Patent US5249548A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5249548A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Shellfish depuration system
Assignee: CHI ASSOCIATES Inc
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Filing: 1992-03-23
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Granted: 1993-10-05
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Expires: 2012-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A tank for the depuration of shellfish incorporating an elongated open vessel for retaining sea water and a manifold extending the length of the bottom of the vessel substantially along the longitudinal center axis from one end of the vessel to the other and including a connection at each end thereof for the injection of sea water with a plurality of fill pipes extending from the manifold toward each side of the vessel and each fill pipe including a pattern of holes for the emission of sea water therefrom forming an up-welling pattern to provide a desired turbulence within the vessel and a trough extending around the upper periphery of the vessel for recovering sea water spilling over the upper walls of the vessel such that the injection of sea water through the holes and the recovery of the sea water in the troughs preventing dead spots within the sea water in the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 John L. Dupuy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:44
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/04; A01K61/00; A01K61/50; A01K61/59; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/80; Y02A40/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A tank for the depuration of shellfish, comprising: an elongated open vessel for retaining sea water; a manifold extending the length of the bottom of said vessel substantially along the longitudinal center axis from one end of the vessel to the other and including a connection at each end thereof for the injection of sea water; a plurality of fill pipes extending from said manifold toward each side of said vessel and each fill pipe including a pattern of holes for the emission of sea water therefrom forming an up-welling pattern to provide a desired turbulence within said vessel; and a trough extending around the upper periphery of said vessel for recovering sea water spilling over the upper walls of said vessel, the injection of sea water through said holes and the recovery of sea water in said troughs preventing dead spots within the sea water in said vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A tank for the depuration of shellfish, comprising: an elongated open vessel for retaining sea water; a manifold extending the length of the bottom of said vessel substantially along the longitudinal center axis from one end of the vessel to the other and including a connection at each end thereof for the injection of sea water; a plurality of fill pipes extending from said manifold toward each side of said vessel and each fill pipe including a pattern of holes for the emission of sea water therefrom forming an up-welling pattern to provide a desired turbulence within said vessel; and a trough extending around the upper periphery of said vessel for recovering sea water spilling over the upper walls of said vessel, the injection of sea water through said holes and the recovery of sea water in said troughs preventing dead spots within the sea water in said vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the density of said holes increases from both ends of said vessel to the center thereof to provide an even distribution of sea water within said vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holes form a pattern of rows extending from the center of said tank toward each end, each row having a parabolic shape with the center of said tank forming the y axis and the x axis of each row being defined by an axis including a particular hole in a particular row and extending parallel to said longitudinal center axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said fill pipes is separated from an adjacent fill pipe by a 12" center-on-center spacing, the holes in the fill pipe adjacent an end of said vessel are spaced 12" on center from one another, the holes in the fill pipe at the center of said vessel are separated 6" center-on-center and the diameter of the holes is '/8" and the diameter of the fill pipes is 1".
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vessel is 60' long, 9'6" wide and 42" deep.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vessel, manifold, recovery trough and fill pipes are made of a non-corrosive material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tank as claimed in claim 6, wherein said vessel is made of Fiberglas and said manifold, fill pipes and recovery trough are made of PVC.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tank as claimed in claim 1, further comprising support means for suspending shellfish within said tank within said up-welling pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for the depuration of shellfish, comprising: at least one depuration tank including a manifold extending along the bottom length of said tank for distributing sea water and a plurality of fill pipes extending from both sides of said manifold toward each side of said tank and each including a plurality of holes for emitting sea water into said tank to provide an up-welling pattern precluding the formation of dead sea water spots within said tank, said tank further including a recovery trough extending around the upper periphery of said tank for collecting sea water tending to overflow from said tank; support means for suspending shellfish within said tank within said up-welling pattern; means for filtering sea water; means for pumping sea water within said apparatus; and means for delivering sea water from said recovery trough to said pumping means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
140 words
Apparatus for the depuration of shellfish, comprising: at least one depuration tank including a manifold extending along the bottom length of said tank for distributing sea water and a plurality of fill pipes extending from both sides of said manifold toward each side of said tank and each including a plurality of holes for emitting sea water into said tank to provide an up-welling pattern precluding the formation of dead sea water spots within said tank, said tank further including a recovery trough extending around the upper periphery of said tank for collecting sea water tending to overflow from said tank; support means for suspending shellfish within said tank within said up-welling pattern; means for filtering sea water; means for pumping sea water within said apparatus; and means for delivering sea water from said recovery trough to said pumping means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus for the depuration of shellfish as set forth in claim 9, wherein said filter means includes a a diamotaceous earth filter for receiving and filtering sea water and an ultraviolet filter connected to the output of said filter tank and providing a filtered sea water output to said manifold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a make-up tank receiving sea water collected from said tank and providing sea water to said filter tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means for pumping provides a flow of sea water of 150 gpm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said fill pipes are located approximately 1 foot on center from one another and the plurality of holes in said fill pipes are approximately 1/8" in diameter and are spaced approximately 12" on center from one another, the density of holes increasing from each end of said depuration tank toward the center thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said at least one depuration tank is approximately 60' long, 9'-6" wide and 42" high.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for the depuration of shellfish, comprising the steps of: emitting sea water from a manifold extending along the longitudinal axis within at least one depuration tank through a plurality of fill pipes extending perpendicular from said manifold towards each side of said at least one depuration tank, thereby creating an up-welling pattern of sea water having substantially no dead spots; recovering up-welled sea water from the periphery of said depuration tank; supporting said shellfish within said up-welling pattern of sea water; filtering said sea water; and pumping sea water through said manifold and said fill pipes.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for the depuration of shellfish, comprising the steps of: emitting sea water from a manifold extending along the longitudinal axis within at least one depuration tank through a plurality of fill pipes extending perpendicular from said manifold towards each side of said at least one depuration tank, thereby creating an up-welling pattern of sea water having substantially no dead spots; recovering up-welled sea water from the periphery of said depuration tank; supporting said shellfish within said up-welling pattern of sea water; filtering said sea water; and pumping sea water through said manifold and said fill pipes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the steps of: exposing said sea water to ultraviolet light and providing a filtered sea water output to said manifold; returning the recovered sea water overflowing from said at least one depuration tank for filtering.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein said step of pumping sea water provides a flow rate of substantially 150 gpm.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-10-04 | 1997-04-05 | 1997-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-04 | 2001-04-05 | 2001-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-04 | 2005-04-05 | 2005-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |