Abstract:
The installation comprises a drive incorporating a guy rope provided at each end with a swivel joint, a driven rotating element and a pair of driving pulleys, all secured to the guy rope. A pair of driven pulleys is opposed to the pair of driving pulleys. A pair of endless cables is tensioned between the driving and driven pulleys and each endless cable has an upper and lower paths. A pair of stretched guide ropes, essentially parallel to the pair of endless cables is used. Each one of the stretched guide ropes is perpendicularly disposed to the stretched drive guy rope and extends from the ends of the latter. At least a pair of carrying lines is perpendicularly disposed with respect to the pair of stretched guide ropes. An actuating assembly including a reversible electric motor is used.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to apparatus for protecting horticultural and agricultural plots from small animals and, more particularly, to an installation for repelling birds. This installation causes bird flight from orchards, gardens, vineyards and the like, so that birds feeding habits are interrupted. 
     An activity of significant magnitude is the growing of fruit and berries. Trees growing fruit such as apples, pears, peaches, cherries and the like are presently grown in large orchards. Also, small fruit such as raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and the like are presently grown in bushes over extensive surfaces. 
     In the past, various types of devices and installations have been used in attempts to scare birds away from trees and bushes bearing fruit. 
     It has been proposed to utilize a loud noise so as to scare birds into flying from a crop field. Such a noise is usually provided by an air gun using a combustible gas. The air gun ignites the combustible gas at predetermined time intervals. However, due to the air gun&#39;s widespread use, the birds become accustomed to the noise and the scarring effect is gradually diminished. Also, such method of producing a loud noise is generally rejected by the surrounding neighborhood. 
     Also, it has been proposed to protect horticultural and agricultural plots against attack by bird flocks with nets or similar protective webbing. This approach is limited, since the cost of acquiring, installing and operating a system according to this method would be prohibitive, especially for large plots. 
     In view of the impracticability of the loud noise method and the substantial cost associated with the building and operating of the net covering system, farmers have generally turned to the tactic of scarring birds away by using repelling installations. Thus, German Patent No. 1,281,741, dated Oct. 31, 1968 and granted to Bachli for an “INSTALLATION FOR PROTECTING AGRICULTURAL CROPS FROM BIRDS” describes several embodiments wherein use is made of carrying lines provided with scarring features. In a first type of embodiments, each carrying line is engaged in a limited, alternative movement with respect to its initial position. In a second type of embodiment, carrying lines cover large surfaces and are actuated by endless cables across the whole length of a plot. Bachli&#39;s embodiments have important shortcomings. In the first type of embodiments the protected surface is limited, while in the second type of embodiment the use of pulleys, around which an endless cable is actuated by a reversible electric motor via a mechanical transmission, presents a major technical disadvantage. It is common knowledge, that any flexible transmission of power, such as flat and V-belts or chains can be used only for limited distances, while the surfaces protected from birds imply long distances. U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,605, dated August 29 and granted to Bachli for a “SCARECROW SYSTEM” discloses an installation using a main towline carrying deterrent devices. The main towline is supported by wire or rope-held pulleys, secured to movably poles attached to the soil, and is actuated by a drive assembly that imparts a reciprocating movement. A main disadvantage of this installation resides in the fact that the crop surface remains not protected, only corners and border surfaces being protected. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Following the foregoing situation, there is a need for an installation for repelling birds that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to develop a reliable and efficient installation. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a well-engineered installation so that it is simple to assemble and operate, and comprises components that generally wear evenly. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive installation. 
     The present invention is predicated on the conviction that the use of one line, stretched drive guy rope in the present installation solves the long distance transmission of mechanical power. Furthermore, the use of a pair of carrying lines, provided with scarring elements, one carrying line simultaneously traveling in a direction opposite to the other carrying line, greatly enhances the efficiency of the present installation. 
     Broadly describing, the present installation comprises a unilinear drive assembly incorporating a stretched drive guy rope provided at each end with a swivel joint, a driven rotating element and at least one driving pulley, the former and the latter being firmly secured to the stretched drive guy rope. At least one driven pulley is opposed to the driving pulley and has a centerline situated in a plan passing through the midsection of the latter. At least one endless cable is tensioned between the driving and driven pulleys and has an upper path and a lower path. A pair of stretched guide ropes, essentially parallel to the endless cable is used. Each one of the stretched guide ropes is perpendicularly disposed to the stretched drive guy rope and extends from the ends of the latter. At least one carrying line is perpendicularly disposed with respect to the pair of stretched guide ropes. One carrying lines is attached to the upper path, while another is attached to the lower path, each end of each carrying line being slidably engaged with an adjoining one of the pair of stretched guy guide ropes. An actuating assembly includes a reversible electric motor connected to a reduction gear drive that is provided with an output drive shaft. On the latter, a drive wheel is securely fastened and transmits, via a mechanical transmission, a torsional moment to the driven wheel. The endless cable is provided with devices for triggering a change of direction of the reversible motor. Those devices are attached to the upper and lower paths at opposite positions, adjacent the driven pulley and the driven pulley, and act when the upper and the lower path, alternatively, at an end of their traveling paths come close to the driving pulley. 
     In one aspect of this invention, the installation for repelling birds further comprises devices for tension adjusting, secured outwardly from each swivel joint and from both ends of each stretched guide ropes. The devices for tension adjusting are adapted to be attached to posts anchored to the ground. 
     In another aspect of this invention, the installation for repelling birds further comprises at least one tensioning spring secured inwardly from at least one of the swivel joints of the unilinear stretched drive guy rope and inwardly from at least one of the devices for tension adjusting of each of the stretched guide ropes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and the manner in which it may be made and used, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic top view of the installation for repelling birds in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates, in larger scale, detail A of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates, in larger scale, detail B of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates, in larger scale, detail C of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a longitudinal cross-section of a hollow shaft used in first ball bearing assemblies; and 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a front elevation view of a solid axle used in second ball bearing assemblies. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A horticultural plot or field, usually having a parallelogram view in plan and comprising rows of plants, bushes or trees, is protected by an installation for repelling birds  100 . 
     Installation for repelling birds  100 , as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, comprises essentially the following: 
     a unilinear drive assembly  200  incorporating 
     a stretched drive guy rope  202 , provided at each end with 
     a swivel joint  204 ; 
     a V-belt driven pulley  206  and 
     a pair of spaced driving pulleys  208 , the former and the latter being firmly attached to stretched drive guy rope  202 ; 
     a pair of spaced driven pulleys  300 , opposed to the pair of spaced driving pulleys  208 , each spaced driving pulley  208  having a center line situated in a plane passing through a midsection of a spaced driven pulley  300 ; 
     a pair of endless clothes lines  400 , each one being tensioned between a spaced driving pulley  208  and a spaced driven pulley  300  and each one having an upper path  402  and a lower path  404 , the latter being shown in phantom or dash lines; 
     a pair of stretched guide guy ropes  500 , essentially parallel to the pair of endless clothes lines  400 , each guide guy rope  500  being perpendicularly disposed to stretched drive guy rope  202  and extending from the ends of the latter; 
     a pair of carrying lines  600 , perpendicular to stretched, guide guy ropes  500 , each end of a carrying line  600  being slidably engaged with a stretched guy guide rope  202 ; one carrying line  600  being fixed to upper paths  402 , while another carrying line  600  being attached to lower paths  404  of the pair of the pair of endless clothes lines  400 ; and 
     an actuating assembly  700  including 
     a reversible electric motor  702  transmitting via 
     a reduction gear drive  704 , provided with 
     an output drive shaft  706 , on which 
     a V-belt drive pulley  708  is securely fastened, and via 
     a V-belt  710 , a torsional moment from V-belt drive pulley  708  to V-belt driven pulley  206 . 
     Preferably, during the operation of the installation for repelling birds  100 , stretched drive guy rope  202  rotates alternatively in both directions causing the pair of endless clothes lines  400  to be engaged in a to and fro movement, respectively, one of the endless clothes lines  400 —between a position adjacent to the pair of spaced driving pulleys  208  and a position located midway between the latter and the pair of spaced driven pulleys  300 , the other endless clothes lines  400 —between a postion adjacent to the pair of spaced driven pulley  300  opposite opposite and the above midway position. For example, if one carrying line  600  is attached, adjacent to the pair of spaced driving pulleys  208 , to upper paths  402 , the other carrying line  600  is attached, adjacent to the pair of spaced driven pulleys  300 , to lower paths  404  of the pair of endless clothes lines  400 , or vice versa. Thus, one carrying line  600  performs, alternatively, a linear motion in an opposite direction of the traveling of the other carrying line  600 . 
     Describing now in detail, the installation for repelling birds  100  comprises unilinear drive assembly  200 , which incorporates stretched drive guy rope  202  provided at each end with a swivel joint  204 , V-belt driven pulley  206  and the pair of spaced driving pulleys  208  attached to stretched drive guy rope  202 . A pair of first ball bearing assemblies  210  is used to support V-belt driven pulley  206  and the pair of spaced driving pulleys  208 . More specifically, one first ball bearing assembly  210  supports V-belt driven pulley  206  and one spaced driving pulley  208 , while the other first ball bearing assembly  210  supports only one spaced driving pulley  208 . Each first ball bearing assembly  210  incorporates a hollow shaft  212  having an internal diameter d 1  so commensurate with a diameter of stretched drive guy rope  202 , so that the latter can freely pass through the former. Hollow shaft  212  is defined as well by two external diameters: a large central diameter d 2  and a lesser large ends diameter d 3 . A bolt  214  that penetrates hollow shaft  212  secures the latter to stretched drive guy rope  202 . Hollow shaft  212  has a middle portion corresponding to larger central diameter d 2  to which, in one first ball bearing assembly  210 , V-belt driven pulley  206  and one spaced driving pulley  208  are rigidly fastened by using conventional securing features  216 . In the other first ball bearing assembly  210 , to the middle portion of hollow shaft  212  only one spaced driving pulley  208  is mounted. 
     A post  218  anchored to the ground is used for supporting and attaching each first ball bearing assembly  210 . 
     An eye bolt-nut assembly  220  is used to attach the ends of stretched guy drive rope  202  to posts  218 ′. Before the attachment to eye bolt-nut assembly  220 , stretched guy drive rope  202  is provided with a swivel joint  204  and a helical tension spring  222 . Practically, one helical tension spring  222  suffices for resiliently tensioning stretched guy drive rope  202 . Guy grip dead ends  224  of known design, easily available on the market, are used to conveniently interconnect assembly eye bolt-nut assembly  220 , swivel joint  204  and helical tension spring  222 . The adjustment of the resilient tensioning of stretched guy drive rope  202  between posts  208 ′ is achieved by means of eye bolt-nut assembly  220 . 
     A pair of second ball bearing assemblies  302  is used for the pair of spaced driven pulleys  300 , which are opposed to and collinear with the pair of spaced driving pulleys  208 . The difference between second ball bearing second assemblies  302  and first ball bearing assemblies  210  resides in the fact that the former use a solid axle  304  instead of hollow shaft  212  used in the latter. 
     A post  218  anchored to the ground is used for supporting and attaching each second ball bearing assembly  302 . 
     In each endless clothes line  400 , usually a tension spiral spring (not shown) is intercalated. Each carrying line  600  terminates at its ends with a horizontal pulley  602  that engages stretched guy guide rope  500  from the exterior. Both carrying lines  600  follow in general the layout of the field or plot and will avoid interference with the normal growth of the plants to be protected or with the harvesting or other machinery. 
     A multiplicity of birds scare devices  604  is arranged in intervals on each carrying line  600 . Bird scare devices  604  may be in the form of strips of material, pennants, of reflecting material etc. 
     Each stretched guide guy rope  500  is attached to both ends, through a guy grip dead end  224 , to an eye bolt-nut assembly  220 . The latter is fastened to post  218 ′. A helical tension spring  222 ′ is attached to guide guy rope  500 , at one end, next to one eye bolt-nut assembly  220 . 
     Actuating assembly  700 , mentioned above, incorporates as well the following conventional components: 
     a control panel  712  electrically connected to reversible electrical motor  702 ; 
     a limiting switch  714  mounted proximately to one spaced driving pulley  208 ; adjacent actuating assembly  700 ; 
     a triggering element  716  connected to one upper and one lower paths  402  and  404 , respectively, in positions corresponding to the end of their traveling courses, when they alternatively reach one of the pair of spaced driving pulleys  208  adjacent actuating assembly  700 . Thus, a contact is made with control panel  712  to stop reversible electrical motor  702  and change its direction of rotation. 
     Since the structure and the use in combination of the above components of actuating assembly  700  are common knowledge, a further explanation of the same appears to be unnecessary. 
     It is known that when wire rope remains in a fixed position (such as in cables for suspension bridges, anchoring posts or haulage) or where little bending is required, use is made of guy ropes. 
     For transmission of motion mainly in elevators, mine hoists, cranes, ski-lifts or other aerial conveyors, where flexibility over grooved pulleys and drums is required, standard flexible or extra flexible hoisting ropes are used. In these cases drums are always used for winding or unwinding flexible hoisting ropes. The latter, in comparison with guy ropes, comprise a flexible core, more strands and thinner wires. Consequently, their cost is significantly higher than that of guy ropes. 
     The transmission of power, using wire ropes around a driving and driven pulley, is not appropriate in general and especially for long distances. First, there is no wedging action of the wire rope in the groove of the pulley to provide an effective coefficient of friction for an efficient gripping. Second, the distance between the axes of driving and driven pulleys in similar is limited. For example, for flat belts 
     
       
           L   opt =2( D+d ), 
       
     
     where L opt —optimal distance between the axes of a driving pulley D and a driven pulley d; It is suggested to limit the distance between driving and driven pulley to L opt . 
     In chain transmissions, where gripping is fully obtained, the optimal distance between the axes of driving and driven sockets is 
     
       
           A   opt =(30−50) p,   
       
     
     where A opt —optimal distance and p—pitch of the chain. 
     It is suggested to limit the distance in chain transmissions ton 
     
       
         A max =80p. 
       
     
     As can be seen from the foregoing, the use of flexible transmissions, such as wire ropes or chains, for power transmission between pulleys or sprockets is limited to relative short distances. Installation for repelling birds  100  is intended to serve large surfaces defined by long distances. 
     After substantial experimentation and testing, the inventor has discovered that by using an one line stretched guy rope, provided at both ends with a swivel joint, one can advantageously receive a significant, alternative torsional moment from a power source, such as an electrical motor, and further transmit that moment at long distances. 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed therein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. For example, alternatively to the above embodiment, other embodiments using more or less endless clothes lines  400 , carrying lines  600  and/or helical tension springs  222  and  222 ′ are contemplated. 
     An alternative variant to the above embodiment contemplates the use of a pair of stretched guide guy ropes  500  placed between the pair of endless clothes lines  400 . 
     It is also envisaged the possibility of using only one carrying line  600  travelling in both directions between driving and driven pulleys  208  and  300  and, respectively, vice versa.