JPH1084834A - Termite detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device which always detects the invasion of termites invading into a house to damage before or even after invasion, gives warning, is not given influence by other living beings or objects to maintain its performance inexpensively in a long period. SOLUTION: This detector is composed of a sensor part A consisting of a print wiring board termites like to hole-invade to, a detection part B detecting the invasion of the termites by the disconnection of a wiring because of the hole-invasion of the termites to the sensor part A, and a warning expressing part C expressing the detection of the termites by a signal from the detection part B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a simple termite detector that constantly detects termites entering a house and termites that have entered the house, and notifies an observer of the termites in order to protect the woody portion of the house from termite erosion. The warning expression from the termite detector of the present invention enables the observer to control the termites efficiently and with good timing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, investigators have investigated whether or not termites have invaded houses, by investigating the destruction of houses under and under the floor, and by owners and neighbors who discovered wings and termites by accident. It became apparent for the first time, and most of the time when it was discovered, it was usually damaged by termites. In addition, because termites prefer to eat waste materials under the floor, wood pieces are put under the floor or buried in the ground around the house, and they are periodically taken out and investigated for termite erosion. ing. Even in this case, frequent periodic surveys require labor and expense, and practically do not help to detect termite intrusion in advance, and termites enter during long-term neglect There were many. Recently, a device that makes a hole in a member made of cellulose and detects termites that intrude by blocking the infrared and ultrasonic waves between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit and displays an alarm as a termite alarm device It has been reported (JP-A-8-9860). Such a device would reduce the above effort, but would have the disadvantage of being more expensive than the need for more than one sensor portion per house. In addition, creatures and objects other than termites may enter the hole, causing false reports. Furthermore, since cellulose is used as a material, degradation by microorganisms may occur within a long period of time.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Discovering fins and termites for investigating whether termites have invaded the house is highly accidental and cannot be expected in practice. It is not possible for investigators to frequently survey above and below the floor of a house because of labor and cost. Frequent periodic surveys also involve labor and expense, as to placing pieces of wood under the floor of a house or burying it in the ground. The problem to be solved by the present invention is a device that constantly detects termites that invade houses and causes damage even before and after intrusion and expresses an alarm, and is affected by other living things or objects. An object of the present invention is to develop a device which is difficult, inexpensive and can maintain its performance for a long period of time.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sensor portion comprising a substrate into which a termite provided with a printed wiring preferably penetrates and penetrates into the sensor portion. This is a termite detector that includes a detection unit that detects termite intrusion, and an alarm expression unit that expresses termite detection by a signal from the detection unit. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the sensor portion includes a plurality of wiring boards, the detection section detects one or a plurality of disconnections, and the alarm expression section expresses an alarm when one or a plurality of disconnections occur. 4. A termite detector according to item 1. The printed wiring board is a block,
The termite detector according to claim 1, wherein the termite detector is formed by printing a sheet or a film-like molded product with conductive ink. The invention according to claim 4 is the termite detector according to claim 3, wherein the block, sheet, or film-shaped molded product of the printed wiring board is a molded product made of a resin or a foamed molded product that is preferably perforated and penetrated by termites. It is. The invention according to claim 5 is based on one or a combination of a plurality of materials, such as a resin block, a sheet, and a film, which are poorly water-absorbing on the surface or both surfaces on the printed wiring side of the printed wiring board and are preferably penetrated by termites. The termite detector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is supported. The invention according to claim 6 is the termite detector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sensor portion is covered except for the surface on the side for detecting termites.

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a sensor portion A (A1) according to the present invention, for example. A lead wire 1 is a printed wiring board 2 made of a material that a termite prefers to penetrate.
Is connected to the thin printed wiring 3 printed on the surface of the device, and a weak current is constantly flowing. On the front side and the back side of the substrate 2, a substrate front support 4 and a substrate rear support 5 made of a material that termites preferentially penetrate and penetrate are adhered with an adhesive of the same material, and the substrate 2 and both supports 4, 5 ( The lower surface of the sensor part A1) is in contact with the earth surface 6 or a part of the building. Reference numeral 7 denotes a cover made of a resin plate that opens downward from the sensor portion A1, and holds the sensor portion A1 at the center of the lower end by a holder (not shown). Therefore, the lower end opening of the cover 7 serves as a termite invasion path 8, and the termites are covered from the soil or the building 7.
Invade.

In practice, there are a plurality of sensor portions A (for example, A1 to A4) as shown in FIG. 2 according to the installation location, and they are connected to the corresponding detecting portions B1 to B4, respectively.
The detection unit corresponding to the case where (FIG. 1) is cut by a termite detects that by cutting off the current, and emits a signal. Each of the detection units B1 to B4 is connected to a corresponding alarm expression unit C1 to C4, and the alarm expression unit to which a signal is supplied from the detection unit blinks, for example, to detect a termite and warn of its location.

As described with reference to the drawings, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem (object) is to provide a sensor part A composed of a substrate 2 on which a printed wiring 3 is provided, and a wiring 3 by termite penetration into the sensor part. Is completed by a termite detector including a detection unit B for detecting termite invasion due to disconnection, and an alarm expression unit C for expressing termite detection by a signal from the detection unit.

The sensor part A of the present invention will be described in detail below. According to the method for detecting termites of the present invention, the printed wiring board 2 must be made of a material that can be penetrated and penetrated by termites. Examples of such materials include those used as bait for termites such as wood and molded cellulose. Among synthetic resins, expanded polystyrene,
Foamed polyethylene, urethane foam, foamed phenol resin (JP-A-63-152648, JP-A-63-264)
670, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-10276) and the like, it is known that although termites do not feed on termites, termites prefer to make holes. Although the surface of these foamed molded articles is generally rough for providing printed wiring, it is practically possible to obtain surface smoothness enough to provide printed wiring while retaining the termite piercing property. The shape of the foamed molded body serving as the printed wiring board can be selected according to the actual shape of the sensor, such as a block shape or a sheet shape. On the other hand, a resinous substrate can be used as a substrate for a printed wiring, but a substrate capable of piercing a termite needs to have a certain degree of softness. Examples of such a block or sheet include plastic vinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, synthetic rubber, hydrogenated styrene copolymer and the like. Also, various resin films having a thickness of about 5 μm to 100 μm can be used as a substrate for printed wiring.

The printed wiring board 2 is formed by using a conductive ink such as carbon black ink or silver paste ink as a material of the printed wiring 3 and printing a wiring pattern on the surface of the above-mentioned material. it can. The width of the wiring and the distance between the lines should be as small as possible in order to accurately connect the termite perforation to the disconnection, but the width of the wiring should be 0 .0 from the technical simplicity and practicality. About 1 to 2 mm, preferably 0.2 to 0.5
The distance is about 0.1 to 2 mm, preferably about 0.2 to 1 mm. The area of the substrate is 1 cm ²
About 1 m ² is considered, but is preferably 4 cm ² to 50 cm ² approximately ease and practicality of handling. The wiring pattern has two terminals, a start point and an end point, at both ends, and any pattern may be connected between them. However, wiring as tightly as possible within the specified range will increase the termite detection probability. Can be.

The printed wiring board 2 on the side where the printed wiring 3 is provided has a water-absorbing property because it does not allow water to pass through it to prevent contact with living organisms other than termites, physical obstacles, short-circuiting due to water, etc. It is preferable that the substrate be covered with a material having a low content. A resin block, preferably perforated by termites as such a material,
Sheets, films, etc. are considered, expanded polystyrene,
Foamed polyethylene, urethane foam, foamed phenol resin (JP-A-63-152648, JP-A-63-264)
670, Japanese Patent Publication 6-10276), synthetic resins such as plasticized vinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, synthetic rubber, and hydrogenated styrene copolymer, and various resin films having a thickness of about 5 μm to 100 μm. Etc. can be used. In addition, these materials can be laminated or combined for use. The shape of the outer surface of these materials is arbitrary, and dimples or the like can be added to an appropriate density. The most preferred material is a foamed resin molded article. The thickness of the support 4 may be such that the substrate is shielded from the outside. The thickness of the film is about 5 μm to 100 μm in the case of a film, and 1 mm to 5 cm in the case of a block or sheet.
About 2 mm to 2 cm.

Further, in order to provide strength in handling and to facilitate penetration of the termites into the printed wiring board from the back side, the termites preferentially pierce the non-printed side of the printed wiring board. It may be supported by one or a combination of a plurality of materials such as a resin block, a sheet, and a film which can enter. Foamed resin moldings such as expanded polystyrene, expanded polyethylene, urethane foam, expanded phenolic resin,
Synthetic resins such as vinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, synthetic rubber, and hydrogenated styrene copolymer having plasticity, and various resin films having a thickness of about 5 μm to 100 μm can be used. In addition, these materials can be laminated or combined for use. The shape of the outer surface of these materials is arbitrary, and dimples or the like can be added to an appropriate density. Various chemicals and reagents can be added to the printed circuit board and the resin blocks, sheets, and films used for supporting the printed circuit board. For example, by adding a synthetic compound such as diethylene glycol monobutyl ether having termite-inducing activity or a natural termite-inducing substance extracted from termite nests to the above-mentioned materials, termites can be detected more efficiently.

The sensor portion is composed of a printed wiring board, but a plurality of substrates can be installed in one sensor portion, for example, in parallel. When a plurality of substrates are arranged in parallel at appropriate intervals, the termites penetrate the first substrate and then penetrate the second substrate in a short period of time. For example, two substrates are installed. If an alarm is expressed for the first time when two disconnections are detected, it is possible to reduce the number of false alarms when a disconnection is caused by a cause other than termites, rather than detecting one disconnection and expressing an alarm. it can. The distance between the substrates is preferably about 0.2 mm to 1 cm. If the distance is too narrow, the interaction between the substrates is concerned. If the distance is too wide, a long time is required from the first disconnection to the second disconnection.

When detecting a termite invading a house, the sensor is preferably installed on a soil surface under the floor such as a kitchen, a bathroom, or a toilet where the intrusion is most likely to occur. In this case, it is preferable that one surface of the sensor is placed so as to be in contact with the earth surface and the other surface is covered with a suitable resin or metal cover 7 to prevent physical or other creature injury. On the other hand, when detecting invading termites, a sensor is installed and fixed in wood or a space in a place where the damage of the termites is most likely to occur. The other parts of the sensor are preferably covered with a suitable resin or metal.

The detecting section B detects interruption of the weak current flowing through the printed wiring to detect disconnection of the wiring. If the sensor part has a plurality of printed wiring boards, it must be possible to detect a weak current interruption in a plurality of wirings.
The detection unit and the sensor unit are connected by a lead wire or the like.
The weak current can be generated by a battery or a power supply from a household outlet.

The alarm expressing section C receives a signal from the detecting section, and when there is one printed circuit board in the sensor section,
1 selected from sound such as buzzer or chime, light emission such as colored lamp, display of numbers, symbols, characters, color panels, etc., or printing on recording paper etc.
Express the observer's disconnection in one or more ways. When there are two or more printed wiring boards in the sensor portion, it can be set so that the above expression is performed only after receiving two or more disconnection signals. The detection unit and the alarm expression unit may be located in the same device.

(Action) Sensors are installed on the soil surface under the floor, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets, where there is the greatest opportunity for termite invasion, and on wood or voids where termite damage is most likely to occur. When the printed wiring board, which is a component of the above, is pierced into the printed wiring board to cut the printed wiring, the disconnection is detected by the detection unit, and the alarm display unit notifies the observer of the occurrence of the disconnection by an appropriate expression method. If the number of boards constituting the sensor is two or more, it can be set so that an alarm expression is performed after a plurality of disconnections are detected. Also, the sensor part is protected from water, moisture, etc.
It retains its function for a long time without being decomposed by microorganisms.

(Reference Example) The entire surface of a smooth surface of a styrofoam sheet for food tray (4 cm × 4 cm, thickness 3 mm)
Using silver paste ink (line width 0.5 mm, line spacing 0.
5 mm) The printed wiring of the zigzag pattern was printed. Styrofoam (4 cm × 4 cm, thickness 5 mm) for a heat insulating material was attached to both sides of the printed wiring board using a commercially available adhesive for work. A block formed into a shape of about 4 cm × 4 cm × 1.5 cm by laminating the styrofoam test piece, a piece of wood (Akamatsu, 4 cm × 4 cm × 1.5 cm) and filter paper was laminated.
Place it in a plastic transparent box of 0cm x 15cm x 3cm,
House termites (the ratio of job ants to soldier ants is about 9: 1) 5
No animals were injected and left in a dark place at 25 ° C. The bottom of the plastic box is hardened with gypsum of about 2mm thickness and communicates with the outside through a hole in the bottom (about 3cm in diameter). It is designed to bring about high humidity. Two weeks later, no dead termites were found, and only the styrene foam test piece showed invasion of the termites, and the surrounding area was scattered with styrene resin powder shaved by the termites being gathered in places. On the surface where the printed wiring of the test piece was made, there were 2-3 linear traces of width 1mm and length of about 1cm and circular or elliptical traces of about 1-8mm in diameter. Had been disconnected.

[0018]

According to the termite detector of the present invention, even before and after the termites enter the house, the termites can be easily detected over a long period of time with an inexpensive device. Further, since the printed wiring board, which is a component of the sensor portion, is made of a resin or a foamed molded body which is preferably penetrated by termites, the shape of the sensor is flexible. Further, by covering and supporting the printed wiring board with a resin, a block of molded foam, a sheet, a film, or the like, the function can be maintained for a long time without being affected by water, microorganisms, and other environments. By providing a plurality of printed wiring boards in the sensor portion, false alarms caused by something other than termites can be further reduced. Battery operation is possible by minimizing power consumption. Therefore, a power outlet is not required, and the place for installation can be selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a sensor part.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a termite detector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lead wire 2 Printed wiring board 3 Printed wiring 4 Substrate surface support 5 Substrate backside support A Sensor part B Detection part C Alarm expression part

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sensor part comprising a substrate to which a termite having printed wiring preferably penetrates and penetrates, a detection part for detecting termite invasion by disconnection of the wiring due to the penetrating penetration of the termite into the sensor part, A termite detector consisting of an alarm expression unit that expresses termite detection by a signal from the unit. 2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor portion comprises a plurality of wiring boards, the detecting section detects one or more disconnections, and the alarm expressing section expresses an alarm when one or more disconnections occur. Termite detector. 3. The printed wiring board is a block, a sheet,
3. The termite detector according to claim 1, wherein the termite detector is formed by printing on a film-shaped molded product with conductive ink. 4. 4. A printed circuit board block, sheet,
4. The termite detector according to claim 3, wherein the film-like molded product is a molded product made of a resin or a foamed molded product that is preferably penetrated and invaded by termites. 5. 5. The printed wiring board has a surface or both surfaces on the printed wiring side, or the periphery thereof, which is supported by one or a combination of a plurality of materials such as resin blocks, sheets, and films which are poorly water-absorbing and which are preferably perforated and invaded by termites. A termite detector according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The termite detector according to claim 1, wherein the sensor portion is covered except for a surface on a side for detecting termites.