AU2015101097A4

AU2015101097A4 - Beehive enclosure

Info

Publication number: AU2015101097A4
Application number: AU2015101097A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ann Ross; Jeffrey Ross
Original assignee: Hive Haven Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Hive Haven Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-13
Filing date: 2015-08-13
Publication date: 2015-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2023-08-13

Abstract

The bee hive has retained the Langstroth Hive enclosure size and design and has incorporated a small hive beetle trap and a Varroa mite deterrent into the design. The innovative material and design provides improved heating and cooling properties. The device enables the extraction of honey, propolis, cereum, wax and pollen to be removed from the bee enclosure. The material used is sourced from recycled and new plastic for example, but not limited to High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which embodies the sustainability philosophy of recycling, HOPE is a valuable material that can be recycled to deliver a durable product requiring little or no maintenance and providing the beekeeper with a higher return on their time and investment. By adopting the Langstroth Hive dimensions, the bee enclosure is easily mixed and matched with wooden hives currently in use. A feature of the invention is a locking device which secures the beehive container and including the removable lid and the bottom board. A further feature of the invention is software to support and monitor the inventive beehive described above and bees to provide an integrated system which will enable the bee keeper to record the age, condition, rotation and efficiency of their hive enclosures and bees. Figure 3 Bee Hive enclosure with circular opening to allow bees to enter and leave the enclosure.

Description

Invention Name Beehive enclosure Invention Abstract Beehive enclosure which may be used as a bee hive for rearing and farming European honey and native bees with inbuilt small hive and varroa mite trap. Inventors Jeffrey William Ross & Ann Tracy Ross 1. Name of primary inventor who is to listed on any patent Jeffrey William Ross 2. Name of inventor 2 Ann Tracy Ross Background The Langstroth hive enclosure was patented in October 1852, and is the standard enclosure used in many parts of the world including Australia. The enclosure is made from timber and is used to farm bees for pollination, honey, wax, pollen, propolis and cereum. Such enclosures are additionally used to transport bees and as a device to breed queen bees and nucleus colonies. The Langstroth hive enclosure was, and still is today a rectangular box (508mm x 408mm x 250mm) in which rows of frames stand. Each frame provides a place for bees to build the wax cells that form the honeycomb. HiveHaven has retained the Langstroth Hive dimensions as it is the industry standard. Some of the problems with current enclosures include 1. Pest infestation including but not limited to the small hive beetle and the Varroa mite. 2. Spore based disease including but not limited to American Foulbrood, European Foulbrood and Chalkboard. 3. In Australia a major problem affecting both native and honeybee colonies is heat stress; this was evident on the Sunshine Coast during the January 2014 heat waves when significant numbers of Australian native bee colonies housed in traditional hoop pine boxes died. 4. Stingless native bee colonies cannot survive in colder regions of Australia - this reduces their commercial value as a pollinator, propolis, cereum, honey and pollen producer. 1 5. Currently the industry does not have a unified system or technology to regulate the movement and relocation of bee hives. A unified approach is required to tackle current and future pest and disease problems in the industry. 6. Bee enclosures are expensive to replace and are often stolen or vandalised. 7. Bee keepers do not have a 'system' to record or monitor their plant and equipment. 2 Description Intro: The invention consists of eight separate parts being: 1. The container- Figure 1 2. The lid- Figure 1 3. The bottom board - Figure 2 4. The locking device 5. The locking strap 6. The security protective structure- Figure 3 7. Radio Frequency Device (RFID) 8. Software to support and monitor the invention and bees. The design has retained the Langstroth Hive enclosure size and design. The device has moved away from traditional timber and has incorporated a small hive beetle trap and a Varroa mite deterrent into the design. The innovative material and design provides improved heating and cooling properties. The device enables the extraction of honey, propolis, cereum, wax and pollen to be removed from the bee enclosure. The material used is sourced from recycled and new plastic for example, but not limited to High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which embodies the sustainability philosophy of recycling, HDPE is a valuable material that can be recycled to deliver a durable product requiring little or no maintenance and providing the beekeeper with a higher return on their time and investment. By adopting the Langstroth Hive dimensions, the bee enclosure is easily mixed and matched with wooden hives currently in use. Wood is a good insulator but cannot protect bees from wide temperature fluctuations. This in the long term will provide HiveHaven the opportunity to supply the industry with a sustainable building material that will reduce current dependency on hoop pine which is harvested from old growth forest. Preferred Embodiment of the invention The preferred embodiment of the invention can be described as follows. 1. The inventive device is an environmentally sustainable beehive which is manufactured from sustainable materials such as, but not limited to High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). 2. The inventive device uses material which enables washing and sterilisation. 3. The inventive device has moved away from traditional timber beehive designs and has incorporated a small hive beetle trap and Varroa mite preventative into the Langstroth (1852) design. Additionally the collection of honey, propolis, cereum, wax and pollen has been improved by several internal structural changes. 4. The removable lid Figure 1 plays an important role in maintaining a sustainable hive temperature to prevent hive overheating, increase production and deter pests and diseases such as the small hive beetle, Varroa mite and spore based disease. 3 4.1 The removable lid may house a fan or fans powered a motor. The fan forces air in and through the hive in a downward motion through the internal area of the hive. This action will remove surplus heat that can harm and kill bees and/or reduce hive production of honey, propolis, cereum, wax and pollen. 4.2 Additionally the fan(s) can force heated air down through the hive to remove moisture which is released at the bottom of the invention through the bottom board. 4.3 The removable lid provides passive ventilation (vent holes) that enables air to flow through the container. 4.4 The removable lid houses an inbuilt RFID that alerts the beekeeper immediately if the lid is bumped or removed which if left undetected will lead to the death of the hive. 5 The bottom board Figure 2 with inbuilt small hive beetle trap and Varroa mite trap. The bottom board is designed to assist the natural behaviour of the bee and enable it to rid their hive of small beetles and Varroa mites. The trap catches the pests without harming the bee and unlike some commercial bottom boards does not remove pollen from the body cavity of the bee which can result in hive malnutrition. 5.1 Furthermore the trap isolates the small hive beetle in both the two trays from which they cannot escape. This is achieved when the beetle lands at the hive entrance which is guarded by bees. The beetle scurries inside the hive to escape the bees and looks for a dark area to hide. The beetle fits between the hive entrance and the 2mm plate and as a result falls into the front tray. Beetles who are not trapped by this method and who are living in the hive are herded into the rear tray by the bees or they fall through the mesh holes as they are navigating through the hive. 5.2 The bottom board may provide additional ventilation to the bees by half removing the rear tray. This provides additional air flow which cools the hive. This reduces the need for bees to leave the hive to cool themselves. When bees leave the hive to cool themselves the hive brood is left unattended which provides an opportunity for the small hive beetle to lay their eggs. 5.3 The bottom board may include ventilation means for facilitating airflow through the device. 6. A further feature of the invention is a locking device which secures the beehive container and including the removable lid and the bottom board. 7. The security protective structure Figure 4 provides protection to the bee enclosure from theft and vandalism. 7.1 Bees are critical to pollination of plants and many bee species are restricted to a 500 metre flight path. Providing pollinators (bees) for public, commercial and private places is important to the survival of plant and animal species in these locations and so a bee enclosure as described above with live bees needs to be protected by the above mentioned protective structure. 7.2 The protective security structure also provides the bees with some protection from the sun, rain and extreme weather. 8. The security protective structure may also include a power source that will support the function of the bee enclosure. 9. A further feature of the invention is Radio Frequency Device (RFID) type device enclosed in the invention including but not limited to the beehive container described above. 9.1 The Radio Frequency Device (RFID) provides the beekeeper with the ability to monitor important factors including but not limited to bee enclosure position, lid disturbance and, or theft of their beehives. 4 9.2 The Radio Frequency Device (RFID) also provides the beekeeper the ability to monitor important factors such as but not limited to air temperature and humidity, within the bee enclosure. The ability to monitor and maintain maximum efficiency of temperature and humidity will increase honey production and improve the health and balance of the hive. 9.3 Furthermore the Radio Frequency Device (RFID) enables bee keepers to record the weight of the hive based on weight scales on the base of the bottom board. The beekeeper will be able to monitor their bee enclosure electronically which will save the bee keeper time and money. 10. A further feature of the invention is software to support and monitor the inventive beehive described above and bees to provide an integrated system which will enable the bee keeper to record the age, condition, rotation and efficiency of their hive enclosures and bees. Bees face an uncertain future due an increase of pest, disease, overheating and other environmental factors. Bees are effective in protecting themselves from singular threats such as pest and disease outbreaks. Today however, bees face a combination of threats which can no longer be treated separately. The HiveHaven bee enclosure and protective device offers a collective solution to many problems that bees are facing in one complete hive assembly. 5

Claims

1. A bee enclosure compromising but not limited to material known as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which embodies the sustainability philosophy of recycling.

2. The bee enclosure according to claim 1 is made from HDPE plastic and defining a walled cavity for collecting honey, propolis, cereum, wax and pollen from bees.

3. The bee enclosure according to claim 1 has a substantially circular opening diameter ranging from 5mm-20mm to allow bees to enter and leave the enclosure. This opening can also be rectangular of similar dimensions.

4. The bee enclosure according to claim 1 houses panel frames that depending on species of bee are positioned horizontally or vertically.

5. The top and bottom of the bee enclosure according to claim 1 have a wide mouth to allow human access to bees and enable the removal of honey, propolis, cereum, wax and pollen.

6. The bee enclosure according to claim 1 including a removable lid for sealing the enclosure (508mm x 408mm x 45 mm).

7. The enclosure according to claim 1 further comprising a removable lid which houses a fan or fans driven by a motor that is powered by a solar collector for example but not limited to solar panels or solar paint.

8. The enclosure according to claim 1 further comprising a removable lid which enables support of an electric motor powered by a mains power source, battery power, solar cell power, fuel cell or in combination.

9. The enclosure according to claim 1 further comprising a removable lid which enables ventilation means which enables air to flow through the enclosure.

10. The enclosure according to claim 1 further comprising a removable lid which enables a sensor to be attached for measuring temperature and the humidity of the enclosure.

11. A control module may act to control operation of the fan according to claim 7 ie when temperature of the air in the hive rises or falls to a dangerous level, the control module activates the fan. The control module may include a temperature sensor. It may also include a battery facility to charge the battery from the power source for example but not limited to solar power.

12. The enclosure according to claim 1 further comprising a bottom board for sealing and supporting the enclosure (540mm x 410mm x 65mm). 6

13. The enclosure according to claim 1 further comprising a small hive beetle and Varroa mite trap that is built into the frame of the bottom board. The trap consists of the following features 13.1 A (360mm 125mm x 2mm) plate made from, but not limited to Perspex or metal positioned at the front of the bottom board as per Figure 2. The plate covers a cavity in the floor of the bottom board which is serviced by a (360mm x 150mm x 25mm) removable tray. 13.2 Layer of (360mm x 217mm x 1.8mm) grill mesh with aperture gaps of (1.8mm x 40mm) positioned at the rear of the bottom board as per illustration. The grill mesh covers a cavity in the bottom board which is serviced by a removable (360mm x 150mm x 25mm) tray. 13.3 Removable tray x 2 sit within the bottom board. The front tray (360mm x 150mm) is accessed from the front of the bottom board and sits below the plate. The second tray (360 x 275mm x 25mm) sits below the grill mesh and is removed from the rear of the bottom board. 13.4 Removable weight scales that attach under the bottom board.

14. The bottom board according to claim 12 includes ventilation means for facilitating airflow through the device.

15. The enclosure according to claim 1 and claim 12 where in the removable lid further comprises a locking device to secure the lid, enclosure or enclosures and bottom board.

16. A Security protective structure that provides protection to the enclosure according to claim 1.

17. A bee enclosure compromising a security protective structure Figure 4 according to claim 16 that includes but not limited to 6 upright poles that support a base and roof. The material may include but not limited to metal, timber and bamboo. One or more uprights can be removed to enable the inventive device to be removed.

18. A bee enclosure comprising a security protective structure Figure 4 according to claim 16 contains locks that secure one or more poles to prevent the inventive device from being removed.

19. A bee enclosure comprising a security protective structure Figure 4 according to claim 16 contains at least one Radio Frequency Device (RFID) contained within the enclosure or a component there of.

20. Software to support and monitor the invention and bees to provide an integrated system which will enable the bee keeper to record the age, condition, rotation and efficiency of their hive enclosures and bees. 7