Vacuum cyclone for off-loading shrimp and other small seafood

A new vacuum cyclone seafood collection retainer is disclosed. Two men easily assemble this new cyclone collection retainer, made in portable sections, and the sections can be rotated for best orientation of the hose connections. This vacuum cyclone facilitates the use of a large-scale vacuum system to offload shrimp from the holds and bins of shrimp boats and trawlers up onto the dock and into collection tubs for weighing and processing. This new vacuum cyclone system will offload shrimp and other small seafood much faster, cheaper, and with less damage to the shrimp than the conventional methods now employed. One large-scale vacuum supply pump can be connected through a common vacuum supply tank to multiple vacuum cyclone collection retainers providing multiple unloading dockside facilities.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This instant invention relates to the methods of off-loading shrimp and other small crustaceans from the holds and storage bins of trawlers and other fishing vessels. At this time at many locations along the gulf coast of the United States and other coastal areas of the world where shrimp, mullet, and other small size sea food catches are off-loaded from the holds and bins of fishing trawlers and other fishing vessels, a slow hand labor process is utilized wherein men with shovels of various configurations load the catch onto portable conveyer belts, or into buckets or nets to be lifted up onto the dock for weighing and processing.

This instant invention seeks to remedy the present costly and slow, semi-manual, labor-intensive, sea food damaging method of off loading small size seafood catches by adapting modern very high volume vacuum technology to vacuuming the catch from the holds or other storage areas of ships and boats into a specially designed vacuum cyclone seafood collection retainer. The vacuumed catch will enter the cyclone retainer at a minimal angle to the inside circular sidewall through a uniquely designed internally smooth vacuum inlet port with no internal ridges or rings in order to minimize damage to the catch in the vacuum process.

Vacuum cyclones have been designed for many purposes but none to date have been designed to off-load small size seafood catches to a dock causing minimal damage to the product in the process.

An example of a specific use of a cyclone is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,311 issued Jan. 14, 2003 to Richard DeGarmo et al. DeGarmo discloses a cyclone, fed wet material by an auger-blower system that separates the wet material into a substantially wet and a substantially solid portion.

A second example is a polycyclonic vacuum collector for non-stop environmental remediation as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,751 issued on Oct. 29, 2002 to Stavros Semanderes et al. Semanderes discloses a vacuum collector comprised of a first and a second drum in series. Vacuum producing motors mounted atop the second drum pull contaminant laden air through the first drum where the majority of contaminants are deposited, thence into the second drum where more contaminants are deposited, and then through HEPA filters and out through the vacuum-producing motors.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,875 issued to Paolo Palmas on Dec. 10, 2002, Palmas discloses a single stage of cyclones to separate particulate catalyst from combustion gases to reduce particulate emissions to acceptable levels.

Cyclones can be used to collect and concentrate particles in a specific size range as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,212 issued to Daniel J. Raider et al on Dec. 5, 2000.

Tore Joss discloses the use of cyclones using combined co-current and counter current spins to separate different specific gravities in a liquid in U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,494 issued Oct. 17, 2000.

A domestic vacuum cleaner with multiple cyclones arranged in cascade so as to capture coarser and then finer particles from dust-laden air is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,292 issued Jul. 4, 2000 to Silvano Fumagalli.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,390 issued to Juha Jakkula on Feb. 8, 2000, a multi-port cyclone is disclosed that more efficiently separates solids from gases than single-port cyclones.

A separation apparatus for separating a mixture of materials that behave as a liquid using a cyclone having an inlet switchable into at least two conditions and a plurality of cyclones enclosed in a pressure vessel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,300 issued to

Tore Joss discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,374 issued on Jan. 27, 1998, a method for cyclone separation of oil and water in a cyclone positioned down hole so as to be able to reinject the water into the reservoir.

William Robinson, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,000 issued on Sep. 11, 1990 discloses a hydro cyclone divided into sections. Robinson discloses that previous sectioned cyclones were connected with flanged joints. Robinson describes a method for joining cyclone sections in such a way that the end of one section fits internally into the following section and the sections are held together by at least two eccentric locks of the folding strap type at each joint.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,364, issued Oct. 31, 1978 to Richard H. Mozley discloses a cyclone assembled from a kit with all components arranged so as to push-fit into each other and held together as an assembly by axial pressure between the centers of the end plates. Said axial pressure being supplied by a single tighten able rod member extending between said end plates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a relatively fast, economical method to off load shrimp, mullet, and other small sized seafood catches from the holds of trawlers and other fishing boats onto the dock for weighing and processing with a minimum of damage.

The main component of the system is comprised of a specially designed vacuum cyclone collection vessel into which the shrimp are vacuumed from the hold of a shrimp boat. Said collection vessel is mounted on top of four braced support legs. The bottom of each pair of said support legs are connected to sections of steel or other metal angle stock that allow the cyclone collection vessel to be placed up on a watertight trough into which shrimp are collected. A powerful vacuum producing air pump pulls air from the interior of the cyclone collection vessel through a segment of vacuum hose fluidically connecting the input of the vacuum-producing pump to the output of said cyclone collection vessel. Said vacuum hose segment is attached to the outlet port of said collection vessel located in the center of the top of said collection vessel. The inlet cyclone vacuum port is positioned on the sidewall of said collection vessel near the top cover plate of said cyclone collection vessel, and aligned horizontally and tangentially to the side of the vessel so that product entering the cyclone at high speed will contact the curved inner surface of the vessel at a low angle of at lack.

The forward speed of the product, a mixture of shrimp, ice, salt, and water if present, will decrease as it moves along the curved inner surface of the cyclone. The product will fall and accumulate in said cyclone from the bottom up. The accumulation of shrimp et al, in said cyclone collection vessel, can be seen through a first and a second vertical sight glass located on the side of the center section of the cyclone. The bottom section of said cyclone is funnel shaped to a rectangle at the bottom. Placed in the rectangular bottom is a hinged door that may have enough spring loaded tension to hold the door up in the closed position when the cyclone retainer is empty and when source vacuum is absent. Alternatively a slide type door may be utilized. Both door types may or may not have a latch.

The vacuum supply connected to the outlet port in the center of the top of the cyclone collection unit provides sufficient vacuum to cause atmospheric pressure to press all segment sections of said collection unit together with sufficient force to create an airtight seal along the gasket material between said cyclone collection vessel segments, and to hold the bottom cover closed when the cover is supporting the contents of said collection vessel filled with a combination of shrimp, ice, and water if present. After vacuum suction is removed from said cyclone vacuum supply connection in the center of said top cover plate, the bottom rectangular cover, if not latched, will swing down to the open position under the weight of the contents of the collection vessel. The shrimp et al will fall into the collection trough and be removed by a conveyer belt passing beneath said collection vessel. In the event that the contents of said cyclone retainer will not fall through said open bottom rectangular cover plate, one or more back flush ports are provided on said top cover for the purpose of injecting high pressure water downward and in a direction that will tend to perpetuate the cyclonic movement of the shrimp et al., and forcefully flush out said vacuum cyclone retainer contents.

Further objects and advantages of the invented seafood cyclone collection retainer and system include:

A large single stage cyclone collection vessel manufactured in three or four easy to assemble sections, with each section able to be lifted and assembled by two men.

A uniquely designed vacuum suction inlet port with no internal ridges or protrusions to damage vacuumed shrimp.

The cyclone collection vessel and its' required vacuum pump and internal combustion engine may be mounted on a trailer or skid and easily transportable.

Virtually nonstop, inexpensive, time saving unloading of shrimp and other small type fish and crustacean cargo from the holds and live wells of shrimp boats and other fishing vessels.

Very limited damage to off loaded shrimp, fish, and crustacean cargo.

Simple and safe. No accessible moving parts and elimination of most hand labor to move a seafood cargo from a ship to a dock.

High durability because the single stage cyclone collection vessel has no moving parts other than the single hinged trap or sliding door on the bottom.

Thus a new simple single stage cyclonic collection system designed for the fast, efficient, and safe unloading of a shrimp boat or any boat or ship carrying a cargo of small seafood has been invented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred Embodiment

Preferred embodiment10of the invented vacuum cyclone seafood collection retainer shown inFIG. 1is comprised of a cover plate21, said cover plate having a diameter inside of annular retainer lip12sufficient to fit over the center tubular shaped sleeve section13. Cover plate21has a centrally located six inch inner diameter vacuum source connection port14, said cover plate having external bracing11, and annular retainer lip12around the outer edge of said cover plate21. Said retainer lip12fits securely over and around the top flange, (described in FIG.2), of four-foot outer diameter tube, sleeve, or center section13of the cyclone. Said cover plate has one or more back flush high-pressure water hose connections62. A seven inch inner diameter vacuum suction inlet port19is mounted horizontally near the top edge of said cyclone tube section13, proximate the lip of said cover plate21. Said inlet port19is smoothly transitioned into said tube section13so that seafood vacuumed into said inlet port19make no hard contact with the inner surface of said tube section13, but rather gently contact the inner surface of said tube section13, and slow by the friction of cyclonic movement against the inner surface of said tube section13and fall gently to the bottom of said vacuum cyclone collection retainer10. The vacuum suction hose attachment end of aluminum inlet port19has two slots25beginning at the hose end of said port19and continuing parallel with the direction of said port19for four inches. Said slots25allow a clamp to pull the seven inch inside diameter aluminum sleeve19tight against a six and seven eights inch outside diameter reinforced vacuum hose end placed into said port19. A four-inch diameter version of said port19may be used for small size shrimp. Visual indication of the amount of shrimp vacuumed into said cyclone10is obtained through sight glasses24. Structural support ring15is mounted circumferentially around the outside of said center section13midway between the ends. Retainer lip20is attached around the bottom edge of said tube center section13, and fits snugly over and around the top edge of base section17of said cyclone collection retainer. Four braced legs18, approximately two feet in length, support base section17and are attached to angle bars22and23. A bottom mounted cover20A is attached to said base section17by a spring-loaded hinge16.

FIG. 2Apreferred first cyclonic tube28shown inFIG. 2is a sleeve made of steel or aluminum, though vessels of other shapes and sizes and material composition may be used. Tube28has a sidewall29, an annular flange32around the top of said sidewall29, and a flat annular gasket38cemented to the top surface of said annular flange32. Vacuum suction inlet port34is positioned to feed shrimp, ice, water, and air into drum28against wall29tangentially to limit the force of impact of the shrimp against said sidewall29and minimize damage to said shrimp. A support ring35made of steel or other material is positioned near the center of the length of said tube and around the circumference of said tube. An annular flange33is located around the circumference of the bottom end of said tube28and annular retaining lip26is attached thereto, and positioned to hang below the bottom edge of said tube.

The vacuum cyclone seafood collection retainer base section30has annular flange36around the top edge of said base section. A flat annular gasket27is cemented to said flange36.

Cover plate31has an annular retainer lip40mounted around the circumference of said cover31so that the retainer lip40is below the bottom surface of said cover31, and said retainer lip40will fit down around the top flange32of center section28so that cover31contacts gasket38mounted on flange32of center section28. Cover plate31also has one or more high pressure water line connections63used to back flush shrimp or other sea food down and out of said cyclone retainer in the event the contents of said cyclone jam together and will not fall through the open bottom section door.

Base section30is set atop a rectangular trough through which moves a conveyer belt, and into which the shrimp laden base section30of the vacuum cycle seafood retainer is emptied. Tube section28is lifted onto bottom section30so that flange33and retainer lip26fits over flange36of base section30, and flange33contacts gasket27of base section30. Top section31is set upon tube center section28so that said top section contacts annular gasket38on flange32.

After the three vacuum cyclone sections, top section31, center section28, and base section30have been assembled, a first section of vacuum supply hose is connected between vacuum supply port37of cover31and a centrally located vacuum supply tank (not shown). Said vacuum supply tank is equipped with a liquid blocking float valve. Said vacuum supply tank may connect to a second and a third section of vacuum supply hoses for connection to a second and third vacuum cyclone seafood collection retainers10of FIG.1. The centrally located vacuum supply tank is connected in turn through a fourth section of vacuum supply hose to a vacuum source pump (not shown) of sufficient capacity and power to maintain a constant working vacuum for a single cyclone seafood collection retainer10under all working conditions. If multiple vacuum cyclone retainers10are connected to a common vacuum source tank (not shown), vacuum can be switched to the on condition for only one tank at a time. When source vacuum is supplied to the assembled vacuum cyclone retainer10inFIG. 1, outside atmospheric pressure against the top cover21, and base section17, force top cover21and base section17ofFIG. 1against gaskets38and27shown inFIG. 2, with sufficient force to make airtight connections. A first end of a first vacuum suction hose (not shown) is attached to vacuum suction inlet port25ofFIG. 1. Asecond end of said first vacuum suction hose with attached guide pole is used in a shrimp boat cargo hold to off load the shrimp cargo. Said shrimp are collected into said vacuum cyclone seafood collection retainer10ofFIG. 1until a visible indication of the level of shrimp collected into said vacuum cyclone collection retainer10, as shown in sight glasses24, indicates an optimum collection level and source vacuum is removed from vacuum suction source port14.

FIG. 3Adepicts a top view of cover plate41with back flush ports64, and designates cross section view3B.

FIG. 3Bshows a cross section view of top cover46, suction supply hose attachment section47, hose attachment flange42, and annular cover retainer lip45. A cross section of integral screen44with screen holes43is shown. The total area of the provided screen holes43is 50% greater than the cross section area of the 6-inch suction hose inlet so that shrimp screen44air flow turbulence does not impede the source vacuum.

FIG. 4Ais a top view of a second version cover52with back flush ports65and a detachable screen53, and defines cut away view4B.

FIG. 4Bshows a cut away side view of second version cover48, cover screen attachment51, screen attachment flange50, and cover48screen attachment flange49.

FIG. 5Ais a depiction of vacuum suction port59. The suction port59is constructed of aluminum and has one or more horizontal slots56at the hose attachment end. The 7.0 inch inside diameter port59will accept into it a 6⅞ inch outside diameter section of suction hose, (not shown). An annular aluminum ring58is welded into position in the vacuum suction port59. The reinforced end of an inserted vacuum suction hose buts against said ring58, that acts as a stop for said hose end. The thickness of said ring58is less than the thickness of said reinforced end of said reinforced vacuum hose end so that vacuumed shrimp will transition from hose to inlet port59and not hit any obstruction. Circular clamp57can then be tightened and the aluminum end of port59will flex together and grip the reinforced end of said vacuum suction hose.

FIG. 5Bis a bottom up view of a vacuum cyclone collection retainer bottom door. Said door54is a trap door type with spring-loaded hinge55. Said door54will be held in the closed position by outside atmospheric pressure against said door due to the vacuum within the cyclone retainer even with a full load of shrimp. Said door will open under the weight of the supported load of shrimp when vacuum is removed from the vacuum inlet port of said cyclone retainer.

FIG. 5Cis a second bottom up view of a vacuum cyclone retainer bottom door. Door61is a sliding door and slides in tracks60. The sliding door61may be used when sufficient space is not available to use trap door54.