Animal Trap With Flexible Trigger For Any Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal traps are expensive to manufacture and assemble due to their complex structure, require precise vertical orientation for reliable operation, and are not versatile in setting orientation, limiting their effectiveness and usability.
Innovation Solution
A simplified animal trap design featuring a housing with a movable support, biassing means, and a flexible elongate trigger that can flex in both directions, allowing reliable triggering in any orientation, and is easier to manufacture and assemble with fewer parts, using interengaging shoulders and flanges to maintain the set position until triggered by an animal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex structure with multiple interengaging separate pieces is used, then the trap may be more reliable in operation, but it becomes expensive to manufacture and assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism and support are merged into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for multiple separate interengaging parts. This integration maintains operational reliability while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost, as the single piece can be molded or fabricated as one unit without requiring assembly of multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The single integrated support structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, carries the trigger mechanism, and incorporates the interengaging means for positioning. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, reducing part count and assembly requirements while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the trigger mechanism hangs on surfaces of the closing part, then the trap can be set, but it requires precise vertical orientation for reliable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger is designed as a flexible element that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation. This flexibility allows the trigger to function reliably regardless of the trap's orientation, eliminating the requirement for precise vertical positioning while maintaining ease of operation and setting.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger's physical state changes from a rigid hung mechanism to a flexible element capable of bending and adapting. This parameter change in rigidity allows the trigger to maintain its functional geometry under various gravitational conditions, enabling the trap to operate reliably in any orientation without requiring precise setup.
3Reliability
If the trap is fixed to extend into a tunnel, then it can capture animals in tunnels, but its usefulness is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated support structure with flexible trigger serves as a universal mounting system that can be adapted to various environments including tunnels, open ground, and different orientations. The same basic structure maintains capture effectiveness whether installed in a tunnel or on open terrain, significantly increasing usage versatility without sacrificing reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The trap is more cost-effective, reliable, and can be set in any orientation, ensuring consistent and effective capture or killing of small animals with explosive force, regardless of the trap's orientation, due to its flexible trigger mechanism and reduced part count.
Implementation Method 1
biassing means biassing the support towards the second, fired position
Implementation Method 2
the trigger can flex and thereby be moved in two opposed directions relative to the path for the animal
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
An animal trap has a housing (2) and a support (12) extending within the housing. The support is movable between a first, set position and a second, fired position. A trigger (6) is integrally formed with the support (12) and protrudes from the bottom of the housing in the set position. Wire loops (4), which act to kill an animal, are fixed to the bottom of the support (12) and also protrude downwardly. In the set position of the trap, shoulders (18) on the trigger (6) are engaged beneath flanges (20) formed on the bottom of the housing. These shoulders (18) and flanges (20) form interengaging means to hold the trigger (6) and the support (12) in the downwardly extending set position against the force of two torsion springs (22) which are each affixed to the bottom of the support (12) and to the housing (2). The trigger (6) can be moved by an animal due to its flexibility. This causes the interengaging means to become unengaged and the support (12) to move explosively to its upper fired position. The movement of the support explosively lifts the wire loops (4) whereby an animal within a loop is squashed against the bottom of the housing.