The invention relates to an annular breeding vessel. breeding vessel generally is a fishing net made from sein material which is used for breeding fish and to store fis that was caught alive. •

More precisely, the invention relates to an annular breedin vessel, comprising one or a plurality of annular buoyanc means, which define and form the circumference of th breeding vessel, and .a plurality of fittings (glands) whic are clamped about the body of the buoyancy means, or abou two or more adjacent bodies, respectively.

The used annular buoyancy means define and form the circum¬ ference of the breeding vessel. Generally, two annular buoyancy means are used, which are then arranged concentric¬ ally and relatively close to each other, and are held together by fittings, so called glands which are spaced about the circumference. In addition to holding the buoyancy means together said glands also serve as brackets for handling a handrail, for suspension of the net, for mounting footbridges, etc. In the annular breeding vessels known at present both buoyancy means and fittings are made from suitable plastic material, e.g. polyethylene. Breeding _f vessels are afloat on the sea and they will be subjected to elemental forces, primarily waves and currents. A fracture or a collapse of one breeding vessel may have disastrous consequences, especially the consequences to the environment may be disastrous if, e.g. diseased or infected fish is allowed to escape.

By itself alone, plastic material of various kinds is a suitable material for breeding vessels, both from manufacture and utilization considerations. Buoyancy means in the shape of tubes filled with air or a buoyancy material may ad-

vantageously be manufactured from plastic and be provided with a desired shape, and the fittings or glands may also be manufactured from plastic in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner by utilization of various kinds of production technologies. A disadvantage of plastic materials, however- is that there are strong elements of uncertainty as to their wear life. It is, thus, difficult to predict and/or grant the wear life of a breeding vessel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure of a breeding vessel which may be certified, i.e. that its dimensioning elements are to be of a certifiable kind, so that it will be possible to calculate/estimate and/or grant the wear life of a breeding vessel with a higher degree of certainty.

According to the invention this will in practice mean that primarily steel, being an accepted certifiable material, is introduced into the structure to form the dimensioning material.

According to the invention an annular breeding vessel is proposed, comprising one or a plurality of annular buoyancy means which define and form the circumference of the breeding vessel, and a number of fittings (glands) , which are clamped about the body of the buoyancy means, or about two or more adjacent bodies, respectively. The annular breeding vessel according to the invention is characterized by the fact that it is designed with an anchored, dimensioning main support system in the horizontal plane, which main support system comprises said fittings provided in a certifiable material, and an annular structure made from a certifiable material, which structure is connected with said fittings and is biased and may be bent or form corners and will, thus, absorb mainly axial tensional forces.

The annular structure of the main supporting system will determine the capability of the annular breeding vessel to resist elemental forces. The annular buoyancy means may advantageously be designed to be plastic tubes as previously. Whereas the annular structure only shows axial yield strength and, thus, may be arranged to form corners about the circumference, the plastic tubes will on the other hand only show slight flexural strength. Their axial strength will only be 0.556 -- 156 of that of the annular structure, if the annular structure according to an advantageous practical embodiment is designed to be a steel chain structure. Besides, with time, the tensions in the plastic tubes will be reduced due to shrinkage.

The breeding vessel is advantageously tension-anchored by the aid of a number of anchoring lines, which extend from the circumference of the breeding vessel and are secured to the annular fitting structure. The anchoring lines constitute elements of the main support system of the breeding vessel in the horizontal plane. The plastic tubes which constitute the annular buoyancy means, on the other hand, are not supposed to contribute to the dimensioning resistance of the breeding vessel during maximum load conditions (breaking point condition), their main object is, as before, to provide sufficiant buoyancy for the breeding vessel.

An especially advantageous embodiment, as indicated above, is an embodiment in which the annular structure is a steel chain structure, and in which the fittings are also, advantageous¬ ly, made of steel. Steel is an accepted and certifiable material.

Another possibility is an embodiment of the annular breeding vessel with fittings made of steel and with the annular structure constituting a steel wire structure.

When a chain or wire structure is used, the chain or wire may be continuous and connected with each fitting, or the chain, and especially the wire, may advantageously be Intermittent, i.e. short annular structure members acting as tensioning stays between the separate fittings about the circumference of the annular breeding vessel.

In order to ensure the movement of the annular buoyancy means relative to the annular structure when the shape of the breeding vessel changes when subjected to a load, suitable linings may advantageously be provided between fittings and bodies of buoyancy means.

The number of anchoring lines may vary, but In an advantage- ous embodiment of an annular breeding vessel four anchoring lines are used and are evenly distributed along the circum¬ ference, each anchoring line advantageously being split into two or more anchorage points on the breeding vessel, so as to provide a more even distribution of the points of attack about the circumference.

As a consequence of the special embodiment of the annular structure the anchoring lines are advantageously fastened to respective fittings in the fitting-annulus structure.

The dominating loads to whch an annular breeding vessel according to the invention is subjected will result from bias and the elemental forces wave and current.

The horizontal wave forces will be relatively low due to the slight draught of the buoyancy means, the annular shape of the breeding vessel and the great dampening contribution of the net. With sensible anchorage of the plant, e.g. as mentioned by the aid of four or, if desired, six radiating anchoring lines, there is reason to believe that the annular breeding vessel will substantially be subjected to a static load with the current load constituting the dominating load.

The great flexibility of the buoyancy means (plastic tubes will cause the breeding vessel to move with vertical wav movement without, e.g. the used chain or anchorage bein subjected to any substantial load.

When the force in the anchoring lines increases, the chai will straighten between anchoring points. Resistance agains this, movement is due to bending resistance and axial rigidit of the plastic tubes. In case of plastic tubes lackin rigidity, the annular breeding vessel will show a substant ially octagonal shape assuming four anchoring lines.

When the load on the plant is dominated by the biasin forces, the shape will be approximately annular. As the loa from elementary forces increases the chain force about th breeding vessel will change. On the side facing the directio of load the chain will be tensioned and straightened, wherea the chain force on the opposite side of the breeding vesse will not change much. Even if the plastic tubes are no locked to the fittings, they will be subjected to a load whe the shape of the breeding vessel is changed. However, resistance from plastic tubes is not necessary to resist collapse of the structure. Its resistance against breakin will be determined solely by the capacity of chain an anchoring lines.

In a state close to breaking point it will, thus, b necessary to calculate the extent of corner formation in the anchorage points and whether the plastic tubes are suffic¬ iently soft to conform to the corners without being damaged.

Varying loads from waves may determine the life of plastic tubes in areas with high changes of extension (fatigue).

When checking a state of accident it will be natural to examine the state after fracture of an anchoring line and

with a load in a corresponding direction. With four anchoring lines as- suggested, such a state will cause only two of the remaining anchoring lines to be active, at the same time the structure will show much displacement in the direction of the load. In this state the breeding vessel will depend on the resistance of the plastic tubes to prevent them from collapsing. The plastic tube sections extending on the side facing the current (dominating load) will then act as a pressure arch. If the plastic tubes are not able to resist this load, the top of breeding vessel will collapse. This need not cause damage to the net because the chain will prevent the space between fittings from increasing. The hazard of drift of the breeding vessel is then determined by the capacity of the two remaining active anchoring lines.

In stead of four anchoring lines the breeding vessel may, as indicated above, e.g. be anchored by a higher number of lines, e.g. six. It will then substantially keep its shape even if one of the anchoring lines is removed. Such a concept will, however, both be more expensive and more awkward than an embodiment with four anchoring lines.

Any hazard of the breeding vessel sinking due to damage of the plastic tubes used for annular buoyancy means may be prevented by having one of them filled with a suitable buoyancy material, e.g. the material known as "Syndolitt".

The invention will be disclosed in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows the new main support system of the annular breeding vessel in the horizontal plane;

Figure 2 shows a section of an annular breeding vessel according to the invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view along line III- III in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatical view of a state of deformat¬ ion of the annular breeding vessel in case of a load along one anchoring line;

Figure 5 shows a corresponding state of deformation in case of a direction of load between two anchoring lines; and

Figure 6 shows a state of displacement in case of a broken anchoring line.

Figure 1 shows the dimensioning main support system of the breeding vessel in the horizontal plane. It is assumed that fittings or glands 1 are made from a suitable steel material , and an annulus structure 2 In the shape of a steel chain extends about the circumference of the annular breeding vessel. Steel chain 2 is fastened to each of the glands 1.

The annular breeding vessel is tension-anchored, in the present case by the aid of four anchoring lines 3, 4, 5, and 6. Each of the latter Is at a respective buoy 7, 8, 9, 10 split into two lines 11, 12 (see anchoring line 3). Each of said branch lines 11, 12 extends to a respective fitting 1', 1".

Figures 2 and 3 show more structural details of the annular breeding vessel proper. It will appear from Figure 2 that the annular breeding vessel Is in. the present case built from two annular or doughnut-shaped buoyancy means 13, 14, which are made from plastic tubes welded together to form two closed rings.

Said two annular buoyancy means 13, 14 are held together as shown, by the aid of fittings or glands 1, which are evenly

spaced along the circumference of the breeding vessel and the design of which is shown in more detail in the sectional view of Figure 3.

It will appear from Figure 3 that each gland 1 is built from elements shaped from flat steel bars. Each gland comprises an intermediate member 15 acting as a spacer between buoyancy means 13, 14, and two equal strap members 16, 17 which are connected with intermediate member 15 by the aid of screws 18 - 21 and associated nuts. Screws 18 - 21 are inserted in elongated holes (not shown) to permit any necessary adjust¬ ment and tensioning of strap members 16, 17 relative to intermediate member 15 and plastic tubes 13, 14 sitting in openings 22, 23.

As shown, a lug 24 is welded to intermediate member 15 for connection of chain 2. Chain 2, thus, extends from one fitting to the next, as shown in Figure 2.

Banister posts 25 are welded to gland 1, as shown in Figure 3. Also, an anchoring lug 26 for connection of the anchoring lines is welded to the gland. Such anchoring lugs may be provided on all fittings or glands, or only on some of them, i.e. those intended for use as anchorage points.

Between plastic tubes 13, 14 a suitable lining 27 is provided (lining and plastic tubes are only shown on the left hand side of Figure 3).

The diameter of the annular breeding vessel may vary, e.g. between 13 meters and 29 meters. In a practical embodiment, as shown, a chain 2 may be placed between two annular plastic tubes 13, 14, which chain 2 is connected with the tubes by the aid of steel fittings 1 in a spaced arrangement of 2 to 2.5 meters.

As shown, the annular breeding vessel is loosely anchored by four main anchoring lines 3, 4, 5, 6, each of which being distributed to two anchorage points 1', 1" (fittings) on the breeding vessel proper. Forces of anchorage are led to the chain, via fittings.

Upon mounting plastic tubes and chain the plant is biased by the aid of the anchorage system. The main support system of the annular breeding vessel in the horizontal plane will consist of the anchoring lines and the biased chain. The plastic tubes are not assumed to contribute to the dimension¬ ing resistance of the breeding vessel during maximum load conditions (breaking point), they are only to ensure sufficient buoyancy for the breeding vessel.

The dominating loads on such an unattended plant, represented by the annular breeding vessel, will result from bias and the elemental forces waves and current.

The horizontal wave forces will be relatively low due to the slight draught of plastic tubes 13, 14, the annular shape of the breeding vessel proper, and the high damping contribution of the net (not shown). With sensible anchorage of the plant there is, thus, reason to assume that it will mainly be subjected to static loads with the current load being dominating.

The high flexibility of plastic tubes 13, 14 will cause the breeding vessel to accompany the vertical movement of waves without chain 2 or anchorage 3, 4, 5, 6 being subjected to any substantial load.

When the force of anchoring lines 3, 4, 5, 6 is increased, chain 2 will be straightened between anchorage points. Any resistance against such movement is due to the bending resistance and axial rigidity of the plastic tubes.

As long as the load on the plant is dominated by the biasing forces the shape will be approximately circular. As the load of elemental forces increases the chain force around the breeding vessel will change. On the side facing the direction of the Toad the chain will be tensioned and straightened, whereas the chain force on the opposite side of the breeding vessel will experience small change. This is illustrated for two different directions of load in Figure 4, and Figure 5, respectively. In Figure 4 the state of deformation of the main supporting system is diagrammatically illustrated in case of a load along an anchoring line. An arrow designated "direction of load" symbolizes the load along an anchoring line. The separate anchorage points are indicated as such and one of them is designated "anchorage point".

It will appear from Figure 4 that the annular breeding vessel will be flattened in outline, as indicated by a full line (the normal shape of the breeding vessel is shown in a dashed line). Chain 2 is tensioned and straightened where it faces the direction of load, whereas the chain force on the opposite side is only slightly changed, as indicated.

In Figure 5 the state of deformation is shown in a case with the direction of load being placed between two anchoring lines. In this case as well, it will appear that the chain force is only slightly changed on the lee, whereas the chain is tightened on the side facing the load.

Even If plastic tubes 13, 14 are not locked to the steel fittings 1 the latter will be subjected to load when the shape of the breeding vessel changes. Resistance from the plastic tubes is, however, not necessary to avoid a collapse of the structure. The resistance against breaking of the structure will solely be determined by the capacity of the chain and anchoring lines.

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For a state of breaking point it will, thus, be necessary t calculate how large a corner will occur in the anchorag points and whether the plastic tubes are sufficiently soft t conform with such a corner without being damaged.

A varying load from waves may be decisive to the life of th plastic tubes in areas with severe changes of expansio (fatigue).

In case of checking a state of accident it will be obvious t examine the state upon fracture of an achoring line and wit a load in the corresponding direction. With anchoring lines 3, 4, 5, 6 as proposed in embodiment 4, such a state will only cause two of the remaining anchoring lines to be active, at the same time as the structure shows great displacements in the direction of the load. Such a case is illustrated in Figure 6. The normal annular shape/state of the breeding vessel is indicated by dashed lines, whereas the situation upon displacement in case of a fracture of an anchoring line is indicated with full lines.

In such a state the breeding vessel will depend on the resistance of the plastic tubes to prevent collapse. Portions of the plastic tubes on the side facing the direction of current (direction of load), i.e. the dominating load, will then act as a pressure arch.

If the plastic tubes are unable to resist this load the breeding vessel will collapse on top, but this does not necessarrily cause damage to the net (not shown), because chain 2 will prevent the distance between fittings from increasing. The hazard of free drift of the breeding vessel is then determined by the capacity of the two remaining active anchoring lines (indicated as lines 4 and 5 in Figure 6).