Controlling Undesirable Plants Using Electrical Energy

Abstract

The invention relates to a system, a method and the use of the system according to the invention for controlling undesirable plants, in particular on railway tracks, using electrical energy.

Claims

1. A system comprising: at least one contact electrode; at least one collector electrode; at least one voltage source for applying a voltage between the at least one contact electrode and the at least one collector electrode; and means for moving the system in a direction of movement; wherein the at least one contact electrode is fitted in a suspended fashion; wherein a bending stiffness of the at least one contact electrode with respect to an external force that acts on the at least one contact electrode counter to the direction of movement is lower than a bending stiffness of the at least one contact electrode with respect to an external force that acts on the at least one contact electrode transversely relative to the direction of movement.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rail vehicle or a vehicle having means for moving on or along rails.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one contact electrode has a length L, wherein the at least one contact electrode is wound on a coil and the length L of the at least one contact electrode can be increased by unwinding from the coil and decreased by winding onto the coil.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one contact electrode has a length L, a width B and a thickness D, wherein the length L extends along the direction of gravitational force, the thickness D extends along the direction of movement and the width B extends transversely relative to the direction of movement and wherein the length L is at least ten times the width B and the width B is at least three times the thickness D.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one contact electrode comprises a body composed of braided and/or twisted metal wires.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of contact electrodes are arranged next to one another in lamellar fashion transversely or obliquely relative to the direction of movement.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one contact electrode has a length L dimensioned such that a distance between a lower end, facing a ground surface, of the at least one contact electrode and the ground surface in the case of a stationary device is in the range of −0.5 meter to 0.5 meter, wherein a negative distance means that the contact electrode is touching the ground surface and that the region of the contact electrode that is in contact with the ground surface has a corresponding length.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a dispensing device that feeds contact electrode material if a length L of the at least one contact electrode has decreased on account of abrasion.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a separating device that separates worn contact electrode material in an automated manner.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one collector electrode can be contacted with one rail belonging to a track installation or with two rails belonging to a track installation.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the voltage is obtained from the voltage source via an overhead line.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an extinguishing apparatus in a rear region of the system; one or more sensors for detecting sparks and/or fire; and a control unit, which causes the extinguishing apparatus to release an extinguishing composition if sparks and/or fire are/is detected by means of the one or more sensors.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors for determining a length and/or a degree of wear of the at least one contact electrode and/or of the at least one collector electrode.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors for determining a constitution and/or form of a track installation situated ahead in the direction of movement, and a control unit configured to adapt a length of the at least one contact electrode and/or of the at least one collector electrode and/or voltage parameters to the constitution and/or form of the track installation situated ahead.

15. A method comprising using the system as claimed in claim 1 for controlling plants on railroad lines or track installations.

16. A method comprising the steps of: providing a system, wherein the system comprises: at least one contact electrode; at least one collector electrode; at least one voltage source for applying a voltage between the at least one contact electrode and the at least one collector electrode; and means for moving the system in a direction of movement; wherein the at least one contact electrode is fitted in a suspended fashion; wherein a bending stiffness of the at least one contact electrode with respect to an external force that acts on the at least one contact electrode counter to the direction of movement is lower than a bending stiffness of the at least one contact electrode with respect to an external force that acts on the at least one contact electrode transversely relative to the direction of movement; applying a voltage between the at least one contact electrode and the at least one collector electrode; moving the system over a region of earth in which plants are situated, and in the process: contacting the at least one contact electrode with at least one part of at least one plant; contacting the at least one collector electrode with: a) the ground in which the at least one plant is growing; and/or b) another part of the at least one plant; and/or c) at least one part of a neighboring plant; wherein a current flows between the at least one contact electrode and the at least one collector electrode, which current flows at least through a part of the at least one plant and weakens or destroys the plant.

17. The system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a vehicle configured to move on or along rails in the direction of movement; wherein the extinguishing apparatus is disposed in a rear region of the vehicle.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising one or more sensors for determining a length and/or a degree of wear of the at least one contact electrode and/or of the at least one collector electrode.

19. The system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising one or more sensors for determining a constitution and/or form of a track installation situated ahead of the vehicle in the direction of movement, and a control unit configured to adapt a length of the at least one contact electrode and/or of the at least one collector electrode and/or voltage parameters to the constitution and/or form of the track installation situated ahead.

Description

[0169] In the figures:

[0170] FIG. 1 shows by way of example and schematically an electrode (a contact electrode and/or collector electrode). FIG. 1(a) shows the electrode in a frontal view; FIG. 1(b) shows the electrode in a side view. The electrode (1) has the shape of a strip. The electrode (1) has a length L, a width B and a thickness D.

[0171] The length L of the electrode is greater than the width B by a multiple and the width B is greater than the thickness D by a multiple. This shape has the effect that the size of the resistance offered by the electrode to an external force depends on the direction in which the force acts on the electrode. If a force acts on the electrode in direction (2-1) along the width, then the resistance offered by the electrode to this force is greater than the resistance offered by the electrode to a force that acts on the electrode in direction (2-2) along the thickness.

[0172] The electrode (1) is embodied in a symmetrical fashion. It has two mirror planes: a first mirror plane is spanned by the length L and the width B; a second mirror plane is spanned by the length L and the thickness D. The symmetry with respect to the first mirror plane has the effect that the bending stiffness of the electrode (1) with respect to a force that acts on the electrode in direction (2-2) is of just the same magnitude as the bending stiffness of the electrode (1) with respect to an analogous force that acts on the electrode counter to the direction (2-2). The symmetry with respect to the second mirror plane has the effect that the bending stiffness of the electrode (1) with respect to a force that acts on the electrode in direction (2-1) is of just the same magnitude as the bending stiffness of the electrode (1) with respect to an analogous force that acts on the electrode counter to the direction (2-1).

[0173] FIG. 2 shows by way of example and schematically a further embodiment of an electrode (contact electrode and/or collector electrode). FIG. 1(a) shows the electrode in a side view; FIG. 1(b) shows the electrode in a frontal view. FIG. 1(c) shows the electrode in a further side view.

[0174] The electrode (1) is wound in the form of a coil (3) on a coil core (4). The length of the electrode can be increased by unwinding electrode material from the coil. The length of the electrode can be decreased by winding electrode material on the coil. Electrode material lost in the form of wear can be replaced by unwinding electrode material from the coil. It should be noted that the drawing program used to create FIG. 2 was unable to generate a spiral, and so the coil windings look like concentric circles. The correct appearance of a coil is clear, however, to the person skilled in the art. FIG. 2, like the other figures as well, serve merely for elucidating the invention and do not constitute technical drawings for design purposes.

[0175] FIG. 3 shows by way of example and schematically one preferred embodiment of an electrode (contact electrode and/or collector electrode). The electrode (1) is embodied as a braiding of metal wires.

[0176] FIG. 4 shows by way of example and schematically one preferred arrangement of a plurality of electrodes (in each case contact electrodes and/or in each case collector electrodes). The electrodes are arranged in lamellar fashion next to one another and at a constant distance from one another. The electrodes are rolled up on a coil core (4) and can be wound and unwound independently of one another.

[0177] FIG. 5 shows by way of example and schematically in a temporal sequence how a contact electrode is moved in one direction and impinges on a plant in the process.

[0178] FIG. 5 comprises five individual illustrations (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). The individual illustrations are to represent a temporal sequence: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e). From one individual illustration to the next individual illustration a contact electrode (1) moves in a direction (2-2) and in the process impinges on a stationary (immobile) plant (5). In FIG. 5(a) the contact electrode (1) is still at a distance from the plant (5) and is moving toward the latter. In FIG. 5(b) the contact electrode (1) impinges on the plant (5). By virtue of the fact that the contact electrode (1) is moving in the direction (2-2), but the plant (5) is immobile, an external force acts on the contact electrode (1) in a direction (2-1) opposite to the direction of movement. The contact electrode has a specific bending stiffness that offers a resistance to the force. The bending stiffness is so low, however, that the contact electrode (1) deforms upon contact with the plant (5). In FIG. 5(c) the contact electrode (1) has moved a little further in the direction (2-2). The deformation of the contact electrode (1) has increased. In FIG. 5 (d) the contact electrode (1) has moved a little further in the direction (2-2).

[0179] The deformation of the contact electrode (1) has increased further. The contact electrode (1) sweeps over the plant (5). In FIG. 5(e) the contact electrode (1) has moved a little further in the direction (2-2). The contact electrode (1) is no longer touching the plant (5). The contact electrode (1) has reacquired its original shape (the shape which it had in FIG. 5(a)). In the period of time from FIG. 5(b) to FIG. 5(d) the contact electrode is in contact with the plant (5) and can introduce energy in the form of electrical current into the plant (5).

[0180] FIG. 6 shows by way of example and schematically one embodiment of the system according to the invention. FIG. 6(a) shows the system in a side view. FIG. 6(b) shows the system in a frontal view (from the direction (2) in which the system moves).

[0181] The system is embodied as a vehicle (8) that can move over a ground (10) at least in one direction of movement (2) by means of wheels (9).

[0182] A plurality of contact electrodes (1) are fitted to the vehicle (8). The contact electrodes (1) are fitted to the vehicle (8) in a suspended fashion. The contact electrodes (1) are arranged in lamellar-like fashion next to one another at a constant distance from one another. The contact electrodes (1) are arranged transversely (at an angle of 90° or 270°) relative to the direction of movement (2). The contact electrodes (1) have a length, a width and a thickness. The length extends in the direction of the force of gravity of the earth. The thickness extends in the direction of the direction of movement (2). The width extends in a direction transversely (at an angle of 90° or 270°) relative to the direction of movement (2). The contact electrodes (1) are anisotropic with regard to their bending stiffness. The bending stiffness of the contact electrodes (1) with respect to an external force (2-2-2) that acts on the contact electrodes (1) in a direction opposite to the direction of movement (2) is less than the bending stiffness of the contact electrodes (1) with respect to an external force (2-1-2) that acts on the contact electrodes (1) in a direction transversely with respect to the direction of movement (2). The contact electrodes (1) are embodied in a symmetrical fashion, such that the bending stiffness with respect to a force (2-2-1) that acts on the contact electrodes (1) in the direction of the direction of movement (2) is of just the same magnitude as the bending stiffness with respect to the force (2-2-2) that acts on the contact electrodes (1) counter to the direction of movement (2); likewise, the bending stiffness with respect to a force (2-1-1) is of just the same magnitude as the bending stiffness with respect to a force (2-1-2).

[0183] The anisotropic bending stiffness has the effect that the contact electrodes can deform in and counter to the direction of movement more readily than in a direction transversely relative to the direction of movement.

[0184] The contact electrodes (1) do not touch the ground (10). A distance prevails between the lower end of the contact electrodes (1) and the ground (10).

[0185] The vehicle (8) furthermore has a collector electrode (6). The collector electrode (6) is arranged behind the contact electrodes (1) in the direction of movement (2). The at least one collector electrode (6) touches the ground (10). It is conceivable for the wheels (9) to function as further collector electrodes.

[0186] The vehicle (8) furthermore has a voltage source (7). The voltage source (7) is connected via electrical lines (11) both to the contact electrodes (1) and to the at least one collector electrode (6). An electrical voltage can be applied between the contact electrodes (1) and the at least one collector electrode (6) by means of the voltage source (7).

[0187] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of the system according to the invention. FIG. 7(a) shows the system in a side view. FIG. 7(b) shows the system in a frontal view (from the direction (2) in which the system moves).

[0188] The system is embodied as a vehicle (8). The vehicle (8) corresponds to the vehicle shown in FIG. 6 with the difference that now two rows (1-1, 1-2) of contact electrodes (1) are fitted to the vehicle (8) parallel to one another and one behind the other in the direction of movement (2), and furthermore two rows of collector electrodes (6-1, 6-2) are fitted to the vehicle (8) parallel to one another and one behind the other in the direction of movement (2), wherein in an upper section the collector electrodes (6) are provided with a sheathing that acts as an electrical insulator, while the collector electrodes (6) have no insulation in a lower section that is in contact with the ground (10). The insulation prevents an electrical short circuit if a contact electrode is hurled toward the rear in the direction of the collector electrodes and comes into contact with a collector electrode.

[0189] It is conceivable for the wheels (9) to function as further collector electrodes.