Rotating Gate Porch for Lab Animal Cage Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cages with porches for laboratory animals pose challenges as the porch obstructs operator access and requires frequent assembly/disassembly, and the translational gate poses a risk of animal injury during switching.
Innovation Solution
A cage design where the gate forms an integral part of the porch, allowing access without removal and featuring a rotationally switchable door to prevent entrapment, with additional features like a translational rear wall and immobilizer partition for easy animal restraint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the porch is externally attached to the main body of the cage, then the space available for animals is increased and animal welfare is improved, but the porch becomes a hindrance for operator access to the animal
Solution Approach 1:
The gate and porch are merged into a single integrated structure where the gate forms the front wall of the porch. This integration allows the operator to access the animal through the porch structure itself without needing to remove it, while the porch still provides additional space for the animal when the gate is open.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate is made movable between open and closed positions, transforming the porch from a static obstacle into a dynamic access structure. When closed, the gate provides secure containment; when open, it allows the operator to pass through the porch to reach the animal, eliminating the need to disassemble the porch.
2Ease of manufacture
If the gate is translational, then the construction is simple, but the animal risks entrapment and injury during gate switching
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the gate moving horizontally through the opening (translational motion that creates pinch points), the gate is inverted to swing on hinges attached to the top and bottom of the opening. This rotational motion path eliminates the dangerous compression zone between gate and frame that causes entrapment.
3Reliability
If the gate is closed to restrain the animal, then the animal is secured for operations, but the porch blocks the operator's access path
Solution Approach 1:
The porch structure serves multiple functions: it provides additional living space for the animal, acts as a secure containment barrier when the gate is closed, and simultaneously serves as an access corridor for the operator. By making the porch itself the access path rather than an obstacle, the design resolves the conflict between security and accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An animal cage having a rectangular main body with a bottom, top and sidewalls defining a first inner space for the animals. A first sidewall of the main body includes a first opening to allow access into the first inner space. Attached to the cage is a secondary rectangular body having a bottom, upper and sidewalls defining a second inner space. First and second sidewalls of the secondary body respectively include second and third openings, the second opening being parallel and aligned with the first opening, and the third opening being formed orthogonal to the first and second openings. The first sidewall of the main body includes a rotatable gate that is switchable between a first position which closes the first opening, and a second position which clears the first and second openings while rotated into the second inner space and closes the third opening of the secondary body.