# US 8,771,035 B2 · Apparatus for continuous weight monitoring of beehives > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,035 B2 - Document ID: US8771035B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/827,290 - Filed: 2013-03-14 - Published: 2013-08-01 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-29 - Assignees: Cyberkinetics, Inc. - Applicants: Stephen Adam Engel - Inventors: Stephen Adam Engel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771035B2 ## CPC - G01G 17/00: Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property (determining weight by measuring volume G01F) - A01K 47/06: Other details of beehives, e.g. ventilating devices, entrances to hives, guards, partitions or bee escapes - A01K 55/00: Bee-smokers; Bee-keepers' accessories, e.g. veils - G01G 5/006: {with pneumatic means} - G01G 19/52: Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture (with walking sticks A45B3/08) - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS ## Abstract An apparatus and method for continuously monitoring the weight of an object. The apparatus does not obstruct a central portion of the bottom of the object being monitored, and is especially well-suited for monitoring the weight of a beehive. In the illustrative embodiment, a ring-shaped fluid-filled bladder is sandwiched between a ring-shaped top surface and a ring-shaped base, and a pressure hose connects the bladder to a pressure gauge. Beehive weight data can be obtained in a continuous fashion, without requiring any moving of the beehive or of the apparatus, and without any other type of disruption. Moreover, the apparatus provides a stable platform that keeps the beehive immobile during monitoring, which is beneficial for the health of the colony. Advantageously, the apparatus can be constructed from inexpensive, off-the-shelf components and materials, and is capable of obtaining accurate measurements over a wide range of temperatures and environmental conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for continuously monitoring the weight of a beehive, said apparatus comprising: a surface for stably supporting said beehive, wherein a marginal portion of a bottom of said beehive is disposed on said surface and a central portion of the bottom of said beehive is not disposed on said surface; one or more load cells on which said surface is disposed; and pressure-measuring means connected to said one or more load cells, wherein a change in pressure measured by the pressure-measuring means is correlatable to a change in the weight of said beehive. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface has a ring shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is physically configured to keep said beehive level during the continuous monitoring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is physically configured to enable access to the bottom of said beehive during the continuous monitoring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a base on which said one or more load cells is disposed. ### Claim 6 An apparatus for continuously monitoring the weight of a beehive, said apparatus comprising: one or more load cells, wherein a marginal portion of a bottom of said beehive is disposed on said one or more load cells and a central portion of the bottom of said beehive is not disposed on said one or more load cells; and pressure-measuring means connected to said one or more load cells, wherein a change in pressure measured by the pressure-measuring means is correlatable to a change in the weight of said beehive. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said apparatus is physically configured to keep said beehive level during the continuous monitoring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a base on which said one or more load cells are disposed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a surface for stably supporting said beehive. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said apparatus is physically configured to enable access to the bottom of said beehive during the continuous monitoring. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for continuously monitoring the weight of a beehive, said apparatus comprising: a surface for stably supporting said beehive, wherein a marginal portion of a bottom of said beehive is disposed on said surface and a central portion of the bottom of said beehive is not disposed on said surface; an element whose electrical resistance varies with pressure, on which said surface is disposed; and resistance-measuring means to measure the electrical resistance of the element, wherein a change in electrical resistance measured by the resistance-measuring means is correlatable to a change in the weight of said beehive. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said element is a load cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said element is a smart fabric. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said apparatus is physically configured to enable access to the bottom of said beehive during the continuous monitoring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said surface has a ring shape. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for continuously monitoring the weight of a beehive, said apparatus comprising: an element whose electrical resistance varies with pressure, wherein a marginal portion of a bottom of said beehive is disposed on said element and a central portion of the bottom of said beehive is not disposed on said element; and resistance-measuring means to measure the electrical resistance of the element, wherein a change in electrical resistance measured by the resistance-measuring means is correlatable to a change in the weight of said beehive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said element is a load cell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said element is a smart fabric. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said apparatus is physically configured to enable access to the bottom of said beehive during the continuous monitoring. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said apparatus is physically configured to keep said beehive level during the continuous monitoring. ### Claim 21 An apparatus for continuously monitoring the weight of a beehive, said apparatus comprising: a fluid-filled bladder, wherein a marginal portion of a bottom of said beehive is disposed on said fluid-filled bladder and a central portion of the bottom of said beehive is not disposed on said fluid-filled bladder; and pressure-measuring means connected to said fluid-filled bladder, wherein a change in pressure measured by the pressure-measuring means is correlatable to a change in the weight of said beehive. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said apparatus is physically configured to keep said beehive level during the continuous monitoring. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a base on which said fluid-filled bladder disposed. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a surface for stably supporting said beehive. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said apparatus is physically configured to enable access to the bottom of said beehive during the continuous monitoring.