Telescopic Bird Feeder Spring Mechanism Squirrel Proof
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Solution Overview
Problem
General purpose bird feeders lack effectiveness in being squirrel-proof, as existing designs are either specific to certain installations or inadequate in preventing squirrel access to birdseed.
Innovation Solution
A compression spring-operated bird feeder with inner and outer tubular housings that are telescopically aligned, allowing access to birds while being closed by the weight of squirrels, featuring reverse tapered surfaces and a centrally located compression spring to differentiate between bird and squirrel weights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a compression spring is used to operate the outer housing between upper and lower positions, then the feeder can distinguish between bird and squirrel weights and restrict squirrel access, but the device complexity increases due to the spring mechanism and telescopic housing structure
Solution Approach 1:
The outer housing is telescopically received about the inner housing, with one end of the outer housing slidable on and about the inner housing. This nested arrangement allows the outer housing to move between upper and lower positions while maintaining a compact structure when not in use, reducing overall device complexity despite the added functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A compression spring is operatively connected between the inner housing and the outer housing to urge the outer housing toward its upper position. The spring force is calibrated to be overcome by the weight of a squirrel but not by the weight of a bird, enabling automatic distinction between species and activation of squirrel-proof mechanism without complex sensors or controls.
2Reliability
If the outer housing is made telescopically movable to align and misalign openings, then squirrel access can be restricted, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper alignment and sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The opposed surfaces of the inner and outer housings have complementary shapes that are reverse tapered with respect to each other in a substantially vertical direction. This asymmetric tapered design guides the outer housing toward proper alignment with the inner housing during telescopic movement, ensuring accurate opening alignment without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The reverse tapered surfaces are pre-formed on the housings during manufacturing to automatically guide alignment during operation. This preliminary geometric preparation ensures that when the outer housing moves between upper and lower positions, the openings naturally align or misalign as intended, reducing the need for high-precision adjustment mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the feeder is designed as a general purpose model with wide adaptability, then it can be used in various installations, but the squirrel proof effectiveness decreases compared to installation-specific designs
Solution Approach 1:
The bird feeder is designed as a general purpose model with universal applicability across different installations. The telescopic housing structure with compression spring provides a standardized squirrel-proof mechanism that can be effectively deployed in various locations and configurations, achieving both versatility and reliable squirrel protection without requiring installation-specific custom designs.
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 bird feeder effectively restricts squirrel access to birdseed while allowing birds to feed, ensuring reliable and long-lasting operation with a simple, economical design.
Implementation Method 1
A compression spring is operatively connected between the inner housing and the outer housing to urge the outer housing toward its upper position in mating relation with the inner housing
Implementation Method 2
A bird seed storage container is mounted above the inner housing to feed bird seed to the inner housing by gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A bird feeder has telescopically aligned inner and outer cylindrical housings with opposed surfaces of complementary shape that are reverse tapered in a substantially vertical direction to enable guided vertical movement of the housings with respect to each other. The housings have openings in their side walls which are substantially in alignment when the outer housing is in an upper position and misaligned when the outer housing is in a lower position. A compression spring centrally located about the vertical axis of the feeder is confined within a lower portion of the feeder and biases the outer housing to its upper position. When the outer housing is moved to its lower position by the weight of a squirrel overcoming the biasing force of the compression spring, the housing openings are substantially misaligned such that no significant through opening exists, thereby preventing access to the birdseed.