JP2007135473A - Water supply tool for experimental animal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate problems that a water storage bottle or a cap is broken during the use of a water supply tool and to provide the water supply tool for an experimental animal normally usable over a long period without gnawing a cap or other members by a mouse, etc. <P>SOLUTION: The water supply tool is provided with the bottomed cylindrical cap 4 made of a heat-resistant plastic screw-fitted to a mouth part 3 of the water storage bottle 2 made of the heat-resistant plastic and the end surface of the mouth part 3 is brought into pressure contact with an inner surface 4o of a bottom wall part of the cap 4. Furthermore, the cap 4 has an outer surface 4c of the bottom wall part formed into a round shape so as not to form corner parts and a base end of a water supply tube 5 made of a metal is passed through and secured to the center of the bottom wall part 4a of the cap 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a water supply device used by being attached to a laboratory animal breeding cage for breeding laboratory animals such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, and pupae.

As a conventional laboratory animal breeding water supply device, there is one described in Patent Document 1 below. The water supply device has a bottomed cylindrical metal cap screwed into a mouth portion of a water reservoir made of heat-resistant plastic, and between the front end surface of the mouth portion and the inner surface of the bottom wall portion of the cap. Further, a heat-resistant seal packing is interposed, and a base end portion of a metal water supply pipe is penetrated and fixed in the center of the bottom wall portion of the cap. According to this water supply device, it is possible to easily attach and remove the cap to the mouth of the water reservoir, and since the cap is made of metal, a mouse or the like can hit the cap or other members when using the water supply device. Absent.
Japanese Patent No. 2941212

  In the water supply device as described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the water storage tank is formed of plastic such as polycarbonate and the cap is formed of metal such as stainless steel, the plastic storage line such as polycarbonate is used as the water storage tank. Due to the difference between the coefficient of expansion and the coefficient of linear expansion of a metal such as stainless steel as a cap, there was a problem that the neck of the water reservoir was broken when it was used, causing damage.

  The present invention solves the problem that the water reservoir and the cap are damaged when the water supply device is used as described above, and can be used normally for a long time without the mouse or the like scolding the cap or other members. An object is to provide a water supply device for breeding laboratory animals.

  Means for solving the above problems will be described with reference numerals in the embodiments described later. The water supply device for breeding laboratory animals of the invention according to claim 1 is the mouth of the heat-resistant plastic water reservoir 2. 3, a bottomed cylindrical heat-resistant plastic cap 4 is screwed so that the front end surface of the mouth portion 3 is pressed against the inner surface 4 o of the bottom wall portion of the cap 4. The bottom wall portion outer surface 4c is formed in a round shape so as not to have a corner portion, and the base end portion of the metal water supply pipe 5 is fixedly penetrated in the center of the bottom wall portion 4a of the cap 4. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the water supply device for breeding laboratory animals according to the first aspect, when the cap 4 is screwed into the mouth portion 3 of the water reservoir 2 on the inner surface 4o of the bottom wall portion of the cap 4. A cylindrical portion 9 for sealing that fits tightly inside the portion 3 is integrally projected.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the water supply device for breeding laboratory animals according to the first or second aspect, the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4 are each integrally formed of polysulfone resin.

  The effect of the invention by the above solution will be described with reference numerals of the embodiments described later. According to the invention according to claim 1, the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4 are formed of the same heat-resistant plastic. Since the linear expansion coefficients of both are the same, the water tank 2 and the cap 4 are not damaged by their thermal expansion or contraction when the water supply device 1 is used, and safe use is ensured. Further, since the water reservoir 2 and the water reservoir 2 are formed of an elastic plastic, when the cap 4 screwed into the mouth 3 of the water reservoir 2 is tightened when the water supply device 1 is used, the mouth 3 The tip end surface 3o of the cap 4 is in strong pressure contact with the inner surface 4o of the cap 4 so that a watertight seal can be formed between the mouth 3 of the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4, and between the mouth 3 of the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4 Water tightness is ensured.

  Further, although the cap 4 of the water supply pipe 5 is made of plastic, the bottom wall portion outer surface 4c is rounded so as not to have a corner portion. Even if the outer surface 4c is rubbed, it cannot be crushed because there is no catching portion, and therefore normal use is possible over a long period of time. The water supply device 1 according to the present invention includes a water storage tank 2 and a cap 4 each made of a heat-resistant plastic, and a metal water supply pipe 5 which is fixed to the center of the bottom wall 4a of the cap 4 and has a number of parts. Since there are few and the structure is simple, manufacture is easy and cost can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the cap 4 is screwed into the mouth portion 3 of the water reservoir 2, the sealing cylindrical portion 9 is tightly fitted into the inner surface 4 o of the cap 4. Is integrally provided so that the sealing cylindrical portion 9 protruding from the inner surface 4o of the bottom wall portion of the cap 4 is tightly fitted in the mouth portion 3, that is, the outer peripheral surface 9a of the sealing cylindrical portion 9 is the mouth portion. 3, the water tightness between the mouth 3 of the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4 is further improved.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4 are integrally formed of polysulfone resin, they can sufficiently withstand the use of an autoclave as a sterilization means for a water supply device. Even if the treatment is performed for a long time, there is no change in physical properties and the surface gloss does not decrease. Further, since the polysulfone resin has a high elastic modulus, the sealing action between the mouth portion 3 and the cap 4 due to the distal end surface 3o of the mouth portion 3 being strongly pressed against the bottom wall inner surface 4o of the cap 4 is further improved. Effectively exerts the sealing action between the mouth 3 of the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4 due to the outer peripheral surface 9a of the sealing cylindrical portion 9 being in close contact with the inner peripheral surface 3a of the mouth 3. Is done.

  A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a water supply device 1 according to the present invention is attached to a laboratory animal breeding cage K, and FIGS. The detailed structure is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, the water supply device 1 includes a plastic water reservoir 2, a bottomed cylindrical plastic cap 4 that is screwed into the mouth 3 of the water reservoir 2, and a bottom of the cap 4. It consists of the metal water supply pipe | tube 5 penetrated and fixed to the center of the wall part 4a.

  The structure of the water supply device 1 will be described in more detail. The water reservoir 2 is integrally formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape with polysulfone resin, and the mouth 3 of the water reservoir 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape. For example, three male thread ridges 6 are intermittently formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth 3 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 (b). A base ridge 7 is provided around the base end of the surface.

  The cap 4 is integrally formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape by the same polysulfone resin as the water storage tank 2, and includes a bottom wall portion 4a and a peripheral wall portion 4b, and the outer surface 4c of the bottom wall portion 4a has no corners. The base end portion of the water supply pipe 5 is fixed to the center of the bottom wall portion 4a. On the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 4b of the cap 4, there are continuously formed female thread ridges 8 that are screwed into the male thread ridges 6 of the mouth 3, as shown in FIG.

  Further, as can be seen from FIG. 2, on the inner surface 4 o of the bottom wall portion 4 a of the cap 4, when the cap 4 is screwed into the mouth portion 3 of the water reservoir 2, a sealing cylindrical portion that fits tightly in the mouth portion 3. 9 is integrally protruded, and a support cylindrical portion 11 that supports the through hole 10 through which the water supply pipe 5 passes is integrally protruded at the center of the inner surface 4o of the bottom wall portion 4a.

  The water supply pipe 5 is formed of, for example, stainless steel in a cylindrical shape, and has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 10 provided in the bottom wall portion 4 a of the cap 4 and the support cylindrical portion 11. In order to penetrate and fix the water supply pipe 5 to the bottom wall portion 4a of the cap 4, as can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the water supply pipe 5 is inserted into the through hole 10 of the cap 4 from the inside, and the water supply pipe 5 From the inner side of the cap 4, a silver brazing or the like is brazed between the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the base end portion and the through hole 10 and between the base end flange portion 5 a of the water supply pipe 5 and the upper end surface of the support cylindrical portion 11. The material is poured and the proximal end side of the water supply pipe 5 is brazed to the bottom wall part 4 a and the support cylindrical part 11 of the cap 4, thereby fixing the water supply pipe 5 to the center of the bottom wall part 4 a of the cap 4. Thus, the water supply pipe 5 is firmly fixed to the cap 4 and watertightness between the water supply pipe 5 and the cap 4 is ensured.

  A water supply valve 12 is provided at the tip of the water supply pipe 5. This water supply valve 12 is formed in a small-diameter small-hole water supply port 13 as shown in the figure, and water in the water supply pipe 5 is dripped by surface tension at the small-diameter small-hole water supply port 13. However, the surface tension of the water is broken when the mouse or the like picks up the water supply port 13 so that the water is supplied to the mouse or the like from the water supply port 13, and according to this, it can be manufactured at low cost. Instead of the small hole-shaped water supply port 13, a ball valve may be provided at the tip of the water supply pipe 5, and the valve may be opened by a mouse or the like pucking the ball valve. Necessary and slightly higher manufacturing costs.

  Polysulfone resin, which is a heat-resistant plastic material that forms the reservoir 2 and the cap 4, has a high elastic modulus and a high tensile strength, and has a very high melting point of 235 ° C. Even after being used at a high temperature for a long time. There is no change in physical properties, repeated steam sterilization is possible, physical properties and surface gloss do not deteriorate even after automatic cleaning, it can sufficiently withstand the use of autoclaves as a means of sterilizing water supplies, and alkaline Excellent resistance to inorganic acids and salt solutions, and good results for detergents and hydrocarbons under high temperature conditions.

  In the water supply device 1 configured as described above, the cap 4 is externally fitted to the mouth 3 of the water reservoir 2, and the female thread ridge 8 on the inner peripheral surface of the cap 4 is the male thread ridge on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth 3. By engaging and rotating the portion 6, the cap 4 can be attached to the mouth portion 3 of the water reservoir 2 very easily, and the removal of the cap 4 is similarly simplified.

  One of the features of the water supply device 1 is that the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4 are integrally formed of a heat-resistant plastic material, but the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4 have the same heat resistance. Since the linear expansion coefficient of both is the same because it is formed of a heat-resistant plastic, the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4 are not damaged by their thermal expansion or contraction when the water supply device 1 is used. Safe use is ensured. Since the water reservoir 2 and the water reservoir 2 are made of an elastic plastic, when the cap 4 screwed into the mouth 3 of the water reservoir 2 is tightened, as shown in FIG. The distal end surface 3o is strongly pressed against the inner surface 4o of the cap 4 so that a watertight seal can be ensured between the mouth 3 of the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4.

  Further, since the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4 are formed of polysulfone resin, which is a heat-resistant plastic material, it can sufficiently withstand the use of an autoclave as a means for sterilizing a water supply device, and the autoclave treatment is performed for a long time. However, there is no change in physical properties and the surface gloss does not decrease.

  Moreover, the other feature of this water supply tool 1 is that the bottom wall part outer surface 4c of the cap 4 is formed round so that there may be no corner | angular part. That is, as can be seen from FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the cap 4 is formed such that the outer surface 4c of the bottom wall 4a (including the boundary with the outer surface of the peripheral wall 4b) is rounded in a circular arc shape. Therefore, even if a mouse or the like tries to hit the bottom wall portion 4a side of the cap 4, the outer surface 4c is rounded and there is no catching portion, so that it cannot be beaten, thus preventing the mouse from being beaten. can do.

  When using the water supply device 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the water supply pipe 5 side of the water supply device 1 is inserted into the cage body T from between the wires of the mesh lid R attached to the cage body T, and the cap 4, the bottom wall 4 a of 4 is brought into contact with the mesh lid R portion, and the water reservoir 2 side where water is stored is fixed to a required portion of the mesh lid R. Thus, a mouse or the like in the cage body T can open the ball valve 12 and squeeze water by picking up the sphere 13a partially exposed from the tip of the water supply pipe 5. In this case, although the cap 4 is made of plastic, the outer surface 4c of the bottom wall is rounded so as not to have a corner, so that experimental animals such as mice can hit the cap 4. Therefore, normal use is possible over a long period of time.

  The watertightness between the mouth 3 of the water reservoir 2 and the cap 4 of the water supply device 1 is such that when the plastic cap 4 is screwed into the mouth 3 of the plastic water reservoir 2 and tightened, the tip of the mouth 3 is secured. The surface 3o is secured by strongly pressing the inner surface 4o of the cap 4, and the sealing cylindrical portion 9 protruding from the inner surface 4o of the bottom wall portion of the cap 4 is tightly fitted in the mouth portion 3 (that is, for sealing). The outer peripheral surface 9a of the cylindrical portion 9 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface 3a of the mouth portion 3), so that the water tightness is further ensured.

It is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the water supply tool which concerns on this invention to the laboratory animal breeding cage. It is a partial cross section front view of a water supply tool. It is an exploded view of a water supply tool. (a) is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3, and (b) is a sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the cap from the outer surface side of the bottom wall part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water supply tool 2 Reservoir 3 Mouth part 4 Cap 4a Bottom wall part 4b Perimeter wall part 4c Bottom wall part outer surface 5 Water supply pipe

Claims (3)

  The mouth of the heat-resistant plastic water reservoir is screwed with a bottomed cylindrical heat-resistant plastic cap so that the tip of the mouth is pressed against the inner surface of the bottom wall of the cap. The cap is rounded so that the outer surface of the bottom wall does not have corners, and the base end of the metal water supply pipe is fixed through the center of the bottom wall of the cap. Watering equipment for animal breeding.   2. A cylindrical portion for sealing is provided on the inner surface of the bottom wall of the cap so as to project integrally with the cap when the cap is screwed into the mouth of the water reservoir. A watering device for breeding laboratory animals described in 1. The water reservoir for breeding laboratory animals according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the water reservoir and the cap is integrally formed of a polysulfone resin.

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