Motherwell, Robert (61 Mayfield Crescent, Howwood, Renfrewshire PA9 1BL, GB)
| 1. | Insect control apparatus comprising air propulsion means in fluid communication with, air expulsion means, the air propulsion means being operable to provide a flow of air for the air expulsion means, the air expulsion means in use expelling the flow of air as a curtain of air having a characteristic that hinders the passage of flying insects through the curtain of air. |
| 2. | Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a duct that runs between the air propulsion means and the air expulsion means and through which the air flow is conducted to the air expulsion means. |
| 3. | Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the air expulsion means comprises an air conduit along which is disposed at least one aperture from which the flow of air is expelled. |
| 4. | Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the air conduit is formed at least in part of a pliable material, thereby permitting a profile of the curtain of air to be changed. |
| 5. | Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 or 4, wherein the air conduit is made of a light weight material . |
| 6. | Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the air propulsion means is housed separately from the air expulsion means. |
| 7. | Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the air expulsion means are configured to form a curtain of air of nonplanar profile. |
| 8. | Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the air expulsion means is configured to form a curtain of air that defines of itself an area within which an incidence of flying insect is at least reduced. |
| 9. | Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the air expulsion means is configured to form a curtain of air that defines at least part of the perimeter of an area within which an incidence of flying insects is at least reduced. |
| 10. | Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least 30% of the perimeter of the defined area is formed by the air curtain. |
| 11. | Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the air expulsion means is configured to form a curtain of air by expulsion of air in a direction generally perpendicular to the ground. |
| 12. | Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the direction of flow of air is from the air expulsion means to the ground. |
| 13. | Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the direction of the flow of air is from the air expulsion means away from the ground. |
| 14. | Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the air expulsion means comprises a plurality of spaced apart apertures through which air is expelled to form the curtain of air. |
| 15. | Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the air expulsion means is foldable, portable, modular, temporary, demountable and/or articulated. |
| 16. | Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the air in the air curtain is at an ambient temperature. |
| 17. | Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the air in the curtain of air flows at a terminal speed of less than 2.5ms"1. |
| 18. | A method of controlling insects comprising: operating air propulsion means to provide a flow of air to air expulsion means, which is in fluid communication with the air propulsion means, configuring the air expulsion means to expel the flow of air as a curtain of air with a characteristic that hinders the passage of flying insects across the curtain of air, and defining, at least in part, by means of the curtain of air an area within which an incidence of flying insects is at least reduced. |
The present invention relates to insect control apparatus for control of flying insects . The presence of flying insects can be undesirable. Indeed, the very presence of flying insects in public spaces can be a nuisance. In certain environments flying insects can present a health hazard, for example where there is food or drink present to which the flying insects may have access.
Conventional flying insect control apparatus include fly papers, which attract and trap insects, and electrocution apparatus, which are operable to attract and electrocute insects. Such conventional apparatus is widely used to reduce flying insect populations.
The present applicant has become appreciative of certain shortcomings of such conventional apparatus. More specifically, such apparatus is normally effective for controlling a flying insect population in the vicinity of the apparatus, for example, where the apparatus is located near food or drink. However, conventional apparatus is normally less effective where control is desired within larger spaces, including essentially outdoor events. In Scotland, for example, many outdoor events, sporting and leisure activities are blighted or precluded altogether by the prevalence of the biting midge. Mosquitoes can also cause similar problems.
The present invention has been devised in the light of this appreciation. Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided insect control apparatus comprising air propulsion means in fluid communication with air expulsion means, the air
propulsion means being operable to provide a flow of air for the air expulsion means, the air expulsion means in use expelling the flow of air as a curtain of air having a characteristic that hinders or at least deters the passage of flying insects through the curtain of air.
Such curtains of air can be used as a barrier to the entry of flying insects to an area defined at least in part by the air curtains.
The air propulsion means may be any device capable of creating an airflow, such as a fan (for example, but not exclusively, an axial fan, a centrifugal fan, a bifurcated fan, a mixed flow fan, a jetflow fan, or any combination thereof) .
The applicant has found that by the provision of one or a combination of features that are hereinafter described the apparatus of the present invention can be rendered adaptable for use in a number of situations and configurations .
For example, the apparatus may comprise a duct that runs between the air propulsion means and the air expulsion means and through which the air flow is conducted to the air expulsion means. This permits the air propulsion means to be housed separately from the air expulsion means. Thus, the air propulsion means may be remotely positioned in relation to the air expulsion means (e.g. the air propulsion means can be positioned on the ground, whilst the air expulsion means may be suspended at position elevated from the ground) . Such an arrangement permits relatively bulky, heavy and often fragile air propulsion means to be positioned in a safe place, whilst the air expulsion means may be positioned in a number of configurations without such positioning
being inhibited by the bulky and heavy air propulsion means.
In a preferred embodiment the air expulsion means may comprises an air conduit along which is disposed at least one aperture from which the flow of air is expelled. The ability to position the air curtains as required can be enhanced when the air conduit is flexible, articulated, lightweight and/or telescopic.
Thus, the air conduit is preferably formed at least in part from a pliable material, thereby permitting a profile of the curtain of air to be changed. Suitable light weight and pliable materials would include non- metallic materials, fabrics or textiles. The material used to make the air conduit preferably weighs less than 2000, 1500, 1000, 800, 600, 500, 400, 300, 200 or 100 g/m 2 . The most preferred material weighs about 400 g/m 2 . Air conduits can be made that weigh about 1000, 750, 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, 100 or 50 g per meter of the air conduit, preferably about 25Og per meter of the air conduit. The choice of material from which to construct the air conduit is also dictated by the need to contain air within the air conduit. Thus, the material is preferably airtight. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention the conduit is at least partially made from a polyester woven material with a PVC coating.
The inclusion of any combination of the above discussed preferred features enables the apparatus, and more specifically the air expulsion means to be foldable, portable, modular, temporary and/or demountable.
The apparatus of the present invention may be arranged in a number of configurations.
For example, the air expulsion means may be configured to form a curtain of air of non-planar profile. In use, the curtain of air may define, at least in part, an area within which an incidence of flying insects is at least reduced.
Any reduction in the incidence of flying insects within the defined area is advantageous and so the reduction can mean that the number of flying insect within the defined area can be less than 100%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, 70%, 60% that of the number of flying insects immediately outside the defined area. However, when the defined area is defended on all sides by the curtain of air (and possibly other structures, such as walls) , and the air curtain is optimized, a quite remarkable level of reduction of insects within the defined area may be achieved. For example, the number of flying insect within the defined area can be less than 30, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001% that of the number of flying insects immediately outside the defined area. The air expulsion means may be configured to form a curtain of air that defines of itself an area within which an incidence of flying insect is at least reduced. For example, the air expulsion means may form a curtain of air having four generally orthogonal sides that, in use, define a substantially rectangular area within which an incidence of flying insects is at least reduced.
The air expulsion means may be configured to form a curtain of air that defines at least part of the perimeter of an area within which an incidence of flying insects is to be reduced. The remaining parts of the perimeter may be formed by at least one barrier means (e.g. a wall of a building) . For example, the air expulsion means may form a curtain of air having two
generally orthogonal sides that form with a planar wall a substantially triangular defined area. Alternatively, such a two-sided curtain of air may, for example, be employed in a corner formed by two walls to form a substantially rectangular defined area. Preferably, at least 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% of the perimeter of the defined area is formed by the air curtain. For example, when the area is a rectangle, 1, 2 or 3 sides of the rectangle are defined by the air curtain. The air expulsion means may be configured to form the curtain of air by expulsion of air in a direction generally perpendicular to the ground. However, if the apparatus is constructed on sloping ground, the angle of the expulsion of air may be angled so as to take into account the slope. Particularly in embodiments of the present invention where the air expulsion means are suspended above the ground, the direction of the flow of air in the air curtain is preferably from the air expulsion means to the ground. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the air expulsion means may be configured for operation when spaced apart from the ground and to form the curtain of air by expulsion of air towards the ground.
However, the present invention also encompasses embodiments where the direction of the flow of air in the air curtain is from the air expulsion means away from the ground. In such embodiments, the air expulsion means may be positioned on the ground, recessed in the ground or provided in a housing, with the apertures facing away from the ground. It has been found that, in such embodiments of the present invention, the further the air curtain gets from the air expulsion means the more diffuse the air curtain becomes, and at that point
appears to create eddies of air. Surprisingly, such eddies have been found to produce an effective "roof" barrier to the passage of insects . Accordingly, such embodiments of the present invention may not require a roof structure.
The insect control apparatus may further comprise securing means for securing the air expulsion means to a structure. For example, the structure may be framework as might form part of a marquee and the insect control apparatus might be secured by fabric ties just below a roof of the marquee. In addition, the air expulsion means may be configured to expel air towards the ground. Thus, the sides of the marquee may be raised or otherwise dispensed with and the insect control apparatus operated to form a curtain of air defining an area below the roof of the marquee within which an incidence of flying insects is at least reduced. Alternative means of securing the air expulsion means to a structure include zipping, Velcro ® , hook and eyes, stitching or any combination thereof.
In embodiments of the present invention that include a roof, the roof may take many forms. The roof may take the form of a solid structure or a simple canopy from a tent, marquee or awning. The roof may simply be a material (such as netting, canvas or cloth) stretched over the area in which an incidence of flying insects is at least reduced. The roof may also be formed from an airflow. For example, the air conduit may further comprise apertures that are disposed so as to expel air in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the air curtains discussed above and that is towards the aforementioned defined area. Accordingly, a second air curtain may be formed that is capable of forming, in
effect, a roof that prevents insects entering the defined area from above the apparatus. In embodiments where the air expulsion means is configured to expel air towards the ground, it is preferred that the roof is closely associated with the air expulsion means so as not to define a space between the air expulsion means and the roof that could be used by the flying insect to enter into the aforementioned defined area.
In order to optimise the ability for the air curtain to hinder the passage of insects the curtain of air is preferably substantially uniform. Also, the air curtain may flow at a speed sufficient to hinder the passage of flying insects.
The applicant has surprisingly found that an air curtain with a terminal velocity of more than 0.4 meters per second is capable of preventing the passage of many insects. However, in order to achieve high velocities one is required to use a powerful air propulsion means which is expensive, heavy and bulky. Thus, preferably the insect control means may be configured such that, in use, air in the curtain travels with a terminal speed of less than 2.5, 2.2, 2.0, 1.8, 1.6 or 1.4 metres per second. It has been surprisingly found that such low speeds of air are still capable of deterring insects from passing through the air curtain. Preferably, the terminal speed is from 0.4 to 2.5, from 0.6 to 1.5, or from 0.8 to 1.2 meters per second. Most preferably the speed is 1 meter per second. Measuring the terminal speed of air flow is practiced commonly in the art. However, for the avoidance of doubt, the terminal velocity is the speed of the air towards an edge of the curtain opposite to the air expulsion means. Preferably, this is measured at a point that is 10 cm above the ground. The air speed may be
measured using an anemometer. For example, where the air expulsion means is spaced apart from the ground and forms a curtain of air by expulsion of air towards the ground the terminal speed may be measured at or towards the ground. When the direction of the flow of air in the air curtain is from the air expulsion means away from the ground, the terminal velocity is measured at a point in the air curtain that is provided at a distance of 3 metres from the air expulsion means. The speed of air expelled by the air expulsion means may be regulated by means of at least one of the air propulsion means and the air expulsion means. For example, the speed of air expelled may be regulated by a rate of flow of air delivered by the air propulsion means to the air expulsion means. Alternatively, a speed of air expelled may, for example, be regulated by a characteristic of the air expulsion means, for example, a size of an aperture of the air expulsion means through which air is expelled. The air expulsion means may be configured for user changeability from one non-planar profile of air curtain to another non-planar profile. In use, a user may, for example, change from an air curtain of arcuate profile to an air curtain having two orthogonal sides. In one form of the first aspect of the present invention, the air expulsion means may comprise a plurality of spaced apart apertures through which air is expelled to form the curtain of air.
More specifically, the air expulsion means may comprise from at least 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 apertures spaced apart over one metre. Most preferably the air expulsion means comprises 7 or 8 apertures spaced over one meter.
Alternatively or in addition, the plurality of apertures may each, be of a width of substantially from 6 mm to substantially 48, or substantially from 12 mm to substantially 24 mm. Preferably the apertures are of a width of substantially from 17 to 18mm.
Alternatively or in addition, at least one of the pluralities of apertures may be substantially circular. When the apertures are circular, the widths described in the preceding paragraphs are diameters of the circles . The insect control apparatus may comprise a plurality of nozzles and each of the plurality of apertures may be formed in a corresponding nozzle of the plurality of nozzles, the plurality of nozzles being configured to direct air expelled from the apertures such that the expelled air forms the curtain of air.
The air expulsion means may be configured to be changeable from one non-planar profile of air curtain to another by changing the relative disposition of the plurality of apertures. The air expulsion means may further comprise an air conduit having an air intake for receiving air from the air propulsion means, the air conduit being configured to convey received air to the plurality of apertures. The aforementioned duct may be provided between the air intake and the air propulsion means.
More specifically, the plurality of apertures may be disposed on the air conduit and the plurality of apertures may, in use, expel air conveyed by the conduit as a curtain of air. More specifically, the air conduit may be configured to define a space that is substantially air tight, apart from the air intake and the plurality of apertures, at
least to the extent that an elevated static pressure can be maintained within the air conduit.
Alternatively or in addition, the air conduit may be bendable so as to change the relative disposition of the plurality of apertures.
As discussed above, the air conduit may be formed at least in part of a pliable material, such as a textile. Thus, the relative disposition of the plurality of apertures may be changed by manipulation of the pliable material. For example, the pliable material may be manipulated to define a desired area within which an incidence of flying insects is to be reduced. For example, the pliable conduit may be manipulated to form a curtain of air having two generally orthogonal sides or to form an arcuate curtain of air. Also, the pliable material may provide for collapsibility of the insect control apparatus. Collapsibility may provide for portability of the insect control apparatus.
Alternatively or in addition, the air conduit may have a width of substantially 75 mm to substantially 800 mm, substantially 150 to substantially 400 mm, substantially 200 to substantially 300 mm. Preferably, the width is substantially 250mm.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the air in the air curtain is not heated. Thus, the air in the air curtain may be at ambient temperature.
In a second form of the first aspect of the present invention, the air expulsion means may be configured to form first and second overlapping layers of air curtain, the first and second layers having a different characteristic. Either or both of the first and second overlapping layers of air curtain may have any one or
more characteristic of the air curtains described in the forgoing and later paragraphs of this description.
The first layer of air may be at a lower temperature than the second layer of air. The first layer of air may be travelling at a higher speed than the second layer of air.
Alternatively or in addition, the first and second layers may be substantially coterminous.
In use, the first layer of air in the curtain may face away from the area within which an incidence of flying insects is at least reduced and the second layer of air may face into the area within which an incidence of flying insects is at least reduced.
In a third form of the first aspect of the present invention, insect control apparatus may further comprise insect repellent providing means configured to provide an insect repellent in the curtain of air. Thus, the insect repellent may provide the characteristic that hinders the passage of flying insects across the curtain of air. More specifically, the insect repellent providing means may provide the insect repellent in the curtain of air in the form of an aerosol .
Alternatively or in addition, the insect repellent may comprise one or more extracts selected from the group comprising citronella, lavender, bergamot, sassafras, pennyroyal, cajaput, chrysanthemum or pyrethrum.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling insects comprising: operating air propulsion means to provide a flow of air to air expulsion means, which is in fluid communication with the air propulsion means,
configuring the air expulsion means to expel the flow of air as a curtain of air with a chai-acteristic that hinders the passage of flying insects across the curtain of air, and defining, at least in part, by means of the curtain of air an area within which an incidence of flying insects is at least reduced.
The above method is preferably for reducing the incidence of flying insects (such as mosquitoes or midges) from entering and area defined, at least in part by the curtain of air.
Embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention may comprise one or more features of the first aspect of the present invention. The present applicant has realised that insect repellent providing means has wider application than hitherto described. Thus, according to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a insect control apparatus comprising air propulsion means in fluid communication with air expulsion means, the air propulsion means being operable to provide a flow of air for the air expulsion means, the air expulsion means in use expelling the flow of air as a curtain of air, in which the apparatus comprises insect repellent providing means configured to provide an insect repellent in the curtain of air, whereby, in use, the passage of flying insects across the curtain of air is hindered.
Embodiments of the third aspect of the present invention may comprise one or more features of the first aspect of the present invention.
Breif Description Of The Drawings
Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with, reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a block diagram representation of insect control apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a view of insect control apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a detailed underside view of the textile ducting shown in Figure 2; Figure 4a is another embodiment of insect control apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 4b is a detailed underside view of the textile ducting shown in Figure 4a; and
Figure 5 is an illustration of the insect control apparatus of Figure 2 in use.
Detailed Description of the Exemplary Embodiments
A block diagram representation of the main components of insect control apparatus 10 according to the invention is provided in Figure 1. As can be seen, the insect control apparatus comprises air propulsion means 12 which provides a flow of air 14 (indicated by the large arrow) to air expulsion means 16. In addition, the insect control means 10 comprises insect repellent providing means 18 that injects extract of citronella 20 into the flow of air 14 as an aerosol. The flow of air 14 received by the air expulsion means 16 is expelled as a curtain of air having two orthogonal sides 22, 24 (which constitutes a curtain of air of non-planar profile) .
The speed of the air in the curtain of air 22, 24 upon expulsion from the air expulsion means is such that the terminal speed of the air in the air curtain is about
1 metre per second, which is a speed that hinders the passage of flying insects. Thus, the curtain of air 22, 24 presents an obstacle to the passage of insects. Of course, the speed of air in the curtain upon expulsion from the air expulsion means will depend on the use to which the insect control apparatus is put. For example, if a longer curtain of air is required then a higher speed upon expulsion will be needed to maintain the requisite terminal speed. The orthogonal disposition of the two sides 22, 24 of the curtain of air is used to define an area within which an incidence of flying insects is at least reduced, as described below with reference to Figures 2 to 4.
Figure 2 is a view of the insect control apparatus 10 represented in Figure 1. The air propulsion means 12 comprises an electricity driven fan (not shown) that receives atmospheric air 26 and propels a flow of air into a length of textile ducting 28 (which constitutes a conduit formed of pliable material) , made from flame retardant polyester woven material with a PVC coating. The textile ducting has a diameter of substantially 250 mm. The far end 30 of the textile ducting is closed and with the exception of a plurality of nozzles forming apertures (shown in Figure 3) provided on the underside of the textile ducting, the textile ducting defines a sufficiently air tight space to maintain a positive static pressure within the textile ducting on account of the flow of air delivered to the ducting by the air propulsion means 12. The positive static pressure within the textile ducting is sufficiently high to expel air from the apertures at a speed of sufficient to maintain a terminal air speed of about 1 metre per second. The speed of the electricity driven fan is controlled to
regulate the air flow in the textile ducting and hence the speed of air being expelled from the nozzles.
In view of its pliable nature the textile ducting can be manipulated to form a non-planar curtain of air, which in the present instance comprises two orthogonal sides 22, 24. The textile ducting can be manipulated to form other forms of non-planar curtains of air, e.g. an arcuate curtain of air or a rectangular curtain of air.
Figure 3 provides a detailed underside view of the textile ducting 28 shown in Figure 2. As can be seen, a plurality of spaced apart nozzles 30 is provided in the underside of the textile ducting. Fourteen nozzles per metre length of textile ducting are provided. Each nozzle defines a substantially circular aperture and has a diameter of substantially 18 mm. The nozzles 30 are configured to direct air expelled from their apertures such that a curtain of air is formed by the expelled air.
In another embodiment 50 of the insect control apparatus shown in Figures 4a and 4b first 52 and second rows 54 of nozzles are provided on the underside of the textile ducting 56. The textile ducting 56 is partitioned to form two separate conduits (not shown) , one of which provides the first row of nozzles 52 with a first flow of air and the second of which provides the second row of nozzles 54 with a second flow of air. The first and second flows of air are in turn created respectively by first 58 and second electricity driven fans 60. The first electricity driven fan 58 heats the air that it delivers to the first conduit and provides for expulsion of air from the first row of nozzles 52 at a speed lower than that required to maintain a terminal speed of 1 metre per second. The second electricity driven fan 60 does not heat the air that it delivers to
the second conduit and it provides for expulsion of air from the second row of nozzles 54 at a speed required to maintain a terminal speed of about 1 metre per second. The first 52 and second 54 rows of nozzles are configured such that they expel first and second layers of air having the properties of the first and second flows of air. The first and second layers of air overlap and are substantially coterminous with each other. Such an embodiment can provide for enhanced hindering of the passage of flying insects. Also, having a separate heated layer of air can provide for the comfort of persons making use of the area defined by the insect control apparatus 50.
Figure 5 shows the insect control apparatus 10 of Figure 2 in use. The textile ducting 28 is suspended from framework 32 by fabric ties (not shown) so as to define a rectangular space in the corner of two walls 34, 36. The framework is for a roofed marquee-like structure (not shown) . Thus, in suspending the textile ducting from the framework 32 the textile ducting has been manipulated such that it forms a curtain of air having two orthogonal sides 22, 24, which together with the walls and the marquee roof define a space having a rectangular footprint within which an incidence of flying insects is at least reduced.
The insect control apparatus of the present invention have been shown to be effective when used in a number of sites under a number of conditions. For example, a gazebo that included the apparatus of the present invention was tested at a site in Lomond Spas, Ardmay House, near Arrochar, Scotland. Human activities in this area are normally affected by the midge. The 7 meter by 5 meter rectangular gazebo included a roof,
raised on 10 posts, but did not include any walls. The gazebo was adapted to include the apparatus of the present invention. The air curtain formed by the apparatus formed a barrier on all four sides of the gazebo and defined an area within the gazebo into which the incidence of flying insects was reduced. The air conduit of the apparatus included 14 apertures per metre, each with a diameter of 18mm. During the test the terminal velocity ranged from 0.5 m/sec to 0.7 m/sec over the entire perimeter.
A Texol Midgit machine was positioned within the gazebo and another positioned outside the gazebo, but adjacent to the one positioned internally. Both machines were fitted with new octonal sachets and new capture nets and then run continuously for a 24 hour period, during which the apparatus of the present invention was also operated. After 24 hours the capture nets were collected and their contents weighed. An analysis of the weight of the capture nets showed that the machine positioned within the gazebo caught about 100 midges, whilst the machine outside the gazebo caught about 1.5 million midges .
Similar results were obtained from apparatus identical to the above, but provided with 7 apertures per meter along the air conduit.
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