Improvements in Trapping Devices applicable to Beehives.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1833-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
Improvements in Trapping Devices applicable to Beehives.
I, JAMES MCPEARSON, of Hepburn, Chillingham, Belford, in the County of
Northumberland, Woodman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention io
be as follows:---
This invention relates to improved trapping devices for use in beehives.
In a hive, a floor extending over the whole hive is interposed between the
upper part where the honey is stored, and the lower or main part of the hive.
The object of the invention is to allow the bees to pass from the upper compart-
ment to the lower but to prevent their return. Communication between the
upper and lower compartments is by means of one or more holes in the floor
which lead into one or more tubes or trunks attached to the underside of the
floor, the said trunk or trunks having one or more openings either in the ends
or underside into the lower compartment. In each trunk and near the opening
to the lower compartment a series of narrow plates, bars or wires is suspended
or hinged in such a manner that a bee must raise some of the plates when pass-
ing through the lower compartment, but when through these plates at once fall
into thei normal place and prevent the bee returning. The bottom. ends
of the plates my rest on the trunk floor or they may be kept a short distance off
the floor. The pies, bars or wire, may be made of any metallic substance, wood,
celluloid or other sunable material, and the trunks of any suitable material.
Dated this 26th day of July 1898.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to the Applicant.
Improvements in Trapping Devices applicable to Beehives.
I, JAMES MCPHEARSON, of Hepburn, Chillingham, Bedford, in the County of
Northumberland, Woodman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement; —
This invention relates to improved trapping devices for use in beehives.
In a hive a floor extending over the whole hive is interposed between the
upper part where the honey is stored, and the lower or main part of the hive.
The object of the invention is to allow the bees to pass from the upper compart-
ment to the lower, but to prevent their return. Communication between the
upper and lower compartments is by means of one or more holes in the floor
which lead into one or more tubes or trunks attached to the floor, the said trunk

page_text: or trunks having one or more openings either in the ends or underside into the
lower compartment. In each trunk and near the opening to the lower compart-
ment a series of narrow plates, bars or wires, is suspended or hinged in such a
manner that a bee must raise one or some of the plates when passing through
to the lower compartment, but when through, these plates at once fall into their
normal place and prevent the bee returning. The bottom ends of the plates may
The
rest on the trunk floor or they may be kept a short distance off the floor.
plates bars or wire, may be made of any metallic substance, wood celluloid, or
other suitable material, and the trunks of any suitable material.
Instead of using one large trunk with a series of hinged falling plates, the
trunk may form a casing containing a series of small trunks each open at one
side and both ends and suspended from or near two corners; the small trunks are
preferably parallel to each other and free to oscillate on the point of suspension.
Each of these small trunks is provided with a plate or valve hinged on the same
pin that carries the trunk. In a normal position the bottom of the hinged plate
rests against the bottom of the trunk and prevents the return of the bee. In
some cases it may be preferred to have all the small trunks connected rigidly
together in one piece instead of each being separate from the other. It is evident
that the trunk or trunk casing in any of the above methods may be fixed to the
upper or under surface of the floor.
The annexed drawings illustrate methods of constructing these trapping
devices.
Figs. 1 and 2 are sectional elevations showing a trunk fixed to the underside of
the floor. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing a trunk fixed to upper-
side of floor and lying within the thickness of the floor. Figs. 4 and
5 are sectional elevations and Fig. 6 a plan showing a large trunk casing
with a series of small trunks fixed to the upper side of the floor. Througout the
drawings A is the floor. B a hole in the floor. C the trunk or trunk casing. D
openings in the trunk to the lower compartment of hive. E hinged plates or
valves F the hinge thereof. H small trunk.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In a beehive a trapping device by which the access of bees from one com-
partment to another is permitted in one direction but their return is prevented,
the passage ways of communication having wires, plates or like flaps or valves
yielding in one direction but not in the other substantially as described.
2. In the device described in Claim 1 the construction of trunks with flaps in
the manner substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dotad this 93rd day of May 1809
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C.