Finfish containment pens and polyhedral structures

Abstract

A finfish aquaculture containment pen having a plurality of panels that when joined together form the majority of the exterior surface of the containment pen. The panels each comprise tension-bearing mesh material forming the exterior surface of the containment pen, a plurality of compression-bearing struts extending along the boundaries between panels, wherein the mesh material is attached to the struts along the lengths of the struts, and a plurality of hubs at which a plurality of struts and the corners of a plurality of panels abut each other. The panels can form a polyhedral structure. The mesh can comprise coated wire mesh. The struts can be curved members with convex curvature.

1 . A finfish aquaculture containment pen, comprising
 a plurality of panels that when joined together form the majority of the exterior surface of the containment pen,   the panels each comprising tension-bearing mesh material forming the exterior surface of the containment pen,   a plurality of compression-bearing struts extending along the boundaries between panels, wherein the mesh material is attached to the struts along the lengths of the struts, and   a plurality of hubs at which a plurality of struts and the corners of a plurality of panels abut each other.   
     
     
         2 . The pen of  claim 1  wherein the panels form a polyhedral structure. 
     
     
         3 . The pen of  claim 2  wherein the mesh material comprises wire mesh. 
     
     
         4 . The pen of  claim 3  wherein the mesh material comprises coated wire mesh. 
     
     
         5 . The pen of  claim 2  wherein the mesh material is a perforated two-dimensionally stable sheet material. 
     
     
         6 . The pen of  claim 2  wherein the struts are generally straight members, and the mesh generally extends in a plane between the struts. 
     
     
         7 . The pen of  claim 6  wherein the struts are configured so that when loaded in compression the struts tend to buckle outwardly from the interior of the pen, and wherein the mesh is attached to the struts in such a manner as to resist such outward buckling. 
     
     
         8 . The pen of  claim 2  wherein the struts are curved members with convex curvature. 
     
     
         9 . The pen of  claim 8  wherein curvature of the struts approximately matches the curvature of the polyhedral structure. 
     
     
         10 . The pen of  claim 9  wherein the polyhedral structure is approximately spherical. 
     
     
         11 . The pen of  claim 10  wherein the panels are approximately triangular with approximately triangular pieces of mesh material extending across each panel, some portions of the triangular pieces being approximately flat and some portions being developed surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The pen of  claim 11  wherein the hubs are configured to be expanded in a direction away from the center line of the hub to apply compression loads to the struts and tension loads to the mesh material. 
     
     
         13 . The pen of  claim 12  wherein the curved struts form structural arches braced both laterally and vertically by the mesh material. 
     
     
         14 . The pen of  claim 8  wherein the struts carry primarily compression loads and the mesh material carries primarily tensile loads. 
     
     
         15 . The pen of  claim 14  wherein deformation of the struts is limited by the tensile loads applied to the struts by the mesh material. 
     
     
         16 . The pen of  claim 2  wherein the struts and mesh material are configured so that the mesh material is attached to the struts before the panels are placed in position in the polyhedral structure. 
     
     
         17 . The pen of  claim 2  wherein the struts and mesh material are configured so that the mesh material is placed in position in the polyhedral structure before the struts are installed. 
     
     
         18 . The pen of  claim 17  wherein the mesh material has formed edges having a shape configured to be received and locked within slots in the struts. 
     
     
         19 . The pen of  claim 18  wherein the mesh material and struts are configured so that a strut can be installed after the mesh material is placed in position by sliding the strut or a locking member relative to the formed edge of the mesh to lock the formed edge within the slot. 
     
     
         20 . The pen of  claim 19  wherein a single strut member receives the formed edges of two adjoining panels. 
     
     
         21 - 56 . (canceled)