GB2191376A

GB2191376A - Method and apparatus for killing insects

Info

Publication number: GB2191376A
Application number: GB08614096A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tony Shyng Daw Tseng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-06-10
Filing date: 1986-06-10
Publication date: 1987-12-16
Also published as: GB8614096D0

Abstract

A suction fan disposed within a hollow housing (10) powered by a motor (22) produces a suction effect on insects flying over the front opening (15) of the housing (10). The insects drawn into this housing (10) are held on a screen (40) and are subsequently crushed by a rolling grill (42) which is in sliding contact with the screen (40). Another means of killing insects which have been drawn into the housing (10) is to arrange an electrified device on the rear side of the housing (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for killing insects This invention relates to an arrangement 'for capturing and destroying mosquitos on a large scale by means of a suction fan and of a rotary grill or other electrical apparatus.

There are presently several popular methods of killing harmful insects. On the farm one method for destroying large numbers of harmful insects is to use chemical insecticides, in either liquid or powder forms, which are usually applied by aerial spraying. When insecticides are sprayed on the farm on a large scale, they have the potential of contaminating the soil and plants on which they have been used. Accordingly, the effect on both the human body and the environment resulting from chemical insecticides can be detrimental.

Household methods of killing small amounts of insects, particularly mosquitos, include the use of chemical spray cans and the use of mosquito incense. When chemical sprays and mosquito incense are used in and around the house, they can also be detrimental to human health.

The present invention has arisen from work seeking to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and can be effectively put into practice.

The present invention is set up so as to provide an apparatus for killing insects without leaving any detrimental contamination.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description in view of the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification: nevertheless it is to be understtod that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material deparature from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for killing mosquitos according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view as seen from along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a rear view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing additional details of the invention; and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment according to this invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, it can be seen that there is a cylindrically shaped housing 10 supported at its lower circumference by a supporting base 14 so as to enable the insect killing apparatus 2 to stand more stably on the ground. There is a grid 18 composed of a plurality of mutually parallel bars disposed on the front opening 15 of the apparatus 2 so as to prevent objects from being inserted into the housing 10, and subsequently being hurt by the rotating blades. A handle 16 longitudinally parallel to the axis of the housing 10 is set on the upper circumference of the housing 10 enabling this apparatus to be easily transported to the desired work position by user's hands. The cylindrically shaped housing 10 has an impervious wall which prevents mosquitos or other insects which have been drawn into this housing 10 from escaping therefrom.

Referring to Fig. 2, it can be seen that a suction fan assembly 20 is disposed within the housing 10 behind the protective grid 18 and is also close to the front opening 15. The suction fan assembly 20 has a motor 22 supported by two pairs of supporting bars 24 which are at right angles to each other and which are affixed to the interior wall 23 of the housing 10 with the axis of the motor 22 coinciding with the axis of the housing 10. A hub 26, together with a plurality of fan blades 27 fixedly disposed thereon, is mounted on the motor 22 by securing the hub 26 to the shaft of the motor 22. A fastening means 28 such as a locking cap is used to secure the hub 26 to the motor 22.The shape and the rotating direction of the fan blades 27 are arranged such that a suction force will occur in the ambient space in front of the housing 10 of this apparatus 2, thereby drawing any mosquitos or the like flying around the abovementioned front space into the housing 10. A rotary grill 42 has a central hole 45 by which the grill 42 may be rotatably mounted on the axle portion 25 positioned directly behind the motor 22 and projecting from the rear part of the supporting bars 24.

The rotary grill 42 comprises a plurality of parallel blades 43, each of the blades having an enlarged end, a circumferential rim 44, and a disc 46 which has a central hole 45 as noted above.

A rear cap 38 is fastened to the projecting axle portion 25 by an adjustment means 47, such as a screw, to prevent the rotary grill 42 from slipping out. A plurality of ball and spring sets 49 between the rear cap 38 and the rotary grill 42, together with the abovementioned adjustment means 47 on the rear cap 38, may be used to adjust the contact condition of the rotary grill 42 against the screen 40.

The rotary grill 42 is thereby rotatably mounted on the axle portion 25 and closely contacts the screen 40. The rotary grill 42 is rotated by the air flow which is induced by the rotating fan blades 27 when the motor 22 is turned on. The rotational motion of the grill blades crushes any insects which may be held in place against the screen 40 by the suction effect induced by the suction fan assembly 20.

Referring to Fig. 3, it can be seen that the rotary grill 42 has a longitudinal length slightly less than the inner diameter of the housing 10. The screen 40 affixed to the rear opening 55 of the housing 10 has a suitable spacing on its grid network so as to prevent the insects which have been drawn into the housing 10 and held against the screen 40 from escaping through the grid space of the screen 40.

Referring to the Fig. 4, it can be seen that a plurality of bars 50 are affixed to the interior wall of the cylindrical housing 10 so as to secure the screen 40 to the housing 10 and to prevent the screen from moving when the suction fan assembly is turned on.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the grill blade 43 in sliding contact with the screen 40. Any insects 600 held against the screen 40 by means of the suction force created by the suction fan assembly 20 are crushed when the grill 42 rolls over them. As mentioned previously, the bars 50 behind the screen 40 prevent the screen 40 from being deformed too much.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 6 wherein the rotary grill 42 and the rear cap 38 are eiiminated. In such an embodiment, a plurality of electrified concentric coils 60 separated by insulating bars 62 for killing the contacting insects which are drawn into the housing 10 by the suction fan assembly are arranged within the rear opening of the housing 10. A protective grid network 65 is disposed outside the coil 60 so as to prevent the users from unintentionally touching the electrified wire through which the current flows.

Claims

1. An insect killing apparatus comprising: a housing with an impermeable wall; a suction fan assembly set within said housing being supported by supporting bars; and means for killing the insects which have been drawn into said housing.

2. An insect killing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for killing insects comprises: a rotary grill rotatably set within said housing and positioned between said suction fan assembly and said screen and having a plurality of blades in sliding contact with said screen; and a means for rotatably mounting said rotary grill so that the rearward air flow generated from said suction fan forms the means for rotating said rotary grill so as to crush and kill any insects which may be held on the interior side of said screenby means of the suction effect produced by said suction fan assembly.

3. An insect killing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for rotatably mounting said rotary grill comprises an axle portion projecting from the rear part of said supporting bars for inserting said grill through its central hole and a rear cap for securing said grill.

4. The insect killing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means of killing insects comprises a plurality of electrified wires which are disposed within the rear opening of said housing.

5. A method for destroying insects using a motorized fan supported within a hollow housing with a mesh member affixed to an end thereof comprising the steps of: A) engaging the motor and rotating the fan thereby creating a flow of air of a selected velocity and direction through the housing and the mesh member; B) trapping insects from the air flowing through the housing on the surface of the mesh member on the interior of the housing; and C) providing a means for killing insects which have been drawn into said housing.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for killing insects which have been drawn into said housing is the rotation of a rigid member in response to the flow of air through the housing about a point essentially corresponding to a center of rotation of the fan, said rigid member spanning and slidably contacting with the mesh member interior to the housing, thereby destroying all insects collected thereon.

7. The method as set forth in claim 5 using steps A and C wherein said means for killing insects which have been drawn into said housing is to dispose a plurality of electrified wires within the rear opening of said housing.