Termite detecting device and a method of detecting termites

An apparatus for detecting termites comprising:

• a wood piece as a detecting sample for attracting termites;
• a magnetic circuit being composed of, at least, a magnetic substance member as a moving portion and a permanent magnet;
• a magnetic sensor disposed in a gap of a magnetic path of said magnetic circuit;
• and
• a detecting terminal being attached to said moving portion, and abutting and pressing said wood piece in a direction substantially perpendicular to the layers of annual rings of said wood piece with the help of an elastic member, wherein
• when said wood piece is eaten and hollowed by termites to become fragile, said detecting terminal sinks into said wood piece thereby shifting said moving portion,
• the movement of said moving portion opens or shuts down said magnetic circuit, and
• said magnetic sensor detects the shutdown of said magnetic circuit and issues a valid signal which is in turn terminal-transmitted through telephone line to a certain place so as to be integrally controlled.

A termite detecting device which is placed in an expected invading passage for detecting damage or destruction caused by termites, comprising:

• a detecting sample for attracting termites;
• a detecting terminal being pressed against said detecting sample for transmitting displacement due to the damage or destruction caused by termites;
• an elastic member for pressing said detecting terminal and said detecting sample against one another;
• a moving structure connected to said detecting terminal and capable of displacement by virtue of an elastic pressing force generated by said elastic member and upon damage or destruction to said detecting sample caused by termites;
• and
• detection signal generating means for generating a detection signal indicating a displacement of said moving structure, detection of termites being carried out based on the detection signal.

A detector for detecting damage or destruction of a wood sample, comprising:

• a wood sample;
• pheromones for attracting termites to said wood sample;
• a detecting terminal in pressing contact with said wood sample;
• pressing means for pressing said detecting terminal and said wood sample against one another;
• and
• detection signal generating means for detecting displacement of said detecting terminal caused by the damage or destruction of the wood sample and by the pressing of said pressing means, and for generating a detection signal in response to the detected displacement.

A detector for detecting damage or destruction of a wood sample, comprising:

• a wood sample;
• a detecting terminal in pressing contact with said wood sample;
• pressing means for pressing said detecting terminal and said wood sample against one another;
• and
• detection signal generating means for detecting displacement of said detecting terminal caused by the damage or destruction of the wood sample and by the pressing of said pressing means, and for generating a detection signal in response to the detected displacement;
• a casing for enclosing said wood sample, said detecting terminal, said pressing means, and said detection signal generating means;
• a window in said casing;
• and
• a displacement mark connected to said detecting terminal, for displacing into visible alignment with said window when said detecting terminal displaces, thereby providing a visible indication that the detecting terminal has displaced.

A detector for detecting damage or destruction of a wood sample, comprising:

• a wood sample;
• a detecting terminal in pressing contact with said wood sample;
• pressing means for pressing said detecting terminal and said wood sample against one another;
• and
• detection signal generating means for detecting displacement of said detecting terminal caused by the damage or destruction of the wood sample and by the pressing of said pressing means, and for generating a detection signal in response to the detected displacement;
• a casing for enclosing said wood sample, said detecting terminal, said pressing means, and said detection signal generating means;
• and
• a projection for facilitating the insertion of the detector into the ground.

A device for detecting the time-dependent change of a block of wood, comprising:

• a casing;
• a block of wood inside said casing, the block of wood including slits;
• a detecting terminal inside said casing and pressed against said block of wood;
• an elastic member inside said casing producing a pressing force for pressing said detecting terminal and said block of wood against one another, the slits in the wood arranged perpendicular to the pressing force;
• a moving structure connected to said detecting terminal and capable of displacement by virtue of the elastic pressing force against said block of wood;
• and
• detection signal generating means for detecting displacement of said moving structure and for generating a detection signal indicating the displacement.

A device for detecting the time-dependent change of a material, comprising:

• a casing;
• a material inside said casing;
• a detecting terminal inside said casing and pressed against said material;
• an elastic member inside said casing producing a pressing force for pressing said detecting terminal and said material against one another;
• a moving structure connected to said detecting terminal and capable of displacement by virtue of the elastic pressing force against said material;
• and
• detection signal generating means for detecting displacement of said moving structure and for generating a detection signal indicating the displacement;
• wherein said casing includes:
• a first space in which said material and said detecting terminal are disposed;
• a second non-enclosed space separated from said first space, said second non-enclosed space defined at a lower edge by a lower case and at a side by an enclosing wall;
• and
• earth and sand contained in said second non-enclosed space and in contact with said material.