WO2016182447A1

WO2016182447A1 - Device and method for collecting slugs

Info

Publication number: WO2016182447A1
Application number: PCT/NO2015/050078
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henry Helgheim
Original assignee: Norpaz As
Priority date: 2015-05-08
Filing date: 2015-05-08
Publication date: 2016-11-17

Abstract

Assembly for collection of slugs, such as Arionidae, comprising a motor, a tube and a bag arranged between the motor and the tube, wherein the tube is made of a mixture of plastic and silicon, or treated with silicon on the inside. The invention comprises further a bag and a method for using such an assembly. Finally, the invention comprises a mixture for coating the inside of the tube, and an agent for killing the slugs, and an agent for preventing the formation of bad smell.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING SLUGS

The present invention is related to an assembly and a method for collection of slugs, primarily Arionidae such as Spanish slugs and similar species, according to the preamble of the independent patent claims. The invention further relates to a mixture for coating parts of the assembly and a bag for collecting the slugs in the assembly, according to the preamble of the independent patent claims.

Background

Spanish slugs of the species Arionidae, are large and heavy slugs which may be 7- 15 cm long. As the other species of Arionidae it is primarily feeding of living plants and garden waste, but in difference from black arions it does not seem as if the Spanish slugs have any upper limit for how high population it may tolerate. This is partly why the Spanish slugs in difference to other Arionidae species, may have very high populations if the supply of food is sufficient, populations of 15 slugs per square meter is not unusual.

Hot winters and damp weather during the spring and early summer is ideal for the Spanish slugs which breed fast and every slug may lay between 100 and 400 eggs. The occurrence is varying locally, but they are a worry both for owners of gardens and farmers. If the number of Spanish slugs are high enough, they do not only destroy gardens and bushes, but they may also destroy animal food as they become part of the food when the grass is harvested. The first slugs were registered in Norway in 1988, but during the 1990s the extent exploded and become a problem for garden owners and farmers. High populations of Spanish slugs are besides considered as repulsive and the owners of gardens will often remove them of aesthetic reasons.

The Spanish slugs are fought by different means, among garden owners it is preferred

- killing by cutting each slug in two,

- bait and traps (for instance beer traps),

- manual collection and killing and/or

- chemicals

Chemicals may be used, but they are not very efficient, and besides some of the ingredients are poisonous to other organisms and animals. In DE 20200801 1328 it is described a container being fastened to a vacuum cleaner to remove the slugs and transfer them to the container. It is also known a number of vacuum cleaners using tight dust bags and bags having several layers, such as EP 0880932.

Object

The object of the present invention is to provide an assembly, a bag and a method for collecting and killing Arionidae, primarily Spanish slugs. Further there is an object that the assembly and the method should kill the slugs fast and efficient, and besides, that it is easy to remove the collected slugs from the assembly, without touching the actual slugs. Finally there is an object that one must not empty the assembly immediately after each use. The invention

The objects are met with an assembly, a bag and a method according to the characterizing parts of the independent claims. The invention further comprises a mixture and a bag for the assembly, according to the characterizing part of the independent claims. Further advantageous features are stated in the corresponding dependent claims.

An assembly according to the present invention comprises a motor creating a suction, a tube connected to the motor in such a way that suction is created in the tube, and a bag for collection of the material being sucked into the tube, as the bag should be arranged between the inlet of the tube and the motor. In this way, the assembly is embodied as a traditional vacuum cleaner.

Further, it is an advantage that the present invention is portable, and preferably designed to be carried on the back. The assembly should thus preferably be designed longitudinal, having the heaviest elements, such as the motor, at the bottom in such a way that it is comfortable to carry. Further, there is an advantage that the tube has the inlet to the assembly at the upper part of the assembly, in such a way that the slugs falls towards the bottom of the bag, and that the tube can not be clogged by slugs before the bag is full. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the assembly is thus embodied with the motor at the bottom, the bag above the air inlet to the motor and in that the tube is fastened to the bag at the upper end. In embodiments where the assembly comprises batteries for running the motor, the batteries may be placed below the motor.

There might be a problem that the slugs, eventually mucus from the slugs, are fastened to the inside of the assembly, for instance on the inside of the tubes. This may be solved in that the tubes are made of, or coated inside with an appropriate material, for instance a plastic, a silicon- or Teflon material. The tubes are preferably made of a plastic composition comprising silicon and eventually oil. In a specially preferred embodiment it is used plastic, for instance polypropylene (PP) added 4 % silicon for production of sucking-hose and tube. The mixture of plastic and silicon are performed in the manufacturing before the hoses/tubes are made. This composition makes the hoses smoother and slugs slide easier through the hoses and does not get stuck. The tube may be made in one or more parts, and may be fully or partly flexible, in such a way that one may easily direct the tube to a slug. It is preferred that some parts are stiffened and some parts may be bent and twisted. The tube should however, not be performed in such a way that it may collapse when the motor creates a suction there through, but it should be stiff enough to maintain the cross- section even when the motor creates maximum suction. The characteristics correspond to those of conventional vacuum cleaners.

The invention further comprises a mixture comprising vegetable oil for coating of the inside of the tubes. By using an assembly according to the present embodiment, it is an advantage to suck such a mixture both before and after having collected slugs. The mixture should contain an agent being poisonous to the slugs, in such a way that if they are not killed during the suction, they will die fast once they enter the bag. Further, there is an advantage that the mixture comprises an agent to avoid bad odour, for instance a disinfectant, in case the bag is not removed the same day. The agents of the mixture must also be environmental friendly in such a way that the bag, containing the mixture and slugs, may de deposited in regular waste. Examples of materials that may be used is salt, which will kill the slugs, and lime which will remove any bad odour which may occur, in addition to vegetable oil which, as mentioned above, will contribute to keeping the inside of the hoses smooth.

In a specially preferred embodiment, the mixture comprises 87 % industrial salt, 1 1 % lime, and 2 % vegetable oil. Too much oil may cause the mixture to become lumpy and useless. Too little salt may result in that mixture does not kill the slugs in the bag, and too little lime may cause smell.

By using a mixture as said above, one should avoid that slugs are fastened to hoses and tubes, the slugs will die and bad odour will not arise, even if the bag containing the slugs are left in the assembly for a time. In an alternative embodiment, the mixture may also comprise an absorbing agent, for instance super absorbing polymers such as sodium polyacrylate. In an alternative embodiment, it may be inserted a knife in the tube, preferably at the inlet to the chamber wherein the bag is fastened. The knife expands over the cross section of the tube and will cut the slugs in parts when they pass, in such a way that the slugs are dead before they get into the bag. In a preferred embodiment the knife is designed as a thin metal blade having a knife-edge facing the inlet of the tube. In a specially preferred embodiment of such a knife, it is designed as a square cross dividing the cross section of the tube in four equally sized sectors of a circle. By using such a knife one may avoid use of the mixture as described above, but it may be an advantage to use the mixture in addition to the knife, as the mixture also coats the inside of the tube, and prevents formation of bad odour in the bag. In a preferred embodiment the knife is designed as a separate insert which may be used upon need.

A bag to be used in an assembly according to the invention, should be performed in such a way that moist from the slugs do not penetrate the bag at the same time as air must be drawn through the bag in order to achieve sufficient suction. The assembly and/or the bag must further be performed and arranged in such a way that the bag may not get stuck to the air inlet to the motor and clog it.

In a preferred embodiment the bag comprises several layers, and the whole or parts of the bag is waterproof due to the embodiment of the different layers, and/or the cooperation between them. In the embodiments where the whole bag is waterproof, it must never the less let air through, in such a way that the suction from the motor to the tube is still functioning sufficiently. In a preferred embodiment the bag comprises 5 layers.

By "waterproof" in this context, it is meant any material being suitable to maintain the liquid in such a way that the liquid does not pass through. "Waterproof" is also meant to comprise both materials being totally waterproof such as plastic materials, but also materials which will let liquid pass if the pressure is high enough, or high enough pressure over a period of time, such as Gore tex and/or impregnated silicon - /plastic coated textiles.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the bag is completely or partly made of a moist absorbing material. One or several layers of the bag may either be performed of such material entirely, or only in the lower part. In another alternative embodiment the lower part of the bag may be performed with an inlay of such material, as the inlay will absorb the moisture such that it does not extract through the bag.

In embodiments where parts of the bag are air proof, it may be a problem that the bag is drawn towards the air inlet of the motor, and clog it. This may specially be a problem where the assembly is designed as said above, wherein the motor is placed vertically below the bag. This may for instance be solved by arranging a grid and/or elevation or the similar at a distance from the inlet in such a way that the bag rests against the grid without possibility to clog the inlet. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the bag comprises two layers, wherein one layer is permeable for both air and liquid, for instance embodied as a

conventional dust bag in paper, and the other layer is waterproof but encloses only the lower parts of the bag. The different layers may either be integrated into one bag, or they may be separated in such a way that they are placed outside each other, when the bag is fastened in the assembly. Having such a bag, being partly

waterproof, the suction will function sufficiently through the part being air-permeable, at the same time as moisture from the slugs will not leak through the bag. The bag may then not be filled more than the waterproof part. In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the bag is performed with, or surrounded by an outer, air-permeable layer being separated from the waterproof layer. The outer layer will not clog the air inlet even if it is close against, and a grid at a distance from the air inlet to the motor, as described above, is not necessary. In an alternative embodiment, wherein the bag comprises several layers, the outer layer should be in a distance from the waterproof layer. This may for instance be achieved by making the inner layers smaller than the outer layer. In a preferred embodiment the bag is arranged in a chamber, wherein the walls are made of air permeable material.

The motor creating suction in the bag and the tube must be performed in such a way that it is created sufficient suction to suck slugs, such as Arionidae. The suction must however not be so powerful that grass, petals etc. are sucked, however it is an advantage that eggs are sucked in such a way that the slug problem is removed for a longer period of time. Further there is an advantage that an air filter is arranged between the bag and the motor, corresponding to conventional vacuum cleaners.

Example

In the following, the invention will be described with reference to the enclosed Figures, where

Figure 1 shows an assembly according to the invention, partly in section, and

Figure 2 shows an enlarged cross section of a bag according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, comprising a motor 1 , a tube 2 and a chamber 3 for receiving a bag arranged between the motor and the tube, as the motor creates a suction through the bag and out into the tube 2. In the shown embodiment the chamber 3 is performed of an air permeable material, and will prevent that the bag may become stuck in the air inlet to the motor 1 . Further it is shown a filter 4 below the chamber 3 for the bag, to filtrate the air before it is flows into the motor. The motor 1 is arranged at the lower part of the assembly, and the tube 2 is led into the upper part of the chamber 3 which will accommodate the bag. Below the motor it is arranged rechargeable batteries 5.

The assembly is designed to be carried on the back, and a back plate/ back protector 6 comprising carrying harnesses is arranged on the back side. Figure 2 shows an enlarged cross section of a preferred bag to be used in an assembly according to the invention. The bag should be waterproof, but let air pass in order to let a suction be created from the motor to the end of the tube. The shown bag comprises 5 layers, where the layer innermost in the bag is layer L1 , and the layer towards the chamber is layer L5. All layers are wowen, and preferably wowen of silk thread. The layers L1 and L3 are equal, and comprise angular threads at a distance from each another. The threads should preferably slant towards the right.

Layer L2 has displaced mesh, meaning that the layer is wowen in stiches where the stiches are displaced to each other. This means that it is not a thorough thread through the stiches. In the outer part of this layer, the density of the stiches is severely reduced. This layer is wowen with thinner thread than L1 and L3.

Layer L4 is wowen in square stiches having a size between the largest and smallest stiches of layer L2.

Layer L5 is also wowen with angular threads. In difference from layer L1 and L3, the threads of the outermost layer are slanting the opposite way of L1 and L3. In addition the distance between the threads are smaller than in layer L1 and L3. Once the five layers are wowen, the layers are pressed together, and then the bag is welded with seam around the edges.

When using the assembly according to the invention, one first starts the motor 1 , which will create suction through the bag and out into the tube 2. The user of the assembly will direct the tube towards the slugs to be collected,, in such a way that the slugs are sucked into the tube 2 and led into the bag where they are collected.

In order to avoid that the whole or parts of the slugs are fastened to the inside of the tube, the inside of the tube should be coated with a mixture containing, among others, a "lubricant", for instance oil, preferably a vegetable oil. This may be performed by sucking the mixture first. The tube should additionally be made of plastic treated, coated or mixed with a silicon- or Teflon material. The mixture should further contain an agent being poisonous to the slugs in such a way that they do not suffer unnecessary, but dies fast. A convenient example of such an agent is salt, preferably coarse salt.

Once the user is done collecting slugs, the motor is turned off, and the assembly is set aside. If the bag is not removed, the slugs will produce moist and decay will start which may produce smell. In order to avoid this in such a way that the bag may be contained in the assembly at the least for a few days, the mixture being sucked into the bag at the beginning of the process should also contain an disinfecting agent, at the same time as it preferably should absorb some moist. One example of such an agent is lime. Further, such a mixture should be sucked into the bag again when one is done, in such a way that the mixture will be both below and on top of the slugs collected in the bag. The example and the Figures are given to illustrate the invention and should not be used to limit the invention as it is described in the enclosed claims.

Claims

1 . Assembly for collection of slugs, such as Arionidae, comprising a motor (1 ), a tube (2) and a bag arranged between the motor and the tube, as the motor creates a suction being led through the bag and out into the tube, and the bag is collecting the slugs being sucked through the tube, characterized in that the tube (2) is treated with silicon on the inside.

2. Assembly according to claim 1 , characterized in that the tube is made of plastic.

3. Assembly according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the tube is made of a plastic composition comprising silicon.

4. Assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the plastic composition of the tube comprises 4 % silicon.

5. Assembly according any one of the claims 1 -4, characterized in that it is arranged a knife in the tube, as the knife expands over the cross section of the tube.

6. Assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the knife is designed as a perpendicular cross, and divides the cross section of the tube in four sectors.

7. Mixture for coating an inside of the tube in the assembly according to any one of the claims 1 -6, characterized by comprising lime, salt and vegetable oil, as the salt will kill the slugs, lime will prevent formation of smell, and oil will treat the inside of the tube in such a way that it stays smooth.

8. Mixture according to claim 7, characterized by comprising 87 % salt, 1 1 % lime and 2 % vegetable oil.

9. Mixture according to any one of the claims 7-8, characterized by further comprising an absorbent agent.

10. Bag for assembly according to any one of claims 1 -6, characterized in that the bag comprises several layers, and that the layers are designed in such a way that the bag is waterproof but not air proof.

1 1 . Bag according to claim 10, characterized in that all the layers in the bag are wo wen.

12. Bag according to claim 10 or 1 1 , characterized in that all the layers are pressed together and fastened to each other by a seam at the edge of the bag.

13. Bag according to any one of the claims 10-12, characterized in that the bag is made of silk thread.

14. Bag according to any one of the claims 10-13, characterized in that the bag comprises 5 layers.

15. Bag according to claim 14, wherein

- layer L1 is the innermost layer of the bag, and comprises angular threads at a distanced from each other,

- layer L2 is made with displaced mesh, and in an outer part the density of the stiches are reduced, and the threads are thinner than in layer L1 ,

- layer L3 is equal to layer L1 ,

- layer L4 is wowen in square stiches in a size being between the largest and smallest stiches of layer L2, and

- layer L5 is wowen with angular threads, but the threads slant opposite direction of L1 and L3, and the distance between the threads are smaller than in layer L1 and L3.

16. Bag according to any one of the claims 10-15, characterized by further comprising an absorbing means.

17. Method for collection of slugs by using an assembly according to any one of the claims 1 -6, with a bag according to any one of the claims 10-16, characterized by comprising

- starting the motor in such a way that a suction is created in the tube,

- suck a mixture according to any one of the claims 7-9 into the bag, and

- collect slugs by sucking them into the bag,

after which the method is ended by turning off the motor and eventually removing the bag with slugs.

18. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that it is sucked in a mixture according to any one of the claims 7-9 before the motor is turned off.