Animal monitoring cabin

Abstract

The invention provides an animal monitoring bin which comprises an animal containing bin, an air duct assembly, a heating assembly, a refrigerating assembly and a circulating fan, and the animal containing bin is provided with a containing space used for containing animals; the air duct assembly is provided with an air duct communicating with the containing space, the refrigerating assembly comprises an evaporator, and the evaporator and the heating assembly are arranged in the air duct, so that air in the containing space enters the air duct under the action of the circulating fan, passes through the heating assembly and the refrigerating assembly and then circulates to the containing space. The refrigeration assembly and the heating assembly are arranged in the same air duct assembly at the same time, so that temperature adjustment of air can be completed in the same air duct assembly, finally the air after temperature adjustment is input into the containing space, and the problem that temperature stratification in the animal monitoring bin is serious is solved to a great extent.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of monitoring equipment, and in particular to animal monitoring cages. Background Technology

[0002] Animal monitoring cages provide an adapted environment for animals and are widely used in postoperative recovery and intensive care. However, existing animal monitoring cages suffer from severe temperature stratification.

[0003] Currently, animal care cages typically use separate refrigeration and heating systems. These systems are often difficult to integrate directly into the same air duct. Therefore, a separate refrigeration duct is needed to supply cold air to the enclosure, and a separate heating duct to supply hot air. Temperature control is achieved by adjusting the mixing of the cooling and heating outputs. However, because cold air is denser than hot air, it tends to settle at the bottom of the enclosure, while hot air accumulates at the top, resulting in temperature stratification.

[0004] Furthermore, in solutions utilizing separate cooling and heating air ducts, using the average temperature within the containment space as a reference, the temperature of the air entering the containment space and cooling down in the cooling duct will be lower than the average temperature within the containment space when it returns. Similarly, the temperature of the air returning through the heating duct will be higher than the average temperature within the containment space. This situation will further increase the temperature fluctuations within the containment space. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides an animal monitoring enclosure comprising: an animal housing, an air duct assembly, a heating assembly, a cooling assembly, and a circulating fan. The animal housing has a housing space for accommodating animals; the air duct assembly has an air duct communicating with the housing space; the cooling assembly includes an evaporator; the evaporator and the heating assembly are disposed within the air duct, such that air from the housing space enters the air duct under the action of the circulating fan, and after passing through the heating and cooling assemblies, is circulated back to the housing space.

[0006] This application places the cooling and heating components in the same air duct component, allowing the air to be conditioned within the same air duct component before being introduced into the containment space. This greatly improves the problem of severe temperature stratification within the containment space. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the animal care unit modules; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the air duct assembly; Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the air duct assembly.

[0008] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: Animal monitoring cage 1, animal housing cage 10, housing space 11, Air duct assembly 20, air duct 21, first air outlet 22, second air outlet 23, first section 211, second section 212, third section 213, water tank 24, filter element 25, anti-accidental contact partition 26 Heating component 30, first temperature sensor 31, second temperature sensor 32 Refrigeration assembly 40, condenser 41, evaporator 42, compressor 43, condenser fan 44. Circulating fan 50, Control module 60, Humidifier 70, humidity sensor 71. Detailed Implementation

[0009] The present application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and some embodiments. The following embodiments are mainly used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present application.

[0010] Unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terms used herein are primarily for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the application; the terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and other synonyms having the same or similar meanings in the specification, claims, and foregoing description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0011] In the description of the embodiments of this application, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are mainly used to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating relative importance or implicitly specifying the number, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0012] In this document, any particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in any embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment or a combination of at least two embodiments of this application. Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments herein or other embodiments outside of this document.

[0013] In the description of the embodiments of this application, technical terms used to indicate orientation or positional relationships, such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., are mainly used to facilitate the description of the embodiments of this application and to simplify the description, rather than being considered as requiring the device or element to have a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0014] In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the technical terms "setting," "installing," "assembling," "connecting," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. Taking connection as an example, it may include fixed connection, detachable connection, or integral molding; it may also include at least one of mechanical connection and electrical connection; it may include direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0015] Animal monitoring chambers are commonly used in postoperative recovery and intensive care settings for animals, and generally have temperature and humidity control functions. Some animal monitoring chambers also include additional functions such as oxygen concentration control, carbon dioxide concentration control, infrared therapy, and ultraviolet sterilization.

[0016] This application places the cooling and heating components in the same air duct assembly, allowing the air to adjust its temperature within the air duct rather than in the containment space.

[0017] See Figure 1 The animal care enclosure 1 includes: an animal housing 10, an air duct assembly 20, a heating assembly 30, a cooling assembly 40, and a circulating fan 50. The animal housing 10 has a housing space 11 for accommodating animals and a door (not shown in the figure); the air duct assembly 20 has an air duct 21 communicating with the housing space 11; the cooling assembly 40 includes a condenser 41, an evaporator 42 (the evaporator can also be called evaporation fins or heat dissipation fins), a compressor 43, and a condenser fan 44. The evaporator 42, the heating assembly 30, and the circulating fan 50 are disposed within the air duct 21, allowing air from the housing space 11 to enter the air duct 21 under the action of the circulating fan 50, and after the temperature is adjusted by the heating assembly 30 and the cooling assembly 40, it is circulated back to the housing space 11. The circulating fan 50 can also be disposed in other locations outside the air duct 21, as long as it enables air circulation between the air duct 21 and the housing space 11.

[0018] This application integrates the cooling component 40 and the heating component 30 within the same air duct component 20, allowing the air temperature to be adjusted within the same component before being introduced into the containment space 11. This significantly improves the severe temperature stratification problem within the animal monitoring chamber 1. In this application, the temperature of the air circulating back through the air duct component 20 each time is close to the temperature inside the containment space 11, thus mitigating the aforementioned issues. The cooling component 40 includes an evaporator 42, enabling both temperature adjustment and humidity control within the same air duct component 20.

[0019] The animal monitoring chamber 1 has a control module 60, which is coupled to the heating component 30, the cooling component 40 and the circulating fan 50 to control their working status, thereby realizing functions such as temperature adjustment and humidity control.

[0020] [Air duct structure] In some embodiments, the air duct 21 includes a first segment 211, a second segment 212, and a third segment 213. The third segment 213 is connected between the first segment 211 and the second segment 212. The first segment 211 has a first air vent 22 communicating with the receiving space 11, and the second segment 212 has a second air vent 23 communicating with the receiving space 11.

[0021] The first air vent 22 is connected to the bottom of the containing space 11, and the second air vent 23 is connected to the top of the containing space 11. Cold air is denser than hot air, and the animal containing chamber 10 generally needs to output cooler air. If the second air vent 23 (outlet) is at the bottom, the cold air tends to accumulate at the bottom rather than diffuse upwards, potentially causing temperature stratification. By placing the second air vent 23 (outlet) at the top, the cold air gradually diffuses downwards, thus permeating the entire containing space 11 and improving the temperature stratification problem. In the direction perpendicular to the gas flow, the cross-sectional area of ​​the second segment 212 and the first segment 211 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the third segment 213. That is, the structures of the first segment 211 and the third segment 213, and the structures of the second segment 212 and the third segment 213, can be roughly "T" shaped, or inverted "T" shaped. In this case, due to the large cross-sectional area, the wind speed when the air enters the first air vent 22 from the containment space 11 can be reduced, as can the wind speed when the air enters the containment space 11 from the second air vent 23, thereby reducing the negative impact of excessive wind speed on the animals.

[0022] The orientation of the first air vent 22 is different from the extension direction of the third section 213. The orientation of the second air vent 23 can also be different from the extension direction of the third section 213. For example, the orientation of the second air vent 23 can be perpendicular to the extension direction of the third section 213. In this case, the air can be buffered and redirected within the second section 212 before entering the containing space 11 through the second air vent 23, avoiding direct airflow onto the animal and improving the animal's comfort in the containing space 11.

[0023] The circulating fan 50 and heating element 30 are located in the third section 213, with the circulating fan 50 positioned below the heating element 30. The evaporator 42 is located in the second section 212. The smaller cross-sectional area of ​​the circulating fan 50 and heating element 30 in the third section 213 reduces the possibility of accidental contact by users or animals. Furthermore, to ensure uniform heating of the air, multiple heating elements 30 should be laid out along the cross-section of the third section 213 to minimize heating dead zones. Therefore, a smaller cross-sectional area in the third section 213 can reduce the number of heating elements 30, thereby reducing costs. Additionally, the smaller cross-sectional area of ​​the third section 213 provides space for other components (such as the condenser fan 44, compressor 43, condenser 41, etc.), resulting in a more compact overall structure. The larger cross-sectional area of ​​the second section 212 allows for the placement of a larger evaporator 42; a larger evaporator 42 results in a faster cooling rate. In addition, the lower wind speed in the first section 211 can also prevent hair from entering the air duct 21 to some extent.

[0024] A water tank 24 is provided below the evaporator 42. When the evaporator 42 absorbs heat from the air, the water vapor in the air condenses into liquid and accumulates on the surface of the evaporator 42. When it accumulates to a certain extent, condensate will remain. Therefore, the water tank 24 below the evaporator 42 can be used to collect condensate.

[0025] The first air vent 22 of the first section 211 and the second air vent 23 of the second section 212 are equipped with removable filters 25. An anti-accidental contact partition 26 is installed between the first section 211 and the third section 213. When air from the containment space 11 enters the first air vent 22, it may carry animal hair or other objects into the air duct 21. Therefore, the filter 25 can mitigate this issue. Additionally, the filter 25 can be a dust cover or a dust grid, which also helps to even out airflow. The filter 25 is removably installed at the first air vent 22 and the second air vent 23, allowing for easy replacement or removal for cleaning. The anti-accidental contact partition 26 prevents accidental contact with the heating element 30 or the circulating fan 50 when the user removes the filter 25. The anti-accidental contact partition 26 can have a mesh structure or a perforated structure, allowing air to pass through it into the third section 213.

[0026] The animal monitoring chamber 1 also includes a first temperature sensor 31 and a second temperature sensor 32 coupled to the control module 60. The first temperature sensor 31 is located in the first section 211. The second temperature sensor 32 is located in the second section 212. If the first temperature sensor 31 is placed in the animal housing 10, it may be accidentally touched by the animal, resulting in inaccurate temperature measurement or damage. However, the air temperature entering the first section 211 through the first air outlet 22 under the action of the circulating fan 50 is approximately the same as the temperature in the animal housing 10. Therefore, the temperature collected by placing the first temperature sensor 31 in the first air duct 21 can also be used to characterize the temperature in the animal housing 10, thereby providing relatively accurate feedback information to the control module 60.

[0027] The animal care enclosure 1 may also include a humidity sensor 71 to detect humidity. The humidity sensor 71 is located in the first segment 211. The accuracy of the humidity sensor 71 is affected by wind speed. In the third segment 213, due to its smaller cross-sectional area, the wind speed may be relatively high, while the wind speed in the animal housing 10 may be relatively low. Therefore, placing the humidity sensor 71 in the first segment 211 can more accurately represent humidity information, while also preventing animals from coming into contact with the humidity sensor 71.

[0028] Temperature control solution See Figure 2 and Figure 3 The air duct 21 includes a first air inlet 22 and a second air inlet 23 communicating with the receiving space 11. The circulating fan 50 is configured to drive air from the receiving space 11 into the air duct 21 through the first air inlet 22 and back into the receiving space 11 through the second air inlet 23. It should be noted that the circulating fan 50 can be a unidirectional fan, driving air into the air duct 21 through the first air inlet 22. The circulating fan 50 can also be a bidirectional fan, adjusting its forward or reverse rotation according to different needs.

[0029] The animal monitoring chamber 1 may also include a first temperature sensor 31 and a second temperature sensor 32 coupled to the control module 60. The first temperature sensor 31 and the second temperature sensor 32 are used to monitor the inlet air temperature of the first air vent 22 and the outlet air temperature of the second air vent 23, respectively. Since the air in the containment space 11 has not been heated or cooled when it enters the first air vent 22, the inlet air temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 31 can be used to characterize the current temperature in the containment space 11.

[0030] The control module 60 controls at least one of the heating power of the heating component 30 and the cooling power of the cooling component 40 based on the inlet air temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 31 and the outlet air temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 32, thereby adjusting the temperature in the accommodating space 11. For example, if it is necessary to increase the air temperature in the accommodating space 11, it can be adjusted by increasing the heating power while keeping the cooling power constant, or by increasing the heating power while decreasing the cooling power.

[0031] The heating assembly 30 includes multiple PTC heaters, and the control module 60 adjusts the heating power by controlling the duty cycle of the PTC heaters (i.e., the ratio of heating time to total working time) and / or controlling the number of PTC heaters in the heating state. Alternatively, the heating assembly 30 may also include multiple resistance wires, and the control module 60 can adjust the heating power by controlling the current or the number of resistance wires in the heating state.

[0032] When the compressor 43 of the refrigeration component 40 has an adjustable speed, the control module 60 can adjust its refrigeration power by controlling the speed of the compressor 43. Of course, the power of the refrigeration component 40 can also be kept constant. The temperature can be controlled to rise by controlling the heating power of the heating component 30 to be greater than the refrigeration power, and the temperature can be controlled to fall by controlling the heating power of the heating component 30 to be less than the refrigeration power.

[0033] The control module 60 can acquire the inlet air temperature and target temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 31, and determine whether the difference between the inlet air temperature and the target temperature is greater than a first threshold. If the judgment result is yes, then it is further judged whether the air inlet temperature is greater than the target temperature. If the judgment result is yes, then the heating component 30 is controlled to operate at the first heating power. If the judgment result is no, then the heating component 30 is controlled to operate at the second heating power. If the judgment result is negative, the heating component 30 is controlled to operate at the third heating power.

[0034] The target temperature can be the temperature input by the user, that is, the temperature the user expects the space 11 to ultimately reach. The difference between the inlet air temperature and the target temperature refers to the absolute value. The first heating power can be greater than the second heating power. The first heating power can be the maximum heating power. The second heating power can be 0. The third heating power can be a preset heating power, and can be matched with the target temperature.

[0035] For example, the animal monitoring chamber 1 has multiple temperature settings, each with a corresponding third heating power. For instance, the multiple temperature settings could be [15, 17.5), [17.5, 22.5), [22.5, 27.5), [27.5, 32.5), [32.5, 37.5), [37.5, 40). The third heating power corresponding to these six temperature settings are 55% of the maximum heating power, 60% of the maximum heating power, 61% of the maximum heating power, 63% of the maximum heating power, 65% of the maximum heating power, and 70% of the maximum heating power, respectively. Of course, the temperature settings can also be customized according to requirements.

[0036] The control module 60 can acquire the target temperature input by the user, determine the temperature range corresponding to the target temperature, and obtain the third heating power corresponding to that temperature range. The user can input the target temperature through an interactive device (such as a touch screen or keyboard). For example, when the user inputs 30 degrees, it can be determined that it belongs to the temperature range [27.5, 32.5), and the corresponding third heating power is 65% of the maximum heating power.

[0037] In other words, when the difference between the inlet air temperature and the target temperature is large, the heating element 30 can be controlled to operate at a higher / lower heating power to quickly adjust the temperature. When the difference between the inlet air temperature and the target temperature is small, the temperature can be kept constant at a power matching the target temperature.

[0038] However, this approach also has its problems. For example, 15 and 16 degrees both fall within the range of [15, 17.5), but the matching heating power for the two temperature requirements may differ. Using the same third heating power may result in significant temperature fluctuations.

[0039] Therefore, the control module 60 can also obtain the target outlet air temperature, determine whether the difference between the outlet air temperature and the target outlet air temperature is greater than the first threshold. If the determination result is yes, the third heating power is finely adjusted; if the determination result is no, the current heating power is maintained.

[0040] The target outlet air temperature can be obtained by using the user-inputted target temperature and the average difference between the actual outlet air temperature and the actual inlet air temperature within a preset time range. Since the target temperature is close to the actual inlet air temperature, the difference between the actual outlet air temperature and the actual inlet air temperature is similar to the difference between the actual outlet air temperature and the target temperature. Adding this difference to the target temperature allows for an approximate calculation of the outlet air temperature (i.e., the target outlet air temperature) required when the average temperature within the accommodating space 11 reaches the target temperature. The average difference between the actual inlet air temperature and the actual outlet air temperature may vary under different temperatures and environments. Therefore, the preset time range can be the past 10 minutes, allowing for the collection of more immediate data.

[0041] Fine-tuning the third heating power can include: if the outlet air temperature is higher than the target outlet air temperature, then controlling the reduction of the third heating power; if the outlet air temperature is lower than the target outlet air temperature, then increasing the third heating power. For example, the maximum heating power can be increased by 1% or decreased by 1% based on the third heating power.

[0042] The current heating power refers to the heating power when the difference between the outlet air temperature and the target outlet air temperature is less than or equal to the first threshold. It may be the third heating power or the heating power after fine-tuning based on the third heating power. The control module 60 can collect the outlet air temperature in real time or at regular intervals and execute the above steps.

[0043] The inventors of this application have discovered that using the actual outlet air temperature and the target outlet air temperature as feedback signals can significantly reduce temperature fluctuations during the temperature adjustment process. However, using the general inlet air temperature and target temperature as feedback signals will result in significant temperature fluctuations. This is because the target outlet air temperature is more significantly affected by the heating and cooling devices and is easier to control, while the inlet air temperature is affected not only by the heating and cooling devices but also by the volume of the containment space 11, as well as the body size and physiological state of the animals within the containment space 11.

[0044] Humidity control solution The animal care enclosure 1 also includes a humidifier 70, which is located outside or inside the animal housing 10. The humidifier 70 can be used to add water vapor to the housing space 11, thereby controlling the humidity. The animal care enclosure 1 may also include a humidity sensor 71 to detect humidity.

[0045] The control module 60 can be coupled to the humidity sensor 71 to obtain the current humidity and determine whether the current humidity is less than the first target humidity. If the determination result is yes, a humidification operation is performed. If the determination result is no, it determines whether the current humidity is greater than the second target humidity. If the determination result is yes, a dehumidification operation is performed. The second target humidity is not less than the first target humidity.

[0046] The humidification operation includes at least one of the following: starting the humidifier 70, increasing the speed of the circulating fan 50, decreasing the frequency of the compressor 43, and decreasing the speed of the condenser fan 44 of the refrigeration unit 40. Starting the humidifier 70 directly increases the supply of water vapor, thereby increasing humidity. Increasing the speed of the circulating fan 50 reduces the time air spends near the evaporator 42; when the contact time between the air and the evaporator 42 is short, the water vapor may not be sufficiently cooled and condensed, thus inhibiting the decrease in humidity. Decreasing the frequency of the compressor 43 or decreasing the speed of the condenser fan 44 can also inhibit the decrease in humidity to some extent.

[0047] Conversely, the dehumidification operation includes at least one of the following: turning off the humidifier 70, reducing the speed of the circulating fan 50, increasing the frequency of the compressor 43, and increasing the speed of the condenser fan 44 of the refrigeration unit 40.

[0048] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are mainly used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application and should not be construed as limiting this application. The foregoing embodiments exemplarily provide a detailed and specific description of this application. Those skilled in the art can modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or replace some or all of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or substitutions do not make the corresponding technical solutions and the technical solutions of this application constitute different inventions, and therefore should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of this application. In particular, in the absence of structural conflicts or binding obstacles, the various technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any way, and the technical solutions formed by these combinations should not be considered to have departed from the scope of the technical solutions of this application.

Claims

1. An animal monitoring cage, characterized in that, include: Animal housing, air duct assembly, heating assembly, cooling assembly and circulating fan, wherein the animal housing has a housing space for accommodating animals; The air duct assembly has an air duct that communicates with the receiving space. The cooling assembly includes an evaporator. The evaporator and the heating assembly are disposed in the air duct, so that the air in the receiving space enters the air duct under the action of the circulating fan, and after passing through the heating assembly and the cooling assembly, it is circulated back to the receiving space.

2. The animal monitoring cage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The circulating fan is located inside the air duct.

3. The animal monitoring cage according to claim 2, characterized in that, The air duct includes a first section, a second section, and a third section, with the third section connecting the first and second sections. The first section has a first air vent communicating with the receiving space, and the second section has a second air vent communicating with the receiving space. The circulating fan is configured to drive the air in the containment space into the air duct through the first air inlet, and then return to the containment space through the second air inlet.

4. The animal monitoring cage according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cross-sectional area of ​​the second segment and the first segment is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the third segment.

5. The animal monitoring cage according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first air vent is connected to the bottom of the containing space, and the second air vent is connected to the top of the containing space.

6. The animal monitoring cage according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The circulating fan and the heating assembly are located in the third section, with the circulating fan positioned below the heating assembly; the evaporator is located in the second section.

7. The animal monitoring cage according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that, The first air vent of the first section is equipped with a removable filter, and an anti-accidental contact partition is provided between the first section and the third section.

8. The animal monitoring cage according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that, It also includes a first temperature sensor and a humidity sensor; The first temperature sensor and / or the humidity sensor are disposed in the first segment.

9. The animal monitoring cage according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that, The orientation of the first air vent is different from the extension direction of the third segment; And / or, the orientation of the second air vent is different from the extension direction of the third segment.

10. The animal monitoring cage according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The animal care enclosure also includes a humidifier, which is located outside the animal housing enclosure; And / or, a water tank is provided below the evaporator. And / or, the speed of the circulating fan is adjustable.

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