Implement for demarcating an area, as well as a vehicle suitable for being used in said implement

Abstract

An apparatus for demarcating an area for restricting the freedom of movement of animals that may be in the area for grazing purposes. The demarcation element, as such, may be a cord, band, ribbon, strip, cable, rope or electrified or communication wire which may be two parallel wires separated by a flexible insulating material, and may be in the form of one or more sections as required to demarcate the area. The demarcation element is supported by a plurality of vehicles, although one or two ends of same may be secured at a reference point. Each vehicle is supported by two wheels which are independently connected to motors and the center of gravity of the vehicle is lower than the centers of the wheels which may be perpendicular or slanted inwardly relative to the ground. Solar panels may be mounted on each of the slanted wheels. A connection for the demarcation element is carried by each vehicle which may include a guide member and tightening device. Also measuring devices are included for measuring the length of demarcation element sections and determining the angles at which they extend relative to a predetermined direction.

1 . An implement for demarcating an area, in particular for restricting the freedom of movement of animals walking about freely, characterized in that the implement is provided with a demarcation element ( 10 ) and at least one vehicle ( 1 , 1 ′,  1 ″) connected thereto, said vehicle being suitable for adjustably positioning an end of at least a section ( 12 ) of the demarcation element ( 10 ).  
   
   
       2 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a demarcation element which includes at least one section, and a vehicle connected to an end of said section, said vehicle including positioning means for adjustably positioning said end of said section of said demarcation element.  
   
   
       29 . A apparatus in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein said demarcation element is flexible so that it can be wound and rewound.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 28 , comprising an adjustable reference point which is fastened to the other end of said section.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 30 , which comprises a section length measuring means for determining the length of said section between said reference point and said vehicle.  
   
   
       32 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 28 , which comprises angle measuring means associated with said demarcation element for determining the angle between a predetermined direction and said section.  
   
   
       33 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 28 , which comprises a reference point, the other end of said section being connected to said reference point, angle measuring means associated with said reference point for determining the angle between a predetermined direction and said section.  
   
   
       34 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein said vehicle is provided with solar panels for its energy supply.  
   
   
       35 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein said vehicle is an unmanned vehicle.  
   
   
       36 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein said vehicle comprises ground engaging rotatable members that support said vehicle, said ground engaging rotatable members consisting of essentially two members.  
   
   
       37 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein said ground engaging rotatable members are connected to drive means so that they are independently drivable relative to each other.  
   
   
       38 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein said ground engaging rotatable members comprise wheels which have axes that intersect at a point between them which is lower than the centers of said wheels.  
   
   
       39 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 28 , which further comprises a positioning system.  
   
   
       40 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 28 , which comprises a further vehicle and distance determining means for determining the distance between said first mentioned vehicle and said further vehicle.  
   
   
       41 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 28 , which comprises contour determining means for determining the contours of the area to be demarcated by the apparatus.  
   
   
       42 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 28 , which comprises remote control means for remotely controlling said vehicle.  
   
   
       43 . An apparatus for demarcating an area which comprises a plurality of flexible sections, at least two vehicles, each of said vehicles being connected to at least one end of at least one of said sections, each said vehicle including positioning means and tightening means adjustably positioning at least one end of said sections and tightening a said section which extends between said vehicles, each said vehicle including angle determining means that determines the angle of at least one of said sections relative to a predetermined direction, said vehicles each being supported by two wheels which are independently controlled by motors carried by said vehicles, the apparatus further comprising solar panels which are operatively connected to said motors for providing energy to said motors.