Implement for demarcating an area, as well as a vehicle suitable for being used in said implement
An apparatus for demarcating an area for restricting the freedom of movement of animals that may be in the area for grazing purposes. The demarcation element, as such, may be a cord, band, ribbon, strip, cable, rope or electrified or communication wire which may be two parallel wires separated by a flexible insulating material, and may be in the form of one or more sections as required to demarcate the area. The demarcation element is supported by a plurality of vehicles, although one or two ends of same may be secured at a reference point. Each vehicle is supported by two wheels which are independently connected to motors and the center of gravity of the vehicle is lower than the centers of the wheels which may be perpendicular or slanted inwardly relative to the ground. Solar panels may be mounted on each of the slanted wheels. A connection for the demarcation element is carried by each vehicle which may include a guide member and tightening device. Also measuring devices are included for measuring the length of demarcation element sections and determining the angles at which they extend relative to a predetermined direction.
This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/884,829, filed Sep. 19, 2001.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to an apparatus for restricting the freedom of a group of animals, as well as to a vehicle that is suitable for being used in said apparatus. Such apparatuses are used, for example, for demarcating pasture areas for cows or sheep. In known apparatuses, however, among other things their flexibility leaves room for improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention aims at providing an improved apparatus of the type involved. According to the invention this is achieved by providing demarcation means such as an electrified wire or cable which can be moved so that with the aid of a vehicle the end of a section of the demarcation means can be placed at a desired location whereby the apparatus is extremely flexible and compact. The other end of the section can be positioned with the aid of a further vehicle or by means of a fixed reference point.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention will now be explained in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Both wheels 4 of vehicle 1 are drivable independently of each other with the aid of motors 5 which are connected to a storage battery 6 and which, via gears 7 that cooperate with an internal toothing in wheels 4, are capable of making each of wheels 4 rotate about axis 3. On chassis 2 there are further provided solar panels 8 for energy supply. Because of independently drivable wheels 4, vehicle 1 has an excellent maneuverability and accurate controllability. Vehicle 1 is also capable of easily surmounting small obstructions without harmful consequences. The vehicle is remotely controlled by means, for example, of a computer which is in communication with all vehicles 1 of the apparatus. The apparatus may be provided with a positioning system, such as, for example, GPS, for each vehicle 1. The computer may be programmed such that vehicles 1 move at predetermined points of time according to a predetermined pattern.
Vehicle 1 is further provided with a drum 9 which is drivable by means of a further motor 5a for winding and unwinding an adjustable section of a demarcation element 10. Said demarcation element 10 may, for example, be constituted by a cord, band, ribbon, strip, (electrified) wire, cable or rope. The further motor 5a of drum 9 is also suitable for tightening demarcation element 10. Drum 9 may further be provided with a spring which also serves to place demarcation element 10 under tension. Demarcation element 10 extends upwardly from drum 9 and then proceeds to a further fastening point via a guide element 11 which is rotatable about a vertical axis. Thus, vehicle 1 is permanently connected to demarcation element 10 and suitable for adjustably positioning an end of an unwound, tightened, substantially straight extending section 12 of demarcation element 10.
When demarcation element 10 is designed as an electrified wire, vehicle 1 is further provided with a sliding electrically conductive contact with the ground. Demarcation element 10 may also be designed as a double conductor (such as in a strip). This has the advantage that a mutual communication between several vehicles 1 or between a vehicle 1 and the controlling computer, or both, is possible via the two conductors. In this situation a sliding contact is superfluous.
Here angle measuring device 14 is designed so that it is possible to determine the angle between the two straight sections 12 of the demarcation element converging in vehicle 1″. This result may be obtained, for example, by measuring by means of two angle measuring devices the angle between a reference direction 19 of vehicle 1″ and each relevant straight section 12 of the demarcation element. This is further illustrated in
The apparatus may be provided with means for determining the distance from one of the vehicles 1, 1′ or 1″ to an adjustable measuring point, in particular to one of the further vehicles 1, 1′ or 1″. Such means, which are well known in the art, may comprise a positioning system, such as GPS. The means may also be equipped with an ultrasonic sensor or an infrared sensor.
The apparatus may further be provided with means for determining the contours of the area to be demarcated. When the positions of vehicles 1, 1′ or 1″ and reference point 18 are known, it is possible to determine with, for example, the aid of the computer, all sorts of data concerning the area to be demarcated (surface, circumference, etc.).
In a further embodiment, vehicle 1 is provided with two drums 9, which are capable of being controlled independently of each other. This makes the apparatus even more flexible and more readily employable.
Although I have disclosed the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of other adaptations and modifications within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. An implement for demarcating an area, in particular for restricting the freedom of movement of animals walking about freely, characterized in that the implement is provided with a demarcation element (10) and at least one vehicle (1,1′, 1″) connected thereto, said vehicle being suitable for adjustably positioning an end of at least a section (12) of the demarcation element (10).
2-27. (canceled)
28. An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a demarcation element which includes at least one section, and a vehicle connected to an end of said section, said vehicle including positioning means for adjustably positioning said end of said section of said demarcation element.
29. A apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein said demarcation element is flexible so that it can be wound and rewound.
30. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28, comprising an adjustable reference point which is fastened to the other end of said section.
31. An apparatus in accordance with claim 30, which comprises a section length measuring means for determining the length of said section between said reference point and said vehicle.
32. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28, which comprises angle measuring means associated with said demarcation element for determining the angle between a predetermined direction and said section.
33. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28, which comprises a reference point, the other end of said section being connected to said reference point, angle measuring means associated with said reference point for determining the angle between a predetermined direction and said section.
34. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein said vehicle is provided with solar panels for its energy supply.
35. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein said vehicle is an unmanned vehicle.
36. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein said vehicle comprises ground engaging rotatable members that support said vehicle, said ground engaging rotatable members consisting of essentially two members.
37. An apparatus in accordance with claim 36, wherein said ground engaging rotatable members are connected to drive means so that they are independently drivable relative to each other.
38. An apparatus in accordance with claim 36, wherein said ground engaging rotatable members comprise wheels which have axes that intersect at a point between them which is lower than the centers of said wheels.
39. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28, which further comprises a positioning system.
40. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28, which comprises a further vehicle and distance determining means for determining the distance between said first mentioned vehicle and said further vehicle.
41. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28, which comprises contour determining means for determining the contours of the area to be demarcated by the apparatus.
42. An apparatus in accordance with claim 28, which comprises remote control means for remotely controlling said vehicle.
43. An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a plurality of flexible sections, at least two vehicles, each of said vehicles being connected to at least one end of at least one of said sections, each said vehicle including positioning means and tightening means adjustably positioning at least one end of said sections and tightening a said section which extends between said vehicles, each said vehicle including angle determining means that determines the angle of at least one of said sections relative to a predetermined direction, said vehicles each being supported by two wheels which are independently controlled by motors carried by said vehicles, the apparatus further comprising solar panels which are operatively connected to said motors for providing energy to said motors.
Type: Application
Filed: May 5, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 6, 2005
Inventor: Karel Berg (Bleskensgraaf)
Application Number: 11/122,107