Telemetry transmitter mounting device

Abstract

In light of the recent bear attacks, countermeasures against wildlife damage have become an urgent issue. Telemetry, traditionally used to study the behavior of wild animals, plays an important role. However, conventional methods involve temporarily immobilizing wild animals with tranquilizer guns and attaching transmitters to collars, which presents various difficulties, including the need for legally mandated qualifications and permits. This invention aims to simplify this process and serve as a powerful measure to prevent wildlife damage. [Solution] This invention proposes attaching a telemetry transmitter to a wild animal using an ankle band, rather than a collar, utilizing the technology of animal restraint devices developed in recent years, and then releasing the animal. The transmitter closes its circuit and starts transmitting as soon as it is attached, transmitting necessary information, and the system is configured to issue warning information for the time the wild animal moves within a certain distance of the receiver.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a telemetry transmitter mounting device equipped with a system that can relatively easily mount a telemetry transmitter for tracking the movement of wild animals from information on radio waves transmitted and received between an antenna on the ground, a satellite, etc., and that can issue warning information during the time when a wild animal enters within a certain distance from a receiver.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, damage caused by wild animals to agriculture, forestry, etc. in rural areas has been increasing, and even personal injuries such as recent bear attacks have been occurring frequently. Therefore, while there is an urgent need to shift from conventional measures based on the protection of wild animals to the management of wild animals that induces an appropriate population, various anti-predation self-defense means and technologies, such as the wildlife approach warning system described in Document 1 and the animal collar mounting device described in Document 2, are also developing. Among them, the role of telemetry using the Global Positioning System (GPS) or very high frequency (VHF), which has also been conventionally used for investigating and researching the behavior of wild animals, is important. However, in most cases, since a wild animal is temporarily immobilized by a tranquilizer gun and a transmitter is attached by a collar or the like, there are various difficult problems such as the need for qualifications and permits stipulated by law for that work.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The above animal collar mounting device was developed completely independently of telemetry transmitter mounting, but by utilizing a part of that technology, there is a possibility of greatly transforming and evolving the latter. The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a method for attaching telemetry transmitters to certain wild animals suitable for this invention more easily and without burdening the animals, without using tranquilizer guns and therefore without requiring special qualifications. Furthermore, the invention aims to construct a system that transmits the intrusion of wild animals within a certain distance to an appropriate receiver and issues warning information, thereby contributing to the prevention of damage from harmful animals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The invention described in claim 1, which solves the above problem, It is provided with an outer cylinder that is installed horizontally on the ground and has a handle of a certain length at its rear, a foot plate that is movable downwards inside the outer cylinder, and a frame member that forms a loop-shaped contour on the upper side thereof with the foot plate as the bottom plate. A fastening loop that is easily tightened by passing a thin band or rope through a fastener is provided, and the fastening loop is wrapped around the frame member. A telemetry transmitter with its electrical circuit temporarily opened is placed near the front end of the shackling ring, and a receiver that receives the radio waves from the telemetry transmitter is placed in a remote location. The handle is provided with a spring mechanism that generates a biasing force to reduce the shackle, and a connecting means is provided that temporarily connects the catch member body provided at the front end of the spring mechanism with the receiving seat provided at the rear end of the shackle, and releases the connection when a certain force is exceeded, and a rope of a certain length is provided at the rear of the catch member body to secure it to the ground, The system includes a trigger mechanism that biases the spring to temporarily hold the footplate in a nearly horizontal position, and when a wild animal steps down on the footplate, instantly releases the biasing force of the spring to retract the snaring ring, and a switch that closes the electrical circuit of the telemetry transmitter and starts transmitting based on the compressive force of the retracted snaring ring on the wild animal's leg, or the relative movement of the front and rear ends of the snaring ring when it is retracted. The telemetry transmitter attachment device is configured such that, after attaching the telemetry transmitter with a closed electrical circuit to the leg of the wild animal, the connection by the connecting means is released by the tensile force emitted by the wild animal, thereby freeing the wild animal.

[0006] The invention described in claim 2 is, The enclosure member is an inner cylinder that fits into the outer cylinder so as to be able to move up and down, and the binding ring is wrapped around the upper end of the inner cylinder. The trigger means comprises a structure that connects the catch member body and the receiving seat by biasing the spring to pull the snaring ring and temporarily hold the footplate in a substantially horizontal position, and when the wild animal steps down on the footplate, the snaring ring is pushed up to the upper end of the outer cylinder and detached from the inner cylinder, instantly releasing the biasing force of the spring and retracting the snaring ring, as described in claim 1.

[0007] The invention described in claim 3 is, The enclosure member is composed of a pair of side plates of a certain height, positioned upward at the front and rear of the periphery of the footboard, and a pair of semi-loop-shaped frames symmetrically pivoted near the upper ends of the side plates, with the frames straddling the left and right periphery ends of the outer cylinder, and the binding rings wrapped around the frames. The trigger means comprises a structure that connects the catch member body and the receiving seat by biasing the spring to pull the shackle ring, causing the frame to form a slight V-shape and temporarily grip the left and right circumferential ends of the outer cylinder, and when the wild animal steps down the footplate, the left and right sides of the frame reverse, releasing the shackle ring, instantly releasing the biasing force of the spring, causing the shackle ring to shrink and spring upward, thus providing a telemetry transmitter mounting device according to claim 1.

[0008] The invention described in claim 4 is, The receiver is configured to issue warning information at least when the telemetry transmitter starts transmitting and receiving radio waves due to the operation of the switch, and during the time thereafter when the distance to the transmitter falls below a certain level due to the movement of the wild animal, as described in claim 1. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the invention described in claim 1, For target wild animals, the specifications of the telemetry transmitters to be attached can be matched, allowing for the attachment of telemetry transmitters to the legs of wild animals without capturing them, as an alternative to conventional methods such as using tranquilizer guns. This method does not require special qualifications, is easy to perform, and places minimal stress on the wild animals. Furthermore, since the device switches off the electrical circuit as soon as it is attached to a wild animal, the battery does not drain during the standby period.

[0010] According to the invention described in claim 2, Since the front part of the device mainly consists of an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, and a snaring ring, its structure is relatively simple, inexpensive, and easy to make robust. Therefore, this invention is advantageous for small wild animals with relatively short legs.

[0011] According to the invention described in claim 3, By creating a hole in the ground and burying the lower part of the device below the top surface, and by setting the left and right side plates to a certain height, the spring mechanism can be activated from a deep position. Therefore, even for large wild animals with relatively long legs, the telemetry transmitter can be attached higher up on the legs, making it less likely for the wild animal to cause damage after attachment. Although this invention partially utilizes the technology of conventional snare traps, like animal shackle attachment devices, it is not subject to legal regulations, allowing the footplate to be made to any size. Therefore, it is easier to achieve a higher attachment success rate and a higher attachment position compared to conventional snare traps.

[0012] According to the invention described in claim 4, When a telemetry transmitter is attached to a wild animal, and the switch is activated to begin transmitting and receiving radio waves, the receiver issues a warning message. This eliminates the need for patrols while the device is on standby, allowing for efficient management of the equipment. Furthermore, by attaching transmitters to wild animals living near human settlements, the receiver will continuously issue warning messages for as long as the animal enters within a certain distance of the receiver. This makes it easier for local residents and even passersby in the mountains to take self-defense measures to prevent damage. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of Example 1. [Figure 2] It is an explanatory view for explaining the details around the tightening ring of Example 1. [Figure 3] It is an explanatory view for explaining an example of a switch. [Figure 4] It is an explanatory view for explaining the configuration of Example 2. [Figure 5] It is an explanatory view for explaining the configuration of Example 3.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

EXAMPLE

[0015] Example 1 of the telemetry transmitter mounting device according to claim 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Hereinafter, in the description of all the figures, the side with the spring mechanism 4 is taken as the rear. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present device. The inner cylinder 1D, which is a rim member having the tread plate 1 as a bottom plate, is fitted into the outer cylinder 2 so as to be vertically movable. A handle 3 is fixed to the rear part of the outer cylinder 2, and these are installed horizontally on the ground. At the rear end of the handle 3, a tension spring protected by a sheath 4A as a spring mechanism 4 is pivotally mounted by a fixing bracket 4B.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the periphery of the outer cylinder 2 excluding the handle 3. In this example, the tightening ring 5 uses a metal strip 5A, and the fastener 5C fixed to the front end thereof uses the same as the head of a known ball lock type binding band whose schematic structure is also shown in FIG. 3, but other types may be used, and the present invention is not limited to that type. The connecting means 7 is composed of a catch member main body 71 made of spring steel and a receiving seat 71A. The hook-shaped receiving seat 71A is provided at the rear end of the tightening ring 5, and a fixing cord hole 71B and a spring mechanism connection hole 71C are provided at the rear part of the catch member main body 71. In this invention, various types of telemetry transmitters 6 can be used, including tag-type transmitters. However, in this figure, they are simply shown as small rectangular parallelepipeds, with a fastener 5C incorporated on top or provided adjacent to the fastener 5C. The battery built into the telemetry transmitter 6 is used immediately after attachment to the wild animal, and therefore, a switch 6A, described below, is provided inside the telemetry transmitter 6.

[0017] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of switch 6A. To operate the switch 6A according to the present invention, there are two methods: one that utilizes the force exerted by the constriction ring 5 as it contracts and compresses the wild animal's leg 10 by the telemetry transmitter 6, and another that utilizes the relative movement of the front and rear ends of the constriction ring 5 during the contraction process. Many methods can be considered for each method, but an example of the former is shown as (A) and an example of the latter as (B) in the figure. These are the simplest examples, and for example, in (B), a method can be considered in which the circuit part is sealed to improve water resistance and operated from the outside by a magnet, but the present invention is not limited to these methods. In (A), when the narrow band 5A is pulled through the fastener 5C incorporated inside the case 6B, the snaring loop 5 contracts and compresses the wild animal's leg 10, activating the push button 6A2 to close the circuit. This method is used in the example in Figure 1. In (B), an insulating strip 6A3 is already placed between the two terminals 6A1. As shown in Figure 2, the string 6A4 attached to the rear end of the insulating strip 6A3 is connected to the receiving seat 71A. Therefore, when the thin strip 5A is pulled, the insulating strip 6A3 falls off, and the spring 6A5 acts to close the circuit.

[0018] After the telemetry transmitter 6 is attached to the leg 10 of a wild animal, the wild animal will attempt to remove it in various ways, so it is protected by a case 6B strong enough to withstand these attempts. Furthermore, to prevent the device from falling off due to such damage, it is desirable to take measures such as applying an appropriate adhesive to the back of the telemetry transmitter 6 in addition to the fastener 5C. In this example, the telemetry transmitter 6 is positioned stably when set up by cutting out a portion of the outer circumference of the outer cylinder 2. However, to accommodate transmitters of various shapes and sizes, a shelf-like top plate 2A, as shown in Embodiment 2 described later, may be provided instead.

[0019] Because of this configuration, when the trap is set, the snare loop 5 is wrapped around the upper end of the inner cylinder 1D, and the spring 4 is pulled to connect the catch member body 71 and the receiving seat 71A. When a wild animal steps down on the footplate 1, the narrow strap 5A is pushed up to the upper end of the outer cylinder 2 and detaches from the inner cylinder 1D, and the snare loop 5 is pulled backward while simultaneously contracting at the front as it is caught on the wild animal's leg 10. When the wild animal is startled and tries to escape and pulls further, the load is concentrated on the fixing rope 8, limited by its length, and as the binding progresses and the load exceeds a certain level, the connection of the connecting means 7 is released, and the telemetry transmitter 6 with its electrical circuit closed by the operation of switch 6A is attached to the wild animal, allowing it to escape. [Examples]

[0020] An embodiment 2 of the telemetry transmitter mounting device according to claim 3 will be explained with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device, in which the footplate 1 inside the outer cylinder 2 is oval-shaped, and side plates 1B of a certain height are integrally provided with the footplate 1 on its shorter side, i.e., the front and rear circumferential ends, and a pair of semi-loop-shaped frames 1A are pivotally attached to the vicinity of their upper ends symmetrically by support shafts 1C. When the frame 1A straddles and clamps the left and right ends of the outer cylinder 2, and the binding ring 5 is wrapped around the frame 1A and pulled backward by the elastic mechanism 4, the frame 1A comes to rest in a slight V-shape. To make this resting position more stable, in this example, slightly elastic ear portions 2B are provided on the left and right ends of the outer cylinder 2, as shown in detail in the Z-section of the figure, and these are clamped in place. In this example, the rope 5B is a wire, and the fastener 5C is a snare fitting known in the field of snare traps, forming the snare ring 5. A telemetry transmitter 6 is installed adjacent to the fastener 5C on the snare ring 5, and the top plate 2A is fixed to the rear circumference of the outer cylinder 2 to allow for easy movement of these components. As in the previous example, the telemetry transmitter 6 is equipped with a switch 6A with a push button 6A2, and the electrical circuit closes when the snare ring 5 contracts and presses against the wild animal's leg 10. This can be replaced with the (B) method shown in Figure 3. The case 6B and the means to prevent detachment are also the same as in the previous example.

[0021] Because of this configuration, when the device is set up, the snare ring 5 is wrapped around the frame 1A and the spring 4 is pulled to connect the catch member body 71 and the receiving seat 71A. When a wild animal steps down on the footplate 1, which is at a certain depth, the frame 1A flips up and to the left and right around the support axis 1C, and the snare ring 5 is springed up from the frame 1A. As a result, the snare ring 5 contracts and tightens around the wild animal's leg 10 at a sufficiently high position. This is also effective in preventing the telemetry transmitter 6 from falling off due to damage caused by wild animals after it has been attached. Then, as in previous examples, the telemetry transmitter 6 with its electrical circuit closed can be attached to a wild animal and used to help it escape. [Examples]

[0022] An embodiment 3 of the telemetry transmitter mounting device according to claim 4 will be explained with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5 shows a system consisting of a telemetry transmitter 6 and a receiver 9 that receives the radio waves it emits. The telemetry transmitter 6 may transmit location information obtained by GPS via VHF, etc., or it may obtain location information via VHF, etc., without using GPS. The receiver 9 may or may not have a base station 11 equipped with an antenna and information processing device. In all of these cases, Figure A shows the moment when the telemetry transmitter 6 is attached to the leg 10 of the wild animal. Switch 6A closes the electrical circuit, and information is immediately sent to indicate that transmission and reception have started. After that, tracking and data storage are carried out according to the system's objectives. Figure B shows the moment when the wild animal enters within a certain distance of the receiver 9, and the system is configured so that the receiver 9 issues warning information during that time. One simple way to achieve this is to use a VHF beacon transmitter as a telemetry transmitter 6 and a corresponding beacon receiver as a receiver 9. This design eliminates battery drain during standby periods, making it easy and efficient to manage the device and monitor wildlife. It also makes it easier for local residents, as well as passersby in the mountains, to take measures to prevent damage from wild animals. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 1 Treadboard 1A Frame 1B Side plate 1C spindle 1D inner cylinder 2 Outer cylinder 2A Top plate 2B Ears 3 patterns 4 bullets 4A scabbard 4B Fixing bracket 5. Binding ring 5A narrow strip 5B Rope 5C fastener 6. Telemetry Transmitter 6A switch 6A1 terminal 6A2 Push Button 6A3 Insulation Band 6A4 String 6A5 spring 6B Case 7 Connection means 71 Catch component body 71A catch seat 71B Fixed cable hole 71C Ammunition connection hole 8 Fixed rope 9 Receiver 9A terminal 9B Beacon Receiver 10 wild animal legs 11 Base station

Claims

1. It is provided with an outer cylinder that is installed horizontally on the ground and has a handle of a certain length at its rear, a foot plate that is movable downwards inside the outer cylinder, and a frame member that forms a loop-shaped contour on the upper side thereof with the foot plate as the bottom plate. A fastening loop that is easily tightened by passing a thin band or rope through a fastener is provided, and the fastening loop is wrapped around the frame member. A telemetry transmitter with its electrical circuit temporarily opened is placed near the front end of the shackling ring, and a receiver that receives the radio waves from the telemetry transmitter is placed in a remote location. The handle is provided with a spring mechanism that generates a biasing force to reduce the shackle, and a connecting means is provided that temporarily connects the catch member body provided at the front end of the spring mechanism with the receiving seat provided at the rear end of the shackle, and releases the connection when a certain force is exceeded, and a rope of a certain length is provided at the rear of the catch member body to secure it to the ground, The system includes a trigger mechanism that biases the spring to temporarily hold the footplate in a nearly horizontal position, and when a wild animal steps down on the footplate, instantly releases the biasing force of the spring to retract the snaring ring, and a switch that closes the electrical circuit of the telemetry transmitter and starts transmitting based on the compressive force of the retracted snaring ring on the wild animal's leg, or the relative movement of the front and rear ends of the snaring ring when it is retracted. A telemetry transmitter attachment device configured such that, after attaching the telemetry transmitter with a closed electrical circuit to the leg of the wild animal, the connection by the connecting means is released by the tensile force emitted by the wild animal, thereby releasing the wild animal.

2. The enclosure member is an inner cylinder that fits into the outer cylinder so as to be able to move up and down, and the binding ring is wrapped around the upper end of the inner cylinder. The telemetry transmitter mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger means is configured to pull the snaring ring by biasing the spring to connect the catch member body and the receiving seat, thereby temporarily holding the footplate in a substantially horizontal position, and when the wild animal steps down on the footplate, the snaring ring is pushed up to the upper end of the outer cylinder and detached from the inner cylinder, instantly releasing the biasing force of the spring and retracting the snaring ring.

3. The enclosure member is composed of a pair of side plates of a certain height, positioned upward at the front and rear of the periphery of the footboard, and a pair of semi-loop-shaped frames symmetrically pivoted near the upper ends of the side plates, with the frames straddling the left and right periphery ends of the outer cylinder, and the binding rings wrapped around the frames. The telemetry transmitter mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger means is configured to pull the snaring ring by biasing the spring to connect the catch member body and the receiving seat, so that the frame forms a slight V-shape and temporarily grips the left and right circumferential ends of the outer cylinder, and when the wild animal steps down the footplate, the left and right sides of the frame reverse, releasing the snaring ring, instantly releasing the biasing force of the spring, causing the snaring ring to shrink and spring upward.

4. The telemetry transmitter mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to issue warning information at least when the telemetry transmitter starts transmitting and receiving radio waves due to the operation of the switch, and during the time thereafter when the distance to the transmitter falls below a certain level due to the movement of the wild animal.

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