Extruded Insulating Body with Embedded Metallic Conductors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bird and animal deterrent devices with braided or knitted metallic conductor strips face issues of water ingress through stitching holes leading to short circuiting, voltage loss, and structural deterioration, causing inefficiency and damage.
Innovation Solution
A deterrent device featuring an elongate body made from an extrudable insulating material with knitted or braided metallic conductors securely integrated during extrusion, eliminating the need for stitching and enhancing durability and water drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conductor strips are stitched to a PVC base, then the conductors can be securely attached, but stitching holes allow water ingress leading to short circuiting and arcing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the stitching holes entirely by eliminating the stitching process. Instead of stitching conductors to the base, the conductors are embedded directly into the PVC base during extrusion, creating a seamless attachment without holes that could allow water ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the conductor attachment process with the base extrusion process into a single integrated operation. The conductors are fed into the extrusion die along with the PVC material, and both are formed together in one continuous process, eliminating separate attachment steps.
2Strength
If conductor strips are stitched to the base, then they can be secured, but the stitching can rot and deteriorate over time compromising product integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the stitching component entirely from the system. By removing the stitching process, the rotting and deterioration problems associated with stitching threads are completely avoided.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the stitching material (which has limited lifespan due to rotting) with a permanent embedded connection that is as durable as the PVC base itself, effectively creating a non-disposable, lifelong attachment solution.
3Ease of manufacture
If conductor strips are inducted separately after base production, then attachment is possible, but additional fastening means are required increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the conductor attachment function with the base extrusion function into a single integrated process. The conductors are fed into the extrusion die simultaneously with the PVC material, and both are formed together in one continuous operation, eliminating the need for separate attachment steps and additional fastening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The extrusion die is designed to perform multiple functions: forming the PVC base and simultaneously embedding the conductors. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate attachment equipment and processes.
4Strength
If stitching is used to attach conductors, then attachment is achieved, but water can pass through stitching holes causing short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the stitching holes from the system. By removing the stitching process entirely and embedding conductors directly into the extruded base, there are no holes for water to penetrate, completely preventing water ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous PVC base acts as a flexible protective shell that completely encloses and protects the conductors, preventing water ingress while maintaining the structural integrity and attachment of the conductors.
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 prevents short circuiting and structural deterioration, ensuring consistent voltage and prolonged device integrity by securely fastening the conductors to the elongate body, maintaining effective deterrence without the need for additional fastening means.
Implementation Method 1
an elongate body formed from an extrudable insulating material and at least one elongate knitted/braided metallic conductor provided on an upward facing surface of the elongate body, the material of the elongate body penetrating into the lower margins of the or each knitted/braided metallic conductor
Implementation Method 2
cooling the deterrent device to secure the or each knitted/braided metallic conductor to the elongate body
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a deterrent device 10 having an elongate body 11 formed from an extrudable insulating material. The device has at least one elongate knitted/braided metallic conductor 19 on an upward facing surface of the body 11, the material of the body penetrating into the lower margins of the or each conductor thereby securing the or each conductor to the body with the upward facing surface of the or each conductor being exposed. This construction enables the conductors to be co-extruded with the body thereby avoiding the need for further fastening devices and enables manufacture in a single operation.