Gimbaled Insect Trap for Live Capture and Safe Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insect traps are largely ineffective for capturing most insect species alive and intact, as they either kill the insects with adhesive materials or rely on pheromones and funnel structures that only attract a limited number of species.
Innovation Solution
A non-lethal insect trap featuring a two-axis gimbal with a transparent receptacle that automatically returns to an initial position while allowing manual adjustment, equipped with a rotatable lid mechanism controlled by a cable and spring system, enabling safe capture and release of insects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If adhesive material is used to trap insects, then insects are captured effectively, but insects are killed and disfigured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful adhesive material from the trapping mechanism entirely. Instead of using adhesive surfaces that kill and disfigure insects, the invention employs a clean mechanical funnel structure that captures insects alive and intact, allowing for their release or study without harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the natural behaviors and physiological traits of insects (their flight patterns, response to light, and body orientation) into beneficial trapping mechanisms. The funnel structure exploits insect flight characteristics to guide them into captivity without harm, while the transparent receptacle allows observation of live insects.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If funnel-like mechanical structure is used to capture insects, then some insect species can be trapped without killing them, but not all insect species exhibit the necessary behavior to be susceptible to this trap type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a two-axis gimbal mount that allows the funnel structure to dynamically adjust its orientation and positioning. This dynamic capability enables the trap to adapt to different insect flight paths and behaviors, making it effective for species that would not be captured by a fixed funnel structure while still maintaining the non-lethal capture mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent receptacle acts as an intermediary between the funnel entrance and the capture chamber. It provides a transition zone that guides insects smoothly into captivity while allowing observation, and the entire assembly can be positioned at various angles to intercept different insect flight patterns, expanding behavioral compatibility.
3Ease of operation
If the receptacle is made transparent for observation, then live insects can be viewed, but the structure becomes more complex compared to traditional traps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs transparency (optical property) of the receptacle material to enable observation of live insects. This optical characteristic allows the chamber to be both functional for capture and transparent for viewing, eliminating the need for separate observation mechanisms and actually simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent receptacle serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the capture chamber, the observation window, and the containment vessel. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components that would increase complexity, as the same transparent structure accomplishes both trapping and viewing purposes.
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 effectively captures insects alive and intact by allowing for precise positioning and safe containment, overcoming the limitations of previous traps that often resulted in insect death or failure to attract certain species.
Implementation Method 1
a spring connected to the lid and receptacle. The spring is configured to rotate the lid to the uncovered position when tension is released from the cable and rotate the lid to the covered position when tension is applied to the cable
Implementation Method 2
a first axis configured to automatically return the receptacle to an initial position
Data Source
AI summary
A non-lethal insect trap, comprising a shaft connected to a two-axis gimbal, a transparent receptacle connected to the gimbal configured to surround an insect, a lid connected to the receptacle and means to rotatably cover and uncover the opening of the receptacle with the lid. Regarding the gimbal, a first axis is configured to automatically return the receptacle to an initial position while a second axis is configured to allow for manual adjustment without returning to an initial position. The trap further comprises a handle connected to the shaft, a cable internally routed through the shaft for connecting the handle with the lid and a spring connected to the lid and receptacle. The spring is configured to rotate the lid to the uncovered position when tension is released rotate the lid to the covered position when tension is applied to the cable.