GB2508135A - Beehive cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A fabric enclosure configurable as an outer cover for a beehive. The enclosure comprises a multi-, sandwich membrane comprising a water-resistant breathable outer layer, an insulating breathable middle core layer and a breathable inner containment layer. Preferable the three layers are constructed from polyester, nylon or other suitable synthetic or natural fibre. The three layers can be attached together along their edges. The cover may be provided with access apertures. The cover may be constructed to cover the top-lid of the hive or the whole hive. Alternatively a single panel of the membrane may be incorporated into the beehive housing. The cover may be reversible.

Description

Breathable Cover This invention relates to covers for shelter and protection, such as in the keeping of certain animal species, and is particularly concerned with beekeeping methodology, facilities, apparatus, equipment and constructive measures to that end. Aside from natural hives, such as harboured in the trunks of oak trees, artificial hives have been developed, primarily to promote the production and extraction of honey by human intervention. An intention is to allow a proportion of natural production to be taken for human use, or consumption, without undermining natural bee activity or lifecycle. The hive is fundamentally an artificial construct, but relies for its function upon natural internal colony activities and processes, which in turn are critically temperature and moisture dependent. So assisting with the maintenance of hive temperature and humidity, in variable outside conditions, is a prime hive function aside from other ancillary measures. Bee activity generates warmth and moisture, so the hive must retain necessary warmth and avoid excess moisture through adequate ventilation.

There is a complex, subtle and delicately balanced dynamic in bee activity and hive function. Thus bees consume honey stores to generate heat and for their activities in building up stores. More heat is required to compensate for low outside temperatures such as in winter so stores are consumed to generate heat through bee activity. If the internal hive temperature declines, stores are consumed more rapidly to compensate, but bee inactivity in winter cannot replenish stores. In consuming honey stores to produce heat, bees generate moisture, which must be wicked off by ventilation. The longevity of stores and bee survival period in the winter period are important considerations. It is desirable for stores to last longer.

One rationale of a hive is to provide a warm dry safe, albeit artificial, controlled living environment for harmonious bee survival, breeding and reproduction. Survival as an ecologically useful species may be a wider end in itself, with encouragement and collection of excess honey production beyond that necessary for natural purposes a secondary consideration.

Internal hive temperature is pivotal to the intricacies of bee survival. Another key factor is internal moisture level. Temperature and moisture are co-related. A bee colony is a complex community and micro ecosystem. A hive is intended to provide a controlled or self-regulated environment, but has its limitations.

A bee colony in winter or a winter colony places particular demands upon hive performance.

In practice a traditional hive construction cannot necessarily cope with extremes of temperature arising in all-year-around uses in certain climates. Winter is a particularly problematic time because of inclement cold and damp conditions and threaten bee survival. Preserving bee metabolism and productive activity is desirable.

Thus some supplementary (demountable) temporary measure or provision which can readily be brought into play to bolster hive performance when circumstances demand would be desirable. A hive external cover has special relevance for a winter colony, but variants could have a longer seasonal role than just winter.

It is desirable for an artificial hive to emulate the qualities of a natural hive, including operability in winter.

This applies to a hive fitted with a cover to compensate for the limitations of regular hive construction.

Earlier proposals for non-breathable impermeable foam slab or glass wool insulation lining and fabric hive covers, have not proved entirely satisfactory, and may even exacerbate the build-up of condensation, which bees cannot well tolerate. A permanent or semi-permanent change in hive structure may prove cumbersome and interfere with access.

One aspect of the invention is concerned to bolster individual hive performance with additional measures for greater hive utility and capability over wider extremes of climatic conditions. Other aspects may also have relevance to larger scale commercial hives or groups or clusters of multiple hives in an apiary.

Flexible measures which can address a diversity of hive format and construction would be useful. A common standardised Western European style hive has a rectangular tiered structure houses internal partitions to sub-divide living and breeding spaces with removable frames for collection and removal of honey. Periodic hive access is required for beekeeper intervention, inspection, corrective, adjustment, remedial measures and honey removal, along with portals for bee access to and from the surroundings.

Any ancillary features must be compatible with that and with attendant seasonal and climatic variations in activity. The present invention seeks to address this.

A prime variant is one configured as an aftermarket, retro-fit cover, as a temporary seasonal measure to remedy hive deficiencies. An alternative variant could address hive structure with a permanent or semi-permanent integrated elements, such as wall or roof panels pre-configured with the cover features. The provision might be superfluous or redundant in summer conditions, but provided it did not adversely affect colony activity, such as by over-heating, it might be left in situ; say if only to counter low nocturnal temperatures.

Prior Art

A removable comb tray beehive was patented in the late nineteenth century by Langstroth under US 9,300. Various improvements in encasement and protective covering have been devised. Thus, US 1,067,459 proposed casing to completely enclose a hive. US 83,388 teaches a paper case painted with waterproof varnish or paint as a barrier or shield to a hive from rain. WO 2012109293 envisages an elaborate hive environmental control system for internal humidity and temperature. Such hives have inherent limftations as an aD-weather protection, such as in cold ambient winter conditions.

Natural measures include propolis as a sealant to protect a bee colony from the elements including rain and cold draughts. Earlier known measures have sought to emulate this with insulation coverings to provide a thermal barrier. However bees also require ventilation, which simple barrier measures do not ensure.

Improvised remedial measures such as applying an outer layer of polystyrene foam slab or glass wool insulation, or layers of straw or wood shavings, are generally ill-fifing readily dislodged, nor robust and weather-resistant so may not suffice,.

Proprietary known external protective hive measures include paint-on coatings such as Nansulate (TM), and wraps such as black tar paper have their limitations.

Impermeable measures may even be counter-productive in creating pronounced or uneven temperature gradients, entrapping moisture and engendering internal sweating and condensation The Applicants contend that a purposeful breathable insulated measure would be desirable. Breathable insulated technical' fabrics have been developed for human clothing and apparel, but may not readily lend themselves directly to a hive situation or its environmental control.

Statement(s) of Invention

A fabric enclosure, envelope or wrap configurable or pre-configured as an outer cover of a multi-layer, multi-ply, multi-role, sandwich membrane for an (all-weather) housing or shelter, the cover comprising a water-resistant breathable outer layer, an insulating breathable middle core layer, a breathable inner containment layer.

The layers could be separate, and mutually overlaid or stacked, but conjoined at their common outer margins, such as be a peripheral stitching or binding.

A certain permeability, porosity or breathability are inherent in individual fabric layers and thus throughout the sandwich, with the outer layer inhibiting water penetration and ingress from outside.

When in situ over a hive, such a sandwich membrane promotes a temperature and moisture conditioned environment to promote a thriving bee colony, survival for longevity, honey output and extraction may be secondary considerations or not at all.

A flexible fabric is convenient for ease of fitment or removal and collapse told for compact storage when not in use.

Stretch fabric panels, bands or ties may also be incorporated to help retain the cover in place.

A generous, slack or loose fit of cover over a hive, allows a marginal clearance between hive and cover to define a contained pocket of air, or air curtain, around the hive, with inherent insulating properties and allowing some internal (re-)circulation.

The cover might be regarded as providing its own independent self-conditioning local micro-climate around a hive body.

The cover can embrace a significant and substantial proportion of a hive body to maximise or optimise its effect, but can complement the forms and access features of particular hive types.

Even a lesser panel or patch of a multi-layer breathable insulated sandwich cover could make a useful contribution to hive performance, if judiciously placed, such as in relation to vulnerable hive areas.

Once filled a cover continues to allow some interaction or interchange between the hive and the wider environment; that is the intention is not a hermetic seal.

As a consequence, a cover also impacts upon the hive internal air circulation.

Proprietary materials can be utilised for the cover. Each layer can be a different material, kept discrete from an adjoining layer, but optionally mutually entrained, if only at a peripheral edge jointing seam. An example triple-layer sandwich membrane construction comprises * an outer layer of multiple, say 2, ply laminated breathable polyester Class 3, nylon or other fabric of synthetic and/or natural fibre; * a middle insulating core of polyester, nylon or other fabric of synthetic and/or natural fibre; * an inner layer of breathable polyester, nylon or other fabric of synthetic and/or natural fibre.

The layers could be kept discrete or combined, locally conjoined, entrained or bonded in a integrated laminate. A core could contribute the roles of the other layers with boundary treatment or different foam.

Some advantage may accrue from using only some of the layers, or a different disposition or relative ordering, but with the risk of attendant disadvantage.

A fragmented, severable multi-panel membrane format, with subdivision cuts, creases or folds, may be used for local severance to shape the overall profile and span to suit a particular installation.

The invention also embraces a hive with a demountable external fabric cover or locally demountable fabric cover portions configured to maintain or promote internal hive temperature and moisture conditions.

The term cover is used herein for convenience to embrace a variety of materials, construction, disposition and performance.

Cover action can be multi-role in the face of inclement outside weather or climatic conditions, by conserving heat generated within the hive by natural bee activity whilst allowing ventilation of internal moisture generated by that activity, and inhibiting heat loss or condensation upon hive wall surfaces otherwise arising through temperature and relative humidity differences between the outside and inside of a hive and promoting internal air circulation and/or re-circulation.

Key considerations for cover fabric performance include a certain controlled or disciplined porosity, permeability, or breathability without undue leakage of warm air such as to undermine hive internal temperature, its regulation or control.

A cover can embrace an optional embedded or removable local stiffener elements, such as a rib, rod, wire, matrix or grid, to contribute some self-support.

A cover is particularly directed at bolstering the performance of an artificial hive but may also have relevance to a natural hive, with a common agenda of supporting and promoting a hive bee colony life cycle.

An external cover impacts upon internal hive conditions, including temperature, humidity and circulation.

An external cover is most readily fitted and removed, and the clearance between it and the outside of a hive surface creates an air pocket with additional advantages. So if a hive needs to breathe, a cover needs to allow that. Supplementary or ancillary breather conduit might be used to promote breathing and circulation.

An internal liner variant to supplement or substitute for an external cover might be contemplated, but is less readily fitted around and between the various internal obstructions. To address this, For internal use a fragmented or piecemeal liner panel or portion could be used. Internal breathable insulation could have a role in reducing internal condensation between warm internal hive atmosphere and an internal wall surface, which might otherwise be cold. Breathability is an issue for either an external cover or an internal liner.

An external cover could be configured as a top hood, cap or lid with shallow perimeter wall, say to address an upper region of a hive housing a brood box, nursery or developmental region.

An expansive cape, drape, cloak or hood external cover format, with perimeter tucks or folds, could embrace transfer or access portals or pathways. An extendable, say concertina-fold cover format could allow selective adjustment of cover spread over hive surfaces.

The action of the cover can engender a cumulative virtuous circle' of effects. Installation can help achieve a self-regulating structure. A duality of entrapment and containment arises, with a degree of internal circulation within a cover and between cover and hive to achieve target temperature and moisture conditioning, to preserve ventilation of crucial importance to engender breathing and to shed or wick off moisture A cover can reduce the need for keeper inspection, intervention and disturbance of hive activity.

A cover is conveniently of * fixed or variable format * flexible adaptable profile to suit hive diversity * fixed or adjustable permeability Some aspects of the invention provide a hive or hive portions filled with a breathable insulated cover.

Other aspects of the invention provide a hive or hive portions integrated with a breathable insulated cover.

Further aspects of the invention provide a hive with a cover integrated into the structure such as in or upon the wall or roof elements.

Through their physical activities and physiological processes, bees in a hive have a certain self-regulating ability, at least in heat generation so raising the hive internal temperature and indirectly lowering the relative humidity, albeit within limits and at the cost of depletion of the laboriously accumulated hive energy store. A cover of the present invention is configured to complement and extend that natural process, with beneficial effects upon both temperature and moisture conditioning while conserving the hive energy store; A disparate variety of artificial and natural hive formats are known, but western bee keeping has centred upon a rectangular tiered hut format devised at the turn of the century; one variant of the hive cover can be configured to optimise its conformal fit upon and suitability for that.

In a particular construction, a multiple, in particular triple, layer sandwich format is desirable with layers harnessed individually and collectively to achieve prime effects of an external moisture barrier, an internal insulation and overall permeability or breathability through the layers to hep regulate the heat and moisture entrapment. This without undue heat leakage and so wastage through the cover. Edge and corner seams between wall panels are sealed, say with local edge overlay to preserve fabric integrity and performance. Upon fitment of a cover a marginal layer of air is trapped between the cover internal surface and the exterior surface of the hive structure and which itself can be conditioned and an support internal circulation.

In some variants adjustable vents, such as releasable seams, might be incorporated, say to help conditioning of a formerly exposed and rain sodden wet hive, after cover fitment and which might otherwise engender sweating or condensation.

An adjustable cover could feature tucks or folds with local fabric overlay to accommodate different depth and/or footprint hives. A wrap format could admit selective overlay with fabric fastening to fit a particular hive.

Fabric hook fasteners such as Velcro (TM) or snap action press-stud fasteners might serve for this.

A snug cover fit can be self-locating, and remain in situ, even in exposed windy conditions, but supplementary security restraints or ties can be used. A lower edge draw cord is usefully incorporated to bring the lower cover edges closer to the hive without impairing the cover internal circulation.

An excessive hive temperature also impairs, slows and even halts bee activity. Whilst the cover does not impact upon the ambient external temperature, it could help preserve a cooler hive internal temperature, by isolating it from the outside.

A continuous cover span over all otherwise exposed upper and side surfaces is envisage for maximum or optimum hive embrace' and effect, but partial local coverage might have a role, say as a roof and perimeter rim or pelmet.

The cover material is chosen so as not to distract or deter bees outside the hive from finding or re-entering if that is there normal seasonal transit activity. Thus, for example, reflecting the limitations and characteristics of a bee colour vision, a mid'-green shade outer fabric colour might be adopted for minimal perceived intrusive intervention. Mid-blues or greens can be chosen with this consideration in mmd. the cover should merge visually with the landscape and not in itself attract or encourage curious opportunist predators.

Nothing in the cover construction should distract from or undermine natural been homing instincts of abilities in re-locating the hive after foraging to collect pollen. That said, the cover might have a role in research trials and experiments, for which extraordinary measures, such as foil or black panels or coverings might be applied or incorporated to check sunlight reflection or absorption, or even radio or radar signal collection.

Measures might be taken in cover configuration to promote the natural formation of new colonies. A temporary bee swarm outside of a hive as a transitory colony might shelter under a cover with suitable bracing and support, say suspended in tree branches.

External fabric texture can be chosen to promote impacting water shed. Thus, run-off channels or peripheral bounding edge gutters could feature in the outer layer to discharge impact rain water away from the cover and dissipate any water pools which might otherwise accumulate.

Internal fabric texture can be chosen to promote wearing contact with a hive outer surface and/or to create a cluster or matrix of local air pockets to additional air-gap insulation and local re-circulation.

Local spacers, such as up-stand nodes, bridges, protrusions or ribs in the fabric body, could be fitted to intervene between the cover and hive to preserve a minimal air gap for convention and (re-)circulation.

Alternatively, a serrated or ribbed fabric cross-section could be adopted. This could be achieved by a regular array of sub-dividing seams.

Seams could also delineate fabric transitions for folding into other forms, such as a concertina fold arrangement in a larger scale corrugated effect than that achievable in the body of the fabric; although both such measures could be used co-operatively together.

Ribs could incorporate stiffeners to help preserve the cover shape and form, without reliance upon hive external wall contact or intimacy. A certain free-standing inherent stiffness or rigidity might also be contrived, which might facilitate slip-on/off' cover installation and mounting or removal.

A hive conversion or adaptation might feature panels (pre-)clad or otherwise pre-formed with an outer, multi-layer or ply fabric sheath of the present invention. Self-setting expanding foams might be used for a middle sandwich layer to combine and preserve internal porosity and rigidity.

A stacked over-layer or tiered hive construction could be addressed with bespoke segmented or sectional covers or sheaths. Cover elements could be apportioned between hive regions.

Covers could be graded or qualified' by their insulating, water shedding, breathing permeability or other qualities or performance and otherwise discrete individual covers of lesser individual performance could be co-operatively juxtaposed, inter-nested or mutually overlaid for collective greater effect.

A fragmented jigsaw or patchwork array of fabric portions could be assembled into a collective whole of diverse selectively adjustable shape, size and perimeter. Releasable fasteners, such as Velcro (TM) or press-studs could be fitted for ease of assembly, or disassembly for re-configuration and reassembly.

A quilted multiple panel cover construction, with a matrix or grid of subdivision seams, could be employed to locally unite the sandwich layers locally at intervals with an array of bounded subsidiary shaped panel areas to entrap discrete local air pockets, but it is also advantageous to leave larger areas sufficient for a greater internal air circulation.

A pre-fabricated cover kit could allow a user to adapt the cover format to suit local requirements, and to add supplementary measures, such as stiffener inserts or condition sensors. Thus, say, part of an edge seam might be left with a marginal slot, rather like a duvet cover, to accommodate edge entry of other elements.

A standardise slip-on cover shell format, configured to address common standard hive shapes and sizes is convenient. A snug fit of cover upon hive is desirable, albeit one leaving a marginal clearance for air entrapment, but provision can be made for local adjustment, such as with releasable closure flaps or panels, to help ease fitment and to accommodate minor discrepancies in hive vs cover shape or form.

A removable fabric cover is readily cleaned, washed and sterilised without impact upon the hive. Thus a pressure washer can be used upon a cover once removed, but not so readily upon the hive itself.

For a hive of pre-fabricated construction, such as an assembly of individual parts or sub-assemblies, portions of the insulated breathable cover material can be applied locally to hive parts upon disassembly,with clearance allowed so as not to interfere with other hive parts upon re-assembly.

A cover can feature profile variations, such as protrusions, excursions, re-entrant forms, cut-outs, apertures or conduits to suit diverse hive access aperture forms and locations, such as to the top and/or side access, as with top entrance hives, but without the rampant heat loss that normally attends them.

With the cover in place, hive stores are consumed at a lower rate, so are retained to contribute to the overall thermal mass, which in turn promotes stable hive environmental conditioning. Stores can last longer to extend the hive over-wintering capability.

The invention also embraces a method of keeping bees comprising the steps of housing a colony of bees in a beehive sheltering the beehive for certain periods within a waterproof, insulated, breathable outer membrane cover to achieve and maintain a desired temperature and humidity environment to complement natural regulation through bee activity in the hive.

Although a triple-layer sandwich construction of discrete layer materials has been mooted, its effect might be emulated in variant materials or constructions, such as stiff or rigid self-supporting porous foams, say with coatings on opposite faces. Internal channels for air flow and drainage could be incorporated, along with external profile for water shed, diversion or collection. Such stiff foams could be profiled to incorporate forms reflecting those of a hive and/or protrusions or ribs to serve as local abutment spacers when in hive contact.

This would also allow integration with other measures such as internal passages and/or chambers for air (re-)circulation and drainage outlets for excess moisture and condensation, all as a supplementary ancillary sub-structure to the hive itself, and of complementary effect. Subject to mechanical strength and hygiene considerations a stiff foam construction might be imported into the hive structure itself. Vacuum or injection moulding might be used to create insulated breathable hive parts.

The range of operating conditions for cover and hive can vary. A winter temperature at or below 10 degrees C justifies fitment of a breathable insulated hive cover of the invention. An internal hive temperature elevation of a stable and consistent some 3 degrees C and even some 4 to 6 degrees C has been achieved in trials, without reliance upon greater bee activity and consequent consumption of hive natural stores. This without obstructing a lower side bee access portal.

Temperature aside, extremes of wet and wind, with attendant wind chill factor, can also warrant cover fitment, even if only as a temporary measure. Appropriate remedial, compensatory or corrective measures are not simply a matter of insulation, which can itself cause condensation. Moisture levels and air flow breathability are crucial.

Embodiments There now follows a description of some particular embodiments of the invention, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic and schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a hive fitted with an insulated triple layer sandwich breathable cover of the invention; internal air circulation is depicted by broken line arrows for warn air and solid arrows for cold air; Figure 2 shows a relationship flow chart or map of cover and hive interaction; Referring to the drawings, an otherwise known hive 1 is fitted with a triple layer sandwich insulated breathable cover 11 of the invention. A marginal gap 14 is left between cover 11 and hive 12 outer wall surface to allow some circulation and conditioning of entrapped air. The lower cover edge 17 is brought into contact 17 with the hive by a circumferential draw string (not shown).

Generally, heat generated internally of a hive by bee colony activity is lost through the limited insulating qualities of hive wall and roof materials and through transitions, discontinuities, joins or other vulnerabilities of weaknesses in the hive structure. So there is typically a flow from internally to externally when ambient temperatures are lower than the hive internal temperature. If the hive walls are cold, say because the ambient outside temperature is low, condensation may form on wall and roof internal surfaces, as the warm air with a certain relative humidity is cooled locally below its dew point. As this warm air rises by convention, excessive condensation on the roof underside can fall back down into the hive body. If the condensation is local it can be tolerated, if the colony is otherwise generally bathed in warm air. If condensation is excessive it can lead to damp hive conditions not well toleraTed by the bee colony.

With application of a non-breathing cover cold air is draw in through the hive entrance and through the floor, particularly if of open mesh. Warm air escapes though roof vents and is entrapped between the cover and the outside surface of the hive, except for minimal depth region above the roof. Warm air cools, descends and quickly escapes from the cover bottom edges. Overall, the level of air flow within the hive is higher than with a breathable cover of the present invention. This represents an example of well-intentioned measures with unforeseen unintended unfavourable consequences.

Again with a non-breathable cover heat is lost through the hive walls and roof etc, but net heat loss is reduced as the hive walls and roof are not exposed directly to the wind, rain and cold. Whilst the cover provides insulation significant heat loss arises from flow of air from the bottom edge of the hive. Moisture and condensation levels may be lower than for an unprotected hive but water vapour cannot pass through the cover nor can the cover hold air.

The action of a breathable insulated cover of the invention is depicted in Figure 1. Arrows with broken lines represent warm air movement. A solid line represents cold air movement, with line thicknesses representing flow rate. Overall, the level or rate of internal air flow is reduced, but not extinguished, with less cold air being drawn in through the hive entrance or floor where permeable. Warm air continues to escape through roof vents, but is held in place in the marginal space between the cover and the hive and within the cover breathable layers. Warm air escape is slowed by the presence of the cover and the level of internal air flow is significantly reduced.

An insulated breathable cover of the invention has beneficial conditioning and stabilising effect upon the two key factors of heat or temperature and moisture or condensation. Heat loss is reduced beyond that of a simple, say mono layer, non-breathable insulating cover through the significant increase in the cover's inherent thermal mass and capacity to hold warm air within and between its several fabric layers, the spaces between them and the additional enclosed marginal space created between the cover and the a hive roof and walls. The cover also reduces the flow of air around the hive, allowing warmer air to accumulate. The thermal mass of the cover also adds to its heat retention and so contributory insulating and environmental conditioning and stabilising properties.

Moisture and condensation levels will be significantly lower with a breathable insulated cover of the present invention fitted to a hive, over its roof and around its walls, compared with a simple, say mono-layer, non-breathable insulating cover, given the following factors: * internal hive temperature will be higher; * warmer internal air can hold more water vapour; * moist air can be held in the marginal space between hive and breathable insulated cover; * moist air can be held within and between the layers of the breathable cover itself; * moist air can slowly evaporate or wick-off through the cover breathable layers -A mobile absorbent sponge effect can arise with water vapour retention rather than relatively static condensation. Spacer or bridging elements (not shown) can be located in the marginal region between cover and hive outer surface for consistency of spacing.