SE529271C2 - Slug barrier for protecting plants, comprises electric wires, voltage source and pegs for preventing slugs from creeping underneath - Google Patents

Abstract

The barrier comprises two or more horizontal electrical conductors extending parallel to each other in the barrier length direction and connected to an external voltage source. The barrier is erected using pegs which are inserted into the ground and include two or more specially shaped hooks so that the barrier closely follows the contours of the ground and prevents slugs creeping underneath.

Description

529 271 z The present invention (see Figs. 1-5), is a snail barrier with at least two substantially horizontally longitudinal parallel electrical conductors where the barrier consists of a textile (1), made by either crochet, knitting, weaving or a combination thereof, and to which the electrical conductors (2) are attached. The design of the textile according to the invention allows an flexibility which means that the barrier can follow the contours of the ground, both horizontally and vertically. By textile is meant here a textile, made of fi ber which is produced mainly from art materials. The electrical conductors (2) can either be attached to the fabric by gluing, sewn or crocheted in, woven in or knitted directly during manufacture, the important thing is that the conductors are exposed on at least one side of the fabric. Snails that try to pass then get in touch with the leaders and back away.

This prevents intrusion into the area to be protected by the barrier. The textile is manufactured in such a way that it is fl exceedingly vertical (3) and compliantly horizontal (4) in order to be able to follow the contours of the ground. A way of mechanically crocheting the textile has been tried with excellent results. The material (fibers) used can vary, but should be UV-resistant so as not to be quickly broken down by the sun's rays. Tests have been performed with UV-stabilized textile of Polyethylene (PE) with good results. The threads in the textile that partially enclose inlaid electrical conductors do so to such a small extent that no electrically insulated passages for snails occur. The advantage of placing the conductors (2) in the textile when it is produced is that the conductors (2) are then exposed on both sides of the barrier, which thus has no special front or back side. This facilitates the set-up.

The height of the barrier can vary. Tests carried out show that a barrier that rises 1 Ocm above the ground provides sufficient protection. The electrical conductors (2) should be at the top of the barrier so as not to unnecessarily come into contact with soil moisture and dirt. A higher barrier also works but can be unaesthetic.

An embodiment according to the invention has been tried, where round electrically conductive wires, dia 2-3mm, intended for fencing of cattle, have been crocheted into the textile, with a mutual distance of about 10mm, with good results. The distance between the conductors should not be too short <5mm, because then electric bridges easily arise via dirt in precipitation, damp grass etc.

At distances over 20mm, there is a risk that small and short snails can pass.

In another embodiment, the same round electrically conductive threads have been sewn, with straight stitching, to the fabric with good results. The orientation must then be taken into account when setting up, as a front and a back are created. Tests have also been made where certain threads in the textile have been replaced with conductive threads in stainless material, with good results. To avoid interruptions in the electrical connection, fl your thin conductors in stainless steel with a diameter of 0.1 - 0.2 mm have been twisted into a conductor. Other possible conductors may be tinned copper conductors.

The textile (1) according to the invention is intended to be attached to ground pins (5) which are inserted into the ground (6). The pins (5) are provided with special hooks (7) which make it easy to attach the fabric (1) to the set-up. The hooks can be placed at different heights along the ground pegs to further simplify the set-up. For some types of ground with a very uneven surface in short sections, it can be difficult to avoid small passages (gaps) below the barrier, even if this is fl visible. On these occasions, smaller ground pins (8) are used, which are used between the ordinary ones and which are attached to the lower edge of the fabric at the ground just where a gap arises (see fig1). This works because the fabric is flexible and allows itself to be "pulled down" even on short sections of its extent. The design of the ground pegs (5) and the penetrability of the textile for the pegs' hooks (7) have been given great care to make it easy to assemble. 529 271 3 First attach the fabric to one hook and then pull it against and tighten it in the other hook.

Great emphasis has also been placed on the possibility of easy splicing of textiles and conductors, as parts of the barrier must be replaced for various reasons (Fig. 3).

When splicing, the fabric is cut clean at the points of damage after the voltage has been switched off and the damaged part is removed and replaced with a new piece. The conductors (2) can be easily (by hand) exposed a few centimeters on each side. The ends (10) of the fabric are now folded about a couple of centimeters and trampled together with a splice pin (11) which is alternately threaded through the two end parts (10) at the splice. Then the end parts (12) of the conductors (2) are wrapped around each other and through the fabric to its opposite side (fenced side) and threaded into small joints (13) where an input spring (14) ensures that the conductors come into contact with each other. Said joint pieces (13) are common in another context, namely for drawstring shoes in e.g. jackets, they are often called "linstoppers, springstoppers, cordstoppers or plastic stoppers". The advantage of these is the simplicity of handling and that they do not corrode. 12) can then be easily cut off The splicing pin (11) must not be made of electrically conductive material, plastic works excellently.

The top (15) of the ground pins (5) has been designed so that you get a good grip at the same time as this protects against stab wounds if possible. any person or pet happens to fall on a ground stick (fi g.2) Voltage setting of the conductors may vary (fig.4). The simplest way is to supply the conductors in the barrier with a 9 -18V DC voltage via a converter / transformer (16), which is connected to the mains. The transformer (16) must be intended for outdoor use.

The live conductors of the barrier will not be live until contact between the conductors occurs, for example when a snail tries to pass. The resistance in the snail's body is of such a size that at 12V a small current passes through the conductors through the snail's body, the snail then perceives discomfort and withdraws. Measurements have shown that at 12V voltage, about 10mA is a normal current value when a snail comes into contact with both conductors at the same time.

Another way of supplying voltage to the conductors is via a battery (17) which is then placed in a housing (18) suitable for outdoor use. The batteries or the battery can be replaced when this / these run out. A small built-in circuit that visually indicates the battery status visually via, for example, an LED (19) can be used to advantage. The LED (19) can then, for example, flash green when everything is ok, to later indicate red when it is time to change the battery.

The connection of the voltage source to the conductor of the barrier (2) is done with the same principle as when splicing, with splice pieces (13). It can be assumed that it is possible to use alternating current instead of direct current.

The barrier according to the invention is thus intended to prevent the snails from advancing and constitute an obstacle in their path. As the snails do not find any passage over the barrier, the ground surface that is intended to be protected is thus protected.

Through other alternative higher voltages it is possible to cause the snails to die, but it has been shown that when the snails die without falling off the barrier, mucus residues and remnants of their bodies get stuck on the barrier, current then passes through the carcass until it has dried so much that current no longer passes (high electrical 529 271 ff resistance). The dried body then becomes a possible bridge for another snail to pass and thus force the barrier. Higher voltages can also be unpleasant or directly dangerous for pets and toddlers.

To access the trimming of vegetation near the barrier, a special tool, a trimming shield (20), has been developed, see fig.5. This tool is placed next to the tJarrlären when trimming and then allows a grass trimmer to get really close to the barrier without damaging it.

Claims (3)

529 271 Y Patent Claims Snail barrier made of textile (1) for protection of cultivation areas, gardens and vegetation against the intrusion of snails, provided with at least two substantially horizontally longitudinal parallel electrical conductors (2) which are energized by an external voltage source characterized in that the barrier (1) set up and mounted with ground planes (5) provided with at least two specially designed hooks (7). Snail barrier according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hooks (7) are arranged at different heights along the ground pins (5) in order to further simplify the set-up as the fabric is stretched to follow the substantially vertical geometry of the ground so that no snail passages occur between barrier and ground surface. Snail barrier according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that no tools are required when mounting the barrier (1) on the hooks (7) of the ground pegs (5).