JP3177733B2 - Animal breeding equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a breeding apparatus for breeding small and medium-sized animals, for example, breeding laboratory small and medium animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an animal breeding room, many small and medium sized animals are housed in cages and bred for a long time. In this animal rearing room, if environmental factors of the air around the animal such as temperature, humidity and cleanliness greatly differ from cage to cage, will various symptoms appearing in the animals be the effects of medicines,
It is indistinguishable whether the effects are caused by differences in environmental factors in the animal breeding room, and it is necessary to homogenize the air around the animals. In the animal breeding room, researchers, experimenters, and breeders suffer from odors because they work for a long time in the odor of animals and excrement from animals. There is also a disadvantage that dust and bacteria generated by a worker such as a researcher themselves are introduced into a breeding rack even in an environment where clothes are controlled. In order to avoid such inconvenience, it is necessary to control the air circulation in the animal breeding room.

Conventionally, as an animal breeding apparatus for this purpose, as shown in FIG. 8, a rectangular air outlet A is provided at the center of the ceiling of a breeding room and an exhaust port B is provided at the side of the ceiling. A breeding apparatus in which a roll screen D is provided on the entire front surface of a rack C is known. The roll screen D has an opening E for each cage F accommodating animals, and purified air whose temperature and humidity are adjusted from the air outlet A is introduced into each cage F through the opening E. From the space G behind the cage to the exhaust duct H through the exhaust port B
Exhaust.

However, in this breeding apparatus, it is necessary to wind up the roll screen D when cleaning the cage F, and when observing an animal, it is not possible to directly observe the animal unless the roll screen D is wound up. The roll screen D is in the way and is inferior in workability. In addition, since the ventilation in each cage F is performed only from the small opening E,
Effective ventilation is not achieved, and the temperature and humidity in each cage F are not uniform due to the effects of the body temperature and body fluid of the animal, and the air around the animal is not uniform.

[0005] Further, as this kind of breeding apparatus, there is known an animal breeding apparatus in which an air curtain is provided in front of a cage accommodating an animal, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-79286. In this breeding apparatus, as shown in FIG. 9, a rack d in which cages a for accommodating animals are arranged is provided in an animal breeding room c, and an air blowing pipe for forming an air curtain b at the upper front end of each cage a. e, a pan f for receiving water and animal excrement is provided below the cage a as a gas flow receiving portion for receiving the air flow blown out from the air blowing pipe e.

However, the animal breeding apparatus provided with such an air curtain b requires an air blowing pipe e and a pipe for the air blowing pipe e, so that the production cost of the breeding apparatus is increased, and furthermore, the air curtain b is not used. Since the device for generating the gas is specially operated, the running cost also increases, and it is difficult to wash the cage a with water.

[0007]

The animal breeding apparatus according to the present invention has a high workability without requiring any special equipment, makes the air around the animal uniform, and works in an animal breeding room. It is an object of the present invention to provide an animal breeding apparatus in which a person or an experimenter is not bothered by the odor of the animal or suffers from an allergic disease caused by animal excrement.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and the means for breeding includes placing a cage containing animals in an animal breeding room as described in claim 1. A rack is installed, a shielding material is provided between the upper end of the rearing rack front surface and the ceiling of the animal breeding room, and further, purified air is blown near the shielding material and the purified air whose temperature and humidity are adjusted is blown out. A linear air outlet having a length equal to or greater than the width of the breeding rack is provided on the ceiling along the front surface of the shielding material, and on the back surface of the breeding rack, there is no gap or there is a slight gap. An animal breeding apparatus, characterized in that the air blown out from the air outlet through the exhaust chamber is passed through a cage in the breeding rack and sucked from the exhaust chamber.

[0009] From a linear air outlet having a length equal to or greater than the width of the rearing rack provided on the ceiling of the animal rearing room,
Purified clean air whose temperature and humidity have been adjusted is evenly blown out along the front surface of a shielding member provided between the upper end of the front of the rearing rack and the ceiling. The blown air is sucked from the exhaust chamber which has no gap or is provided with a slight gap on the back of the breeding rack, so that the cage housing the animals in the breeding rack from the front of the breeding rack. And passes through the cage and is exhausted from the exhaust chamber.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the animal breeding apparatus according to the first aspect, the breeding rack is partitioned by a partition plate to form an animal accommodation room in the breeding rack. Guide means are provided on the edge of the upper end of the front of the chamber,
An animal breeding apparatus characterized in that air blown out from an air outlet is easily introduced into a cage in the breeding rack.

[0011] The breeding rack is partitioned by a partition plate to form an animal accommodation room in the breeding rack, and a guide means is provided at an edge of the front upper end of the accommodation room. It is introduced into the cage in the rearing rack from the guide means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the animal breeding apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the wind speed of the air passing through the cage is 0.13 to 0.15 m / s.
An animal breeding apparatus characterized in that an opening having a numerical aperture and an opening diameter is provided in an exhaust chamber.

An appropriate number and diameter of openings are provided in the exhaust chamber, and the wind speed of air passing through the cage is 0.13 to 0.1.
By setting the speed to 5 m / s, the animals in the cage are prevented from losing their body temperature due to excessively high wind speed, and because the excessively low wind speed prevents moisture from accumulating in the cage. The air is appropriate.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a breeding room for small and medium sized animals for experiments. A plurality of breeding racks 3 are installed on both sides in the animal breeding room 1, and upper and lower tiers of the breeding rack 3 are
A large number of cages 2 containing experimental animals are juxtaposed at intervals.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
A shielding member 4 is provided between the upper end of the front of the animal breeding room 1 and the ceiling 1a of the animal breeding room 1. As the shielding member 4, a material that can be easily attached and detached, for example, a plastic sheet such as a vinyl sheet or polyethylene is used.

Further, a linear air outlet 6 as shown in FIG. 3 (A) is opened at a location on the ceiling 1a of the breeding room 1 near the work space 5 near the front surface of the shielding member 4.

The length L of the air outlet 6 is at least the width M of the rearing rack 3. As shown in FIG. 3 (B), in order to blow air at a uniform wind speed such as 0.42 m / s, a fan 6a is
Can be provided.

Since the rear surface of the rearing rack 3 is open facing the work space 5, an inlet for blowing air is formed there.

The air outlet 6 shown in FIG.
Apart from this, an air outlet 6 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B may be used. This air outlet 6 is
Without the fan 6a, the upper portion 6b is configured to have a taper, and further, the opening width W of the slit 6c is changed by an adjusting device (not shown) to adjust the wind speed of the air sent from the air supply duct. The speed adjusting plate 6d is installed in the air outlet 6 ahead of the blow-out opening 6e so as to blow air evenly. In this case, in order to efficiently adjust the wind speed, the opening width W of the slit 6c is preferably set to be equal to or less than half the width N of the opening 6e. The air outlet 6 is provided with a filter unit 9 having a medium-performance filter 7 and a HEPA filter 8 for removing foreign substances and bacteria, and a cold water coil 10, a hot water coil 11, and a humidifier 12 for adjusting the temperature and humidity of air. Is connected to an air supply duct (not shown) via an air adjustment unit 13 having

The breeding rack 3 is, as shown in FIG.
In order to prevent contamination between experimental animals, the rearing rack 3
May be partitioned by vertical and horizontal partition plates to form a large number of animal accommodation rooms 3a. In this case, as the air guide means, the edge of the upper front surface of the accommodation room 3a is rounded or tapered so that the air that has flowed into the breeding room 1 has the Coanda effect. It is preferable to use the cage 2 in the breeding rack 3 for easy introduction. Next, there is no gap or a slight gap is provided on the rear surface of the breeding rack 3 (on the back side as viewed from the working space 5) in the laboratory animal breeding room 1 so as to pass through the breeding rack 3 and the exhaust chamber 14. , Opening 1 in exhaust chamber 14
4a is provided.

In order to prevent the temperature of the experimental animal from decreasing in the cage 2 due to the excessively high wind speed and to prevent the accumulation of moisture in the cage due to the excessively low wind speed, it is necessary to pass through the cage 2. In order to maintain the wind speed of the air to be blown in a certain range, for example, 0.13 to 0.15 m / s, the openings 14a are provided with appropriate numbers and diameters, for example, 55 mm in diameter as shown in FIG. Two circular holes are provided in the exhaust chamber 14 above and below.

The exhaust chamber 14 is connected to an exhaust fan 16 via an exhaust duct 15 provided with a filter for removing animal hair and the like. The air blown out from the air outlet 6 by the exhaust fan 16 is sucked from the exhaust chamber 14, passes through the cage 2 in the breeding rack 3, and passes through the exhaust duct 15 to the scrubber 1.
The air is exhausted to the outside through the abatement device such as 7.

At this time, purified air whose temperature and humidity have been adjusted is blown out uniformly from the air outlet 6 along the shielding member 4 of the laboratory animal breeding room 1.

The blown air enters the cages 2 containing the experimental animals from the front of the breeding rack 3 and is exhausted from the exhaust chamber 14 through the exhaust duct 15 by the exhaust fan 16, so that the air around the experimental animals is exhausted. Become homogeneous.

Next, the present invention will be further described based on the following numerical analysis examples and comparative examples.

The inventors of the present invention conducted the following analysis to confirm the effects of the present invention. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the width M is 1350 mm and the height is 2600 mm.
Of the breeding rack 3 is divided into four stages, each stage is divided into four by a partition plate, and 20 animal accommodation rooms 3a are arranged on both sides in the experimental animal breeding room 1, and the shielding material 4 Was provided between the upper end of the front of the rearing rack 3 and the ceiling 1a.

One cage 2 was placed in each animal accommodation room 3a, and mice were accommodated in each cage 2 at a rate of 140 animals / m ² .

Further, the length L is 1350 mm and the width is 50
mm of the air outlet 6 in the ceiling 1a of the breeding room 1 in the working space 5 near the front of the vinyl sheet.
Opened at the side.

Next, in the laboratory animal breeding room 1, the exhaust chamber 14 provided with the opening 14a was connected to the rear surface of the breeding rack 3 without any gap.

0.42 m from the air outlet 6
The air was blown out at a uniform wind speed of / s and further sucked by the exhaust fan 16 from the exhaust chamber 14 at a wind speed of 0.28 m / s to ventilate the laboratory animal breeding room 20 times per hour.

The results of this analysis are shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

From FIG. 5 (A), it can be seen that there are some high temperature parts A and some low temperature parts C, but most of the intermediate temperature parts B,
It was found that the temperature distribution in the rearing rack 3 was almost constant. In addition, from FIG. 5B, it was found that vortices did not occur in the work space 5 and flowed in one direction from the front of the breeding rack 3 and passed through each cage 2. by this,
There is no backflow of air into the working space 5 in the laboratory animal breeding room 1, so that researchers and experimenters are not bothered by the odor of the laboratory animals and do not suffer from allergic diseases caused by excrement of the laboratory animals.

In the above-described analysis example, the rear surface of the rearing rack 3 is in contact with the exhaust chamber 14, but the same findings as described above were obtained even when the gap between them was less than 50 mm. In this case, the space between the breeding rack 3 and the exhaust chamber 14 was left without a duct connection.

In the above example of analysis, the supply air speed is 0.42
m / s and the wind speed of the exhaust is 0.28 m / s,
This difference is compensated for by the area of the inlet and outlet, and the inventors of the present invention have determined that the area of the outlet is about 2 times the area of the inlet.
It was found that an effective animal breeding device could be constructed when the ratio was doubled.

For comparison with this analysis example, the inventors further performed the following analysis.

As shown in FIG. 6 (B), a comparative example is provided in which a considerable gap (50 mm or more) is provided between the laboratory animal breeding room 1 and the rear surface of the breeding rack 3 and an exhaust chamber 14 is provided. Example I and a rearing rack 3 as shown in FIG.
There is a gap between the rear of the breeding room and the wall of the breeding room, but there is no exhaust chamber behind the breeding rack 3 and the length is 1350 m.
This is a comparative example II in which an air inlet having the same shape as the linear air outlet 6 having a width of 50 mm and a width of 50 mm is provided on the ceiling 1a of the laboratory animal breeding room 1. Other conditions in Comparative Examples I and II are the same as those in the above-mentioned analysis example.

In Comparative Examples I and II, the analysis was performed in the same manner as in the above-mentioned analysis example.

From FIGS. 6 (A) and 7 (A), since the high temperature part A, the intermediate temperature part B, and the low temperature part C each occupy a considerably large area, Comparative Examples I and II are both reared. It has been found that the temperature distribution in the rack 3 is not constant. Further, from FIG. 6 (B) and FIG. 7 (B), it has been found that a vortex is generated in the work space 5.

[0039]

According to the animal breeding apparatus of the present invention as described in claim 1, the temperature and humidity are purified from a linear air outlet having a length equal to or greater than the width of the breeding rack provided on the ceiling of the breeding room. The adjusted clean air is blown out evenly along the shielding provided between the upper end of the front of the breeding rack and the ceiling, and the blown air does not have a gap on the back of the breeding rack, With a gap, it is sucked from the open exhaust chamber and enters each cage containing animals from the front of the breeding rack, and purified air whose temperature and humidity are adjusted and purified passes through each cage and is exhausted. As the chamber is evacuated, fresh, homogeneous air is provided around the animal. Furthermore, in this animal breeding apparatus, the air blown out from the air outlet does not flow into the working space in the animal breeding room where researchers and experimenters work, so that the researchers and experimenters suffer from the odor of animals. And has the effect of not being affected by allergic diseases caused by animal excrement.

Further, in this animal breeding apparatus, the front of the breeding rack is open to the working space, so that the cage can be directly taken out when cleaning the cage, and the animals can be observed. In this case, since the animals in the cage can be directly observed, the animal breeding apparatus is excellent in workability.

Further, since this animal breeding apparatus does not use a special apparatus such as an air curtain apparatus, the manufacturing cost and running cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

In the animal breeding apparatus according to the present invention, the breeding rack is partitioned by a partition plate to form an animal accommodating room in the breeding rack, and a guide means is provided at an edge of the front upper end of the accommodation room. The purified air whose temperature and humidity have been adjusted and which is blown out from the air outlet is introduced into the cage in the breeding rack from the guide means provided at the edge of the front upper end of the accommodation room. The clean air whose temperature and humidity have been adjusted is more effectively entered into each cage, and has an effect that the air around the animal is more homogenized.

In the animal breeding apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, an appropriate number and diameter of openings are provided in the exhaust chamber, and the velocity of air passing through the cage is 0.13 to 0.15 m / s.
In the cage, the animals are prevented from losing body temperature due to excessively high wind speeds, and the excessively low wind speed is prevented from trapping moisture in the cages. It has the effect that air circulates.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an entire animal breeding apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an animal breeding room.

FIG. 3A is a front view of an air outlet. (B)
3A is a cross-sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 4A is a front view of another air outlet.
(B) is a partial cutaway side view of (A).

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a temperature distribution of an analysis example.
(B) is a diagram showing the flow of air in the animal breeding room of the analysis example.

6A is a diagram showing a temperature distribution of Comparative Example I. FIG.
(B) is a diagram showing the flow of air in the animal breeding room of Comparative Example I.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a temperature distribution of Comparative Example II.
(B) is a diagram showing the flow of air in the animal breeding room of Comparative Example II.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a conventional animal breeding apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing another conventional animal breeding apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 animal breeding room 1a ceiling 2 cage containing animals 3 breeding rack 3a animal storage room 4 shielding material 6
Air outlet 14 Exhaust chamber 15 Exhaust duct

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A01K 1/00-1/035

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A breeding rack in which a cage accommodating animals is placed in an animal breeding room, a shielding material is provided between an upper end of a front surface of the breeding rack and a ceiling of the animal breeding room, and A linear air outlet having a length equal to or greater than the width of the breeding rack is provided on the ceiling along the front surface of the shielding member so as to blow clean air having a temperature and humidity adjusted in the vicinity thereof, On the back of the breeding rack, there is no gap, or there is a slight gap, the air is blown through the exhaust chamber, and the air that is blown out evenly from the air outlet is passed through the cage in the breeding rack and sucked from the exhaust chamber. An animal breeding apparatus characterized in that: 2. The animal breeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the breeding rack is partitioned by a partition plate to form an animal accommodation room in the breeding rack, and a guide means is provided on an edge of a front upper end of the accommodation room. An animal breeding apparatus provided to facilitate the introduction of air blown from an air outlet into a cage in the breeding rack. 3. The animal breeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wind velocity of the air passing through the cage is 0.13 to 0.1.
An animal breeding apparatus, wherein an opening having a numerical aperture and an opening diameter of 15 m / s is provided in an exhaust chamber.