Electric fence

Details Electric fence Electric fence

1998-08-21

2001-07-24

Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)

Fences

Electric

C256S031000, C256S025000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06264172

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electrified fences for keeping squirrels, rabbits, and other ground dwelling animals out of enclosed areas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Certain facilities, such as transformer substations, pose a potential hazard to both the public and wildlife. Occasionally, wild animals, such as squirrels or raccoons, may enter a transformer substation and short circuit a power line causing an outage. Chain link fences have been used to isolate the public, and to some extent, wildlife from distribution stations. Traditional chain link fences usually consist of a wire chain link screen or screen suspended between a plurality of suspension posts. Since the chain link screens are heavy and must be tensioned to maintain their structure, the supporting posts must be anchored to the ground, often by concrete backfills. Chain link fences have not proven effective in preventing the entry of squirrels and other small animals from transformer substations. Essentially small animals, particularly squirrels, are able to climb over chain link fences.
Occasionally, electrified fences have been used to keep certain animals, usually vermin, out of hazardous areas. These electric fences generally consist of a bare electrically conductive element, such as a wire or a metal bar, suspended on poles. The electric element is electrically coupled to a charging device. Occasionally, an electrified fence may have more than one conductive wire strung between the poles. To keep the electrified elements taut, tension must be applied; thus requiring the supporting poles to be anchored to the ground. The costs associated with building electrified fences with anchored support poles is relatively high since the anchoring of supporting posts is labour intensive.
Electrified fences have proven to be effective in keeping out larger animals, such as dogs or wolves, from enclosed areas; however, smaller animals such as squirrels, are often small enough to avoid the electrically charged wires of electric fences. Occasionally, these small animals are quick enough to pass through the wires between shock pulses (from the fence energizer) without receiving a shock. At other times, these small animals avoid the electrified elements of the fence by burrowing under the fence. As a result, the use of electrified fences has thus far not been effective in deterring squirrels and other small animals from entering certain enclosed locations such as transformer stations and distribution stations. There is a need for an effective and low cost fence which effectively prevents small animals, particularly squirrels, from entering enclosed areas such as electrical distribution stations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a system for keeping selected small animals out of an enclosed area, the system having a perimeter fence and an internal electric fence having an electrically conducting element. The internal electric fence is mounted parallel to the perimeter fence at a distance greater than the distance the selected animals are capable of jumping.
The present invention is also directed at an electric fence for keeping selected animals out of an enclosed area. The electric fence is made from an electrically conductive grounded screen supported by a plurality of support members. The screen is dimensioned to prevent the selected animal from penetrating the screen. At least one electrically conductive element is mounted to the electric fence adjacent to the screen and opposite to the enclosed area.
The present invention is also directed at an electric fence for keeping selected small animals out of an enclosed area, the fence having a grounded electrically conductive screen supported by a plurality of support elements. A portion of the screen is angled away from the enclosed area such that the selected animal will hang from the screen while attempting to climb over the screen. An electrically conductive element is mounted to the electric fence opposite the enclosed area and adjacent to the portion of the screen.


REFERENCES:
patent: 517423 (1894-04-01), Bennett et al.
patent: 2163954 (1939-06-01), Lucas
patent: 2626304 (1953-01-01), Telecky et al.
patent: 4685656 (1987-08-01), Lee et al.
patent: 114066 (1942-03-01), None
patent: 2 592 512 (1985-12-01), None
patent: 2592512 (1985-12-01), None

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