Floating Bubble Blower for Humane Animal Euthanasia Foam

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing animal euthanasia devices using gas-filled foam suffer from inhomogeneous bubble sizes, leading to premature bubble burst and inhumane drowning due to small bubbles being inhaled or gas release before submersion.

Innovation Solution

A device with a foam generator featuring a floating bubble blower and gas nozzle configuration that maintains a consistent height above the liquid surface, ensuring uniform bubble size and stability, combined with a gas source providing oxygen, narcotizing, or lethal gases, to create a homogenous foam for euthanasia.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If foam is generated without a floating bubble blower, then the device structure is simpler, but the bubble size becomes inhomogeneous causing premature burst or inhumane drowning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebubble size uniformityVSAvoidfoam generator structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bubble blower utilizes buoyancy force to automatically float to the desired position in the liquid chamber without external control mechanisms. The gas-filled hollow buoyancy body naturally rises until the gas nozzle is at the correct depth, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for complex positioning mechanisms while ensuring uniform bubble size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state of the bubble blower from a static mechanical component to a buoyant floating structure. By filling the hollow buoyancy body with gas, it transitions to a floating state where its position is determined by buoyancy equilibrium, automatically achieving the optimal depth for uniform bubble formation without manual adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the gas nozzle is fixed at a specific depth, then bubble size consistency is improved, but the device requires precise manual adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas nozzle depth consistencyVSAvoiddepth adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bubble blower automatically positions itself at the correct depth through buoyancy forces. The gas-filled hollow buoyancy body floats until the gas nozzle reaches the optimal position in the liquid chamber, eliminating the need for manual depth adjustment while maintaining consistent bubble size formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If small bubbles are present in the foam, then gas is delivered efficiently, but the animal may inhale bubbles causing drowning and panic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas delivery efficiencyVSAvoiddrowning and panic
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the physical parameters of bubble formation by controlling the gas nozzle depth relative to the liquid surface. This parameter control ensures bubbles are formed at the optimal size - large enough to prevent animal inhalation but small enough to maintain efficient gas delivery through the foam structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device produces a consistently sized, stable foam that prevents premature bubble burst and ensures humane euthanasia by ensuring the animal inhales gas without bubbles, leading to quick narcosis or death.

Implementation Method 1

the bubble blower has buoyancy when the internal gas chamber is filled with the gas to float in the mixture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

at least one gas nozzle above the bottom end that is fluently connected with the gas chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas release and bubble formation: Bubble

Data Source

PatentEP3823456B1Device and method for euthanizing an animal
Publication Date: 2022.06.29 SCHIPPERS EURO BV
  • EP3823456B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3823456B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3823456B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

The invention relates to an device for euthanizing an animal, comprising an euthanasia chamber for receiving the animal, a foam generator for filling the euthanasia chamber with a gas filled foam, and a gas source for providing a gas to the foam generator, wherein the foam generator comprises a container that bounds a liquid chamber that is at least partly filled with a mixture containing liquid water and a foaming agent, and at least one bubble blower that is vertically guided inside the liquid chamber, wherein the bubble blower comprises at least one gas nozzle above its bottom end, wherein the bubble blower has buoyancy when the internal gas chamber is filled with the gas to float in the mixture, wherein afloat the gas nozzle extends at least partly below the surface of the mixture.