Insect Trap Permeable Wall Airflow Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insect traps are either complex in structure or costly to produce, lacking a balance between effectiveness and simplicity.

Innovation Solution

A simplified insect trap design featuring a suction opening with a permeable outer wall that widens at a changing radial distance, incorporating a net-like structure for air flow and a largely impermeable front or bottom side, along with a weak air flow system that mimics human or animal convection currents, enhanced by chemical attractants and visual stimuli.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If conventional insect trap designs with cone-shaped nets and multiple components are used, then insect capture effectiveness is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidinsect capture effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The trap is divided into three main functional segments: an intake opening for insect entry, a collection container for storing captured insects, and a permeable outer wall for airflow and visual attraction. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity and effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The permeable outer wall serves multiple functions simultaneously: it allows air permeability for convection current generation, provides visual attraction through light reflection, and acts as a physical barrier to prevent insect escape. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If a permeable outer wall with net-like structure is used, then insect escape is prevented while maintaining air flow, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmesh size consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The outer wall is constructed as a flexible net-like structure that can be easily formed and assembled. This flexible shell approach allows for simple manufacturing processes while maintaining consistent mesh dimensions, as the net structure can be produced using standard weaving or knitting techniques with controlled parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Productivity

If the outer wall widens at varying radial distances, then visual attraction and airflow generation are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsect attraction effectivenessVSAvoidouter wall geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The outer wall features a smooth curved profile that widens at varying radial distances from the intake opening. This curved geometry naturally enhances visual attraction by creating reflective surfaces at multiple angles and facilitates airflow generation through convection currents, while remaining simple enough to manufacture as a single molded or formed component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 attracts and retains insects with a cost-effective and straightforward design, utilizing a combination of air flow and visual cues to create an attractive stimulus while preventing escape, making it efficient and easy to produce.

Implementation Method 1

The surface widens in a direction parallel to the direction of the airflow passing through the intake channel and is at least partially permeable to outgoing air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

whose mesh size reliably prevents the escape of the insects trapped inside the trap

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 3

an intake opening that extends into an intake channel in which an airflow acts upon the intake opening with negative pressure or a suction flow, leading to an interior space of the insect trap

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 4

incorporating a weak air flow system that mimics human or animal convection currents

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3675628B1Insect trap and method for attracting and/or capturing flying insects
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 BIOGENTS
  • EP3675628B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to an insect trap (10) and a method for attracting and/or capturing flying insects and/or insect pests (12). The trap (10) has a suction opening (14) which continues into a suction channel (16), in which there is an air flow (18) applying the suction opening (14) with a negative pressure or with a suction flow, and leading to an internal space (20) of the insect trap (10). The trap (10) also has a surface which surrounds the suction channel (16) near the suction opening (14), encases the suction channel (16) in a further region at a varying radial distance, widens in a direction parallel to the direction of the air flow (18) passing through the suction channel (16), and is at least partially permeable to out-flowing air (24), and which forms at least one part of an outer wall (22) of the insect trap (10). In addition, an end or base side (28) is provided, which is connected to the outer wall (22), is substantially impermeable to in- or out-flowing air, and is positioned opposite the suction opening (14), and which is at least slightly spaced apart from an open end side (30) of the suction channel (16) extending into the internal space (20) of the trap (10).