AU719043B2 - Improvements in the control of animals with electrocution and behaviour modification under electric fields - Google Patents

Description

rl &~VAflS 7T1E Ck-,rta a -A vAZ lrh Etc-v o C C M+ r p PAEaSC gtF6U r~ SCflswl4rE I 1646?7S Invention Title "Improvements in the Control of Animals with Electrocution and Behaviour Modification under Electric Fields Using Linear Electrodes" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to me:- IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONTROL OF ANIMALS WITH ELECTROCUTION AND BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION UNDER ELECTRIC FIELDS USING LINEAR ELECTRODES This invention relates to improvements in devices and methods for controlling animals such as crawling insects, arachnids, crustaceans and vertebrate animals in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, food technology, timber preservation, dwelling protection, quarantine of ships, human protection and the like.

ooo Introduction a) Wet weather and small animal efficacy for mounting on protected surfaces too.

Electric repulsion and electrocution of animals is an efficient method of animal control and provides an electrical device which imparts an electrical shock of sufficient magnitude to either occasion the death or effect a repulsion of an animal I' contacting its electrodes, whilst complying with regulations which ensure the safety Wetweathof operators and the public.

There have been many proposals to electrocute animals as they trespass a surface toward a protected zone, but their success is in the field is limited by the following seemingly incompatible factors:- 1) Closer separation between electrodes encourages short-circuiting during wet weather and under moist conditions, yet- 2) a closer gap between electrodes is desirable to minimise the likelihood of the animal pursuing a glancing approach on a tangent to the electrodes and so avoiding the simultaneous contact between electrodes as is necessary; and for-the control of very small animals e.g. termites and ants whose body length necessitates closer spacing for the device to be effective.

Prior art does not allow close separation between electrodes on those devices designed for mounting on protected surfaces where an insulation layer is required between the device and the surface it protects and further, prior art is limited in its success under wet conditions. Mere openings created between electrodes to a the surface below maintained a continuum between live electrode and support structure and water would spill over electrodes -aa ~mefAmg1- and either pond between electrodes thereby lowering a gap present between them and risk short-circuiting or run from a live electrode to structures and materials below which are either directly connected to earth e.g. metal piers, or are effectively so when wet, e.g. walls which run to ground. This causes short-circuiting and system failure which is intolerable for control over certain pests, especially those trying to enter buildings during wet weather, hence improvements were necessary for this art to become effective.

b) Problems in integration of conductor with insulator oo** Prior art comprised integration of conductor and insulator components in difficult manufacture or difficult assembly, limiting practicability of the art.

Prior art involved a manufacture or assembly where electrode and insulator were 20 united in intimate contact and so that they became fixed to each other and could not

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*oo* be separated for ready dismantling and re-installation elsewhere in another application.

oS Prior art was designed for installation onto stationary, rigid and flat surfaces and due 25 its rigidity between conductor and supporting insulator, limited its application for protected surfaces like backs of moving animals, such as with control of mating behaviour of stud animals or as human protection devices.

Prior art required installation of an excessive number of electrical connections between units of the device for applications where numerous individual surfaces were to be protected within an electrical system; and made no provision for modular assemblies of the device as in a the case of protection of say tree trunks or house poles. Prior art required use of an additional conductor, as joining wire between electical protection units.

It has been found that improvements will overcome problems outlined above and provide new opportunities in electrical control of animals. The present invention provides solutions to challenges involved in controlling an animal by assuredly imparting an electrical shock of sufficient magnitude to either occasion death or repulsion of an animal contacting its electrodes, or diminishing its pest behaviour with electric field strength exposure, whilst minimising likelihood of short-circuiting under moist conditions.

s Firstly it provides improved forms of electrical insulator and electrodes for currentbearing and earthing, which maximise likelihood of contact between an approaching animal by virtue of their shape and form. Ribbon electodes provide greater surface area exposed to a trespassing animal than do wires; by disposing ribbon electodes in a more proximal position relative to each other, enhaned protection is achieved. The mounting provides a narrow lip of insulation material around a ribbon electrode which interferes with an electric field emanating from edge of live terminal, impeding lines of force directly between edges of electrodes and thus allowing ribbon terminals to be located in a more proximal position relative to one another; .and so minimising opportunity for an approaching animal to avoid contacting both 15 electrodes simultaneously during traverse by pursuing a tangential course. Its 9*t9 dimensions are minimised to retain maximum exposure of the terminal it secures.

*o *9 :.Secondly, mounting provided to electrodes provides a dedicated channel which t serves as guttering for water removal as coalesced beads of water rather than as film to prevent short-circuiting between electrodes.

o**o In one form of this invention, a device comprises a series of two or more flexible and electrified strips of conducting material as electrodes, one live and other earthed and separated to create a potential difference; separation is achieved by geometry of 25 varying length of insulation material and air space according to a target animal's body "form and movement combination: it may be planar- e stepped in a vertical plane; edges of electrodes are partially encased within an lip of insulator so as to secure the electrode in place loosely whilst impeding flow of electric current in an unintended short-circuit between edges of opposing electrodes; vertical walls of insulator support electrodes and provide channelling of water from sources like rain in defined drainage lines and whose surface breaks water film into beads and so impedes spark-jump between live and earth electrodes through an unintended shortcircuit along water film. The electrodes are connected with associated conducting circuitry to a power source and an earthing circuit to maintain potential difference and current supply suitable for repulsion or electrocution of a trespassing animal.

In a second form, a device consists of a flexible and electrified strip of conducting material as an electrode, partially encased within an insulator which impedes sparkjump between live and earth electrodes and provides channelling of water from sources like rain in defined drainage lines along the electrode; water spilling over sides is broken into beads of water by hydrophobic nature of insulator surface to avoid a short-circuit developing in any water film. This first electrode is supported at some height by the insulator over a second, wider electrode which lies on a lower plane, mounted over a protected surface and may be insulated from it if required or integrated with the surface if it is desired that this surface itself become part of the earthing circuit. This form is designed to encourage animals to straddle raised electrodes during their attempted traverse and so force such a negotiation of the electrode to expose sensitive body parts to electric shocks, whilst their hind feet or lower body regions remain in contact with the electrode of opposing charge.

In the first twothfee forms of this invention, the electrodes may be composed of or coated in of flexible, conductive, corrosion-resistant material such as metals: stainless steel and copper, or as fine stainless steel wires woven into carbon polymer 15 tape, available within the electric fencing industry or metalised plastic, oxides of metals, or electrically conductive polymer such as but not restricted to: W polvacetylene; polvacetylene, aligned; polysulphur nitride; polysulphur nitride (Br.sub.2); poly(p-phenvlene, Na); poly(p-phenylene, AsFs); polv(p-phenvlene vinylene), aligned; polv(p-phenylene-1,3,4-oxidiazole), pyrolyzed.

The electrodes will vary in width, thickness and form so as to assure a maximum .r electrical shock to an animal bridging body parts in negotiation of the electrodes. The electrode's central region may be convex to protrude in path of an approaching animal, and separation between electrodes may be less than a body length of an the 25 approaching animal. Belt and weave insulating and support structures to the electrodes may be of a flexible, insulating substance resilient to photodegradation and impact such as a carbon polymer which has an additional property of possessing an external surface coating at least which is hydrophobic and causes water film to break-up into droplets and move as beads of water. This insulating material will vary in length and width, thickness and form according to an animal's body conformation and movement combination, so as to maximise bridging of major body parts in its negotiation of electrodes held within. Its walls are vertical for effective channelling of water in continuous and dedicated lines as guttering. Its composition, thickness and whether manufactured as solid or of hollow section allow for flexibility to achieve effective contact with a the mounted surface which may be flat, angular or round; and may even be moving. A groove or slot is fabricated into the insulator to accommodate the electrode which is slid into place, and can move in response to movements in the insulator due to a loose nature of contact with its enclosing lip, and may be readily extricated for re-installation purposes. A lip of insulating material encases an edge of the electrode to provide impedance to electrical discharge from this point of the live electrode to adjoining earth electrode, whilst effectively maintaining both a large surface area of electrode exposed to an approaching animal and a narrow gap between electrodes. This lip itself creates a channel for water drainage in defined lines along a length of the insulator.

Amperage applied to the live electrode, and the voltage created between the live and earth electrode in the forms one to feou two described above, is sufficient to occasion repulsion or death of a pest bridging the electrodes, whilst the amperage is desirably low enough to render the device safe enough to humans.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is the perspective view of a first embodiment of an electrical control device S 15 according to this invention; 9 Referring to FIG. 1 it can be seen that the electrical control device according to this invention comprises electrode 1 which carries either a positive or negative charge; ,and electrode 2 which carries the opposite charge to electrode 1. The electrodes can 20 vary in dimension and form and are narrow strips of ribbon-plate and may have protruding end as connector. Ribbon-plate provides a large surface area for exposure to the trespassing animal. The strips are inserted into the slot of the lip 3 which secures them into place only loosely by physical restriction above electrode bearer 4.

.This loose-fit, rather than a firm lock, provides flexibility to permit expansion and contraction of electrode within the recess of the casing and permits assembly and o disassembly as a special feature. The lip of insulator encompassing the conductor also provides channelling of water from sources like rain in defined drainage lines and further, impedes spark-jump between live and earth electrodes at close separations. Holes 5 may enable an the installer to secure the belt onto the protected surface by fixing. Spacer 6 provides for drainage across the device and may have a the form of a tunnel-tube, whilst channel 7 provides a gutter with vertical walls to direct water at a level substantially lower than the electrodes along dedicated drainage lines as droplets not film. Water repellence coatings cover the insulator, their chemistry won't give rise to electrostatic forces sufficient to attract water molecules, and so provide water repellance. The extent is that the resulting interface surface tensions of the water-air, water-surface and air-surface cause a contact angle of the water-surface to form a bead. Such coatings may include paints of silicone or carbon polymers e.g. rubber, which give rise to bond moments which cancel to create a non-polar molecule and are non-ionic. Insulator 8 as a whole provides separation between the two electrodes 1 and 2 themselves in a lateral direction and may provide separation in a vertical direction as well to provide a step of air space between them. Its base separates the electrodes and any current-bearing water from the protected surface below. Elevating the electrodes in a the vertical plane separates them from any water lying between them. Enclosure of edges of ribbon electrodes provides for greater insulation between them in air and permits close separation of the electrodes in space.

FIG. 2 shows the control device in operation on curved surfaces. It can be seen that the electrical control device according to this invention is a continuous barrier or trap with water control efficiency for mounting around protected surfaces. It can be seen that animal 3 has bridged the electrodes 1 and 2 and will receive an electrical shock which will at least repel it from the protected zone and probably occasion its demise.

It can be seen that the electrodes 1 and 2 can be doubled-over themselves and slid into place within their respective insulation bearers and so maintain their continuous nature to serve as electric fence 4, requiring no connection at each module of the device within the circuit.

FIG. 3 is the perspective view of a second embodiment of an electrical control device in accord with the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the electrical control device according to this invention comprises electrode 1 which can vary in dimension and form; and is a narrow strip held mechanically in a slot on an the upper surface of a raised insulation belt 2 whose height is substantially greater than any electrode or water level below; lip 3 secures electrode 1 and insulates against spark-jump; electrode 4 carries the o 25 opposite charge to electrode I and is wider than the opposing electrode. Insulation belt 2 prevents short-circuiting by virtue of its insulation property, hydrophobic characteristics and an the air-separation provided by its dimensions and form. The features of the electrodes and insulator combination described in the first two forms before described apply to this version too, an the overlay disposition of a narrow electode over a wider one below disinguished this version. An animal bridging electrodes 1 and 4 in its trespass will receive an electric shock which will at least repel it from the protected zone and in a the case of very small animals, probably occasion their demise. The three-dimensional disposition orientation between electodes is such as to force a the trespassing animal to negotiate the conductor as a hurdle and so expose major body parts to contact with electrodes.

The devices shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are applied in the field as per the first embodiment shown in FIGS. l and 2, or as a flat surface.

Claims (12)

1. A device to electrocute, or disrupt nervous systems of animals, including small animals such as insects, arachnids comprising an elongated, insulating strip having hydrophobic surface and carrying on one side or more lengthwise-extending, conducting, ribbon-like electrodes, one or more of said electrodes being held in elevated slots on ribs made of said insulating material whereby a major face of such electrode is exposed while edges of such an electrode are covered by lips of said insulating material, arrangement of the device facilitating channeling of water and impeding spark-jump from an electrode.

2. The electrical control device of claim 1, wherein parrallel electrodes are affanged in a stepped alignent of paallel eletr11 odes configured so that they are disposed "o eeie ed in differing vertical planes in respect to each other above a surface they p o*e protect, so as to force an approaching animal to expose more central body parts to an °.electrode during its negotiation of the device and in an elevated position above an insulator strap in order to achieve water drainage and to utilise the air-gap separation 20 between electodes as an insulator.

3. The electrical control device of claim 1 wherein electrodes are arranged as an overlay of one electrode above another wider electrode, separated by an insulation layer.

4. The electrical control device of claims 2 and 3, wherein electrodes are detachable and may slide into a slot located within their respective insulators, requiring no fixing or integral forming of said electrode to insulator and allowing for faster installation and re-installation in re-use situations; and may additionally serve to preclude any need for connectors and wiring to an electrical circuit and may have a dual function further as an electrical fence between electrical control devices by virtue of their continuous form.

The electrical control device of claims 2 and 3, wherein the insulator has an external surface as a coating of silicone or rubber, which prevents water moving as continuous film across it to prevent short-circuiting in wet conditions.

6. The electrical control device of claims 2 and 3, wherein the insulator has short- circuiting prevention in wet conditions due to dedicated drainage in continuous channels of insulation at a basal position between electrode bearers of an insulator, that prevent ponding and remove water in defined lines away from electrodes and a surface below, preventing unintended earthing between live and earth electrodes or between live electrode and a supporting surface.

7. The electrical control device of claims 2 and 3, wherein an insulator has short- circuiting prevention in wet conditions due to electrode bearers having a rectangular shape with vertical sides, to encourage water passing over its sides to separate into droplets rather than move as a film.

8. The electrical control device of claims 2 and 3, wherein an insulator has short- circuiting prevention in wet conditions due to dedicated drainage in continuous channels over an electrode between two lips of insulator that prevents ponding and removes water in defined lines away from the electrodes and a surface below, 15 preventing unintended earthing. *O.w

9. The electrical control device of claims 2 and 3, wherein a conductor is ribbon- shaped to expose a large surface area to a trespassing animal and where an insulator mounting provides a narrow lip of insulation material which impedes spark transmission of current emanating from edge of a live electrode to an edge of earth electrode, thus allowing terminals to be located in a more proximal position relative to one another; dimensions of this lip are minimised to retain maximum exposure of a the terminal it secures. 0 25

10. The electrical control device of claims 2 and 3, wherein an insulator is composed of carbon polymer, siliiceous or earthen material and whose external surface may be coated in water-repellent material, including rubber or silicone.

11. The electrical control device of claims 2 and 3, wherein an electrode is composed of a strip of non-corrosive metal such as stainless steel, galvanised steel, aluminium, metal alloy, metalised plastic or electrical fencing tape: strands of stainless steel wires woven through an open weave polymer tape and joined at their end or oxides of metals, or electrically conductive polymer such as but not restricted to: polyacetylene; polyacetylene aligned; polysulphur nitride (Br.sub.2); polpy(p phenylene vinylene), aligned.

12. An electrical control device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1-4 and 6. P N BROCKWELL 21 FEBRUARY 1996