GB2034164A - Bird scares - Google Patents

Abstract

A bird scare, particularly for use with a crane, comprises a moving arm or arms 11 which may be rotated or reciprocated through any angle up to 360 DEG . The arm or arms are provided with bird scare devices 12 which dissuade birds from settling on the crane. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to bird scares DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION This invention relates to bird scares and more particularly, but not exclusively, to bird scares for use on cranes such as dock-side cranes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new or improved bird scare.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide a bird scare comprising a moving arm carrying a bird scaring device.

The arm may be mounted for continuous rotation about an axis or the arm may be adapted to be reciprocated about an axis through up to 3600.

Where the arm is rotated, the arm may be directly driven by a motor, or through a series of gears to achieve a desired rotational speed.

Where the arm is reciprocated, it may be mounted on a drive shaft driven from a motor through a rack and pinion mechanism operably connected to the shaft. The rack may be driven by a rod connected to a crank pin mounted on a drive wheel which is rotated directly or indirectly by a motor.

In either case, the motor may be an electric motor.

The bird scaring device may be carried at an end of the arm distant from the axis or alternatively the arm may be pivoted intermediate its ends and have a bird scaring device at the opposite ends thereof.

The or each bird scaring device may comprise one or more streamers which are preferably made from a durable resilient material such as nylon.

Alternatively, the or each bird scaring device may comprise a disc or discs which may be reflective on one side and non-reflective on the other, or have different colours on each side.

A plurality of arms may be provided, each of which may comprise a fibre glass antenna.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a crane having at least one bird scare according to the first aspect of the invention.

The crane may be provided with a plurality of bird scares located at different positions on the crane and the bird scaring devices may be different at different positions.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bird scare according to the invention; and FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 , there is shown a bird scare 10 adapted to be mounted on a crane, comprising a pair of moving arms comprising antennae 11 which are adapted to be rotated about an axis in a piane through 3600. Each antenna has a bird scaring device attached to one end thereof comprising a pair of streamers 12.

As the antennae 11 are rotated, the streamers 12 will be swept behind, thus scaring birds and disuading them from settling on the crane.

The device comprises a power unit 13 having a conventional A.C. mains motor (not shown) which rotates a drive shaft 14 through a series of gears (not shown) which are arranged to give a desired rotational speed.

The bird scare has been found to be particularly effective when the antennae are rotated at a speed of three to four seconds per revolution.

A mounting plate 1 5 is attached to the drive shaft 14 on which the antennae 11 are mounted.

The bird scare 10 is provided with fixing lugs 16, with holes 17 which receive bolts (not shown) to enable the bird scare 10 to be mounted on a crane.

Although in the bird scare described, a pair of antennae are provided, if desired more than two may be provided arranged to rotate in the same or different planes about the same or different axes.

It will be appreciated that when the scare is mounted on a crane, it may not be possible for the antennae to be rotated through 3600 as the antennae or the streamers 12 may foul the crane or a nearby structure.

Thus, an alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 2, wherein antennae are arranged to reciprocate through an angle of 2700, although they may, if desired, be reciprocated through any other angle.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a bird scare 20 adapted to be mounted on a crane comprising a power unit 21 which, in use, causes arms 22 comprising antennae to reciprocate through 2700 about an axis as hereinafter described.

Extending between the antennae 22 are bird scaring devices comprising streamers 23. As the antennae reciprocate, the streamers 23 will be swept round thus scaring birds and disuading them from settling on the crane.

The power unit 21 comprises a conventional A.C. mains voltage electric motor 24 having an output shaft 25 on which is mounted a gear 26.

The gear 26 meshes with a further gear 27 which is mounted on and rotates a spindle 28.

Attached to one end, and adapted to be rotated with the spindle 28, is a drive wheel 29 provided with a crank pin 30 which extends from the drive wheel in a direction parallel to, but opposite to, the spindle 28.

A connecting rod 31 is rotatably connected to the pin 30 and is reciprocated as the drive wheel 29 rotates. The reciprocating motion of the connecting rod 31 is used to reciprocate a drive shaft 32 via a rack 33 and a pinion gear wheel 34 mechanism, the latter being mounted on the drive shaft 32, which may be coupled as hereinafter described to further drive shafts 35, 36.

The power unit 21 is encased (shown in ghost lines in the drawings) and supplied with fittings (not shown) as appropriate to enable the unit to be mounted on a crane.

Mounted on the drive shaft 32 are the antennae 22. Although in the drawing only two antennae are shown, it will be appreciated that preferably a plurality of antennae are provided spaced along the entire length of the drive shaft or shafts..

The spacing and length of antennae 22 used, and the number of streamers 23 may be chosen to suit a particular application, for example, the antennae may be spaced about 60 centimeteres from one another.

The period of reciprocation of the antennae may be adjusted to achieve an optimum period by changing the relative sizes of the gears, or the speed at which the motor rotates.

The bird scare has been found particularly effective when arranged to reciprocate at six to eight seconds per cycle.

Further alternatively, in this embodiment, although the angle through which the antennae are reciprocated has been described as being 2700, if desired, the mechanism may be arranged so that the antennae are reciprocated through a different angle. For example, the size and type of rack 33 and pinion gear wheel 34 and/or the distance of the crank pin 30 ta its centre of rotation may be changed to achieve any desired angle of reciprocation up to 3600.

The drive shaft 32 may be connected as shown via bevel gears 37, 38 or universal couplings 39 to further drive shafts 35 and 36, which may extend to any desired location on the crane and each have antennae with streamers mounted thereon.

Thus, one power unit 21 may be used to reciprocate a plurality of antennae at different positions on the crane.

The drive shafts 32, 35, 36 are each mounted in support bearings 40 which are adapted to be attached to parts of the crane.

In both of the above described embodiments, the antennae may be made of fibre glass or metal or any other suitable material and the streamers may be made of any flexible durable material such as nylon. Further, in place of streamers, other bird scaring devices may be provided such as discs which are reflective on one side and non-reflective on the other, or have different colours on each side. Also different bird scaring devices may be provided at different positions on the crane.

In addition to visual bird scaring devices, if desired, an audible noise may be emitted from the bird scare. To produce this noise, as the arm moves it may be arranged to operate a clapper device.

Although the antennae have been described as being rotated or reciprocated by an electric motor, it will be appreciated that if desired, any other type of drive means may be provided. Further the antennae need not be rotated or reciprocated but may be moved in any desired manner.

In the examples described, the bird scare have been described as being for use with a crane.

However, a bird scare according to the invention may be used in any other desired manner wherein it is desired to scare birds.

Claims (17)

1. A bird scare comprising a moving arm carrying a bird scaring device.

2. A bird scare according to Claim 1 wherein the arm is mounted for continuous rotation about an axis.

3. A bird scare according to Claim 1 wherein the arm is adapted to be reciprocated about an axis through up to 3600.

4. A bird scare according to Claim 2 wherein the arm is directly driven by a motor, or through a series of gears to achieve a desired rotational speed.

5. A bird scare according to Claim 3 wherein the arm is mounted on a drive shaft driven from a motor through a rack and pinion mechanism operably connected to the shaft.

6. A. bird scare according to Claim 5 wherein the rack is driven by a rod connected to a crank pin mounted on a drive wheel which is rotated directly or indirectly by a motor.

7. A bird scare according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the motor is an electric motor.

8. A bird scare according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bird scaring device is carried at an end of the arm distant from the axis.

9. A bird scare according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the arm is pivoted intermediate its ends and has a bird scaring device at the opposite ends thereof.

10. A bird scare according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each bird scaring device comprises one or more streamers.

11. A bird scare according to Claim 1 wherein the streamers are made from a durable resilient material such as nylon.

12. A bird scare according to any one of Claims 1 1 to 9 wherein the or each bird scaring device comprises a disc or discs which are reflective on one side and non-reflective on the other, or have different colours on each side.

13. A bird scare according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of arms are provided, each of which comprises a fibre glass antenna.

14. A bird scare according to any one of the preceding claims which is provided with an audible bird scaring device, operable by the moving arm.

1 5. A crane having at least one bird scare according to any one of the preceding claims.

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16. A crane according to Claim 14 having a plurality of bird scares located at different positions on the crane.

17. A crane according to Claim 15 wherein the bird scaring devices are different at different positions.

1 8. A bird scare substantially as herein described with reference to and as iliustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.