Rotating Electrode Trap for Rodent Size Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pest animal traps are not optimized for effectively neutralizing rodents of different sizes through electrocution, as they often fail to ensure consistent contact with electrode plates, leading to incomplete killing or escape possibilities.
Innovation Solution
A two-storey trap with a rotatable shaft and orthogonal axial walls featuring consecutively arranged electrode plates, where the intermediate electrode plate is electrified, and the first and third plates are grounded, ensuring electrocution regardless of rodent size, with a mechanism to rotate the killing chamber and discharge carcasses after each cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrode plate arrangements are used, then the trap structure is simple, but the electrocution effectiveness for rodents of different sizes is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is segmented into multiple electrode plates (first, second, third electrode plates) arranged in sequence, allowing different contact configurations for rodents of varying sizes. This segmentation enables reliable electrocution across different rodent sizes without requiring a completely complex redesign of the entire trap structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode plates are arranged to be movable relative to each other, allowing dynamic adjustment of the electrode configuration. This enables the system to adapt to rodents of different sizes while maintaining electrocution effectiveness, resolving the contradiction between reliability and structural complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple electrode plates are added to ensure consistent contact, then electrocution reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trap uses three electrode plates instead of the traditional two, providing excessive contact points that ensure at least two plates will be contacted by rodents of any size. This partial redundancy improves reliability while keeping the increase in complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple electrode plates serve multiple functions: they provide contact points for different sized rodents, create multiple possible current paths, and ensure reliable electrocution regardless of the specific contact configuration. This multi-functionality justifies the additional complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the killing chamber is designed for multiple rodent sizes, then versatility improves, but the mechanism complexity for ensuring proper electrocution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode plates are arranged in a sequential linear configuration rather than a simple parallel arrangement, creating multiple spatial dimensions for contact. This dimensional arrangement allows the same electrode structure to effectively handle rodents of different sizes without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms.
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 solution ensures effective electrocution of rodents of varying sizes by ensuring consistent contact with electrode plates and efficient disposal of carcasses, maintaining trap readiness for subsequent cycles.
Implementation Method 1
a high voltage transformer connected to the electric accumulator
Implementation Method 2
the chamber rotates approximately 180 degrees so that it is inverted, allowing the dead mouse to fall downwards into the collection bin
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for the capture and electrocution of pest animals is provided. The apparatus has a killing chamber, an electric accumulator, a high voltage transformer, three electrode plates located in the killing chamber and connectable to the high voltage transformer, and three stationary electrical contacts. A rotor having a horizontal rotating shaft and four axial walls, each with three electrode plates arranged consecutively in an axial direction, is lockable in four predetermined angular positions in each of which one of the four axial walls is horizontal and has the three electrode plates facing the killing chamber. Each axial wall of the rotor has three movable electrical contacts that are each connected to a respective one of the three electrode plates. The three movable contacts on a same one of the axial walls are temporarily and simultaneously connectable to respective stationary electrical contacts when the axial wall is horizontal.