis has been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Furthermore, like reference numerals in the various drawings refer to identical or nearly identical structural elements. Not all identical or nearly identical structural elements are individually labelled.