US 12,765,535 B2 · Grasshopper harvesting system

Abstract

A grasshopper harvesting system for collecting grasshoppers featuring a vehicle, a collection array, a transfer mechanism, and a storage container or shredder. The system can be attached to an existing vehicle such as a tractor, ATV, truck, or a GPS-controlled autonomous vehicle that can be programmed to collect grasshoppers according to a particular desired route of a particular field, to protect crops or for consumption purposes. Further, the system may feature a detachable bin that empties the grasshoppers when the bin is full. The system may collect grasshopper pests in organic fields, reduce locust swarm densities in breeding grounds, and harvest grasshoppers from rangeland. The grasshoppers may either be destroyed or processed as edible insects for food and feed.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A grasshopper nymph harvesting system (100) for collecting grasshopper nymphs on a field or surface, said system (100) comprising:

a. a capture assembly (160) comprising sideboards and a backboard, wherein the sideboards and the backboard each comprise a face oriented at an upwards angle relative to the field or the surface, wherein the capture assembly (160) further comprises a trough (110) disposed below the sideboards and the backboard such that the insects impact the sideboards, the backboard, or a combination thereof, and fall into the trough (110), wherein the collection array is configured to sequester the grasshopper nymphs that jump into the capture assembly (160) when the system (100) drives on the field or surface;
b. a vacuum system (150) operatively coupled with a bottom surface of the collection array (110);
wherein both an inlet of the vacuum system (150) and an outlet of the vacuum system (150) are connected to the trough (110) to create a closed-loop vacuum system (150);
c. a storage container (130), wherein the vacuum system (150) is configured to deliver the grasshopper nymphs from the capture assembly (160) to the storage container (130), wherein the storage container is removable;
and
d. a power source.

3 more elements

A grasshopper nymph harvesting system (100) for collecting grasshopper nymphs on a field or surface, said system (100) comprising:

a. a vehicle (200);
and
b. a capture assembly (160) coupled to the vehicle (200), the capture assembly (160) comprising:
i. a collection array (110) comprising sideboards and a backboard, wherein the sideboards and the backboard each comprise a face oriented at an upwards angle relative to the field or the surface, wherein the capture assembly (160) further comprises a trough (110) disposed below the sideboards and the backboard such that the insects impact the sideboards, the backboard, or a combination thereof, and fall into the trough (110), wherein the collection array (110) is configured to capture the grasshopper nymphs that jump into the collection array (110) when the system (100) drives on the field or surface;
ii. a plurality of conveyor systems disposed in a bottom surface of the collection array (110);
iii. a vacuum system (150) configured to apply suction to the collection array (110) such that the grasshopper nymphs are transferred from the collection array (110) to the plurality of conveyor systems, wherein the plurality of conveyor systems are configured to deliver the grasshopper nymphs from the collection array (110) to a storage container (130), wherein the storage container (130) is removable;
wherein both an inlet of the vacuum system (150) and an outlet of the vacuum system (150) are connected to a bottom surface of the capture assembly (160), to create a closed-loop vacuum system (150);
and
iv. a power source.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Grasshopper harvesting system

Life of this patent

Grasshopper harvesting system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17