WO2023143765A1

WO2023143765A1 - Cooled transport cage for living beings

Info

Publication number: WO2023143765A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/080866
Authority: WO
Inventors: Julien PANSIOT; Roua CHRISTOPHE
Original assignee: Pita
Priority date: 2022-01-26
Filing date: 2022-11-04
Publication date: 2023-08-03
Also published as: FR3132006A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cage (1) for transporting animals, having an internal volume (V) for receiving the animals, and watering means (4) comprising a water reservoir (41), characterised in that the cage also comprises cooling means (5), including: • an element (51) for collecting the water contained in the water reservoir (41), • an exposure region (52) which is able to be surface-moistened by the water collected by the collection member; and • ventilation means (53) which are able to generate a flow of air and are positioned so as to direct the flow of air towards the exposure region (52).

Description

Refreshed transport cage for living beings

The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of means of transport for living beings.

More specifically, the invention relates in particular to a cooled transport cage for animals.

To transport living beings, we know the transport cages inside which living beings, in particular animals, are placed.

These transport cages generally comprise a box closed by a top wall forming a lid.

The crate typically includes a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending from the bottom wall.

The bottom wall, the side walls and the top wall thus define an internal volume inside which an animal is placed.

Among the transport cages, some include means of watering provided with a water tank, which allow the animals to quench their thirst during transport.

The side walls and, sometimes, the lid, generally have openings allowing the passage of air without allowing the animal to leave its cage.

In other words, the openings ensure a renewal of the air in the interior volume.

However, when the air surrounding the cage is hot air, the air in the internal volume is also hot, forcing the animals to drink more to quench their thirst.

However, the quantity of water taken on board in the transport cages is often limited, thus requiring a replenishment of the water supply to allow continuous watering of the animals.

To ensure thermal regulation of the internal volume of the cage, it is therefore necessary to regulate the temperature of the environment in which the cage is located. However, regulating the environment in which the cage is located is not always possible.

However, the environment hosting the animal (in its cage) can be equipped with means of air conditioning. It is even conceivable to equip the cage itself with air conditioning means, as described in the patent document published under the number WO2006127110 or in the patent document published under the number US2010319627.

However, conventional air conditioning means have an operation based on the circulation of a heat transfer fluid undergoing changes of state. The heat transfer fluid circulates in a circuit having a first portion in which the heat transfer fluid heats up or cools down, and a second portion in which the heat transfer fluid cools down or heats up respectively. If necessary, the second portion of the circuit can incorporate a heat exchanger to force the temperature change of the heat transfer fluid.

Furthermore, these air conditioning means comprise at least one pump making it possible to circulate the heat transfer fluid in the circuit.

The known air conditioning means are thus energy-intensive, if only to circulate the fluid, and represent a significant weight, making the transport cage heavier.

In addition, the heat transfer fluid is generally toxic. Also, in the event of a leak from the air conditioning means, the life of the living being can be threatened if the heat transfer fluid reaches the internal volume of the transport cage.

Cooling systems combining Pelletier modules, heat sinks and fans are also known, in particular in certain coolers. These cooling systems are also energy-intensive and inefficient due to the use of Pelletier modules.

The aim of the invention is in particular to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the invention aims to provide a transport cage comprising means for cooling its internal volume, in a safe manner for living beings intended to be received in the internal volume.

The invention also aims to provide such a transport cage whose energy consumption is low compared to the cages of the prior art.

The invention also aims to provide such a transport cage whose weight is contained despite the presence of thermal regulation means.

The invention also aims to provide such a transport cage making it possible to adapt the cooling of the internal volume during the transport of an animal.

These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved thanks to the invention which relates to an animal transport cage, having an internal volume for receiving the animals, and watering means comprising a water reservoir,
characterized in that it also comprises refreshing means including:
- a device for capturing the water contained in the water tank,
- an exposure zone capable of being moistened on the surface by water captured by the capture member;
- Ventilation means able to generate an air flow and positioned so as to direct the air flow towards the exposure zone.

The capture device allows a small quantity of water to be permanently routed to the exposure zone located outside the tank, in an air flow circulation zone.

Thus, the air flow generated by the means of ventilation comes to be loaded with water at the level of the exposure zone.

Depending on the level of humidity surrounding the transport cage, this air flow is charged either mainly with water vapour, or mainly with micro-droplets of water.

In the case of water vapour, evaporation occurs in this zone, this change of state of the water (from liquid to vapour) consumes calorific energy drawn from the environment surrounding the transport cage. This then produces a lowering of the temperature of the circulating air, a consequence of the change in the state of the water.

In the case of micro-droplets of water, these are carried by the air flow to the animal that we are trying to cool. The micro-droplets are deposited on the animal's coat, then evaporate, consuming part of the heat that the animal emits (in particular by radiation and/or conduction). This reaction has an effect similar to the case of water vapour, the calories consumed for this change of state being taken from the animal itself, which has the effect of cooling it.

According to an advantageous aspect, the exposure zone is carried by the capture member.

This thus makes it possible to promote the transmission of all the water captured to the exposure area, thus ensuring cooling efficiency.

According to a first embodiment, the capture member is in the form of a wick capturing water from the reservoir by capillarity, said wick having a first part extending inside the water reservoir, and a second portion extending out of the water reservoir, the second portion of the wick including the exposure area.

Such a wick allows a constant or almost constant humidification of the exposure area.

In addition, the use of a wick promotes the loading of the air flow with water vapor to refresh the air surrounding the transport cage.

In this case, the wick is advantageously in the form of a ribbon.

The ribbon shape offers a width greater than the thickness of the wick. Also, by positioning the wick so that the width extends transversely to the direction of circulation of the air flow, it is possible to promote the loading of the air flow with water vapour, for the benefit of cooling.

According to a second embodiment, the capture member is integrated into the reservoir and takes the form of a porous wall of said reservoir, the porous wall having an outer skin located outside the reservoir, the outer skin forming the exposure zone.

The shape of the porous wall of the capture organ promotes the loading of the air flow with micro-droplets of water for the cooling of the animal.

Furthermore, the use of a porous wall facilitates the design of the cage since the capture device is directly integrated into the tank.

According to another advantageous aspect, the cage comprises, to delimit the internal volume:
- a back wall,
- a top wall, and
- a peripheral wall extending between the bottom wall and the top wall,
the peripheral wall including a plurality of side panels, at least one of which is movable to form an access door to the internal volume.

Such a cage makes it possible to create a safe internal volume for the animal, access to which is facilitated by the mobility of at least one of the walls.

According to another advantageous aspect, the water reservoir is integrated into the top wall and/or into at least one of the side walls.

The integration of the water tank in one of the walls preserves the internal volume of the cage to increase the well-being of the animal.

In addition, by integrating the water tank into one of the walls, it is possible to fill said tank from the outside, by means of external access to the tank.

This directly benefits the tranquility of the animal, which can remain in its cage while the tank is being filled, as well as the ease of use of the cage.

According to another advantageous aspect, the cooling means are integrated into the top wall and/or into at least one of the side walls, the cooling means integrating a corridor for the circulation of the air flow generated by the ventilation means , the exhibition area being located in said corridor.

The presence of an air circulation corridor makes it possible to direct the air flow as needed.

Thus, to cool the animal, the air flow can be directed towards the internal volume by being loaded with microdroplets. On the contrary, to refresh the ambient air, even if it turns out to be less effective than cooling the animal directly, the air flow can be directed outside the cage directly by being charged with water vapor. .

According to another advantageous aspect, the cage also comprises a cooling means control unit, the control unit being configured to control the ventilation means between an active configuration favoring the cooling of the transport cage, and an inactive configuration favoring watering.

The control unit makes it possible to adapt the cooling as well as possible.

Indeed, depending on the travel conditions, it may be preferable to water the animal rather than to refresh it.

Therefore, it is possible to control the means of ventilation between their active configuration and their inactive configuration to ensure either the watering of the animal, or its cooling.

According to another advantageous aspect, the cage also comprises a unit for storing average consumption data of the animal for a reference route,
and in that the control unit is configured for:
- acquire data on the volume of water in the tank;
- Acquiring remaining travel time data;
- calculating a remaining consumption datum from the volume datum and the time datum,
- comparing the remaining consumption data with the average consumption data, and
- controlling the ventilation means in active configuration if the remaining consumption datum is greater than the average consumption datum, or in inactive configuration if the remaining consumption datum is less than or equal to the average consumption datum.

The control unit thus makes it possible to promote the watering of the animal when it is refreshed.

Indeed, depending on the transport conditions, it is preferable to prioritize watering over cooling, watering being a vital parameter.

In addition, the control of the ventilation means is carried out automatically and can be readjusted from time to time during the journey, depending on the transport conditions.

According to another advantageous aspect, the control unit is also configured to acquire instantaneous temperature data and weight the calculation of the remaining consumption data according to a reference temperature curve.

The weighting of the consumption data calculation makes it possible to precisely adapt the control of the means of ventilation.

Indeed, depending on the temperature surrounding the transport cage, it may be preferable to encourage watering, even if the initial calculation of the consumption data authorizes cooling.

This weighting thus makes it possible to create watering security for the animal, which is particularly useful when the temperature conditions can change quickly or suddenly.

la est une représentation schématique en perspective de dessus d’une caisse de transport selon l’invention, la caisse de transport comprenant des moyens de rafraîchissement ;
la est une représentation schématique en coupe longitudinale de la caisse de transport selon l’invention ;
la est une représentation schématique en coupe transversale d’un premier mode de réalisation des moyens de rafraichissement de la caisse de transport selon l’invention ;
la est une représentation schématique en coupe transversale d’un deuxième mode de réalisation des moyens de rafraichissement de la caisse de transport selon l’invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the appended drawings, among which:

there is a schematic representation in perspective from above of a transport crate according to the invention, the transport crate comprising cooling means;
there is a schematic representation in longitudinal section of the transport box according to the invention;
there is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a first embodiment of the means for cooling the transport box according to the invention;
there is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a second embodiment of the means for cooling the transport box according to the invention.

There illustrates a transport cage 1 according to the invention.

This transport cage 1, suitable for transporting animals, defines an internal volume V inside which an animal to be transported is received.

The transport cage 1 comprises a box 2 covered by a top wall 3 forming a lid.

More particularly, the body 2 of the transport cage 1 comprises a bottom wall 21 and a peripheral wall 22.

As illustrated by the , the peripheral wall 22 extends between the bottom wall 21 and the top wall 3.

The peripheral wall 22 includes a plurality of side panels, at least one of which is movable to form an access door to the internal volume V.

To provide good transport conditions for the animal, the transport cage 1 comprises watering means 4 comprising a reservoir 41 of water, as illustrated by the .

In addition, the watering means 4 include a pipette 42 for drinking water for the animal.

The watering means 4 thus allow the animal to quench its thirst in the cage 1, for example during transport.

However, the watering means 4, and in particular the reservoir 41, are also used by cooling means 5 allowing the air to be refreshed around the transport cage 1, and/or in the transport cage 1, c i.e. in the internal volume V.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the refresh means 5 are now described.

The 5 refresh ways include:
- a device 51 for capturing the water contained in the reservoir 41,

- an exposure zone 52 capable of being moistened at the surface by water captured by the capture member 51;
- Ventilation means 53 able to generate an air flow.

The ventilation means 53 are positioned in such a way as to direct the flow of air towards the exposure zone 52.

The functional principle of the cooling means 5 is as follows.

Initially, the capture member 51 captures the water contained in the reservoir 51 then moistens, at least on the surface, the exposure zone 52. The water present on the exposure zone 52 is then carried away by the flow of air emitted by the ventilation means 53 to refresh the air and/or the animal. This operation will be described in more detail, below, through two embodiments.

As illustrated by Figures 3 and 4, the exposure zone 52 is carried by the capture member 51.

According to a first embodiment illustrated by the , the capture member 51 is in the form of a wick 511. The wick 511 captures the water from the reservoir 41 by capillarity.

The wick 511 has a first part extending inside the tank 41 of water, and a second part extending outside the tank 41 of water.

The second part of the wick 511 includes the exposure zone 52. More specifically, the second part of the wick 511 forms the exposure zone 52.

According to this first embodiment illustrated by the , the wick 511 is in the form of a ribbon.

The ribbon is defined as being a strip of material which has a width greater than its thickness.

By way of illustrative and non-limiting example, the material is a fabric, that is to say a combination of warp threads and weft threads woven with each other.

Wick 511 is positioned such that its width is substantially orthogonal to a direction of airflow. This thus allows the majority of the exposure surface 52 to be exposed to the airflow.

In this first embodiment, the wick 511 captures the water from the reservoir 41 by capillarity, thus moistening the exposure zone 52.

The air flow emitted by the ventilation means 53 is loaded with water vapor in contact with the exposure zone 52.

The loading of the air flow with water vapor produces evaporation of the water, this change of state (from the liquid state to the gaseous state) then consumes heat energy drawn from the ambient environment, that is to say in surrounding the transport cage 1, and / or in the internal volume V depending on the direction of the air flow. There is therefore a lowering of the temperature of the circulating air, a direct consequence of this change of state.

According to a second embodiment illustrated by the , the capture member 51 is integrated into the tank 41.

More particularly, in this second embodiment, the capture member 51 takes the form of a porous wall 512 of said reservoir 41.

The porous wall 51 then has an outer skin located outside the reservoir 41. The outer skin forms the exposure zone 52.

In this first embodiment, the water from reservoir 41 then flows through porous wall 512, in small quantities, until it trickles onto the outer skin in the form of microdroplets. It is recalled that the outer skin forms the exposure zone 52.

The flow of air emitted by the ventilation means 53 is loaded with micro-droplets of water in contact with the exposure zone 52.

The air loaded with micro-droplets is conveyed to the animal that we are trying to cool.

The microdroplets are then deposited on the animal's coat, then evaporate by consuming part of the heat that the animal emits (in particular by radiation and conduction). This reaction, i.e. the evaporation of the microdroplets, makes it possible to cool the animal since the calories consumed for this change of state (evaporation of the microdroplets) are taken from the animal itself.

The cooling means 5 include an air circulation corridor 54, in which the flow of air coming from the ventilation means 53 is emitted. As illustrated by the , the exposure zone 52 is located in the corridor 54 of air circulation.

The corridor 54 makes it possible to direct the flow of air in a precise manner, for example towards the internal volume V or, on the contrary, outside the transport cage 1.

According to an embodiment illustrated by the , the water tank 41 is integrated into the top wall 3 and/or the peripheral wall 22. In this case, the corridor 54 is directly dug, or formed in the top wall 3 or the peripheral wall 22.

According to another embodiment illustrated by the , the cooling means 5 and the watering means 4 are located in the internal volume V of the cage 1 for transport. In this case, the corridor 54 can be formed by a tube or created between the tank 41 and one of the walls of the cage 1, for example between the tank 41 and the peripheral wall 22.

With reference to the , the transport cage 1 also comprises a control unit 6 of the cooling means 5.

The control unit 6 is configured to control the ventilation means 53 between an active configuration favoring the cooling of the cage 1, and an inactive configuration favoring the watering.

Still with reference to the , the transport cage 1 also comprises a unit 7 for storing average consumption data DCM of the animal for a reference journey.

The control unit is configured for:
- acquiring a datum of volume DV of water in the tank 41;
- Acquire a remaining journey time DT datum;
- calculating a remaining consumption datum DCR from the volume datum DV and the time datum DT,
- comparing the remaining consumption data DCR with the average consumption data DCM, and
- control the means of ventilation 53.

The ventilation means 53 are controlled via a CP control setpoint transmitted by the control unit 6.

The ventilation means 53 are controlled in the active configuration if the remaining consumption datum DCR is greater than the average consumption datum DCM, or in the inactive configuration if the remaining consumption datum DCR is less than or equal to the average consumption datum DCM.

This makes it possible to promote the watering of the animal when the quantity of water remaining in the reservoir 41 is limited, hydration being essential compared to cooling.

By way of example, the water volume data DV in the tank 41 can be transmitted to the control unit 6 by a capacity gauge 8 integrated in the water tank 41, and the journey time data DT remaining can be transmitted to the control unit 6 by an on-board computer 9 of the vehicle in which the transport cage 1 is located.

Still with reference to the , the control unit 6 is also configured to acquire an instantaneous temperature datum DTI and weight the calculation of the remaining consumption datum DCR as a function of a reference temperature curve.

Thus, if the heat is too high, which means a potential overconsumption of water by the animal for its hydration, the remaining consumption datum DCR can be reduced to cut off the cooling means 5, that is to say control the ventilation means 53 in inactive configuration.

By way of example, the instantaneous temperature data DTI can be supplied to the control unit 6 via a temperature sensor 10 integrated into the transport cage 1 or to the vehicle in which the cage 1 is located. transport.

In addition, the control unit 6 can be configured to acquire electrical energy supply data, for example the detection of the connection to a source or a remaining battery level.

From this supply datum, the control unit 6 can then increase or decrease (or even stop) the refreshing intensity as a function of the remaining travel time.

The control unit 6 can also be coupled to a computer or a smartphone via a wireless network, in order to allow the calculation parameters to be modulated as needed, continuously or occasionally.

Claims

Cage (1) for transporting animals, having an internal volume (V) for receiving the animals, and watering means (4) comprising a water tank (41),
characterized in that it also comprises cooling means (5) including:
- a capture device (51) for the water contained in the water tank (41),
- an exposure zone (52) capable of being moistened at the surface by water captured by the capture member (51);
- ventilation means (53) capable of generating an air flow and positioned so as to direct the air flow towards the exposure zone (52).
Cage (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the exposure zone (52) is carried by the capture member (51).
Cage (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the capture member (51) is in the form of a wick (511) capturing water from the reservoir (41) by capillarity, said wick (511) having a first part extending inside the reservoir (41) of water, and a second part extending outside the reservoir (41) of water, the second part of the wick (511) including the zone of exhibition (52).
Cage (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the wick (511) is in the form of a ribbon.
Cage (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the capture member (51) is integrated into the reservoir (41) and takes the form of a porous wall (512) of the said reservoir (41), the porous wall ( 512) having an outer skin located outside the reservoir (41), the outer skin forming the exposure zone (52).
Cage (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, to delimit the internal volume (V):
- a bottom wall (21),
- a top wall (3), and
- a peripheral wall (22) extending between the bottom wall (21) and the top wall (3),
the peripheral wall (22) including a plurality of side panels, at least one of which is movable to form an access door to the internal volume (V).
Cage (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the water reservoir (41) is integrated into the top wall (3) and/or into the peripheral wall (22).
Cage (1) according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, characterized in that the cooling means (5) are integrated into the top wall (3) and/or the peripheral wall (22), the cooling means ( 5) incorporating a corridor (54) for circulation of the air flow generated by the ventilation means (53), the exposure zone (52) being located in said corridor (54).
Cage (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises a control unit (6) for the cooling means (5), the control unit (6) being configured to control the cooling means ventilation (53) between an active configuration promoting cooling of the transport cage (1), and an inactive configuration promoting watering.
Cage (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it also comprises a storage unit (7) of average consumption data (DCM) of the animal for a reference route,
and in that the control unit (6) is configured for:
- acquire a data volume (DV) of water in the tank;
- Acquiring a time datum (DT) of the remaining journey;
- calculate a remaining consumption data (DCR) from the volume data (DV) and the time data (DT),
- compare the remaining consumption data (DCR) with the average consumption data (DCM), and
- controlling the ventilation means (53) in active configuration if the remaining consumption data (DCR) is greater than the average consumption data (DCM), or in inactive configuration if the remaining consumption data (DCR) is less than or equal to the average consumption data (DCM).