Animal Trap Sensor Activation via Intermediary Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal traps, particularly those using pressure sensors to detect the presence of animals, often fail to accurately indicate whether an animal is present or not, leading to incorrect sensor activation.
Innovation Solution
The second sensor is positioned between the catching element and the activating element, ensuring that the catching element presses the activating element against it only when an animal is caught, thereby accurately activating the sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pressure sensor is used to detect animal presence, then the trap can monitor whether an animal is caught, but the sensor may be incorrectly activated or deactivated leading to unreliable detection
Solution Approach 1:
The activating element serves as an intermediary component between the catching element and the second sensor. It is positioned such that the catching element can press the activating element against the second sensor only when an animal is actually caught, preventing false activation. This intermediary mechanism ensures that sensor activation accurately reflects the presence of a caught animal rather than mere movement or positioning of the catching element.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical contact between the catching element and sensor with an indirect mechanical linkage through the activating element. This substitution allows for more precise control of sensor activation conditions, as the activating element can be designed to engage the sensor only under specific mechanical conditions (when the catching element is pressed by an animal), thereby improving detection reliability.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the second sensor is positioned to detect animal presence directly, then detection capability is provided, but incorrect activation occurs when no animal is present
Solution Approach 1:
The activating element acts as a mediator that translates the mechanical action of the catching element into sensor activation only under correct conditions. When no animal is present, the catching element may move freely or press against a spacer cam, but the activating element is designed to engage the second sensor only when pressed by an animal, thus preventing false positive detections while maintaining accurate animal presence detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by designing the activating element with specific engagement characteristics at its interaction point with the second sensor. The activating element is positioned and shaped such that only the specific condition of being pressed by an animal (rather than the catching element alone) will activate the sensor, creating a localized detection zone that improves measurement precision.
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 configuration allows for accurate monitoring of three situations: standby, activated without an animal, and activated with an animal, preventing incorrect sensor activation and ensuring reliable detection.
Implementation Method 1
a spring which is present between the frame and the catching element and exerts a force on the catching element, which spring is tensioned when the catching element is in a standby position
Data Source
AI summary
A trap 1 has a frame 3, a striking bar 5 connected to the frame for killing a mouse or rat and a retaining bracket 7 attached to the striking bar, which is blocked in standby position by a blocking pawl 11 which can be released by an activating element 13. A spring 9 is present between the striking bar and the frame, which striking bar hits the frame after activation. The trap is provided with a first sensor 17 which determines whether the striking bar is present in the standby or activated position, and a second sensor 19 which determines whether a mouse is present between the frame and the striking bar or not. The trap can determine three situations with the two sensors: standby, tripped and tripped with a mouse in the trap. This allows the status of the trap to be properly monitored.