Automatic water supplementing device for experimental mouse drinking bottle

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of laboratory animal technology in barrier environments, specifically to an automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mice, comprising a mounting plate, a water storage box, a water replenishment pipe, a control pipe, a control column, a mouse cage, a feeding box, and a feeding assembly; the mounting plate is vertically mounted on a wall, the water storage box is mounted on top of the mounting plate, the water replenishment pipe is disposed inside the water storage box with one end located outside the water storage box, and a water purifier is connected to the outer end of the water replenishment pipe, the control pipe is installed in the middle of the water replenishment pipe, the control column is installed inside the control pipe, the mouse cage is mounted on top of the mounting plate with the cages spaced apart, the feeding box is installed inside the mouse cage, and the feeding assembly is installed inside the mounting plate, with the feeding assembly located above the feeding box.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of barrier environment experimental animal technology, specifically to an automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mice drinking bottles. Background Technology

[0002] In barrier-enclosed laboratory animal facilities, rodents have a continuous and stable need for drinking water during scientific research and daily care. Therefore, changing or refilling water bottles is essential for maintaining the health of the mice and the reliability of experimental data. Traditional water bottle changes are generally done manually, with keepers or researchers directly handling the bottles. This method requires frequent manpower, and in large-scale laboratory animal centers or high-density housing conditions, frequent weekly bottle changes consume a significant amount of time, significantly increasing labor costs. Furthermore, manual bottle changing is relatively inefficient, unable to complete large-scale refills or changes in a short time, and has gradually become a bottleneck restricting the efficiency of laboratory animal husbandry and the optimization of experimental conditions. In addition, the supply of drinking water for laboratory animals is also related to the stability and reproducibility of experiments. Any delays or oversights will directly affect the health of the animals and even interfere with the accuracy and reliability of experimental data.

[0003] However, existing methods of manually changing water bottles have significant shortcomings in terms of operating environment and safety. To avoid microbial contamination, water replenishment or bottle replacement usually needs to be performed on a specialized platform (such as a laminar flow hood). Such equipment is expensive, space-consuming, and has strict requirements for the site environment. Furthermore, manual handling and operation inevitably introduce certain risks of contamination, especially in barrier environments, where the introduction of any external microorganisms can lead to infection of the animal population or even experimental failure. In addition, due to reliance on manual operation, the replacement process is susceptible to human negligence; failure to provide sufficient drinking water in a timely manner can threaten the health of laboratory mice and increase the risks of rearing. In summary, existing technologies have room for improvement in efficiency, cost, operational safety, and animal welfare, creating an urgent technological need and promising application prospect for the development of automated, low-pollution, and highly efficient water bottle replacement and replenishment systems.

[0004] In view of the above, in order to overcome the above technical problems, this utility model designs an automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mouse drinking bottles, which solves the above technical problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical objective of this utility model is:

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0007] An automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mice includes several key components such as a mounting plate, a water storage box, a water replenishment pipe, a control pipe, a control column, a mouse cage, a feeding box, and a feeding assembly. Through a reasonable layout and structural coordination, it achieves automatic water replenishment for laboratory mice's drinking bottles. In this device, the mounting plate is vertically fixed to the wall, providing a stable foundation for the entire system. The water storage box, fixed above the mounting plate, stores purified clean water, ensuring safe and reliable drinking water quality. The water replenishment pipe, located inside the water storage box, transports water from the storage box to the feeding system below. One end extends outside the storage box and connects to a water purifier, filtering and purifying the water before it enters the storage box to prevent impurities and microbial contamination. A control pipe with a control column is installed in the middle of the water replenishment pipe to precisely adjust the water flow and replenishment time, achieving accurate water supply to the feeding box and preventing over- or under-watering. The rat cages are arranged at intervals on the mounting plate, facilitating both mass rearing and individual management. Each cage contains a water box to directly provide drinking water for the mice. The water feeding assembly is installed inside the mounting plate, above the water box. Through linkage with the water replenishment system, a closed water supply path is established—from the water storage box to the water supply pipe and then to the water box—reducing the risk of external contamination and improving water replenishment efficiency. The entire device is compact, occupies little space, and enables efficient, safe, and stable automatic water replenishment in a barrier environment, significantly reducing manual labor intensity and improving husbandry management.

[0008] The water storage box consists of a water storage chamber, an inlet, a water supply channel, and an outlet. Its interior is hollow, designed to hold and store clean water. The hollow section forms the water storage chamber, capable of holding a certain volume of drinking water. An inlet is located on the side of the water storage chamber for easy filling with purified water. A water supply channel is located inside the mounting plate, its upper end connecting to the water storage chamber for water delivery. The outlet is located on the side of the mounting plate, facilitating the delivery of water from the storage chamber to the downstream water supply system, ensuring a continuous supply of drinking water for the laboratory mice.

[0009] The water supply channel consists of multiple continuous sections, which are interconnected to ensure a stable water flow. The diameter of the channel gradually decreases from top to bottom. This design not only helps control the water flow speed under gravity but also prevents overflow caused by excessive water flow, while improving the accuracy and stability of water replenishment to a certain extent.

[0010] The control tube has a cylindrical hollow section inside to accommodate and guide the movement of the control column. A limit groove is formed on the inner wall of the hollow section to limit the range of motion of the control column and prevent it from dislodging. A support spring is fixedly installed at the top of the hollow section, and the lower end of the spring is connected to the control column. Through the extension and contraction of the spring, the control column is automatically reset and stably supported.

[0011] The control column consists of a limiting strip, a control through-hole, a connecting rod, and a float box. The limiting strip is located on the side of the control column and engages with a limiting groove inside the control tube to limit the vertical movement of the control column. The control through-hole is circular and located in the middle of the control column, allowing water to pass through at appropriate times. The connecting rod is installed at the bottom of the control column to connect to and support the float box. The float box, installed at the bottom of the connecting rod, is hollow and made of lightweight materials. It uses buoyancy to sense changes in water level, thereby actuating the control column and achieving automatic water flow control.

[0012] The water feeding assembly consists of a water pipe, a mounting plate, a feeding channel, and a mounting cavity. The water pipe is installed inside the mounting plate and is responsible for guiding the water source to the water feeding position inside the cage. The mounting plate is fixed to the side of the water pipe, providing a mounting base for subsequent components. The feeding channel is located inside the water pipe and is the main channel for water flow. The mounting cavity is located at one end of the water pipe and is used to accommodate the end water outlet component.

[0013] The mounting cavity is designed as a spherical structure, with a nozzle installed inside. The nozzle also has a spherical shape, matching the mounting cavity and securely installed within it via a snap-fit ​​mechanism. This spherical structure not only facilitates the fixing and replacement of the nozzle but also, to some extent, alters the water flow direction, improving the convenience and uniformity of drinking water.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0015] (1) This utility model integrates components such as a water storage box, a water supply pipe, a control pipe, a control column, and a water feeding assembly into a single unit, achieving automated water replenishment for laboratory mice and significantly reducing the intensity and cost of manual operation. In the traditional manual water replenishment mode, keepers need to frequently move, disassemble, clean, and install water bottles, which is cumbersome and inefficient. This device utilizes the water level sensing mechanism of the float box and the control column to automatically open the water replenishment channel when the water level drops and automatically close it when the water level reaches the set height, ensuring a constant water volume and timely replenishment. At the same time, the design of the water supply channel diameter gradually decreasing from top to bottom helps to stabilize the water flow speed, avoids overflow or waste caused by excessive water flow, and ensures the safety and reliability of the drinking process. This automated water replenishment method not only saves a lot of manpower and time, but also reduces the frequency of operation in a barrier environment, reduces the risk of pollution caused by frequent opening and closing of mouse cages, and improves the hygiene conditions and animal welfare level of the keepers.

[0016] (2) This utility model fully considers the feeding needs of laboratory animals in barrier environments in its structural layout and water supply path design. By combining the water storage box and the water purifier, the cleanliness and safety of drinking water are ensured, and the possibility of microbial contamination is reduced. The water feeding component is combined with the water feeding box inside the rat cage to realize the closed-loop transportation of water from storage to drinking, which greatly reduces the air contact surface and further ensures the stability of water quality. At the same time, the mounting plate integrates the various components in an orderly manner on the wall, which occupies little space and has a neat layout. It is suitable for high-density breeding environments and facilitates centralized water supply and maintenance management. The float box is made of lightweight materials and uses the buoyancy of the water level to achieve precise mechanical control. No additional power supply is required, which reduces the energy consumption and failure rate of the equipment. It has the advantages of simple structure, convenient maintenance and high reliability, and provides an economical and practical technical solution for the laboratory animal breeding industry in terms of energy saving, pollution reduction and efficiency improvement. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of this utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the water storage box of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the control tube and control column of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a water feeding component and a cross-sectional view of the present invention;

[0023] In the diagram: 1. Mounting plate; 2. Water storage box; 201. Water storage chamber; 202. Water inlet; 203. Water supply channel; 204. Water outlet;

[0024] 3. Water supply pipe; 4. Control pipe; 401. Limiting groove; 402. Support spring; 5. Control column; 501. Limiting strip; 502. Control through hole; 503. Connecting rod; 504. Float box; 6. Rat cage; 7. Water feeding box; 8. Water feeding assembly; 801. Feeding water pipe; 802. Mounting plate; 803. Feeding channel; 804. Mounting cavity; 9. Nozzle. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To better understand the above technical solutions, the following will provide a detailed explanation of the technical solutions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0026] like Figure 1-4 As shown, an automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mice's drinking bottles includes several key components such as a mounting plate 1, a water storage box 2, a water replenishment pipe 3, a control pipe 4, a control column 5, a mouse cage 6, a water feeding box 7, and a water feeding assembly 8. Through reasonable layout and structural coordination, it achieves a fully automatic water replenishment function for laboratory mice's drinking bottles. Specifically, the mounting plate 1 is vertically fixed to the wall, providing a stable installation foundation for the entire water supply system and facilitating centralized installation and maintenance within a barrier environment. The water storage box 2 is fixed above the mounting plate 1 and is used to store purified clean water, ensuring the safety and hygiene of the laboratory mice's drinking water from the source. The water replenishment pipe 3 is located inside the water storage box 2 and is responsible for transporting the water in the water storage box 2 to the water feeding system below. One end of the pipe extends to the outside of the water storage box 2 and is connected to a water purifier. The water purifier filters and purifies the water before it enters the water storage box 2, preventing impurities and microorganisms from entering the system.

[0027] A control pipe 4 is located in the middle of the water supply pipe 3. A control column 5 is installed inside the control pipe 4 to precisely adjust the water flow and replenishment time, thereby ensuring accurate water supply to the water feeding box 7 and preventing overflow or insufficient water supply. Rat cages 6 are arranged at intervals on the mounting plate 1 for easy batch rearing and individual management. Each cage 6 contains a water feeding box 7 for direct drinking by the experimental rats. The water feeding assembly 8 is installed inside the mounting plate 1 and above the water feeding box 7. Through linkage with the water replenishment system, a closed water supply path is achieved from the water storage box 2 to the water supply pipe 3 to the water feeding box 7, effectively reducing the risk of external contamination and improving water supply efficiency. The device has a compact overall structure, occupies little space, and can achieve efficient, safe, and stable automatic water replenishment in a barrier environment, significantly reducing manual labor intensity and improving the level of husbandry management.

[0028] like Figure 2 As shown, in terms of specific structure, the water storage box 2 consists of a water storage cavity 201, an inlet 202, a water supply channel 203, and an outlet 204. The interior is hollow, forming the water storage cavity 201 to accommodate clean water. The inlet 202 is located on the side of the water storage cavity 201 for easy injection of purified water. The water supply channel 203 is located inside the mounting plate 1, with its upper end connected to the water storage cavity 201 for water supply. The outlet 204 is located on the side of the mounting plate 1 for easy introduction of water from the water storage cavity 201 into the downstream water supply system. The water supply channel 203 adopts a multi-segment continuous structure, with the pipe diameter gradually decreasing from top to bottom to maintain a stable water flow, prevent excessive flow velocity from causing overflow, and improve the accuracy and stability of water replenishment.

[0029] like Figure 3 As shown, the control tube 4 has a cylindrical hollow structure inside, with a limiting groove 401 on the inner wall to limit the movement range of the control column 5. A support spring 402 is installed at the top of the control tube 4, and the lower end of the spring is connected to the control column 5. The extension and contraction of the spring realizes the automatic reset and stable support of the control column 5. The control column 5 includes a limiting strip 501, a control through hole 502, a connecting rod 503, and a float box 504. The limiting strip 501 cooperates with the limiting groove 401 to limit the movement range; the control through hole 502 is opened in the middle of the control column 5, and its circular structure allows water flow to pass through when needed; the connecting rod 503 is installed at the bottom of the control column 5 to support the float box 504 below; the float box 504 is a hollow and lightweight structure that uses buoyancy to sense changes in water level, driving the control column 5 to move and realize the automatic opening and closing of the water flow.

[0030] like Figure 4 As shown, the water feeding assembly 8 includes a water pipe 801, a mounting plate 802, a feeding channel 803, and a mounting cavity 804. The water pipe 801 is installed inside the mounting plate 1, guiding the water source to the water box 7 inside the rat cage 6; the mounting plate 802 is fixed to the side of the water pipe 801, providing a mounting base for end components such as the nozzle 9; the feeding channel 803 is located inside the water pipe 801, serving as a water flow channel; the mounting cavity 804 is located at one end of the water pipe 801, designed as a spherical structure, with a spherical nozzle 9 snapped into it. The nozzle 9 can adjust the water outlet direction to a certain extent, improving the convenience and uniformity of drinking, while also facilitating disassembly, cleaning, and replacement.

[0031] In operation, this invention utilizes an automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mice. Through the coordinated action of the water storage box 2, water supply pipe 3, control pipe 4, control column 5, float box 504, and feeding assembly 8, the device automatically replenishes the water source. Specifically, water purified by the water purifier first enters the water storage chamber 201 through the inlet 202 of the water storage box 2. Water in the storage box 2 is then transported downwards through the water supply channel 203, whose diameter gradually decreases from top to bottom, ensuring a stable water flow under gravity and preventing overflow. The outlet 204 of the water storage box 2 is connected to the water supply pipe 3, delivering water to the feeding assembly 8 to provide water to the feeding box 7 inside the mouse cage 6.

[0032] The control column 5 inside the control pipe 4 moves in a controlled manner through the cooperation of the limiting groove 401 and the limiting strip 501. A control through-hole 502 is located in the middle of the control column 5. When the water level drops, the float box 504 descends due to the lower water level, causing the control column 5 to move downwards, aligning the control through-hole 502 with the water supply channel 203, thereby opening the water flow into the water feeding assembly 8. When the water level rises to a preset height, the float box 504 floats upwards, causing the control column 5 to rise, closing the control through-hole 502 and stopping the water supply. Through this water level buoyancy control mechanism, automatic adjustment of the water volume is achieved, ensuring that the water feeding box 7 always maintains a suitable water level.

[0033] The water supply tube 801 and mounting cavity 804 in the water supply assembly 8 guide the water source into the rat cage 6. The spherical nozzle 9 is secured in the mounting cavity 804, providing both stability and the ability to change the water flow direction, ensuring that water flows evenly into the water supply box 7. The entire water supply process is a closed path, reducing air contact and external pollution, ensuring the cleanliness and safety of the water. This device does not rely on manual operation and can achieve continuous, stable, and automatic water replenishment. In high-density breeding environments or barrier environments, it significantly reduces the intensity of manual labor, improves the efficiency and reliability of drinking water management for laboratory rats, and simultaneously ensures animal health and the stability of experimental data.

[0034] Various modifications to this disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but should be given the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. Although one or more exemplary embodiments of this disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mice's drinking bottles, characterized in that, Includes mounting plate (1), water storage box (2), water supply pipe (3), control pipe (4), control column (5), rat cage (6), water feeding box (7) and water feeding assembly (8); The mounting plate (1) is vertically mounted on the wall. The water storage box (2) is mounted on the mounting plate (1). The water supply pipe (3) is located inside the water storage box (2). One end of the water supply pipe (3) is located outside the water storage box (2). A water purifier is connected to the outer end of the water supply pipe (3). The control pipe (4) is installed in the middle of the water supply pipe (3). The control column (5) is installed inside the control pipe (4). The rat cage (6) is mounted on the mounting plate (1). The rat cages (6) are spaced apart. The water feeding box (7) is installed inside the rat cage (6). The water feeding assembly (8) is installed inside the mounting plate (1). The water feeding assembly (8) is located on top of the water feeding box (7).

2. The automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mice's drinking bottles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water storage box (2) includes a water storage chamber (201), a water inlet (202), a water supply channel (203), and a water outlet (204). The interior of the water storage box (2) is hollow, and its hollow part is a water storage cavity (201). The water inlet (202) is located on the side of the water storage cavity (201). The water supply channel (203) is located inside the mounting plate (1). The upper part of the water supply channel (203) is connected to the water storage cavity (201). The water outlet (204) is located on the side of the mounting plate (1).

3. The automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mice's drinking bottles according to claim 2, characterized in that: The water supply channel (203) is set in multiple continuous sections, and the diameter of the water supply channel (203) decreases from top to bottom.

4. The automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mice's drinking bottles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control tube (4) has a cylindrical hollow part inside, and a limit groove (401) is opened on the inner side of the hollow part. A support spring (402) is installed on the top surface of the hollow part, and the bottom of the support spring (402) is connected to the control column (5).

5. The automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mice's drinking bottles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control column (5) includes a limiting strip (501), a control through hole (502), a connecting rod (503), and a float box (504). The limiting strip (501) is installed on the side of the control column (5), the control through hole (502) is opened in the middle of the control column (5), the control through hole (502) is set to be circular, the connecting rod (503) is installed below the control column (5), the float box (504) is installed below the connecting rod (503), the float box (504) is set to be hollow structure, and the float box (504) is made of lightweight material.

6. The automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mice's drinking bottles according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water feeding assembly (8) includes a feeding water pipe (801), a mounting plate (802), a feeding channel (803), and a mounting cavity (804). The feeding water pipe (801) is installed inside the mounting plate (1), the mounting plate (802) is installed on the side of the feeding water pipe (801), the feeding channel (803) is opened inside the feeding water pipe (801), and the mounting cavity (804) is opened at one end of the feeding water pipe (801).

7. The automatic water replenishment device for laboratory mice's drinking bottles according to claim 6, characterized in that: The mounting cavity (804) is spherical and has a nozzle (9) inside. The nozzle (9) is spherical and is snapped into the mounting cavity (804).

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