WO2004071180A2

WO2004071180A2 - Integrated system of apiculture beehive (movable bottom board, honey and brood chamber and cover), which is made entirely of metal

Info

Publication number: WO2004071180A2
Application number: PCT/GR2004/000010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Lappas
Original assignee: Thomas Lappas
Priority date: 2003-02-14
Filing date: 2004-02-16
Publication date: 2004-08-26
Also published as: GR1004474B; WO2004071180B1; WO2004071180A3; CA2514693A1

Abstract

The invention is referred to the field of apiculture and especially to the lower part of the beehive, which is the place of residence of the bees. The movable, metal bottom board (1) with the special leg and connectors position solves the problems of the wooden floor and more specifically the problems of wear and tear (rot), mechanical stability and facility of fitting. More specifically, the movable, metal bottom board has a big life span, it offers mechanical stability (3,4), maintains its mechanical properties (it doesn't warp because of humidity while the way of its construction gives it mechanical stability). The replacement of the floor is easy. On the one hand this is due to the metal, which does not develop friction forces with the upper wooden part of the beehive. On the other hand the special leg position and the connector configuration, maintains its compatibility with the existing technology for the construction of the brood chambers and generally the supporting of the upper wooden part of the beehive. The metal legs maintain the distance of the floor from the ground and they deter the penetration of the humidity in the beehive. The metal ventilation port (6) secures the beehive during its transportation. The system of the brood chamber - honey chamber as well as the system of the cover which are made totally of metal and they have the suitable insulation, secure big life span, resistance, fire safety, hygiene and facility of management. The invention is useful, during the apiarian period, either for the whole replacement of the existing beehives or as an alternative solution for the replacement of the wooden bottom boards and covers which are the more sensitive parts of the beehive and exceed their life span.

Description

Description of invention

Integrated system of apiculture beehive (movable bottom board, honey and brood chamber and cover^"), which is made entirely of metal. An initial invention (GR patent 1003751) refers to an integrated system of a metal bottom board of a beehive, which includes the special formations, its metal components such as the ventilation port, the metal supporting legs for the support on the ground, as well as the system of fitting of the bottom board with the upper part of the beehive. The whole system of movable bottom is used as a base for the upper part of beehive that is made of wood. The technical field the invention is referred to, is the apiculture and especially the technology of manufacture and management of beehives during the apiarian period.

Extending the initial invention (GR patent 1003751), the system of metal base with supporting legs is improved. The base and the legs made of metal of one piece (molten- pressed aluminum or iron). The supporting legs are transferred in the direction front - end, so that the connector binding the upper chamber to the base is terminating at the legs Also not only the bottom part but the whole system of beehive as well is made entirely of metal instead of wood. Currently applied technique: A bee uses the beehive as a place of residence and honey production. The beehive is made of wood (usually fir). The beehive is mainly in two variations:

The first one consists of: a. Brood chamber attached to a fixed bottom part [the lower part of the beehive with typical dimensions 510x420x290 mm (1 x w x h)] where new bees are produced. b. Honey chamber (immediately above the brood chamber) with typical dimensions (510x420x250) mm (1 x w x h) where honey is produced. c. The cover (lid) which covers the beehive and which has holes for ventilation at the two sides. The typical dimensions of the cover are (510x420.70) mm (1 x w x h).

The lower part of the beehive is waterproof and it is supported on legs (typical height of 35 mm). The second variation of the beehive differs mainly as regards its lower part. More specifically it consists of

A. A movable wooden bottom board [510x420x85 (1 x w x h)]

B. Two honey chambers with the same dimensions (510x420x250) (1 x w x h) from which the lowest one is used as a brood chamber. C. The cover (lid) such as in the first case.

In this variation of the beehive, the brood chamber is attached to the movable bottom part with metal fittings and is removed easily. Consequently its replacement is easier than in first variation The movable bottom board, which is made of wood, has many disadvantages such as the time depending dry rot, the mechanical distortion due to humidity, and increasing with time mechanical instability and difficulty to fit the bottom to the upper part of the beehive. So the replacement, either for maintenance or transportation, becomes difficult and the apiculturer spends more time especially during the apiarian period. The average lifetime of the wooden beehive is 4-12 years depending on the wood quality, general conditions and maintenance, while the metal beehive can last for a longer time, giving also a cost advantage to the new invention. The present invention extends and improves significantly the connection method between the removable bottom board and the upper chamber, by positioning the supporting legs in front - back direction. (GR patent 10037510) The new version of beehive may be used to replace the first above-mentioned version of beehive, having as a main advantage the facility of carriage and fitting all the parts easily during transportation or maintenance.

Description of invention: The system of beehive consists of the following parts

1. A movable metal bottom board, which is now improved and accomplishes the perfect connection.

2. A honey chamber and a brood chamber. They have typical dimensions (510x420x250) mm (1 x w x h) thickness of material 22mm, made of stainless metal, aluminum or galvanized metal. An insulating material is used which is made of foam or another kind of material (e.g. polyurethane, etc) for the heat insulation of the area.

3. A cover made entirely of metal (typical dimensions 510x420x80) mm (1 x w x h) and typical thickness of 20 mm with heat insulation (material that is used for the honey - brood chamber). The ventilation holes, which are necessary at the traditional wooden beehives for the needs of transportation of the beehive and the colony of bees, are also used here.

4. A fitting system for the cover and the brood chamber by using suitable connectors and fittings so as the new beehive fits perfectly to the movable metal bottom board which has already been secured.

The characteristics of the invention that make it advantageous over the existing technology are the following

1. The metal material, unlike wood, does not rot. The wooden beehive has a life span 4 -12 years depending on the quality of the wood. More specifically the wooden bottom board, due to its contact with the ground, suffers from wear and tear because of humidity and thus it requires regular maintenance (painting). The metal beehive has a longer life span (the stainless material has a practically unlimited duration "from grandfather to grandson"). The connection between the chambers of the beehive can be done easily without any fitting problems of the movable parts as it happens at the wooden ones. As a whole the cost of disinfections and maintenance is reduced for the producer.

2. Moreover the cleaning and disinfect ion of the floor of the beehive are easier due to metal material. The conformity to the specifications of the system HACCP, which is applied for the production of honey, is of special importance. For example the appearance of illnesses such as the bacillus of American and European dry rot requires the use of drugs for their fighting. In the wooden beehive the bacillus penetrates and it is absorbed by the wood and consequently its fighting is difficult. For the disinfect ion of the beehive it is required lOOoC temperature for 10 - 15 min. The use of metal material deters the penetration of the bacillus and it allows the direct heating of the metal material (great conductivity, little thermal capacity). Thus the time for disinfect ion will be considerably less. For similar reasons it is not allowed anymore the use of wooden benches but metal ones in the industry of food (bread- making, pastry-making, etc)

3. The metal beehive is not flammable even in a case of crawling fire. The fitting of the beehive on the movable wooden board presents some mechanical problems. (That's why even though the wooden movable bottom is practical, isn't used by the apiarists)

4. The systems of fitting at the metal bottom board, the brood chamber and the cover of the honey chamber solve the problems about mechanical fitting and wear and tear which in the case of the use of wood became more intense by the passing of time. Given that the transportation of the beehives may happens 6 to 12 times a year

(nomadic apiculture), the existing method of fitting causes important wear and tear as it has been proved in practice.

5. The particular structure is lighter than the wooden one, which facilitates apiarist's work during the transportation and maintenance of the beehive.

One specific way for the materialization of this invention is described in the following figures:

Figure 1 shows the general drawing in perspective of the invention.

Figures 2-7 show the details of the ground plan, the side and the intersection as follows: Figure2a: Drawing in perspective of the movable metal bottom board together with the bee-hole and the alighting/landing board.

Figure 2b: Ground plan and the intersections of the movable bottom board.

Figure 3 a: Ground plan and intersection of the brood chamber and honey chamber.

Figure 3b: Drawing in perspective of the brood chamber and honey chamber. Figure 4a: Ground plan and intersections of the cover of the beehive.

The movable bottom board of the beehive (1) consists of the lower part (2) (typical dimensions 380x512 and 20mm height). The honeybees for their entrance and exit of the beehive as well as a free space for bees use this place during the inspection of the beehive. The upper part of the movable bottom board (3) has typical dimensions 422x512 and 10mm height. The bigger dimension (4) allows the mechanical stability of the brood chamber. On the two metal legs (directed from front to back) of the movable bottom board there are the supports of the fitting connector with the brood chamber (5). A bee-hole is made at the front part of the mobile floor (6). During the transportation of the beehives, a metal block is put at the front part of the movable bottom board (7). This block can turn round at 270° and be secured at on or off position (8). A "flying-board" alighting/landing board is put under the bee-hole (9), which is made of metal in this specific construction. The alighting/landing board is for enabling bees during their return to beehive by providing the necessary step which is at the same height with the entrance /bee-hole of the beehive. With this proposed technique the metal movable bottom board maintains its compatibility with the existing brood chambers.

The brood - honey chamber consists of two boxes with typical dimensions are (510x420x250) mm (1 x w x h) with thickness of material 20mm, which are made of stainless metal, aluminum or galvanized metal. The surrounding walls are double so as to be filled with insulating foamy material or some other kind of material (e.g. polyurethane etc) for the heat insulation of the chamber (11). In the upper part of the chamber there is the flange for supporting the frames (12), which allows the fitting of the upper part of the beehive. On the two sides of the boxes there are handles for the transportation handles (13).

The cover (14) is made of metal material with typical dimensions (510x420x80) mm (1 x w x h) with thickness of material 20mm and heat insulation (of the same material which is used at the honey - brood chamber)(15). The holes for ventilation, which there are in the traditional wooden beehive for the needs of the transportation of the colony of bees and the beehive, are also maintained here. The same type of connector, which is used at the lower parts of the beehive, supports the cover (17).

Claims

Claims of the invention

1. The main Claim is the replacement of the wood with metal in all parts of the beehive (bottom board, brood chamber, honey chamber, cover).

2. The replacement of the movable wooden bottom board with a metal one and the special position (front - back) of the supporting legs and the configuration of metal binders (is based on the approved 1003751 GR patent.)

3. The use of insulating foamy material (e.g. polyurethane) or other type of material, for the achievement of suitable heat insulation.

According to Claim 1, the whole system of beehive is made of metal, while the layout for connecting and fitting is also modified in a suitable way. According to the existing level of technique, the beehive is made of wood and it presents various disadvantages as regards the ageing, which it undergoes with the passing of years (humidity, warp), the cost of manufacture and maintenance (varnishing, painting) as well as the hygiene and the conformity to the system HACCP.

According to Claim 3, the insulating material should be foamy (polyurethane) or something similar. In the existing level of technique, the use of wood doesn't Claim the use of additional insulating material.

According to Claims 1 and 2 the system of the movable metal bottom board is characterised by special formations for the supporting legs and mechanical secure system of the upper part of beehive to the movable metal bottom board. As a consequence, this system of support and fitting provides mechanical stability, easy fitting with the beehive and reduction of time for replacement and maintenance. The technical features of the system are the following:

A. The lower part (with typical dimensions 380x512 and 20mm height) is used by the bees during their entrance and exit from the beehive as well as a bee space during the inspection of the beehive.

B. The upper part of the movable bottom board (3) (with typical dimensions 422x512 and 10mm height) includes a wider dimension (8), which allows the mechanical stability of the brood chamber. Moreover a metal flange is made, in order to provide a better mechanical stability to the movable bottom board as well as to protect against any possible escape of bees during the transportation. The connectors (5) are bound at the center of the front side as well as at the supporting legs, which are placed in «front-end» position. The brood chamber (even with the current technique) has a similar metal notch, which in the existing technique "fastens" to the movable bottom board with the system "Barium connector". With the proposed technique the movable bottom board maintains its compatibility with the existing brood champers.

4. According to Claims 1 and 2, the case of secure is made of metal and it is used with a suitable support on the system of the movable metal bottom board. According to the existing level of technique, the metal case is not used at the modern movable wooden floor.

The exit for the bees (6) is made in the front part of the movable bottom board. During the transportation of the beehives, a metal block (7) is put at the front part of the movable bottom board. The block can turn round at 270° and it can be secured at on or off position. The "flying-board" /alighting/landing board (9) is put below the bee-hole and in this specific construction it is made of metal. The alighting/landing board is designed to facilitate the bees during their return to the beehive providing the necessary step, which is at the same height with the entrance of the beehive.

According to Claims 1 and 2, the metal bottom board and the supporting legs are solid, made of one piece of molten-pressed aluminum or stainless steel or galvanized iron. The configuration and the material guarantees the mothproof and the prevention of penetration of humidity.