Beehive frame and comb foundation for controlling varroa mites
First Claim
1. In a beehive for destroying varroa mites, a combination of a frame and comb foundation, said frame and comb foundation comprised of half portions of said frame and comb foundation joined together, each of said half portions comprising an outer frame portion having a slender upper bar and a slender lower bar that is parallel to the upper bar, slender side bars that are parallel to each other and a pair of short outer portions extending outwardly from opposite ends of said upper bar for suspending said frame and comb foundation in the beehive;
- a comb foundation between said upper, lower and side bars of said frame and comb foundation;
a heating element between said half portions;
a temperature sensor mounted on said heating element; and
an electronic control unit (ECU), a heating cycle for said heating element controlled by said ECU, said ECU providing operative initiation and termination of said heating cycle, startup, a control of the temperature of said heating cycle, a power shutdown if excessive current is detected, audio or visual feedback of fault conditions, an end of said heating cycle, electronic driver protection, and limiting of heating element current, and a power source operatively connected to said heating element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A frame and comb foundation and method for controlling Varroa mites in a honeybee hive. In a first embodiment the invention is comprised of half portions of the frame and comb foundation in combination with a power supply, heating element, electronic control unit (ECU), temperature sensor and an optional diagnostic system. The ECU which may be mounted on the frame and comb foundation or, in a separate enclosure is comprised of a micro-controller and other circuitry. The temperature sensor is mounted adjacent to the heating unit. The power supply may mobile or stationary, such as a battery or line current.
In a second embodiment, the frame and comb foundation is interconnected with similar frame and comb foundations in multiple hives that include individual ECU'"'"'s and temperature sensors and individual wireless electronic communication systems, a single power source and individual heating elements. The multiple temperature sensors are mounted adjacent to the heating elements. The ECU'"'"'s are mounted on the frame and comb foundations or in separate enclosures. The ECU'"'"'s are comprised of logic circuits or micro-controllers and other circuitry. The power source may be a mobile or stationary source such as a battery.
22 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. In a beehive for destroying varroa mites, a combination of a frame and comb foundation, said frame and comb foundation comprised of half portions of said frame and comb foundation joined together, each of said half portions comprising an outer frame portion having a slender upper bar and a slender lower bar that is parallel to the upper bar, slender side bars that are parallel to each other and a pair of short outer portions extending outwardly from opposite ends of said upper bar for suspending said frame and comb foundation in the beehive;
- a comb foundation between said upper, lower and side bars of said frame and comb foundation;
a heating element between said half portions;
a temperature sensor mounted on said heating element; and
an electronic control unit (ECU), a heating cycle for said heating element controlled by said ECU, said ECU providing operative initiation and termination of said heating cycle, startup, a control of the temperature of said heating cycle, a power shutdown if excessive current is detected, audio or visual feedback of fault conditions, an end of said heating cycle, electronic driver protection, and limiting of heating element current, and a power source operatively connected to said heating element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a comb foundation between said upper, lower and side bars of said frame and comb foundation;
-
12. A frame and comb foundation for a frame in a beehive comprising:
-
a first comb foundation; a second comb foundation assembled to the first comb foundation within the frame; a housing defined by the first comb foundation and the second comb foundation; a heating element disposed between the first and second comb foundations; a power source electrically connected to the heating element; a temperature sensor mounted on the heating element for sensing a temperature and providing a signal indicative of the temperature; and an electronic control unit connected to the power source and the temperature sensor , wherein the electronic control unit receives the signal from the temperature sensor, and wherein the electronic control unit controls operation of the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A frame and comb foundation for a frame of a beehive comprising:
-
a first comb foundation; a second comb foundation assembled to the first comb foundation within the frame; a heating element disposed between the first and second comb foundations; a power source electrically connected to the heating element; a temperature sensor disposed between the first and second comb foundations that provides a signal indicative of a temperature within the frame; and an electronic control unit connected to the power source that receives the signal from the temperature sensor, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to start, shut down and control a level of current provided to the heating element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A frame and comb foundation for a frame of a beehive comprising:
-
a first comb foundation; a second comb foundation assembled to the first comb foundation within the frame; a printed circuit board disposed between the first and second comb foundations; a power source electrically connected to the heating element; a device that provides data associated with a temperature of an area between the first and second comb foundations; and an electronic control unit connected to the power source, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to start supplying current, stop supplying current, and control a level of current provided to the heating element based upon the data provided by the device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
-
Specification