Multifunctional stainless steel animal feeding cage

Abstract

This invention relates to a multifunctional stainless steel animal cage, belonging to the field of animal cage technology. It includes a cage frame with cage mesh on all six sides. An extrusion mesh is slidably installed inside the cage frame, dividing it into two variable-space chambers. Chain drive mechanisms are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the cage frame, and the cage frame is fixedly connected to the conveyor chain of the chain drive mechanism via a frame connecting plate. A drive shaft is rotatably connected to the rear chamber of the cage frame, with a drive helical gear meshing with a drive helical gear mounted on the shaft, and a drive bevel gear installed at the end of the drive shaft. This invention restricts the animal's movement by changing the activity space within the cage, facilitating capture and reducing the difficulty of capture. This invention can precisely control the movement distance of the extrusion mesh, preventing the animal from pushing the mesh backwards and avoiding injury to the animal during transmission.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a multifunctional stainless steel animal cage, belonging to the technical field of animal cages. Background Technology

[0002] Ferrets are invaluable laboratory animals in the field of biomedical research. Their unique physiological characteristics, genetic homology, and suitability for disease models enable them to play an irreplaceable role in various fields such as infectious disease research, drug development, and reproductive biology. However, removing ferrets from their cages is challenging due to their agility, often resulting in injury and impacting experimental progress. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a multifunctional stainless steel animal cage that can change the activity space of the animal in the cage and restrict its activity so as to facilitate the capture of the animal in the cage.

[0004] The multifunctional stainless steel animal cage of the present invention includes a cage frame, with cage mesh on all six sides of the cage frame. The front cage mesh of the cage frame has a front door that can be opened vertically, and the top cage mesh of the cage frame has a top door that can be opened horizontally. An extrusion mesh is slidably installed inside the cage frame, which divides the cage frame into two variable-space chambers, with the animal located in the front chamber. Chain drive mechanisms are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the cage frame, and the cage frame is fixedly connected to the conveyor chain of the chain drive mechanism through a frame connecting plate. The cage frame is rotatably connected to a drive shaft via a bearing seat A on one side. The drive shaft is horizontally arranged along the front-rear direction of the cage frame. A drive helical gear is sleeved on the drive shaft. The rear chamber of the cage frame is also rotatably connected to a transmission shaft. The transmission shaft is vertically arranged. A transmission helical gear that meshes with the drive helical gear is sleeved on the transmission shaft. A transmission bevel gear is installed at the end of the transmission shaft. The cage frame is provided with driven shafts on both the upper and lower sides of the rear chamber. The driven shafts are rotatably connected to the cage frame through bearing seats B. The driven shafts are horizontally arranged along the left and right direction of the cage frame. The driven shafts are connected to the chain drive mechanism on both sides. A driven bevel gear is sleeved on the driven shaft. The driven bevel gear meshes with the drive bevel gear. When the drive shaft rotates, it drives the drive helical gear to rotate, which in turn drives the transmission helical gear and the transmission shaft to rotate. The transmission shaft then drives the transmission bevel gear to rotate, which in turn drives the driven bevel gear and the driven shaft to rotate together. This, in turn, drives the extruded mesh to slide back and forth inside the cage frame via the chain drive mechanism.

[0005] The technical solution of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional stainless steel animal breeding cage, which drives the transmission shaft to rotate via a drive shaft, and then drives the driven shaft to rotate via the transmission shaft. The driven shaft drives the squeezing net to slide back and forth inside the cage frame via a chain transmission mechanism, thereby changing the activity space of the animals inside the cage and facilitating the capture of the animals inside the cage.

[0006] Preferably, the chain drive mechanism is respectively set on the upper and lower parts of the left and right sides of the cage frame. The cage frame has elongated holes, which are close to the installation position of the chain drive mechanism. The frame connecting plate passes through the elongated holes and is fixedly connected to the four corners of the extrusion mesh, thereby ensuring the smooth movement of the extrusion mesh.

[0007] Furthermore, the chain drive mechanism includes a conveyor chain, a drive sprocket, and a follower sprocket. The conveyor chain is arranged around the drive sprocket and the follower sprocket. The drive sprocket is sleeved on the driven shaft and rotates synchronously with the driven shaft. The follower sprocket is sleeved on the follower shaft, which is located at the front of the cage frame and is rotatably connected to the cage frame.

[0008] Preferably, the front end of the drive shaft is fixedly connected to a crank handle and a ratchet, the ratchet engages with a pawl, the pawl is mounted on the cage frame via a pawl connecting plate, and the pawl is elastically connected to the pawl connecting plate; the crank handle facilitates the rotation of the drive shaft, and the ratchet and pawl prevent animals inside the cage from pushing the squeezing net in the opposite direction.

[0009] Preferably, the front door is slidably connected to the cage mesh on both sides via a front door guide rail, allowing the front door to slide up and down along the guide rail. A front door handle and a compression spring pin are fixed at the bottom of the front door, and a pin fixing component that cooperates with the compression spring pin is provided on the front door guide rail. The front door can be locked by the compression spring pin and the pin fixing component. After the compression spring pin and the pin fixing component are unlocked, the front door can be opened by grasping the front door handle and pulling the front door upward.

[0010] Preferably, the front of the cage mesh is also provided with an openable feed box blocking plate. The two sides of the feed box blocking plate are slidably connected to the cage mesh through blocking plate guide rails. The bottom of the feed box blocking plate is hinged with a hook, which is hooked to the bottom of the cage frame to lock the feed box blocking plate. After opening the feed box blocking plate, the feed box can be placed into the cage to provide animal feed.

[0011] Preferably, a manure tray is movably installed at the lower part of the cage frame, and the manure tray is slidably connected to the cage frame via a manure tray guide rail.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this invention compared to the prior art are: The multifunctional stainless steel animal cage of this invention uses a drive shaft to rotate a transmission shaft, which in turn drives a driven shaft to rotate. The driven shaft, through a chain drive mechanism, causes the squeezing net to slide back and forth inside the cage frame, thereby changing the activity space of the animals within the cage. This invention restricts the movement of animals by changing their activity space, making them easier to capture and reducing the difficulty of capture. The gear meshing transmission method of this invention can precisely control the movement distance of the squeezing net. Combined with a ratchet and pawl structure, it effectively prevents animals from pushing the squeezing net backward. At the same time, all meshing gears are located on the rear side of the squeezing net to avoid injury to the animals during transmission. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is the front view of the present invention; Figure 2 This is the left view of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a rear view of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a top view of the present invention; Figure 5 yes Figure 1 AA section view; Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A magnified view of area B in the middle.

[0014] In the diagram: 1. Cage frame; 2. Front door; 3. Front door guide rail; 4. Front door handle; 5. Compression spring pin; 6. Pin fixing component; 7. Feed box blocking plate; 8. Hook; 9. Blocking plate guide rail; 10. Manure tray; 11. Ratchet; 12. Pad; 13. Pad connecting plate; 14. Drive sprocket; 15. Frame connecting plate; 16. Manure tray guide rail; 17. Conveyor chain; 18. Support leg; 19. Crank handle; 2 0. Follower sprocket; 21. Long slot; 22. Top door handle; 23. Front and rear supports; 24. Drive shaft; 25. Drive helical gear; 26. Bearing housing A; 27. Bearing housing B; 28. Driven shaft; 29. ​​Extrusion mesh; 30. Left and right supports; 31. Driven bevel gear; 32. Drive bevel gear; 33. Top door; 34. Drive helical gear; 35. Drive shaft; 36. Follower shaft; 37. Top door guide rail. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The present invention will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0016] like Figure 1-6As shown, this embodiment is achieved through the following technical solution: it includes a cage frame 1, with cage mesh on all six sides of the cage frame 1. The front cage mesh of the cage frame 1 has a front door 2 that can be opened vertically, and the top cage mesh of the cage frame 1 has a top door 33 that can be opened horizontally. An extrusion mesh 29 is slidably arranged inside the cage frame 1, and the extrusion mesh 29 can move along the front and rear direction of the cage frame 1. The extrusion mesh 29 divides the cage frame 1 into two variable-space chambers, with the animal located in the front chamber. Chain drive mechanisms are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the cage frame 1, and the cage frame 1 is fixedly connected to the conveyor chain 17 of the chain drive mechanism through a frame connecting plate 15. The cage frame 1 is rotatably connected to a drive shaft 35 via a bearing seat A26 on one side. The drive shaft 35 is horizontally arranged along the front-back direction of the cage frame 1. A drive helical gear 34 is sleeved on the drive shaft 35. The rear chamber of the cage frame 1 is also rotatably connected to a transmission shaft 24. The transmission shaft 24 is vertically arranged. A transmission helical gear 25 that meshes with the drive helical gear 34 is sleeved on the transmission shaft 24. Transmission bevel gears 32 are installed at the upper and lower ends of the transmission shaft 24. The cage frame 1 has driven shafts 28 on both the upper and lower sides of the rear chamber. The driven shafts 28 are rotatably connected to the cage frame 1 through bearing seats B27. The driven shafts 28 are horizontally arranged along the left and right direction of the cage frame 1. The two sides of the driven shafts 28 are connected to the chain drive mechanism. A driven bevel gear 31 is sleeved on the driven shaft 28. The driven bevel gear 31 meshes with the transmission bevel gear 32. When the drive shaft 35 rotates, the drive shaft 35 drives the drive helical gear 34 to rotate, the drive helical gear 34 drives the transmission helical gear 25 and the transmission shaft 24 to rotate, the transmission shaft 24 drives the transmission bevel gear 32 to rotate, the transmission bevel gear 32 drives the driven bevel gear 31 and the driven shaft 28 to rotate together, and then drives the extrusion mesh 29 to slide back and forth inside the cage frame 1 through the chain drive mechanism.

[0017] In this embodiment, the chain drive mechanism is respectively set on the upper and lower parts of the left and right sides of the cage frame 1. The cage frame 1 has an elongated hole 21. The elongated hole 21 is close to the installation position of the chain drive mechanism. The frame connecting plate 15 passes through the elongated hole 21 and is fixedly connected to the four corners of the extrusion mesh 29, thereby ensuring the smooth movement of the extrusion mesh 29.

[0018] The chain drive mechanism includes a conveyor chain 17, a drive sprocket 14, and a follower sprocket 20. The conveyor chain 17 is arranged around the drive sprocket 14 and the follower sprocket 20. The drive sprocket 14 is sleeved on the driven shaft 28 and rotates synchronously with the driven shaft 28. The follower sprocket 20 is sleeved on the follower shaft 36, which is located at the front of the cage frame 1 and is rotatably connected to the cage frame 1.

[0019] The drive shaft 35 is fixedly connected to a crank handle 19 and a ratchet 11 at its front end. The ratchet 11 engages with a pawl 12, and the pawl 12 is mounted on the cage frame 1 via a pawl connecting plate 13. The pawl 12 and the pawl connecting plate 13 are elastically connected. The crank handle 19 is provided to facilitate the rotation of the drive shaft 35, and the ratchet 11 and pawl 12 are provided to prevent the animal in the cage from pushing the squeezing net 29 in the opposite direction.

[0020] The front door 2 is slidably connected to the cage mesh on both sides via front door guide rails 3, and the front door 2 can slide up and down along the front door guide rails 3; the bottom of the front door 2 is fixed with a front door handle 4 and a compression spring pin 5, and the front door guide rail 3 is provided with a pin fixing part 6 that cooperates with the compression spring pin 5; the front door 2 can be locked by the compression spring pin 5 and the pin fixing part 6, and after the compression spring pin 5 and the pin fixing part 6 are unlocked, the front door 2 can be opened by grasping the front door handle 4 and pulling it upward.

[0021] The front of the cage net is also provided with an openable feed box blocking plate 7. The two sides of the feed box blocking plate 7 are slidably connected to the cage net through the blocking plate guide rail 9. The bottom of the feed box blocking plate 7 is hinged with a hook 8, which is hooked to the bottom of the cage frame 1 to lock the feed box blocking plate 7. After opening the feed box blocking plate 7, the feed box can be placed into the cage to provide animal feed.

[0022] The cage frame 1 is movably provided with a manure tray 10 at the bottom, and the manure tray 10 is slidably connected to the cage frame 1 via a manure tray guide rail 16; the top door 33 is slidably connected to both sides of the cage frame 1 via a top door guide rail 37, and top door handles 22 are provided on both sides of the upper part of the top door 33; the cage frame 1 is provided with support legs 18 on the left and right sides of the bottom.

[0023] The cage frame 1 is provided with left and right supports 30 at the rear, and the drive shaft 24 is rotatably connected to the left and right supports 30; the cage frame 1 is also provided with front and rear supports 23 on both sides, and the cage is supported and reinforced by the left and right supports 30 and the front and rear supports 23.

[0024] The method of using this invention is as follows: When it is necessary to capture the animal in the cage, turn the crank handle 19, which drives the transmission helical gear 25 to rotate through the drive helical gear 34 on the drive shaft 35. At the same time, the transmission bevel gears 32 at the upper and lower ends of the transmission shaft 24 drive the driven bevel gear 31 to rotate, which in turn drives the chain transmission mechanism on both sides of the driven shaft 28 to move, causing the squeezing net 29 to slide inside the cage frame 1, compressing the animal's activity space. When the squeezing net 29 moves to the appropriate position, open the top door 33 and take the animal out of the top door 33.

Claims

1. A multi-functional stainless steel animal cage, characterized in that, The cage includes a cage frame (1), with cage nets on all six sides. The front cage net of the cage frame (1) has a front door (2) that can be opened vertically, and the top cage net of the cage frame (1) has a top door (33) that can be opened horizontally. The cage frame (1) has a squeezing net (29) that slides inside, which divides the cage frame (1) into two chambers with variable front and rear spaces. Chain drive mechanisms are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the cage frame (1), and the cage frame (1) is fixedly connected to the conveyor chain (17) of the chain drive mechanism through the frame connecting plate (15). The cage frame (1) is rotatably connected to a drive shaft (35) via a bearing seat A (26) on one side. The drive shaft (35) is horizontally arranged along the front-back direction of the cage frame (1). A drive helical gear (34) is sleeved on the drive shaft (35). The rear chamber of the cage frame (1) is also rotatably connected to a transmission shaft (24). The transmission shaft (24) is vertically arranged. A transmission helical gear (25) meshing with the drive helical gear (34) is sleeved on the transmission shaft (24). A transmission bevel gear (32) is installed at the end of the transmission shaft (24). The cage frame (1) has driven shafts (28) on both the upper and lower sides of the rear chamber. The driven shafts (28) are rotatably connected to the cage frame (1) through bearing seat B (27). The driven shafts (28) are horizontally arranged along the left and right directions of the cage frame (1). The driven shafts (28) are connected to the chain drive mechanism on both sides. A driven bevel gear (31) is sleeved on the driven shaft (28). The driven bevel gear (31) meshes with the transmission bevel gear (32).

2. The multifunctional stainless steel animal cage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The chain drive mechanism is respectively set on the upper and lower parts of the left and right sides of the cage frame (1). The cage frame (1) has an elongated hole (21) with the elongated hole (21) close to the installation position of the chain drive mechanism. The frame connecting plate (15) passes through the elongated hole (21) and is fixedly connected to the four corners of the extrusion mesh (29).

3. The multifunctional stainless steel animal cage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The chain drive mechanism includes a conveyor chain (17), a drive sprocket (14), and a follower sprocket (20). The conveyor chain (17) is arranged around the drive sprocket (14) and the follower sprocket (20). The drive sprocket (14) is sleeved on the driven shaft (28) and rotates synchronously with the driven shaft (28). The follower sprocket (20) is sleeved on the follower shaft (36). The follower shaft (36) is located at the front of the cage frame (1) and is rotatably connected to the cage frame (1).

4. The multifunctional stainless steel animal cage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive shaft (35) is fixedly connected to a crank (19) and a ratchet (11) at its front end. The ratchet (11) meshes with a pawl (12). The pawl (12) is installed on the cage frame (1) through a pawl connecting plate (13). The pawl (12) is elastically connected to the pawl connecting plate (13).

5. The multifunctional stainless steel animal cage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front door (2) is slidably connected to the cage net on both sides by the front door guide rail (3); the bottom of the front door (2) is fixed with a front door handle (4) and a compression spring pin (5), and the front door guide rail (3) is provided with a pin fixing piece (6) that cooperates with the compression spring pin (5).

6. The multifunctional stainless steel animal cage according to claim 5, characterized in that, The front of the cage net is also provided with an openable material box blocking plate (7). The two sides of the material box blocking plate (7) are slidably connected to the cage net through the blocking plate guide rail (9). The bottom of the material box blocking plate (7) is hinged with a hook (8).

7. The multifunctional stainless steel animal cage according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cage frame (1) is movably provided with a manure tray (10) at the bottom, and the manure tray (10) is slidably connected to the cage frame (1) through a manure tray guide rail (16).

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