WO2014132109A1

WO2014132109A1 - Electric curtain type fence

Info

Publication number: WO2014132109A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/058338
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenneth Indrajith HETTIARACHCHI
Original assignee: Hettiarachchi Kenneth Indrajith
Priority date: 2013-09-06
Filing date: 2013-09-06
Publication date: 2014-09-04

Abstract

A curtain made of conductive material which is suitably electrically energized is hung onto insulators (103), which are in turn attached to structures (101, 102) capable of withstanding the necessary compressive stress and torsion stress which is exerted onto the structure by the weight and wind loading of the curtain. The curtain is hung at a distance proportionate to the height of the curtain in front of the structure (101) and in the direction of potential intrusion, thus protecting the structure behind it from the said intruders. Weights (108) are attached to the bottom of the curtain to prevent it from being swung by wind force. A potential intruder will be unable to move the curtain sufficiently to pass through, as the curtain would mimic the movement of the said intruder whilst passing electrical energy at a high voltage at frequent intervals through the intruder.

Description

ELECTRIC CURTAIN TYPE FENCE

DESCRIPTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein relates to an Electric fence that is used as a barrier to deter animals or people from crossing a boundary using electrical shocks.

Electric fencing is used today for agricultural fencing and other forms of animal control purposes. Also it is frequently used to enhance security of sensitive areas, and places. The present invention concerns mainly agricultural fencing and control of animals entering and/or leaving a demarcated area (keep animals in or out of an area) and introduces a user friendly, cost effective and more practically effective way of putting up an electric fence.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein relates to an Electric fence that is used to prohibit movement of land living creatures by means of an electrically energized screen hung on periodical structures with insulators, erected along the boundary of the geographical area that needs protecting from intrusion or extrusion, resembling a clothes line with wires dangling down.

The present inventions is comprising of a plurality of vertical structures 101 planted onto the ground with one or more legs configured to provide the elevation required to the fence and a plurality of horizontal structures 102 cantilevered from the vertical structures at suitable heights, configured to provide a fixing point for top insulators and to achieve a distance away from the vertical structure and a plurality of top insulators 103 fixed at pre-determined places of the horizontal structures connected together with a horizontal main conductor 104 and a plurality of vertical down conductors 105 attached to the horizontal main conductor at suitable intervals and a plurality of horizontal conductors 106 joining the vertical down conductors at suitable distances, thereby making a curtain. The vertical structure of the present invention can itself be bent to achieve the distance achieved by the horizontal structure (Figure 2) instead of separately having a horizontal structure.

The top insulator can be hung on to a tree instead of having the said combination of a vertical and a horizontal structure (Figure 3).

The conductors are attached to one or more energizers in order to provide high voltage pulses of electrical energy to the curtain type fence.

A further set of insulators 107 can be attached to the horizontal conductors and/or vertical conductors at appropriate places or at a place where the horizontal and vertical conductors join together thereby securing the curtain to the ground or to the vertical structure.

The vertical structures of the present invention are configured to withstand torsion stress.

The horizontal structures are configured to provide required distance between the horizontal and vertical structures in order to hung the curtain ensuring that the curtain type fence not coming to contact with the vertical structure.

The curtain of the present invention is hung avoiding contact with the vertical structures when swayed by wind and avoiding contact with the ground.

The top insulator is configured to bear the weight of all the conductors of the curtain and to provide electrical insulation.

The horizontal main conductor is made of conductive material that withstands tensile stress and configured to provide support for the vertical down conductors and horizontal conductors that make the curtain.

All the conductors used in making the curtain type fence have enough strength to withstand the tensile stress exerted upon the conductors by rest of the conductors and components hanging below the same.

Anti-sway devices are hung at the down most horizontal conductor to prevent the curtain from swaying in the wind.

Plastic beads that are impregnated with Phosphorus which glow in dark are inset to the curtain making it visible in dark. Metal objects are hung at the down most horizontal conductor making it enable to produce sound when the curtain sway in wind thereby giving audible warning to possible intruders.

The curtain is designed depending upon the size of the intruder who the electrical curtain type fence is intended to stop.

The curtain is capable of being lifting at the required instances without disturbing the integrity of the curtain.

3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses an electrical curtain type fence.

For the purpose of comprehending, the present invention is discussed in detail with reference to the drawing adduced herein below.

The present invention comprises of vertical structures, horizontal structures, insulators and conductors.

The vertical structure 101 is planted onto the ground with one or more legs to withstand a torsion stress. The purpose of this structure is to provide the elevation required by the conductive curtain type fence to stay off the ground not making contact with the ground and thus preventing the discharging of the electrical energy into the ground.

The horizontal structure 102 is cantilevered from the vertical structure at a suitable height and such height will vary in accordance with the specific requirements of the curtain type fence. Figure 01 shows the combination of the vertical structure and the horizontal structure that is cantilevered from the vertical structure.

Alternatively the said vertical structure itself is bent to achieve the suitable distance achieved by the horizontal structure. Figure 02 shows a structure wherein said vertical structure itself is bent to achieve the distance that is to be achieved by the horizontal structure. The purpose of this combination of a horizontal and a vertical structure is to provide a fixing point for the top insulators holding the horizontal main conductor that is at a suitable distance away from the ground and away from the vertical structure. Further, a tree can also be used in place of the vertical structure. Figure 3 shows wherein a top insulator is hung on a tree instead of a combination of said vertical and horizontal structure.

One or more insulators 103 are attached to the end of the combination of the said structure at the furthest point from the base of vertical structure. The horizontal distance between the vertical structure and the end of the horizontal structure is determined by the height of the curtain type fence and a length that will prevent the curtain type fence from coming into contact with the vertical structure when swayed by the wind.

The purpose of the top insulator is to bear the weight of all the conductors and provide electrical insulation for the conductors of the curtain type fence so that the electrical energy induced on to the curtain type fence by the energisers is not discharged to the ground via the horizontal and vertical structures. These insulators are made of suitable insulating material and able to withstand the weight of the whole conductive serene curtain type fence.

The insulated ends of two or more insulators are connected by a horizontal main conductor made of suitable conductive material that can withstand tensile stress. The purpose of this main horizontal conductor is to provide support for the vertical down conductors and the horizontal conductors below, to carry the electrical energy off the energisers to the other conductive components of the curtain type fence as well as to withstand the tensile load exerted on the curtain type fence by possible intruders on the curtain type fence.

Vertical down conductors are made of suitable conductive material and are attached to the main horizontal conductor at suitable intervals, depending upon the size of intruder who the curtain type fence is intended to stop. The lengths of the vertical down conductors are determined by the terrain and the required ground clearance. The purpose of the vertical down conductors are to provide support for the horizontal conductors below, carry the electrical energy off the energisers to the other conductive components of the curtain type fence as well as withstand the tensile load exerted on the curtain type fence by possible intruders.

At the end of the vertical down conductors a set of horizontal conductors are deployed to join the vertical down conductors at suitable distances, creating a screen and helping the screen's integrity. Along the down most horizontal conductor suitable weights or anti sway devices are hung to prevent the screen from swaying in the wind.

The purpose of the bottom set of horizontal conductors are to carry the electrical energy off the energisers throughout the curtain type fence as well as withstand the tensile load exerted by possible intruders on the curtain type fence. All the conductors used in the curtain type fence have enough strength to withstand the tensile stress exerted upon the conductors by all the other conductors and components hanging below it.

Another possible variation to the above curtain type fence is for another set of insulators 107 to be attached to the horizontal conductors and/or vertical conductors at suitable places or at a place where the horizontal and vertical conductors join together, as shown in Figure 4, securing the horizontal or vertical conductors either to the ground or to the vertical structures via a suitable conductive or nonconductive rigid or flexible component of suitable size. Further, said set of bottom insulators can be fasten to the vertical structure.

The above described electrical conductive curtain type fence is then attached to one or more energizers which will provide the curtain type fence with high voltage pulses of electrical energy repulsing any intruders that come in contact with or near the curtain type fence.

The state of the art of electric fence is a conventional fence where wires are drawn between posts at the interval 10 or so feet. In the present invention the structures that replace the fence post are 200 or more feet apart considerably reducing the cost of labor and material required for erecting the new fence. The number of posts needed in a conventional fence for a 200 foot section is 21 but in the present invention its 2.

The conventional method of erecting an electric fence requires each strand of wire to be attached to each post by an individual insulator. Hence in a fence with five strands of fence wires will need five insulators per post and if the post distance is 10 feet the total number of insulators needed for a 200 foot section will be 5X21=105. Whereas in the present invention the amount of insulators requires for the same distance of fence equals to 2. The curtain can also be hung from tall trees in the area without having to erect posts. Such process saves costs and causes no environmental damage.

In the conventional electric fences, the thickness of wire is required to withstand an attempted intrusion is around three millimeters in diameter but it is often breached by charging elephants as each strand of the wire is fastened to the post on either side making it rigid and is susceptible to braking by tensile stress such as a charging elephant. In the new invention the thickness of wire can be as little as half a millimeter in diameter and the curtain will take the shape of the intruder, when an intruder charges at the curtain ensuring no breakage of the curtain type fence. The curtain type fence will keep on passing the electrical energy through the intruder therefore making it impossible to breach.

In the conventional electric fences the potential of the possible electrical energy energizing the fence remains comparatively low because if the energy level is increased it will call for the size of the insulators to be increased substantially making it prohibitively expensive to build. Therefore in the conventional electric fences an intruder will not feel the electrical energy until it comes into contact with the fence .With the present invention the level of energy can be increased over 100 times or more. So the electrical energy will discharge into the intruder even if it comes near the fence making it much more effective.

In the conventional electric fences it is possible for someone like an old person or an invalid person to fall on the fence and receive multiple shocks. However, with the present invention the first charge will throw them on to the ground guaranteeing that they will be out of the harm's way. Hence the present invention guarantees absolute safety and fatal shocks are not possible.

In the conventional electric fences there are only horizontal strands of wires and the elephants often throw logs at the fence and breach it. When the horizontal wires of the conventional fence are breached the section of fence that is on the opposite side from the breach to where the energy is connected becomes ineffective possibly making a large section of the fence not energized. Whereas in the present invention there are both vertical and horizontal wires even if the horizontal wires are breached the vertical wires will carry the energy maintaining the energy throughout the fence making it impossible to breach at any point.

In the conventional electric fences the vertical distance between the energized wire and the holding posts are very small as this distance is governed by the length of the insulator which just few inches. This enables the elephants to grab the post in-between the wires and uproot it, but with the present invention it is possible to place the post five feet or so behind the screen making it unreachable. Figures 4, 5 and 6 shows already set up curtain type fence wherein the main vertical structure is erected behind the electric fence hence no elephant can reach the vertical structure first coming into contact with the electric fence.

In the conventional electric fences the two most lower wires are there to prevent the elephants from uprooting the fence .These two wires create a maintenance problem as the slightest growth of weed will short out the electrical energy from the fence to the ground breaking it down. With the present invention it is possible to raise the bottom of the fence much higher with no adverse effect to the integrity or effectiveness of the fence, making it very low maintenance in the form of weed control. Further, it is not possible to clear the vegetation growth beneath the conventional electrical fences using machines. However with the present invention it is possible to use a machine to clear the undergrowth beneath the fence.

Increasing the height in the conventional fence is a costly affair as it will call for substantial increase in strength in the size of each post and the amount of insulators needed. Whereas with the present invention increasing the height of the fence is 100 or times more lower. This is significant in the case of combating elephants. The conventional electric fences are comparatively short making it possible for the elephants to throw logs at the wires as it is not possible to increase the height of the fence up to 20 feet making it elephant proof because of the huge costs. But with the present invention such fence is entirely plausible.

It is not possible for vehicles to pass through the conventional electrical fences other than in specifically made gates. However, with the present invention a vehicle can cross anywhere in the fence just by lifting the screen.

The present invention also has great ecological benefits as it allows most small animals to pass through the fence. This feature in the new invention allows the bottom of the fence to be kept at any desirable height without harming the integrity or the effectiveness of the fence which is a novel feature not possible with conventional electric fences and unique to the present invention.

With the present invention it is possible to drive a herd of elephants through the fence in an emergency without damaging the fence by simply lifting the curtain. This feature is not available in a conventional electric fence. In the conventional electrical fence the terrain has to be of the same and flat level all along the fence, for an example if there is a bolder in the path of the fence, either the fence has to be moved or the boulder has to be removed. Whereas, with the present invention it can be solved simply by shorting the vertical lines in the vicinity of the boulder. Figure 5 shows a curtain type fence set up avoiding the uneven terrain by shortening the curtain at the point where the rock is situated.

In the present invention the stability of the fence is achieved by attaching suitable weights 108 to the bottom of the vertical strands to counter the sway in wind.

At present, the electric fences are prohibitively expensive to build and as a result people in poor countries suffer at the hands of wild elephants as they cannot afford to protect themselves. However, with the present invention as it becomes more affordable lots of lives worldwide will be saved.

With the present invention it is possible to inset plastic beads that are impregnated with Phosphorus in order to make the mesh curtain type fence visible. During the day they will absorb sunlight and at night they will glow. As the fence moves in the wind it will be clearly visible as a set of moving glows warning the animals about the presence of the fence. Animals fear any moving objects specially glowing objects as they equate it to fire.

With the present invention it is possible to attach metal objects to the bottom of the fence that they will collide with each other and make a sound when the fence is moving with the wind and thereby giving an audible warning as to the presence of the fence. This is a tried and tested method to ward off wild animals as they fear artificial noises.

With the conventional electric fence, as soon as the flood level reaches the height of the bottom most wire the energy on the fence will break down. But with the present invention it is possible to lift the curtain to match the known flood level of the area within reason.

In the conventional fence it is almost impossible to monitor the breaches of the fence using CCTV, as if it is to be an alternative post will have to have cameras to ensure an uninterrupted view of all the conductors. But in the present invention a CCTV camera mounted high on a single fence post will be able to monitor long distance of the fence for integrity of conductor curtain as only the topmost vertical conductor is the critical conductor responsible for a catastrophic frailer. 4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 01 - shows a combination of a vertical structure 101 and a horizontal structure 102 that is cantilevered from the vertical structure and a top insulator 103 is hung at the edge of the horizontal structure.

FIGURE 02 - shows a structure wherein said vertical structure itself is bent to achieve the distance that is to be achieved by the horizontal structure.

FIGURE 03 - shows wherein a top insulator is hung on to a tree instead of a combination of said vertical and horizontal structures.

FIGURE 04 - shows a curtain type fence with additional insulators 107 attached to the horizontal conductors and/or vertical conductors at suitable places and/or at a place where the horizontal and vertical conductors join together.

FIGURE 05 - shows a curtain type fence set up avoiding the uneven terrain by shortening the curtain at the point where the rock is situated.

Claims

CLAIMS The invention claimed is;

1. An electric fence, comprising;

a plurality of vertical structures 101 planted onto the ground with one or more legs configured to provide the elevation required to the fence; and

a plurality of horizontal structures 102 cantilevered from the vertical structures at suitable heights, configured to provide a fixing point for top insulators and to achieve a distance away from the vertical structure; and

a plurality of top insulators 103 fixed at pre-determined places of the horizontal structures connected together with a horizontal main conductor 104; and

a plurality of vertical down conductors 105 attached to the horizontal main conductor at suitable intervals; and

a plurality of horizontal conductors 106 joining the vertical down conductors at suitable distances, thereby making a curtain.

2. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein said vertical structure itself is bent to achieve the distance achieved by the horizontal structure (Figure 2) instead of separately having a horizontal structure.

3. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein said top insulator is hung on to a tree instead of having the said combination of a vertical and a horizontal structure (Figure 3).

4. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein the conductors are attached to one or more energizers in order to provide high voltage pulses of electrical energy.

5. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein further set of insulators 107 are attached to the horizontal conductors and/or vertical conductors at appropriate places or at a place where the horizontal and vertical conductors join together thereby securing the mesh curtain to the ground or to the vertical structure.

6. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein the vertical structures are configured to withstand torsion stress.

7. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein the horizontal structures are configured to provide required distance between the horizontal and vertical structures in order to hung the curtain ensuring that the curtain type fence not coming to contact with the vertical structure.

8. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein the curtain is hung avoiding contact with the vertical structures when swayed by wind and avoiding contact with the ground.

9. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein the top insulator is configured to bear the weight of all the conductors of the curtain and to provide electrical insulation.

10. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein the horizontal main conductor is made of conductive material that withstands tensile stress.

11. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein the horizontal main conductor is configured to provide support for the vertical down conductors and horizontal conductors that make the curtain.

12. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein the conductors used therein have enough strength to withstand the tensile stress exerted upon the conductors by rest of the conductors and components hanging below the same.

13. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein anti sway devices are hung at the down most horizontal conductor to prevent the curtain from swaying in the wind.

14. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein plastic beads that are impregnated with Phosphorus which glow in dark are inset to the curtain making it visible in dark.

15. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein metal objects are hung at the down most horizontal conductor making it enable to produce sound when the curtain sway in wind thereby giving audible warning to possible intruders.

16. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein the curtain is designed depending upon the size of the intruder who the electrical mesh curtain fence is intended to stop.

17. An electric fence of claim 1, wherein the curtain is capable of being lifting at the required instances without disturbing the integrity of the mesh curtain.