Insect Watering System with Segmented Channels and Overflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watering devices for honeybees lack a landing step, leading to drowning as bees cannot access water without risking immersion.
Innovation Solution
A watering system with a base portion, overflow channel, and retainer ring that allows water to flow through pathways and channels, maintaining a shallow water level, enabling bees to drink without drowning by using a fluid vessel and handle that can be adjusted to ensure minimal water depth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water is provided in a pan without a landing step, then bees can access water, but bees drown due to inability to reach water without immersion
Solution Approach 1:
The pan is segmented into multiple functional zones: a central raised section that creates a dry landing area, and surrounding water channels that provide water access. This segmentation allows bees to stand on the raised section and drink water from the channels without being immersed, resolving the contradiction between water accessibility and drowning prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension by creating a raised central section that elevates the landing area above the water level. This dimensional change provides a safe dry zone while maintaining water access, allowing bees to drink without the risk of drowning that would occur in a flat pan configuration.
2Quantity of substance
If water depth is increased to ensure adequate water supply, then water availability improves, but bees cannot access water safely
Solution Approach 1:
The pan design segments the water supply into distributed channels surrounding the central raised section. This allows adequate water quantity to be provided through multiple channels while maintaining shallow depth that bees can access safely from their elevated position.
Solution Approach 2:
The raised central section acts as an intermediary platform that mediates between the water channels and the bees. It provides a stable standing area from which bees can drink water from the surrounding channels without direct contact with deeper water, thus enabling safe access to adequate water supply.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a landing step is added to prevent drowning, then bee safety improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The raised landing section and water channels are merged into a single integrated pan structure. This combining of functions provides both drowning prevention and water access without requiring separate components, thus improving bee safety while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pan structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the container for water storage, creates the raised landing platform for bee safety, and forms the water channels for water distribution. This multi-functionality achieves drowning prevention without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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
Prevents drowning of bees by maintaining a shallow water level, allowing them to drink safely and increasing honey production through effective pollination.
Implementation Method 1
An overflow channel is arranged next to the pan and through the base lip
Implementation Method 2
The at least one fluid pathway is aligned with the at least one retainer ring fluid pathway. A plurality of raised sections with a plurality of channels therebetween are both mechanically coupled to the pan. Fluid that is inserted through the retainer ring flows through the fills the at least one fluid pathway and the at least one retainer ring fluid pathway, before filling the plurality of channels
Data Source
AI summary
A watering system is configured to supply water to insects without the insects drowning. The watering system has a base portion with a base lip which is attached to all distal edges of a pan. An overflow channel is arranged next to the pan and through the base lip. A flow path is arranged in the base portion and further has a lip with a fluid pathway. A retainer ring is installed into the flow path immediately adjacent to the lip. The retainer ring has a retainer ring fluid pathway. The fluid pathway is aligned with the retainer ring fluid pathway. The pan is attached to raised sections with channels therebetween. Fluid that is inserted through the retainer ring flows through the fills the fluid pathway and the retainer ring fluid pathway, before filling the channels, and then spilling out of the overflow channel.