WO2023121495A1

WO2023121495A1 - System for rearing bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home

Info

Publication number: WO2023121495A1
Application number: PCT/RS2022/000016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Slobodan DOLASEVIC
Original assignee: Dolasevic Slobodan
Priority date: 2021-12-21
Filing date: 2022-12-12
Publication date: 2023-06-29
Also published as: RS20211566A1

Abstract

The invention relates to the construction solutions of a multifunctional system for rearing bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home, consisting of a basic element, which is upgraded with auxiliary elements - modules that allow the collection of honey, pollen and propolis, as well as the possibility for apitherapy through apipunctures and api-inhalations, feeding and colonization of the same system, without contact and disruption of the work and function of a bee colony.

Description

SYSTEM FOR REARING BEE COLONY AND OBTAINING BEE PRODUCTS INDOORS AT HOME

Technical field

In general, the invention falls under the field of agriculture, broad field - animal husbandry, narrow field - beekeeping. The subject of the invention has direct application in agriculture - beekeeping, medicine - apitherapy, scientific institutions - for the requirements of experimental research, and indirect application (through pollination, and the preservation of endangered bee species and their ecosystems).

Technical problem

The benefits of each individual bee product are widely known. However, obtaining such products requires a series of activities performed by a specialized person undertaking specific activities using protective equipment at an apiary. When obtaining fresh honey bee products, the following steps are commonly taken: opening the beehive, removing the frames occupied by the bees using a smoker (a toolused to calm the bees) and owning and using various dedicated equipment. The mentioned steps are carried out outdoors, due to the unrealistic compatibility for their performance indoors with the existing, known types of beehives. The core of the technical problem is reflected in the following: how to structurally provide a system for rearing a honey bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors without the use of known specialized equipment? In order to apply the aforementioned, it became absolutely necessary to carry out a complete reconstruction and adaptation of the beehive into an inventive system, which, by overcoming all the above-mentioned shortcomings, would enable us to obtain bee products, and use the services provided by the bee colony.

The invention ensures rearing and exploitation of a bee colony without the use of beekeeping protective equipment indoors (residential buildings, business premises, etc.). Considering its multifunctionality, the invention enables the user, using the attachments, to obtain bee products such as honey, pollen and propolis, without coming into contact with the bees, as well as services relating to the application of apitherapy - through the process of apipuncture (injection of bee venom) and through api-inhalation (inhalation of air originating from the bee colony). Background art

Background art refers to the published patent application CN205993379U, and similarity is reflected in the fact that the subject of the invention is a hexagonal observation beehive intended for urban environments for indoor use. It consists of a wooden frame, front and back panels made of transparent material. It has an option to connect several beehives so that the bee colony expands as it grows. There is also a smoke vent, and an opening which might possibly enable access to the honey. The beehive has an ingress/egress in the form of a hose, which connects the beehive with the outdoor environment.

Patent application CN209861969U is also an observation beehive with optional rotary opening of the transparent part. The functioning method, form and purpose is a continuation of the previous patent. The body of the beehive is hexagonal in shape. The material used for the frame is wood, and the front and back panels are made of plexiglass or glass. The invention does not offer the possibility of safely obtaining bee products or apitherapy services through apipuncture and api-inhalation without the use of specialized equipment. As in the case of the previous application, the construction solution of this invention is exclusively limited to the observation of the bee colony.

The published patent documents CN211910138U and CN210695498U are observation beehives which also resemble the system for rearing bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors, but only in their form. The construction defects are mostly related to the use, because the options of using and exploiting the bee colony are unavailable to the user.

The shortcomings of the above-mentioned applications, which are the closest background art, are reflected in the following:

- the smoke vent is an incomplete solution, because the use of smoke indoors is not recommended;

- the use of smoke requires special equipment (smokers and similar devices) and it poses a higher risk of fire indoors;

- the smoke vent is not secured, so there is a strong possibility of bees escaping from within and flying indoors;

- obtaining honey through one opening of the wooden frame indoors is a risky procedure in conventional use without professional equipment; inventions have no feeders for feeding during the dearth period; inventions have no attachments for collecting pollen;

- inventions have no attachments for performing api-inhalation; inventions have no attachments for taking out bees to perform apipuncture; inventions have no attachments for colonization with a bee colony and addition of bees; inventions have no attachment for obtaining honey; inventions have no attachment for obtaining propolis.

The aforementioned background art leads to the common conclusion that the system for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home bears only a small similarity, compared to all the mentioned publications, only in shape (hexagon) and the possibility of observing the world of the bees through the transparent part of the beehive, which stay normally connected with nature through the egress hose. However, in all known solutions and mentioned inventions, the collection and consumption of bee products is not available without opening the beehive, using additional equipment and smoking the bees out, which is not recommended at home or in other indoor spaces. With regard to the above- mentioned, the current patent applications that describe the background artmost closely, can be collectively characterized as applications based on rearing bees in observation beehives, which are limited to observing the life and work of bees without any adequate possibility of obtaining bee products and the application of apitherapy.

Summary of the invention

The subject matter of the invention is reflected in generating a system for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home without the necessity of using specialized beekeeping equipment. The invention enables widespread use even for people who have no beekeeping experience. The novelty is based on a system consisting of transparent materials with its attachments also composed of transparent materials for obtaining honey, pollen, propolis, api-inhalation and apipuncture services provided that they are safe for the user. In addition to the aforementioned, the construction solutions enable the possibility of colonization of the system with bee colonies and addition of bees to the system indoors, observation and exploitation, including maintenance, feeding, and modulation of the basic and auxiliary elements.

Brief description of blueprint drawings

- Figure 1 illustrates the basic element 77 of the system, front view;

- Figure 2 illustrates the card types 15, 16 and 17 and security clips 18, front view;

- Figure 3 illustrates the basic element 77 of the system with added auxiliary elements (elements), side view;

- Figure 4 illustrates the element 78 inlet/outlet, side view;

- Figure 5 illustrates the element 79 for obtaining pollen, front view;

- Figure 6 illustrates the element 80 for bee feeding, front view;

- Figure 7 illustrates the element 81 for obtaining honey, front view;

- Figure 8 illustrates the element 82 for obtaining propolis, side view;

- Figure 9 illustrates the element 83 and 61 for trapping bees, side view;

- Figure 10 illustrates the element 84 for bee colonization, side view.

Detailed description of the invention

Basic element

The basic element 77 of the system in Figure 1 constitutes the body, consisting of a front and back transparent panel 13 and a transparent frame made of a double ring 1 in the form of an equilateral hexagonal prism. Both rings 1 have main openings 2 on all sides of the hexagon. These openings 2 are intended for possible passage of bees into another basic element 77 or one of the auxiliary elements. Apart from the above-mentioned, there are four smaller auxiliary openings 3 on each panel 13 of the external ring 1, intended for a modular connecting system that enables replacement and a solid connection with the auxiliary elements. The rings 1 are separated from each other with four spacers 4, 11 on each side of the hexagon, of which the two inner spacers 4 serve as passage walls of the main opening, thus preventing the bees from passing between the double ring, whereas the two outer spacers 11 serve as holders for the wax foundation.

The double frame 1 provides the bees with better insulation and prevents the loss of heat, enables better propolizing of the external frame, facilitates the addition of other elements to the basic element 77 and ensures greater safety for the user. The ends of the ring 1 of the basic element 77 are secured with a dovetail joint 5, and the front and back panels 13 are fastened with screws 6 for safety purposes. The screw nuts 6 are designed to enable manual fastening, and their dimensions and ergonomics prevent the use of excessive force while tightening. The construction of the basic element 77 provides compatibility and modularity of all added elements on each side. The wax foundation 7 is located in the central part of the basic element 77. The panels 13 have double slots 8 for the cards 15, 16 and 17 and circular openings 14 for the safety pins 6. Besides the double slots 8 for the cards 15, 16 and 17, there are also slits 9 for system cleaning. There are two magnets 10 and 12 on the front panel 13 and the internal ring 1, which enable the placement of a plate with the name of the system, logo, hologram and QR code. There is an option to mount the entire system on the wall with a suitable rotary bracket to enable observation from both sides of all processes within the system. Types of cards

The use of the system for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home also involves the use of cards. Each panel 13 has two slots 8 in front of each opening 2 where the cards 15, 16 and 17 shown in Figure 2 can be placed. The cards enable smooth use of the system by disabling contact between the bees and the user at the opening spots 2. Card classification:

- Perforated cards 15 for collecting pollen;

Stopper cards 16 obstructing the passage of bees (prevent entry/exit);

- Cards 17 with slits through which bees can circulate while the passage of the queen bee is blocked (referred to as the queen excluder cards);

- Cards 50 of the sliding system element 81 for collecting honey;

Stopper cards 57 used in element 83 for trapping bees.

If we want to add/remove a certain element to/from the basic element 77 of the system, it is necessary to previously insert or remove the stopper card 16. The perforated card 15 for collecting pollen is used when using the pollen-trapping element 79, during the process of its collection. The queen excluder cards 17 are used to prevent a swarming drive and overpopulation of bees, because the usage of these cards stops the queen bee from laying eggs on both sides of the comb, since the total area of the brood is limited to only one side of the wax foundation 7. The stopper cards 16, as well as the perforated cards 15 can be inserted through the slots 8 on both panels of all six sides of the basic element and can be secured with a special square security clip 18.

Construction of additional elements

Taking into account the complexity of the process for obtaining products in professional beekeeping, all auxiliary elements - attachments are specifically designed to enable a simple and safe indoor use. All auxiliary elements have the following features in common: uniform fixing to the basic element 77 (body), modularity and multiple attachment options. The same connecting principle allows the user to effectively replace the elements, and make changes in their arrangement. This also allows to join together several basic elements 77, several added elements to the basic element 77, as well as add one element to another. Each added element contains four fittings that enter the four auxiliary openings 3 of the external ring 1 and they can be attached to any side of the basic element 77. All connectors on the auxiliary elements have one circular opening that is clearly visible on the fittings 22, and the position of the opening matches the positions of the openings 14 on the panels 13 through which the screws 6 pass. The screws 6 are installed through the openings 14 on the panels and the openings on the connectors, which have a fastening function when connecting the auxiliary elements with the basic element 77.

1. Figure 3 and Figure 4 show the element 78 that enables the bees to fly out freely and communicate with the outside environment from the inside of the basic element 77. It is composed of a stratification of surfaces 23 secured by screws 20 with an opening in the middle, fittings 22 for connecting to the basic element 77, a hose 21 through which the bees circulate, as well as a slot 24 for the stopper card 16 in case it is needed to block the activity of the bees or remove the system. The element 78 is fastened with the fittings 22 and secured with screws 6 on any side of the basic element 77, and allows the bees to stay connected with nature, thus satisfying the need of the bee colony for flight activity. . Figure 3 and Figure 5 show the element 79 for pollen collection. It is composed of parallel transparent panels 26 that follow the shape of the trapezoid frame 27, screws 28, a drawer 29 for trapping pollen and a horizontal grid 30. There are slots 31 for the perforated cards 15 at the entrance point of elements 32 and 31 used for passage of worker bees, where during passage, pollen is mechanically removed from the pollen baskets. In case that the same element has to be removed, it is possible to place the stopper cards 16 at the same points. If the perforated card 15 is placed, the pollen from the pollen baskets ends up in the drawer 29. The grid 30 separates the drawer 29 from the bees. Returning the drawer 29 back to its place is additionally secured with magnets 34. The fittings 33 are secured with screws 6 and enable the element for pollen collection 79 to be fixed on the side of the basic element 77. . Figure 3 and Figure 6 show the element 80 for feeding of bees. It consists of panels made of transparent materials, a stepped pyramid 36 with a cylindrical opening 37 in the middle that is connected to the stepped corridors 38 of the pyramid 36. The laminar pyramid 36 prevents the bees from flying into the feeder, limits the access of the bees to the feed, while the openings and corridors allow free passage of the worker bees from the basic element 77. The upper side has sliding lids 39 which can be moved horizontally to add feed, and the laminar pyramid has small openings 40 for capillary stimulation. The bottom of the feeder 80 is designed to provide a 2%-slope to avoid the retention of added liquid feed. The scale 41 shows the level of added feed and it is located on the front side of the element 80. The specifically designed element 80 enables simple feeding of bees during the dearth periods of the year. The bottom of the feeder 80 has fittings 42 secured with screws 6, which enable the feeding element 80 to be fixed on the upper side of the basic element 77.

4. Figure 3 and Figure 7 show the element 81 for honey storage. It is composed of a frame 44, front and back panels 45, a sliding system 46 and a wax foundation 47. The sliding system on the front side consists of a door 48, security clips 49 and cards 50. The removal of the security clips 49 enables a horizontal mechanical movement of the sliding system 46 in order to access the honey box 81. The front side 45 has slots 51 for inserting the cards 50, which stops the bees from accessing the part of the waxcomb from where honey would be consumed. In addition to the aforementioned, the element 81 has an option to be connected to the element 80 for feeding as shown in Figure 3 or to another element 81 for honey storage. It is placed on the upper side of the basic element 77, fastened with fittings 86 and secured with screws 6.

5. Figure 8 shows the element 82 for collection of propolis. It is composed of one perforated transparent surface 52 and four parallel fittings 53 which connect it to any side of the basic element 77 of the system, secured with screws 6. Regarding the fact that the worker bees seal the small openings with propolis, the surface has small hexagonal openings. When placing the attachment 82 on one or more independent openings 2 on the rings 1 of the basic element 77, on any of its sides, and after removing the stopper card 16, the bee colony will start propolis processing. Propolis collection is performed after filling out all perforations, where propolis is removed from the surface by simple scraping. In case of taking out the attachment 82, it is necessary to previously return the stopper card 16. . The element 83 for trapping bees is shown in Figure 9. It is composed of a box with two partitions 54, magnetic rollers 55 and sliders 56, two cards 57 and a framed net 58. The mentioned element 83 enables simple isolation of an individual bee from the system, disables the exit of other bees and facilitates the process of apipuncture. The element 83 can be fixed to the basic element 77 of the system from any of its sides with the fittings 59 secured with screws 6. The element 83 can also be placed on all six sides of the basic element 77. The entry of the bee into the added element 83 is enabled by removing the main stopper cards 16 inserted in the basic element 77. After the card 16 is removed, the bee colony has access to the element 83, which facilitates isolation of a single bee. After its isolation in the main partition 60, it is directed by movable slides 56 into the element 61, which has the form of a syringe.

In order to ensure the entry of the bees into the element 61, it is necessary to previously remove the card 57 from the slot 62. After the bees enter the syringe 61, the stopper card 16 on the basic element 77 should be re-installed to its previous position so that no other bees can come out. The lower side of the element 61 has a base 63 with magnets matching the framed net 58. The element 61 consists of an internal plunger 64, a lever 65 for mechanical movement of the plunger 64, a cylinder 66, an upper and lower base 67 with magnets. By mechanically moving the plunger 64, the bee remains trapped in the cylinder 66 until the cylinder 66 reaches the end position, where the framed net 58 with the magnets is located on the lower base 63. For the purpose of applying a sting, the element 61 is placed at the point where apipuncture therapy is conducted, and the plunge 64 induces the bee to sting. Numerous therapeutic treatments can be performed with apitoxin.

7. Figure 3 shows the api-inhaler 68. It consists of a base box 69 which contains a fan 35, a door 70, an inhalation hose 71 and a medicinal inhalation mask. This element 68 serves for indoor inhalation without direct contact with bees. During use, the fan 35 draws air from the basic element 77 and enables the inhalation of volatile substances and aromatic compounds of bee products. The element 68 is fixed to the basic element 77 on any of its sides with fittings 87 and secured with screws 6. Figure 10 shows the element 84 for colonization of the system with a bee colony and addition of bees to the system in the form of a square box. The element 84 has slits 72 on all six sides to provide adequate ventilation and oxygen flow. The upper part (lid) 73 can be moved vertically, and it has a handle to facilitate carrying and manipulation. The lid has two semi-movable security clips 74, which lock the lid into the two narrow sides of the box. In this manner, the volume of the box can be reduced depending on the height, i.e. position of the lid. This system mimics the plunger system entering the box and, if necessary, induces the bees to fly into the basic element 77 more quickly. The box has its own stopper card 16, which is inserted into the slot 75 only during transfer, and it is removed after connecting the box to the basic element 77 through the fittings 76. The element 84 is fixed on the lower side of the basic element 77.

The use of this element eliminates the need of the potential user to go to the apiary and take the entire system to the field for colonization, because these operations would create new problems in conventional use. A box constructed in this manner enables safe transfer of the bee colony, and safe colonization indoors without any possibility of the bees flying out into the room where it is located. The number of bees and the vitality of the colony within the system is maintained at the desired level of viability through periodic colonization.

Claims

CLAIMS . System for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home, whereina basic element (77), made of transparent materials, is hexagonal in shape, with an internal and external ring (1), a transparent front and back panels (13), screw (6) openings (14), slots (8) for stopper cards (16) and queen bee excluder cards (17), whereas the inside of the basic element (77) is filled with wax foundation (7), and all six sides of the basic element have openings (2) and slits (3) for universal fittings (22) through which all auxiliary elements are connected: element (78) for entry/exit of bees, element (79) for obtaining pollen, element (80) for feeding, element (81) for obtaining honey, element (82) for obtaining propolis, element (83) for trapping bees and apipuncture, element (68) for inhalation and element (84) for colonization of the system, including an option for interconnecting two or more basic elements(77).

2. System for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home, according to claim 1, whereinan attachment (78) for entry/exit of bees in the shape of a hose (21) on the one side, forms a trapezoidal shape with a slot (24) for the stopper card (16) on the other side by stratification of surfaces (23) with the central opening connected by screws (20), and it is fixed to the basic element (77) with fittings (22) on any of its sides and secured with screws (6).

3. System for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home, according to claim 1, whereinan attachment (79) for collecting pollen in the shape of a trapezoidal box is composed of transparent materials fastened with screws (28), with slots (31) for the perforated card (15) and the stopper card (16), panels (26), drawers (29), perforated grid (30) and fittings (33) connecting it to the basic element (77) at the openings (2) of the side panels and secured with screws (6).

4. System for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home, according to claim 1, whereina feeding element (80) is square in shape (80), and composed of transparent materials, a stepped pyramid (36) with a central cylindrical opening (37) connected to the stepped corridors (38), a scale 41 indicating feed level, sliding lids (39) and openings (40) for capillary stimulation and fittings (42) connecting it to the basic element (77) on its upper side and secured with screws (6). System for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home, according to claim 1, whereinan element (81) for obtaining honey, is rectangular in shape with rounded upper edges, and composed of transparent panels (45), a frame (44), a wax foundation (47) in the middle part and a sliding system (46) consisting of a pair of doors (48), security clips (49), cards (50) and slots for the cards (51), which is fixed to the basic element (77) on its upper side with fittings (86) and secured with screws (6). System for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home, according to claim 1, whereinan element (82) for obtaining propolis is composed of a transparent perforated plate (52) and fittings (53) connecting it to the basic element (77) on any of its sides and secured with screws (6). System for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home, according to claim 1, whereina square-shaped inhalation element (68) is composed of a transparent box (69) containing a fan (35), to which an inhalation hose (71) and a medicinal mask are connected, and which is fixed with fittings (86) to any side of the basic element (77) and secured with screws (6). System for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home, according to claim 1, whereina square-shaped element (83) for trapping bees and apipuncture is composed of a transparent box divided into partitions (54), with sliders (56) on the outer part, element in the form of a syringe (61), magnetic rollers (55), framed net (58) and a card (57), and which is fixed with fittings (59) to any side of the basic element (77) and secured with screws (6). System for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home, according to claim 1, whereinan element (84) for bee colonization is composed of a square box with ventilation slits (72), a lid (73) with a handle, semi-movable security clips (74), a slot (75) for a stopper card (16) and fixed with fittings (76) on the bottom of the basic element (77), secured with screws (6). System for rearing a bee colony and obtaining bee products indoors at home, according to claim 1, whereina basic element (77) of hexagonal shape can have any other shape and has a combination option for universal connection of several different elements forming an independent entity with characteristics of a complete system.