JP2000217493A - Termite sensor and system for detecting termite - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the fear of misconception and a mistake in detection of termite invasion and facilitate the maintenance control. SOLUTION: This system for detecting termites is composed by composing a container 3 of a termite sensor 10 in a house constituent member 1, filling an electroconductive granular material 4 in the container 3, hanging down plural pairs of electrodes 2, keeping the space between the electrodes 2 in a conductive state with the electroconductive granular material 4 and further connecting the termite sensor 10 to an alarm device 11 and is capable of detecting an increase in electric resistance across the electrodes 2 due to eating of the container 3 by the termites, boring a hole A therethrough and discharging the filled electroconductive granular material 4 to the outside of the container 3 with the alarm device 11 and simultaneously raising a warning sound.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a termite sensor and a termite detection system for detecting the invasion of termites into a wooden building.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is well known that wooden buildings and wooden buildings are affected by termites. When termites invade wooden structures and wooden structures, they eat the wood and make holes, making them nests. For this reason, once termites invade wooden buildings and the like, the xylem constituting these structures may be eroded within a short period of time, and may be damaged.

[0003] As one method of avoiding such a situation, there has been known a chemical application for preventing termites from entering a wooden building or a wooden part of the wooden building. However, due to regulations on toxicity, recently, there has been a tendency to prohibit the use and sale of drugs that have a long-lasting toxic effect or drugs that have a large toxic effect. On the other hand, when using a drug with low persistence or a low toxicity that deviates from such regulations, it is necessary to increase the frequency of application of the drug in order to achieve a sufficient effect, which requires a lot of time and labor. There's a problem.

In a situation where such a powerful drug cannot be used, it is effective to use a so-called termite sensor in combination with the drug, which can quickly detect the invasion of termites, and the effect of the drug is reduced. It is possible to take countermeasures before the wooden building or wooden structure at the point of time is severely damaged.

[0005] When a termite sensor is used as described above, the invasion of termites can be detected. Therefore, it is not necessary to use highly toxic drugs when the termites have not yet penetrated, so it is possible to use less toxic drugs and reduce the amount of drugs used, and in terms of materials and environmental safety. There are tremendous benefits.

Conventionally, from this viewpoint, various types of termite sensors have been proposed. One of them is a termite sensor using infrared rays. This termite sensor is composed of an infrared light emitting part and an infrared detection probe. When the termite passes between the infrared light emitting part and the infrared detection probe, the infrared light is shielded by the termite and the output of the detector is reduced. It is possible to detect the intrusion of termites, and it is also possible to measure the number of times the termites are shielded, so that the number of termites invading can be grasped.

[0007]

However, in the termite sensor using infrared rays, not only termites but also small animals such as black ants, insects and rats may be recognized in the same manner as termites, and infrared rays are not emitted. There is a risk of erroneous recognition that the dust adhering between the unit and the infrared probe is recognized.

[0008] Therefore, in order to prevent this, it is necessary to periodically clean the infrared ray passing portion between the infrared ray emitting part and the infrared probe, which requires a labor for maintenance of the termite sensor. is there.

As a termite sensor other than the method using infrared rays, a conductive circuit is formed by applying a conductive paint on the surface of wood or the like which is easily eaten by termites, and when the wood is eaten by termites. A termite sensor that has a simple structure and is easy to maintain and maintain, such as a method of electrically detecting that a conductive circuit has been cut, is also being studied.

However, this termite sensor has a problem that even if a part of the wood is eaten and destroyed by the termite, the destruction proceeds without detecting the intrusion of the termite unless the circuit portion of the conductive paint is destroyed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a termite sensor and a termite detection system that are easy to maintain without any risk of erroneous recognition or detection error.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a termite sensor, wherein the termite sensor is at least partially made of a material that can be eaten by termites, The conductive granules filled in the inside, the, a plurality of pairs of electrodes arranged facing each other in the conductive granules, and comprising a terminal connected to each electrode and led out of the container, Is what you do.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the termite sensor of the present invention fills a container made of a material that can be eaten by termites with conductive particles, and includes an electrode in the conductive particles. Because of the hanging configuration, the electrodes are normally in a predetermined conduction state via the conductive particles. In this configuration, the container is eaten by termites and the conductive particles flow out of the container, so that the space between the electrodes is empty, and the electric resistance value is higher than in the case of a predetermined conduction state. Therefore, the invasion of termites can be detected by measuring the change in the electric resistance value. Furthermore, since the length of the container is formed so that a plurality of pairs of electrodes can be arranged, even if a part of the long container is eaten by termites, the conductive granular material flows out of the container. The detection is less likely to be delayed depending on the position where the termites eat.

Further, the termite sensor of the present invention detects the invasion of termites by measuring the change in the resistance value between the electrodes. Therefore, a conventional sensor using infrared rays may misidentify insects other than termites. The problem described above can be solved, and a malfunction does not easily occur even if dust adheres. Therefore, complicated maintenance management such as regularly removing dust as in the related art is not required, and the reliability of detection can be improved.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the container is constituted by a house constituent member capable of being eaten by termites.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the container of the termite sensor is composed of a house constituent member, so that the invasion of the termite can be reliably detected.

A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the conductive granular material comprises spherical carbon particles having a particle diameter of 0.1 to 2.0 mm and a specific gravity of 2.0 to 3.0. Things. According to the third aspect, the carbon particles used as the core of the conductive granular material can be obtained by, for example, emulsifying an acrylic resin, a phenol resin, pitch, or the like, and baking in a high-temperature furnace at 2000 ° C. or higher. These carbon particles have a high mechanical strength due to having a higher sphericity and a smooth surface than conductive granules obtained by solidifying carbon particles usually called carbon black with a binder or the like,
It is not destroyed by the shaking operation received during handling and does not generate fine powder.It has stable high fluidity, has a chemically stable surface, and is exposed to high humidity for a long time. Also, since the amount of moisture absorption is negligible, the difference between the electric resistance values of the particle layer before and after moisture absorption is very small, and stable conductivity can be obtained.

Incidentally, when the sphericity of carbon particles having a high sphericity is α, α is defined as a value obtained by dividing the shortest diameter of the particles by the longest diameter. In the case of a true sphere, α = 1. .
On the other hand, in the carbon particles of the present invention, α is 0.8
When the carbon particles are filled in a container, the carbon particles are in the honey state regardless of the filling method. As a result, the conductivity of the particle layer is remarkably stabilized, so that the resistance value between the electrodes due to the installation state of the sensor does not significantly change.

The conductive particles are made of carbon particles having good flowability. If the particle size is smaller than 0.1 mm, the flowability is impaired and the container is eaten by termites, so that even if a hole is opened, the particles are promptly opened. In addition to no longer flowing out, there is a possibility that the reliability of detection may be impaired, for example, a block may be formed between the electrodes due to the influence of slight humidity or the like, and a conduction state may be maintained in this block.

If the particle size is greater than 2.0 mm, it takes time for the hole to become larger than the particle size even if a hole is made in the container by termites, and the period from when the termite enters to when it is detected by the sensor. Is prolonged, and the number of carbon particles in contact with the electrode surface is reduced, which may lower the reliability of the conductivity.

The specific gravity of the conductive particles is 2.0 to 2.0.
It is preferably 3.0, and if it is smaller than 2.0, the mechanical strength of the carbon particles is reduced, which causes problems such as crushing with weak force during handling. Also, specific gravity
3.0 is the maximum specific gravity of carbon particles produced by the above-described production method.

With respect to the volume resistivity of the conductive granular material,
It is desirable that the volume resistivity of the conductive granules measured in a stationary state be 10 6 Ω / cm ³ or less, and 50
Those having a value of kΩ / cm ³ or less are desirable. In this case, if the volume resistivity of the conductive granules is greater than 10 6 Ω / cm ³ , the difference from the resistance value when the electrodes are open becomes small, so the design margin of the detection circuit becomes small and the reliability is secured. Becomes difficult. When the volume specific resistance is 50 kΩ / cm ³ or less, a sufficient margin can be provided for the design of the detection circuit, and a sensor having higher reliability can be obtained. Therefore, the electrical resistance of the conductive particles is desirably 106 Ωcm or less, and more desirably 50 Ωcm or less.

Further, when the conductive particles are oxidized, the electrical resistance rapidly increases, and the circuit assumes the appearance as if it were in an open state. The interval is not open. For this reason, the reliability of the sensor is significantly reduced. Therefore, it is important to select a conductive granular material in consideration of moisture resistance and environmental resistance.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the surface of the spherical carbon particles is coated with any one of nickel, silver, gold, and platinum.

According to the fourth aspect, the surface of the carbon particles is coated with any one of nickel, silver, gold, and platinum, so that higher conductivity can be obtained. In this case, the coating is performed by electrolytic or electroless plating, but it can also be achieved by a mechanochemical surface modifying means for stirring the metal powder and the carbon particles at high speed.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the thickness of the outer surface of the container is 1 to 20 mm.

According to the fifth aspect, if the outer surface of the termite sensor is thinner than 1 mm, the strength of the container is reduced and processing of the container becomes difficult. In addition, the container is broken or moisture penetrates into the container. The filled conductive particles may be blocked by moisture.

When the thickness is more than 20 mm, the period from when the termites start eating the container to when a hole is formed becomes longer, and the period from when the termites intrude to when they are detected becomes longer.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a termite detection system, comprising: a container at least partially composed of a material that can be eaten by the termite; a conductive granular material filled in the container; A plurality of pairs of electrodes disposed opposite to each other in the conductive granular material, and a termite sensor comprising a pair of terminals connected to the respective electrodes and led out of the container; A system connected to an alarm device for detecting a change in the resistance value between the electrodes and generating an alarm sound at a predetermined resistance value.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a termite detection system is configured by connecting an alarm device that emits a warning sound to the termite sensors according to the first to fifth aspects. It can be installed at a distant position, so that the warning sound can be easily heard. This makes it possible to take prompt measures against the invasion of termites.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the container is constituted by a house constituent member capable of being eaten by termites.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the intrusion of termites can be reliably detected by forming the container with a house component that can be eaten by termites.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a core of spherical carbon particles having a particle size of 0.1 to 2.0 mm and a specific gravity of 2.0 to 3.0 is used as the conductive granular material. It is assumed that.

According to the eighth aspect, the same operation and effect as those of the third aspect can be obtained.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the surface of the spherical carbon particles is coated with any one of nickel, silver, gold and platinum.

According to the ninth aspect, the same operation and effect as those of the fourth aspect can be obtained.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the outer surface of the container has a thickness of 1 to 20 mm.

According to the tenth aspect, the same functions and effects as those of the fifth aspect are obtained.

[0039]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view of a termite sensor and a part of the termite sensor, and FIG. FIG. 3 and FIG. 3 are end views of the termite sensor.

Termite sensor 10 according to the first embodiment
A container at least partially composed of a material that can be eaten by termites, the conductive granules filled in the container, and a plurality of pairs of the conductive granules opposed to each other in the conductive granules. It comprises electrodes and a plurality of pairs of terminals connected to the respective electrodes and led out of the container.

The container 3 constituting the termite sensor 10 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a house constituent member 1 that can be eaten by termites, that is, a floor sleeper, a pillar, a purlin, a floorboard, a window frame, a sill, and the like. The container 3 is formed by hollowing out the electrode 3 to a length capable of providing the electrode, and the inside thereof is filled with the conductive granules 4. Further, the upper opening of the container 3 is closed by covering the lid 5 with an adhesive.

A hole for inserting a plurality of pairs of electrodes is formed in the lid 5 at a center distance of 18 mm, and the electrode 2 inserted into the hole 6 is made of a good conductor made of metal or the like having a length of 18 mm. A screw is screwed on the upper end of the electrode 2 and the upper and lower
An electrode holder 7 composed of a and 7b is screwed. The screwed lower electrode holder 7b is fixed to the lid 5 with an adhesive, and at the same time, the gap between the hole 6 and the electrode 2 is sealed with the adhesive. The upper electrode holder 7a is rotatable, and the lead wire 8 can be tightened between the electrode holders 7a and 7b. As the material of the electrode 2, it is desirable to use a material whose surface property, electrical resistance, or shape does not change depending on humidity or atmosphere.

The conductive granular material 4 filled in the container 3
By filling the space between the plurality of electrodes 2 at, a predetermined conductive state is maintained between the electrodes.

On the other hand, as a termite detection system, an alarm device 11 (CPU: built-in central processing unit 12) is electrically connected to a terminal of a lead wire 8 connected to the electrode holder 7 of the termite sensor 10. A Darlington circuit is formed, a change in electric resistance between the electrodes is detected, and an alarm sounds from the alarm device 12 when the electric resistance increases from a normal conduction state and reaches a predetermined value. I have.

Next, an experiment of the termite sensor 10 and the termite detection system will be described.

When the termite sensor 10 formed in the house constituent material 1 is left in the place where the termites inhabit, as shown in FIG. Was pierced. As a result, the conductive particles 4 began to flow out, and the electrical resistance between the electrodes increased rapidly.
A few minutes later, the electrical resistance between the electrodes reaches a certain value,
This was detected by the CPU 12 in the alarm device 11 and an alarm sound was issued.

In the termite sensor 10 having a plurality of pairs of electrodes as described above, when the conductive granular material 4 is filled with the interval between the electrodes, the depth and the width of the container being constant, the difference in the electric resistance value is small. It was within 5%, and it was confirmed that there was no problem in the detection sensitivity.

According to the first embodiment, house constituent member 1
The incorporation of the termite sensor 10 in itself enables the intrusion of termites to be reliably detected.

Further, since the termite sensor 10 is configured to detect the electric resistance between the electrodes, unlike the conventional sensor using infrared rays, the attachment of dust and the like and the insects other than termites are erroneously recognized as termites. This makes it possible to accurately detect the invasion of termites. Therefore, complicated maintenance management such as periodically removing dust and the like is not required.

Further, the termite sensor 10 is configured such that the outer surface of the container 3 of the house constituent member 1 has a minimum thickness, so that it is easy for the termites to penetrate the hole, and the invasion of termites can be quickly detected. Can be detected.

Further, since the system is constituted by the termite sensor 10 and the alarm device 11, the alarm device 11 electrically connected to the termite sensor 10 can be placed at a place away from the site where the termites enter. The warning sound can be easily heard.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a termite sensor according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Embodiment 2
The termite sensor 14 in which the container 3 in which the conductive granular material 4 is filled using a plate material 15 that can be eaten by termites is configured, and the configuration is the same as that of the above-described embodiment. The description is omitted.

When the termite sensor 14 having the above structure is attached to the side surface of the house constituent member 1 and left in the place where the termites inhabit in the same manner as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. A hole large enough to eat the lower part A and allow the conductive granules 4 to pass therethrough was penetrated. As a result, the conductive particles 4 began to flow out, and the electrical resistance between the electrodes increased rapidly. A few minutes later, the electrical resistance between the electrodes reached a certain value, which was detected by an alarm device (not shown) and an alarm sound was emitted.

According to the present embodiment, the first embodiment
The same operation and effect as those described above were obtained.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a termite sensor according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The termite sensor 20 according to the present embodiment uses a plate member 15 to form a termite sensor inside the same as in the second embodiment, and the configuration is the same as in the above-described embodiment. Omitted.

In the third embodiment, the termite sensor 20 is
As shown in FIG. 6, an experiment of termite intrusion detection was performed by attaching the termite to a side 22 of a wooden building 21 where termites are thought to invade.

According to the third embodiment, the same functions and effects as those of the first and second embodiments are obtained.

[0059]

According to the present invention, the intrusion of termites can be reliably detected by constructing the termite sensor container in the house component.

Further, by configuring a termite detection system in which a warning device is electrically connected to a termite sensor, it is possible to know the intrusion of termites by listening to a warning sound at a position away from the site where the termites have entered. So there is no cognitive error.

Since the termite sensor measures the electrical resistance between the electrodes, it is possible to eliminate the problem that conventional sensors using infrared rays, such as insects other than termites, are mistaken for termites. Since malfunction does not easily occur even if dust or the like is attached, complicated maintenance management such as regularly removing dust as in the related art is unnecessary.

As described above, the reliability of detection can be improved, and the invasion of termites can be detected early and surely, and preventive measures can be taken efficiently before serious damage is caused.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a part of a termite sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention in section.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a termite sensor.

FIG. 3 is an end view of a termite sensor.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a termite sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a termite sensor according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which a termite sensor is attached to a wooden building.

[Description of Signs] 1... House component 2... Electrode 3... Container 4... Conductive granular material 5... Lid 6... Hole 7... Electrode holder 8. … Termite sensor 11… Alarm device 12… CPU 15… Board material 21… Wooden construction

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A container, at least part of which is made of a material that can be eaten by termites, a conductive granule filled in the container, and disposed opposite to each other in the conductive granule. A termite sensor comprising a plurality of pairs of electrodes and terminals connected to the respective electrodes and led out of the container. 2. The termite sensor according to claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a house component that can be eaten by termites. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive particles have a particle size of 0.1 to 0.1.
The termite sensor according to claim 1, wherein the core is spherical carbon particles having a specific gravity of 2.0 to 3.0 mm. 4. The termite sensor according to claim 2, wherein the surface of the spherical carbon particles is coated with any one of nickel, silver, gold, and platinum. 5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface has a thickness of 1 to 20.
3. The termite sensor according to claim 1, wherein 6. A container at least partly made of a material that can be eaten by termites, a conductive granule filled in the container, and disposed opposite to each other in the conductive granule. A termite sensor, comprising a plurality of pairs of electrodes and a pair of terminals connected to each of the electrodes and led out of the container, a resistance value variation between the electrodes connected to each of the electrodes. A termite detection system, comprising a system in which an alarm device that detects an alarm and emits a warning sound at a predetermined resistance value is connected. 7. The termite detection system according to claim 6, wherein the container is made of a house component that can be eaten by termites. 8. The conductive granular material has a particle size of 0.1 to 2.
7. The termite detection system according to claim 6, wherein a core of spherical carbon particles having a specific gravity of 2.0 to 3.0 mm is used. 9. The termite detection system according to claim 8, wherein the surface of the spherical carbon particles is coated with any one of nickel, silver, gold, and platinum. 10. The thickness of the outer surface of the container is 1 to 2
7. The termite detection system according to claim 6, wherein the termite detection system is formed at 0 mm.