Clam harvester
OwnerTerrance Russell Bertosoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided are methods and apparatuses for harvesting clams, particularly soft shelled clams. The scoop is particularly configured for digging at sufficient depths into the substrate beneath the clams positions and for shooting jets of water and combinations of water and air to fluidize the surrounding substrate and float the clams to the surface for collection and transfer to a work platform. The structure and active elements of the scoop, as part of an overall harvesting platform or vehicle, which can be precisely controlled, allow for the harvesting or transplanting of soft shell clams without excessively damaging the desired shellfish.
Claims20
A method for harvesting soft-shelled clams, comprising:
- moving a scoop from a first position to a second position, wherein moving the scoop from the first position to the second position inserts the scoop into a substrate, wherein the substrate contains one or more clams, and wherein the scoop is pivotally mounted to a front of a frame;
- spraying water into the substrate using a plurality of water jets, wherein the scoop includes a first set of water ports on a surface of the scoop, wherein a portion of the plurality of water jets spray water into the substrate through the first set of water ports while the scoop is underneath the substrate, and wherein spraying the water loosens the substrate;
- driving the scoop through the loosened substrate, such that the one or more clams in the loosened substrate enter a catchment area behind the scoop;
- and
- transporting the one or more clams from the catchment area to a collection area mounted to the frame, wherein the one or more clams are transported using a conveyer belt.
A clam harvesting device for harvesting soft-shelled clams, comprising:
- a frame;
- a scoop pivotally mounted to a front of the frame, wherein the scoop is configured to move from a first position to a second position, wherein the scoop from the first position to the second position inserts the scoop into a substrate, and wherein the substrate contains one or more clams;
- a first set of water jets on a surface of the scoop, wherein the first set of water jets are configured to spay water into the substrate while the scoop is underneath the substrate, and wherein spraying the water loosens the substrate;
- a catchment area behind the scoop, wherein moving the scoop causes the loosened substrate and the one or more clams in the loosened substrate to enter the catchment area;
- a collection area;
- and
- a conveyer belt configured to transport the one or more clams form the catchment area to the collection area.
A scoop for harvesting soft-shell clams, comprising:
- a leading edge configured to be inserted into a substrate;
- an upper surface located adjacent to the leading edge;
- a first set of water jets mounted to the upper surface, wherein the first set of water jets are configured to spray water into the substrate when the scoop is underneath the substrate;
- and
- a rear surface located adjacent to the upper surface, wherein the rear surface includes a mounting point for pivotally mounting the scoop to one or more arms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.