WO2010098853A1

WO2010098853A1 - Ventilation, moisture removal and heat management in a beehive

Info

Publication number: WO2010098853A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/000556
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael B. Mcneil
Original assignee: Mcneil Michael B
Priority date: 2009-02-25
Filing date: 2010-02-25
Publication date: 2010-09-02

Abstract

A beehive includes a solar collecting surface for heating air within an exhaust stack to create a convection current out of the beehive. When in action, the exhaust stack will facilitate drawing fresh air into the hive, such as via the hive opening adjacent a bottom board, and vent moisture laden air to atmosphere at an outlet of the exhaust stack that is located above the telescoping outer cover of the hive. Heat is managed in a bee cluster within a brood box by locating an infrared radiation reflector at a location that will reflect infrared radiation originating from the bee cluster back toward the cluster. The radiation reflector may be located in the brood box, and may include a top panel and/or a bottom panel to completely surround the cluster, such as during cold winter months.

Description

VENTILATION. MOISTURE REMOVAL AND HEAT MANAGEMENT IN A

BEEHIVE

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to beekeeping, and more particularly to a strategy for ventilating, removing moisture, managing heat, and determining a status of bees in a beehive.

Background

[0002] The structure of backyard beehives has remained virtually unchanged for more than 100 years. The basic hive includes a bottom board that is supported some distance above the ground, such as via stone blocks. On top of the bottom board are stacked consecutively a brood box, an inner cover and a telescoping outer cover. Depending upon circumstances, one or more supers may be positioned between the brood box and the inner cover. For instance, a wintering hive construction may include one super substantially full of stored honey for feeding the bees of the hive over the winter and early spring.

[0003] As temperatures drop during winter months, the bees will form a generally spherically shaped cluster with a tightly packed outer shell of bees and a less dense packing toward the center of the cluster. Bees toward the center of the cluster vibrate their muscles to generate heat, which keeps the queen, the brood and the other workers sufficiently warm to survive the cold temperatures. The cluster is warmest toward the center and coldest at its outer layer. Worker bees will take turns moving from the outer layer to the interior of the cluster and likely back again to the outer layer in a continuous cycle until temperatures again rise. During colder weather, the bees will consume stored honey. If honey stores run out during the winter, the bees will die. If circumstances prevent the cluster from migrating within the hive to access stored honey, the bees may also starve and die. [0004] Because honey includes a substantial water content, the water produced via the consumption of stored honey can create moisture problems within the hive. For instance, extremely humid air produced due to the consumption of honey can result in condensed moisture on the inner surface of the inner cover and elsewhere. That condensed moisture may freeze and later thaw causing dripping cold water onto the bee cluster. If this happens, the results can again be devastating. Once a bee's body temperature drops below some threshold, it becomes paralyzed, unable to move, and may drop to the bottom of the hive and die. This loss will reduce the cluster mass and incrementally endanger the remaining bees of the cluster. Thus, effectively removing moisture from the hive may effectively increase the chances of the cluster's survival over the cold winter months. While bee clustering has shown the ability of bees to survive for long periods of extremely cold weather, the bees must inherently work harder and consume more honey during such times, potentially further exacerbating moisture related problems. In addition, depending upon circumstances, the ambient conditions may be so severe that the cluster packing and heat generation strategy of the bees may become overwhelmed, again resulting in a dead hive by spring.

[0005] During hot summer months, problems associated with heat management within the hive may reverse. For instance, a hive sitting in direct sunlight on a hot day can tend to experience extremely high temperatures. When this occurs, a contingent of worker bees must cool the hive to prevent the queen and brood from overheating. This may be accomplished by fanning the wings to encourage air movement and ventilation in and through the hive, and also encouraging evaporation of water droplets, and maybe nectar which may be carried by individual bees, to absorb heat from the hive. As temperatures increase, ever larger numbers of worker bees must be removed from pollen and nectar gathering details and instead be allocated toward cooling the hive. Of course this phenomenon can result in lower quantities of pollen and nectar gathering, likely resulting in lower honey production. While honey bees have clearly shown an ability to manage their own environment to some extent for literally millions of years, there remains room for improving a beekeeper's ability to assist a beehive colony in these endeavors to increase survivability and improve production.

[0006] The present disclosure is directed to one or more of the problems set forth above.

Summary

[0007] In one aspect, a beehive includes a bottom board, a brood box, an inner cover and an outer cover. The brood box includes four walls defining a brood volume, and a plurality of frames suspended in the brood box. The outer cover is supported on and telescopically receives the inner cover. An infrared radiation reflector is positioned to reflect infrared radiation originating from a bee cluster shaped space in the plurality of frames back through the bee cluster shaped space. [0008] In another aspect, a method of keeping bees includes determining a bee colony status while maintaining a beehive in an assembled condition. The determining step includes the step of sensing a humidity level a air from a brood volume within the beehive.

[0009] In another aspect, a beehive includes a brood box supported on a bottom board and including a plurality of suspended frames therein. An inner cover is supported by the brood box, and an outer cover is supported on and telescopically receives the inner cover. An exhaust stack has an inlet fluidly connected to a brood volume within the brood box, has an outlet opening located above the outer cover, and includes a solar collecting surface configured to transmit heat to air in the exhaust stack.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] Figure 1 is a front view of a beehive according to the present disclosure;

[0011] Figure 2 is an enlarged sectioned view through a portion of the beehive air exhaust stack shown in Figure 1 ;

[0012] Figure 3 is a sectioned front view of the exhaust stack mounting shown in

Figure 1;

[0013] Figure 4 is a partial sectioned side view of a wall of a brood box as viewed along section lines 4-4 of Figure 1 ;

[0014] Figure 5 is a top view of the inner cover of the beehive shown in Figure 1 ;

[0015] Figure 6 is a schematic view of a beehive infrared radiation reflector according to one aspect of the present disclosure; and

[0016] Figure 7 is a top schematic view of the beehive infrared radiation reflector of Figure 6.

Detailed Description

[0017] Referring to Figure 1, a beehive 10 according to the present disclosure includes many features that have remained substantially unchanged for over one hundred years in the beekeeping industry. For instance, beehive 10 includes a bottom board 20 upon which a brood box 22 is stacked. The bottom board may typically be supported some distance above the ground through some suitable means, such as stone blocks or the like (not shown). Within the brood box 22 are suspended a plurality of frames 12, which may vary in number, and typically range from eight to ten depending upon the size of the brood box 22. Each of the frames 12 include multiple beeswax cells within which the bee colony stores pollen, stores honey, raises brood and for other colony needs known in the art. The brood box 22 includes four walls that define a brood volume 23 that encompasses the frames 12 suspended therein. A super 24, which defines a super volume 25 may be stacked on top of brood box 22. In some instances, two or more supers 24 may be consecutively stacked upon one another. During winter months, honey stored in frames suspended in the super volume may provide food for the wintering bee colony in beehive 10. An inner cover 26 is supported on super 24 and includes a cover board 71 that may define an oval shaped opening 75 therethrough. Thus, inner cover 26 can be thought of as being supported by all of the lower components (e.g. brood box 22) of beehive 10. A telescoping outer cover 28 is supported on, and telescopically receives, the inner cover 26.

[0018] Referring in addition to Figures 2-5, beehive 10 will typically include at least one bee entrance, such as a lower entrance 70 defined between bottom board 20 and brood box 22. Although not shown, the beehive 10 may also include an upper entrance that may be facilitated by appropriate positioning of outer cover 28 with respect to inner cover 26 so that the bees can access a notch opening 73 defined by the inner cover 26. When in this configuration, bees will enter through notch 73 and egress the brood volume 23 and the super volume 25 via the oval shaped opening 75 in inner cover 26. For purposes of the present disclosure, the space between cover board 71 of inner cover 26 and the underside 72 of outer cover 28 is referred to as an attic 76. The outer surface 74 of outer cover 28 may be exposed to the elements. Typically, the various components of the beehive 10 as discussed are made from a suitable wood construction, but sometimes are made of a suitable plastic material, or both. In addition, the outer cover 28 may be enhanced to withstand environmental conditions by including a sheet metal layer to protect the underlying wood against the elements. Beehive 10 according to the present disclosure departs from the prior art by the inclusion of an exhaust stack 14 and an infrared radiation reflector 16. In addition, beehive 10 differs from traditional prior art beehives by the inclusion of a hole 33 made through outer cover 28 to facilitate an airflow connection between brood volume 23 and air exhaust stack 14. In addition, beehive 10 may include an access opening 93 to facilitate determination of colony wellbeing while the beehive is in an assembled configuration, as shown.

[0019] Air exhaust stack 14 includes a mounting 40 that defines a plurality of fastener bores 43, and a pipe attachment cavity 37 that opens to an inlet 36. Mounting 40 may be attached to outer cover 28 via direct threading, adhesive or even via appropriate fasteners (e.g. screws 90) that are received through fastener bores 43 and threaded to outer cover 28. Inlet 36 is preferably aligned with the hole 33 in outer cover 28. A tubular shaped exhaust pipe 42 has an inlet end 49 that is received in pipe attachment cavity 37 of mounting 40. Exhaust pipe 42 may be permanently fixed to mounting 40, or may be removably connected to facilitate detachment of the two components as needed. Exhaust pipe 42 defines an inner flow channel 48 that opens at one end into inlet 36 and an outlet end 41 that may include an opening 46 that openings into a cap 44. In the illustrated embodiment, cap 44 is shown as an omnidirectional venturi (i.e., circular top view), but may comprise a simple structure whose function is only to prevent rain and other precipitation from entering into flow channel 48. The present disclosure also contemplates air exhaust stacks that do not include a cap. At least one of the exhaust pipe 42 and the cap 44 include a solar collecting surface 47 configured to transmit heat to air in the air exhaust stack 14. When this occurs, a convection current may be created that draws fresh air into brood volume 23 via entrance 70. This fresh air travels through the interior of beehive 10 and exits at oval shaped opening 75 into attic 76 and then through hole 33. Thereafter, the convected air flows up through flow channel 48 to upper cap volume 55, and is then vented to atmosphere at venturi/convection opening 51, and possibly venturi opening 50 depending upon wind conditions. Solar collecting surface 47 may be accomplished simply by using darker colored materials to construct air exhaust stack 14, or possibly by coloring the same such as with dark colored paint or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the various components that make up air exhaust stack 14 may be constructed from a suitable dark color (e.g., black) pvc material. In the alternative, the exhaust stack 32 and/or cap 44 may be constructed from a suitable metallic material or other material with better heat conductive properties than those typically associated with pvc without departing from the present disclosure. For purposes of the present disclosure, a solar collecting surface is a surface that increases in temperature when exposed to sunlight, and need not be any particular color.

[0020] Referring specifically to Figure 2, cap 44 may be constructed to include at least one venturi surface, such as top venturi surface 35. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, when air flows in a horizontal direction over top venturi surface 35, a low pressure region will develop over venturi/convention opening 51 causing air to be drawn into atmosphere from the upper cap volume 55. Top venturi surface 55 may simply be the outer surface of a circular bowl 39 that is attached in some suitable manner, such as adhesives, to the end 41 of exhaust pipe 42. A bowl shape may allow the cap to function as an omni-directional venturi such that wind from any horizontal direction will produce the low pressure region above opening 51. Alternatively, cap 44 may be constructed as an airfoil shape with a single direction that is pointing toward an expected wind direction. For instance, in some applications, prevailing wind directions may permit the use of a directional venturi. In still another alternative, a single direction venturi may include a wind vane, and the cap may be rotatably mounted on the top of pipe 42 to allow the venturi created by the airfoil shape to turn into the wind. Such a construction would also be considered an omni-directional venturi according to the present disclosure. Any air evacuated from upper cap volume 55 must be replaced from somewhere. In order to inhibit air flow from traveling from lower cap volume 56 to upper cap volume 55, a check valve 53 is included to block such flow. Thus, air evacuated to atmosphere from upper cap volume 55 will be made up by air drawn up from brood volume 23 via flow channel 48 of exhaust pipe 42.

[0021] Lower cap volume 56 may be defined by a plate 32 and a bowl 38. Like bowl 39, bowl 38 may define a bottom omnidirectional venturi surface 34 that defines a venturi opening 50. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that air flow due to wind horizontally passing over bottom venturi surface 34 will create a low pressure region in the area of venturi opening 50 tending to draw air out of lower cap volume 56. However, due to the inclusion of check valve 53, no substantial air flow will occur unless the pressure difference induced at venturi opening 50 results in a pressure differential between lower cap volume 56 and upper cap volume 55 sufficient to overcome a valve opening pressure of check valve 53. Check valve 53 may include a shallow tray 58 that is connected to plate 32 via a tube segment 59. Tube segment 59 opens into opening 57 and may include side openings 54 that open into the shallow hollow interior defined by tray 58 below the water line 81. When water 80 collects in tray 58, these lower openings 54 are covered such that water must be pushed aside due to a pressure differential to allow air flow past check valve 53. Thus, the valve opening pressure of check valve 53 can be set to some extent by choosing a depth of tray 58 along with appropriate positioning of side openings 54 in tube segment 59 relative to the waterline 81, which may be determined by the height of the tray walls. Preferably, this valve opening pressure is set relatively low such that moderate wind air flow over cap 34 can cause venturi air flow through both venturi opening 50 and venturi/convection opening 51 increasing air flow through beehive 10. On the otherhand, the valve opening pressure of check valve 53 may be set sufficiently high that convection flow rates through upper cap volume 55 and out venturi/convection opening 51 create an insufficient pressure differential with respect to lower cap volume 56 that air flow is blocked from flowing from lower cap volume 56 to upper cap volume 55, when no wind is present but convection flow is occurring. The water 80 in tray 58 may simply accumulate due to rain water or other precipitation entering into upper volume 55 through venturi/convection opening 51 and then traveling through opening 57 into tray 58. Any excess water that collects in tray 58 will flow over its outer wall edge and leave cap 44 through venturi opening 50. If insufficiently frequent rains occur, a beekeeper may simply refill tray 58 by pouring a small amount of water through venturi/convection opening 51 until excess water appears at venturi opening 50. During winter periods of cold weather, it might be advantageous to allow the water 80 to freeze, thus preventing any air flow between upper volume 55 and lower volume 56. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any suitable check valve structure falls within the intended scope of the present disclosure. The illustrated design has an advantage of exploiting precipitation to aid in the function of check valve 53 without undermining air flow through beehive 10. Other check valve structures include flapper type valves, a ball valve with conical seat that may be biased toward the seat by gravity, or any other check valve structure known in the art. It should be appreciated that the airflow is generated passively without an electrical power source.

[0022] Although not necessary, air exhaust stack 14 may include asymmetrical features with regard to other portions of beehive 10 for purposes of inhibiting undesirable reverse air flow from cap 44 toward brood volume 23, and also to inhibit moisture that may enter cap 44 and/or condense in upper cap volume 55 or flow channel 48 from entering super volume 25 and brood volume 23. This may be accomplished by offsetting the connection between exhaust pipe 42 and cap 44 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In addition, the hole 33 in outer cover 28 may be offset to be misaligned with the oval opening 75 in inner cover 26 so that any moisture that condenses and travels down flow channel 48 will collect in attic 76 rather than passing directly into the interior of beehive 10.

[0023] Referring in addition to Figure 5, a check valve 85 may be included over opening 75 to prevent the reverse flow of air from air exhaust stack 14 into attic 76 and hence into brood volume 23. Check valve 85 may have any suitable construction that preferably has an extremely low valve opening pressure that may be accomplished by a sort of thin layer flapper type valve in which air flow up through beehive 10 toward attic 76 will lift the edges of the flapper valve and allow air to escape super volume 25 into attic 26 and hence into an air exhaust stack 14. But reverse flow from above, such as heavy cold winter air will not flow past check valve 85 into the interior of beehive 10. For instance, cold winter air will hold the flapper of check valve 85 downward and seated to prevent the cold air from entering brood volume 23 from above. Although not necessary, it may be desirable to include some feature, such as a bee blocker vent over opening 75 to inhibit bees from entering into attic 76. Also, some measure might be taken to prevent a build up of propolis that might otherwise block the oval shaped opening 75. Because air flow may be inhibited from entering super volume 25 from exhaust stack 14 via check valve 85, the bees may be less likely to attempt to block oval opening 75 with propolis since the bees may not perceive opening 75 as an entry point for cold air that could otherwise harm or stress the bee colony.

[0024] Other potential enhancements to beehive 10 are also shown in Figure 1. For instance, a sun shade 78 may be included to block direct sunlight from shining on at least a portion of outer cover 28 as well as brood box 22 and super 24. The sun shade may be attached to exhaust pipe 42 or located elsewhere. In addition, the sun shade 78 may also include a reflective layer to reflect away infrared radiation from the sun that could otherwise penetrate through the sun shade 78 to warm beehive 10. In addition, the air exhaust stack 14 may include a valve 79 for adjusting a flow area through pipe 42. For instance, valve 79 may be set to have a relatively large flow opening during summer months, but a smaller opening during colder winter months. In addition, valve 79 may enable the ventilation aspect of the present disclosure to be stopped altogether, such as during periods of extremely high winds during colder winter months, or at any other time as desired. Still another potential enhancement to beehive 10 may be the inclusion of a hygrometer that is arranged to sense a humidity level of air from brood volume 23 within beehive 10. Hygrometer 83 may be any suitable construction, but may be of the type utilized in association with pet keeping, such as a Zilla ® brand hygrometer/thermometer used with reptile pets. The Zilla ® hygrometer utilizes a remote probe 84. In the illustrated embodiment, mounting 40 includes an access opening 94 that allows for probe 84 to sense the humidity of air in the airflow traveling from brood volume 23 up through air exhaust stack 14. When not in use, the access opening 94 may be closed in a suitable manner, such as utilizing a plug 95 as shown in Figure 3. It is believed that the status of the bee colony may be determined by sensing the humidity of air originating from brood volume 23. In other words, during the winter months it may be desirable to confirm the wellbeing of the bee colony without disturbing the bees by sensing humidity of air originating from brood volume 23 without dissembling the main portions of the beehive 10. In other words, the humidity level can be determined without removing outer cover 28 or separating brood box 22 from super 24. In addition, the same access opening 94 may also be utilized for sensing temperature of air originating from brood volume 23. Also shown is an improved hygrometer/thermometer 183 that includes an elongate, small diameter (<0.25 in.) probe 184, which includes both a temperature sensor 185 and humidity sensor 186. Probe 184 is shown entering brood volume 23 via an access opening 93, which may be plugged when the probe 184 is withdrawn. Probe 184 may have a length that allows sensors 185 and 186 to be positioned toward the center of brood volume 23. In other words, probe 184 may have a length greater than half the width of brood box 22, as shown.

[0025] One could expect during cold winter months that the humidity level ought to be greater than the surrounding relatively dry cold winter, air and the temperature of the air originating from the brood volume 23 ought to be greater than the surrounding air temperature. If these two factors are revealed, one may conclude that the bee colony is not only alive, but also functioning properly. In addition, by avoiding disturbing the beehive 10 while confirming the wellbeing of the bee colony, the bee status check itself may not act to endanger the bee colony. In other words, when the beehive 10 is opened to confirm the wellbeing of the bees, that act itself may so disturb the colony that the bees may die shortly thereafter, due to the inspection activity. The access opening 94 is shown located in mounting 40, but may be located elsewhere such as through pipe 42, through super 24, or even via an access opening 93 through brood box 22 without departing from the present disclosure.

[0026] Referring now specifically to Figure 4, a section through one wall 29 of brood box 22 is shown with a attached infrared radiation reflector 16. In particular, infrared radiation reflector 16, such a mylar emergency blanket material, may be attached directly to the inside surface of the wall 29 via an appropriate fastener, such as staples 92 as shown. Alternatively, the infrared radiation reflector 16 may be mounted on a substrate 87, such as thin cardboard or wood veneer, and then mounted in place in brood volume 23. Depending upon the circumstances, the reflective surface 62 can be concealed from the brood volume 23 using substrate 87 by facing the reflective surface 62 in contact with a wall 29 of brood box 22. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that cardboard and then wood veneer are substantially transparent to infrared radiation. For purposes of this disclosure, an infrared radiation reflector means something other than wood, cardboard, plastic or paint. Alternatively, the reflected surface 63 may be directly exposed to the bees in brood volume 23 such as shown in Figure 6. Alternative strategies for attachment or support of the infrared radiation reflector 16 could include adhesives, tape, tacks or even extra flaps of reflective material that extend between the brood box 22 and super 25 and held in place simply by the weight of the super 24 on the brood box 22. Thus, a wide variety of different strategies for supporting reflector 16 could be utilized without departing from the intended scope of the present disclosure. [0027] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the infrared radiation reflector 16 may also be mounted on the exterior of beehive 10. For instance, a rectangular shaped bag made of infrared radiation reflective material could be fitted over the exterior of beehive 10, and include an opening at its top to allow air exhaust stack 14 to penetrate therethrough. Such a configuration might be advantageous during the hottest summer months to reduce the amount of heat transmitted from the sun to the hive, and relax the need of the bees themselves to cool the hive to prevent overheating. Such a configuration might assist in reducing sunlight from overheating hives, but might also assist in heat retention during cooler nighttime hours. In still another configuration, an interior infrared radiation reflector 16 as shown may be used in conjunction with an exterior infrared radiation reflector so that the infrared radiation generated by the bees themselves is reflected back into and among the bees, but heat originating from the exterior, such as solar heating, would be reflected away to prevent overheating of the beehive. Thus, one with ordinary skill could consider changing the infrared radiation reflector configuration of the hive depending upon seasonal requirements, local weather demands, sun exposure placement of the hive and any other factor known in the art. Industrial Applicability

[0028] The present disclosure is applicable generally to enhancing ventilation, moisture removal and heat management in the beehive. Although two primary features are shown in the present disclosure for enhancing a conventional beehive, a beehive 10 according to the present disclosure need not necessarily include both features. These features include an air exhaust stack 14 and an infrared radiation reflector 16. In addition, although the present disclosure contemplates a complete beehive with one or both of these features, the present disclosure is not so limited. For instance, a kit for modifying a conventional hive construction to add one or both of an air ventilation stack 14 and/or an infrared radiation reflector 16 are also contemplated. Finally, the present disclosure is directed to a method of determining a bee colony status while maintaining the beehive 10 in an assembled configuration. This may be accomplished by sensing a humidity level and/or a temperature level of air in, or originating from, a brood volume 23.

[0029] Figures 6 and 7 show an example kit that might be used to modify an existing hive construction, or might be utilized in the initial construction of a hive unit. Infrared radiation reflector 16 includes an infrared radiation reflector material 61 having a height H about equal to a brood box height and a length P about equal to the perimeter of the brood box such that when mounted in the brood box a seam 65 may be formed at some location in the brood box by the joinder or meeting of end 64 and end 66. Infrared radiation reflector material may be sheets of the type used in mylar emergency blankets, or may be mounted on some substrate, such as thin cardboard, plastic or the like. The infrared radiation reflector 16 in Figure 6 has a reflecting surface 63 that points inward so that infrared radiation originating from a bee cluster shaped space 18 generates infrared radiation 96 as shown. The infrared radiation that is reflected back toward the bee shaped cluster 18 is shown by infrared radiation reflecting arrows 97. The infrared radiation reflector kit may also include a bottom panel 68 that may be mounted on bottom board 20, and may also include a top panel 67 that includes an oval shaped opening 69 for attachment to cover board 71 of inner cover 26. In this way, the wintering bee cluster may be completely surrounded with infrared radiation reflectors 16 so that the infrared radiation leaving the cluster is reflected back into the cluster to recover some of the heat loss from the cluster, and reduce the colony's heat generating requirements for survival. [0030] When in practice, it may be desirable to remove the infrared radiation reflector 16 during the warmer months of the year and replace the infrared radiation reflector for wintering the bees during the cold winter months. Alternatively, an external infrared radiation reflector 16 may be mounted on the exterior of the hive during warmer summer months as an alternative or in addition an interior mounted infrared radiation reflector 16. In addition, a similar infrared radiation reflector 16 may also be included in any supers that are included with the wintering hive construction. During warm summer months, it may be desirable to include infrared radiation reflectors 16 elsewhere, such as on the exterior surface or top of the beehive 10 in order to reduce the amount of heating caused to the beehive 10 when exposed to direct sunlight so that a lesser number of bees are needed for cooling the internal portion of the hive. For instance, sun shade 78 may also include an infrared radiation reflector 16. Any combination of infrared radiation reflectors 16 may allow for additional honey production and pollen gathering due to a greater number of bees being available for gathering tasks rather than environmental management tasks within the hive.

[0031] The air exhaust stack 14 of the present disclosure may be useful during wintering in order to assist in removing moisture laden air from the hive 10. As stated previously, and depending upon the construction of exhaust air stack 14, air flow may be created to ventilate beehive 10 either through convection, or suctioned via venturi action in the presence of wind, or both. It is believed that one of the dangers to a wintering colony of bees relates to moisture condensing and freezing on the underside of the inner cover 26. When this condensed moisture thaws, dangerously cold drops of water can fall onto the wintering hive cluster potentially causing catastrophic harm to the wintering bees. During summer months, added convection flow can assist in evaporation of nectar for honey production and in maintaining the interior of the hive within optimal temperatures without an over reliance upon worker bees to accomplish the same. When not desired, the air exhaust stack may be configured to be easily detached from its mount 40, and the resulting opening either left opened as an upper bee entrance, or plugged depending upon the beekeepers desires. Thus, the exhaust stack 14 could also be exploited to provide an additional entrance to beehive 10 for a colony of bees. Exhaust stack 14 may also include some means, such as a valve 79, for manually closing the exhaust stack for whatever reason, or for adjusting a flow rate through the exhaust stack 14. For instance, a smaller flow area may be desirable during winter months, but a larger flow area might be desirable during hot summer months.

[0032] Another enhancement, which is not shown, may be utilized when heavy nectar flows occur during humid weather. This idea includes positioning a cold object (e.g. ice block, chilled metal, etc.) at the opening 70 of beehive 10. When fresh humid air is pulled past the cold object into brood volume 23, a humidity level of the fresh air is reduced by condensation of moisture on the cold object. Reduced humidity fresh air ought to assist the bees in transforming nectar into honey. [0033] It should be understood that the above description is intended for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other aspects of the disclosure can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A beehive comprising: a bottom board; a brood box, which includes four walls defining a brood volume, supported on the bottom board; a plurality of frames suspended in the brood box; an inner cover supported by the brood box; an outer cover supported on, and telescopically receiving, the inner cover; and an infrared radiation reflector positioned to reflect infrared radiation originating from a bee cluster shaped space in the plurality of frames back toward the bee cluster shaped space.

2. The beehive of claim 1 including an exhaust stack with an outlet opening above the outer cover and an inlet fluidly connected to the brood volume, and including a solar collecting surface configured to transmit heat to air in the exhaust stack.

3. The beehive of claim 2 wherein the exhaust stack includes a wind driven venturi that defines the outlet.

4. The beehive of claim 3 wherein the wind driven venturi includes an omnidirectional venturi.

5. The beehive of claim 3 including a check valve fluidly positioned between brood volume and the exhaust stack outlet.

6. The beehive of claim 1 wherein the infrared radiation reflector is positioned in the brood box.

7. The beehive of claim 6 wherein the infrared radiation reflector includes a reflector bottom and a reflector top positioned for reflecting radiation back toward the bee cluster shaped space from below and above the bee cluster shaped space, respectively.

8. A method of keeping bees, comprising the steps of: determining a bee colony status while maintaining a beehive assembled; the determining step including a step of sensing a humidity level of air from a brood volume within the beehive.

9. The method of claim 8 including removing air from a brood volume by solar heating air in an exhaust stack; reflecting infrared radiation originating from a bee cluster in the brood volume back toward the bee cluster with an infrared radiation reflector.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the reflecting step includes positioning an infrared radiation reflector on each of four walls surrounding the brood volume.

11. The method of claim 10 including a step of detaching the radiation reflector from an inner surface of a brood box.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the removing air step includes pulling air from the exhaust stack with a venturi.

13. The method of claim 8 including the steps of blocking bees from accessing an attic space between an inner cover and a telescoping outer cover; and blocking air flow from the attic space toward the brood volume.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the removing step includes boring a hole through a top of the telescoping outer cover; and attaching an exhaust stack over the hole.

15. A beehive comprising: a bottom board; a brood box, which includes four walls defining a brood volume, supported on the bottom board; a plurality of frames suspended in the brood box; an inner cover supported by the brood box; an outer cover supported on, and telescopically receiving, the inner cover; and an exhaust stack with an outlet opening above the outer cover and an inlet fluidly connected to the brood volume, and including a solar collecting surface configured to transmit heat to air in the exhaust stack.

16. The beehive of claim 15 wherein the exhaust stack includes: a mounting defining a pipe attachment cavity; a pipe with inlet end sized to be received in the pipe attachment cavity; a solar collecting surface configured to transmit heat to air in the pipe.

17. The beehive of claim 16 including a cap attached to an outlet end of the pipe; and the solar collecting surface being configured to transmit heat to air in the cap.

18. The beehive of claim 17 wherein the cap includes a wind driven omnidirectional venturi.

19. The beehive of claim 18 including a check valve oriented to block reverse flow of air through the exhaust stack toward a brood volume.

20. The beehive of claim 19 including an infrared radiation, reflector positioned to reflect infrared radiation originating from a bee cluster shaped spaced in the plurality of frames back toward the bee cluster shaped space.