Method for the Preservation and Transportation of Products Including Live Aquatic Species

Abstract

A moveable vehicle such as a truck, railway carriage, or the like is structured and dimensioned to enable the transportation of products including live aquatic species, such as fish in a refrigerated condition. The vehicle includes insulating and heat exchange layers which, when utilized to transport live aquatic species, may maintain them in a dormant state by temperature controls within the refrigeration system. A water spraying assembly provides a humidity and oxygen level for disposing of waste and also enables the spraying of fog to provide effective humidity between spraying cycles. Any existing animal waste is treated in the water and a recirculation or closed loop system is provided. A product storage area facilitates loading and unloading and a separate storage room may be provided to house the systems equipment or optionally may be attached to the vehicle. When refrigerated products which do not develop waste are transported, use of at least components of the water and filtration system may be selectively discarded as the operator deems appropriate for effective utilization of the system.

1 . A method for transporting a product in apparatus embodying therein a refrigeration system operable to maintain and control the temperature of the product, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing means for containing the product;   spraying a preservative liquid onto the product positioned in the container sufficient to wet the product with said liquid;   removing the liquid from the container and thereafter returning the liquid to the container; and   maintaining a temperature inside the container such as to facilitates preservation of the product.   
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  including filtering and recycling the liquid before returning it to the container. 
   
   
       3 . A method for transporting live aquatic animals in a container comprising the steps of:
 arranging the live aquatic animals in position for spraying with a preservative;   spraying liquid in a manner to wet the live aquatic animals and facilitate removal of the animals waste;   removing at least a portion of the liquid from the container and filtering and recycling the liquid before returning it to the container;   treating the animal waste in the liquid before returning the liquid to the container; and   maintaining a temperature inside the container so as to effectively operate the method of refrigeration and preservatives.   
   
   
       4 . A method for transporting live aquatic animals comprising the steps of:
 providing a self-contained preservation system for transporting a product that includes: (1) a trailer vehicle comprising a trailer chassis having front and rear end portions, a plurality of wheel supports attached to the trailer chassis, a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted to each of the wheel supports chassis; (2) the trailer chassis comprising an elongated platform having four side walls projecting upward from said platform and an elongated top frame member extending between said side walls to define an enclosed space, wherein the space is partitioned into a product storage compartment and a mechanical chamber; (3) one or more than one tray; (4) a means for spraying liquid into the product storage compartment and onto the tray for preserving the product and permitting the sprayed liquid to drain from the container; (5) a means for collecting the drained liquid and returning the liquid to the means for spraying; and (6) a means for filtering the drained liquid before returning the liquid to the means for spraying, the filter means comprising a liquid treatment system and filtration units   containing the live aquatic animals in the tray;   spraying liquid in the product storage compartment and onto the tray to wet the live aquatic animals and clean away the animals waste;   removing the liquid from the product storage compartment and filtering and recycling the liquid before returning the liquid to the product storage compartment;   treating the animal waste in the liquid before returning the liquid to the product storage compartment; and   maintaining a desired temperature inside the product storage compartment.   
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the steps of spraying the liquid, removing the liquid, filtering and recycling the liquid, and maintaining the desired temperature are controllable by a Programmable Logic Controller. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the Programmable Logic Controller is set up with modes and cycles. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the modes comprise a start-up mode, a load mode, a transport mode, a climatization mode, and a return trip mode. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the start-up mode comprises a blower cycle, an RDF cycle, and a biofiltration cycle. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the load mode comprises a blower cycle, an RDF cycle, a biofiltration cycle, and a refrigeration cycle. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the transport mode comprises a blower cycle, an RDF cycle, a biofiltration cycle, a refrigeration cycle, and a generator start cycle. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the climatization mode comprises a blower cycle, an RDF cycle, a biofiltration cycle, a refrigeration cycle, a generator start cycle, and a temperature adjusting cycle. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the return trip mode comprises a blower cycle. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the steps of spraying the liquid, removing the liquid, filtering and recycling the liquid, treating the animal waste, and maintaining the desired temperature are controllable by a Programmable Logic Controller. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the Programmable Logic Controller is set up with modes and cycles. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the modes comprise a start-up mode, a load mode, a transport mode, a climatization mode, and a return trip mode. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the start-up mode comprises a blower cycle, an RDF cycle, and a biofiltration cycle. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the load mode comprises a blower cycle, an RDF cycle, a biofiltration cycle, and a refrigeration cycle. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the transport mode comprises a blower cycle, an RDF cycle, a biofiltration cycle, a refrigeration cycle, and a generator start cycle. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the climatization mode comprises a blower cycle, an RDF cycle, a biofiltration cycle, a refrigeration cycle, a generator start cycle, and a temperature adjusting cycle. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the return trip mode comprises a blower cycle. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the Programmable Logic Controller is responsive to means for measuring the temperature, pressure, and humidity installed inside the product storage area. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the product is live aquatic animals, organic food, or plant. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid is freshwater, seawater, synthetic seawater, distilled water, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the desired temperature is between about 2 deg. Celsius and about 3 deg. Celsius.