Weight determination device for beehives - nectar flow estimator

Abstract

Weight determination device for beehives - nectar flow estimator, characterized in that the invention uses a linear / beam-shaped or alternatively point-shaped recording to determine the weight of the beehive and can measure weights or weight changes with one side of the beehive.

Description

[0001] The invention “weight determination device for beehives - nectar estimator” will hereinafter be referred to as “invention”. 1. Purpose and Functioning of the Invention

[0002] The invention serves to determine the absolute weight and weight changes of beehives – hives containing honeybees – over time. For this purpose, the invention is installed under a beehive or a group of beehives. The invention can be used as a component in beehive monitoring systems and simplifies hardware development for developers of beehive monitoring devices.

[0003] The invention has the following properties in combination: a) The invention measures weight and weight change unilaterally using a linear / beam-shaped support; that is, the prey rests with one side on the invention and with the other side on a support. Depending on the position of the center of gravity within the prey, approximately, but not exactly, half of the true weight rests on the invention. b) Due to the one-sided measurement, the rigid support, and the design with flat load cells, the overall weighing assembly deflects only slightly and only in one direction via the support as the axis of rotation under changing loads. The invention thus enables the tilt-free stacking of beehive scales and beehives with multiple boxes. c) The invention is particularly flat, does not build up high and can therefore also be used in special, confined beekeeping environments (beehives, trough hives, rear-opening hives). d) The invention can be installed under a bee colony during operation, even with a honey super in place, simply by slightly tilting the beehive. e) The invention outputs, via a simple digital serial connection, a measure of the applied weight, a uniform identifier for identifying the respective weight determination device, the level of the applied operating voltage and the temperature for temperature compensation. f) The invention is suitable for combination with a variety of common microcontrollers (Raspberry Pi, Raspberry Pico, ESP8266, ESP32, STM32, AVM Attiny, AVM Atmega and many more) due to the simple digital serial connection and requires only a few additional electronic components. 2 State of the art Weighing devices for beehives are not new

[0004] Beehive scales have long been used in beekeeping. Within the framework of the Biene40 project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the Steel4Bees project, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, 17 weighing systems available on the market were identified. New ones are added every year, and systems disappear from the market every year. Construction of a standard weighing device for beehives

[0005] A common design consists of a two-part frame with one or up to four load cells. This frame is placed beneath the beehive. The load cells connect the two parts of the frame and absorb the forces acting upon them. Most often, beam-shaped load cells with four strain gauges in a Wheatstone bridge configuration are used. A few systems employ four flat load cells, each containing two strain gauges. These latter systems resemble those found in passenger cars. Other measuring principles, such as string transducers (used in heavy-duty applications, e.g., container ports) or piezoelectric transducers (used for small, rapidly changing weights), have not yet become established in beehive scales due to practical reasons. Disadvantages of conventional weighing devices

[0006] Installation height: Systems that use a massive, beam-shaped load cell are quite tall (several centimeters). Since the cell must also withstand strong one-sided forces (tilt control, wind load), it must be correspondingly large. This limits its use when the beehive is located in an enclosure with a limited top height.

[0007] Tilt-instability: Even with massive load cells, the beehive rests on a fundamentally flexible frame. Lateral forces cause it to tilt or sway.

[0008] Sensitive analog electronics: The signal emitted by the load cells is very weak. Corrosion and contamination distort the signal when the weighing device is exposed to the elements. Furthermore, the use of organic acids (oxalic acid, formic acid, for varroa mite treatment) in apiaries contributes to corrosion. Some small spider species build their nests in the contacts. The excrement of spiderlings, combined with their silken webbing, also alters the analog signal. Corroding long cables and / or connectors between analog components and the analog-to-digital converter lead to unexpected measurement results.

[0009] Temperature dependence: When using multiple load cells, temperature gradients within the weighing system can cause measurement errors, for example, due to one-sided exposure to sunlight. The temperature dependence is typically non-linear due to the interconnection of multiple Wheatson bridges and is not adequately corrected.

[0010] Fixed support points: Weighing devices that use flat cells solve the problem of installation height, but typically have four support points determined by the frame of the weighing device. Therefore, they require a level surface for installation, or the hive dimensions must match the weighing device. 3 advantages of the invention

[0011] The advantages of the invention lie in the fact that it 1. It has a flat and narrow design, and can therefore be used in confined spaces. 2. In conjunction with the abutment, it provides a stable platform for the beehive that does not wobble, 3. can be flexibly placed under a beehive with any hive system or under a group of beehives, 4. all analog components are housed in a casing made of thermally conductive material and are therefore easy to handle with regard to temperature compensation, 5. It offers a simple digital serial interface for connecting a variety of microcontrollers. 4 Construction of the invention

[0012] The invention consists of four functional parts: 1) Upper shell and lower shell (made of a stable, thermally conductive, acid-resistant material, e.g. stainless steel), which serve as a weatherproof housing and as a receptacle for the weight forces as well as a means of transmitting the forces to the load cells, 2) Load cells designed as flat load cells. 3) Temperature sensor for temperature compensation. 4) Electronics that digitally processes the analog signals of the load cells and provides the weight measurement, the temperature, the level of the applied supply voltage and an individual, unique identifier for identification via a simple, digital, serial interface.

[0013] The invention can be represented in line / bar form ( Fig. 1) or in dot form ( Fig. 2) be executed. Fig. Figure 1 shows a possible embodiment of the invention in line / bar form. The following denotes... Fig. 1: (1) Upper shell, serves as weather protection and transmits the weight force of the mounted beehive to the load cells. (2) Inner housing for electronics (3) Lower shell, transmits weight force from the load cells to the base. (4) Connection for a serial cable (5) Transport securing device, connects upper and lower shell Fig. Figure 2 shows a possible embodiment of the invention in dot form. Here, the denotes in Fig. 2: (1) Support point for one side of the beehive, transmits the weight force of the placed beehive to the load cells (5). (2) Top shell, serves as weather protection. (3) Lower shell, transmits weight force from the load cells to the base. (4) Connection for a serial cable. (5) Internal structure for force distribution to the load cells. Fig. Figure 3 shows an exemplary use of the invention with a rigid abutment. In this context, the following designations apply: Fig. 3: (1) beehive (2) Abutment, e.g. in the form of a (wooden) beam (3) Base / Hive stand (5) Invention Fig. Figure 4 shows an exemplary use of the invention under a beehive for measuring the weight, also using the invention as a support and thus enabling a more precise weight determination. In this context, the term refers to Fig. 4: (1) beehive (2) Invention (3) Base / Hive stand Fig. Figure 5 shows an exemplary use of the invention under a beehive stand to record the weight of several beehives together. In this context, the term refers to Fig. 5: (1) Beehives (2) Base / Hive stand (3) Invention Fig. Figure 6 shows an exemplary overall configuration with the invention and a display unit. In this context, the term refers to Fig. 6: (1) Invention (2) Serial cable / connection cable (3) Display unit with microcontroller (4) Display of the display unit Fig. Figure 6 shows an exemplary overall configuration with the invention and a WLAN connection and storage of the data on an internet server. In this context, the term refers to Fig. 7: (1) Invention (2) Serial cable / connection cable (3) Transmitter unit with WLAN-enabled microcontroller (4) Wi-Fi connection (5) Internet router (6) Internet connection, e.g. DSL (7) Internet (8) Web server with database on the Internet Fig. Figure 8 shows a photograph of the prototype structure of the invention in the form of a beam. The upper and lower shells are made of stainless steel. The prototype has the identifier 3ix24.

Claims

[1] Weight determination device for beehives - nectar estimator, characterized by , that the invention uses a line / beam-shaped or alternatively point-shaped recording to determine the weight of the beehive and to measure weights or weight changes with one side of the beehive. [2] Weight determination device for beehives - nectar estimator according to claim (1), characterized by , that the invention, in conjunction with the provided abutment, prevents tilting and pitching movements of the beehive, [3] Weight determination device for beehives - nectar estimator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the invention is less than 3 cm high and can be implemented under the beehive simply by tilting it, without completely lifting it. [4] Weight determination device for beehives - nectar flow estimator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the invention provides the measured data via a digital serial interface for the direct connection of a large number of microcontrollers. [5] Weight determination device for beehives - nectar flow estimator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the invention a) the temperatures required for temperature compensation, b) the supply voltage and c) transmits a unique identifier.

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