GB2280833A - Traversing animal deterrent - Google Patents

Abstract

The deterrent has a transport line 4 by which one or more inflatable bouyant objects 3 traverses over a land area. An electronic motion controller 6 moves the transport line at times and speeds as defined by the user of the system. Elevated object position can be attained to enhance deterrent effect along with pheromones or noise generating. As shown, the deterrent utilizes a hide 1; guides/pulleys define the line's route (see Figure 2 for details). Movement of the object 3 in a vertical direction may be by means of elevated guides/pulleys or by a motor/pulley arrangement. Detailed controller arrangements are illustrated. <IMAGE>

Description

TRAVERSINS ANIMAL DETERRENT This invention relstes to a deterrent of animals which destroy intended crop/vegetation growth.

This invention relates to a deterrent of animals which are predators to animals requiring protection.

This invention relates to a deterrent of animals which destroy landscape/ground conditions.

This invention relates to a deterrent of birds in flight near prohibited areas of air space.

The problem of protecting various crops either growm commercially or as a hobby, are widely known. Pests such as Pigeons, Partridges, Pheasants, Foxes, Rabbits and Deer, to mention but a few, can cause serious damage to crops.

There are various types 0+ deterrent systems currently available in the market place, that are used as deterrents +or such pests, each with differing philosophies.

These systems very from simple scarecrows, tapes designed to oscillate in the wind, producing a repellent noise and more sophisticated scarers that mimic shotgun fire.

This invention uses the concept of moving; laterally, vertically or a combination of both, an inflatable, bouyant object; that may be in the form of a predator, or any other form, required to deter pests that damage or destroy crops/vegetation , or where pests destroy or make the ground terrain dangerous, or where flying birds must be deterred, or where animals need protecting.

A Traversing Animal Deterrent is an adaptable system; in that the deterrent may be defined by the user, as an animal human form, or any other shape. There may be more than one deterrent per system, as required.

Motion across an area of land, is attained by using a transport line and drive system. The deterrent is attached to the transport line by a retaining unit, which allows un-hindered motion at all points along the continious route of the line. The transport line is any thin line, with suitable strength to support the deterrent motion over distances, as defined by the user.

The position of the deterrent may be enywhere on a pre-defined route, as set out by the user of the system, when mapping out the required area of land to be protected. The transport line position is meintained by guides/pulleys, placed at locations where the line route is required.

The moving deterrent is of the form of an inflatable model, made of suitably light material and filled with propriety gases to provide nominal @ buoyancy. The model, is attached to the transport line. This allows free motion of the deterrent, ensuring minimal drag across the ground.

Movement of the deterrent in the vertical direction may be attained by a number of mathods, two examples are suggested.

Firstly elevated guides/pullsys can define a path, that takes the transport line through psaks and troughs, around the route.

Alternativley a small motor/pulley arrangement may be attached at the base of the deterrent. A length of cord attached between pulley and deterrent, may be wound in or out as the motor turns, thus allowing the deterrent to ascend or descend.

Nlnimal electronics would define the times when vertical movement occurs.

The deterrent may use a hide, or be routed out of sight in trees or bushes. This allows the deterrent to stay out of sight until a motion controller initiates a movement cycle.

The user of the system; can pick the deterrent/ (s) best suited +or their own requirements. Enhancement of the effectiveness can be increased by using pheromones, providing distinctive smells of a deterrent nature. Also, noise generating deterrents may be attached to the model, either of passive nature, that use the motion of the deterrent @ t operate, or alternatively active in nature, that require a small battery supply to operate.

The number of deterrents on any transport line, is, as defined by the user, up to the maximum specified for a particular implementation of the system. The main factors governing the number, will be the overall size of the deterrents and the length of transport line, to be driven by the motion controller.

The motion of the transport line, is provided by the motion controller. The motion controller is housed in a durable, weather tight enclosure. Attachmet of the controller to the transport line, can be made at any point along the route, eliminating the need for special attachment points at specific locations. Drive from the motion controller is transferred from a motor. via ç gearbox, to the transport line; using a drive system arrangement The motion controller enclosure will contain a motor, a gearbox; a drive unit, a local power source and electronics necessary to control all movement aspects of the animal deterrent system.

The main function of the motion controller, is to drive the transport line in different directions, at fixed or varying speeds, and at different times, as defined by the user. The motion controller can either be, a simple unit wIth rudimentary electronic circuit elements, or more complicated, using a microprocessor running softwere control algorit@ms.

Where the motion controller contains rudimentary circuit elements, the transport line will be driven and stationary for set time periods. Adjustment to these times and the number of movements required during the driven phase, are settable variables of the system.

Where the motion controller contains a microprocessor, this will run software algorithas, allowing predator (s) motion to be pre-defined from, existing motion programs, or alternatively programmed in by the user, via a keypad and display, which are an intergral part of the enclosure. Motion pattern ea be wide and varied With random motion possible.

The motion controller incorporating a microprocessor SOS- may be driven remotley via a serial communications link, such that the preditor may b moved, by either e person controlling a joystick on a control box or alternatively by an overall control system, that is co-ordinating perhaps one or a number of scarers on various areas of land. Positional information of the deterrent is relayed back to the remote location, providing knowledge of deterrent location on a particular land area.

An overall control system may have various input sources, that define where a specific deterrent; on any particular land area should be, at any time, for example a person monitoring with field glasses. A serial communications link is provided by the overall control system, enabling this positional information to be passed into d particular traversing deterrent.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure's 1 and la show overviews of complete single systems, indicating components used. Figure 1 shows a plan view of a lateral motion implementation, whilst figure la illustrates both horizontal and vertical motion using elevated guides/pulleys. Figure @a shows a deterrent using a motor/ pulley arrangement for height variation.

The illustrations show the guides/pulleys, 2, defining the transport line's 4, route. The route passes through a hide 1, where the deterrent 3, may reside at the end of an active motion period. The motion controller 6, with the included drive unit 5, provide motion to the transport line, at the required programmed times.

The invention can be convieniently segregated into three component units, these being: The Transport System; The Motion Controller; The Moving Object; The drawing figures below relate to these assemblies as follows : Figure 2 shows the major elements of the transport and drive sub-assemblies, required to provide and sustain motion.

Figure's 3 and 3a show the moving object in the form of a deterrent assembly.

Figure 4 shows the essential component parts of a simple motion controller.

Figure 5 shows the essential component parts of a sophisticated motion controller.

Figure 6 shows an example multi-deterrent system with different land areas protected, with each deterrent system controlled from a central control unit.

Figure 7 shows the essential component parts of a central control unit used to co-ordinate multiple deterrent implementations.

TRANSPORT SYSTEM The transport system uses a fine line, for example nylon cord, to produce a closed path route, for the deterrent/ (s) to follow. The transport line loop may be closed, by using a crimp connection. The guides and pulleys 2a,2b,2c maintain the route integrity. These units may be as Illustrated with spikes on their bases, providing a secure footing in the ground. Each guide/pulley may have funnel-type entry points, enabling e wide variation of line input angle; to the guide position. Variations of the position of the guides/pulleys height above ground, enabling elevated deterrent position, is at the discretion of the user, An eampe may be to mount the guides/pulleys in a convienient tree.Figure 1 illustrates vertical type motion.

The drive unit 5, In the +orm of a pinch wheel assembly 7 (part) provides traction between the Transport Line and the motor/gearbox assembly 7, (part). The Finch wheel assembly maintains grip on the transport line5 using a spring under tension forcing two wheels together An example Or the material used for the pinch wheels is rubber. The line is inserted and removed from the motion controller 6, by compressing the levers that are restrained by the spring tension. The levers become accessible by removal of a top cover Of the motion controller 6.

The motor obtains its operating power from a local power source 10, illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 The motor/gear/pinch-wheel assembly 7, is situated in the motion controller enclosure.

MOTION cONTROLLER The motion controller 6, is a self contained enclosure incorporating the pinch wheel assembly 7, to provide motion to the transport line and an electronics assembly providing logical control of motion. A local power source 10, may be housed within the unit.

Depending upon the required degree of functionality, the electronics assembly may either be simple in nature as depicted in figure 4, or alternatively have increased functionality, as provided sing the architecture in figure 5.

For the simple arrangement, a timer, 17, is used to allow programming of three variables. The run time (control 12a) defines how long an active motion period will be. The stop time (control 12b) defines the intervel between the run times. The number of start/stops (control 12c), during an active run time, provides for intermittent motion during an active run tiem. Speed of motion is an optional variable to change if required (control to Power Control Interface, 13 not shown).

The local power source 10, feeds a switch unit 11, which in turn is controlled by a daylight sensing arrangement 14 and 15. At night tim the switch (11) isolates power from the timer (12), and power control interface 13, inhibiting motion. During daylight when the switch is closed, power to the timer (12) and power control interface (13) is restored, enabling motion to occur. The timer (12) provides logical switching to the power control interface (13), defining when motion is required. Power from the local power source (10) routed to the motor via the switch (12) and power control interface (13).

The motor/gear/pinch-wheel assembly 7, drives the transport lIne 4, providing motion.

For the motion controller (6) with higher complexity electronics, as depicted in figure 5, the central Intelligence is based around a micro-processor 19.

This controls, via a local data highway, 33, all peripheral interfaces that provide the required functionality.

The power interface control 13, filter 27, and power amplifier 29, provide the logic/power interface required by the micro-processor (19), to control the motor power.

The local power source 10, via the filter 27, provides the actual power to drive the motor/gear/pinch-wheel assembly 7.

Combined with the logic/power control, is a speed/position sensor 30, and sensor interface 25. These enable the micro-processor to obtain information regarding the transport line, 4's position and speed at any moment in time.

The motion controller 6, enables the user to program motion algorithms via the keypad 18, keypad interface 24, display unit interface 26, and display unit 28. Speed, position, movement times either random or fixed are settable variables utalising the above interfaces.

Selection of one of the existing pre-defined motion programs is also possible via the keypad (18). These motion algorithms are stored in the program memory 20, along with micro-processor execution algorithms. The variable memory 21, enables the micro-processor to calculate, store and retrieve numbers whilst running the required algorithms In the event that the motion controller (6) is one of a number of motion controllers being commanded by a central control unit 31, then provision is made for a Communications Interface 22 , and Communications Driver 17, that enable distant communication between each unit. Figure 6 shows a typical example where different land area's 32, are being 'patrolled' by a number of deterrent systems.The central control unit (31) will have obtained positional information regarding pest locations, from user visual surveillance or other more sophisticated means, as shown by an input control unit 38, attached t m communications link 37.

As with the simpler implementation of motion controller (6), as described earlier, night time operation ic inhibited, if required, using the daylight sensor 15, and Daylight Control 14. In this configuration, interfacing to the micro-processor is required.

Power supervision 16, maintains the variable memory (21) integrity during power off/failure, to maintain programmed motion algorithms by the user. Also if for any reason the microprocessor (19) should loose its normal program execution sequense, then the supervisory circuit will restart the micro-processor.

Memory decode loge 24, maps all peripheral elements position within memory to a known location, for example the power control interface (13), may be at address base Hexadecimal 1000, whilst the sensor interface (25), address may be at Hexadecimal address 1010. This allows the micro-processor to distinguish between the different peripheral interfaces.

Figure 7 shows an internal structure for the central control nit (31), which is similar to that of the sophisticated motion controller, with the exception that functionally it does not control motion.

MOVING OBJECT Figure's 3 and 3a depict an example of a moving object in the form of a preditor, one possible paylad for the transport line (4). The predator is shown in the form of a Cat 3. A light castor mechanism 8, allows the Cat to turn around should the direction of the transport line (4) change. This works on the basis that the back of the predator is slightly heavier than the front providing natural drag. Also the castor (8) allows motion in the fore/aft direction, giving the predator a natural movement during motion.

A retaining unit 9, enables attachment between predator and transort line (4). Small crimp connections 35, attach to the transport line (4). The retaining unit (9) may be made of plastic. Figure 3a illustrates a motor/pulley assembly 34, used to provide vertical motion variation of the deterrent, by winding the cord 36, up and down at timed intervals. Electronic timing similar to the simple motion controller electronic timer being used to define intervals. This electronics being small in physical size. The bouyancy of the predator (3) is provided by Helium Gas.

Claims (4)

1.

A traversing animal deterrent comprising a transport ine, one or more in+latable bouyant objects attached to the transport line, means by which the transport line route is maintained, means by which the transport line is given motion in different directions at different times in a repeatable or random manner by an electronic motion controller, means to provide elevated motion the moving object, means by whIch the moving object hides +rom viewS means by which the moving object Traces the direction of transport line travel, means by which power can be supplied for electronics and motion.

2.

An Animal deterrent as claimed in Claim 1 whereby the means to provide further deterrent effect using pheromones, or noise repellent attached to the inflatable object.

3.

An Animal deterrent as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim wherin an intelligent transport line motion controller may be remotely controlled from some location, other than the site of the motion controller itself, utalising a communications link.

4.

A traversing animal deterrent central control unit that operates in conJunction with a traversing animal deterrent system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3, whereby the central control unit co-ordinates a number of traversing animal deterrents by means of transferring positional commands to each individual system from a source defining a required position of the deterrents.