Insect Trap Attractant Release Control via Threshold Accumulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insect trapping methods, particularly for bed bugs, face challenges in efficiently and effectively attracting and capturing insects due to difficulties in producing and controlling the release of sufficient attractants, such as carbon dioxide, and the associated noise pollution.
Innovation Solution
An insect trapping device with a housing, trapping means, an attractant source, and regulating and propelling means to control the release of attractants, ensuring a consistent and adaptable trap that accumulates attractants to a threshold before releasing them to lure insects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If large pressurised CO2 containers are used to provide sufficient attractant quantities, then the attractant release is sufficient to motivate insects, but noise pollution occurs due to intermittent release
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by accumulating CO2 to a threshold level and then releasing it in controlled periodic bursts through the propelling means, rather than continuous or intermittent release from pressurised containers. This periodic accumulation and release cycle achieves sufficient attractant quantity while avoiding the noise pollution associated with frequent pressurised container releases.
2Quantity of substance
If CO2 is produced in bulk formats and distributed under pressure, then sufficient quantities are available, but the release causes intermittent noise pollution and is uneconomical for bug trap environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary amount of CO2 from the bulk source and accumulates it in a reservoir within the trap housing. This extraction approach allows the system to use bulk CO2 production economically while releasing only the required quantity locally, avoiding the noise and economic inefficiency of distributing pressurised CO2 in small containers to individual traps.
3Reliability
If attractant is released continuously, then insects are consistently attracted, but the amount of chemicals sprayed or broadcast increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by accumulating CO2 to a threshold level before release. This accumulation phase stores the attractant in concentrated form, and the subsequent controlled release through the propelling means delivers a sufficient quantity to effectively attract insects. This approach maintains reliable attractant effectiveness while using chemicals more efficiently than continuous spraying or broadcasting methods.
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 device effectively and quietly controls the release of attractants, accumulating them to a specified level for efficient dispersion, thereby attracting insects into the trap with improved efficiency and reduced noise pollution.
Implementation Method 1
propelling means for evacuating at least a portion of the attractant from within the housing through the opening
Implementation Method 2
wherein the control means is configured to activate the propelling means once a threshold volume of attractant has accumulated within housing
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an insect trapping device (100) comprising: a housing (110) having an opening (120) through which insects (I) can enter the housing; trapping means (130) for trapping insects within the housing; an attractant source (170) and regulating means for regulating a flow of an attractant (160) into the housing; propelling means (150) for evacuating at least a portion of the attractant from within the housing through the opening; control means communicatively coupled with the regulating means and propelling means; wherein the control means is configured to activate the propelling means once a threshold volume of attractant has accumulated within housing. Also disclosed is a method for of trapping insects. Advantageously, the present invention can effectively, consistently and quietly control the release of the attractant, where the attractant remains in the housing until the propelling means sends it through the opening, allowing the attractant to accumulate to a specified level in the housing and to be dispersed efficiently creating an effective lure for insects to follow into the traps.