Interlocking Migration Barrier Walls for Stable Animal Spacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing migration barriers for animal coops fail to effectively provide spacing between animal groups and inhibit migration into large clusters, particularly around heat or food sources, and do not maintain stability without additional support.

Innovation Solution

A migration barrier system comprising angled barrier walls that interlock to form a stable base structure, allowing for upright standing without additional support, and can be stacked or placed side-by-side to create zones that prevent animal clustering by providing ventilation and even distribution of resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional fences are used to separate animal groups, then migration prevention is achieved, but the structure requires additional support and is complex to assemble

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemigration preventionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier is divided into multiple individual panels that can be independently assembled and configured. Each panel contains its own frame structure with integrated mesh material, allowing the barrier to be segmented into manageable units that are easier to handle and assemble while maintaining overall effectiveness in preventing animal migration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame structure and mesh material are combined into a single integrated panel assembly. The mesh is attached directly to the frame, merging the support structure and the barrier material into one unified component that requires no separate assembly steps for attaching the mesh to the frame, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If barriers are designed to be easily assembled, then ease of operation is improved, but stability without additional support may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly easeVSAvoidbarrier stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The frame panels incorporate curved or angled members rather than purely straight rigid elements. The curved top members and angled support structures provide inherent structural stability while maintaining ease of assembly, as the curved shapes can be naturally formed from bent metal sheets and provide self-supporting characteristics without requiring complex bracing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier panels feature asymmetric frame designs where the top member is curved while the bottom and side members are straight or differently angled. This asymmetric configuration provides optimal stability by distributing structural loads unevenly to match the expected pressure distribution from animals, while still allowing for simple assembly through standardized connection points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS9788531B2Migration barriers, systems and methods

Publication Date: 2017.10.17 ORGANIZED LIVING

AI summary

A migration barrier includes a first barrier wall and a second barrier wall wherein at least one of the first and second barrier walls together provide a stable base structure that maintains the barrier assembly in an upright, standing position.