Rotating Spherical Line Diverter for Bird Visibility and Wind Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing avian distractor devices for preventing bird collisions with overhead lines are often expensive, difficult to assemble, prone to mechanical failure under windy conditions, and lack effective visibility for wildlife, especially in low light conditions, and pose safety risks during installation on energized lines.
Innovation Solution
A modular, easy-to-assemble avian distractor device featuring a clamp with spring-attached jaws and a spherical diverter with retro-reflective tape and photo-phosphorence pigments, designed to reduce wind loading and enhance visibility through rotation and night glow effects, using a polyamide structure for durability and UV stability, and allowing for installation on various structures, including energized lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If prior art distractor devices use non-reflective coating to reduce power line visibility, then the contrast with environment is improved for stealth, but bird collision risk increases due to reduced visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the diverter by using retro-reflective materials that reflect light back to its source, creating a visible shimmering effect that contrasts with the environment. This resolves the contradiction by making the device visible to birds through parameter change in light reflection characteristics, while maintaining the simple coating application process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs retro-reflective materials that change their visual appearance based on light angle and intensity, creating a dynamic shimmering effect. This color/optical property change ensures the diverter remains visible to birds under various lighting conditions while maintaining ease of manufacture through material selection rather than complex application processes.
2Ease of operation
If clamp devices are used to hold conductor lines, then attachment is achieved, but mechanical failure occurs due to strong winds or insufficient fixed engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic element through the spherical diverter that can rotate or move in response to wind forces. This dynamic capability allows the device to accommodate wind loads without experiencing the same static stress concentrations that lead to clamp failure, while maintaining easy attachment through the original clamp mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the attachment system into separate functional components: the clamp provides secure mechanical attachment to the conductor, while the spherical diverter provides the visual distraction function. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the clamp for mechanical stability and the diverter for visibility and wind adaptability.
3Productivity
If assembly is performed on energized lines, then installation time is reduced, but safety risks to persons performing assembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the clamp and diverter assembly as a self-contained unit that can be pre-assembled and then quickly installed as a single component. This self-service design allows installation personnel to minimize exposure to energized lines by reducing the number of steps requiring proximity to live conductors, thereby maintaining productivity while improving safety.
4Illumination intensity
If spherical diverter with retro-reflective tape is used, then visibility to wildlife is enhanced, but wind loading on the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical diverter is designed to rotate or move dynamically in response to wind forces rather than resisting them statically. This dynamic behavior reduces the effective wind load by allowing the structure to flex and reorient, while the retro-reflective tape maintains visibility by continuously reflecting light back to the source regardless of the sphere's orientation.
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 device is cost-effective, durable, and easy to install, reducing wind-induced mechanical failures and enhancing visibility to wildlife, effectively diverting birds and other wildlife from overhead structures by reflecting light and inducing a night glow effect, while ensuring safety during installation.
Implementation Method 1
A retro-reflective is encircled on a central portion of the spherical diverter to enhance visibility of the device
Implementation Method 2
photo-phosphorence pigments, designed to reduce wind loading and enhance visibility through rotation and night glow effects
Implementation Method 3
The spherical diverter reflects any available light in all directions and is visible from all directions including above or below the diverter. The spherical diverter reflects any available light in all directions and is visible from all directions including above or below the diverter.
Data Source
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AI summary
An avian distractor device (10) is disclosed which includes a clamp (12) having a pair of jaws (13, 14) attached to a hinge (16) via a plurality of springs (18, 38) and a locking member (52) disposed in communication with the pair of jaws (13, 14) to rigidly hold a conductor (20) of different sizes using the spring force. A spherical diverter (22) having two interlocking hemispheres (23, 33) is mechanically interlocked via a male and female slot (24, 26) located at its end and a fastener (36) is threaded via a center portion of the spherical diverter (22) via a swivel molded structure (50) located at an inner side of the lower hemisphere (33) to rotatably attach the spherical diverter (22) to the hinge (16) and the clamp (12). A retro-reflective tape (28) is encircled on a central portion of the spherical diverter (22) to enhance visibility of the device (10) and a plurality of dimples (32) is located on an external surface of the spherical diverter (22) and on a connection zone between the clamp (12) and the spherical diverter (22) to reduce a drag force on the device (10).