Animal traps and trigger mechanisms

摘要

An animal trap may include a source of compressed gas; a trigger mechanism configured to be actuated by an animal, and a kill mechanism powered by compressed gas. The trap may include two or more trigger valves connected in series. At least one trigger valve may include an opening, a valve seat surrounding the opening, a valve member having a sealing surface, and an O-ring arranged to seal between the sealing surface and the valve seat. One or more flow paths may allow gas to flow along at least part of an internal periphery of the O-ring. The trigger may include a trigger rod extending in a rest position from a mount at or near a first end thereof. The trigger rod may be mounted for pivoting movement about the mount, and may have two rotational degrees of freedom. Pivoting movement of the trigger rod in any direction away from the rest position may result in actuation of the trigger.

主权项

1. A pneumatically powered animal trap including:
I. a trap body including a chamber; II. a source of compressed gas; III. a trigger mechanism configured to be actuated by an animal, the trigger mechanism including:
two or more trigger valves connected in series, the two or more trigger valves including a first trigger valve and a last trigger valve;one or more trigger valve spaces, each of the trigger valve spaces being positioned between two of the two or more trigger valves; anda trigger being positioned within the chamber, the trigger configured to open the first trigger valve when actuated by an animal within the chamber; IV. a main valve; V. a main valve space between the last trigger valve and the main valve; and VI. a kill mechanism powered by the compressed gas;wherein the trigger valves, trigger valve spaces, main valve and main valve space are arranged such that, in use:
a) in a ready state, each of the trigger valve spaces and the main valve space are pressurized by the compressed gas; b) opening of each of the trigger valves vents one of the trigger valve spaces, which in turn causes a further one of the trigger valves to open until all of the trigger valves have been opened; and c) opening of the last trigger valve vents the main valve space, which causes actuation of the main valve to allow the compressed gas to flow to the kill mechanism for killing the animal within the chamber.