Pest control device for fruit trees and the like

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for the control of pests of fruit trees and the like, which prevents the tree from being affected by crawling pests, and comprises a rectangular sheet (1-1') of electrically insulating material, which can adopt an inverted truncated cone shape or a cylindrical configuration around the trunk of the tree; a band of low-density foam (3) below the sheet (1-1'), which adapts to the appearance of the bark and deforms as the trunk grows, while the sheet (1-1') comprises portions superimposed on it and sliding on it to adapt to said growth; a pair of parallel wires (5-5'), spaced apart by a distance according to the size of the pests to be exterminated, and subjected to a high potential difference by means of a power supply circuit (6), so that when an insect tries to cross them, it is automatically electrocuted.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a device that is specifically designed to be implemented on all types of trees and woody plants, for example fruit trees, ornamental trees, without excluding any other type of tree, to prevent them from being affected by climbing pests.

[0002] The aim of the present invention is to provide a device that, in addition to establishing a physical barrier for insects that attempt to access the crown of the tree through the trunk, comprises means to exterminate them in a completely ecological manner, without affecting the normal growth of the tree, nor significantly reducing the populations of insectivorous species. Furthermore, the device adapts completely and automatically to the growth of the plant, and therefore to the growth of the trunk, without damaging it, and without having to manipulate it in order to adapt.

[0003] The present invention preferably falls within the field of agriculture, without excluding the protection of any type of tree that can be infested by climbing insects. BACKGROUND

[0004] In the field of practical application of the present invention, the symbiotic relationship between ants and aphids is known, in such a way that the aphids excrete a sticky substance (honeydew) that is eaten by the ants, while they protect the aphids from their predators (for example, ladybugs).

[0005] Unfortunately, for the host plant, the honeydew stimulates the growth of moulds. The aphids also suck the sap of the plant, slowing down their growth. Some aphids transmit a virus that has devastating effects on crops.

[0006] To overcome this problem, in the case of fruit trees, pesticide products are applied to their leaves and branches, which, although they satisfactorily fulfil the expected function, exhibit a wide variety of problems, among which the following are worth mentioning:

[0007] • These products have potential toxicity for humans, which can have harmful effects on health, such as cancer, and affect the reproductive, immune and nervous systems.

[0008] • These products are difficult to degrade, so from an environmental point of view they are a problem.

[0009] • Large amounts of product must be used to effectively combat pests, which in large orchards means huge economic costs.

[0010] To overcome this problem, several solutions are known to prevent crawling insects from accessing the tree canopy, such as setting up physical barriers on the trunk, like whitewashing. While this negatively affects soil pH during rain, and although it deters ants or insects from accessing the upper areas of the tree, the physical barriers are by no means insurmountable for the insects. Furthermore, they inhibit trunk growth in the application area, leading to trunk deformities, which negatively impacts tree growth and productivity.

[0011] Document US4471561A describes an insect-killing device comprising a flat substrate of electrically insulating material intended to completely surround a structure on which the insect to be killed travels. The structure has a low-voltage DC battery, a pulse circuit connected to the battery to generate low-voltage pulses, a transformer circuit connected to the pulse circuit to convert the low-voltage pulses into high-voltage pulses, and a pair of elongated electrical contacts connected to the transformer circuit, the contacts extending along the entire length of the substrate such that the contacts are separated from each other, thereby keeping the circuit open and closed by insects attempting to pass through the substrate.

[0012] The problem with this device is that it cannot properly adapt to tree trunks with large undulations and irregularities in the bark, because it is a simple sheet of insulating material that, when the tree has very irregular undulations, cannot fit snugly against the tree's contours in any way, which happens in many types of trees or woody plants.

[0013] This means creating passageways for insects in the irregular areas of the bark or between protrusions and depressions, allowing them to avoid the barrier formed by the insulating material sheets.

[0014] Meanwhile, document FR2576748 discloses a system comprising a rectangular sheet of electrically insulating material assisted by foam tape to conform to the geometry of a trunk, in which parallel and zigzag wires connected to the battery are established.

[0015] Similar to document US4471561A, document FR2576748 reveals the problem that these devices are not adapted to the growth of trees, and therefore must be operated regularly to prevent the tree trunks from being strangled during growth.

[0016] This problem is exacerbated when the equipment is implemented in an orchard with hundreds of trees, where all the equipment associated with each tree needs to be readjusted individually, resulting in a significant waste of time.

[0017] Finally, another issue with other equipment of this type on the market relates to the logistics of storage and distribution. When it comes to orchards with a large number of trees, the volume of each piece of equipment is significant, so many pieces of equipment cannot be stacked or stored in a flat, layered arrangement, which may lead to space constraints. Invention Overview

[0019] The pest control device envisioned in this paper provides a completely satisfactory solution to the aforementioned problems based on a simple yet effective method, in an ecological and economical way and adapted to the growth of the tree trunk, preventing and eliminating any crawling insects attempting to climb the trunk or branches of the tree.

[0020] For this purpose, more specifically, the device of the present invention is made of a rectangular sheet of electrically insulating material, such as an acetate sheet, the upper edge of which includes a flexible foam strip on its inner surface. The flexible foam strip is adapted to the appearance of the bark of the tree trunk to which the device is applied. The sheet is wrapped around the tree trunk such that the sheet has a conical construction, thereby the sheet is completed with an elastic band corresponding to one of its upper ends. This allows the upper edge of the acetate sheet to be externally wrapped around the tree trunk itself to form a cone shape, securing the tape to itself and thus preventing insects from passing through its interior.

[0021] In this way, by means of the inclined superposition of the two side edges of the sheet to form a conical surface, the component can deform and extend according to the growth of the tree, which is the opposite of the case where the development of the sheet produces a perfect cone, in which the added opening will be defined according to one of its generatrices, which is prevented by the rectangular shape of the sheet.

[0022] In any case, and according to the nature of the invention, based on pairs of parallel wires (e.g., copper wires), the circuit is fixed on the diagonal of the inner surface of a non-conductive sheet, the wires being arranged at small intervals between them according to the size of the insect to be exterminated, such that these wires are arranged in an open circuit, and they experience a high potential difference through small, appropriately isolated circuits arranged corresponding to the upper end of the assembly, such that the circuit establishes a sufficient voltage to electrocute the problematic crawling insect, which will close the circuit with its own body.

[0023] The circuit will operate during the day and night, and for this purpose it will contain a battery that can be recharged by a photovoltaic solar panel that can be secured to a tree branch by a telescopic arm and its corresponding clamps or fixing devices.

[0024] Based on this structure, the operation is as follows:

[0025] The device defines a substantially truncated conical barrier that causes insects to rise from the ground along the trunk, first encountering a foamy edge or obstacle surrounding the trunk that corresponds to the upper end of a sheet arranged in a cone shape, which forces them to continue downward along the inner surface of the non-conductive sheet.

[0026] The arrangement of paired wires along the diagonal of the sheet, and the conical shape that the sheet is forced to adopt, means that insects always encounter a pair of parallel wires when moving. In order to continue moving towards the top of the tree, they must cross it laterally. At this point, the insect will stop on the two wires, closing the circuit and thus acting as a fuse. When they are electrocuted and fall under the influence of gravity, they die immediately, reopening the circuit and waiting for another insect to try to cross the barrier defined by the paired wires.

[0027] Because the wires are arranged on the inner surface of the non-conductive sheet, and the sheet is insulated by foam on the inside and rubber on the outside, the circuit will be properly isolated from rainwater, ensuring its operation in any weather conditions (day and night) to accommodate the growth of the tree trunk on which it is implemented.

[0028] The device described in this way is entirely ecological, unlike pesticides typically used for the same purpose, and is more economical, resistant, durable, and completely autonomous, not only in the long term but also in the medium term.

[0029] According to a variant embodiment of the invention, it has been envisioned that the device can be structurally simplified to exhibit a lower volumetric footprint and greater structural simplicity, which leads to further improved economic feasibility, thus starting from the same basic structure in which an electrically insulating sheet is involved, the sheet being in the form of an elongated rectangular sheet supplemented by a low-density foam strip formed beneath it, capable of inserting into and faithfully adapting to the texture of the bark, creating an insurmountable barrier for insects, the sheet being wrapped around the trunk such that it has a cylindrical construction, characterized in that the length of the sheet is greater than the circumference of the trunk to which the sheet is applied, with the portion corresponding to its distal end overlapping the other end.

[0030] In this way, the free distal end is connected to the area overlapping the sheet by an elastically deformable element (e.g., a pair of springs, elastic rubber, etc.), which allows the free end to slide relative to the sheet's wrapping, thereby increasing the sheet's diameter without breaking the electrical barrier it forms at any time.

[0031] To achieve this, and in a manner similar to but simpler than the first variant embodiment, a circuit is established from end to end along the longitudinal direction of the insulating sheet based on pairs of parallel wires (e.g., copper wires), the wires being arranged at small intervals between them according to the size of the insect to be exterminated, such that these wires are arranged in an open circuit and they experience a high potential difference through the aforementioned pulse generator circuit.

[0032] These electrical pulses will be programmed to be emitted preferably at a frequency of 1.5 seconds.

[0033] Therefore, the device will adapt to the growth of the trunk completely and automatically without breaking the electrical barrier defined by its wires at any time or for at least a considerable period of time, until the two ends of the sheet overlap each other.

[0034] Finally, it should be noted that, through the device of the present invention, it has been verified how the implementation of the device affects the habits of insects in the area, thereby achieving the following effects:

[0035] The crawling insects stopped trying to climb the tree trunk.

[0036] The absence of ants on the tree trunk means that aphids are not attracted to the plant.

[0037] • The number of natural enemies of this type of insect has increased in the region. Brief description of the attached diagram

[0039] As a supplement to the description provided herein, and to help to make the features of the invention more readily understood, the description is accompanied by a set of drawings that form an integral part of the invention, according to preferred practical exemplary embodiments thereof, as follows:

[0040] Figure 1 A plan view showing the development of a plate in a pest control device for fruit trees, etc., implemented according to the purpose of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 2 A perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention correctly implemented on the corresponding fruit tree is shown.

[0042] Figure 3 A perspective view is shown of a simpler variant of the device of the present invention, which is applied to a corresponding tree trunk.

[0043] Figure 4 Showing Figure 3 The back perspective of the component.

[0044] at last, Figure 5 Showing applications in multi-tree orchards Figure 2 and Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a variant embodiment. Invention Details

[0046] from Figures 1 to 5 As can be seen, the device of the present invention includes a rectangular sheet (1) of electrically insulating material, such as a transparent acetate sheet.

[0047] The acetate sheet (1) includes a strip (3) of foam or equivalent deformable material on its upper inner edge on the trunk (2) to which it is applied, which enables it to conform to the contour of the bark of the trunk (2), sealing the trunk and thus preventing insects from passing through.

[0048] like Figure 2 As shown, the sheet will be wrapped around the trunk (2) and its sides will be superimposed at a certain angle to form a deformable cone that can adapt to the trunk during the growth of the trunk and be fixed to the trunk by an elastic rubber band (4), which will be fixed to one of the upper vertices of the sheet (1), the upper vertices of which are wrapped around the upper edge of the sheet and tied to itself.

[0049] Back to Figure 1 In the arrangement diagonally opposite to the plate (1), on the inner surface of the plate, according to the size of the insect to be exterminated, pairs of parallel wires (5-5') are arranged with a small gap between the wires. In this case, the two pairs of wires are based on copper plates, connected in parallel, and connected to the voltage supply circuit (6) through cables or conductors, establishing a potential difference of 100 volts between each pair of wires (5-5').

[0050] Therefore, under normal circumstances, the wire (5-5') will be in an open circuit state until the insect tries to cross the wire, at which point the insect will close the circuit, causing it to be electrocuted. Figure 2 The diagram shows how paired wires (5-5') are arranged on the sheet (1) in a way that prevents insects from approaching the lower edge of the sheet, thus hypothetically crossing the sheet and reaching its upper surface. Therefore, the... Figure 2 The diagram shows how the wires (5-5') intersect around the tapered surface to form a closed loop, because the sheet of electrical insulating material (1) is inserted between them, so the closed loop does not electrically close the circuit.

[0051] The power circuit (6) will be properly integrated into a watertight housing with an internal battery that enables the device to operate day and night. The battery can be recharged by a photovoltaic solar panel (7) and can be fixed to the tree branch by a telescopic arm (8) and a corresponding clamp (9) or its fixing device.

[0052] The system’s power circuitry enables up to 300 devices to be connected to the corresponding tree or branch via a wired connection system through watertight connectors.

[0053] Similarly, the device may have a radio communication component to remotely monitor its operating parameters.

[0054] according to Figures 3 to 5 A variant embodiment has been envisioned, for example, that the sheet (1') obtained in acetate may optionally present an elongated rectangular configuration in which a low-density foam strip (3) is arranged around the trunk. This foam strip, due to its low density, can be inserted into and faithfully adapt to the texture of the bark, and elastically deform during the growth of the trunk itself. The sheet (1') is arranged in a cylindrical strip, and the length of the strip is greater than the circumference of the trunk / strip (3) of the foam assembly of the tree to which the sheet is applied. A portion of this strip, corresponding to its free distal end (14), is superimposed on the sheet itself, such that the free distal end (12) is connected to the area superimposed on the sheet via an elastically deformable element (12). In a practical exemplary embodiment, the elastically deformable element is in the form of a spring, the spring having its end connected to a hole (13) formed on the sheet, but it may also be in the form of elastic rubber or any other elastically deformable element, which allows the free distal end (14) to slide on the body of the sheet, thereby adapting to the gradual growth of the trunk.

[0055] On the outer surface of the plate (1'), the circuit is based on pairs of parallel wires (5-5'), such as copper wires, with small intervals between them depending on the size of the insect to be exterminated, and extends longitudinally from end to end to plate (1').

[0056] and Figure 1 and Figure 2 As in the variant embodiments, these wires are arranged in an open circuit and connected to the voltage supply circuit (6) via corresponding cables or conductors (10-10').

[0057] These electrical pulses will be programmed to be emitted at a frequency of 1.5 seconds and a power of 13.5 millijoules per second.

[0058] The power circuit (6) will be appropriately integrated into a waterproof housing with an internal battery that enables the device to operate day and night and can be recharged by a photovoltaic solar panel (7).

[0059] like Figure 5 As shown, the circuit (6) will be able to supply power to multiple devices connected in parallel via corresponding wiring (11-11') through a waterproof connector.

[0060] As with the previous cases, the device may include radio communication components to remotely monitor its operating parameters.

[0061] According to this structure, as mentioned earlier, the conductors will draw separate circles parallel to each other and concentric with the trunk. Their lengths (circumferences) will automatically adapt to the increase in the trunk diameter, thus defining the only possible passage for the insect. When the insect is in the space between the conductors, it will be electrocuted by the arc generated by the insect. Therefore, the insect does not even need to come into contact with both conductors simultaneously.

[0062] This method prevents any insects from approaching the tree from the ground, whether they are ants, spiders, aphids, etc.

Claims

1. A device for controlling pests in fruit trees with bark-covered trunks, characterized in that, The device includes: An elongated rectangular sheet (1') of electrical insulating material defined by its length, including a distal end and a proximal end, as well as an inner surface and an outer surface; A low-density foam strip (3) of a defined length is attached to the inner surface of a slender rectangular sheet. The low-density foam strip is any foam suitable for bark and can be inserted and faithfully fit the texture of the bark. The elongated rectangular sheet (1) is longer than the low-density foam strip (3), such that when the low-density foam strip is wrapped around the bark of the trunk, the free distal end (14) of the elongated rectangular sheet (1) overlaps the proximal end of the elongated rectangular sheet (1'), and the device further includes: An elastically deformable element (12) connects the distal end (14) of an elongated rectangular sheet (1) to its proximal end, which allows the free distal end (14) to slide on the body of the sheet (1') to accommodate the gradual growth of the trunk. A pair of parallel wires (5-5') are arranged in an open circuit and placed on the outer surface of an elongated rectangular plate (1'), spaced apart from each other according to the size of the insect to be exterminated; and Connect the pair of parallel wires (5-5') to a power supply circuit (6) that allows them to pass through a high potential difference.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply circuit (6) includes an internal battery capable of being recharged by a photovoltaic solar panel (7).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet (1') is made of acetate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power supply circuit (6) comprises a component for transmitting an electrical pulse having a frequency of 1.5 seconds and a power of at least 13.5 millijoules per second.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further includes a radio communication component for remotely monitoring its operating parameters.

6. The device according to claim 1, which shares its power circuitry (6) with other devices of the same type by means of a wired connection via a waterproof connector.

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