A rat anti-bite group cage for automatic drinking system in barrier environment

Abstract

The utility model relates to experimental animal feeding equipment technical field discloses a rat anti -gnawing group -rearing cage for barrier environment automatic drinking system, including mouse cage, mouse cage cover, support structure, clamping structure and baffle subassembly, mouse cage one side is equipped with drinking water hole, inlaying I -shaped round cylinder stainless steel protective sleeve, prevent rat gnawing and seal joint, and the installation structure is through mouse cage top fixed groove and mouse cage cover outer frame bottom mounting block's adaptation realizes the butt joint, support structure contains inverted L shape support angle and outer support rod, disperses the pressure of stacking, strengthens stability, and clamping structure is by reinforcing pad and buckle and is composed, realizes elastic lock, and baffle subassembly includes sunken mouse cage cover baffle and trough, and the rat is guided to partition activity, and this cage utensil passes through the anti -gnawing design, three -dimensional support and accurate lock, solved the traditional cage utensil easy deformation, gnawing destruction etc.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of laboratory animal husbandry equipment, specifically a rat anti-biting group rearing cage for an automatic drinking system in a barrier environment. Background Technology

[0002] Automatic drinking water systems for barrier environments are key facilities in the field of laboratory animal husbandry. They are mainly used for the centralized feeding and management of SPF (specific pathogen-free) rats. These cages must meet the sterile isolation requirements of the barrier environment, and must be compatible with automatic drinking water systems to ensure the hygiene of the animals' drinking water. Through reasonable spatial design, the density of rats in group rearing can be optimized. In experiments in life sciences, pharmaceutical research and development, standardized and damage-resistant cages are the basic conditions for ensuring the stable health of laboratory animals and reducing the impact of environmental interference on experimental results. Therefore, extremely high requirements are placed on the structural strength, sealing and anti-gnawing performance of the cages.

[0003] Traditional barrier-enclosed rat cages generally suffer from insufficient structural durability. On the one hand, the metal cage lid is prone to deformation after long-term use, leading to gaps at the right-angle connection with the plastic cage bottom (especially at both ends of the drinking holes). Rats will gnaw through these gaps, damaging the cage bottom, which not only shortens the cage's lifespan but may also cause animal escape or cross-contamination risks. On the other hand, the drinking holes in the cage bottom are made with steel sheets, which are prone to loosening and falling off after long-term use, exposing the soft polypropylene (PP) material. Rats can further gnaw to enlarge the holes, rendering the cage unusable. In addition, traditional cage bottoms lack targeted support structures, and when multiple layers are stacked, uneven stress can cause deformation of the corners or long sides, further aggravating gnawing damage. This increases the cost, operational risks, and animal management difficulties in the experimental animal husbandry process. To address these issues, we propose a rat anti-gnawing cage for automatic drinking systems in barrier environments. Summary of the Invention

[0004] (a) Technical problems to be solved

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a rat anti-biting group rearing cage for an automatic drinking water system in a barrier environment, thus solving the aforementioned problems.

[0006] (II) Technical Solution

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a rat anti-biting group rearing cage for an automatic drinking water system in a barrier environment, comprising:

[0008] A rat cage and a rat cage cover. The rat cage has a horizontal drinking hole on one side end face. The rat cage cover has an outer frame fixedly installed at the bottom. The bottom of the outer frame of the rat cage cover is provided with an installation structure.

[0009] A support structure is provided at the top of the mouse cage, and the support structure is provided in the mouse groove opened at the top of the mouse cage;

[0010] A clamping structure is provided at the bottom of the outer side of the outer frame of the rat cage cover. The clamping structure includes a reinforcing block and a buckle.

[0011] A baffle assembly is disposed inside the mouse cage cover, directly above the mouse slot opened at the top of the mouse cage.

[0012] Preferably, a through drinking hole is provided on one side of the outer wall of the rat cage, and a drinking hole protective sleeve in the shape of an I-shaped cylinder is fixedly installed inside the drinking hole.

[0013] Preferably, the installation structure includes a fixing groove and an installation block. The fixing groove is provided on both sides of the top center of the rat cage, and the installation block is fixedly installed on both sides of the bottom center of the rat cage cover frame. The inner diameter of the fixing groove is adapted to the outer diameter of the installation block.

[0014] Preferably, the top of the outer frame of the rat cage cover has a through rat cage cover mounting groove, and the rat cage cover is fixedly installed on the outside of the top of the outer frame of the rat cage cover corresponding to the rat cage cover mounting groove.

[0015] Preferably, the support structure includes support angles and outer support rods. Two sets of parallel support angles are fixedly installed at the corner of the rat cage cover mounting groove at the top of the rat cage cover outer frame. The support angles are inverted L-shaped. An outer support rod corresponding to the support angles is fixedly installed at the bottom corner of the rat cage cover outer frame.

[0016] Preferably, the clamping structure includes a reinforcing block and a buckle. The reinforcing block is fixedly installed on the center of both sides of the bottom of the outer frame of the rat cage cover, and the buckle is fixedly installed on the center of both sides of the top of the rat cage cover corresponding to one side of the reinforcing block.

[0017] Preferably, the baffle assembly includes a rat cage cover baffle and a feed trough. The rat cage cover baffle is fixedly installed inside the outer frame of the rat cage cover. The rat cage cover baffle is recessed. A feed trough is provided on one side of the rat cage cover baffle. The recessed level of the feed trough is greater than that of the rat cage cover baffle.

[0018] (III) Beneficial Effects

[0019] Compared with the prior art, this utility model provides a rat anti-biting group rearing cage for an automatic drinking water system in a barrier environment, which has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] 1. This rat anti-gnawing group rearing cage for an automatic drinking system in a barrier environment significantly improves anti-gnawing performance and structural rigidity through a steel protective sleeve embedded in the drinking hole, a three-point snap-locking mechanism between the cage lid and the cage bottom box, a sunken nesting structure, and a three-dimensional support design with four corner support rods and long side support rods on the cage bottom box. It solves the problems of traditional cages, such as easy material damage, loose locking, and stacking deformation, which lead to rats gnawing and damaging the cage, causing escape or pollution risks. It effectively extends the service life of the cage and reduces cost losses and management risks in the process of raising experimental animals. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the drinking hole of this utility model.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the material trough of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the mounting block of this utility model.

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Rat cage; 2. Drinking hole; 3. Drinking hole protective sleeve; 4. Rat trough; 5. Fixing groove; 6. Support corner; 7. Rat cage cover outer frame; 8. Mounting block; 9. Reinforcing block; 10. External support rod; 11. Rat cage cover mounting groove; 12. Rat cage cover; 13. Rat cage cover baffle; 14. Feed trough; 15. Buckle. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0027] Please see Figure 1-4 A rat anti-gnawing group rearing cage for an automatic drinking water system in a barrier environment, comprising:

[0028] The rat cage 1 and the rat cage cover 12 are provided. A horizontal drinking hole 2 is provided on one end face of the rat cage 1. The bottom of the rat cage cover 12 is fixedly installed with a rat cage cover outer frame 7. The bottom of the rat cage cover outer frame 7 is provided with an installation structure.

[0029] A support structure is installed at the top of the mouse cage 1, and the support structure is installed in the mouse groove 4 opened at the top of the mouse cage 1.

[0030] A clamping structure is provided at the bottom of the outer side of the outer frame 7 of the rat cage cover. The clamping structure includes a reinforcing block 9 and a buckle 15.

[0031] A baffle assembly is disposed inside the mouse cage cover 12, directly above the mouse slot 4 opened at the top of the mouse cage 1.

[0032] Furthermore, a through drinking hole 2 is provided on one outer wall of the rat cage 1. A drinking hole protective sleeve 3 in the shape of an I-shaped cylinder is fixedly installed inside the drinking hole 2. The drinking hole protective sleeve is made of 304 stainless steel and the surface can be electrolytically polished or passivated to avoid corrosion caused by long-term contact with water or disinfectants, and to ensure the sterility requirements of the barrier environment. The I-shaped flared edges at both ends of the protective sleeve not only prevent it from falling off, but also seal the seam between the drinking hole and the rat cage wall, preventing rat saliva or food residue from seeping into the gap and causing microbial growth. The inner diameter of the protective sleeve is precisely matched with the size of the automatic drinking nozzle to ensure that there is no gap after the drinking nozzle is inserted, and to prevent the rat from biting the base of the drinking nozzle.

[0033] Furthermore, the installation structure includes a fixing groove 5 and an installation block 8. The fixing groove 5 is provided on both sides of the top center of the rat cage 1, and the installation block 8 is fixedly installed on both sides of the bottom center of the rat cage cover frame 7. The inner diameter of the fixing groove 5 is adapted to the outer diameter of the installation block 8. The contact surface between the fixing groove and the installation block can be provided with anti-slip texture or rubber pads to prevent water from being caused by vibration when the cage is transported or stacked. The design is a sloping guide structure, which facilitates the quick alignment and insertion of the rat cage cover frame and improves the operational efficiency when cleaning or replacing the cage.

[0034] Furthermore, a through-hole rat cage cover mounting groove 11 is provided on the top of the rat cage cover outer frame 7. The rat cage cover 12 is fixedly installed on the outside of the rat cage cover mounting groove 11 on the top of the rat cage cover outer frame 7. A micro drainage hole can be opened at the bottom of the mounting groove to avoid water accumulation during cleaning. At the same time, the diameter of the hole must be smaller than the size of the rat's paw to prevent pinching injury. The top of the rat cage cover outer frame adopts a hollow structure to reduce the overall weight while maintaining strength and facilitate manual operation.

[0035] Furthermore, the support structure includes support angles 6 and outer support rods 10. Two sets of parallel support angles 6 are fixedly installed at the corner of the rat cage cover mounting groove 11 at the top of the rat cage cover outer frame 7. The support angles 6 are inverted L-shaped. The outer support rods 10 corresponding to the support angles 6 are fixedly installed at the bottom corner of the rat cage cover outer frame 7. The vertical force chain design of the support angles and the outer support rods can distribute the weight of the upper cage to the four corners and the midpoint of the long side of the lower cage, avoiding the bottom depression caused by concentrated force in traditional cages. A silicone cushioning pad can be added to the bottom of the outer support rod to reduce vibration and noise when the cage is moved or the animal is moving violently.

[0036] Furthermore, the locking structure includes a reinforcing block 9 and a buckle 15. The reinforcing block 9 is fixedly installed on the center of both sides of the bottom of the outer frame 7 of the rat cage cover. The buckle 15 is fixedly installed on the center of both sides of the top of the rat cage cover 12, corresponding to one side of the reinforcing block 9. The buckle can be designed as a spring-assisted push-button lock, which requires pressing both buckles at the same time to unlock, preventing accidental opening caused by rat impact. The surface of the reinforcing block can be coated with a red or fluorescent coating to facilitate the operator to quickly identify whether the locking status is in place.

[0037] Furthermore, the baffle assembly includes a cage cover baffle 13 and a feed trough 14. The cage cover baffle 13 is fixedly installed inside the cage cover outer frame 7. The cage cover baffle 13 is recessed. A feed trough 14 is provided on one side of the cage cover baffle 13. The recessed level of the feed trough 14 is greater than that of the cage cover baffle 13. The stepped layout of the recessed baffle and the feed trough can guide the rats to naturally divide their activities (feeding area and resting area), reducing biting behavior caused by space competition. The edge of the feed trough can be rolled inward or raised by 2-3mm to prevent the rats from splashing food and contaminating the cage environment when scratching the food.

[0038] Structural Description:

[0039] Rat Cage 1: Rat Cage 1 is the main structure of the group housing cage. It is made of polypropylene (PP) material. A horizontal drinking hole 2 is provided on one side, and a rat groove 4 is opened on the top for connecting the support structure. Its internal space design meets the needs of SPF-grade rat group housing and has the characteristics of deformation resistance and easy cleaning.

[0040] Drinking Hole 2: Drinking hole 2 is a horizontal round hole penetrating the side wall of the rat cage 1, used to connect to the automatic drinking system; its inner wall is embedded with a drinking hole protective sleeve 3, and the edge of the hole is designed with rounded corners to avoid contact injury to the rat. The height of the hole is adapted to the rat's natural drinking posture to ensure convenient drinking.

[0041] Drinking hole protective sleeve 3: The drinking hole protective sleeve 3 is an I-shaped cylindrical stainless steel component, which is embedded in the drinking hole 2. It is prevented from falling off by the outward expansion of the two ends, and the inner wall is smooth to prevent rats from biting it. It is also compatible with the interface of the automatic drinking system.

[0042] Mouse groove 4: Mouse groove 4 is a groove structure on the top of mouse cage 1, used to accommodate support angle 6 and external support rod 10, and realizes mechanical transmission when the cages are stacked through precise size matching;

[0043] Fixing groove 5: Fixing groove 5 is opened on both sides of the top of the rat cage 1, and is adapted to the mounting block 8 to form a mechanical engagement, so as to realize the horizontal limit and vertical pressure distribution of the outer frame 7 of the rat cage cover;

[0044] Support angle 6: Support angle 6 is an inverted L-shaped metal piece, fixed at the top corner of the outer frame 7 of the rat cage cover. It transmits the weight of the upper cage through the horizontal section and restricts horizontal displacement through the vertical section, thereby enhancing the stacking stability.

[0045] Rat cage cover outer frame 7: The rat cage cover outer frame 7 is a transition structure connecting the rat cage 1 and the rat cage cover 12. It has a mounting block 8 at the bottom and a rat cage cover mounting groove 11 at the top, which has both load-bearing and quick disassembly / reassembly functions.

[0046] Mounting block 8: Mounting block 8 is fixed to the bottom two sides of the outer frame 7 of the rat cage cover, and cooperates with the fixing groove 5 to achieve precise positioning. The slanted design facilitates quick embedding.

[0047] Reinforcing Block 9: Reinforcing Block 9 is made of stainless steel and is located at the bottom center of the outer frame 7 of the rat cage cover. It forms an elastic lock with the buckle 15 to prevent the cage cover from opening accidentally.

[0048] External support rod 10: The external support rod 10 is vertically fixed at the bottom corner of the outer frame 7 of the rat cage cover, and together with the support corner 6, it forms a force chain to distribute the stacking pressure to the bottom of the rat cage 1;

[0049] Rat cage cover mounting groove 11: Rat cage cover mounting groove 11 passes through the top of the rat cage cover outer frame 7 and is used to fix the rat cage cover 12. Drainage hole is provided at the bottom to prevent water accumulation.

[0050] Mouse cage cover 12: The mouse cage cover 12 is nested with the mouse cage 1 through a sunken design, with a buckle 15 at the top and an integrated baffle assembly inside to optimize space partitioning;

[0051] Rat cage cover baffle 13: The rat cage cover baffle 13 is a sunken metal baffle that separates the space inside the cage into an activity area and a feeding area, reducing the rats' chewing on the buckle area;

[0052] Feed trough 14: The feed trough 14 is located on one side of the rat cage cover baffle 13. It has a greater sinking depth and the edges are rolled inward to prevent feed from spilling and to limit the rat's head movement space.

[0053] Buckle 15: Buckle 15 is a flexible metal component that is fixed to both sides of the top of the rat cage cover 12. It needs to be pressed on both sides to unlock, ensuring that the cage cover is locked securely.

[0054] Working Principle: The outer frame 7 of the rat cage cover serves as a connecting hub, precisely aligning with the top of the rat cage 1 via a bottom mounting structure. Simultaneously, the top rat cage cover mounting groove 11 secures the rat cage cover 12. The support structure and locking structure enhance overall rigidity through mechanical support and physical locking, respectively, suppressing gaps caused by deformation. The baffle assembly optimizes the spatial layout, reducing the direct impact of rat activity on the cage cover and indirectly improving structural stability. During installation, the mounting block 8 at the bottom of the outer frame 7 vertically embeds into the mounting groove 5 at the top of the rat cage 1, with their inner and outer diameters strictly matching to form a mechanical positioning and locking mechanism. This structure not only achieves horizontal positioning of the outer frame 7 and the rat cage 1 but also transmits part of the material through the contact surface. Vertical pressure is applied to reduce the load on the buckles. An L-shaped metal support at the support angle 6 is fixed to the corner of the cage cover mounting groove 11 at the top of the cage cover outer frame 7. Two sets are arranged in parallel. The outer support rod 10 corresponds to the support angle 6 and is fixed to the bottom corner of the cage cover outer frame 7. When multiple cages are stacked, the weight of the upper cage is transferred through the horizontal section of the support angle 6 to the top of the cage cover outer frame 7 of the lower cage, and then vertically transmitted to the bottom plane of the cage 1 through the outer support rod 10, forming a vertical force chain of "top load-bearing - middle transmission - bottom support". The vertical section of the support angle 6 fits against the inner wall of the cage cover mounting groove 11, limiting the horizontal displacement of the cage cover outer frame 7 and preventing the cage from tilting due to a shift in the center of gravity during stacking. The reinforcing block 9 is fixed to the center of both sides of the bottom of the cage cover outer frame 7, and is made of 30mm material. 4. Stainless steel, with buckles 15 corresponding to the reinforcing blocks 9, fixed to the top two sides of the cage cover 12. Made of elastic metal, after the cage cover outer frame 7 and cage 1 are positioned using the installation structure, the cage cover 12 is lowered along the cage cover mounting groove 11. Buckles 15 are aligned with the reinforcing blocks 9, and the cage cover 12 is pressed down. Buckles 15 elastically deform and engage with the grooves in the reinforcing blocks 9. The bottom edge of the cage cover outer frame 7 has a recessed design, embedding into the top edge of the cage 1 after locking. Even if the buckles are slightly loose, the gap width can be maintained through physical nesting. The cage cover baffle 13 is a recessed metal baffle fixed inside the cage cover outer frame 7. The feed trough 14 is located on one side of the cage cover baffle 13, with a recessed depth greater than the baffle, forming a stepped layout. The feed trough 14 has an arc-shaped design, allowing for flexible placement even with limited volume. By reducing the vertical height under the premise of change, the head movement space of rats is restricted when they eat, preventing them from touching the bottom of the feed trough 14 and avoiding deformation of the rat cage cover 12 due to impact. The rat cage cover baffle 13 divides the inside of the rat cage cover 12 into a feeding area and an activity area, restricting rats from gathering at the edge of the cage cover and reducing gnawing attempts on the buckle area. The impact frequency of the bottom of the feed trough 14 is reduced, and the annual deformation rate of the rat cage cover 12 is reduced. The core anti-gnawing barrier is the drinking hole protective sleeve 3 inside the drinking hole 2 of the rat cage 1. It is an I-shaped cylindrical sleeve made of 304 stainless steel and is integrally injection molded with the rat cage 1. The two ends of the protective sleeve 3 are expanded outward to form an "I" shaped edge. After embedding polypropylene (PP) material, the steel sleeve and PP are bonded at the molecular level through the injection molding process, avoiding the risk of detachment of the traditional steel sheet outer covering.When the rat bites, the biting force is transmitted through the protective sleeve 3 to the entire cage structure 1, rather than being concentrated in a localized area of ​​the PP material. The strength of the steel is used to offset the destructive force of the bite. The smooth inner wall of the protective sleeve 3 prevents the rat from creating a point of leverage through biting, further inhibiting destructive behavior.

[0055] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A rat anti-biting group rearing cage for an automatic drinking system in a barrier environment, characterized in that: include: A rat cage (1) and a rat cage cover (12). A horizontal drinking hole (2) is provided on one side end face of the rat cage (1). A rat cage cover outer frame (7) is fixedly installed at the bottom of the rat cage cover (12). An installation structure is provided at the bottom of the rat cage cover outer frame (7). A support structure is provided on the top of the mouse cage (1), and the support structure is provided in the mouse groove (4) opened on the top of the mouse cage (1); A clamping structure is provided at the bottom of the outer side of the outer frame (7) of the rat cage cover. The clamping structure includes a reinforcing block (9) and a buckle (15). A baffle assembly is disposed inside the mouse cage cover (12) directly above the mouse groove (4) opened at the top of the mouse cage (1).

2. The rat anti-gnawing group rearing cage for an automatic drinking system in a barrier environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rat cage (1) has a through drinking hole (2) on one side of its outer wall, and a drinking hole protective sleeve (3) in the shape of an I-shaped cylinder is fixedly installed inside the drinking hole (2).

3. The rat anti-gnawing group rearing cage for an automatic drinking system in a barrier environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The installation structure includes a fixing groove (5) and an installation block (8). The fixing groove (5) is provided on both sides of the top center of the rat cage (1). The installation block (8) is fixedly installed on both sides of the bottom center of the rat cage cover frame (7). The inner diameter of the fixing groove (5) is adapted to the outer diameter of the installation block (8).

4. The rat anti-gnawing group rearing cage for an automatic drinking system in a barrier environment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The top of the outer frame (7) of the rat cage cover has a through rat cage cover mounting groove (11), and the rat cage cover (12) is fixedly installed on the outside of the top of the outer frame (7) of the rat cage cover corresponding to the rat cage cover mounting groove (11).

5. The rat anti-gnawing group rearing cage for an automatic drinking system in a barrier environment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The support structure includes support angles (6) and outer support rods (10). Two sets of parallel support angles (6) are fixedly installed at the corner of the rat cage cover mounting groove (11) at the top of the rat cage cover outer frame (7). The support angles (6) are inverted L-shaped. The outer support rods (10) corresponding to the support angles (6) are fixedly installed at the bottom corner of the rat cage cover outer frame (7).

6. The rat anti-gnawing group rearing cage for an automatic drinking system in a barrier environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping structure includes a reinforcing block (9) and a buckle (15). The reinforcing block (9) is fixedly installed on the center of the bottom two sides of the outer frame (7) of the rat cage cover. The buckle (15) is fixedly installed on the center of the top two sides of the rat cage cover (12) corresponding to the side of the reinforcing block (9).

7. The rat anti-gnawing group rearing cage for an automatic drinking system in a barrier environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The baffle assembly includes a rat cage cover baffle (13) and a feed trough (14). The rat cage cover baffle (13) is fixedly installed inside the outer frame (7) of the rat cage cover. The rat cage cover baffle (13) is recessed. A feed trough (14) is provided on one side of the rat cage cover baffle (13). The recessed level of the feed trough (14) is greater than that of the rat cage cover baffle (13).

Images