Sliding Heat Transfer Plate for Modular Enclosure Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal enclosure systems, particularly in veterinary settings, face challenges with heavy, noisy, and light-blocking metal cages that require dismantling for repairs, leading to disruption and safety concerns during temperature control for animal patients, and existing warming solutions are either disposable or difficult to clean and control effectively.
Innovation Solution
A modular heating system with a heat transfer plate and sliding mounting mechanism that allows for easy installation and maintenance without dismantling the enclosure stack, featuring a thermostatically controlled heating surface and temperature sensor connections, ensuring efficient and hygienic temperature control for animal enclosures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional metal cages are used for animal enclosures, then the enclosures are hardwearing and durable, but they are heavy, noisy, and block light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to toughened glass, transforming the enclosure material properties. This allows the enclosure to maintain strength and durability while reducing weight, eliminating noise, and allowing light transmission, directly resolving the contradiction between durability and weight/noise/light properties
2Productivity
If stacked enclosures are used to house multiple animals, then space efficiency is improved, but repair requires dismantling the entire stack which is time-consuming and requires multiple engineers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the enclosure system into individually accessible units within the stack. Each enclosure is designed with independent access points and mounting mechanisms that allow engineers to reach and repair electronic components without dismantling the entire stack, maintaining space efficiency while improving repair accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary access mechanisms such as removable panels or sliding sections that act as mediators between the external environment and the electronic components inside stacked enclosures. These intermediaries allow engineers to access components without full dismantling, resolving the contradiction between stack integrity and repair accessibility
3Temperature
If warming blankets are used to keep animal patients warm, then direct warmth is delivered to the animal, but temperature control is difficult and safety concerns arise if left too long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates temperature sensors and control systems that continuously monitor the animal's temperature and automatically adjust or shut off heating when target temperature is reached. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for manual monitoring, providing reliable temperature control and safety, resolving the contradiction between effective warmth delivery and safety control
4Loss of substance
If reusable warming blankets are used, then cost is reduced, but thorough cleaning between uses is required to prevent cross-contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from the enclosure environment and integrates it directly into the enclosure structure itself. This eliminates the need for separate removable warming blankets entirely, removing the cleaning requirement while maintaining cost-effectiveness, as the integrated heating elements can be cleaned with the enclosure itself
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 solution minimizes downtime, allows for independent temperature control of each enclosure, reduces the risk of overheating, and provides a more hygienic and flexible heating system suitable for veterinary and retail applications, enabling efficient care and recovery of animals.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heat transfer plate having at least one heated surface
Data Source
AI summary
A heating system for an animal enclosure system comprising at least one heat transfer plate having at least one heated surface on a first face and at least one mounting surface on an opposing second face, wherein the or each mounting surface comprises at least one mounting member for sliding the heat transfer plate into a recess within an animal enclosure.