Floating Insert Plate with Flexible Gasket for Beehive Feeding

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Solution Overview

Problem

In commercial beehive operations, feed apparatuses with liquid nutrient solutions can lead to surface level depletion due to consumption and evaporation, and pose a risk of bees drowning in the feed.

Innovation Solution

A bee hive feeding apparatus featuring a pan with a tower portion and an insert plate that floats on the liquid feed, equipped with a gasket portion to bridge the gap between the insert plate and the tower, preventing bees from falling into the feed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a liquid feed apparatus is used to provide nutrients to bees, then the feeding efficiency is improved, but the risk of bees drowning increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding efficiencyVSAvoidbee drowning risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A floating insert plate is introduced as an intermediary structure between the liquid feed and the bees. The plate provides a dry standing surface that prevents bees from direct contact with the liquid feed, thereby eliminating the drowning risk while allowing bees to access nutrients through the plate's edges and openings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The feed apparatus is segmented into multiple functional zones: the liquid feed reservoir, the floating insert plate with standing surface, and the tower portion with aperture. This segmentation separates the feeding function from the potential harm, allowing bees to feed safely on the plate while the liquid feed remains contained below.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Duration of action of moving object

If the liquid feed surface level is maintained, then the feeding duration is extended, but the volume of feed required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeeding durationVSAvoidvolume of feed

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The floating insert plate is nested within the pan reservoir, creating a multi-level structure. The plate floats on the liquid feed surface, and the tower portion extends upward from the pan floor. This nesting allows the apparatus to maintain a larger effective feed volume while the floating plate continues to provide safe standing surface area throughout the feeding period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The insert plate creates additional vertical dimension for bee activity by extending upward from the liquid surface. The tower portion with its aperture provides vertical access pathways, allowing bees to access feed from multiple height levels rather than just the surface, thereby extending feeding duration without proportionally increasing liquid feed volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If the insert plate is positioned close to the tower portion, then the structural compactness is improved, but the gap between plate and tower may allow bees to fall into feed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural compactnessVSAvoidbee access to liquid feed

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible gasket portion is used to bridge the gap between the floating insert plate and the tower portion. The gasket maintains contact and prevents gaps while accommodating the floating motion of the plate. This flexible barrier ensures bees cannot slip through to access the liquid feed, maintaining safety without compromising structural compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The gasket portion is pre-installed to prevent the harmful action of bees falling into the liquid feed. By providing continuous contact between the plate and tower, the gasket creates a preliminary barrier that stops bees before they can access the dangerous liquid feed area, thereby preventing the harmful effect in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 solution provides a stable feeding platform for bees, reducing the need for frequent refilling and minimizing bee fatalities due to drowning, while maintaining a larger volume of feed available.

Implementation Method 1

a main body constructed of a material floatable on water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

a gasket portion coupled to the main body extending away from the edge and being flexible, wherein the gasket portion is configured to bridge a gap between the edge and the tower portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250098647A1Hive feed apparatus and method

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 FORMTECH PLASTICS INC

AI summary

An insert plate for a bee hive feeding pan is disclosed. A feeding pan has a tower portion through which bees enter the pan. The insert plate includes: a main body constructed of a material floatable on water and including an edge positionable adjacent the tower portion, and a gasket portion coupled to the main body extending away from the edge and being flexible, wherein the gasket portion is configured to bridge a gap between the edge and the tower portion when the insert plate is floating on liquid in the bee hive feeding pan. The insert plate increases the area from which the bees can feed at the surface level of the food and the gasket portion acts as a bridge to facilitate passage of the bees from the tower portion to the insert plate.