Adjustable Bird Feeder Spring for Bird-Squirrel Weight Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bird feeder spring systems face inconsistencies in spring strength and compressibility, leading to inadequate differentiation between the weights of birds and squirrels, which affects access to bird feed, as the same manufacturer's springs can vary in performance despite identical specifications.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable spring system comprising a central rod, a compressible component, an elongated member, and a cap, allowing for adjustable movement between positions to optimize spring compression based on weight, ensuring alignment of openings for birds while preventing access for squirrels by adjusting the spring's compression range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed spring system is used in bird feeders, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the spring performance varies due to manufacturing inconsistencies, leading to inadequate weight differentiation between birds and squirrels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the spring system adjustable rather than fixed. The elongated member can be positioned at different locations along the central rod, allowing the spring compression distance to be dynamically changed. This enables the same spring to provide different compression forces for weight differentiation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by adding adjustability without requiring multiple springs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the compression distance of the spring through repositioning the elongated member. By changing the compression parameter (distance between the cap and elongated member), the spring constant's effective impact is adjusted, allowing consistent weight differentiation performance despite manufacturing variations in spring strength.
2Manufacturing precision
If springs with identical specifications from the same manufacturer are used, then manufacturing is consistent and simple, but the springs still vary in strength and compressibility, affecting performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-designing an adjustable mechanism (the elongated member on the central rod) that compensates for spring variations before the feeder is used. Instead of selecting precise springs during manufacturing, the system allows users to adjust the compression distance to achieve the desired precision, separating manufacturing simplicity from operational precision.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the spring compression is increased to prevent squirrel access, then squirrel prevention improves, but bird access may be blocked as the spring remains uncompressed under bird weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by allowing the compression threshold to be dynamically adjusted through repositioning the elongated member. This enables optimization of the compression force to distinguish between bird and squirrel weights, preventing squirrel access while maintaining bird access by setting the appropriate compression distance for the specific spring being used.
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 adjustable spring system effectively adapts to varying spring constants, ensuring the spring remains uncompressed under bird weight and compresses under squirrel weight, maintaining access to bird feed while preventing squirrel access, thereby addressing manufacturing inconsistencies and weight differentiation.
Implementation Method 1
a compressible component positioned around the central rod
Implementation Method 2
springs vary in strength and compressibility
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an adjustable spring system, which is comprised of a central rod positioned partially within a member. A spring is positioned over the central rod, confined in the area in between the lower cap and the member. The member is attached to and capped by an end cap, and the member is threaded onto the central rod. As such, rotation of the end cap or the member directly correspondingly rotates the member, which moves up or down along the length of the central rod. When the adjustable spring system is installed within a bird feeder, it allows an operator to choose the amount of compression of the spring, which in turn affects the ability of the central rod to move with respect to the seed tray.