WO2025008647A1 - Breakage protection device for field protection equipment, especially electric shepherds - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a breakage protection device for field protection equipment, especially electric shepherds, connected to electrically conductive wire (1) to enclose the area to be protected. The invention is characterized by its frame (10), main axle (20) rotatably connected to the frame (10), winding drum (21) fixed on the main axle (20), intended to receive and store part of the electrically conducting wire (1), and its drive unit (30) connected to the main axle (20) and one of the winding drums (21), and a braking unit (40) connected to the main axle (20) by means of a rotation direction limiter sub-assembly (22), the drive unit (30) having a drive motor (31) connected to the frame (10), a torque inducing member (32) connected to the drive motor (31) and a torque receiving member (33) attached to the winding drum (21) or to the main axle (21), the torque inducing member (32) and the torque receiving member (32) are in rotation transmitting contact with each other either directly or via a torque transmitting member (34), while the braking assembly (40) has a braked member (41) and a braking member (42) cooperating with it, wherein the braked member (41) is connected to the rotation direction limiting sub- assembly (22), the braking member (42) is connected to the frame (10), furthermore at least one of the main axle (20), the winding drum (2) and the torque receiving member (33) is coupled to a rotation transducer (2) and the rotation transducer (2) is connected to a central unit (50) via an information transmission channel (51).

Description

Breakage protection device for field protection equipment, especially electric shepherds

The subject of the invention is a breakage protection device for field protection equipment, especially electric shepherds, which is electrically connected to a conducting wire, serving the encircling of the protected area.

In forestry, wildlife management and livestock farming, area protection devices, known as "electric fences" have long been used to protect specific areas, e.g. freshly planted saplings or crops, or to restrict the movement of animals. The idea behind these electric fences is to run electrically conducting wires along poles fixed into the ground of the area, essentially horizontally, in rows until the desired height is reached. The wires are then electrified with a specified voltage. In the event that a living creature, usually a livestock or wild animal, strikes a fence of conducting wire, the voltage present in the wire will cause it to be shocked by the electricity, in a manner which is not harmful to its health but which will discourage it from attempting to break through the electric fence. Of course, such area protection devices can be used not only to protect animals, but also to protect objects and structures.

However, the previously widespread use of electric fences had a significant drawback, was that, due to the speed and/or weight of the distracted or fleeing animal, it was able to break through the fence, which could either cause the animals closed in to be dismembered or to entry into the protected area, causing, for example, partial destruction of crops or other protected vegetation. Several solutions have been developed to overcome this deficiency. These mainly consist in trying to make the fence more flexible in some way, so that it would only suffer elastic deformation due to the force of a sudden attack by a creature, but would not break.

Such a fence for protection against wild animals can be found, among others, in the public notification JP 2012029661. It consists of a structural element linking the posts and the wire, designed in such a way that, when stretched, it can slightly elastically deform under tension.

However, the imperfection of the solution is that this elastic deformation does not provide sufficient flexibility for larger animals such as cattle, wild boar, deer to withstand the force exerted by the animal over a prolonged period of time without damage or breaking.

The patent specification registered under No US 11.064.678 in turn shows a structure, for indicating that a break in the wire of an electric fencing where has occurred. The undoubted advantage of this solution is that it is possible to locate and repair of the damage. The disadvantage, however, is that it can only be used to locate the damage but it does not prevent the fence from tearing.

Generally speaking, the known facilities developed to protect electric fencing can only counteract a small intrusion or only indicate the fact of damage. Thus, their use is not a solution to prevent damage or breakages, which still requires significant maintenance labour and material costs.

With the design according to the invention, we aim to eliminate the imperfections of known solutions and to provide a break protection system for area protection equipment that allows the electrically conducting wires of the fence to be not break even in the event of a high energy and/or prolonged impact, and to allow easier maintenance of the area protection equipment with less labour and minimal repair material input.

The invention was based on the realization that if a device is inserted in between the fence posts which, unconventionally, is in excess compared to the tensioned wire requirement, but which, in its initial position, holds the wires tense, and which, in response to a significant force, is capable of releasing this excess wire in a controlled manner, and then, after the force has ceased, is capable to pull back automatically the released excess wire back into itself and, when it has returned to its initial position, holding the wire tense again. In this case, in the event of an “attack” by a living creature, when the force is applied to the wire, the length of the wire itself is increased by the release of the wire, which then releases the dynamic force itself, without breaking. On release of the force, the length of the released wire is shortened again to the dimension of the original, tense wire, restoring the original shape, position and tension of the active wire forming the fence, thus preventing the wire from breaking and the fence from damaging, thus the task becomes resolvable.

In accordance with the objective pursued, the invented relates to a breakage protection device for field protection equipment, especially electric shepherds - which are connected to electrically conductive wires for enclosing the area to be protected - and are equipped with a frame, a main axle rotatably connected to the frame, a winding drum fixed on the main axle, intended to receive and store part of the electrically conducting wire, and a drive unit connected to the main axle and one of the winding drums, and a braking unit connected to the main axle by means of a rotation direction limiter sub-assembly, the drive unit having a drive motor connected to the frame, a torque inducing member connected to the drive motor and a torque receiving member attached to the winding drum or to the main axle, the torque inducing member and the torque receiving member are in rotation transmitting contact with each other either directly or via a torque transmitting member, while the braking assembly has a braked member and a braking member cooperating with the braked member, wherein the braked member is connected to the rotation direction limiting sub-assembly, the braking member is connected to the frame, furthermore at least one of the main axle, the winding drum and the torque receiving member is coupled to a rotation transducer and the rotation transducer is connected to a central unit via an information transmission channel.

A further feature of the device according to the invention may be that the braked member of the braking unit is a brake disc, the braking member is a brake belt being connected to a brake force adjusting component attached to the frame, a portion of the brake belt is guided around the brake disc. In another version of the device, a coupling is inserted between the drive motor and the torque transmitting member. In this case the coupling is a clutch. The coupling device and the central unit are connected by a signal transmission channel.

At another configuration of the invention, the drive motor and the central unit are connected by a signal transmission channel.

It is advantageous for the device if the frame is at least partially covered by a casing, furthermore, if the device limiting the direction of rotation is free-running.

Again, in a different configuration of the invention, both the torque inducing member and the torque receiving member are chain wheels and the torque transmitting member is a drive chain, or the torque inducing member and the torque receiving member are both ribbed and the torque transmitting member is a ribbed belt.

The invented device has a number of advantages. The most important of these is that thanks to the specific design, winding drum integrated within, further the actively managed excess wire stored therein, the external dynamic impact the electrically conductive wire of the fence does not break the wire, but only releases it, and thus prevents serious damage to the fence.

An added benefit is that livestock that are about to break free do not get entangled in the broken wire, so the risk of injury to animals is minimised. It also has the added benefit of significantly reducing the need for fence maintenance by eliminating the possibility of breakage, which on the one hand reduces the need for labour. On the other hand, the cost of materials for maintenance and repair can also be greatly reduced.

Another advantage is that, in the event of an outbreak, the temporary "gap" created by the animals disappears very soon after the effect has ceased, as the device rewinds the unwound wire, and the tight fence is automatically rebuilt. A significant advantage originated from this, is that mass escape is not possible, which, especially in the case of high-value breeding animals such as stallions and bulls, could result in serious financial losses if these escaped animals were to cause an accident or become the victims of an accident.

It is also an advantage from the device that it can be used to reduce mass wildlife damage. If a game enters a protected area inside the fence, the fence closes back, so that wild animals such as deer or wild boar cannot massively enter into a plantation. This can also significantly reduce the amount of damage from games.

So, a significant advantage is that due to the use the central unit that actively manages the excess wire and the rotation rotation transducer connected to it, the rewinding of the wire, which has been unwound due to dynamic forces, can be carried out precisely, so that after the impact the fence returns to the original position, i.e. the same tensioned state, as it was before the impact. This does not allow the living organisms inside or even outside to see any gap in the fence through which they could pass.

An important advantage is that the device according to the invention can also be combined with traditionally installed electric fences, thus significantly increasing their utility value and protective capabilities.

Another advantage is that the device is designed to work automatically, so it does not require frequent monitoring. And because the probability of break is minimised, operating costs can be kept low.

Among the advantages, it should be mentioned that the device consists of common structural elements. It is therefore easy to manufacture, install, operate and maintain.

Another important benefit is that the use of this device combined with wire also allows you to cover long distances, up to 1000 metres of fence, which further improves the possibility of economical operation.

The device according to the invention is described in the following example configuration, with the aid of a drawing in more details. The drawing shows the next: Figure No 1 : Sight view of a possible version of the device according to the invention, partly in profile

Figure No 2: Sight view of the device according to the invention, in its installed position

Figure 1 illustrates a version of the line break protection device according to the invention, which can be used as substantially horizontally positioned wire element extending around the perimeter of the pasture area of several hundred meters in circumference. The rigid, purpose-built metal frame 10 is clearly visible, covered externally by enclosure 11. In the inner part of the frame 10, covered by the enclosure 11, there is the main axle 20 which is swivel-mountedly connected to the frame 10.

The main axle 20 carries the winding drum 21 on which, in the position of use of the line break protection device, a part of the electrically conducting wire 1 is positioned as an excess wire. Also wedged to the main axle 20 is the rotation direction limiting subassembly 22, which is also connected to the braked member 41 of the braking unit 40. Preferably, the rotation direction limiting sub-assembly 22 is a free running wheel. The function of the rotation direction limiting sub-assembly 22 is that, when the main axle 20 rotates in the winding-off direction of rotation of the winding drum 21, the torque developed on the main axle 20 is transmitted to the braked member 41 of the braking unit 40. Whereas, if the main axle 20 rotates in the winding-up direction of the winding drum 21, it will decouple the braked member 41 from the rotating main axle 20 in terms of torque transfer.

Beyond the braked member 41, the braking unit 40 also includes a braking force adjusting component 43 and a braking member 42 providing the connection between the braked member 41 and the braking force adjusting component 43. In a given installation, the braked member 41 is a brake disc 41a, while the braking member 42 is a brake belt 42a.

The brake belt 42a is connected to the braking force adjusting component 43, which allows the brake belt 42a to be tightened or loosened in order to control the amount of friction force between the brake disc 41a and the brake belt 42a. The brake force adjustment subassembly 43 is attached to the frame 10.

It should be noted here that the braking unit 40 braked member 41, braking member 42 and the braking force adjusting component 43 may be different from those described here. The point is merely to be able to vary the braking force, the braking torque, which can be transmitted to the main axle 20 when the winding drum 21 is rotated in downward direction. This is what sets the speed at which the electrically conducting wire 1 unwinds from the winding drum 21, and in the meantime how much counter-force it exerts on the living creature that is grabbing the electrically conducting wire 1, slowing down its movement.

Also coupled to the main axle 20 or, if applicable, to the winding drum 21 is the torque receiver 33, which is part of the drive unit 30. The torque receiving member 33 cooperates with the torque inducing member 32, which in turn is connected to the drive motor 31. The drive motor 31 is attached to the frame 10. The function of the combination of the drive motor 31 - torque inducing member 32 - torque receiving member 33 is to reverse the rotation direction of winding drum 21 when the tensioning force has ceased, thereby rewinding the wire 1 onto the winding drum 21.

In the present configuration, a coupling member 35 is interposed between the drive motor 31 and the torque inducing member 32, which is herein a clutch 35a. The function of this coupling member 35 is to decouple the drive motor 31 from the winding drum 21 when the winding drum 21 is rotated in the downward direction, in order to prevent the braking torque of the drive motor 31 from being transmitted to the winding drum 21 and thus from affecting the braking force set by the braking unit 40. Of course, the coupling member 35 need not necessarily be a classic coupling 35a, there may be other components which, in the moment in question, perform the decoupling of the drive motor 31 and the torque inducing member 32.

The connection between the torque inducing member 32 and the torque receiving member 33 of the drive unit 30 is preferably a slip-free torque transmission, which may be achieved directly by the torque inducing member 32 and the torque receiving member 33 being cogged wheel, but the torque transmission may be achieved by other means. In the given case, the torque transfer connection between the torque inducing member 32 and the torque receiving member 33 is implemented by the torque transmitting member 34. It is possible, for example, that the torque inducing member 32 and the torque receiving member 33 are chain wheels and the torque transmitting member 34 is a drive chain.

But it is also possible to have a solution where torque inducing member 32 and torque receiving member 33 are both ribbed wheels and the torque transmitting member 34 is a ribbed belt.

In order to ensure that winding drum 21 turns the same number of revolutions during the rewinding after the unwinding, and thus pulls back the electrically conductive wire 1 to the same tension as before the impact, the main axle 20 or the winding drum 21, or possibly the torque receiving member 33, is equipped with a rotation transducer 2. The rotation transducer 2 is in signal communication with the central unit 50 via the information transmission channel 51. The central unit 50 itself may be located in the inner enclosure 11 of the frame 10 or it may be located in a remotely accessible location. And in the case where there is a coupling member 35 between the drive motor 31 and the torque inducing member 32 of the drive unit 30, the coupling member 35 is in communication with the central unit 50 via signal transmission channel 52.

Naturally, the device is equipped with energy sources 60, which are to supply the drive motor 31, the coupling member 35, if applicable, rotation transducer 2 and, if - the central unit 50 is installed in the 10 frame - the central unit 50 with electric current. Considering that the line break protection device is located in an open area, e.g. in a pasture, forest or plantation, the energy source 60 may preferably comprise a battery and a solar panel. However, this is irrelevant to the invention. What is important is that there should be an appropriate electrical power supply for the particular structural elements of the device, which may be either electric power from the main supply. Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the line break protection device according to the invention in installed position. It can be observed that the electrically conducting wire 1 is arranged insulated and freely slidable on the poles 3, and thus surrounds the area to be protected. If, in order to achieve the desired fence height, several horizontal conductor wires 1 have to be stretched to adequately protect the area, then of course several line break protection devices are required and should be placed one above the other, as shown in Figure 2.

Here, the upper line break protection device is supported on the enclosure 11 of the lower frame 10, and the remaining excess wire is stored by winding drum 21 positioned in the part of frame protected by enclosure 11.

The version of the line break protection device according to the invention shown in Figure 1 operates as follows. Firstly, the free and of electrically conductive wire 1 which can be unwound from the winding drum 21 should be guided through the poles 3 in a way that this end of electrically conductive wire 1 is returned to the line break protection device. Thereafter the electric circuit of electrically conductive wire 1 is to be closed so that the current passes through the electrically conductive wire 1.

Then, by means of the braking force adjusting component 43 of the braking unit 40, the friction force should be adjusted which, when the winding drum 21 is rotated in the unwinding direction, brakes the movement of the winding drum 21. The device is then ready for use.

When a living creature strikes the electrically conducting wire 1, the force will cause the electrically conducting wire 1 to unwind from the winding drum 21, causing the winding drum 21 to rotate clockwise, as shown in Figure 1. This rotation rotates the main axle 20. Together with the main axle 20, the rotation direction limiting sub-assembly 22 rotates, which is rigidly connected in this direction to the braked member 41.

The rotation of the main axle 20 is also detected by the rotation transducer 2, which sends a signal to the central unit 50 via the information transmission channel 51. The central unit 50 receives the signal and starts to calculate the amount of rotation of the main axle 20 based on the signals received from the rotation transducer 2. On the other hand, it instructs, via the signal transmission channel 52, the coupling member 35 to disconnect the torque inducing member 32 from the drive motor 31. Then, the torque receiving member 33, rotating together with the winding drum 21, starts to rotate the torque inducing member 32 via the torque transmitting member 34, but, since the latter is not connected to the driving motor 31, precisely because of the aforementioned disconnection, it rotates freely, and thus does not form any resistance in connection with the rotation of the winding drum 21.

On the other hand, due to the friction developed between the tensioned braking member 42 of braking unit 40, here namely the brake belt 42a, and the braked member 41, here namely brake disc 41a, rotating together with main axle 20 a braking torque is applied against the free rotation of the winding drum 21. As a result of this, the electrically conductive wire 1 unwinding from winding drum 21 is continuously tensioned as long as the movement of the living creature causes the wire 1 is in the process of being unwound.

When the physical connection between the living creature and the given electrically conducting wire 1 of the fence is broken, the rotation of the winding drum 21 is stopped due to the braking force of the braking unit 40 acting on it. This change in the state of motion is transmitted by the rotation transducer 2 to the central unit 50, which signals, via the signal transmission channel 52, to the coupling member 35 to adjust the torque transmission linkage between the drive motor 31 and the torque inducing member 32, and to start the counterclockwise rotation of the drive motor 31.

The drive motor 31 then rotates the torque transmitting inducing 32 via coupling member 35, which rotates the torque receiving member 33 via the torque transmitting member 34. The torque receiving member 33 then rotates winding drum 21 and main axle 20, which now starts to rotate counterclockwise.

However, in this direction, the rotation direction limiting sub-assembly 22 mounted on main axle 20 runs free and does not transmit the torque to the braked member 41, so that braking unit 40 remains in a passive state during the rewind of the unwound electrically conductive wire 1.

The rotation transducer 2, rotating together with main axle 20, now also transmits signals through information transmission channel 51 to central unit 50, which, receiving the signals, essentially is now counting down and allowing the drive motor 31 of the drive unit 30 to run, until winding drum 21 turns backwards the same number of revolutions as it turned when the electrically conducting wire 1 was unwound.

When the number of revolutions of winding drum 21 reaches the value previously set by central unit 50, the drive motor 31 is switched off and the rotation of the drive unit 30 is stopped, based on signal from central unit 50. The winding drum 21 and main axle 20 stop so that the electrically conducting wire 1 gets into a tensioned state, essentially so that as it was prior to the encounter with the creature. The clockwise rotation of main axle 20 is prevented by the braking unit 40 by means of rotation direction limiting sub-assembly 22.

For the next impact, the process described above is repeated in the same way and with the same result.

The line break protection device according to the invention is well suited for use in all places, where an area protection system consisting of electrically conductive wires in circuit is used to prevent the break of the electrically conducting wire, and to achieve a more reliable operation of the area protecting device together with a simpler and less costly operation.

Catalogue of the reference codes electrically conductive wire rotation transducer pole frame 11 enclosure main axle 21 winding drum

22 rotation direction limiting subassembly drive unit 31 drive motor

32 torque inducing member

33 torque receiving member

34 torque transmitting member

35 coupling member

35a clutch braking assembly 41 braked member 41a brake disc

42 braking member

42a brake belt

43 braking force adjusting component central unit 51 information transmission channel

52 signal transmission channel energy source

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Breakage protection device for field protection equipment, especially electric shepherds, connected to electrically conductive wire (1) to enclose the area to be protected, characterized by its frame (10), main axle (20) rotatably connected to the frame (10), winding drum (21) fixed on the main axle (20), intended to receive and store part of the electrically conducting wire (1), and its drive unit (30) connected to the main axle (20) and one of the winding drums (21), and a braking unit (40) connected to the main axle (20) by means of a rotation direction limiter sub-assembly (22), the drive unit (30) having a drive motor (31) connected to the frame (10), a torque inducing member (32) connected to the drive motor (31) and a torque receiving member (33) attached to the winding drum (21) or to the main axle (21), the torque inducing member (32) and the torque receiving member (32) are in rotation transmitting contact with each other either directly or via a torque transmitting member (34), while the braking assembly (40) has a braked member (41) and a braking member (42) cooperating with it, wherein the braked member (41) is connected to the rotation direction limiting sub-assembly (22), the braking member (42) is connected to the frame (10), furthermore at least one of the main axle (20), the winding drum (2) and the torque receiving member (33) is coupled to a rotation transducer (2) and the rotation transducer (2) is connected to a central unit (50) via an information transmission channel (51).

2. Device according to claim No 1, characterized in that the braked member (41) of the braking unit (40) is a brake disc (41a), the braking member (42) is a brake belt (42a) connected to the braking force adjusting component (43) attached to the frame (10), and a portion of the brake belt (42a) is guided around the brake disc (41a).

3. Device according to claim No 1 or No 2, characterized in that a coupling member (35) is interposed between the drive motor (31) and the torque inducing member (32).

4. Device according to claim No 3, characterized in that the coupling member (35) is a clutch (35 a).

5. Device according to claim No 3 or claim No 4, characterized in that the coupling device (35) and the central unit (50) are in communication via a signal transmission channel (52).

6. Device according to any one of claims No 1 to No 5, characterized in that the drive motor (31) and the central unit (50) are in communication with each other via a signal transmission channel (52).

7. Device according to any one of claims No 1 to No 6, characterized in that the frame (10) is at least partially covered by an enclosure (11).

8. Device according to any one of claims No 1 to No 7, characterized in that the rotational direction limiting subassembly (22) is free running.

9. Device according to any one of claims No 1 to No 8, characterized in that the torque inducing member (32) and the torque receiving member (33) are both chain wheel and the torque transmitting member (34) is transmission chain.

10. Device according to any one of claims No 1 to No 8, characterized in that the torque inducing member (32) and the torque receiving member (33) are both ribbed wheel and the torque transmitting member (34) is a ribbed belt.