Modular Animal Trap with Concealable Threshold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional animal traps are inefficient in capturing large quantities of feral hogs due to their bulkiness, mobility issues, and the ability of hogs to recognize and avoid traps, leading to incomplete herd capture and potential trapper safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A modular, configurable trap system with a deployable corral and gate assembly that can be easily transported and deployed, featuring a concealable entrance threshold and anti-climbing fence panels, allowing for rapid deployment and secure containment of multiple large animals without harming them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional preassembled cages are used to trap feral hogs, then the trap structure is simple and easy to deploy, but the traps are bulky and difficult to relocate, reducing mobility and response speed
Solution Approach 1:
The trap system is divided into modular components including collapsible fence panels, separate gate assemblies, and interchangeable panels (wire mesh, solid, anti-climb). These segmented modules can be independently transported and quickly reconfigured, enabling rapid relocation while maintaining structural integrity during deployment.
2Productivity
If traps are relocated frequently to follow hog herds, then capture effectiveness improves, but the bulkiness of conventional traps increases handling time and reduces trapper speed
Solution Approach 1:
The fence panels are designed to be collapsible and flexible rather than rigid, allowing them to be quickly folded for transport and rapidly deployed when needed. The modular panels can be selectively assembled in different configurations, enabling the trapper to adapt to various terrain and herd conditions without excessive handling time.
3Speed
If smaller traps are used to reduce bulk and improve mobility, then relocation becomes easier, but the traps cannot capture large quantities of hogs and may be easily damaged by strong animals
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple standard-sized panels can be connected in series to create enclosures of any required size, allowing the trap capacity to scale with the hog herd size. The segmented design means each panel remains manageable for transport, but they combine to form a large-capacity enclosure when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple panels are combined to form a unified enclosure structure that can contain entire hog herds. The gate assembly integrates with the panel system to create a complete trapping system where the combined structure provides both the capacity to hold large numbers of animals and the strength to contain aggressive hogs.
4Strength
If trap structures are reinforced to withstand strong hogs, then structural strength improves, but the increased weight and bulk interfere with mobility
Solution Approach 1:
Different panel types are used in different locations based on required strength: solid panels for areas needing impact resistance, wire mesh for areas needing flexibility and visibility, and anti-climb panels where hogs might attempt to escape. The gate assembly uses reinforced construction only where structural strength is critical for containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines different panel materials (wire mesh, solid wood or metal, anti-climb mesh) and connection mechanisms to achieve both strength and mobility. The composite construction allows panels to be strong when assembled but lightweight and flexible when collapsed for transport.
5Ease of operation
If conventional traps are used, then deployment is straightforward, but hogs can recognize the threat and leave the area, preventing capture of the whole herd
Solution Approach 1:
The modular panel system allows creation of large enclosure areas that can contain entire hog herds rather than individual animals. The configurable nature enables the trap to be adapted to the specific herd size and behavior patterns, improving the likelihood of capturing the complete herd.
Solution Approach 2:
The trap system can be configured in various sizes and shapes using the same modular panels, allowing adaptation to different terrain conditions and herd behaviors. This universality makes the trap less recognizable as a standard trap, reducing hog wariness while maintaining ease of deployment.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable, trapping system for capturing and non-lethally retaining a large number of large animals, such as wild horses or feral hogs. A specialized trailer aligns and secures deployable corral components for transportation. The corral comprises a modular fence erected on-site from multiple fence panels that are hinged together by pinning. The fence panels are configured with voids to prevent animal climbing. A gate with a remotely actuated trap door is similarly pinned between adjacent fence panels. The gate threshold is concealable. Stakes secure panels to the ground, forming a stable enclosure. The trailer comprises a rigid, confining frame structure adapted to constrain and transport corral components. When the corral is disassembled, multiple individual fence panels to be moved are slidably captivated between channels on first and second confining surfaces, being maintained in a parallel and stable configuration during transportation.