Animal husbandry – Watering or liquid feed device
Patent
1981-07-27
1983-02-15
Chamblee, Hugh R.
Animal husbandry
Watering or liquid feed device
119 725, 250221, A01K 700
Patent
active
043734715
ABSTRACT:
A method of measuring the liquid consumption of a laboratory animal is disclosed which does not involve passage of an electric current through its body. Instead, a drinking station is established within which the end of a drinking tube is located. The tube is supplied from a reservoir and a meniscus of liquid is present at its end. A photo-electric source and a photo-electric cell are provided as companion units. The beam emanating from the source is directed so that, en route to the cell, it passes the distal end of the tube. The tube and the beam are adjusted with respect to each other so that the beam of light is broken only when the animal is drinking, whether it is of a species which drinks by licking or by sucking. Output of the cell is linked to a counter thus enabling liquid consumption to be monitored.
An apparatus for measuring the liquid consumption of a laboratory animal is also disclosed. This apparatus comprises a plate which generally defines a planar perimeter of a drinking station. In the drinking station there is positioned the distal end of a feeding tube, the proximal end of which is connected to a source of liquid located outside of the station. A photo-electric cell and a companion photo-electric source are provided as well as means for guiding, piping or directing the beam of light en route from source to cell past the distal end of the tube. Means are also provided for adjusting the position of the beam with respect to the end of the tube. The output of the cell is linked to a counter. Breaking of the beam occurs only when the animal is drinking and the number of times the beam is broken triggers the counter and enables monitoring of consumption patterns.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3540413 (1970-11-01), Castaigne
patent: 3693590 (1972-09-01), Bowers
patent: 3782334 (1974-01-01), Leon et al.
Chamblee Hugh R.
Moyerman Ruth
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