FR2665823A1 - Method for dealing with nuisance birds and device for the implementation of the said method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for dealing with nuisance birds, which method consists in positioning, over at least certain parts of the sites to be protected, at least two electric conductors (1, 2) connected to a high voltage source, the said conductors being separated by a distance less than the dimensions of the feet of the birds in question, and by a distance at least equal to the triggering distance of the electric arcs. The invention also relates to devices for the implementation of this method, in particular a device for dealing with nuisance birds characterised in that it is made up of electric conductors connected together by means of non-conducting elements, the distance between the conducting elements being greater than the triggering distance of the electric arcs, and less than the dimensions of the feet of the birds in question.

Description

 The present invention relates to a method of combating poultry nuisances.

In urban centers, certain species of birds multiply considerably and cause nuisances such as the deterioration of buildings and monuments, the disruption of the functioning of mechanical or electromechanical equipment, and pose hygiene problems difficult to solve. . It is particularly in certain cities of pigeons, or in maritime regions, seagulls, which proliferate due to the contributions by the food of the population, the absence of predators and the action of the militants for the defense animals contesting most of the eradication solutions known in the state of the art.

 Despite the age of this problem, no really satisfactory solution has been found, and local authorities are committing significant budgets to try to alleviate the nuisances resulting from the inexorable proliferation of the birds considered.

 Among the known solutions, mention may be made of seeds poisoned or containing substances limiting the fertility of harmful birds, repellant gels and plastic elements having surfaces in the form of small cones or harrows dissuading birds from landing.

 We also know systems emitting ultrasonic signals supposed to ward off birds. It has however appeared that the effectiveness of these systems is short-lived because there is a phenomenon of habituation.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing an effective and acceptable method of combating poultry nuisances by groups campaigning for the protection of animals.

 The present invention relates more particularly to a method of combating poultry nuisances consisting in having at least some sites to be protected on certain parts to protect at least two electrical conductors connected to a high voltage source, said conductors being separated by a distance less than the dimensions of the legs of the birds considered, and of a dimension at least equal to the triggering distance of the electric arcs.

 Birds that land on protected sites are subjected to low intensity discharges. These discharges are without danger for the life of the bird considered, but on the other hand are sufficiently unpleasant to dissuade him definitively from returning to land at this place.

 According to a first embodiment, electrified elements consisting of a plurality of pairs of protruding conductors are deposited on the surfaces traversed by the birds, relative to a nonconductive connecting structure. These projecting elements increase the probability of contact of the bird with the electrified means.

 Alternatively, the nonconductive connecting structure is discontinuous. It therefore allows the flow of rainwater over the surface thus equipped, and prevents the degradation of monuments protected by water as well as direct contact of electrical conductors with water which could otherwise accumulate on the device.

 Advantageously, at least part of the electric current is supplied by photovoltaic elements. The most exposed sites indeed correspond for the most part to roofs of buildings which are difficult to access, but which are very sunny. Therefore, the use of photovoltaic elements connected to buffer accumulators makes it possible to avoid connections to the urban electrical network and therefore makes it possible to reduce the installation costs.

 According to another mode of implementation, there are plies of wires connected by a non-conductive frame. A kind of net is thus produced, making it possible to protect hollow volumes whose large areas are developed. We certainly know in the state of the art non-electrified nets. But experience shows that these are only effective for a limited time. Indeed, birds quickly create a hole through which they enter in large numbers by tearing off certain wires.

 According to another variant, there is placed on the surface traversed by the birds an embossed flexible insulating material comprising conductive surfaces separated by non-conductive strips. This material is for example a plastic material carrying bands or conductive surfaces alternately connected to the poles of the high voltage generator. Embossing increases the likelihood of contact between the birds' feet and the soft material.

This embodiment facilitates installation, which is an important advantage when the surfaces to be protected are difficult to access.

 The present invention also relates to the devices for implementing the methods described above.

 As such, the invention relates in particular to a device for combating poultry nuisances constituted by electrical conductors connected by non-conductive elements, the distance between the conductive elements being greater than the distance from which the arcing occurs, and smaller than the dimensions of the legs of the birds considered.

 According to an advantageous embodiment, the device consisting of two conductive bars connected by non-conductive crosspieces.

 According to another embodiment, the device according to the invention consists of conductive wires connected by non-conductive wires.

 Advantageously, a discharge bulb is connected to the high voltage electrical circuit. This bulb, for example a neon tube, lights up with each passage of high-voltage current, which makes it possible to remotely check the correct functioning of the device. In addition, it makes it possible to reduce the electric arcs triggered between two close conducting surfaces.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, supplemented by the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the device - Figure 2 represents a front view of a variant
FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a device for combating poultry nuisances according to the invention. It consists of two conductive bars (1), (2) connected by crosspieces (3) made of non-conductive plastic. The two conductive bars (1), (2) are made of a stainless metal such as nickel silver or stainless steel.

 The section of the bars (1), (2) according to the example exposed is rectangular, with a height of 1.5 millimeters and a width of one millimeter. They are fixed on crosspieces (3) of rectangular section, with a thickness of one millimeter, a width of 3 millimeters and a length of 30 millimeters. They keep the bars (1), (2) spaced a distance of about 25 millimeters.

The devices are interconnected by electrical wires of known type. The connection is made either by welding, under by connectors usually used for electrical installations. The devices are also connected to a high voltage current generator constituted by a coil (4) comprising a soft iron core, the primary circuit of which is connected to a low voltage chopped current generator (5). Such a generator is constituted for example by an electronic oscillator delivering a pulse signal.

 For example, the oscillator delivers a substantially rectangular pulse, lasting 5 milliseconds, every second. The power supply comes from an accumulator battery delivering a voltage of 12 volts for example. As an indication, a 40 amp hour battery allows the device to operate for more than a month. The battery is recharged by photovoltaic cells (6) connected to the accumulators (5) by a regulator circuit (7). A neon indicator (8) is arranged in parallel on the high voltage electrical circuit.

 FIG. 2 represents another embodiment of the device according to the invention.

 The support for the conductive surfaces consists of a sheet of plastic material (9) which is embossed, that is to say having protruding strips or studs. On the outer surface of this sheet (9) are printed conductive surfaces (10), (11) interconnected two by two. Conductive surfaces can take a wide variety of forms. By way of example, FIG. 2 shows a series of conductive surfaces (10) forming undulations separated two by two from a non-conductive strip (12) with a width of 5 millimeters.

 FIG. 2 also shows another form of conductive surfaces (11) constituted by studs, for example square studs.

The conductive surfaces are connected two by two together so as to form a bipolar network capable of being connected to the high voltage generator.

 The present invention is of course not limited to the embodiments presented in the above by way of example.

The shape of the conductive zones can in particular be the subject of numerous variants, and can for example be produced in the form of parallel corrugated strips, separated by non-conductive intermediate strips.

Those skilled in the art will be able to implement the invention in very diverse forms which will not go beyond the scope of protection.

Claims (10)

1 - Method for combating poultry nuisances consisting in having at least two sites to be protected on certain parts to protect at least two electrical conductors (1), (2) connected to a high voltage source, said conductors being separated by a distance less than dimensions of the legs of the birds considered, and of a dimension at least equal to the triggering distance of the electric arcs. 2 - Method for combating poultry nuisances according to claim 1 characterized in that one deposits on the surfaces traversed by the birds electrified elements constituted by a plurality of pairs of conductors (1), (2) projecting with respect to a non-conductive connecting structure (3). 3 - Method for combating poultry nuisances according to claim 2 characterized in that the non-conductive connection structure (3) is discontinuous. 4 - Method for combating poultry nuisances according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that at least part of the electric current is supplied by photovoltaic elements (6). 5 - A method of fighting against poultry nuisance according to any one of claim 1 or 4 characterized in that there are plies of son connected by a non-conductive frame. 6 - Method for combating poultry nuisances according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that there is available on the surface traversed by the birds an embossed flexible material comprising conductive surfaces separated by non-conductive strips. 7 - Device for combating poultry nuisance characterized in that it consists of electrical conductors (1), (2) connected by non-conductive elements (3), the distance between the conductive elements (1), (2) being greater than the triggering distance of the electric arcs, and less than the dimensions of the legs of the birds considered. 8 - Device for the fight against poultry nuisance characterized in that it consists of two conductive bars (1), (2) connected by nonconductive crosspieces (3). 9- Device for the fight against poultry nuisance characterized in that it consists of conductive son connected by non-conductive son. 10 - Device for combating poultry nuisances according to any one of claims 7 to 9 characterized in that a discharge bulb (8) is connected to the high voltage electrical circuit.