IES20080731A2

IES20080731A2 - Construction method for bee-hives using plywood and profiled-timber

Info

Publication number: IES20080731A2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Tim Rowe
Original assignee: Tim Rowe
Priority date: 2008-09-11
Filing date: 2008-09-11
Publication date: 2013-01-16

Abstract

A construction method for making the open-ended boxes which hold the frames of any modern beehive is disclosed. This method involves a pair of matched, flat, rectangular plywood pieces fixed to a pair of matched, profiled timber pieces to make up each of the open-ended boxes (which are sometimes, but not always, called broodboxes and supers). The rectangular plywood pieces have no profiling and make up two sides of the box.

Description

CONSTRUCTION METHOD FOR BEE-HIVES USING PLYWOOD AND PROFILED-TIMBER Field Of Invention: This invention relates to the construction of timber bee-hives, specifically to the construction of the boxes which contain the frames.

Background: Modem bee-hives arc made up of a stack of 4-sidcd boxes. The bottom one sits on the floor of the hive and a variable number of boxes may be placed above according to the needs of the bees inside. Above the top box there is a lid, called a crown-board. Above the crown-board there is a water-proof roof.

Each four-sided box contains frames in which the bees build wax-combs. The frames are removable and are arranged so that they are at a fixed distance from each other.

Though the boxes may vary in dimensions in different types or models of hives, their function is constant: a. ) to hold and support the frames within, b. ) to allow no unnecessary internal cavities into which bees will build unwanted comb c. ) to allow the beekeeper a means of lifting them and moving them d. ) to exclude draughts, rain, sunlight and predators. ΙΕΟ 8 0 7 3 1 Internally, the spaces around the frames must be exactly the correct width otherwise the bees will either be restricted in their movements, or else will find a void or cavity in which they will build comb. Externally, the boxes must have some sort of hand-hold so they can be lifted, but at the same time they must be weather-proof and have no surfaces on which water (or snow) could stand.

Usually boxes are made up of many pieces of accurately machined timber in order to fulfill the requirements above.

The ‘Construction Method For Bee-Hives Using Plywood And Profiled-Timber’ design complies with the above criteria while simplifying the usual construction techniques.

Statement Of Invention This invention - CONSTRUCTION METHOD FOR BEE-HIVES USING PLYWOOD AND PROFILED-TIMBER - achieves the requirements listed in the above section (Background) but introduces a simpler construction method.

With this method only four separate pieces are required for each box. Namely, two matched (identical) rectangular pieces of plywood, and two matched (identical) pieces of machined and profiled (shaped) timber. These are secured together with glue and/or screws.

The profiled pieces are cut from single pieces of timber so no additional joining is required. ΙΕ* Ή 7 3 1 The profiled timber pieces are designed to a. ) accommodate the lugs ofthe frames so they are supported b. ) contain a shaped rebate which is the hand-hold c.) contain a rectangular rebate which allows for the movement of bees over the frames of the box below.

The profiling is applied to the whole length of suitable timber. At any point along the length a cross-section would look like Fig. 5.

Profiled pieces can be cut to any length so that any length of box can be made, accommodating different numbers of frames. Usually a standard hive box will contain 10, 11, or 12 frames, depending on the type of hive, but ‘nucleus’ boxes (designed for growing-on small colonies), transport boxes, and queen-mating hives are variations on the standard boxes containing fewer frames. The profiled-timber sections in the ‘Construction Method For Bee-Hives Using Plywood And Profiled-Timber’ design can be cut to any length to accommodate any of these needs, i.e., to make boxes that will hold any number of frames from 1 to 40.

The rectangular plywood pieces are a consistent size and length depending on the dimensions of the frames inside. They are cut to size and pre-drilled from standard sheets of plywood.

The advantages of this method of construction are: 1.) fewer pieces than normal - so much less machining 2. ) only simple butt-joints are used - so machining and construction are both simpler 3. ) much simpler to make boxes of different sizes for accommodating more or fewer frames 4.) boxes can be made for any hive-type IEO 8 07 3 1 Description Of Drawings This construction method is described in the drawings on the attached pages numbered 1 5 to 6.

There are eleven separate figures.

Key to the attached drawings: PAGE 1/6 Figure 1 BEEHIVE BOX SHOWING THE 4 PARTS NEEDED FOR THIS 15 CONSTRUCTION METHOD A - Plywood piece B - Profiled piece FIGURE 2 SHOWING PLYWOOD PIECE A - Plywood piece C - Holes drilled near comers for the location of fixing screws PAGE 2/6 Figure 3 SHOWING TIMBER PIECE BEFORE PROFILING D - Shaded area showing where timber is removed to leave profiled piece ΙΕο β Ο 7 3 1 Figure 4 SHOWING TIMBER PIECE AFTER PROFILING PAGE 3/6 Figure 5 SHOWING CROSS-SECTION OF PROFILED TIMBER PIECE E - Rebate to accommodate frame-lugs.

F - Rebate to make hand-hold.

G - Rebate to accommodate movement of bees between boxes.

Figure 6 SHOWING CROSS-SECTION OF PROFILED TIMBER PIECE AND POSITION OF COMB FRAME B - Profiled timber piece F - Hand-hold G - Rebate to accommodate movement of bees between boxes.

H - Gap beneath frame lugs to allow movement of bees I - Frame J - Frame-lug. This is the part of the frame that sticks out on either side at the top. The lugs are supported by the rebates Έ' in the box. Lugs are also the part of the frame which is held on to by the beekeeper when moving/inspecting the frame.

K - Comb PAGE 4/6 Figure 7 SHOWING CROSS-SECTION OF STACK OF BOXES SHOWING 30 RELATIVE POSITION OF PROFILED PIECES. ΙΕΟ 8 0 7 3 1 Β - Profiled pieces.

I - Frames.

L - Bee-Spaces. These are spaces deliberately left between components of 5 a hive for the movement of bees.

PAGE 5/6 Figure 8 SHOWING PLAN VIEW OF BOX SHOWING RELATIVE POSITIONS OF COMPONENT PIECES AND FIXINGS.

A - Plywood pieces B - Profiled pieces M - Fixing Screws Figure 9 COMPLETE HIVE SHOWING VARIOUS COMPONENTS N - Floor 0 - Box which contains frames P - Crown-board Q - Roof PAGE 6/6 25 Figure 10 SHOWING THAT THE PROFILED PIECE CAN BE CUT TO ANY LENGTH R - Hypothetical line of cut ΙΕυ 8 07 3 1 Figure 11 A NUCLEUS BOX MADE WITH SHORTER PROFILED PIECES TO ACCOMMODATE FEWER FRAMES A - Plywood sides B - Profiled pieces (shortened) S - Entrance for bees T - Flip-over door IEU 8 ο 7 3 1

Claims

1. A construction method for making bee-hives boxes using two pieces of plywood and two pieces of profiled (shaped) timber only, plus glue and/or screws for fixing same together, for the construction of the boxes which, individually or collectively, make up a beehive.

2. Bee-hives of any size and type constructed according to Claim 1.

3. Parts of bee-hives of any size and type constructed according to Claim 1. 15 3. Nucleus boxes and other boxes constructed according to Claim 1 for the purpose of housing small colonies of bees while they grow on.

4. Queen-Mating Hives and other boxes constructed according to Claim 1 for the purpose of housing small colonies of bees and an un-mated queen for the period during which she 20 is mated and begins laying.