NØSTVOLD, Helge (Juulenga 24, Kristiansund N, N-6516, NO)
| Claims 1. A barge device (1 ) for cleaning floating and/or submerged annular structures, in particular netpen rings (20) for fish farming, characterized in that it comprises: a self-floating barge (2), at least one rail (5) fastened to the barge (2) and extending in a longitudinal direction thereof, a lifting arm (10) which, at the one end (11) thereof, is movably arranged on said at least one rail (5), and, at the other end (12) thereof, is connected to a rotating lifting cradle (15) for receiving in particular the netpen rings (20), at least one motorized transport drum (7) provided in the stern area (3) of the barge and arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the barge for receiving in particular the netpen rings (20), and rinsing means (9) provided in the stern area (3) of the barge. 2. The barge device (1 ) of claim 1 , characterized in that the self-floating barge (2) is further provided with a thruster means (8). 3. The barge device (1) of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the self-floating barge (2) is provided with two rails (5, 5), with one rail (5) extending along each of the longitudinal sides of the barge. 4. The barge (1 ) of claims 1 and 2 or 3, characterized in that the rails (5, 5) are formed with a straight center section (5a) sloping uniformly downwards from the stern area (3) of the barge towards the bow area (4) thereof, the center section (5a) transitioning into downwardly curving stern and nose end sections (5b, 5c), respectively. 5. The barge device (1 ) of any of the previous claims, characterized in that two motorized transport drums (7, 7) are provided, on each side of the barge (2). 6. The barge device (1 ) of claim 5, characterized in that the transport drums (7,7), in the front and rear outer sections thereof, are provided with height adjustable stabilizing rollers (13 a, b, c, d). 7. The barge device (1 ) of claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the rinsing means (9) are arranged between said two motorized transport drums (7,7). 8. Use of a barge device (1 ) for cleaning floating and/or submerged annular structures, in particular netpen rings (20) for fish farming, characterized in that a self-floating barge (2) is maneuvered with the bow area thereof up to the netpen rings (20) from the outside, at least one lifting cradle (15) movably connected to the barge (2) is lowered into the sea to pick up the netpen rings (20) in the bow area (4) of the barge, said netpen rings (20) are lifted up from the sea and carried up and above the barge (2) towards the stern area (3) thereof, whereby the barge (2) is moved to the inside of the netpen rings (20), said netpen rings (20) are guided onto at least one motorized transport drum provided in the stern area (3) of the barge and cleaned by means of a rinsing means (9), said at least one transport drum (7) is rotated continuously, whereby the netpen rings (20) are pulled in and onto the barge in a continuous movement and cleaned while the barge (2) drifts around inside the ring (20) during the cleaning process. |
The present invention relates to a barge device as well as use of the barge device for cleaning floating and/or submerged annular structures, in particular netpen rings for fish farming.
It is known that objects floating or being submerged in water will be subject to fouling. This is unfavorable as such fouling may often cause the material of the objects to corrode or degrade more rapidly. Fouling will add extra, or undesirable, weight to the buoyancy elements. Also, an uneven distribution of fouling etc. may result in imbalances in the structure.
In particular, the present invention relates to netpen rings used for keeping a fish net or netpen in place at the surface and at the bottom. Hence, especially the lower netpen ring will be subject to fouling, and that ring, or each of the netpen rings, must be cleaned at regular intervals.
A netpen is made up with buoyancy rings, usually two rings at the top, with a railing. The bottom ring located in the lower part of the netpen is used for keeping the seine bag down and for maintaining the width of the seine bottom. Rinsing and cleaning may be accomplished with the seine in place, using various tools. The main cleaning, however, which is effected using the device of the present invention, is carried out only after the fish have been removed from the netpen (to a replacement netpen if in the growth phase, or the fish are
slaughtered.) The seine bag is removed and taken onshore, and the lower ring, i.e. the bottom ring, is lifted up and suspended directly below the buoyancy ring for cleaning. Following slaughtering, the rings are often relocated, as there is a regulatory requirement of a fallowing period for the area for some time after a facility has been in use.
Today, such cleaning is usually accomplished by having a crane ship to lift the rings up from the outside of the netpen so that they can be rinsed above the sea. Normally, the netpen is anchored by means of a number of warps, i.e.
anchoring running outwards from the netpen rings. When using a crane ship from the outside, the warps will get in the way of the crane ship and hence complicate this type of operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device that is to be able to lift up the rings and rinse such rings above the sea in a continuous operation without conflicting with the above-mentioned warps (anchoring).
Another object of the invention is that the cleaning device shall have a simple and cost efficient design and also be easy to operate and maintain.
The objects of the present invention are achieved by a barge device for cleaning floating and/or submerged annular structures, in particular netpen rings for fish farming, characterized in that it comprises: a self-floating barge, at least one rail fastened to the barge and extending in a longitudinal direction thereof, a lifting arm which, at the one end thereof, is movably arranged on said at least one rail, and, at the other end thereof, is connected to a rotating lifting cradle for receiving particularly the netpen rings, at least one motorized transport drum provided in the stern area of the barge and arranged transversely to the
longitudinal direction of the barge for receiving particularly the netpen rings, and rinsing means provided in the stern area of the barge.
Preferred embodiments of the barge are set forth in claims 2-7.
The objects are further achieved through the use of a barge device for cleaning floating and/or submerged annular structures, in particular netpen rings for fish farming, characterized in that a self-floating barge is maneuvered with the bow area thereof up to the netpen rings from the outside, at least one lifting cradle movably connected to the barge is lowered into the sea to pick up the netpen rings in the bow area of the barge, the netpen rings are lifted up from the sea and carried up and above the barge towards the stern area thereof, whereby the barge is moved to the inside of the netpen rings, the netpen rings are placed onto at least one motorized transport drum provided in the stern area of the barge and cleaned by means of a rinsing means, the at least one transport drum is rotated continuously, whereby the netpen rings are pulled in and onto the barge in a continuous movement and cleaned while the barge drifts around inside the ring during the cleaning process.
A preferred embodiment of a barge device according to the present invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which fig. 1 shows, in a side view, a cleaning arrangement or barge device in the form of a self-floating barge having lifting arms that pick up netpen rings from the sea in the bow area of the barge and carry the rings to the stern area of the barge for rinsing,
fig. 2 shows the barge device in a rear view with the netpen rings placed on transport drums,
fig. 3 shows the barge device in a side view in which the netpen rings are placed on the transport drum and the lifting arm is let down below the stern area of the barge,
fig. 4 shows the barge device in a rear view as the netpen rings are being rinsed,
fig. 5 shows the barge in a top view,
fig. 6 shows a configuration of the netpen rings with external anchoring and in which the barge device is located both in a first position on the outside of the netpen rings and in a second operational position on the inside of the netpen rings.
Referring to the figures and in particular to fig. 1 , a cleaning device in the form of a barge device 1 is shown. The barge device 1 consists of a self-floating barge 2 having a stern area 3 and a nose area or bow 4. The self-floating barge 2 is provided with a rail 5 along each of the longitudinal sides of the barge. Each rail 5 is formed with a straight center section 5a sloping uniformly downwards from the stern area 3 of the barge towards the bow area 4 thereof, with the center section 5a transitioning into downwardly curving aft and nose end sections 5b, 5c, respectively. A lifting arm 10, in the one end 11 thereof, is moveably arranged on rail 5, and, at the other end 12 thereof, is connected to a rotating lifting cradle 15. Hence, the rotating lifting cradle 15 may be submerged into the sea to pick up the netpen rings 20. Having picked up the netpen rings 20, lifting arm 10 with lifting cradle 15 may then move along rail 5 from the location at which the netpen rings were picked up, preferably in the bow area 4 of the barge, backwards towards the stern area of the barge 3. Motorized transport drums 7 are arranged transversely on each side of the stern area 3 of the barge. The netpen rings 20 will then be carried over the barge 2 to the stern area thereof, where the netpen rings 20 are placed on the motorized transport drums 7. Lifting arm 10 with lifting cradle 15 is then lowered into the sea and disengaged from the netpen rings 20. In the front and rear outer sections thereof, transport drums 7, 7 are provided with height adjustable stabilizing rollers 13a, b, c, d for guiding and ensuring the positioning of the netpen rings 20 on the drums 7, 7 during the rest of the cleaning operation.
Also, rinsing means 9 are provided between the two motorized transport drums 7, 7.
Referring in particular to fig. 6, the position of the barge device before the cleaning operation is initiated is shown as a first starting position on the outside of netpen rings 20. From this figure it can be clearly seen that barge 2, if located on the outside of the netpen rings 22, will conflict with the netpen warps or anchoring 22 when moving around on the outside of the netpen ring 20.
Barge device 1 has a design and manner of being operated that cause barge 2, from a position outside of the netpen rings, to pick up the netpen rings 20 and carry them above the self-floating barge 2 to the stern area 3 of the barge. While performing this operation, the self-floating barge 2 moves to a position on the inside of netpen rings 20. Further positioning during this stage may be further assisted by thruster means 8.
When the self-floating barge 2 are located on the inside of the netpen rings 20 and such rings have been placed onto the motorized transport drums 7, 7, rinsing means 9 will be activated to clean the netpen rings 20. At the same time, the motorized transport drums 7, 7 will be run in a continuous movement whereby the netpen rings 20 are hauled in and onto the barge 1 for cleaning. Hence, the barge 1 will drift around inside netpen rings 20 during the cleaning process. The thruster means 8 of the barge may, if necessary, also be used for positioning the barge during this operation.
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