NZ255445A

NZ255445A - Electric fence tape: conductor wires zigzag across full width of non-conductive support

Info

Publication number: NZ255445A
Application number: NZ255445A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Catherine Bellon; Jean-Michel Bellon
Original assignee: Catherine Bellon; Bellon Jean Michel
Priority date: 1992-08-31
Filing date: 1993-08-26
Publication date: 1996-10-28
Also published as: FR2695003A1; EP0610490B1; FR2695003B1; EP0610490A1; WO1994005149A1; DE69314156D1

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> New Zealand No. 255445 International No. PCT/FR93/00829 TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates; International filing date; SU\81 Classification: VpC(®\ \r\OlBS{©©, 13 j Go\ K3/oo Publication date; \<\ ocT 1996 Journal No.: IL^O^ NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of invention: ELECTRIC FENCE WITH IMPROVED CONDUCTOR NETWORK Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: CATHERINE BELLON, a French citizen of Montberthoud, 01480 Savigneux, France and JEAN-MICHEL BELLON, a French citizen of 59 allee Rocaille, 01480 Ars Sur Formans, France. 255445 ELECTRIC FENCE WITH IMPROVED CONDUCTOR NETWORK The invention relates to an electric fence, in which the electrically conducting structure is of a novel type capable of optimizing the characteristics and 5 properties of these fences. Electric fences are in widespread use nowadays, having regard particularly to their ease of installation and also to their facility for keeping animals in a defined place, more particularly in the context of 10 rearing. Such fences can be very easily moved, so that they allow rationalization of grazing. In the opposite case of extensive rearing, the ease of installing such fences proves to be desirable in order to reduce their installation time to the minimum. 15 Such an electric fence, in a known way, in addition to an electrifier intended to deliver an electric current in the form of very short pulses, of high voltage, typically a few thousand volts, but of low amperage, comprises a fence proper, generally consisting 20 of a support made of electrically non-conducting material, produced particularly in synthetic material, and o£ electrically conductor wires incorporated into this support. The support, produced for example in polyethylene, is typically constituted in the form of a 25 ribbon, braided, knitted or even woven in such as way as to confer on it, in addition to a certain mechanical resistance to stretching, also visibility, especially for animals, bearing in mind that it can very easily be coloured in the bulk. 30 As already stated, these electric fences are intended to be fairly regularly modified in their installation within grazings, precisely so as to rationalize the exploitation of the latter. That being so, they are subjected to various folding, unfolding and 35 other rewinding. Whereas such operations have relatively little impact on the support made from synthetic material, on the other hand it became quickly apparent that they were affecting the electrical conductivity. 2 - 255 4 4 5 given that conductors were locally seen to be broken. In order to solve the problem of such breakages, and in particular to compensate for them, especially in terms of electrical conduction, it has been proposed to make use 5 of several conductors, exhibiting multiple arossing points, so as to alleviate local breaks in the latter, by ensuring continuity of conduction. In order to do that, the document FR-A-2,638,061 describes an electric fence of the type in question, 10 including two electrical conductors extending longitudinally along the support of the fence proper and a central conductor, extending from one conductor to the other in a zig-zag form, and intended precisely to alleviate local breaks in one of the lateral conductors. 15 Whereas, no doubt, such a structure makes it possible, in the general case, to solve the problem of local breaks in one of the lateral conductors, on the other hand, it proves to be unsuitable for repeated use, having regard to the fact -that, on the one hand, the 20 central conductor providing the electrical links between the two lateral conductors is situtated only on one side of the support, and, on the other hand, that in the event of a double break in the central conductor and in one of the lateral conductors, the electricity conduction is no 25 longer suitably assured and the preventive role of the fence is thereby at least greatly altered, if not totally negated. Moreover, having regard to the frequent folding and unfolding occasioned with, the said fences, frequent 30 stretching of the ribbon proper is observed in the longitudinal direction, and, having regard to the fact that the conductors are primarily on a single side of the said ribbon, regions are created which are locally devoid of conductors, so that the animals in contact with the 35 said ribbon receive only a very weak discharge, which in any event is non-dissuasive. The object of the invention is to alleviate these various drawbacks. It proposes an electric fence, intended for management of grazing and for the protection of crops against int~o.si.on by animals, which is capable of dealing with the problem, cf any local break in tne electrical conductors, and is efficacious whatever its local configuration, especially following the various foldinc and unfolding to which it has been subjected. The invention orovicss an electric fence ribbon consisting cf a flexible supper- v/irr. ~vc li-aral adcas produced from a electrically non-conducting material, incorporating an electrically conducting network, and wherein the said network consists of sets of conductor wires, each set extending periodical! sIan-wise from one lateral edge to the other lateral edge the said support in an undulating scape, ever the whole length cf the latter, the said sets being offset with resoeci to one another in the direction cf the length in such a way as to cross over regularly in the middle cf the said support, and ar? distributed in a substantially equalised way cn either side of the said suooort. This electric fence ribbon consists of a flexible support made of an electrically ncn-conducting material, incorporating an electrically conducting network. Acccrding to tne invention, this network consists of a plurality, and especially cf two, conductor wires, each wire extending periodically from cne lateral edge to the other cf the said support in an undulating shape, this being dene over the whole length cf the latter, the said wires being offset with respect to one another in the direction of the length in such a way as to cross over regularly in the middle of the said support, and are distributed in a substantially equalised way cn either side cf the suOTcrt. (foilowed by page 3a) !>*?•) 4 4 5 ■ 3a- In other words, the invention no longer relies on lateral conductors linked together by a central conductor, but on a plurality of conductors joining the two edges of the said ribbon or support, and crossing over between each other in such a way that, having regard to the numerous crossings obtained, and whatever the local breaks in one or more of these conductors may be, the required conduction is always relayed and thus assured, on both of the faces of the paid support. In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, symmetry of the said conductors is observed with respect to the median line of the support. According to the invention, the support is a knitted product with looped stitches, and the electrical conductor wires are integrated into the support at manufacture of the latter, the said electrical conductors being distributed by at least two guide bars of the knitting machine, allowing the support to be produced, the said bars working in the opposite direction to one another according to a weave pattern such that the electrical conductors are offset from one row of stitches N.Z. PATENT OFFICE - 7 0£C 1995 RECEIVED (followed by page 4) 255 4 - 4 - to th.e following one over the whole width of the knitting. Advantageously the support is a knitted product with looped stitches which is produced by two guide bars, one of which works according to a chain weave pattern, and the other according to a weave pattern transversely linking the said chains together. These sets of conductors are advantageously four in number, distributed in twos, on either side of the said support. The way in which the invention can be produced and the advantages which stem therefrom will emerge better from the embodiment examples which follow, given in an indicative and non-limiting way, relying on the attached figures. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a ribbon constituting the fence in accordance with one of the embodiments of the invention. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of another embodiment of the invention. Thus in Figure 1 a ribbon is represented constituting the electric fence in accordance with the invention. This ribbon is produced by knitting from polyethylene filaments, typically of 0.3 or 0.4 mm in diameter, and already coloured din the bulk. This ribbon, having the role of a sv.pport, is typically produced on a hook loom, at least two guide bars of which (also called filament carriers) produce the knitted support. The filaments of the said support are then distributed according to a chain weave pattern (1) , and linked together by wires (2) ensuring- cohesion of the said support, which can be distributed by a single guide bar (or carrier) , but preferably by two different sets. Such a hook loom is described in the "Textile Industry" of 1968. According to the invention, two conductor wires (3, 4) are inserted into the knitted support (1, 2) 255 44 - 5 - during production of the latter.- These metal wires, typically produced from stainless steel or from another metal or conducting metallic alloy, with a typical diameter close to 0.15 to 0.20 mm, extend from one 5 lateral edge (5) to the other (€) of the polyethylene support. The metal wires (3, 4) are integrated into the support (1, 2) by two guide bars of the hook loom allowing the support to be produced, the said bars working in the opposite direction to one another accord-10 ing to a weave pattern such that the electrical conductors (3, 4} are offset from one row of stitches to the following one over the whole width of the knitting, forming to-and-fro patterns between the two edges (5, 6). Such an arrangement can be obtained by any weave pattern 15 well known in the textile field, such as, for example, an ATLAS-type weave pattern with open stitches. By this manufacture, an undulated shape is thus observed, described by each of the electrical conductors (3, 4) from one edge to the otaer of the support, and on each of 20 its main faces. According to the invention, the two wires are offset with respect to one another in the direction of the length, in such a way as to come to cross over in the region of the centre of the support (1, 2) . Th;- crossing 25 points of the two conductor wires (3, 4) are made in the middle of the same chain point of the support, in such a way as to ensure tight and continuous contact between the two wires (3, 4), and thus to promote electrical conduction from one to the other in the event of a local 30 defect inherent upon breaking of one of them. Moreover, so as to enhance to electrical conduction in the region of these crossing points, no filament (2) for linking the chains (1) is meshad in their vicinity. These numerous crossing points (7, 8) in this way guarantee the con-35 duction of eloctricity, wherever the location and number of local breaks in the two conductors (3,4). Moreover, and advantageously, in order to enhance this conduction, the conductore (3, 4) may be uulti-stranded (typically with 5 to 10 wires) , and exhibit the - 6 - 255 44 form of flat bundles, further increasing the repulsive nature of the fences with respect to the animals, since they increase the surface area for contact with the latter in the event that the animal touches the fence. 5 Moreover, according to one advantageous characteristic of the invention inherent in the embodiment of the fence, the said elements (3) or (4) pass alternately above and below the support in the region of each of the filaments (2) for linking the 10 constituent chains (1) of the knitted support (1, 2) . In that way, a fence ribbon is obtained including electrical conductors in a continuous and balanced manner on each of its faces. Hence, whatever the local shape of the said ribbon, it always exhibits a significant surface area for 15 electrical conduction with which the animal can come into contact and thus be repelled. According to another embodiment represented in Figure 2, the conductor wires are four in number, distributed into two sets of- two conductors. As in the 20 previously described example, each set describes to-and-fro patterns between the two edges (5, 6) of the knitted support (1, 2), producing an undulated profile. The two wires of the same set are substantially parallel to one another and are slightly offset by a distance corres-25 ponding to the distance separating two consecutive chains of the knitted support. In the two examples illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, the product is obtained on a knitting machine with looped stiches of the "7 gauge" type (7 needles per 30 centimetre), and including at least four sets of filament distributors, called "guide bars" or "filament carriers", in addition to an assembly making it possible to produce parallel chains. In these examples, the filament carriers are threaded in an arrangement, that is to say according 35 to an alternation of distributors supplied with filaments, and other distributors do not include a filament. The threading is such that, on coming out of the machine, a knitted network of about 15 mm in width is obtained, produced on 9 needles. Depending on the width 255445 - 7 - of the machine, and on the number of needles & which it includes, it is thus possible to produce n/10 identical strips separated from one another. The general structure of such a support obtained is well known (see, for example; the specialized magazine "Knitted Outwear times " [sic] July 22, 1968 by k.D DARLINGTON [sic] , page 42 et seg) the said structure being, however, adapted by selection both in the threading and in the weave pattern of each bar distributing the filaments. According to the preferred embodiments in accordance with the invention, in addition to the elements forming chains with synthetic filament, especially in polyethylene: - two guide bars are fed with synthetic filament (in pazticular a polyethylene strand of 0.3 to 0.4 mm in diameter) , and are intended, in combination with the chains, to produce the flexible knitted support (1, 2) , with a practically interlocked structure in length and in width; - the two other guide bars are fed with metal conductor wire (for example stainless steel of 0.15 to 0.20 mm in diameter), and working in opposition, according to a weave pattern distributing the said conductor wires (3, 4) slantwise from one edge to the other of the shaped knitted Btrip (1, 2), in such a way that the said conductor wires (3, 4) cross over in the centre of the said strip, and that, on the edges of the latter, that is to say in the areas where the said conductor wires change direction, they are "entrapped" not in the first, nor the last (ninth) column of stitches respectively, but in the second or the penultimate one respectively, here the eighth column of stiches. The two examples which follow illustrate this embodiment in a concrete way. A guide bar works according to a chain weave pattern in such a way as to form 9 columns of stitches, linked together in such a way as to form a flexible structure which entraps the conductor wires. 255 4 4 5 The weave patterns and the threading of the two bars distributing the filaments linking the coltimns of stitches, as well as those of the two bars distributing the conductor wires, are as follows, taking, as start point a weave repeat: CT-aaror.g i Tack [sic] repeat: 9 columns/18 rows bar 1: distribution of a conductor wire threading: 2 empty/I full/6 empty weave pattern: 2/3/4/5/6/7/7/8/7/ 7/6/5/4/3/2/2/1/2 bar 2: distribution of a synthetic filament linking the columns of stitches threading: 2 full/3 empty/2 full/2 empty weave pattern; 1/4/1/4/1/4/1/4/1/4/1/4/1/ 4/1/4/1/4 bar 3: distribution of a synthetic filament linking the columns of stitches in the central part threading: 3 empty/1 full/5 empty weave pattern: 1/4/1/1/4/1/4/1/4/ 1/4/1/1/4/1/4/1/4 bar 4: distribution of a conductor wire threading: 7 empty/1 full/1 empty weave pattern: 7/6/5/4/3/2/2/1/2/ 2/3/4/5/6/7/7/8/7 An article . as illustrated in Figure 1 is obtained, in which the two conductor wires are integrated into the knitted network, extending slantwise over the width from one edge to the other of the said network, and crossing over at the .central region. It should be noted, that as the conductor wires (3, 4) are distributed by the outer bars, they are 255 445 - 9 - therefore arranged on the outer faces of the structure, guaranteeing optimization of the potential contact of the fence with the animal, and thereby its effectiveness. Moreover, and as already specified, due to the fecit that 5 the specific weave pattern used to link the chains (1) together, in the regions where the conductor wires (3, 4) cross over, perfect contact is obtained between the latter, since, in this area, there is no filament for linking the chains. 10 WrAMT3T.il 9 Distribution of two pairs of conductor wires. Weave repeat: 9 columns/18 rows bar 1: distribution of a pair of conductor wires threading: 1 empty/2 full/6 empty 15 weave pattern: 1/2/3/3/4/4/5/5/6/ 7/6/5/5/4/4/3/3/2 bar 2: distribution of a synthetic filament linking the chains threading: 2 full/3 empty/2 full/2 empty 20 weave pattern: 1/4/1/4/1/4/1/4/1/4/1/4/1/ 4/1/4/1/4 bar 3: distribution of a synthetic filament linking the chains in the central part threading: 5 empty/1 full/3 empty 25 weave pattern: 4/1/4/1/1/4/4/1/4/1/ 4/1/4/4/1/1/4/1 bar 4: distribution of a pair of conductor wires in the opposite direction to the first pair distributed by bar 1. 30 threading: 7 empty/2 full weave pattern: 7/6/5/5/4/4/3/3/2/1/2/3/ 3/4/4/5/5/6 Thus a product as illustrated in Figure 2 is 255 4 4 - 10 - obtained. As in the case o£ Figure 1, the conductors, this time in the form of pairs, are integrated into the synthetic network (1, 2) and also describe undulations from one edge to the other of the said network. The products obtained, by virtue of their very design, develop very good electrical conduction properties, whatever the rigorous conditions or the numerous handling operations to which they may be subjected. The invention thus quite naturally finds its application in fences for rearing, and all its related uses. </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> 255445 WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Electric fence ribbon consisting of a flexible support with two lateral edges and opposing sides, produced from an electrically non-conducting material, incorporating an electrically conducting network, and wherein the said network consists of sets of conductor wires, each set extending periodically slantwise from one lateral edge to the other lateral edge of the said support in an undulating shape, over the whole length of the latter, the said sets being offset with respect to one another in the direction of the length in such a way as to cross over regularly in the middle of the said support, and are distributed in a substantially equalised way on either side of the said support.

2. Electric fence ribbon according to Claim 1, wherein the sets of conductors are distributed symmetrically with respect to the median line of the support.

3. Electric fence ribbon according to one of Claims 1 and 2, wherein the support is a knitted product with looped stitches, and wherein the electrical conductor wires are integrated into the support at production of the latter, the said electrical conductors being distributed by at least two guide bars of the knitting machine, allowing the support to be produced, the said bars working in the opposite direction to one another according to a weave pattern such that the electrical conductors are offset from one row of stitches to the following one over the whole width of the knitting.

4. Electric fence ribbon according to Claim 3, wherein the support is a knitted product with looped stitches which is produced by at least two guide bars, one of which works according to a chain weave pattern and the other according to a weave pattern transversely linking the said chains together.

5. Electric fence ribbon according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the sets of conductors are four in number, distributed in two pairs of two conductors, on either side of said support.

6. Electric fence ribbon according to either of Claims 4 or 5 wherein the sets of conductors pase, alternately above and below any potential intersection of them with filaments for linking chains of the said support, in such a way as to allow equal r. 12 25 5 4 4 cj distribution of the electrical conductors on either side of the support.

7. Electric fence ribbon according to one Claims 1 to 6, wherein there is an absence of non-conducting support material between the conductor wires at their crossing points.

8. An electric fence ribbon substantially as herein described with reference to either one of the accompanying drawings.

9. An electric fence ribbon as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to either one of the accompanying drawings. CATHERINE BELLON and JEAN-MICHEL BELLON /] by fveir :a^t' DwU ! orneys SON and CAREY </div>