KR102387416B1 - Chilled and hot drinking water supply device for livestock animal - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosed technology relates to a cold and hot drinking water supply device for livestock, comprising: a first sensor group disposed inside a livestock house to detect environmental information on temperature and humidity inside the barn at regular intervals; a second sensor group disposed in a water tank provided in the livestock house to detect a temperature of drinking water in the water tank; an input device for receiving growth information on livestock disposed in the livestock; a control device for receiving the environmental information and the growth information, calculating a THI (Temperature Humidity Index) index for the livestock, and generating a control signal for controlling the temperature of the negative water according to the THI index; and a temperature control device that receives the control signal and adjusts the temperature of the negative water in the water tank. Therefore, there is an effect of reducing the heat stress of livestock and supplying hot and cold water at the correct temperature.

Description

Hot and cold drinking water supply for livestock {CHILLLED AND HOT DRINKING WATER SUPPLY DEVICE FOR LIVESTOCK ANIMAL}

The disclosed technology relates to a device for supplying livestock with water controlled in temperature according to the environment in the livestock.

Abnormal climates due to global warming frequently occur both at home and abroad, and the heat wave that gets worse every year and the increase in the number of heat days are the biggest concerns for livestock farmers. In addition, if the drinking water temperature in winter is too low, the amount of drinking water for livestock may decrease. The decrease in drinking water may lead to a decrease in feed intake, leading to problems such as decreased productivity or decreased weight gain. In particular, dairy cows require a large amount of drinking water for milk production.

There have been cases in which some cold water or hot water is supplied to reduce the existing heat stress, but there were problems in that the standard was vague and the efficiency was decreased and the labor force increased, such as being controlled by the manager. In addition, these devices are facilities that only supply cold or hot water, and they have the disadvantage that they cannot be used throughout the cold season along with the hot weather. There is no standard for the temperature of the supplied negative water, so it is not very helpful in improving energy efficiency and livestock productivity.

Referring to Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1761359 (Title of Invention: Warm long-acting water supply device for livestock), a technology for supplying hot water to livestock by installing a coil heater in a water supply pipe is disclosed. However, this method had a problem in that there was no specific standard for setting the temperature of the hot water to an appropriate level, so it had to depend on the subjectivity of the livestock manager.

The disclosed technology is to provide a device for supplying hot and cold water with temperature controlled to an appropriate level by identifying the THI index of livestock according to the environment inside the livestock.

A first aspect of the disclosed technology to achieve the above technical task is a first sensor group that is disposed inside the livestock and senses environmental information on the temperature and humidity inside the livestock at regular intervals, and is disposed in a water tank provided in the livestock A second sensor group for sensing the temperature of drinking water in the water tank, an input device for receiving growth information for livestock disposed in the livestock house, and THI for the livestock by receiving the environmental information and the growth information ( Temperature Humidity Index) and a control device for generating a control signal for adjusting the temperature of the negative water according to the THI index, and a temperature control device for receiving the control signal to adjust the temperature of the negative water in the water tank It is to provide a cold and hot drinking water supply device for livestock.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology may have effects including the following advantages. However, since it does not mean that the embodiments of the disclosed technology should include all of them, it should not be understood that the scope of the disclosed technology is limited thereby.

According to an embodiment of the disclosed technology, the cold and hot drinking water supply device for livestock has the effect of improving the production by reducing the thermal stress of the livestock.

In addition, there is an effect of providing a specific standard for controlling the temperature of the negative water for each type of livestock to provide hot and cold water at an accurate temperature.

1 is a block diagram of a cold and hot drinking water supply for livestock according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology.
Figure 2 is a view showing an example of implementation of the negative water supply device according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology.
3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device.
4 is a view showing a temperature control device.
5 is a view showing a second sensor group provided in the water tank.
6 is a view showing the detection of the water level of the negative water in the tank.

Since the present invention can have various changes and can have various embodiments, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Terms such as first, second, A, and B may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the above terms, and only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components. is used only as For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may also be referred to as a first component. and/or includes a combination of a plurality of related listed items or any of a plurality of related listed items.

In terms of terms used herein, the singular expression is to be understood as including the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. And terms such as "comprising" mean that the specified feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or a combination thereof exists, but one or more other features or number, step operation component, part It should be understood as not excluding the possibility of the presence or addition of or combinations thereof.

Prior to a detailed description of the drawings, it is intended to clarify that the classification of the constituent parts in the present specification is merely a division according to the main function each constituent unit is responsible for. That is, two or more components to be described below may be combined into one component, or one component may be divided into two or more for each more subdivided function.

In addition, each of the constituent units to be described below may additionally perform some or all of the functions of other constituent units in addition to the main function it is responsible for. Of course, it can also be performed by being dedicated to it. Accordingly, the existence or non-existence of each component described through the present specification should be interpreted functionally.

1 is a block diagram of a cold and hot drinking water supply for livestock according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology. Referring to FIG. 1 , the cold and hot drinking water supply device for livestock includes a first sensor group 110 , a second sensor group 120 , a control device 130 , and a temperature control device 140 .

The first sensor group 110 is disposed inside the livestock house and senses environmental information on temperature and humidity inside the livestock house at regular intervals. The first sensor group 110 includes a plurality of temperature sensors 110a and humidity sensors 110b. A plurality of temperature sensors 110a and humidity sensors 110b may be arranged at regular intervals inside the livestock house. For example, a plurality of sensors may be disposed within a certain radius where the livestock is located inside the barn. Alternatively, a plurality of sensors may be directly attached to the body of the livestock to sense environmental information closest to the temperature and humidity that the livestock actually feels. The temperature sensor 110a and the humidity sensor 110b may use an ultra-small or ultra-thin sensor so as not to cause stress to livestock.

The second sensor group 120 is disposed in a water tank provided in the livestock house to detect the temperature of drinking water in the water tank. The second sensor group 120 includes a temperature sensor capable of detecting the temperature of the water tank or the temperature of negative water in the water tank.

The drinking water in the tank is supplied to livestock and may be supplied at different temperatures depending on the weather or temperature changes felt by the livestock. For example, in winter when the weather is cold, warm drinking water can be supplied to make the livestock feel less cold, and in summer when the weather is hot, cool drinking water can be supplied to make the livestock feel less heat.

Meanwhile, in controlling the temperature of the supplied negative water, in the prior art, the manager used the weather information provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration or directly entered the livestock house and adjusted the negative water temperature according to the temperature felt. In other words, the method used to control the temperature of negative water at an approximate level depending on the manager's intuition or experience, rather than precisely controlling the temperature of negative water according to objective indicators. In this case, the death of livestock or high stress can be resolved to some extent, but there is a somewhat insufficient point in optimizing productivity. Therefore, in the disclosed technology to solve this problem, the temperature of the negative water to be supplied to the livestock based on the environmental information sensed from the first sensor group 110 and the growth information about the livestock and the current temperature of the negative water sensed from the second sensor group 120 . is to adjust to an accurate value, and to check whether negative water is supplied at the correct temperature through the second sensor group 120 .

On the other hand, the second sensor group 120 further includes a water level sensor 120a for detecting the level of negative water in the water tank and an image sensor 120b for detecting foreign substances contained in the surface of the negative water. The second sensor group 120 not only senses the temperature of the water tank or the temperature of the negative water in the water tank, but also detects whether the level of the negative water is an appropriate level for supplying livestock. It also detects whether foreign substances are included in the supplied negative water. In an embodiment, an ultrasonic sensor that detects the water level by checking reflected ultrasonic waves may be used as the water level sensor 120a. In addition, a camera that captures an image of a negative surface may be used as the image sensor 120b. Information obtained by the water level sensor 120a and the image sensor 120b may be transmitted to the manager.

The control device 130 receives environmental information and growth information on livestock disposed in the livestock house. The control device 130 receives the temperature and humidity inside the livestock house detected by the first sensor group 110 as environmental information. And the growth information about the livestock inside the barn can be received from the input device. The input device may use the manager's terminal or the interface device 130a provided in the livestock house. Such an input device may include various types of input means so that an administrator can input growth information. For example, it may include a keypad or keyboard for inputting text. Alternatively, a device capable of selecting one of the menus displayed on the screen, such as a touch pen or a mouse, may be used. That is, various types of input means generally used in devices such as computers or notebook computers may be used as input devices.

On the other hand, the control device 130 includes a communication module (130b) to receive the growth information about the livestock. The communication module 130b receives growth information input from the interface device 130a provided in the livestock house or receives growth information remotely transmitted from the manager terminal.

Meanwhile, the controller 130 calculates a Temperature Humidity Index (THI) index for livestock. Here, the THI index refers to an index for stress or discomfort that a specific kind of livestock can feel depending on temperature and humidity. In one embodiment, in the case of livestock raised in a barn, when the THI value exceeds 72, it can be determined that the animal feels stress due to heat and moisture. After that, when the THI index rises step by step, it can be judged as a state leading to death in severe cases. For example, in the range between 72 and 78, it can be determined that a person is under a mild degree of stress, in the section between 78 and 89, it can be determined that they are under a high level of stress, and in the range between 89 and 98, it can be determined that they are under a very severe level of stress. It can be determined that it is, and it can be determined that mortality is caused in the section 98 or higher.

Meanwhile, the control device 130 includes a database 130c that stores a plurality of THI data for different livestock. As described above, the degree of stress felt by livestock is divided in each section of the THI index, but not all kinds of livestock can be determined based on the same THI index. For example, a type of livestock that is resistant to heat may have a higher THI index, and a type of livestock that is weak to heat may have a lower THI index. The control device 130 may classify a plurality of THI data for each livestock and store it in the database 130c. In addition, THI data for livestock actually raised in the livestock can be retrieved from the database 130c. Livestock breed information matched to each THI data is stored in the database 130c, and THI data for a specific livestock can be searched using this.

On the other hand, the control device 130 generates a control signal for adjusting the temperature of the negative water according to the THI index of the livestock. In one embodiment, assuming that the livestock actually raised in the barn is a cow, the THI data of the cow stored in the database 130c is retrieved, and the temperature information stored in the THI data and the environmental information detected by the first sensor group 110 are retrieved. By comparing, it is possible to generate a control signal for controlling the temperature of a negative number.

If the current temperature of the negative water in the water tank exceeds the temperature information included in the THI index, a control signal for lowering the temperature may be generated so that the temperature of the negative water in the water tank converges to the temperature information of the THI index. Conversely, if the current temperature of the negative water in the tank is less than the temperature information included in the THI index, a control signal for raising the temperature may be generated so that the temperature of the negative water in the tank converges to the temperature information of the THI index.

Meanwhile, the control device 130 uses the current temperature of the negative water received from the second sensor group 120 to generate a control signal. In other words, it is possible to accurately control the temperature of the supplied negative water by not generating an error in generating a control signal for the optimal negative temperature by synthesizing the environmental information on the temperature and humidity inside the current livestock house, and the current temperature and THI data of the negative water.

The temperature control device 140 receives the control signal transmitted from the control device 130 to adjust the temperature of the negative water in the water tank. The temperature controller 140 includes a communication module 140a for receiving a control signal and a thermoelectric element 140b for cooling or heating negative water. The temperature controller 140 may supply power to a plurality of thermoelectric elements 140b disposed in the water tank to cool or heat the negative water. For example, negative water can be cooled or heated by changing the direction in which current flows to generate heat absorption and heat generation due to the Peltier effect.

2 is a view showing an implementation example of a negative water supply device according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology. Referring to FIG. 2 , the negative water supply device receives growth information about livestock from the manager terminal 201 or the livestock management server 202 in order to generate a control signal. And the control device of the negative water supply device may receive it and perform the process 210 of calculating the THI index. The control device may use an arithmetic processor such as a processor to calculate the THI index.

Meanwhile, the control device performs a process 220 of generating a control signal. As described with reference to FIG. 1, the control signal is determined by combining information received from the first and second sensor groups and THI data stored in the database. The control signal generated according to this process is transmitted to the temperature control device. The temperature control device undergoes a cold and hot negative water treatment process 230 for the negative water in the water tank according to the control signal. According to this process, the negative water adjusted to the optimum temperature is supplied to the livestock according to the withdrawal process 240 . According to this process, heat stress of livestock can be reduced and productivity can be maximized.

3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device. Referring to FIG. 3 , the most essential role in the negative water supply device is a control device, and the control device may operate according to the following sequence.

First, in step 310, a temperature and humidity measurement value is received from the first sensor group. The control device receives the environmental information transmitted by the first sensor group according to a predetermined period as a temperature and humidity measurement value. In step 320, the livestock growth information is received from the second sensor group. Here, the livestock growth information may include information on what kind of livestock the corresponding livestock is, and the optimum temperature and comfortable humidity for the growth of the corresponding livestock. Such growth information may be transmitted through the Internet network by the manager using his/her own terminal, or may receive a value stored in the livestock management server. Here, if the manager does not know exactly about the livestock growth information, he or she may use a terminal to access the livestock management server, download necessary information from the server, and transmit it to the control device.

Meanwhile, the control device calculates the THI index for the livestock according to step 330 . In general, the THI index can be calculated according to the following equation.

[Equation 1]

Here, the THI index exemplified through Equation 1 is a value for Korean beef, and different numerical values may be applied depending on the livestock breed. The control device stores information for calculating the THI index for each livestock species in the database so that the THI can be calculated for each livestock species. The control device may search the database according to step 340 to extract this information and calculate the THI index for the corresponding livestock.

Meanwhile, the control device compares the current temperature with the temperature information included in the THI data according to step 350 . In one embodiment, when the current temperature of the negative water in the water tank exceeds the temperature information included in the THI index, a control signal for lowering the temperature may be generated so that the temperature of the negative water in the water tank converges to the temperature information of the THI index. Conversely, if the current temperature of the negative water in the tank is less than the temperature information included in the THI index, a control signal for raising the temperature may be generated so that the temperature of the negative water in the tank converges to the temperature information of the THI index. If the current temperature of the negative number exceeds the temperature information of the THI data, a control signal for cooling the negative number may be generated according to 360 steps. In addition, if the current temperature of the negative number is less than the temperature information of the THI data, a control signal for heating the negative number may be generated according to step 370 .

4 is a view showing a temperature control device. Referring to FIG. 4 , the thermostat may include a controller and a device for generating cold water or hot water. The controller generates a voltage according to a control signal transmitted from the control device. In addition, the thermoelectric element included in the device generates heat or absorbs heat according to the generated voltage to adjust the temperature of the negative number.

5 is a view showing a second sensor group provided in the water tank. And Figure 6 is a view showing the detection of the water level of the negative water in the tank. First, referring to FIG. 5 , a second sensor group is provided in a tank for supplying negative water to livestock. The second sensor group includes a water level sensor 120a and an image sensor together with a temperature sensor. That is, like the first sensor group, the second sensor group may include a plurality of sensors.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 6 , the water level sensor may detect the water level of negative water in the water fountain 601 . The water supply station 601 may use a negative water tank as it is, and a separate water supply station may be provided as necessary. This is because, depending on the breed of livestock, the level of negative water must be maintained at an appropriate level to avoid stress on the livestock. The height of the drinking fountain 601 may be determined in consideration of the habit of the livestock to drink water. Information on the height of a negative number may be recorded together in a database included in the control device, and data for adjusting the height of a negative number may also be included in the control signal.

The cold and hot drinking water supply device for livestock according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology has been described with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings to help understanding, this is merely exemplary, and those of ordinary skill in the art can use various It will be understood that modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the true technical protection scope of the disclosed technology should be defined by the appended claims.

110: first sensor group 110a: temperature sensor
110b: humidity sensor 120: second sensor group
120a: water level sensor 120b: image sensor
130: control device 130a: interface device
130b: communication module 130c: database
140: temperature control device 140a: communication module
140b: thermoelectric element

Claims (10)

a first sensor group disposed inside the livestock house to detect environmental information on temperature and humidity inside the barn at regular intervals;
a second sensor group disposed in a water tank provided in the livestock house to detect a temperature of drinking water in the water tank;
an input device for receiving growth information on livestock disposed in the livestock;
a control device for receiving the environmental information and the growth information, calculating a THI (Temperature Humidity Index) index for the livestock, and generating a control signal for controlling the temperature of the negative water according to the THI index; and
Including; a temperature control device for receiving the control signal to adjust the temperature of the negative water in the water tank;
The second sensor group further comprises a water level sensor for detecting the level of the negative water in the water tank and an image sensor for detecting foreign substances contained in the surface of the negative water,
The control device includes a database for storing a plurality of THI data for different livestock,
The water level sensor detects the water level of the negative water based on information about the height of the negative water for the livestock stored in the database,
The water level sensor and the information acquired by the image sensor are cold and hot drinking water supply device for livestock that is transmitted to the manager. The method of claim 1,
The first sensor group includes a plurality of temperature sensors and humidity sensors, and the plurality of temperature sensors and humidity sensors are disposed inside the livestock at regular intervals. delete The method of claim 1,
The input device is a cold and hot drinking water supply device for livestock including an interface device or a manager terminal disposed in the livestock house. The method of claim 1,
The control device is a cold and hot drinking water supply device for livestock including a communication module for receiving the growth information from the input device. The method of claim 1,
The database stores a plurality of THI data for different livestock, and supplies cold and hot negative water for livestock to retrieve THI data for the livestock among the plurality of THI data based on the livestock breed information input from the outside Device. The method of claim 1,
The control device compares the current temperature of the negative water in the water tank received from the second sensor group and the temperature information included in the THI index to generate the control signal. 8. The method of claim 7,
When the current temperature of the negative water in the water tank exceeds the temperature information included in the THI index, the control device generates a control signal for lowering the temperature so that the temperature of the negative water in the water tank converges to the temperature information of the THI index, and the If the current temperature of the negative water in the tank is less than the temperature information included in the THI index, the cold and hot negative water supply device for livestock for generating a control signal for raising the temperature so that the temperature of the negative water in the water tank converges to the temperature information of the THI index. The method of claim 1,
The control device is a cold and hot drinking water supply device for livestock for receiving the growth information from the livestock management server or from the manager of the livestock house. The method of claim 1,
The temperature control device uses a plurality of thermoelectric elements disposed in the water tank to cool or heat the drinking water in the water tank.

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