Fluid converging part and animal behavior training system

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a fluid confluence piece. The fluid confluence piece comprises a plurality of odor channels, an air channel and an air outlet channel. Second ports of the odor channels are formed in different positions of the first plane, the air channel is parallel to the first plane, and a fourth port of the air channel and a sixth port of the air outlet channel are both communicated with the first plane; smell flows in from the first port of the smell channel and flows out from the second port of the smell channel, air flows in from the third port of the air channel and flows out from the fourth port of the air channel, and the smell and the air flow out from the fifth port of the air outlet channel after passing through the sixth port of the air outlet channel. According to the embodiment of the invention, a plurality of independent odor channels and air channels are directly converged, the time required for flushing residual odor during odor switching is short, and performance indexes such as odor crosstalk and rising time and falling time of odor concentration are considered.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of animal behavior training, and particularly to a fluid converging member and an animal behavior training system. Background Art

[0002] Behavior training related to animal olfaction has high requirements for performance indicators such as crosstalk between different odors, rise time and fall time of odor concentration, etc., which often determines the accuracy and effectiveness of behavior training data.

[0003] For example Figure 1 As shown, in the prior art, usually several odor channels are first converged to a common channel, and then the common channel and an air channel are combined into a solenoid valve. The opening and closing of each odor channel and air channel are controlled, and the switching of the solenoid valve ports is controlled to release the odor to the animal. In the case of an increase in the required odor channels, the common channel grows. When switching odors, either more time is required to flush the residual odor in the common channel before switching to avoid crosstalk, but this affects the rise time and fall time of odor concentration; or it is switched at a fixed preset time to ensure the rise time and fall time of odor concentration, but it is easy to cause crosstalk. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention provides a fluid converging member, aiming to balance the problems of crosstalk between odors and performance indicators such as rise time and fall time of odor concentration.

[0005] In a first aspect, a fluid converging member is provided, including: Multiple odor channels (10), one air channel (20) and an air outlet channel (30); Each odor channel (10) includes a first port (11) and a second port (12), the air channel (20) includes a third port (21) and a fourth port (22), and the air outlet channel (30) includes a fifth port (31) and a sixth port (32); Wherein, the second port (12) of each odor channel (10) is opened at different positions on a first plane, the air channel (20) is parallel to the first plane, and the fourth port (22) of the air channel (20) and the sixth port (32) of the air outlet channel (30) are both communicated with the first plane; The odor flows in from the first port (11) of the odor channel (10) and flows out from the second port (12) of the odor channel (10), the air flows in from the third port (21) of the air channel (20) and flows out from the fourth port (22) of the air channel (20), and the odor and air flow out from the fifth port (31) of the air outlet channel (30) after passing through the sixth port (32) of the air outlet channel (30).

[0006] In a second aspect, an animal behavior training system is provided, including an odor source, an air source, and the fluid converging member described above; the odor source is connected to the first port (11) of the multi-channel odor passage (10), the air source is connected to the third port (21) of the air passage (20), and the fifth port (31) of the air outlet passage (30) is connected to the target object.

[0007] In the embodiment of the present invention, the second ports of the multi-channel odor passages are opened at different positions on the first plane. The air passage is parallel to the first plane, and the fourth port of the air passage communicates with the first plane. Odors flow into the multi-channel odor passages from the first ports and flow out from the second ports, and air flows into the air passage from the third port and flows out from the fourth port. The sixth port of the air outlet passage communicates with the first plane, and the odors and air flow out through the air outlet passage, enabling the multi-channel independent odor passages and the air passage to directly converge. The time required to flush the residual odor during odor switching is short, taking into account performance indicators such as odor crosstalk, the rise time, and the fall time of odor concentration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and be readily understood from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is the gas circuit diagram provided by the prior art; Figure 2 is the schematic diagram of the fluid converging member provided by Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 3 is the sectional view of the fluid converging member provided by Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 4 is another sectional view of the fluid converging member provided by Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 5 is the exploded view of the fluid converging member provided by Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 6 is the schematic diagram of the first plane provided by Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 7 is the schematic diagram of the second plane provided by Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 8 is the schematic diagram of the fluid converging member provided by Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Figure 9 is the sectional view of the fluid converging member provided by Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Figure 10 is the exploded view of the fluid converging member provided by Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Figure 11 is the structural block diagram of the animal behavior training system provided by Embodiment 3 of the present invention. EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, where the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar modules or modules with the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below by referring to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. On the contrary, the embodiments of the present invention include all changes, modifications, and equivalents that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

[0010] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement conditions between components in a specific posture. If this specific posture changes, the directional indication also changes accordingly.

[0011] It should also be noted that when a component is referred to as "fixed to" or "provided on" another component, it may be directly located on the other component or there may be an intermediate component present at the same time. When a component is referred to as "connected" to another component, it may be directly connected to the other component or indirectly connected to the other component through an intermediate component.

[0012] The second ports of the multiple odor channels in the embodiments of the present invention are opened at different positions on the first plane. The air channel is parallel to the first plane. The fourth port of the air channel communicates with the first plane. Odors flow in from the first port of the odor channel and flow out from the second port of the odor channel. Air flows in from the third port of the air channel and flows out from the fourth port of the air channel. The sixth port of the air outlet channel communicates with the first plane. Odors and air flow out through the air outlet channel, enabling the multiple independent odor channels and air channels to directly converge. The time required to flush the residual odor during odor switching is relatively short, taking into account performance indicators such as odor crosstalk and the rise time and fall time of odor concentration.

[0013] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of a fluid converging member provided in the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 It is a sectional view of a fluid converging member provided in the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 It is another sectional view of a fluid converging member provided in the first embodiment of the present invention. Combining Figures 2 to 4 with this, the fluid converging member includes multiple odor channels 10, one air channel 20, and an air outlet channel 30.

[0014] Each odor channel 10 includes a first port 11 and a second port 12. The first port 11 of each odor channel 10 is connected to an odor source through a pipeline or directly. The odor source includes various different odors, such as octane, butanol, ethyl acetate, etc. According to the experimental needs, one odor can be connected to the first port 11 of one odor channel 10, or one odor can be connected to the first ports 11 of multiple odor channels 10, which is not limited here. The second ports 12 of each odor channel 10 are opened at different positions on the first plane. To improve the integration of the entire system, the second ports 12 of multiple odor channels 10 are centrally opened in the central area of the first plane, and the central area is circular, square, etc., which is not limited here. As Figure 4 shown, the central area where the second ports 12 of multiple odor channels 10 are centrally opened is circular.

[0015] The air channel 20 is parallel to the first plane and includes a third port 21 and a fourth port 22, and its cross-section is circular, square, etc. The third port 21 of the air channel 20 is connected to an air source through a pipeline or directly. The fourth port 22 of the air channel 20 communicates with the first plane, and when projected onto the first plane, the fourth port 22 of the air channel 20 is located on one side of the second ports 12 of all odor channels 10. In Figure 3 the sectional view, the fourth port 22 of the air channel 20 is close to the first plane and is at a relatively small preset distance from the first plane; in Figure 4 the sectional view, the fourth port 22 of the air channel 20 is opened at the edge of the circular central area and intersects with the second ports 12 of multiple odor channels 10, so that the odor channel 10 and the air channel 20 are connected.

[0016] The air outlet channel 30 is perpendicular to the first plane and perpendicular to the air channel 20, and includes a fifth port 31 and a sixth port 32. The sixth port 32 of the air outlet channel 30 communicates with the first plane, and when projected onto the first plane, the sixth port 32 of the air outlet channel 30 is directly opposite the center of the second ports 12 of all odor channels 10. The sixth port 32 of the air outlet channel 30 intersects with the second ports 12 of multiple odor channels 10 and the fourth port 22 of the air channel 20. The fifth port 31 of the air outlet channel 30 is connected to a target object through a pipeline or directly, and guides the odor and air to the target object. The target object includes but is not limited to animals such as mice and rats.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, an odor flows in from a first port 11 of an odor channel 10 and flows out from a second port 12 of the odor channel 10; air flows in from a third port 21 of an air channel 20 and flows out from a fourth port 22 of the air channel 20; the odor and the air are mixed at a confluence point of the second port 12 of the multi-channel odor channel 10, the fourth port 22 of the air channel 20, and the sixth port 32 of an air outlet channel 30, and then flow out from a fifth port 31 of the air outlet channel 30 after passing through the sixth port 32 of the air outlet channel 30. By adjusting the odor source, the odor flow rate in the odor channel 10, the air source, and the air flow rate in the air channel 20, the odor concentration reaching the target object can be made to reach a preset value. When switching the odor, the odor source is closed or all the odor channels 10 are closed, and continuous air supply can flush the residual odor to prepare for introducing other odors subsequently.

[0018] The air channel 20 of the embodiment of the present invention is parallel to a first plane. When projected onto the first plane, the air channel 20 is located on one side of the second ports 12 of all the odor channels 10, so that no corner with residual odor is formed during the mixing and outflow of the odor and the air, reducing odor crosstalk; the odor and the air are mixed at the confluence point of the multi-channel odor channel 10, the air channel 20, and the air outlet channel 30. When switching the odor, the time required to flush the residual odor is relatively short, and the rising time and falling time of the odor concentration are also relatively short.

[0019] Figure 5 is an exploded view of a fluid confluence member provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the first plane provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the second plane provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, in combination with Figures 2 to 7 , the fluid confluence member includes a first body 40, a second body 50, and a third body 60.

[0020] The outer contour of the first body 40 is a cylinder, having a first plane and a second plane that are relatively parallel. The multi-channel odor channel 10 is provided in the first body 40. The first ports 11 of the multi-channel odor channel 10 are arrayed on the second plane, and the second ports 12 of the multi-channel odor channel 10 are arrayed on the first plane. As Figure 4 and Figure 6 shown, the first plane is circular, and the second ports 12 of the multi-channel odor channel 10 are centrally opened in the central area of the first plane. The 16 second ports 12 are divided into three layers and arrayed in the form of concentric circles, and the center of the concentric circles is also the center of the first plane. As Figure 7As shown, the second plane is circular. The first ports 11 of the multiple odor channels 10 are opened on the second plane. The 16 first ports 11 are divided into three layers and arrayed in the form of concentric circles. The center of the concentric circles is also the center of the second plane. For the convenience of pipeline installation, the distribution of the first ports 11 of the multiple odor channels 10 is sparser than that of the second ports 12 of the multiple odor channels 10. Correspondingly, the radius of each layer of concentric circles is larger, and the distance between the first ports 11 is longer than the distance between the second ports 12. At least one of the multiple odor channels 10, a section of the channel extending from the first port 11 into the first body 40 is perpendicular to the second plane and is bent after extending a certain length in the first body 40, so as to facilitate the contraction from the first port 11 to the second port 12 of the multiple odor channels 10, and the pipeline installation is convenient and the area of the second plane will not be too large.

[0021] The second body 50 covers the second ports 12 of each odor channel 10, and a three-way through hole is provided at the position opposite to the second ports 12 of all the odor channels 10. The air channel 20 and the air outlet channel 30 are arranged in the second body 50. The three-way through hole communicates the multiple odor channels 10, the air channel 20 and the air outlet channel 30, and conducts the odor and air into the air outlet channel 30. To ensure the airtightness between the first body 40 and the second body 50, a groove, such as a circular groove, is opened on the first body 40 or the second body 50 around the second ports 12 of all the multiple odor channels 10. The sealing ring is arranged in the groove, and the second body 50 is pressed and fixed to the first body 40 by screws. For the convenience of installation, the third port 21 of the air channel 20 is connected to a quick connector through a threaded hole to facilitate the replacement of the pipeline. The materials of the quick connector and the fluid converging member are both corrosion-resistant to resist the corrosion of corrosive odors.

[0022] Through holes are provided at the positions on the third body 60 corresponding to the first ports 11 of the multiple odor channels 10 on the second plane for the pipeline to pass through. For each odor channel 10, a first compression ring is arranged in the groove of the third body 60 to press the pipeline, and a second compression ring is arranged in the groove on the side of the first body 40 on the second plane to press the pipeline towards the first port 11. The third body 60 is pressed and fixed to the first body 40 by screws to ensure airtightness.

[0023] In the embodiment of the present invention, the second ports of the multiple odor channels are opened at different positions on the first plane. The air channel is parallel to the first plane, and the fourth port of the air channel communicates with the first plane. Odor flows into the odor channel from the first port and flows out from the second port of the odor channel. Air flows into the air channel from the third port and flows out from the fourth port of the air channel. The sixth port of the air outlet channel communicates with the first plane, and the odor and air flow out through the air outlet channel, enabling the direct convergence of multiple independent odor channels and air channels. The time required to flush the residual odor during odor switching is relatively short, taking into account performance indicators such as odor crosstalk and the rise time and fall time of odor concentration.

[0024] The structure of the fluid converging member directly affects performance indicators such as the crosstalk generated during the odor switching process, the rise time and fall time of odor concentration. At the same time, in the case of a large number of required odor channels, it also affects the integration of the entire system. The fluid converging member in the embodiment of the present invention takes into account performance indicators such as odor crosstalk and the rise time and fall time of odor concentration; moreover, it has good scalability, and when the number of required odor channels increases, the system scale will not increase sharply.

[0025] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the fluid converging member provided in the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 It is a sectional view of the fluid converging member provided in the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 It is an exploded view of the fluid converging member provided in the second embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, the parts of the fluid converging member with the same structure as in the second embodiment use the same reference numerals, including the features of the first embodiment, which will not be described in detail here. Combining Figures 8 to 10 , the difference from the first embodiment is that the fluid converging member includes a first body 40 and a second body 50, and the surface opposite to the first plane in the first body 40 is an arc surface or an approximate arc surface. The first ports 11 of the multiple odor channels 10 are arrayed on the arc surface or the approximate arc surface. Preferably, in order to better insert the pipeline and ensure airtightness, a specific-sized area around each first port 11 is a plane, and the inverted cone joint and the plastic compression ring press the pipeline towards the first port 11, enabling the pipeline to fit tightly with the fluid converging member.

[0026] The second ports 12 of the multiple odor channels 10 are arrayed on the first plane. Thus, each odor channel 10 is straight when extending and contracting from the first port 11 to the second port 12, which can avoid affecting performance indicators such as the rise time and fall time of odor concentration due to odor blockage, and the area of the arc surface or the approximate arc surface will not be too large.

[0027] Further, in order to reduce the performance differences between the odor channels 10, the inner diameters and lengths of the multiple odor channels 10 are the same. During the odor switching process, in order to flush the residual odor with a large flow of air, the inner diameter of the air channel 20 is larger than that of each odor channel 10.

[0028] The second ports of the multiple odor channels in the embodiment of the present invention are opened at different positions on the first plane. The air channel is parallel to the first plane. The fourth port of the air channel communicates with the first plane. The odor flows in from the first port of the odor channel and flows out from the second port of the odor channel. The air flows in from the third port of the air channel and flows out from the fourth port of the air channel. The sixth port of the air outlet channel communicates with the first plane. The odor and the air flow out through the air outlet channel, enabling the multiple independent odor channels and air channels to directly converge. The time required to flush the residual odor during odor switching is short, taking into account performance indicators such as crosstalk between odors and the rise time and fall time of odor concentration.

[0029] Figure 11 It is a structural block diagram of the animal behavior training system provided in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. As Figure 11 shown, the animal behavior training system includes an odor source, an air source, and the fluid converging member described in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2. In the embodiment of the present invention, the structure of the fluid converging member is the same as that in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, including all the features in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, and will not be described in detail here.

[0030] In the embodiment of the present invention, the odor source is connected to the first port 11 of the multiple odor channels 10. The odor source includes various different odors, such as octane, butanol, ethyl acetate, etc. According to the experimental needs, one odor can be connected to the first port 11 of one odor channel 10, or one odor can be connected to the first ports 11 of multiple odor channels 10. The air source is connected to the third port 21 of the air channel 20, and the fifth port 31 of the air outlet channel 30 is connected to the target object. By adjusting the odor flow rate in the odor source and the odor channels 10 and the air flow rate in the air source and the air channel 20, the odor concentration reaching the target object can be made to reach a preset value. By closing the odor source or closing all the odor channels 10 and continuing to introduce air, the residual odor can be flushed. By controlling the opening and closing of the odor source, the odor channels 10, the air source, and the air channel 20 to switch the odor, adjusting the odor concentration, the rise time and fall time of the odor concentration, etc., releasing the odor to the target object, and performing olfactory-related behavior training.

[0031] The second ports of the multiple odor channels in the embodiments of the present invention are opened at different positions on the first plane. The air channel is parallel to the first plane, and the fourth port of the air channel communicates with the first plane. Odors flow in from the first ports of the odor channels and flow out from the second ports of the odor channels. Air flows in from the third ports of the air channels and flows out from the fourth ports of the air channels. The sixth port of the air outlet channel communicates with the first plane, and the odors and air flow out through the air outlet channel, enabling the direct convergence of multiple independent odor channels and air channels. The time required to flush the residual odors during odor switching is relatively short, taking into account performance indicators such as crosstalk between odors and the rise time and fall time of odor concentration.

[0032] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fluid converging member, characterized in that, Comprising: Multiple odor channels (10), one air channel (20) and an air outlet channel (30); Each odor channel (10) includes a first port (11) and a second port (12), the air channel (20) includes a third port (21) and a fourth port (22), and the air outlet channel (30) includes a fifth port (31) and a sixth port (32); Wherein, the second port (12) of each odor channel (10) is opened at different positions on the first plane, the air channel (20) is parallel to the first plane, and the fourth port (22) of the air channel (20) and the sixth port (32) of the air outlet channel (30) are both communicated with the first plane; The odor flows in from the first port (11) of the odor channel (10) and flows out from the second port (12) of the odor channel (10), the air flows in from the third port (21) of the air channel (20) and flows out from the fourth port (22) of the air channel (20), and after the odor and the air pass through the sixth port (32) of the air outlet channel (30), they flow out from the fifth port (31) of the air outlet channel (30).

2. The fluid confluence member according to claim 1, wherein The second ports (12) of the multiple odor channels (10), the fourth port (22) of the air channel (20) and the sixth port (32) of the air outlet channel (30) converge.

3. The fluid confluence member according to claim 1, characterized in that The air outlet channel (30) is perpendicular to the first plane.

4. The fluid converging member according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner diameter of the air channel (20) is larger than the inner diameter of each odor channel (10).

5. The fluid confluence member according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Including a first body (40) and a second body (50); The multiple odor channels (10) are arranged in the first body (40), the first plane is located in the first body (40), and the air channel (20) and the air outlet channel (30) are arranged in the second body (50); The second body (50) covers the second port (12) of each odor channel (10) to introduce the odor into the air outlet channel (30).

6. The fluid converging member according to claim 5, wherein A second plane is located in the first body (40) and is arranged parallel to and opposite the first plane; The first ports (11) of the multiple odor channels (10) are arrayed on the second plane, and the second ports (12) of the multiple odor channels (10) are arrayed on the first plane.

7. The fluid converging member according to claim 6, wherein, At least one of the multiple odor channels (10) is bent.

8. The fluid confluence member according to claim 5, wherein The arc surface is located in the first body (40) and is arranged opposite the first plane; The first ports (11) of the multiple odor channels (10) are arrayed on the arc surface, and the second ports (12) of the multiple odor channels (10) are arrayed on the first plane.

9. The fluid converging member according to claim 8, wherein The multiple odor channels (10) are straight.

10. An animal behavior training system, characterized in that, Including an odor source, an air source and a fluid converging member as described in any one of claims 1-9; the odor source is connected to the first port (11) of the multiple odor channels (10), the air source is connected to the third port (21) of the air channel (20), and the fifth port (31) of the air outlet channel (30) is connected to a target object.

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