Abstract:
A shellfish harvesting apparatus and a method of using the apparatus to harvest shellfish is provided. A floating vessel and harvester are provided to harvest shellfish from the waters surrounding the vessel. A turret, an elongated boom attached to the turret, a gathering arm attached to boom, and a gathering device attached to the gathering arm make up the mechanical structure of the harvester. Using this apparatus to harvest shellfish thereby is accomplished in an efficient manner while reducing disruption to the ecosystem.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to the harvesting of shellfish, and more particularly to an improved apparatus and method of harvesting shellfish.  
         [0002]     Many varieties of shellfish live in or near the coastal waters of the world. Harvesting some of these shellfish for human consumption has occurred for centuries. In the coastal waters of South Carolina, in particular, oysters, a type of shellfish, live in beds forming small rolling hills beneath shallow coastal waterways. Historically, the oysters in these beds were manually picked from the beds using hand tools by workers standing in the shallow waters near the beds. In deeper waters, as are common in the waters around the Gulf of Mexico, dredging by pulling a dredge behind a boat is a common way to harvest oysters. Yet another way to harvest oysters is to vacuum the oysters from their beds into a boat using a suction pump.  
         [0003]     Other than manual harvesting of oysters, which is prohibitively slow, the other known methods of harvesting oysters suffer the problem of severely disturbing or destroying the oyster beds. Such destruction of the oyster beds limits the ability of the oyster beds to regenerate themselves, thus reducing the number of oysters available for harvesting in the future.  
         [0004]     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a shellfish harvesting apparatus and method which harvests a large number of oysters in a small amount of time, without unduly destroying the oyster beds.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The present invention recognizes and addresses considerations of prior art constructions and methods and provides a shellfish harvesting apparatus for quickly harvesting oysters reducing destruction of the oyster beds.  
         [0006]     The present invention is directed to a shellfish harvesting apparatus comprised of a floating vessel and a harvester on the floating vessel. An elongated boom with first and second ends is attached to the floating vessel at its first end. Optionally, a turret is placed between the floating vessel and the boom. A gathering arm having first and second ends is attached to the boom at a location proximate the gathering arm&#39;s first end and the boom&#39;s second end. A gathering device is attached proximate the gathering arm&#39;s second end. The entire harvester is configured to harvest shellfish from the waters surrounding the floating vessel.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment, the gathering device and the floating vessel are equipped to spray fluid onto shellfish within the gathering device. To accomplish this, rinsing ports may be attached to the side of the floating vessel and spray ports may be located adjacent the gathering device. To utilize the rinsing ports, the gathering device is brought in line with the rinsing ports by the harvester&#39;s mechanical linkage.  
         [0008]     The accompanying drawings, incorporated in and constituting part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a oyster harvesting system constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention with the boom positioned over the boat;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is side view of the oyster harvesting system of  FIG. 1  with the boom extending over the bow of the boat;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a gathering device constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4   a  is a side view of the gathering device of  FIG. 3  assembled but in an open position;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4   b  is a side view of the gathering device of  FIG. 3  assembled but in a closed position;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top diagrammatical view of the harvesting system;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6   a  is a side view of the gathering device holding a plug, prior to rinsing;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6   b  is a side view of the gathering device of  FIG. 6   a , in which the plug is being rinsed; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 6   c  is a front view of the oyster harvesting system in which the gathering device is being rinsed by the side rinsing ports. 
     
    
       [0019]     Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention provides an apparatus, generally referred to by reference number  10 , for harvesting shellfish which reduces disruption of the beds in which remaining shellfish continue to grow. Although apparatus  10  will be described below with respect to oyster harvesting, it should be appreciated that apparatus  10  could also be used to harvest other types of shellfish, such as clams and mussels.  
         [0022]     Apparatus  10  has a harvester  12  for gathering oysters  16  from the oyster beds and placing them on a deck  20  of a boat  14 . As described in more detail below, apparatus  10  contains means for rinsing oysters  16  gathered by harvester  12  before oysters  16  are placed in boat  14 . By rinsing oysters  16  prior to placement in boat  14 , mud (and other debris) will remain in the beds, thereby reducing any negative impact to the environment and also promoting the growth of oysters remaining in the beds.  
         [0023]     Harvester  12  includes a boom  22  with a first end  24  pivotally attached to a turret  26 . Turret  26  rotates about a vertical axis, which in turn rotates boom  22  about a vertical axis. The vertical axis is the axis perpendicular to the water beneath the boat. For example, boom  22  is positioned over the deck  20  of the boat  14  in  FIG. 1 , but is rotated to a position extending beyond the front of the boat  14  in  FIG. 2 . In one embodiment, turret  26  can rotate three-hundred and sixty degrees (360°) so that boom  22  can pivot to the front and sides of the boat  14 . One skilled in the art should recognize that turret  26  could be rotated by any suitable rotary device, such as using a motor. The location of turret  26  on the boat is not critical. In the Figures, turret  26  is shown in the bow of the boat. Turret  26  could also be located near the stern of the boat or, preferably, proximate the center of the boat.  
         [0024]     Boom  22  is also capable of rotating about pivot point  36 . In the embodiment shown, a hydraulic cylinder  38  is provided with a piston  40  connected to boom  22 . As piston  40  extends out of cylinder  38 , boom  22  rotates downward (counterclockwise in  FIG. 1 ) about pivot point  36 . Retraction of piston  40  into cylinder  38 , however, pivots boom  22  upward (clockwise in  FIG. 1 ). It should be appreciated that the length of boom  22  will vary depending upon the extent to which boom  22  is desired to extend beyond deck  20  of boat  14 .  
         [0025]     Boom  22  is pivotally connected to a gathering arm  30  about pivot point  42 . A hydraulic cylinder  44  mounted on boom  22  is provided with a piston  46  connected to gathering arm  30 . Gathering arm  30  rotates downward (counterclockwise in  FIG. 1 ) as piston  46  extends out of cylinder  44 . As piston  46  retracts into cylinder  44 , gathering arm  30  rotates upward (clockwise in  FIG. 1 ) about pivot point  42 . As with the length of boom  22 , the length of gathering arm  30  will vary depending upon the desired reach beyond deck  20  of boat  14 .  
         [0026]     A gathering device  32  is pivotally connected on the distal end of gathering arm  30  and rotates about pivot point  48 . A hydraulic cylinder  50  mounted to gathering arm  30  is provided with a piston  52  connected to gathering device  32 . Gathering device  32  opens and closes with the extension and retraction of piston  52 , as discussed in more detail below. It should be appreciated that hydraulic lines (not shown) would be provided to supply hydraulic fluid to each hydraulic cylinder  38 ,  44  and  55 . Moreover, one skilled in the art would recognize other suitable linear drivers could be provided in place of hydraulic cylinders.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an exploded view of gathering device  32 . Gathering device  32  has a rake  54  that pivots about pivot point  48  on the distal end of gathering arm  30 . A pivot member  56  hinges rake  54  to gathering arm  30  using brackets  58 . As best seen in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   b , movement of piston  52  pivots rake  54  between an open position ( FIG. 4   a ) and closed position ( FIG. 4   b ).  
         [0028]     Rake  54  has a plurality of spaced-apart prongs  60  to entrap oysters  16  while permitting smaller objects, such as mud and other debris, to pass therethrough. See  FIGS. 6   a - 6   c . It should be appreciated to one of ordinary skill of the art that the spacing between prongs  60  may differ depending upon the size of oysters being harvested. Preferably, the spacing between prongs  60  is slightly less than size of the oysters (or other shellfish) being harvested. In the embodiment shown, prongs  60  are arcuate in shape and tapered to allow easy insertion into a bed of oysters. Each side of rake  54  has side bars  62  which are spaced apart a sufficient distance to entrap the oysters (or other shellfish) being harvested, but allow other debris to pass therethrough.  
         [0029]     Rake  54  also contains a spray bar  64  with a plurality of spray ports  68 . Spray ports  68  are in fluid communication, preferably in a manifold manner, with a rinse inlet  66 , which provides access to a supply of fluid to rinse oysters of debris. As discussed in more detail below, the user can activate spray ports  68  to rinse oysters  16  prior to placing the oysters  16  on deck  20  of boat  14 .  
         [0030]     Gathering device  32  also contains a gathering support  70  which is attached to gathering arm  30  using support braces  72 . In the embodiment shown, support braces  72  fix the position of gathering support  70 ; however it should be appreciated that gathering support  70  could be pivoted in a similar manner as rake  54 . It should also be appreciated that the angle with which rake  54  and gather support  70  are oriented with respect to gathering arm  30 , could be altered as desired. Gathering support  70  has a plurality of spaced-apart fingers  73 . The spacing of fingers  73  are configured in a matter similar to that of prongs  60  of rake  54 , which entraps the oysters being harvested, but allows smaller objects to pass therethrough.  
         [0031]     Apparatus  10  includes means for rinsing the oysters  16  to be harvested prior to placing oysters  16  on deck  20  of boat  14 . Rake  54  has spray ports  68  which are in fluid communication with rinse inlet  66  to remove debris from the oysters to be harvested. Moreover, each side of the boat has a respective rinsing port  76  and  76 ′ for spraying the oysters prior to placement on deck  20  of boat  14 .  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a diagrammatical view of the flow passages including a fluid supply inlet  74  to rake  54  and rinsing ports  76  and  76 ′. Fluid supply inlet  74  is in fluid communication with a source of fluid, such as water. In one embodiment, the sea water on which the boat is floating provides the fluid supply. A first line  78  provides fluid communication between inlet port  74  and pump  80 . A first pump line  82  and second pump line extend from pump  80  to rinsing ports  76  and  76 ′. A first valve  86  and a second valve  88  are also provided to open and close respective side rinsing ports  76  and  76 ′, as desired. Rinse inlet  66  provides fluid communication between pump  80  and spray port  68  of rake  54 . A third valve  90  is provided to open and close fluid communication through rinse inlet  66 . It should be appreciated that valves  86 ,  88  and  90  could be manually operated or electronic solenoids. In one embodiment, pump  80  is driven by a propulsion engine (not shown) of boat  14  using a belt-drive pump. In this embodiment, a clutch (not shown) would be provided to engage and disengage pump  80  when needed for rinsing.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIGS. 6   a  through  6   c , the method for using apparatus  10  should be easily understood. Gathering device  32  is moved into a position to gather the oysters to be harvested by pivoting and rotating boom  22  and gathering arm  30  with rake  54  in its open position. Gathering device  32  is inserted into a bed with oysters  16  and rake  54  is moved to its closed position. Accordingly, a portion of the bed is grasped by gathering device  32 . Fluid is then sprayed through spray ports  68  on rake  54  to partially remove debris from oysters  16  and return it back to the bed.  
         [0034]     Next, gathering device  32  is moved in alignment with one of the side rinsing ports  76  or  76 ′, as shown in  FIG. 6   c . Fluid is then sprayed through rinsing ports  76  or  76 ′ to further clean the oysters entrapped in gathering device  32 , prior to deposit of oysters  16  on deck  20  of boat  14 .  
         [0035]     Once the oysters are rinsed, boom  22  is moved in a position over deck  20  of boat  14  to deposit oysters  16 . Rake  54  is then moved to its open position, thus releasing the oysters from gathering device  32  to deck  20  of boat  14 . To aid in the maintenance of the oyster beds, gathering device  32  may then be used to smooth the area of the bed which was removed during harvesting. For example, portions of the beds adjacent to area which was harvested could be raked into the harvested area using gathering device  32 .  
         [0036]     The harvested oysters may then be transported to a shucking operation for processing. In one embodiment, boat  14  is placed in a trailer (without removal of oysters from deck  20 ) and directly transported to a shucking operation. After the oysters have been shucked, the shells may be placed in oyster beds, as needed.  
         [0037]     Optionally, gathering device  32  could take on various shapes. For example, in addition to the rake and gathering support construction discussed above and shown in the Figures, the gathering device could comprise a single scoop in the position of gathering support  70 . Such a single scoop would gather oysters  16  by pulling the scoop toward boat  14  while raising the scoop. The scoop may include holes so that spray ports could wash the oysters before bringing the oysters aboard. The holes in the scoop could be sized such that debris would pass through them while the oysters remain within the scoop. The front edge of the scoop could be designed with ridges for penetrating the oyster beds more easily. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that other features and configurations of the scoop would be possible in conjunction with the present invention.  
         [0038]     While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that any and all equivalent realizations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof. The embodiments depicted are presented upon the present invention. Thus, those of ordinary skill in this art should understand that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments since modifications can be made. Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fall within the scope and spirit thereof.