A drinking bottle for experimental animals

Abstract

This invention discloses a water bottle for laboratory animals in the field of animal experimental technology. The bottle includes a body, a hook and a top cap at the top, and a bottom cap threaded to the bottom. A drinking tube is connected to the bottom cap, and multiple annular grooves are arranged side-by-side inside the drinking tube. A ball bearing is rotatably connected to the end of the drinking tube. When an animal licks the ball bearing, triggering water flow, the grooves alter the water flow path and increase frictional resistance, effectively reducing the instantaneous flow velocity and resulting in a smooth and stable flow of water.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of animal experimental technology, and in particular to a drinking bottle for laboratory animals. Background Technology

[0002] In the process of raising and researching laboratory animals, accurately measuring their water intake is crucial for exploring their physiological metabolism and health status. While various types of watering devices are available for laboratory animals, they still have significant shortcomings in practical application, becoming a factor restricting the accuracy of experiments and the convenience of animal husbandry.

[0003] Existing laboratory animal water bottles mostly use simple mechanical structures or gravity to dispense water. When animals initiate drinking actions (such as licking the ball bearing or pressing the valve), the rapid flow and large volume of water often cause them to choke. This not only causes stress responses in the animals, affecting their normal physiological state and leading to biased experimental data, but for small animals with weak swallowing abilities, it can even lead to serious consequences such as suffocation, interfering with the experimental process and animal welfare.

[0004] Furthermore, after feeding, food residue (such as feed crumbs and sticky food residue) remaining in the mouths of laboratory animals can easily adhere to the surface and surrounding crevices of the ball bearing when they lick it. Over time, this accumulation can contaminate the drinking water, worsening water quality and increasing the risk of disease in the animals. Additionally, the residue can clog the water supply and disrupt the closure between the ball bearing and the outlet, causing the ball bearing to fail to effectively seal the outlet and resulting in leakage. Leakage not only wastes water and increases the frequency of artificial watering, but also dampens the experimental environment (such as cages and bedding), fostering the growth of bacteria and mold, disrupting the stability of the animal's living environment, and ultimately affecting the accuracy and reliability of experimental data. Utility Model Content

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a drinking bottle for laboratory animals to solve the problem that laboratory animals are easily choked when drinking due to the large volume of water.

[0006] This invention provides a water bottle for laboratory animals, comprising a bottle body, a hook and a top cap at the top of the bottle body, a bottom cap threaded to the bottom of the bottle body, a water tube connected to the bottom cap, multiple annular grooves arranged in parallel inside the water tube, and a ball bearing rotatably connected to the end of the water tube.

[0007] The working principle and beneficial effects of this method are as follows: Researchers first suspend the water bottle in a suitable position within the animal cage using the hook at the top of the bottle. They then unscrew the top cap, add a predetermined amount of experimental water, and tighten the cap to ensure a seal. The ball bearing at the bottom of the drinking tube naturally blocks the outlet at the end of the tube. When the animal needs water, it licks the ball bearing, causing it to rotate at the end of the tube or simultaneously push upwards, allowing water to flow out along the tube. Because the drinking tube has multiple parallel annular grooves, the water flow through these grooves creates multiple buffers, reducing the instantaneous flow rate and controlling the water output. When the animal stops licking, the ball bearing falls back down to re-seal the outlet, stopping the flow of water. For cleaning or maintenance, the bottom cap can be unscrewed to maintain the drinking tube, ball bearing, and other components. After maintenance, the bottom cap can be reinstalled for continued use.

[0008] Multiple annular grooves within the drinking tube create a segmented buffer structure. When an animal licks the ball bearing, triggering water flow, the grooves alter the water's path and increase frictional resistance, effectively reducing the instantaneous flow velocity and resulting in a smooth and stable flow. Compared to traditional drinking tubes without buffering, this design prevents choking on water due to rapid flow and large volume, ensuring animal safety and comfort, reducing stress, and making experimental data based on animal physiological states more accurate and reliable.

[0009] Furthermore, the drinking pipe includes a straight pipe and an inclined pipe. The straight pipe passes through the bottom cover, and a sealing ring is provided inside both the straight pipe and the bottom cover, allowing for a sealed sliding connection between the straight pipe and the bottom cover. By moving the straight pipe up and down within the bottom cover, the water outlet position of the inclined pipe can be adjusted more precisely.

[0010] Furthermore, a scraper ring is provided inside the inclined tube. When the ball is licked by an animal and rotates or moves upward, the scraper ring can simultaneously scrape off the residue adhering to the surface of the ball, and the residue is flushed out with the water flowing out of the drinking pipe.

[0011] Furthermore, the inner wall of the inclined tube is equipped with two symmetrical spring plates, which limit the upward movement of the ball bearing. This limitation directly controls the size of the water passage gap in the drinking tube. When the animal licks the ball bearing, the spring plates provide a counterforce through elastic deformation, preventing the ball bearing from moving excessively upward, thus controlling the opening degree of the water outlet within a reasonable range and effectively reducing the amount of water dispensed at one time. Compared to an unrestricted structure, this design avoids a sudden increase in water flow due to excessive ball bearing displacement, resulting in a smooth and stable water flow for the animal while drinking, significantly reducing the risk of choking, ensuring the safety and comfort of the experimental animals, and improving the accuracy of experimental data.

[0012] Furthermore, a scale is provided on the side of the bottle. The water level inside the bottle can be seen through the scale.

[0013] Furthermore, the bottle is transparent and contains a liquid level sensor. The water volume is calculated by monitoring changes in the liquid level and considering the cross-sectional area of ​​the bottle. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a water bottle for laboratory animals according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Example 2; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Example 3; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Example 4.

[0015] The reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are as follows: bottle body 1, top cap 2, hook 3, bottom cap 4, straight tube 5, inclined tube 6, annular groove 7, ball bearing 8, sealing ring 9, scraper ring 10, spring 11, liquid level sensor 12. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The following detailed explanation illustrates the specific implementation methods: Example 1 The basics are as follows: Figure 1 As shown: A water bottle for laboratory animals includes a bottle body 1, a scale on the side of the bottle body 1, a hook 3 and a top cap 2 on the top of the bottle body 1, a bottom cap 4 threadedly connected to the bottom of the bottle body 1, a drinking tube connected to the bottom cap 4, the drinking tube including a straight tube 5 and an inclined tube 6, the straight tube 5 passing through the bottom cap 4, a sealing ring 9 inside the straight tube 5 and the bottom cap 4, the straight tube 5 and the bottom cap 4 being slidably connected in a sealed manner, a plurality of annular grooves 7 arranged in parallel inside the inclined tube 6, and a ball bearing 8 rotatably connected to the end of the inclined tube 6.

[0017] The experimenters first suspend the water bottle in a suitable position in the animal cage using the hook 3 at the top of bottle 1. They then unscrew the top cap 2, add a predetermined amount of experimental water to bottle 1, and tighten the top cap 2 to ensure a seal. The ball bearing 8 at the bottom of the drinking tube naturally blocks the water outlet at the end of the tube. The water outlet position of the inclined tube 6 can be more precisely adjusted by moving the straight tube 5 up and down within the bottom cap 4. When the animal needs water, it licks the ball bearing 8, causing it to rotate at the end of the drinking tube or simultaneously push upwards, allowing water in bottle 1 to flow out along the tube. Because multiple annular grooves 7 are arranged in parallel inside the drinking tube, the water flow through these grooves forms multiple buffers, reducing the instantaneous flow rate and controlling the water output. When the animal stops licking, the ball bearing 8 falls back to re-seal the outlet, stopping the water flow. If cleaning or maintenance is required, the bottom cap 4 can be unscrewed to maintain the drinking tube, ball bearing 8, and other components. After maintenance, the bottom cap 4 can be reinstalled for continued use.

[0018] Multiple annular grooves 7 within the drinking tube create a segmented buffer structure. When an animal licks the ball bearing 8, triggering water flow, the water flow within the annular grooves 7 alters the water flow path and increases frictional resistance, effectively reducing the instantaneous flow velocity and ensuring a smooth and stable water flow. Compared to traditional drinking tubes without a buffer structure, this design prevents experimental animals from choking due to rapid water flow and large volume, ensuring animal safety and comfort, reducing stress responses, and making experimental data based on animal physiological states more accurate and reliable.

[0019] Example 2 Figure 2 As shown, the difference from Embodiment 1 is that a scraper ring 10 is provided inside the inclined tube 6. When the ball bearing 8 is licked by an animal and rotates or moves upward, the ball bearing 8 comes into contact with the scraper ring 10, and the scraper ring 10 can simultaneously scrape off the residue adhering to the surface of the ball bearing 8. The residue is flushed out with the water flowing out of the drinking pipe.

[0020] Example 3 Figure 3 As shown, the difference from Embodiment 1 is that the inner wall of the inclined tube 6 is provided with two symmetrical spring plates 11, which are used to limit the upward movement height of the ball bearing 8. The limitation of the upward movement height of the ball bearing 8 by the spring plates 11 directly controls the size of the water passage gap in the drinking tube. When the animal licks the ball bearing 8, the spring plates 11 provide a counterforce through elastic deformation, preventing the ball bearing 8 from moving excessively upward, thereby controlling the opening degree of the water outlet within a reasonable range and effectively reducing the amount of water dispensed at one time. Compared with an unrestricted structure, this design can avoid the instantaneous increase in water flow caused by excessive displacement of the ball bearing 8, making the water flow smooth and stable when the animal drinks, significantly reducing the risk of choking, ensuring the safety and comfort of the experimental animals when drinking, and improving the accuracy of experimental data.

[0021] Example 4 Figure 4 As shown, the difference from Example 1 is that the bottle 1 is a transparent bottle 1, and a liquid level sensor 12 is installed at the bottom of the bottle 1. By monitoring changes in the liquid level, the water volume is calculated in conjunction with the cross-sectional area of ​​the bottle 1. Combining the transparent bottle 1 with the built-in liquid level sensor 12 achieves the dual advantages of visual observation and precise quantitative monitoring. The transparent bottle 1 allows researchers to quickly confirm the water volume in the bottle with the naked eye, meeting the needs of daily inspections; the liquid level sensor 12 can capture changes in the liquid level in real time, converting them into accurate digital data, avoiding subjective errors from manual readings, and providing a reliable basis for the statistics of water consumption in experimental animals. At the same time, the liquid level sensor 12 can be linked with the data acquisition system to automatically record and transmit data, supporting remote monitoring and low water level warnings, reducing manual intervention, and improving experimental management efficiency; the continuously recorded data can also be used to analyze animal drinking patterns, assisting in experimental research on physiological metabolism, making water consumption monitoring more scientific, efficient, and intelligent.

[0022] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of this utility model, and common knowledge regarding specific structures and characteristics is not elaborated upon here. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the structure of this utility model, and these should also be considered within the scope of protection of this utility model. These modifications will not affect the effectiveness of the implementation of this utility model or the practicality of the patent. The scope of protection claimed in this application shall be determined by the content of its claims, and the specific embodiments described in the specification can be used to interpret the content of the claims.

Claims

1. A water bottle for laboratory animals, characterized in that: The bottle includes a bottle body, with a hook and a top cap at the top, a bottom cap threaded to the bottom of the bottle body, a drinking tube connected to the bottom cap, multiple annular grooves arranged in parallel inside the drinking tube, and a ball bearing rotatably connected to the end of the drinking tube.

2. The water bottle for laboratory animals according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drinking water pipe includes a straight pipe and an inclined pipe. The straight pipe passes through the bottom cover, and a sealing ring is provided inside the straight pipe and the bottom cover. The straight pipe and the bottom cover are slidably connected in a sealed manner.

3. A water bottle for laboratory animals according to claim 2, characterized in that: The inclined tube is equipped with a scraper ring.

4. A water bottle for laboratory animals according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inner wall of the inclined tube is provided with two symmetrical spring plates, which are used to limit the height of the ball's upward movement.

5. A water bottle for laboratory animals according to claim 4, characterized in that: A scale is provided on the side of the bottle.

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