DIY Midge Eater

[Seabeggar]

....appreciating patents and the law etc , this gadget seems to work, just a shame its beyond the pocket of Mr Average. Using its principles which I dont understand is there a legal DIY option??????????

 

[perpetualelevator]

Sorry, what is it? Got a link?

 

[perpetualelevator]

And I don't think you have to worry about patents if you're just making one for yourself. The patent only restricts the sale of the patented product I believe.

 

[andy_e]

Am not even sure a patent applies here since I'd be surprised if the basic mechanism is even patentable. There are already a variety of machines out there doing the same thing, for example ...

http://themidgeatershop.shopkit.net/?gclid=CJSO3qy4gJMCFQ9RQgodkjkvDw

http://www.midge-free-zone.co.uk/RunScript.asp?gclid=CPmw7I24gJMCFQdrMAodYHJ_CQ&p=ASP\Pg0.asp

... but then I'm not a lawyer.

 

[perpetualelevator]

Oh, I see now. I think what these do is slowly burn the propane, producing heat and CO2, which is a simplified version of a human. Mosquitoes (and I'm guessing midges) use their sense of (smell?) to find a CO2 source, then when they're close enough, they use infrared (heat) vision to pinpoint it.

So theoretically, you could just have a small inefficient pilot light that would produce lots of CO2 and some heat, and then some sort of trap to capture and dispose of the offending critters.

 

[andy_e]

IIRC they also smell and vector in on the small amounts of methane (no laughing now ) given off by by animals including people, as well as the CO2 and the slight increase in humidity in the heat column above our bodies, which is why you see clouds of them congregating above your head during an attack, this is why holding your breath doesn't work