WO1999044417A2 - Appareil anti-insectes et methode correspondante - Google Patents

Appareil anti-insectes et methode correspondante Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999044417A2
WO1999044417A2 PCT/US1999/004801 US9904801W WO9944417A2 WO 1999044417 A2 WO1999044417 A2 WO 1999044417A2 US 9904801 W US9904801 W US 9904801W WO 9944417 A2 WO9944417 A2 WO 9944417A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
skin
insects
biting insects
wave transmitting
transmitting member
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1999/004801
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO1999044417A3 (fr
Inventor
James Nicosia
Nicholas Reinhardt
John Nicosia, Sr.
Original Assignee
Nicosia & Reinhardt Co.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/036,123 external-priority patent/US6088949A/en
Application filed by Nicosia & Reinhardt Co. filed Critical Nicosia & Reinhardt Co.
Priority to CA002323057A priority Critical patent/CA2323057A1/fr
Priority to AU30691/99A priority patent/AU3069199A/en
Priority to EP99912280A priority patent/EP1059841A2/fr
Publication of WO1999044417A2 publication Critical patent/WO1999044417A2/fr
Publication of WO1999044417A3 publication Critical patent/WO1999044417A3/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M1/00—Stationary means for catching or killing insects
    • A01M1/02—Stationary means for catching or killing insects with devices or substances, e.g. food, pheronones attracting the insects
    • A01M1/023—Attracting insects by the simulation of a living being, i.e. emission of carbon dioxide, heat, sound waves or vibrations
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M1/00—Stationary means for catching or killing insects
    • A01M1/22—Killing insects by electric means
    • A01M1/223—Killing insects by electric means by using electrocution
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M1/00—Stationary means for catching or killing insects
    • A01M1/22—Killing insects by electric means
    • A01M1/226—Killing insects by electric means by using waves, fields or rays, e.g. sound waves, microwaves, electric waves, magnetic fields, light rays
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M2200/00—Kind of animal
    • A01M2200/01—Insects
    • A01M2200/012—Flying insects

Definitions

  • mosquitoes and biting flies appear in vast numbers over wide areas, and readily evade any physical means of killing them, hunting them down individually or collecting them by simple mechanical means is not practical.
  • currently effective methods of control can only attack the population as a whole by chemical or bacterial means, or seek to remove their breeding sites. These methods are cumbersome, labor-intensive, and often politically disruptive, in that they may introduce dangerous amounts of toxic chemicals into the environment, kill harmless or beneficial creatures and destroy wetlands. At best they are only palliative in nature.
  • traps exist, but traps currently in use require maintenance and resupply of consumables, and can be inhumane where live animals or persons are used as bait. Worse, they do not work very well. Certain traps are useful for monitoring mosquito populations and trapping live individuals for scientific purposes such as making virus assays, but the presently available traps, being usable only at certain times of days or seasons of the year, and then only on certain species of mosquito, are not themselves suitable for control purposes. Some of the control methods and traps in current use have the further disadvantage of killing large numbers of harmless and beneficial insects with resulting damage to the food chain.
  • Preferred embodiments of the invention relate, in general, to the control of insects, and in particular to the attracting of harmful insects such as mosquitoes, black flies, sand flies and the like for purposes of monitoring, capturing, or killing them.
  • embodiments of the present invention provide a solution useful in large-scale and research operations for disease control as well as in domestic and personal areas in the form of an inexpensive and effective device to concentrate and gather up mosquitoes and black flies for purposes of study, capture, nuisance-abatement, or extermination.
  • the present invention has been shown to be capable of attracting multiple species of mosquito at rates at least an order of magnitude better than standard traps, with only minimal hazard to harmless and beneficial insects.
  • the devices of the present invention have also been shown to attract insects preferentially in sufficient numbers to create a zone of protection for people or animals in the vicinity.
  • Preferred embodiments of the invention are organized about the concept of simulating simple physical effects produced and transmitted by the skin of living animals. These effects, similar to others used throughout the animal kingdom for detecting the presence, location, animation, and state of mind of potential prey, mates, rivals, or predators, variously engender in animals receiving them the qualities and behaviors of arousal, pacification, attraction, or repulsion.
  • effects similar to others used throughout the animal kingdom for detecting the presence, location, animation, and state of mind of potential prey, mates, rivals, or predators, variously engender in animals receiving them the qualities and behaviors of arousal, pacification, attraction, or repulsion.
  • mosquitoes, sand flies and black flies it is possible to induce motion toward the source of the effects, or "attraction", followed by approach and landing of the insects within a predetermined area where they may more readily be dealt with.
  • Embodiments of the present invention essentially provide an effective means for utilizing certain heretofore unappreciated attractive qualities of the skin of a live target as perceived by mosquitoes, black flies, and other biting insects.
  • the embodiments have been found capable of attracting them from many meters away in numbers sufficient to be useful for control purposes, via a roughly accurate simulation of the physical effects appearing at the surface of the skin of a living prey animal. These effects may be a consequence of the slight motions, vibrations, and heat variations produced by the circulatory systems, the musculature, and viscera beneath the skin of prey animals. These motions and variations are readily detected by the insects as part of their repertoire of prey- finding capabilities.
  • a simulator of the temporally and spatially patterned and unpattemed changes in physical position, and the roughly corresponding patterned, unpattemed, and changing temperatures of the skin surface encountered in a living animal, has been found to make a particularly effective attractant for mosquitoes and black flies, thus making it possible to build the equivalent of live-animal-baited mosquito-traps of any reasonable size, for use in research, nuisance abatement, and disease control applications.
  • Methods and Apparatuses in accordance with the present invention involve providing one or more outputs capable of recreating the positional and thermal "signature" of the skin of a living animal, as such skin is influenced by the pulsing or flow of blood in the dermal and subdermal (i.e. interior) vasculature, and by small motions and heat developed by the musculature or viscera.
  • a deliberately optimized and augmented fluid mechanical or electro-mechanical and thermal apparatus for simulating the physical effects of living skin that attract mosquitoes and black flies.
  • the device comprises a hybrid thermal/mechanical/electrical apparatus.
  • the device comprises an all-mechanical or electro-mechanical apparatus.
  • the embodiments of the invention attract and induce to arrive and land within a predetermined area, certain flying, biting insects, such as mosquitoes and black flies, thereby producing a desired local concentration and spatial arrangement of the individuals for purposes of study, counting, sequestration, immobilization, harvesting, or killing. It does this by presenting the positional and thermal "signatures" characteristically produced by the skin of live prey animals in such a way that flying insects are able to detect them and then become motivated to make their way toward the apparatus, and further, to land and attempt to bite it. They will do this even if the apparatus is covered by a heavy cloth.
  • positional signature is meant the slight displacement of the skin surface due to the activities beneath, which may include localized pulsing or throbbing due to blood flow, more general movements due to voluntary or involuntary motions of the muscles or viscera, and vibrations generated by a living, breathing animal. Some of these skin displacements are area- wide; others are localized; similar outputs that present the detailed temporal and spatial displacement of the skin including the differential movements of localized portions thereof (i.e., in patterns thereon) are believed to contribute greatly to the positional signature's appeal to mosquitoes and black flies and enhance the overall attractive effect.
  • the positional signature is poorly coupled acoustically to the surrounding air and does not generate acoustical vibrations detectable above thermal noise.
  • the insects may detect positional signature by means such as detection of air displacements or reflection of sound of their own wing beats.
  • thermo signature is meant both the generally-elevated skin temperature relative to ambient of warm-blooded (or active cold-blooded) animals, and the localized spatial and temporal variations thereto.
  • the generally-elevated temperature part of the “thermal signature” is related to a generalized heating "body heat” due to voluntary and involuntary activities of the underlying muscles and viscera; the localized spatial and temporal variations thereof are due primarily to the pulsing or flow of blood in the underlying veins, capillaries, and arteries.
  • the individual insects can be seen to approach in a characteristic "splayed-out” or “open” flying configuration, and respond to details of the underlying pattern during approach and specifically to align themselves with features corresponding to physical effects appearing at the skin surface when positioning themselves to bite.
  • the present invention is embodied in a deliberate recreation and optimization of the signature-creating elements of prey-animals which attract insects, particularly biting insects such as mosquitoes and black flies. This is achieved by imitating certain mechanical properties and spatial arrangements and movements of the skin.
  • Fluid-mechanical apparatus a fully mechanical or electro- mechanical device is used here to simulate action of the skin, including the spatial, mechanical and thermal effects produced by movements imparted thereon. These apparatuses may then be combined with a system for disposing of attracted insects such as a collector trap, an electrified grid, or other killing means. It is to be understood that this action and these effects can be produced by straight mechanical, straight electrical, or hybrid systems as well.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of basic elements of the invention; and FIG. 2 is an idealized exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an alternative tortuous fluid passageway for use in the present invention shown in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 is an idealized partial cross-sectional perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is an idealized perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is an idealized partial cross-sectional view of a still further embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is an idealized cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is an idealized cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is an idealized cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the different layers of the insect attracting apparatus of the present invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a partial cross-section of a top plan view of the apparatus shown in
  • FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGs. 10 and 11.
  • a simplified system is outlined. It includes a power source 12 which may be no more than a conventional outlet in more highly developed areas or may be as primitive as a bicycle-powered generator in undeveloped areas. In isolated areas, the power source may indeed preferably be solar or thermal depending upon availability in the area where the apparatus is to be used. Depending upon the specific embodiment of the invention, the power source provides power to a heating element, to a source of mechanical motion or to a pump and a killing or collecting apparatus.
  • the simulator 14 Connected to the power source 12 is a key element of the invention, namely, the simulator or reproducer 14 of physical effects associated with animal skin and detectable by insects to be attracted.
  • the simulator 14 may take many different forms and the invention is not intended to be limited to those specific embodiments described herein, but to include all the various forms which would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • Also connected to the power source may be such elements as thermostats, timers, sensors and a filtering device for suppressing unwanted effects.
  • the element 16 may be a collector or a destroyer into which insects attracted by the simulator 14 are drawn under their own power of locomotion, or they may be forced there by any convenient means such as air flow, a mechanical sweep, or similar device located within a trap area into which the mosquitoes or black flies have been attracted.
  • information from timers or ambient condition sensors 13 and feedback information from the collector/destroyer 16 can be provided through the control 15 to the simulator 14.
  • FIG. 2 is an idealized exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention.
  • a supply reservoir 32 which may be a rubber bladder which contains a quantity of warm water.
  • the supply reservoir 32 may be filled by a pump initially, but for extraneous signal suppression reasons its is considered desirable to discontinue pumping operation during the several minutes of time it takes to empty the reservoir 32 through the device during operation.
  • a pulse valve 34 is connected to the outlet of the reservoir 32 and it is controlled in its operation by a pulse valve control 36.
  • the pulse valve control 36 is programmed to open the valve 34 periodically, allowing the water to flow intermittently. Such an intermittent flow produces pressure waves due to both the static pressure head provided by the bladder 32, and the dynamic (ram) pressures developed when the water flow is interrupted by the pulse valve 34.
  • the vascular system may consist of a throbber coil 37 which is formed of highly elastic, thin- wall, low-durometer, flexible tubing.
  • the throbber coil 37 may actually consist of one or more free-standing loops of 1/4" O.D. plastic or rubber tubing which tend to move spasmodically with the flow and interruption of water pulses.
  • the tubing continues and is formed into a simulated arterial section composed of a number of turns of tubing 38. For convenience, these turns of tubing 38 may be wound on a water-tight cylindrical container 39.
  • a parallel array 40 of finer flexible plastic or rubber tubes of about 5/64" O.D.
  • a particularly effective covering for the device comprises cloth having alternating colored stripes to create a visual contrast known to appeal to certain species of biting insects.
  • the stripes are straight, vertically oriented black and white stripes.
  • a barber-pole orientation of stripes or an arrangement of spots may be used.
  • the cloth may comprise random strips of foil attached thereto for the purpose of breaking up the heat pattern emitted by the device.
  • the random heat pattern helps to create the desired "thermal signature" of underlying muscles and viscera of the insect prey.
  • pulses of warm water flow from the pulse valve 34, thence through the throbber 37 and through both the arteries and the capillaries to be discharged into the cylindrical container 39.
  • a flow-restricting valve 41 serves to provide sufficient back pressure to ensure that the tubing physically distends during pulsing. Such distension is very important.
  • the cylindrical container 39 may be equipped with a water level control, including a float 43, a float switch 44, and a pump 46.
  • An intake 48 may be provided for the pump and it is preferably disposed in a filter placed deep within the cylindrical container 39.
  • the pump 46 may be driven by a motor 50 which also serves to drive a fan 54.
  • the fan 54 cools the motor and may serve to disperse water vapor rising from the open-topped container 39 which may also serve to enhance the attractive function of the apparatus.
  • a heater 56 and a temperature probe 58 are also disposed in the cylindrical container 39. As spent and cooled water accumulates in the container 39, the water is reheated by the heater 56 and is pumped back to the artery-capillary system through a check valve 60.
  • a heater control 62 which is adjustable manually or by auxiliary timing and ambient-sensing controls.
  • a killing grid 66 may be disposed concentrically about the simulated vascular system and it may be energized by means of a high-voltage transformer 68.
  • Power for the pulser 36, the pump motor 50, the heater 56 and the high- voltage transformer 68 may be provided by a conventional outlet or other source 70.
  • the vascular system of the invention may take various forms. It is preferably an elastic-walled subdivided system consisting variously of "arteries", capillaries", and “veins" of different diameters and spacings roughly imitative of systems found in warm-blooded prey animals.
  • the mbber tubing may be replaced by thin-walled flexible plastic or rubber sheets 70 superimposed on one another which are heat-welded together 72 to form a tortuous fluid path 74 therethrough as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the tortuous fluid path 74 may take many varied forms other than that shown in FIG. 3.
  • the sheets include openings 73, 75 for providing fluid thereto and may have fluid paths of varying sizes 76, 78 to provide proper flow restriction and simulate vasculature of animals, i.e. arteries and veins.
  • the flat sheets 70 may be wrapped around the cylindrical container 39 and the fluid therein heated in the same manner as earlier described. These may be disposed beneath a membrane imitative of the outer skin surface of an animal, hidden behind a cloth grille, embedded in the elastic wall of a container or simply left standing bare and alone.
  • the pulsed flow of warm fluid in the vascular system of the present invention is designed to be similar to the flow of blood produced naturally by a beating heart.
  • Such effects are associated with a periodic surge of fluid which normally is warm relative to ambient temperature through a system which may include periodic dilation of the vessels.
  • This action changes the volume, area, and ability of the vessels to emit heat; it changes their position relative to each other and to the incoming mosquito; it also causes them to emit vibrations, possibly detectable by the insects.
  • the results of such action may be transmitted directly by the vessels themselves, or they may be mediated by an overlying skin.
  • the present invention may utilize a gel, semi-solid or similar consistency substance which is contained within the mbber tubes or plastic sheet passageways.
  • the gel would not necessarily flow through the container, but rather, the gel may be actuated to create a wave to travel therethrough to simulate fluid flow or the "positional signature".
  • components such as the pump, check valve and motor may be replaced by a device to create a traveling wave in the gel, e.g. a mechanical hammer, electrical pulse or a vibratory device.
  • Throbbing of the vessels may be exhibited by the free-standing loop of artery tubing 37 which moves under Bourdon-tube forces which tend to straighten the loop out at each pressure pulse.
  • the throbber loop 37 may be constructed from a mechanical vibratory device, such as a spring or straps of spring steel which can be activated into movement by any known means.
  • the throbber 37 visually twitches causing larger local air disturbances than the pulsing fluid through the deformable container. A number of subtle effects may be caused by the throbbing and squirming of the imitation blood vessels, any one or combination of which may be detectable by the biting insects.
  • the degree of attraction exhibited by devices built in accordance with principles of the present invention varies depending upon structural design. Even the supply reservoir 32, which is elastic-walled, filled with fluid and subject to some pulsing movement will attract some insects. Greater attraction is exhibited by the throbber coil 37 and the greatest attraction is had with the simulated artery-capillary vascular system through which warm fluid flows in pulses. Obviously, the warm fluids could be replaced by cold fluid, compressed air, or a mechanical or electromechanical actuator and heat could be supplied by radiation, or conduction from a separate source, or generated directly by passage of electrical current.
  • FIGs. 4-12 illustrate simplified mechanical or electro-mechanical devices for attracting biting insects.
  • FIG. 4 is an idealized exploded view of the purely mechanical device formed in accordance with the present invention.
  • the device 70 preferably includes a heated surface 72.
  • the surface 72 may be self heating, or may contain a heater 74, or the surface may be supplied with heat from a separate source altogether via radiative, conductive, or convective heat transfer.
  • heat is supplied by radiation and convection from a central rod heater 74 controlled by a thermostat 96. Heat could also be developed by ohmic heating of the device itself, by combustion of a fuel, by doing mechanical work against friction, or any other known means.
  • surface 72 is capable of deformation at the low mechanical frequencies and amplitudes which has been found to be attractive to mosquitoes and other biting insects. More specifically, surface 72 may be deformed to execute oscillations of a predetermined waveform and spatial/temporal pattern (e.g. traveling waves, or progressive "phi-effect” waves), and develop spatial and temporal temperature variations or patterns (e.g. reticulations or stripes) over the oscillating surface which has been found to be attractive to the insects. It is this slow- wave oscillating structure which simulates to a degree deformations of the skin of a prey animal due to myomechanical and vascular-mechanical vibrations and dimension changes that is the objective of the simulator of the device.
  • a predetermined waveform and spatial/temporal pattern e.g. traveling waves, or progressive "phi-effect” waves
  • spatial and temporal temperature variations or patterns e.g. reticulations or stripes
  • skin-like surface 72 comprises a thin plastic foil, sheet, or shrink film.
  • the surface 72 may also include strips of foil or tinsel 73 randomly applied thereto to break up the heat pattern provided to the surface; however, it has been found more effective to apply the strips of foil or other heat conducting material 73 to the cloth cover 90, as described below.
  • the device includes a spring 78.
  • the plastic foil 72 is wrapped around the weak mechanical spring 78 which has a large distributed mass that is capable of transmitting displacement waves along its length at relatively low speed.
  • Such a mechanical slow- wave spring structure simulates to a degree the myomechanical and vascular-mechanical vibrations and dimension changes that characterize a prey animal's living skin.
  • the displacements and vibrations of this spring 78 which may vary from place to place, are transmitted to the relatively weak and compliant plastic foil surface 72, which is then forced to follow the desired, predetermined complex oscillatory pattern imparted thereon by the slow wave spring structure.
  • the spring 78 comprises approximately 45 turns of a standard 2 3/4" dia. weak mechanical spring suspended at one end from an upper support 80. due to the distributed weight and weakness of the spring, the turns stretch the spring and pull down a number of rums toward a lower support 82, where the excess turns of the spring are allowed to "pool" together. Based upon the specific vibratory parameters to be met, a larger or smaller mass of pooled turns may be utilized. In the resulting column of stretched turns, where spring tension is balanced turn-by-turn against gravity, traveling waves of displacement can be propagated. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, there are many other combinations of springs and masses in which slow waves of mechanical displacement can be propagated.
  • the important aspect of the invention is that vibrations are impressed on the weak and nearly massless surface 72. It is also contemplated that the surface of the spring itself could be used as the surface 72. However, a separate skin or surface is used in the preferred embodiment to increase the effective area of the spring 78 and also to intercept, disperse, and retain the heat generated from the central heater 74.
  • the preferred embodiment also includes a device for driving or exciting vibrations to the wave transmitting system comprising the spring 78 and surface 72.
  • the vibration generator comprises a current-to- displacement transducer 84 which transforms electrical oscillations produced by a signal generator 86 connected to a power source 88 into corresponding longitudinal and lateral oscillations of the spring 78, which are then communicated to the surface 72.
  • the combination of elements comprising the wave transmitting system can be enclosed in a decorative or protective cloth cover 90 attached to support rods 92.
  • the support rods 92 maintain the spacial relationship of the upper and lower support.
  • the cloth cover may include a pattern specifically chosen to enhance attraction of insect, e.g., a black and white striped cloth.
  • Wires, tubing or strips of foil 93 may be applied to the interior or exterior of the cloth cover 90 to break up the heat pattern and provide other elements of the signature associated with animal or human skin.
  • the mechanical device illustrated in FIGs. 4-9 may also include a throbber 94.
  • the throbber may be constructed from a separate spring or straps of spring steel which may be actuated to vibrate at a desired frequency and amplitude.
  • the throbber 94 will visually twitch causing larger local air disturbances than the spring 78 or membrane 72 to attract insects to the device.
  • the function of the slow- wave or vibratory transmitting system is not to produce sound, as in a conventional loudspeaker, but rather to produce subtle deformations and displacements of the skin-like surface 72 which are readily detectable at a distance by the insects.
  • the detection of such surface deformations by insects is accomplished by complex means which is taken advantage of by the devices disclosed herein, such devices being designed to develop an effective imitation of a living animal's skin or "signature".
  • the insect attracting device 70 operates by exciting the transducer 84 to launch groups of waves of periodic displacement up the spring 74.
  • the displaced and vibrating waves travel up the spring 74, reach the upper support 30, and are reflected back toward the source, in the well-known manner of transmission lines, and encounter later sets of displacement waves generated by the transducer.
  • the displacement waves are created by trains of intermittent electrical oscillations (with energy in the band from approximately 5 to 50 Hz), resulting in a constantly shifting pattern of small, trembling mechanical vibrations which resemble those of prey- animal skin.
  • the coupling of the vibrations to the air is very inefficient. There is evidence of some small air displacement waves (slow-traveling pressure waves) but, for the most part, the device operating in accordance with the present invention generates no detectable energy above random background being propagated as sound proper, where sound is defined as alternate rarefactions and condensations being propagated at the characteristic velocity for the sound carrying medium (e.g. 1100 ft/sec. for air). Indeed, the amplitude of the oscillations of surface 72 are quite small, typically less than 10 microns in amplitude. These surface oscillations can barely be seen in light beams bouncing off the surface and can barely be felt when the surface 72 is lightly held in the fingertips.
  • the velocity of the traveling waves generated by the device of the present invention is preferably on the order of 10-100 feet per second.
  • the vibratory disturbances are nothing like those propagated by a "woofer” speaker intended to develop sound and, indeed, the same oscillations, when coupled to the air by a loudspeaker, are believed to have no insect attracting ability whatsoever.
  • the device may include a means for adjusting the decay rate of amplitude of vibration such as an adjustable member 75 which contacts the surface 72.
  • the preferred embodiment provides an electrically generated train of pulses intermittently supplied at a predetermined burst rate (e.g. 1 Hz), it is envisioned that the generation of waves does not necessarily need to be at a constant rate since the motions of prey animal skin generally do not show any direct link to a particular cadence.
  • the electrical driver of the preferred embodiment which includes separate controls for burst rate, ringing frequency, amplitude, decay rate, etc., while extremely useful for experimentation since it can force a variety of oscillations, may take the form of a much simpler electrical or straight-mechanical driver, such as a solenoid, a clapper, a hammer, or a pressure- responsive diaphragm driving an appropriately dampened resonant system.
  • a free- hammer device could even be made by exciting the spring with falling pieces of solid material, falling chain links or drops of falling water.
  • the spring coil could be made self-heating by supplying a current thereto. If the current is intermittently applied to the spring, the resulting impulsive magnetic effects would create a "jumping spring" to provide the oscillations to the skin-like membrane surrounding the spring. The oscillations are readily maintained by doorbell-like switch contacts operated by the spring, or by modem optical or semiconductor switch equivalents.
  • the vibration transmitting system may also be excited by applying current thereto either constantly or intermittently to impart vibrations therein.
  • the vibration wave transmitting system may be formed from a flexible walled container or bag 100 filled with a liquid or semi- solid gel 102, the container being suspended from a support 104.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an apparatus which generally generates minute vibrations on the surface of a deformable member 120 by a stylus 122 mechanically contacting an internally ribbed surface 124 (either axially or radially formed in the membrane) of the deformable member.
  • the stylus 122 may be moved along the deformable member inner surface either axially or radially to create the vibrations.
  • the stylus may be in the form of a savant wheel having a generally gear-like outer surface.
  • the deformable member may be heated by any known means to improve attractiveness of biting insects.
  • the minute oscillations may also be produced by moving a small magnet 126 past a deformable surface 128 which includes closely set stripes of alternately-poled magnetic material (e.g. flexible refrigerator magnetic material or magnetic door gasket material).
  • the oscillations may be imparted on a heated deformable surface 130 by the progressive excitation of an array of electromagnets 132 set in proximity to sufficiently mechanically independent areas 130a, 130b of a deformable magnetic surface.
  • the vibrations may be generated by the rolling of faceted balls or gravel, gears or pulleys 134 on the deformable surface 136.
  • the deformable surface is induced to deform locally in a desired oscillatory manner, and the excitation device allows such deformed and vibrating areas to be moved about or selectively excited as desired to simulate the "signature" of prey animal skin.
  • Each device may include a separate collector or killing device for trapping or killing insects attracted into a predetermined area.
  • FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the different layers of a deformable skin-like surface integrated with a killing or collecting device and an excitation device for imparting vibrational motion or traveling waves to the deformable surface.
  • the removable or demountable deformable surface 140 comprises a plurality of layers including a killing or adhering layer 142, a heating or patterning layer 144, a support layer 146, and a magnetic driving layer 148.
  • the killing or adhering layer 142 may be a deformable substrate, such as plastic, mbber or paper, coated with a collecting/killing agent.
  • the collecting agent may take the form of an adhesive similar to that used on fly paper and the killing agent may be an insecticide or an electrical killing grid.
  • the heating or patterning layer 144 may include an electrical resistance heater or a substrate having thereon heat conductive strips or the like for creating a random heating pattern to the device.
  • the "signature" characteristic of animal skin is generated by rotating magnetic fields from permanent magnets or electro-magnets to create a "movement" in the deformable surface 140.
  • the magnetic driving layer 148 comprises either a flexible magnetic mbber sheet having alternating polarity ribs thereon or a sheet of flexible substrate having a magnetic or magnetized material sprayed or silk-screened thereon in any suitable pattern.
  • the exciter or moving element 150 which imparts movement to the deformable surface may either be driven to move relative to the surface by a motor or clockwork or it may be a separate force generating element 152 which may be conducted or mediated by the moving element 150 to the deformable surface. More specifically, moving element 150 creates a relative motion "in shear" to the deformable surface 140 which can be arranged by any suitable rotating or translation mechanism. As shown in FIG. 10, the moving element 150 may be a sheet of magnetized mbber with alternating polarity ribs 154, 156 for generating an excitation force. Alternatively, the moving element 150 may be a mask or patterned set of conductors and/or insulators to generate the excitation force.
  • the device preferably also includes an overlying pattern of random-line
  • capillaries 158 to breakup the uniformity of the heat pattern exhibited by the deformable surface.
  • This random pattern may take many different forms. As shown in FIGs. 11-12, the pattern is created using randomly oriented heat conducting material members, such as foil or tinsel, adhered to a cloth cover. The patterning may also be incorporated directly into the deformable surface 140.
  • FIGs. 11 and 12 are a partial sectional top plan view of the insect attracting device and a side elevational view, respectively.
  • the moving element 150 may be driven by a motor 162.
  • the deformable surface 140 may be mounted on a holding ring or clamp frame 160 to maintain a desired shape, e.g., flat disc, cylindrical or any other suitable shape.
  • the clamp frame 160 may also be suitable for use as a "throbber" as earlier described, to impart larger vibrational motions to the device.
  • the throbbing action may be generated by flexing the deformable surface 140, flexing the clamp frame 160 or tapping the frame with a mechanical hammer, such as a doorbell-clapper.
  • heat may be generated by ohmic heat in the removable deformable surface by means of current passing through a resistive coating or it could be radiated and conducted to the deformable surface by a heater made a part of the exciter.
  • the removable deformable surface including the collector/killing layer 142 can be removed and replaced once it becomes loaded or exhausted.
  • a new sheet of collector/killer layer may be adhered to the other layers of the deformable surface or an entirely new deformable surface may be placed on the device thereby restoring the system to its initial unloaded or unexhausted state.
  • the collector/killing layer or sheet 142 could also be automatically replaced using a scroll system having a supply roll and a take- up roll.
  • the active surface would be unrolled across the attractor surface and either manually or automatically, e.g., controlled by a timing mechanism or load detecting device, to provide a new portion of the layer extended across the attractor surface.
  • the catch may be preserved for analysis and data collection.
  • the exciter is separate from the attractor surface making it possible to generate the characteristic "signature" of a prey animal's skin and allow the attractive surface, including the collector/killing layer, to be discarded and replaced from time to time as required to maintain optimum performance.
  • a key feature of the device is to simulate the patterned temporal and spatial "signature" of prey animal skin in sufficient detail to attract insects.

Abstract

Cette invention a trait à une méthode et à l'appareil correspondant permettant d'attirer des insectes, notamment des simulies, des phlébotomes et des moustiques, les effets physiques associés aux régions cutanées des animaux proies étant simulés. Parmi les éléments de base d'une première réalisation de cet appareil figurent des enceintes chauffées à parois élastiques pour fluide pulsé pouvant avoir la forme d'une colonne élastique dans laquelle un fluide tiède s'écoule par impulsions, lesquelles impulsions devant produire divers effets physiques. L'énergie nécessaire au chauffage et à la production d'impulsions peut être fournie par une source d'électricité d'origine solaire, mécanique, nucléaire, chimique ou autre. Parmi les éléments de base d'une seconde réalisation de cet appareil figure un ressort faible (78) suspendu à un support (80) et couplé à un générateur de vibrations. Autour du ressort (78) se trouve une membrane déformable s'apparentant à la peau. Le ressort est mis à vibrer et les vibrations sont transmises à la membrane de manière à produire des effets physiques liés au mouvement cutané d'un animal proie. Le dispositif peut également comporter un générateur de chaleur (74) pour chauffer la surface ressemblant à la peau. Un autre mode de réalisation comporte un excitateur et un système de transmission d'onde progressive. L'excitateur se déplace relativement à ce système de transmission d'onde progressive de manière à y créer une onde progressive afin d'attirer les insectes vers l'appareil. La mise à mort des insectes ou la collecte d'insectes vivants ou morts peut se faire par piégeage ou par exécution par voie électrique, mécanique ou chimique. Dans un mode de réalisation préféré, le système de transmission d'onde progressive et l'équipement collecteur/tueur sont associés pour ne constituer qu'une seule unité intégrée. Il est possible, si nécessaire, de retirer cette unité et de la remplacer.
PCT/US1999/004801 1998-03-06 1999-03-05 Appareil anti-insectes et methode correspondante WO1999044417A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002323057A CA2323057A1 (fr) 1998-03-06 1999-03-05 Appareil anti-insectes et methode correspondante
AU30691/99A AU3069199A (en) 1998-03-06 1999-03-05 Insect control apparatus and method
EP99912280A EP1059841A2 (fr) 1998-03-06 1999-03-05 Appareil anti-insectes et methode correspondante

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/036,123 1998-03-06
US09/036,123 US6088949A (en) 1995-11-13 1998-03-06 Insect control apparatus and method
US21005098A 1998-12-11 1998-12-11
US09/210,050 1998-12-11

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999044417A2 true WO1999044417A2 (fr) 1999-09-10
WO1999044417A3 WO1999044417A3 (fr) 1999-11-04

Family

ID=26712827

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1999/004801 WO1999044417A2 (fr) 1998-03-06 1999-03-05 Appareil anti-insectes et methode correspondante

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1059841A2 (fr)
CN (1) CN1299233A (fr)
AU (1) AU3069199A (fr)
CA (1) CA2323057A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1999044417A2 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140130399A1 (en) * 2012-11-09 2014-05-15 Westham Ltd Devices and methods for a durable insect bait station
US9089122B2 (en) * 2008-06-20 2015-07-28 Ecolab Usa Inc. Insect bait station and method of using
CN112293372A (zh) * 2020-10-29 2021-02-02 王益良 一种节能环保生态捕蛾器
US11109582B2 (en) 2015-07-22 2021-09-07 The University Of Greenwich Insect trap
CN113367107A (zh) * 2021-06-11 2021-09-10 吉林建筑大学 一种基于种群随机乱序多目标遗传算法的跟踪方法
US11771073B2 (en) * 2018-02-16 2023-10-03 Maxtech Mosquito Control Inc. Mosquito control devices and systems

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2005251813B2 (en) * 2004-06-08 2012-02-16 Woodstream Corporation System for trapping flying insects with attractant lures
CN104012497B (zh) * 2014-05-29 2016-04-13 南京航空航天大学 一种模拟人体皮肤红外辐射特性的电动蚊虫诱捕装置
CH713205A2 (de) * 2016-12-06 2018-06-15 Ruven Stoll Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Beeinflussen von Insekten.
CA3064284A1 (fr) * 2017-05-22 2018-11-29 Dow Agrosciences Llc Detection selective des punaises des lits
CN107751138A (zh) * 2017-10-09 2018-03-06 何昌胜 智能灭蚊机器人
CN112715531A (zh) * 2020-12-21 2021-04-30 中国农业科学院茶叶研究所 一种利用地埋振源驱赶或干扰害虫的方法
CN112997983A (zh) * 2021-02-07 2021-06-22 海宁康铭照明电器有限公司 一种节能减排型户外电光源防虫装置

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1021311B (it) * 1974-09-12 1978-01-30 Bioengineering Research Simulatore del rumore cardiaco
US4168591A (en) * 1977-07-13 1979-09-25 Christopher Shaw Insect attractor
US5258176A (en) * 1990-04-27 1993-11-02 Keenan F Edward Kairomonal lure for ectoparasitic insect trap
US5241778A (en) * 1992-07-22 1993-09-07 Price Ron D Method of attracting and eradicating insects comprising attracting insects to a heartbeat sound
US5657576A (en) * 1995-11-13 1997-08-19 James Nicosia Insect control apparatus and method

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9089122B2 (en) * 2008-06-20 2015-07-28 Ecolab Usa Inc. Insect bait station and method of using
US9295247B2 (en) * 2008-06-20 2016-03-29 Ecolab Usa Inc. Method of using insect bait station
US20140130399A1 (en) * 2012-11-09 2014-05-15 Westham Ltd Devices and methods for a durable insect bait station
US9220255B2 (en) * 2012-11-09 2015-12-29 Westham Ltd. Devices and methods for a durable insect bait station
US11109582B2 (en) 2015-07-22 2021-09-07 The University Of Greenwich Insect trap
US11771073B2 (en) * 2018-02-16 2023-10-03 Maxtech Mosquito Control Inc. Mosquito control devices and systems
CN112293372A (zh) * 2020-10-29 2021-02-02 王益良 一种节能环保生态捕蛾器
CN113367107A (zh) * 2021-06-11 2021-09-10 吉林建筑大学 一种基于种群随机乱序多目标遗传算法的跟踪方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3069199A (en) 1999-09-20
WO1999044417A3 (fr) 1999-11-04
CA2323057A1 (fr) 1999-09-10
CN1299233A (zh) 2001-06-13
EP1059841A2 (fr) 2000-12-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6088949A (en) Insect control apparatus and method
US5657576A (en) Insect control apparatus and method
EP1059841A2 (fr) Appareil anti-insectes et methode correspondante
US6250255B1 (en) Methods and apparatus for alerting and/or repelling birds and other animals
US5241778A (en) Method of attracting and eradicating insects comprising attracting insects to a heartbeat sound
JPH051688B2 (fr)
WO2001089295A2 (fr) Station de lutte contre les insectes suceurs de sang
US6388949B1 (en) Marine turtle acoustic repellent/alerting apparatus and method
US6742470B2 (en) Bird deterring apparatus
WO2014024052A1 (fr) Dispositif de détection et d'électrocution de nuisibles
US5501034A (en) Device for destroying insects
US6882594B1 (en) Flying insects repelling system
MXPA05006570A (es) Trampa para insectos.
JPH05103571A (ja) 吸血昆虫の誘引捕獲装置
JPH08317756A (ja) 害虫駆除方法
Uetz et al. Communication in spiders
JPH08131042A (ja) 温熱誘引蚊取り法及びその装置
MXPA98003812A (en) Apparatus and method for insec control
JP6471284B1 (ja) 鳥獣被害防止製品及び方法
CN113575566A (zh) 一种驱鸟装置
CN109511628B (zh) 一种设置噗结构的手套及其灭蚊方法
CN109511626B (zh) 一种扩展灭蚊面积的手套及其灭蚊方法
JP6071946B2 (ja) 生物排除装置
RU2459409C2 (ru) Автономная ловушка-комплекс для клещей и комаров для открытых и закрытых ландшафтов
KR20000067177A (ko) 카오스 현상을 이용한 초음파 벌레 퇴치장치

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 99805767.3

Country of ref document: CN

AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG US UZ VN YU ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SL SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG US UZ VN YU ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SL SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2323057

Country of ref document: CA

Ref document number: 2323057

Country of ref document: CA

Kind code of ref document: A

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: KR

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 30691/99

Country of ref document: AU

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1999912280

Country of ref document: EP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1999912280

Country of ref document: EP

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWR Wipo information: refused in national office

Ref document number: 1999912280

Country of ref document: EP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1999912280

Country of ref document: EP