Implement for demarcating an area, as well as a vehicle suitable for being used in said implement

• US 6,929,252 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LELY Enterprises AG A Swiss Limited Liability Company
• Original Assignee: LELY Research Holding AG
• Inventors: van den Berg, Karel
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Michael P.
• Application Number:
  US09/884,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20020011595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 256/21, 256/32, 256/40, 256/1, 256/25, 256/10, 119/488, 119/502, 119/510, 119/514, 119/518, 119/512, 119/174, 119/720, 119/721, 242/403
• US Class Current: 256/10
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/105 Movable feed barriers, slides or fences
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 3/001 Portable, temporary, and collapsible fencing for pastures
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 3/005 Electrified fencing for pastures
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 17/266 for stretching or winding wire or wire mesh stretcher-type wire fencing or tensioning devices for wire fencing E04H17/127

Abstract

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. The demarcation element is supported by a plurality of vehicles although one or two ends of same may be secured at a reference point. The vehicle is supported by two relatively large wheels which are independently connected to motors and the center of gravity of vehicle is lower than the centers of the wheels which may be perpendicular to the ground or slanted inwardly. The vehicle carries solar panels which may be mounted on the wheels if they are slanted. A connection for the demarcation element is carried on each vehicle which may include a guide member and tightening device. Also measuring devices are included for measuring the length of sections of a demarcation element between vehicles and the angles at which they extend relative to a predetermined direction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for demarcating an area in which the movement of animals is restricted which comprises a demarcation element that includes a plurality of flexible sections, a plurality of unmanned vehicles, each of said vehicles being connected to at least one end of at least one of said sections, at least one of said vehicles including a geodetic positioning system for selectively positioning said vehicles, said geodetic positioning system comprising a computer for remotely controlling said vehicles, and all of said vehicles including tightening means adjustably positioning at least one end of one of said sections and tightening a said section which extends between said vehicles, said vehicles each being supported by two wheels which are independently controllable by motors carried on said vehicles, the apparatus further comprising solar panels which are operatively connected to said motors for providing energy to said motors.

2. A system for demarcating an area within a field to limit the freedom of movement of animals which comprises:

a plurality of unmanned vehicles;

each of said vehicles having motive means for moving said vehicle and a power source for energizing said motive means, each of said vehicles having two ground engaging members for moving and steering it which are rotated by said motive means;

a computer that remotely controls each of said vehicles, at least one of said vehicles having a reel upon which said a wire can be wound and unwound and which tightens said wire; and

each of said vehicles having location determining means via a geodetic positioning system which cooperates with said computer for determining the position of each of said vehicles relative to said field, said computer being programmed so that said vehicles are remotely controlled by said computer to move to predetermine locations at predetermined points of time according to a predetermined pattern.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said ground engaging members comprise wheels which rotate about a respective axis of rotation, the center of gravity of each of said vehicles being below its respective axis of rotation.

4. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said power source comprises for each said vehicle a battery and a solar panel for charging said battery carried by each said vehicle.

5. An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a demarcation element that includes at least one section and an unmanned vehicle connected to an end of said section, said vehicle including a geodetic positioning system for selectively positioning said end of said section of said demarcation element, said geodetic positioning system comprising a computer for remotely controlling said vehicle, angle measuring means associated with said demarcation element for determining an angle selected from a plurality of angles, said selected angle being between a predetermined substantially horizontal directions and said section, wherein said section is adjustable in length, the apparatus further comprising winding means fitted to said vehicle for winding and unwinding said adjustable section, and a reference point which is connected to another end of said section, a further winding means being disposed at said reference point.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said demarcation element is flexible so that it can be wound and rewound.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said demarcation element includes tightening means for tightening said demarcation element.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, which comprises a section length measuring means for determining the length of said section between said reference point and said vehicle.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said vehicle is provided with solar panels for its energy supply.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said vehicle is an unmanned vehicle.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said vehicle comprises ground engaging rotatable members that support said vehicle, said ground engaging rotatable members consisting of essentially two members.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said ground engaging rotatable members are connected to drive means so that they are independently drivable relative to each other.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said demarcation element is flexible, tightening means being provided for said demarcation element, said tightening means comprising a motor.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, which comprises a further vehicle and distance determining means for determining the distance between said first mentioned vehicle and said further vehicle.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said demarcation element comprises a double conductor.

16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, which comprises a computer for remotely controlling said vehicle.