Aquaculture cage screen and cleaning apparatus

Abstract

The device includes a screen cleaning brush with multiple fibers or cleaning fingers made from a flexible material with a hook and barb shape. The hook is designed to trap the screen strand as it passes and rotates on a flexible arm to clean the adjacent and opposite side of the strand and then flexes to release the strand. The instant invention has a unique propulsion system and navigation system that enables automatic navigation of the cleaning apparatus on the screen of the aquaculture cage. Alternative the screen cleaning can be performed with a frame having fins to assist in the directional placement of the cleaning fingers against a submersed screen.

1 . A cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens comprising:
 a brush head assembly having a plurality of hook shaped fingers constructed and arranged to engage an aquaculture screen cage element for removal of debris therefrom; and   a power output coupled to said brush head assembly for rotation of said brush head assembly about an axis of rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 1  wherein said brush head assembly is formed from a hub coupled to an outer ring member by a plurality of blade members, said power output coupled to said head and said blade members providing directional output. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screen of  claim 1  wherein said hook shaped fingers are elastically deformable to substantially wrap around a screen cage element such that said hook shaped members remove debris from an outer side surface of the screen cage element and upon rotation of said outer ring member, said flexible hook shaped members are bent into a substantially straight portion for removing of debris along an inner side surface of the screen member. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 1  wherein said hook shaped fingers are formed from a thermoplastic elastomer having a durometer of 40 to 90 A shore scale. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 1  wherein each said hook shaped fingers are formed from a first leg portion that is attached to an elongated member at one end and transitions to a generally “U” shaped portion at the opposite end of said first longer leg portion, said opposite end of the “U” shaped portion transitions into a second leg, said first leg portion is longer than said second leg portion, said flexible hook shaped fingers being elastically deformable such that the “U” shaped portion can be transformed into a substantially straight portion under the influence of an applied force. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 5  wherein said second leg has a thickness that approximates the length of said second leg. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 2  wherein said hook shaped fingers are spaced apart along said ring member forming a first diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 2  wherein said hook shaped fingers are spaced apart along a second ring member forming a second diameter. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 2  wherein said blade members are directional for advancing the motion of the brush head during rotation. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 9  wherein said blade members operate as a propeller. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 2  wherein the motion of said cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens is articulated by controlling the rotational speed of said blade members. 
     
     
         12 . The automatic cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 10  wherein said propellers will propel the cleaning device at a speed of 1 to 4 feet per second. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 1  wherein said power output is a self-contained battery source. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 1  including a frame for securing said brush head assembly to at least one additional brush head assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 14  wherein said frame includes a means for ballasting. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 14  wherein said frame includes a fin for directional juxtapositioning of the frame along the surface of an aquaculture screen when the frame is moved in an engagement direction. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 16  wherein said fin permits displacement of said frame from said the surface of the screen when the frame is moved in a disengagement position. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 1  including a sensor coupled to a processing unit for detection of a load barrier whereby reversing propulsion of said brush assembly allows removal from said load barrier. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 18  wherein said sensor is a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 18  including at homing signal apparatus coupled to a processing unit communicating a docking position within said aquaculture screen cage and said cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 14  including a stationary guard secured to said frame, said stationary guard constructed and arranged to control the distal relationship between said flexible hooked shaped fingers and said aquaculture cage screen. 
     
     
         22 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 2  wherein a central point of said brush head is mounted off-center from said axis of rotation. 
     
     
         23 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 22  wherein a central point of said brush head is mounted ¾ inches to 1½ inches off center from said axis of rotation. 
     
     
         24 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 2  wherein said brush head is offset at an angle relative to and perpendicular from said axis of rotation. 
     
     
         25 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 14  wherein at least two adjacent brush heads rotate counter to each other. 
     
     
         26 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 14  including an inner perimeter component positioned between adjacent brush heads to prevent bundling of said aquaculture cage screens during operation of said cleaning device. 
     
     
         27 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 1  including a tractor drive means operatively associated with an elongated component secured to an upper edge of an aquaculture screen cage, said tractor drive means allowing placement of said cleaning apparatus along an inner or an outer surface of a screen cage. 
     
     
         28 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 27  wherein said elongated component is a handrail having a tubular shaped component positioned along the inner or outer diameter of the screen cage, said tractor drive means including a self centering roller mechanism for supporting of said cleaning apparatus and a winch for raising and lowering of the cleaning apparatus by use of a tethering line. 
     
     
         29 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 14  wherein said brush head is pivotably connected to a gimbal support structure wherein said gimbal support structure permits two levels of brush head rotation, said gimbal support structure having a middle beam interposed between a first and second end beam; a net guard having a first axis, said brush head pivotably interposed about said first axis to permit said brush head rotation about said first axis, said net guard pivotably interposed between said first and second end beam to permit said brush head rotation about a second axis; wherein said first axis and said second axis may be 90° offset. 
     
     
         30 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 1  wherein said power output is further defined as a brushless DC motor coupled to at least one lithium polymer battery. 
     
     
         31 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 30  wherein said lithium polymer battery will deliver more than 0.12 watts per gram and 400 watts per hour. 
     
     
         32 . The cleaning apparatus for aquaculture screens of  claim 30  wherein said motor can achieve a rotor tip speed of about 1 to 4 ft/sec.