Abstract:
A submersion tank for on-board brine freezing of whole or nearly whole fish, and a method for freezing fish employing such tank. One or more pivotable screen baskets are provided in tank containing refrigerated brine. The pivotable screen baskets are provided in a normal, fish receiving position immersed in refrigerated brine. Once fish are frozen, the pivotable screen baskets are pivoted upward to a fish unloading position for delivery of frozen fish for bagging and storage.

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/579,716, filed on Jun. 14, 2004. The disclosure of the above identified patent application is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference, including the specification, drawing, and claims of such application. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT RIGHTS IN THE DRAWING  
       [0002]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The applicant no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0003]     This invention relates to the field of freezing food items, and more particularly, to apparatus suitable for freezing fish on-board fishing vessels.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0004]     Freezing of fish on-board fishing vessels has been attempted or practiced in one fashion or another for many years. However, the fresh freezing of fish immediately after catching the same, as heretofore practiced, has not resulted in widespread demand for whole fish preserved via such practices, primarily because apparatus and methods heretofore taught have not resulted in easy and quick handling of fish in a manner that yields high quality whole frozen fish products for later thaw and reuse.  
         [0005]     Thus, it would be a distinct and important improvement to provide an apparatus for the quick freezing of freshly caught whole fish that would minimize the time required for handling, and which would enable high quality whole fish to be provided for cold storage, and thus for later marketing and use.  
         [0006]     Moreover, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus for fresh on-board freezing apparatus which crew members can easily employ to quickly freeze whole fish. Further it would be advantageous that such an apparatus include features that allow such frozen whole fish to be quickly and easily handled, via easily used on-board equipment. Thus, the advantages of a novel apparatus providing such desirable features which is employable on a fishing vessel to provide a workable whole fish freezing method can be readily appreciated. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0007]     In order to enable the reader to attain a more complete appreciation of the novel water treatment process disclosed and claimed herein, and the various embodiments thereof, and of the novel features and the advantages thereof over prior art processes, attention is directed to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures of the drawing, wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a submersion tank with pivotable caged screen basket immersed therein in the normally lowered, fish freezing position, holding a plurality of fish which are being frozen; also shown are refrigerated brine inlet and outlet headers, as well as baffles for directing the refrigerated brine through the caged screen basket.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of a submersion tank with pivotable caged screen basket, showing in some detail the configuration of pivot supports, refrigerated brine inlet and outlet headers, as well as baffles for directing the refrigerated brine through the caged screen basket.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view, now showing pivotable caged screen baskets in their immersed, resting, fish loading position in the submersion tank, showing the screen baskets each pivotally connected at first and second pivot points to the submersion tank sidewall a the upper edge of the sidewall of the submersion tank, as well as showing a pair of submersion lids which are used by crew members to force fish to be frozen downward into the refrigerated brine while the fish are retained by the caged screen basket.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 3 , now showing the pivotable caged screen baskets as if detached and removed directly upward, to reveal the pivot pins about which they are designed to pivot upward and outward.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-sectional view, showing pivot pins for the pivotable caged screen baskets, as well as details of refrigerated brine inlet and outlet headers.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a submersion tank, similar to  FIG. 5 , but at right angles to the view just shown in  FIG. 5 , but also showing certain details of refrigerated brine inlets and outlets.  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a submersion tank, showing the tank full of refrigerated brine, with fresh fish to be frozen contained in a pivotable caged screen basket, and showing a submersion lid above the tank, ready for immersion into the tank for forcing fish down into the refrigerated brine.  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a submersion tank showing the tank full of refrigerated brine as also illustrated in  FIG. 7  above, but now additionally showing the use of a submersion lid inserted into one end of the pivotable caged screen basket, and pivoted downward along the arcuate portion of the caged screen basket, to push fish, which tend to float up in the refrigerated brine, downward into the refrigerated brine, to assist in freezing of the fish.  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of details of a submersion lid for use in urging fish downward into refrigerated brine located in a pivotable caged screen basket.  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  illustrates the movement of a pivotable caged screen basket to an upward, raised, frozen fish discharging position, wherefrom fish are placed into catch bins; the fish may then be individually wrapped and dropped via a tube or chute into the hold of a fishing vessel for storage. Also clearly seen is the roughly quarter-round shape of the pivotable caged screen basket, which in one embodiment may be generally sized and shaped to contain a quarter round portion along a length of cylindrical space.  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view which shows the location of a submersion tank, and adjacent holding tanks for holding and bleeding freshly caught fish, as well as a tank cover used for covering the submersion tank.  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a submersion tank for on-board freezing, showing the use of a hinged, insulated tank cover which can be flipped to a partially open position for inserting fish into, or removing fish from, either one of the pivotable caged screen baskets.  
         [0020]      FIG. 13  provides details of one view of the holding tank for handling freshly caught fish.  
         [0021]      FIG. 14  provides details of another portion of the holding tank for handling freshly caught fish.  
         [0022]      FIG. 15  provides a perspective view of a fishing vessel on which a submersion tank for on-board freezing has been installed. 
     
    
       [0023]     The foregoing figures, being merely exemplary, contain various elements that may be present or omitted from actual apparatus configurations and various vessel design adaptions and implementations depending upon the circumstances. An attempt has been made to draw the figures in a way that illustrates at least those elements that are significant for an understanding of the various embodiments and aspects of the invention. Optional or alternate features, may be utilized in order to provide efficient, low cost on-board fish freezing equipment which can be implemented in a desired throughput size and physical configuration for providing optimum fish freezing plant operations that assure quality of the product. Various other elements of the submersion tank for on-board brine freezing of fresh whole fish, especially as applied for different variations of the functional components illustrated, may be utilized in order to provide a submersion tank system with pivotable screen and submersion lids as taught herein, in combination with other on-board fish freezing equipment.  
       DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]     Turning now to  FIG. 12 , a perspective view of a submersion tank system  100  is shown. Also, as seen in  FIGS. 11 and 15 , adjacent to tank system  100  may be provided a generally U-shaped bleed tank system  102  at the port side  104 , stern  106 , and starboard side  108 , respectively, of vessel  109 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , a liquid submersion tank  110  is provided having upwardly extending sidewalls  112 . Also, as noted in  FIG. 15 , an above deck portion  110   A  and a below deck portion  110   B  may be provided in tank  110 . A cover  116  with hinges  114  is provided. A refrigerated liquid brine inlet  120  and refrigerated liquid brine outlet  122  are provided. Inlet or supply headers  124  are visible, and as further explained below, in one embodiment, can be provided about the perimeter of tank  110 . Also, the outlet (return) or suction headers  130  are shown, and such outlet headers  130  are in one embodiment, located along the bottom  132  of the tank  110 .  
         [0025]     A perspective view of a submersion tank system  100  as suitable for placement on board the deck of a fishing vessel is shown in  FIG. 12 . This illustration shows two positions for one half of the tank cover or lid  116 , which has a hinge  114  along center of the lid. In solid lines, cover  116  is shown in place fully covering the liquid container  110 , ready to be dogged (clamped) down. In hidden lines, a first portion  134  of the cover is folded back in the direction of reference arrows  136  to rest on top of a second portion  138  of the cover  116 , in which position one of the pivotable caged screens  140  and  144  would be upwardly exposed, ready for loading of fish, or for pivoting upward for the unloading of fish  200 .  
         [0026]     In  FIG. 3 , both screens  140  and  144  are seen in position for accepting freezing brine and fish. Also, generally rectangular shaped submersion lids  150  and  152  are shown sized and shaped to fit within the upper ends  156  and  158  of screens  140  and  144 . Submersion lids  150  and  152  are provided with upwardly extending handles  160  for manual manipulation when pushing fish down into screens  140  and  144 . Fixed pins  162  at the pivot end  164  of submersion lids  150  and  152  are provided sized and shaped to fit within apertures  166  in screens  140  and  144 . Adjustable locking pins  170  are provided at the distal end of pivotable screens  140  and  144 .  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a pair of pivot supports  172 A and  172 B (generally triangular in shape in this embodiment) are spaced apart a suitable distance L and fixed to the interior  180  of the upwardly extending tank wall  112  at each end of each of two pivotable screens  140  and  144 . Complementary pivot eyes  182  having pivot pin apertures  183  therethrough, are each sized and shaped to pivotably fit between a pair of pivot supports  172 A and  172 B, are provided spaced apart on each side of the pivot end of the pivotable screens  140  and  144 . Pivot pins  184  are used to join pivot supports  172 A and  172 B and pivot eyes  182  by extending through pivot pin apertures  183 . Also seen in this  FIG. 4  is one embodiment for a plurality of brine distributor inlets  190  along upper interior sidewalls  192  of the submersion tank  110 , and a plurality of brine receiver outlets  194  along the bottom floor  196  of the submersion tank, and the related inlet headers  124  and outlet headers  130  respectively, as well as the corresponding related inlets  120  and outlets  122 . As noted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in one embodiment, multiple inlet headers, specifically headers  124  and  124 ′, may be provided. And, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the case of header  124 ′, a centrally located interior header portion  125  having outlets  195  may be provided running across tank  110  between screen  140  and screen  144 , and as shown in  FIG. 2 , in an orientation transverse to the pivot axis  185  of pivot pins  184 . This interior header portion  125  is useful in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein both a vertical baffle  230  and an arcuate baffles  232  and  234 , roughly approximating (but slightly less than) the curvature of the bottom  236  and  238  of screens  140  and  144 , respectively, are utilized, to urge refrigerated brine to directly traverse screens  140  and  144 , and thus prevent refrigerated brine from short circuiting or bypassing the fish  200  to be frozen. Vertical baffle  230  may be provided in a generally planar form, such as a parallelepiped shape, which fits between screens  140  and  144 . Arcuate baffles  32  and  234  may extend to the bottom  196  of submersion tank  110 , and can be supported by internal supports  240  and  242 . By use of vertical baffle  230  and arcuate baffles  232  and  234 , refrigerated brine flows into screens  140  and  144  via outlets  195 A (in the direction of reference arrow A) and  195 B (in the direction of reference arrow B), respectively (see  FIG. 2 ), as well as via outlets  190  and/or  190 ′, so that the baskets  140  and  144  are filled at the top with refrigerated brine from all four sides. Then, brine must flow toward the bottom of screens  140  and  144 , in order for removal from tank  110  via outlets  194 .  
         [0028]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show a vertical cross-sectional view, taken from the side and from an end, respectively, of a submersion tank  110  having refrigerated brine  220  therein, ready for accepting fish  200  as seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Pivotable caged screens  140  and  144  are shown in hidden lines located in their lowered, fish freezing position. As seen in  FIG. 7 , in one embodiment, when screen  140  is in the lowered, fish freezing position, the screen support portion  222  of screen  140 , which may be provided in the form of a length of generally L-shaped channel, rests against the interior sidewall  192  of submersion tank  110 , to support screen  140 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 10  shows the fish  200  just frozen in the pivotable screen  140  being dumped out into a bin  210  when the screen  140  is raised to the upward, fish discharging position. Also shown in  FIG. 10  are the subsequent steps, optionally performed in this embodiment, of putting fish  200  in bags  212  and dropping the bagged fish  200  into the fishing vessel&#39;s fish hold via chute  214 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  includes a perspective taken looking downward into the pivotable screens  140  and  144 , where the distal end portion (away from the pivot)  140   D  and  144   D  is shown. In this embodiment, parallel radially extending three inch size half round arms  140   1  and  140   2 , and  144   1  and  144   2 , which together with the pivot side stiffener  140   P  and  144   P , form a generally rectangular screen opening on the upper side of the screens  140  and  144 , respectively. This rectangular opening is ready to receive fish  200  when screens  140  and  144  are located in the lowered, fish freezing position. For further strength, nominal three inch size half round stiffeners  140   S−1 ,  140   S−2 , 140   S−3  and  140   S−4 , may be utilized on screen  140  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Similarly, half round stiffeners  144   S−1 ,  144   S−2 ,  144   S−3 , and  144   S−4  may be utilized on screen  140 . In one embodiment, the three inch size half-rounds for stiffening may be located at angularly spaced apart intervals such as at about every thirty degrees.  
         [0031]     As variously illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 7 ,  8 , and  9 , a manual submersion lid  150  can be utilized by fishermen to push  200  fish downward into the refrigerated brine  200 . As noted in  FIG. 9 , a plurality of fixed pins  162  are provided at pivot end  164  of the submersion lid  150 . The pins  162  are sized and shaped for being secured within one of the apertures  250  in the screens  140  and  144 , so as to enable the submersion lids  150  to be held a desired distance D downward from the top or pivot plane of the screens  140  and  144 , when the screens  140  and  144  are in the lowered, fish freezing position. On other end, normally the starboard or distal end of the submersion lid  150 , a manually releasable locking pin  170  and latch  172  is provided, sized and shaped for being releasably secureable by one of the apertures  250  in the screen  140  or  144 , so as to hold the submersion lid  150  at a desired distance E downward from the top or pivot plane of the screens  140  and  144 , when the screens  140  and  144  are in the lowered, fish freezing position.  
         [0032]     In  FIG. 8 , it can be seen how the submersion lid  150  is used to push fish  200  toward the bottom of the screen  140 . Also, in  FIG. 9 , it can bee seen how first crimp  260  and second crimp  262  and third crimp  264  may be provided for stiffening the submersion lid  150 .  FIG. 3  is similar to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , providing a perspective view as when the submersion lids  150  are used to push fish  200  toward the bottom of the screens  140  and  144 .  
         [0033]     As noted above,  FIGS. 11, 13 ,  14 , and  15  are provided to show bleed tanks, used to bleed freshly caught fish before placing them into the refrigerated brine for freezing. The bleed tanks may be located along the outer perimeter of the submersion tank  110 , as better seen in  FIGS. 11 and 15 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  shows freshly caught fish which have just been bled in just mentioned bleed tanks being placed into one of the pivotable screens  140  and  144  to start the whole fish freezing process.  FIG. 8  shows one of the pivotable screens  140  substantially filled with fish, and showing the use of the submersion lid  150  to push fish downward into the refrigerated, freezing brine  220 , which is helpful since fish tend to float in the highly concentrated freezing brine.  
         [0035]      FIG. 10  illustrates the pivotable screen being pivoted at the pivot points on the port side of the submersion tank  110 , to raise the starboard, distal end of the screen toward an upper, fish discharge position for screen  140 , in which the frozen whole fish are discharged from the screen  140  as it is tilted upward toward its upward, fully open, fish discharge position. Also shown is the bin  210  full of fresh frozen whole fish, wherefrom the fish are removed and may be bagged in bags  212 , and sent down chute  214  into the vessel  109 &#39;s refrigerated hold for storage.  
         [0036]     Although  FIG. 9  illustrates one embodiment suitable for the size and shape of a manual submersion lid  150 , it should be recognized that the submersion lid  150  size must be sized and shaped for complementary mating engagement with respect to the interior upwardly projected open space in a selected pivotable screen  140  and  144 , whatever the exact size and shape provided. As illustrated, it may be advantageous to provide a generally U-shaped bleed tank system surrounding port, stern, and starboard sides of the submersion tank  110 . Separate compartments as illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14  may be provided in the bleed tanks, so that freshly caught fish may be placed in one part of the bleed tank system, and fully bled fish moved to another portion of the bleed tank system, in preparation for freezing. As shown in  FIG. 13 , a slotted bleed screen  270  may be provided to allow water flow, and a perforated floor  272  may be provide, with hinged wall portion  274  to assist in pushing fish along. Also, as seen in  FIG. 14 , a perforated bleed screen  276  may be provided.  
         [0037]     Although only several exemplary embodiments of these development(s) have been described in detail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the novel on-board fish freezing equipment, and methods for freezing of fish utilizing the equipment, may be modified from the exact embodiments provided herein, without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages provided by this invention, and may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the disclosures presented herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, including those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained. Many other embodiments are also feasible to attain advantageous results utilizing the principles disclosed herein. Therefore, it will be understood that the foregoing description of representative embodiments of the invention have been presented only for purposes of illustration and for providing an understanding of the invention, and it is not intended to be exhaustive or restrictive, or to limit the invention only to the precise forms disclosed.  
         [0038]     All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, and the drawing) may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of the features are mutually exclusive. Alternative features serving the same or similar purpose may replace each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, and the drawing), unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, each feature disclosed is only one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. Further, while certain process steps are described for the purpose of enabling the reader to make and use certain apparatus in a method of on-board freezing of fish, such suggestions shall not serve in any way to limit the claims to the exact variation disclosed, and it is to be understood that other variations may be advantageously utilized.  
         [0039]     The intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope and spirit of the invention, as expressed herein above and in any of the appended claims. The scope of the invention, as described herein and as indicated by any of the appended claims, is thus intended to include variations from the embodiments provided which are nevertheless described by the broad meaning and range properly afforded to the language of the claims, as explained by and in light of the terms included herein, or the legal equivalents thereof.