Nested Trigger Animal Trap with Sliding Snare Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subterranean animal traps face challenges in effectively capturing and holding animals underground due to limitations in design and trigger mechanisms, leading to inefficiencies and potential false triggering.
Innovation Solution
The animal trap features a reconfigurable design with a snare tube and trigger assembly that transitions between cocked and deployed positions, utilizing a biasing member and trigger mechanism to ensure the snare tube projects into a passage upon activation, effectively trapping animals by sandwiching them between the snare tube and snare cup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the trigger assembly is designed to selectively hold the inner tubular member in the cocked position, then the reliability of the trap is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger assembly is nested within the inner tubular member, with the trigger rod extending through the snare tube. This nested configuration allows the trigger mechanism to be integrated into the existing structure rather than adding separate external components, thereby improving reliability while minimizing additional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger rod acts as an intermediary element that connects the trigger mechanism to the latch system. It transmits the activation force from the trigger to the latch, enabling reliable holding and release of the inner tubular member through a simple mechanical linkage rather than a complex control system
2Productivity
If the snare tube is repositionable between cocked and deployed positions, then the trapping efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner tubular member (snare tube) is designed to be dynamically repositionable between cocked and deployed positions through sliding movement. This dynamic capability allows the trap to adapt its configuration for both setting and triggering, improving trapping efficiency while using a simple linear motion mechanism rather than complex multi-axis positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The trap is segmented into distinct functional portions: the outer tubular member (housing), the inner tubular member (snare tube), and the trigger assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be independently optimized and repositioned, enabling efficient trapping through coordinated movement of discrete elements rather than a monolithic complex structure
3Reliability
If the biasing member is positioned to force the second portion into the second position, then the trapping reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member (spring) is positioned to automatically force the second portion into the deployed position when released. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external actuators or complex control systems to drive the deployment, achieving reliable positioning through simple elastic restoration
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member provides a counteracting force that opposes the holding force of the trigger assembly. When the trigger releases the latch, the biasing member's stored energy overcomes the retention force and drives the inner tubular member to the deployed position, ensuring reliable movement through balanced opposing forces
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
This design enhances the trapping efficiency by ensuring the snare tube is deployed only upon animal contact, reducing false triggers and improving the reliability of capturing burrowing animals like rodents and gophers.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing member is positioned to force the second portion into the second position from the first position such that the end of the second portion engages with the plate in response to activation of the trigger
Data Source
AI summary
An animal trap includes an outer member, an inner member, a resilient member, a bottom portion, and a trigger. The outer member has a first lower end and a first upper end, and defines a first cavity. The inner member has a second lower end and a second upper end, and defines a second cavity. At least a portion of the inner member is positioned within the first cavity of the outer member. The inner member is slidably repositionable relative to the outer member between a cocked position and a deployed position. The resilient member is positioned to bias the inner member into the deployed position. The bottom portion is coupled to the first lower end of the outer member. At least one of the bottom portion and the first lower end of the outer member define a passage. The trigger assembly is positioned to selectively hold the inner member in the cocked position.