WO2015099545A1

WO2015099545A1 - A pest deterring device

Info

Publication number: WO2015099545A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2014/050026
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gavin MULVAY
Original assignee: Avian Solutions Limited
Priority date: 2013-12-24
Filing date: 2014-12-19
Publication date: 2015-07-02

Abstract

This invention relates to a pest deterring device which generates sound through combustion, The pest deterring device includes a stationary combustion chamber and a directable outlet. The outlet allows the direction of the sound to be varied with each combustion.

Description

A PEST DETERRING DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pest deterring device, More particularly but not exclusively, the invention relates to a bird deterring device with a directable outlet which generates sound through combustion,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pest-control devices are used in a number of different settings to deter pests from entering or remaining in certain areas, For example in agriculture it is desirable to prevent birds from damaging crops and reducing yield, Another example is airfields, where bird collisions can cause significant damage to airplanes, Known devices use sound generated by combustion to deter birds and other pests,

One such device is a gas-fuelled cannon that periodically produces loud explosions. However, birds can quickly get accustomed to sounds deployed at constant intervals, Even if the timing of the explosions varies birds can become accustomed to sounds having a uniform pitch, This means that stationary cannons become ineffective after a short while.

Improvements have been made by arranging the entire cannon to rotate freely on a pivot at the top of a tripod, Unlike stationary cannons, the direction of the sound is varied with each explosion as the cannon pivots, The combustion chamber, fuel tank and controller may all be counterbalanced on top of the tripod. Alternatively, the fuel tank might hang freely while the combustion chamber and controller rotate on the pivot A major disadvantage of these cannons is that due to the high center of pressure/gravity they can easily fall over, especially in high winds. Another problem is that they have a large number of moving parts which can easily get disconnected. For example the electrical or gas connections may be broken. It is also extremely difficult to move such arrangements without disassembly, It may be desirable to move the cannon to a new location to cover a different area, or prevent pests from adapting to device.

Other cannons are mounted on a turntable for rotation. The addition of a turntable makes rotation of the cannon less efficient, In many cases, an external power source Is required to power the rotation of the turntable and cannon, This adds unnecessary components and weight to the device and makes it difficult to transport readily from one place to another without disassembly,

It is an object of the invention to provide a pest deterring device which overcomes or at least ameliorates some or all of the above mentioned problems, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one exemplary embodiment there is provided a pest deterring device comprising a stationary combustion chamber and at least one outlet; wherein the pest deterring device generates sound from combustion gases exiting from the stationary combustion chamber through the at least one outlet and wherein the at least one outlet is directable relative to the stationary combustion chamber,

According to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a system for deterring pests including a pest deterring device and one or more mobile communication devices wherein the one or more mobile communication devices remotely control and/or monitor the one or more pest deterring devices.

According to a further exemplary embodiment there is provided a system for deterring pests including a controller wherein the controller includes a transmitter and receiver for communicating with the one or more mobile communication devices; and wherein the controller communicates with the one or more pest deterring devices,

It is acknowledged that the terms "comprise", "comprises" and "comprising" may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning, For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, these terms are intended to have an inclusive meaning - i.e. they will be taken to mean an inclusion of the listed components which the use directly references, and possibly also of other non-specified components or elements. Reference to any prior art in this specification does not constitute an admission that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pest deterring device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a front view of the pest deterring device; ·

Figure 3 shows a detailed front view of the combustion chamber and outlet of the pest deterring device;

Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view along section A~A;

Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the combustion chamber and outlet;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the controller;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the legs in a collapsed position;

and Figure 8 shows a detailed view of the fuel injector

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figures 1-8 there is shown one embodiment of a pest deterring device according to the present invention.

A pest deterring device 1 comprises a stationary combustion chamber 2 and an outlet 3, In use, the stationary combustion chamber 2 is vertical and supported by a tripod 3, . The outlet 3 is mounted on top of the stationary combustion chamber 2, which is in this case an elongate hollow cylinder. The diameter of the outlet 3 may be substantially the same as that of the stationary combustion chamber 2 such that a continuous pipe is formed. A fuel tank 4 hangs below the stationary combustion chamber 2. A fuel injector 6 supplies fuel from the fuel tank 4 to the stationary combustion chamber 2 along a gas line 6. A controller 8 rests on a platform attached to the lower part of the stationary combustion chamber. The controller 8 is connected to an ignition system 9 which has an inlet into the base of the stationary combustion chamber 2.

The outlet 3 is directable relative to the stationary combustion chamber 2 and the other components of the pest deterring device 1, In the shown embodiment, the outlet 3 is directed by rotation of the outlet relative to the vertical axis of the stationary combustion chamber. This rotation is achieved by the explosive force of combustion gases exiting from the stationary combustion chamber 2. The angled face of the exit of the outlet 14 050026

6 creates a rotational vector that causes the orientation of the outlet 3 to change each time an explosion is generated.

Figure 4, Detail B provides a detailed view of the mechanism of rotation of the outlet 2, A spindle bolt 11 is surrounded by a swivel sleeve 13 within the stationary outlet. The base of the spindle bolt 11 is secured by a nut 12 which is fixed inside a socket 14 at the top of the stationary combustion chamber 2. Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the rotation mechanism. Preferably the outlet is configured to rotate approximately 1/3 of a turn with each explosion. This may be achieved by selecting an appropriate geometry for the exit of the outlet,

In another embodiment, the outlet may also be permanently locked in a single direction. The outlet 3 may be secured onto the stationary combustion chamber with a washer or a spacer under the spindle bolt, such that rotation of the outlet 3 is prevented, This may be desirable for example, in order to direct the noise from nearby properties,

In the embodiment shown, the outlet 3 curves such that the opening of the outlet 3 is roughly perpendicular to the stationary combustion chamber, The outlet 3 may be formed in any suitable shape. For example the outlet 3 may be configured in the shape of a bell, whistle, flute or restricted nozzle. The shape of the outlet 3 may be configured in such a way that sound produced from the stationary combustion chamber 2 is better amplified. Multiple outlets may be provided such that sound is directed in a number of directions simultaneously, In another embodiment, the outlet or outlets are readily attachable to and detachable from the stationary combustion chamber. In this embodiment the outlet or outlets can be easily interchanged with an outlet or outlets of a different shape or configuration. As birds can become accustomed to a certain sound within an area it may be desirable to periodically vary the pitch of the sound. This can be easily achieved by swapping the outlet or outlet with another outlet or outlets providing a different sound.

The device 1 is collapsible into a compact and easy-to-carry configuration. The legs of the tripod 7 are attached to the stationary combustion chamber 3 via hinges 24. The legs are thus foldable upwards against the stationary combustion chamber 2, without the need for any tools or _. disassembly. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the legs of the pest deterring device in a collapsed position. A handle 9 is provided for carrying the pest deterring device 1.

Preferably, the legs of the tripod 7 are about 1 meter long, which is similar to the length of the stationary combustion chamber 1. This ensures that the device is relatively light-weight, compact and easy to carry. It may be desirable to move the pest deterring device 1 to a new location to cover a different area, or prevent pests from adapting to device 1,

The fuel tank 4 hangs freely from a hook 23 at the base of the stationary combustion chamber 2, As the fuel tank 4 is situated in a relatively low position below the stationary combustion chamber 3 and within the tripod 7, the center of pressure/gravity of the device is relatively low. Tripod 7 provides a stable base for the stationary combustion chamber 2. In one embodiment the feet of the tripod legs include stakes 25 for securing into the ground, for increased stability.

In another embodiment the fuel tank 4 includes an electronic weight scale which measures the fuel levels of the fuel tank 4 based on its weight,

Any suitable fuel may be used for combustion, Examples include, but are not limited to gaseous fuel such as propane or LPG or liquid fuel such as petrol,

The fuel might also include a pest-repellant which is released into the atmosphere to enhance the deterring effect of the device. For example the fuel might be combined with an olfactory or gustatory repellant, In one embodiment the pest deterring device 1 creates a cloud of smoke, which adds an additional visual deterrent to pests, in this way pests may associate another attribute with the sound generated to enhance the deterrent effect.

In another embodiment, the pest deterring device is fuelled by oxyhydrogen generated by water electrolysis, This would negate the need to refuel the device with dangerous fuels. The power for oxyhydrogen generation could be supplied by a solar panel. The solar panel could also include a day and night sensor, which would also negate the need for a timer to stop the unit running at night.

Figure 8 provides a detailed view of the fuel injector 6. Fuel travels up the fuel line 5 into the fuel injector 6. The controller 8 causes the solenoid valve 20 to release fuel into the stationary combustion chamber 2. The duration of the opening of the solenoid valve 20 controls the quantity of gas released into stationary combustion chamber 2 before an explosion. This can vary the magnitude of the explosion and volume of the sound produced. Venturi 21 draws air from air inlet 22. In another embodiment, the fuel injector may consist of double-venturi for enhanced intake of air and fuel.

The controller 8 is connected to the ignition system 9 (see figure 1), including a spark gap in the base of the combustion chamber 2 to ignite the fuel-air mixture inside the combustion chamber 2.

The controller 8 can be programmed to generate combustion at irregular or pseudo-randomised intervals such that pests are less likely to become accustomed to the sound. The controller 8 may also include a timer that switches the device off during the night,

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the controller. The controller 8 includes a user display 15 for displaying the time, status and settings of the device, A number of dials 16a to 16c are provided for setting the timing and frequency of explosions. In the shown embodiment, the dial 16a sets the number of explosions per hour, the dial 16b sets the start time from which the device may start operating and dial 16c sets the stop time after which the device may not operate. A toggle 17 switches between a test mode, an armed mode and a clock set mode, Switches 18a turns the device on and off and switch 18b sets the magnitude of explosions between loud mode or quiet modes. In another embodiment the pest deterring device 1 is remotely controllable. In this embodiment the controller 8 includes a transmitter and a receiver for communicating with a mobile device or a computer, For example modem cellphone technology can be used to send and receive emails or SMS messages, This would allow settings to be changed and the status of the pest deterring device to be checked remotely,

The pest deterring device 1 can include various sensors that allow remote monitoring of the device.

In one embodiment, the pest deterring device 1 includes a camera which can be used to monitor the surrounding environment, or view the orientation of the pest deterring device,

In another embodiment the pest deterring device includes an inclinometer for measuring the inclination of the combustion chamber 2. This can be configured to detect when the inclination is outside a permitted range, and automatically send a message to a cellphone warning that the device has fallen over,

In another embodiment, the level of fuel inside the fuel tank 4 of the pest deterring device 1 can be monitored by some mechanism, for example using an electronic scale, The controller 8 could be configured to automatically send messages to a user's mobile device reminding the user to re-fill the tank, 6

Furthermore a collection of pest deterring devices 1 can be remotely connected to form a system of pest deterring devices. These could all be monitored and controlled remotely using a single controller, or they could all be monitored and controlled independently using a mobile device or a computer.

There is thus provided a pest deterring device which remains predominantly stationary in use except for the directable outlet at the top. This allows sound to be directed while minimizing the probability of parts becoming disconnected. The device is easy to move as the tripod legs can be folded into the body to make a compact package. This also means that no disassembly is required for moving, The simplicity of the device makes it light weight No disassembly is required for moving. The low-center of pressure/gravity of the device improves the stability of the device.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described, Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of the Applicant's general inventive concept,

Claims

CLAIMS:

1, A pest deterring device comprising;

a stationary combustion chamber; and

at least one outlet;

wherein the pest deterring device generates sound from combustion gases exiting from the stationary combustion chamber through the at least one outlet and

wherein the at least one outlet is directable relative to the stationary combustion chamber,

2, The pest deterring device of claim 1 wherein the at least one outlet is directed by rotation of the at least one outlet relative to the stationary combustion chamber.

3. The pest deterring device of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the at least one outlet is directed by the reactive force of combustion gases exiting the at least one outlet.

The pest deterring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the direction of the at least one outlet changes each time sound is generated.

5. The pest deterring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein sound is automatically generated.

6, The pest deterring device of claim 5 wherein sound is generated at irregular intervals.

7. The pest deterring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the stationary combustion chamber is an elongate hollow cylinder.

8. The pest deterring device of claim 7 wherein the stationary combustion chamber is vertical in use,

9. The pest deterring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims supported by tripod legs.

10. The pest deterring device of claim 9 wherein tripod legs may be folded against the stationary combustion chamber into a compact form for transport.

11. The pest deterring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including an inclinometer for determining whether the pest deterring device has as inclination outside a permitted range.

12. The pest deterring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a fuel tank and a fuel injector for supplying fuel from the fuel tank to the stationary combustion chamber.

13. The pest deterring device of claim 12 wherein the fuel tank contains a gaseous fuel.

14, The pest deterring device of claim 12 wherein the fuel tank contains a liquid fuel.

15, The pest deterring device of claim 12 including an electronic scale wherein electronic scale measures the fuel levels of the fuel tank.

16, The pest deterring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims fuelled by oxyhydrogen generated by water electrolysis,

17, The pest deterring device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the device releases a pest repellent,

18. The pest deterring device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the pest deterring device creates a cloud of smoke.

19. The pest deterring device of as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including an Ignition system,

20. The pest deterring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a double venturi inlet

21. The pest deterring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a camera,

22. The pest deterring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a solar panel which supplies power to the device.

23. The pest deterring device of claim 22 wherein the solar panel includes a day and night sensor.

24. A system for deterring pests including:

one or more pest deterring devices as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; and

one or more mobile communication devices;

wherein the one or more mobile communication devices remotely control and/or monitor the one or more pest deterring devices,

25. The system for deterring pests of claim 24 including :

a controller;

wherein the controller includes a transmitter and receiver for communicating with the one or more mobile communication devices; and

wherein the controller communicates with the one or more pest deterring devices.