Cork-Polymer Composite Beehive for Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beehives made from cork, pine wood, and plastic have limitations such as low productivity, poor weather resistance, and weak insulating properties, leading to impractical and inefficient honey collection and storage.
Innovation Solution
A composite material blending polymer with cork granules and ligneous material, varying between 10% to 75% polymer and 25% to 90% cork/ligneous, providing enhanced thermal insulation, mechanical strength, and moisture barrier properties, while reducing humidity and UV degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If cork beehive is used, then durability is improved, but productivity and ease of honey collection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite material combining polymer and cork granules to create a beehive that maintains the durability of cork while enabling modern movable frame designs for improved productivity and ease of honey collection
2Ease of operation
If pine wood beehive is used, then ease of operation is improved, but weather resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material combines polymer (which provides weather resistance and chemical treatment capability) with cork granules (which provide thermal insulation), creating a beehive that maintains both ease of operation and improved weather resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters by using polymer-cork composite that can undergo chemical treatments, thereby improving weather resistance while maintaining the operational benefits of modern beehive designs
3Ease of operation
If plastic beehive is used, then ease of operation is improved, but thermal insulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines polymer with cork granules to create a composite material that maintains the ease of operation associated with plastic beehives while restoring excellent thermal insulation properties through the cork component
4Strength
If polymer content is increased, then mechanical strength is improved, but thermal insulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the polymer-to-cork ratio parameters to achieve the desired balance between mechanical strength and thermal insulation, adjusting the composition based on specific beehive component requirements
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 composite material improves beehive durability, thermal insulation, and bee health by maintaining a stable temperature and reducing bacterial and fungal growth, offering a high financial payback and improved beekeeping efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the beehive need to have a good moisture barrier which is achieved, in the present invention, through the use of polymers in its composition
Implementation Method 2
the low water permeability of hydrophobic polymers, for example, the olefins
Implementation Method 3
the cork will act as a shield preventing the attack from UV on the polymer, which lies immediately behind this protective surface
Implementation Method 4
the scattered arrangement of the materials used in the composite, contributes to a high degree of protection from weather, particularly with regard to ultraviolet radiation
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention refers to a new composite material for production of beehive for apiculture use, and its manufacturing process. This composite material is made of cork and/or ligneous material, polymers, fire retardant and/or UV protector. The percentage of polymer in the composite varies between 10% and 75% and the blend of the granulated cork with the ligneous material between 25% and 90%. The material to be used must have a particle size which permit its use in extrusion and injection production lines, because the molding of the beehives is made through one of these processes. The beehive is composed by stand (A), sidewalls (H), front and rear walls (I), inner cover (E) and outer cover (F), and can be assembled in three different ways: traditional, in ramp and in step.