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US 2002/0053157 A1Published application
Trawl system cell design and methods
OwnerSherif Safwat, Valentin G. Perevoshchikovinventors
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OwnerSherif Safwat, Valentin G. Perevoshchikovinventors
Estimating the term…
A mesh cell construction which is systemized wherein opposite mesh bars of the rectangularly shaped mesh cell have a common lay direction when viewed in an axially receding direction (either right-handed or left-handed lay) that is opposite to that associated with the remaining opposite mesh bars of such mesh cell. In another aspect, when incorporated in a trawl (13), such cell construction of the invention provides for improved shaping and performance of the trawl (13) wherein the mesh cells of different geometrical locations positioned relative to and about the longitudinal axis of the trawl can be controlled such that resulting trawl panels wings (25) act analogous to a series of mini-wings capable of acting in concert in operation. Such concerted action provides, when the trawl is in motion, outwardly directed force vectors which significantly increase the trawl volume and hence mouth (26) volume while simultaneously decreasing drag.
A cell for use in a trawl system for generating a hydrofoil-like effect during field operations for aiding in increasing a performance characteristic thereof in a water-entrained environment, comprising first and second cell bar means offset from a central axis associated with a trawl system and having at least one interconnecting connection therebetween, each of said first and second cell bar means comprising a shaped hydrofoil means whereby in field operations as said cell is propelled through a water-entrained environment, leading and trailing edges are established for each of said shaped hydrofoil means along with separate pressure differentials that provide lift vectors relative to said central axis to increase cell performance wherein said leading edge for said first cell bar means when normalized to a receding direction relative to said central axis, reside at a right side of said first cell bar means as viewed in said receding direction and wherein said leading edge of said second cell bar means when normalized to said receding direction, reside along a left side of said second bar means as viewed.
A mesh cell used in a trawl, net or the like for generating a hydrofoil-like effect during field operations for aiding in capturing marine life in a water-entrained environment, comprising first and second pairs of mesh bars offset from a central axis having interconnecting connections, said first pair of mesh bars including first and second mesh bars oriented substantially parallel to each other, each of said first and second mesh bars being constructed of at least two strands positioned relative to a first axis of symmetry, at least one of said at least two strands being of a left-hand, loosely wound lay relative to a receding direction normalized to said central axis, said second pair of mesh bars including third and fourth mesh bars oriented substantially parallel to each other but not parallel with said first pair of mesh bars, each of said third and fourth mesh bars being constructed of at least two strands positioned relative to a second axis of symmetry, at least one of said at least two strands being of a right-hand, loosely wound lay relative to said receding direction whereby in field operations as said mesh cell is propelled through a water-entrained environment, leading and trailing edges are established for said first and second pairs of mesh bars along with a composite pressure differential therebetween so that an outwardly extending lift vector relative to said central axis is easily and accurately generated to increase mesh cell volume.
A mesh cell used in a trawl, net or the like for generating a composite pressure differential during field operations to increase mesh cell volume for aiding in capturing marine life in a water-entrained environment, comprising first and second pairs of mesh bars offset from a central axis having connecting intersections, said first pair of mesh bars comprising first and second straps oriented substantially parallel to each other, said second pair of mesh bars comprising third and fourth straps oriented substantially parallel to each other but not parallel to said first and second straps, said first, second, third and fourth straps each having a cross section selected from the group comprising a rectangular cross section and a quasi-rectangular cross section whereby in field operations as said mesh cell is propelled through a water-entrained environment, leading and trailing edges are established therefor along with a composite pressure differential therebetween so that an outwardly extending lift vector relative to said central axis is easily and accurately generated to increase mesh cell volume.
A mesh cell used in a trawl, net or the like for generating a hydrofoil-like effect during field operations for aiding in capturing marine life in a water-entrained environment, comprising first and second pairs of mesh bars offset from a central axis having connecting intersections, said first pair of mesh bars including first and second mesh bars oriented substantially parallel to each other, each of said first and second mesh bars being positioned relative to a first axis of symmetry and constructed of at least two strands at least one of which being of a left-hand, loosely wound lay relative a receding direction normalized to said central axis and defining turns in a range of 3d to 70d where d is the diameter of said at least one strand, said second pair of mesh bars including third and fourth mesh bars oriented substantially parallel to each other but not parallel with said first pair of mesh bars, each of said third and fourth mesh bars being positioned relative to a second axis of symmetry and constructed of at least two strands at least one of which being of a right-hand, loosely wound lay relative said receding direction normalized to said central axis and also defining turns in a range of 3d to 70d where d is the diameter of said at least one strand whereby in field operations as said mesh cell is propelled through a water-entrained environment, leading and trailing edges are established for said first and second pairs of mesh bars along with a composite pressure differential therebetween so that an outwardly extending lift vector relative to said central axis is easily and accurately generated to increase mesh cell volume.
A mesh cell used in a trawl, net or the like for generating a composite pressure differential during field operations to increase mesh cell volume for aiding in capturing marine life in a water-entrained environment, comprising a central axis, at least three mesh bars offset from said central axis forming sides and a series of associated intersections oriented in space defining a pre-selected cross section in a common longitudinal plane also offset from said central axis, a transverse working plane normal to said longitudinal plane that passes through at least two intersections between a pair of mesh bars, each pair of mesh bars being formed of first and second mesh bars of oppositely but loosely wound strands whereby in field operations as said cell is propelled through a water-entrained environment, leading and trailing edges are established for said first and second mesh bars along with a composite pressure differential therebetween so that an outwardly extending lift vector relative to said central axis is easily and accurately generated to increase mesh cell volume.
A mesh cell used in a trawl, net or the like for generating a composite pressure differential during field operations to increase mesh cell volume for aiding in capturing marine life in a water-entrained environment, comprising a central axis, at least three mesh bars offset from said central axis forming sides and a series of associated intersections oriented in space defining a pre-selected cross section in a common longitudinal plane also offset from said central axis, a transverse working plane normal to said longitudinal plane that passes through at least two intersections between said first and second mesh bars, each mesh bar defining a single strap defining leading and trailing edges during field operations, said single strap defining said first mesh bar being twisted in a first direction about its longitudinal axis of symmetry thereof, said single strap defining said second mesh bar being twisted a second direction opposite of said first direction about its longitudinal axis of symmetry whereby in field operations as said mesh cell is propelled through a water-entrained environment, a composite pressure differential associated with said leading and trailing edges is established for said first and second mesh bars so that an outwardly extending lift vector relative to said central axis is easily and accurately generated to increase mesh cell volume.
A towline interconnecting a trawl, net or the like with a vessel at the surface of a body of water for generating a hydrofoil-like effect during field operations for aiding in increasing a performance characteristic thereof, comprising first and second cell bar means offset from a central axis and having at least one interconnecting intersection therebetween that includes a portion of a vessel at the surface of body of water, each of said first and second cell bar means comprising a shaped hydrofoil means whereby in field operations as said cell is propelled through a body of water, leading and trailing edges are established for each of said shaped hydrofoil means along with separate pressure differentials that provide lift vectors relative to said central axis to increase towline performance wherein said leading edge for said first cell bar means when normalized to a receding direction relative to said central axis, reside at a right side of said first cell bar means as viewed in said receding direction and wherein said leading edge of said second cell bar means when normalized to said receding direction, reside along a left side of said second bar means as viewed.
Bridle line means interconnecting a towline selected from one of a port and starboard towline connected to a trawl, net or the like for generating a hydrofoil-like effect during field operations for aiding in increasing a performance characteristic thereof, comprising first and second cell bar means offset from a central axis and defining an intersection with each other and with said selected towline at a location below the surface of a body of water, each of said first and second cell bar means comprising a shaped hydrofoil means whereby in field operations as said cell is propelled through said body of water, leading and trailing edges are established for each of said shaped hydrofoil means along with separate pressure differentials that provide lift vectors relative to said central axis to increase volume of a trawl, net or the like connect connected to said bridle line means wherein said leading edge for said first cell bar means when normalized to a receding direction relative to said central axis, reside at a right side of said first cell bar means as viewed in said receding direction and wherein said leading edge of said second cell bar means when normalized to said receding, reside along a left side of said second bar means as viewed.
Frontrope means interconnecting one or more bridle lines associated with a preselected tow line selected from one of a port and starboard towline connected to a trawl, net or the like for generating a hydrofoil-like effect during field operations for aiding in increasing a performance characteristic thereof, comprising first and second cell bar means offset from a central axis and defining an intersection with each other, said intersection being positioned at a location below the surface of a body of water, each of said first and second cell bar means comprising a shaped hydrofoil means whereby in field operations as said cell is propelled through said body of water, leading and trailing edges are established for each of said shaped hydrofoil means along with separate pressure differentials that provide lift vectors relative to said central axis to increase volume of a trawl, net or the like connected to said breast line means wherein said leading edge for said first cell bar means when normalized to a receding direction relative to said central axis, reside at a right side of said first cell bar means as viewed in said receding direction and wherein said leading edge of said second cell bar means when normalized to said receding direction, reside along a left side of said second bar means as viewed.
A method of using a cell associated with a trawl system for generating a hydrofoil-like effect during field operations for aiding in increasing a performance characteristic thereof in a water-entrained environment, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.