Solar evaporator beehive cover

The invention relates to an improved beehive cover which dramatically enhances the production of larger quantities of honey. The improved cover improves air circulation within and around the honeycomb area thereby increasing the moisture evaporation rate in the hive and accordingly increases the rate at which nectar is changed into a concentrated form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an improvement in beehive structures and 
particularly an improved outer top cover. 
It is known in the art of beekeeping that many problems are encountered 
throughout the year and that some of these problems relate directly to 
temperatures within the hive. Accordingly, one critical factor is the 
amount of air which circulates in the hive since this is the only thing 
controlling moisture content within the hive. 
Traditionally, the bees will create air circulation themselves through a 
process called fanning. Likewise, past attempts have been made at 
designing beehive structures that would help regulate ventilation of a 
hive during summer months in order to keep the hive relatively cool and at 
the same time to prevent undesirable condensation and collection of 
moisture within the hive during winter months. Examples of such prior 
known structures are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. Diehnelt, 2,498,880, Hageman 
2,522,511, and Wahl 2,709,820. In each of these patents circulation of air 
within the hive is desired in order to provide sufficient ventilation for 
the hive to keep down undesirable collections of moisture therein but is 
not so great as would materially reduce the temperature within the hive. 
Thus, while these prior art devices want some degree of ventilation they 
do not want a lot. 
One of the principal objects of the present invention, unlike these prior 
art devices, is to substantially increase air circulation within the 
beehive by the use of solar energy. Another primary object of the present 
invention is to substantially increase the quantity of honey that is 
producible per hive by hastening the process through which nectar, 
collected by the bees, is changed from a solution containing about 50% 
sugar to its concentrated condition where it constitutes substantially 85% 
sugar. 
In order for a significant amount of evaporation to occur within the hive 
to cause a faster change in concentrations, there must be sufficient air 
circulation around the open honeycombs in which the nectar is initially 
placed by the bees. In most hives even those that have covers which allow 
for a certain amount of air circulation, circulation within the hive is 
created by thousands of bees positioned throughout the hive which fan 
their wings and thus produce circulation within and around the honeycomb 
structure. The fanning process is a 24 hour process during the primary 
honey period and quite naturally consumes a considerable amount of energy 
of the hive. It has been found that during this primary honey-flowing 
period, in certain high humidity climates, two of every three pounds of 
honey produced in the hive is consumed as a food source by the bees 
engaged in the fanning or evaporation process. Likewise, the bees engaged 
in fanning are not available to leave the hive to join in the 
nectar-gathering process. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The beehive cover as described herein is a unique device for substantially 
increasing air circulation within a beehive through the use of solar 
energy and thereby simultaneously increasing the output of honey from that 
hive. 
The cover is of a lightweight construction, preferably made from one piece, 
and is comprised of four triangular-shaped sections which are folded or 
connected together to form a pyramid-shaped structure. The pyramid-shaped 
structure will sit atop a standard beehive replacing a standard outer 
cover and is provided with a plurality of air vents located adjacent the 
apex of the resulting pyramid. At the base of the pyramid, and on all four 
sides thereof, a depending flap structure depends from each side and 
overlaps the outside of the beehive in order to maintain the cover in its 
proper position. By painting the pyramid's outer surface a dark color, 
such as black or a dark green, the efficiency of the cover is greatly 
improved. The short waves of the sun are readily absorbed by the dark 
outer surface and the heat collected thereby is reradiated within the 
chamber defined beneath the outer cover. That heat causes the air under 
the cover to expand and, being lighter than the outside air, rise through 
the vents near the top of the pyramid. The exiting of this air pulls 
cooler air into the hive through the main opening producing convectional 
air currents throughout the hive. The improved air circulation which 
occurs throughout the hive due to the use of the improved cover referred 
to herein, not only reduces hive temperatures from that which exists when 
standard covers are used by about 4 to 6 degrees depending upon the type 
of standard cover used, but also allows a large number of bees that would 
otherwise be engaged in the fanning process to reduce hive temperatures to 
leave the hive and join in the nectar collection process or be available 
for other tasks within the hive. When the present improved cover has been 
used it has been noticed that fewer bees remain out of the hive than was 
the case with hives employing standard flat covers. It is believed that 
this reflects the reduced interior temperatures within the hive using the 
present improved cover.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a standard beehive is set forth generally indicated 
by reference numeral 10 which includes a bottom section 12, a brood 
section 14, a super or honeycomb structure 16, and an inner cover 18 
having at least one aperture 20 therein. The improved outer cover 
according to the present invention is designated by numeral 22. As is 
conventional, the bottom section 12 is provided with a front opening 
generally indicated by numeral 24. 
The cover 22 in FIG. 1 is shown in its folded or constructed condition and 
that same cover is shown in FIG. 2 in its unfolded or flattened condition. 
Turning to FIG. 2, the cover 22 is comprised of four triangular-shaped 
sections 26-32. The structure shown in FIG. 2 is a one-piece structure 
with score lines 34 serving to define the side edges of triangular 
elements 26-32. It should also be understood that it is possible to 
construct the outer cover 22 from individual triangular elements having a 
shape similar to that shown for elements 26-32 and that instead of score 
lines as indicated at 34 each of the elements would have two separate 
edges which could be joined together by any convenient means depending 
upon the material from which the outer cover was being constructed. 
Preferably, sheet metal having a gauge of about 30 is the material from 
which the covers can be made although it should be understood that the 
covers can likewise be constructed from aluminum, thermoplastic materials 
or even from tar impregnated felt paper or from felt board. Turning again 
to FIG. 2, each of the elements 26-32 includes a base side which in this 
instance is defined by score line 36 and depending therefrom are overhang 
flaps 38-44. To ease construction, it is also preferred that each of the 
overhang flaps 38-44 include, at least on one end thereof, a corner tab 
indicated by numerals 46-52. Further, a securing strap 54 extends along 
the exposed side of element 32 and is defined by score line 34'. 
In order to provide air vents within cover 22 a plurality of vents 56 are 
provided adjacent the apex of cover 22 and preferably as close as possible 
to the pointed top. By positioning vents 56 in this manner a fairly 
substantial expansion chamber is created beneath cover 22 and above inner 
cover 18. By providing a dark and preferably black outer surface on cover 
22 the short waves of the sun will be absorbed during daylight hours. As a 
result long waves are reradiated as heat within that chamber which heats 
the air therein. As the heated air expands and becomes lighter than 
outside air, it will rise and exit through vents 56. The air exiting vents 
56 will cause fresh air to be drawn in the bottom of the hive through the 
main hive opening 24 so that a convection current is created within hive 
10. Depending upon the size and number of vent holes 56 and cover 22 as 
well as the holes within inner cover 18, the air circulation within hive 
10 can be substantial. 
As indicated hereinbefore, it is preferred that cover 22 be made from a 
single piece of sheet metal and that it be cut and folded along the lines 
as indicated in FIG. 2 into a pyramid-shaped structure with the two free 
sides of elements 26 and 32 being connected by securing strap 54. Securing 
strap 54 can be connected to element 26 by sheet metal screws, rivets, 
spot welds or by any other convenient means. If other materials are used 
any other suitable fastening technique which will serve to connect 
together that material will be sufficient for the purposes herein. 
As an example of a typical cover and with the understanding that most 
beehives are rectangular structures the sides of elements 26-32 could be 
approximately 15 inches long with a base of elements 28 and 32 being about 
20 inches in length, so as to correspond with the long side of the hive, 
while the length of the bases of elements 26 and 30 would preferably be 
about 16 inches in length, or as long as is necessary to correspond to the 
width of the hive. Overhanging flaps 38-44 are preferably about 2 inches 
in height with the corner tabs being about 1/2 inch in width. Securing 
strap 54 is preferably about an inch wide so that only a minimum amount of 
element 26 would be overlapped thereby. Vents 56 are preferably horizontal 
slits positioned about 2 inches below the apex and as shown in FIG. 3 the 
upper part of the cut portion forming vent 56 is bent outwardly while the 
lower part of the vent area is bent inwardly thereby producing an opening 
about an inch long and one half an inch wide. Thus, rain falling on cover 
22 will be deflected away from vent 56 by the upper portion thereof and 
will not enter the hive. 
By using the present invention it has been found that the production of 
honey can be increased by about 20% as compared with the same hive using a 
conventional cover. Likewise, to improve the efficiency of this cover and 
to ensure proper air flow it is helpful to seal the area between overhang 
flaps 38-44 and the hive body 10. A strip of foam rubber 60, shown in 
phantom in FIG. 2, can be secured to the inside surface of overhang flaps 
38-44 for this purpose following the folding of the one-piece structure 
into the pyramid cover 22. 
Turning now to FIG. 4 which shows a second embodiment in the form of a 
two-piece structure for forming the hive cover. This structure is similar 
to that shown in FIG. 2 except that it is formed from two pieces and is 
comprised of triangular-shaped elements 126, 128, 130 and 132. A score or 
fold line 134 exists between elements 126 and 128 and serves to define one 
side of each of these two elements. In a similar manner a fold or score 
line 135 lies between elements 130 and 132 and defines one side of each of 
those elements. While the other side of elements 126 and 132 are straight 
sides, the free sides of elements 128 and 130 each respectively have a 
securing strap indicated respectively by numerals 136 and 138. Strap 136 
will overlap the free side of element 132 whereas securing strap 138 will 
overlap the free side of element 126 when the two pieces are formed 
together into a completed cover. Each of the elements 126-132 is again 
provided with an overhanging flap indicated respectively by numerals 
140-148 and also each of the overhanging flaps has a corner tab indicated 
by numeral 150. As was the case in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, air 
vents are also provided near the apex of the cover, these vents being 
indicated in FIG. 4 by numeral 156. The vents are approximately 2 inches 
in length and are positioned as closely as possible to the apex of 
sections 128 and 130 as shown. 
In both the embodiments when the cover is constructed, it may be necessary 
to use conventional sealing compounds to seal any seams to assure that the 
cover itself is water-tight and will not leak thereby assuring that 
moisture does not enter the hive. 
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently 
conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be 
understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed 
embodiment but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications 
and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the 
appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation 
of such claims so as to encompass all such equivalent structures.