DK180698B1

DK180698B1 - Rodent trap with airgun

Info

Publication number: DK180698B1
Application number: DKPA201900382A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Knudsen Hans
Original assignee: Ratel Aps
Priority date: 2019-04-01
Filing date: 2019-04-01
Publication date: 2021-12-02
Also published as: EP3945812A1; WO2020201241A1; DK201900382A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a rodent trap for placement in the bottom part of a manhole in a sewage system, the rodent trap comprising: - a compressed gas operated airgun; and - a sensor system configured for detecting a rodent and for activating a triggering mechanism in the airgun in response to a detection of a rodent.

Description

DK 180698 B1 Rodent trap with airgun Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of rodent traps, and in particular to rodent traps for use in sewage systems.

Background of the Invention A number of traps are known in the art. Some are known using poison for killing rodents, and other traps are poison free. The poison free traps generally fall in two categories, these being mechanical traps, such as those disclosed in EP2115227 and WO2018050393, and electrical traps. CN203723321 discloses rat trap with an electromagnetic nail gun, and a scanner for activating said nail gun. The disclosed rat trap is not suitable for use in a sewage system, and it is highly dependent on electricity. When operating a trap in a sewage system, the trap will normally be fixed in relation to an upstream or downstream sewage pipe. The traps fixed in the sewage pipe risk clogging the sewage system if objects in the sewage water, such as toilet paper, adhere thereto. Furthermore, they introduce a pressure drop in the system reducing the maximum flowrate through the sewage system. Another issue is that rats tend to be very observant with regards to foreign objects in the sewage pipe and are therefore easy to scare. Hence, the use of fixation means blocking a part of the cross-section in the sewage pipe is problematic. The trap disclosed in EP2115227 prolongs the sewage pipe into the well increasing the risk of clogging. Furthermore, the trap has shown to have periodic problems with retracting the spears after an activation, further increasing the risk of clogging.

> DK 180698 B1 Object of the Invention The objective of the present invention is to provide a rodent trap for use in a manhole of a sewage system that avoid clogging of the sewage pipes. Description of the Invention A first aspect relates to a rodent trap comprising a compressed gas operated airgun.

In the present context, the term "airgun” should be understood broadly. The term “airgun” is used herein to describe all projectile launching devices using any fluid and/or any variety or combination(s) of fluids for propellant (such as nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, etc.) and is not exclusive to devices powered specifically by “air”. It represents a convenient and popular term used to classify all such fluid powered devices. A pistol grip or rifle butt is not necessary for the function of the trap as there is no user present to hold the airgun.

The use of an airgun removes the known problems with spears or pistons failing to retract and thereby clogging the sewage pipe. Here, a projectile is launched from the airgun towards a registered rodent, and the rodent is killed instantaneously. The reason for using compressed air rather than ignition to launch the projectile is due to the risk of inflammable gasses within the sewage system.

The projectile may be of any type and may even be water. One preferred type of projectile is metallic, plastic, or biodegradable round shots of various calibre. This type is preferred as it is more easily used in various types of multi-projectile magazines. Other types of projectiles of the same materials as above and having different shapes may also be used.

2 DK 180698 B1 The rodent trap comprises a sensor system configured for detecting a rodent and for activating a triggering mechanism, preferably electronic, in the airgun in response to a detection of a rodent.

The sensor system is configured to register when a rodent is within reach of a projectile launched from the airgun. The sensor system may comprise electronic sensors, such as infrared sensors or other movement sensors, but of course nothing prevents other sensors from being used, such as sound sensors. The sensor may even rely entirely on mechanics, such as a push rod or plate. The sensor system may also comprise a camera provided with an automatic image recognition system configured for detecting a rodent and preferably configured for predicting the movements of the rodent based on said image recognition. The image recognition may e.g. be identification of the body and/or head and/or tail of the rodent, and thereby being able to identify the direction that the rodent is moving.

The rodent trap may also comprise a light sensor being in communication with the triggering mechanism and/or the sensor system, such that the triggering mechanism or the sensor system is interrupted when light occurs that is above a preset threshold intensity. This configuration prevents accidents due to e.g. erroneous activation of the trap in case of ordinary localized work illumination, including e.g. also in daylight at ground level or in artificial work illumination at the bottom of a manhole or light due to TV inspection. Such light-activated safety means may of course also be adapted to be such that it switches off the triggering mechanism or the sensor system merely if a superposed well cover is opened in daylight.

In one or more embodiments, the rodent trap comprises a housing adapted for hanging from a wire attached to the upper part of the manhole.

1 DK 180698 B1 In one or more embodiments, the rodent trap comprises a housing with a wire adapted for attachment to the upper part of the manhole. In one or more embodiments, the rodent trap comprises means adapted for tilting the airgun, preferably in response to sensor input from the sensor system. In one or more embodiments, the sensor system comprises a camera provided with an automatic image recognition system configured for detecting a rodent and preferably configured for predicting the movements of the rodent.

In one or more embodiments, the sensor system comprises a camera provided with an automatic image recognition system configured for detecting a rodent and preferably configured for predicting the movements of the rodent, wherein the camera is configured to instruct the means adapted for tilting the airgun in response to predicted movement of a detected rodent. The rodent trap further comprises a housing adapted for covering the compressed gas operated airgun and with an opening in its bottom for receiving the airgun's muzzle. The housing is preferably watertight, and a sealing (e.g. a packing, gasket, or seal) may be positioned in the opening of the housing and around the airgun’s muzzle. Such a sealing may e.g., be an O-ring. The housing is attached to a backplate extending below the airgun's muzzle. The purpose of the backplate is several. First, it may function as the backplate of the housing. Secondly, it may aid in positioning the airgun’s muzzle a preset distance from the bottom of the manhole. Thirdly, it may help prevent the trap from rotating around its axis when hung from a wire. In one or more embodiments, a wire is attached to the upper part of the backplate. The wire is adapted to mount the trap in the upper part of the manhole. The backplate may be of a weight allowing the trap to hang steadily from the wire, even during flooding of the manhole. The bracket, such as an angle bracket, is either a) attached to, or b) formed in the lower end of the backplate and extending away from the housing. The bracket may be på DK 180698 B1 adapted for engaging with the upper part of a sewage pipe in the manhole when inserted therein, but only while a wire coupled to the backplate or directly to the housing provides an upwards force on the trap when mounted in the upper part of the manhole. Hence, the bracket is not intended to engage with the sewage pipe on its own but is merely intended as a hook or forklift that needs the upwards force to function. This configuration avoids blockage of the sewage pipe, thereby removing the risk of clogging. In one or more embodiments, the sensor system is mounted in or to the bottom of the housing.

In one or more embodiments, the sensor system comprises a plurality of motion sensors positioned around the airgun's muzzle.

In one or more embodiments, the rodent trap further comprises: - a housing adapted for covering the compressed gas operated airgun and with an opening in its bottom for receiving the airgun's muzzle; and - means adapted for tilting the airgun within said housing.

In one or more embodiments, the sensor system is configured to predict the movement of a detected rodent and to activate the means adapted for tilting the airgun within said housing in response to a predicted movement of a detected rodent.

In one or more embodiments, the rodent trap comprises a light source adapted for aiding a worker in positioning the trap correctly within the manhole. The light source may be positioned on the trap, e.g., on the housing, such that it points downwards relative to the trap, thereby enabling the worker to position the airgun correctly in relation to the center of the sewage pipe opening and/or to the center of the sewage channel in the bottom of the manhole.

på DK 180698 B1 In one or more embodiments, the rodent trap comprises a temperature sensor. Preferably, the temperature sensor may be configured to deactivate the airgun if a preset temperature threshold, e.g. a temperature interval, or an upper limit, or a lower limit, is exceeded.

In one or more embodiments, the rodent trap comprises a temperature sensor configured for measuring the temperature within the sewage channel at the bottom of the manhole. This configuration may prevent falls triggering by heated water passing through the sewage pipes.

The gas cartridge operated device, as well as other non-electrical devices, has the advantage of being usable in ATEX areas without the risk of igniting gas or flammable fluid.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" or "approximately" one particular value and/or to "about" or "approximately" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about", it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention.

The invention is described in more detail in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the figures.

, DK 180698 B1 Brief description of the figures Figure 1 is a front view of a rodent trap in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a rodent trap in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; Figure 3 is a bottom view of a rodent trap in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; and Figure 4 shows a rodent trap in accordance with various embodiments of the invention mounted in the bottom part of a manhole.

References 10 Well 12 Side branch sewage pipe Rodent 20 100 Trap 110 Airgun 120 Sensor system 122 Sensor 130 Housing 132 Backplate 134 Bracket Detailed Description of the Invention

8 DK 180698 B1 Figure 1 is a front view of a rodent trap 100 in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. The rodent trap 100 comprises a compressed gas operated airgun 110; and a sensor system 120 configured for detecting a rodent and for activating a triggering mechanism in the airgun 110 in response to a detection of a rodent. The airgun 110 is here shown positioned in a housing 130 (shown transparent in order to show the airgun within). The specific construction of the airgun is not particularly relevant for the present invention. However, it is preferred that the trigger mechanism is electronic such that it may easily be activated by the sensor system or a control unit in communication with both the trigger mechanism and the sensor system. The rodent trap is here shown with a backplate 132 extending below the airgun’s muzzle.

As seen in Figure 2, a bracket 134 is attached to the lower end of the backplate

132. The bracket 134 extends away from the housing 130 and is present as part of the mounting mechanism (see Figure 4).

In Figure 3, the bottom part of the trap is shown. The trap comprises four infrared motion sensors 122 positioned around the airgun’s muzzle 112. In principle all four sensors should be activated in order to activate the trigger mechanism. This is to avoid falls activations reacting to small floating objects, but more importantly also to avoid hitting the rodent without Killing it. Therefore, the sensors are positioned such that the rodent will be hit in the heart and/or spine area.

In Figure 4, the trap is shown mounted in a manhole 10. The rodent trap 100 is mounted to the side branch sewage pipe 12 with a method similar as the one disclosed in EP2685015, hereby incorporated by reference. In short, the method comprises the following steps: a) releasably attaching the rodent trap to a mounting pole; b) attaching a flexible member to the rodent trap; c) lowering the rodent trap down the well by means of the pole, and keeping an end of the flexible member above the well; d) inserting the bracket of the backplate into the side branch pipe by means of the pole;

o DK 180698 B1 e) tightening the flexible member along the inner wall and above the branch pipe of the well, providing a substantially vertical upwards force on the rodent trap, thereby fixing the bracket against an upper part of the side branch pipe; f) fixating the flexible member inside the well: and g) releasing the mounting pole from the rodent trap and withdrawing the mounting pole from the well.

The flexible member may be simply a rope with an inherent flexible characteristic, or the rope or wire, where it is engaged with the rodent trap, may be provided with a spring, for example a helical spring, such that the spring force is determining the force by which the bracket is urged against the upper section of the branch pipe.

Claims

DK 180698 B1 PATENTKRAV

A rodent trap (100), comprising: - a compression gas propelled air rifle (110), which comprises one or more projectiles and is arranged to fire one of the projectiles away from the air rifle; and - a sensor system (120) configured to detect a rodent and to activate a trigger mechanism in the air rifle in response to a detection of a rodent, characterized in that the rodent trap (100) further comprises a housing (130) which is adapted to cover the compression gas-powered air rifle (110) and with an opening in its bottom to receive the muzzle of the air rifle (112); wherein the housing (120) is attached to a backplate (132) extending below the muzzle (112) of the air rifle; and wherein a bracket (134), such as an angle bracket, is either a) attached to or b) formed in the lower end of the back plate (132) and extends away from the housing (130).

The rodent trap (100) of claim 1, further comprising a multi-projectile magazine, wherein the projectiles are preferably round hailstones that are metallic, of plastic, or are biodegradable.

The rodent trap (100) of claim 2, wherein the sensor system is mounted in or on the bottom of the housing.

The rodent trap (100) of claim 3, wherein the sensor system comprises a plurality of motion sensors located around the muzzle of the air rifle.

A rodent trap (100) according to any one of claims 1-4, further comprising: - a housing adapted to cover the compression gas-powered air rifle and having an opening in its bottom for receiving the muzzle of the air rifle; and - means which are adapted to tilt the air rifle inside the housing.

, DK 180698 B1

The rodent trap (100) of claim 5, wherein the sensor system is configured to predict the movement of a detected rodent and to activate the means adapted to tilt the air rifle within the housing in response to a predicted movement of a detected rodent. .

A rodent trap (100) according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the sensor system comprises a camera provided with an automatic image recognition system designed to detect a rodent and preferably designed to predict the movements of the rodent.

A rodent trap (100) according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the housing is adapted to hang from a wire attached to the upper part of the manhole.

A rodent trap (100) according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the housing comprises a wire which is adapted for attachment to the upper part of the manhole.

A rodent trap (100) according to any one of claims 1-9, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in a sewer duct at the bottom of the manhole in which it is installed, to prevent falls triggered. of heated water which passes through the sewer pipes.