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Title: Automatic device for the maintenance of small animals
Claims: We claim: 1. An automatic device for rational management of small animals comprising, a frame, at least one pair of separate apertured cages for retaining small animals removably mounted on said frame in adjacent spaced locations, means for supplying drinking water to said cages; means for supplying fodder to said cages including a common fodder supply conveyor mounted in said frame between said cages and having a pair of feed tubes extending therefrom, said feed tubes each including a feeding bowl mounted on the end thereof remote from said conveyor and extending into its associated cage through an aperture in a side wall thereof, and means mounted in said frame for receiving and automatically removing dung falling from said cages; each of said feed bowls having a bottom, side, and top wall and wherein the top wall has an opening therein through which the animals feed, said feed tube being connected to and in communication with the feed bowl through the top wall thereof whereby fodder supplied to said bowl through the tubes rises only to the level of the top wall; the bottom wall of the bowl having thin slots formed therein to allow only fodder fines to pass therethrough; and said water supply means including a water supply valve having an inlet port and an outlet spout formed; and a valve seat formed therein between said inlet port and outlet spout; a valve closure element mounted in said valve upstream from said seat; spring means for biasing said closure element against said seat to normally close said spout; a control pin secured in said closure element and extending through and beyond said spout to a point where it is exposed for actuation by an animal such that angular movement thereof tilts the closure member and opens the valve; said valve having a by-pass passage formed therein providing communication between said inlet port and said spout around said closure member, and an adjusting screw threadably mounted in the valve with an end thereof extending into said passageway for selectively opening and closing the passageway and controlling the flow of water therethrough whereby a small continuous supply of water can pass through said spout when the valve is closed by said closure member. 2. The automatic device for the management of animals as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for supplying drinking water includes a drinking nipple. 3. The automatic device for the management of animals as defined in claim 1 wherein said cage is generally rectangular and has ventilation openings formed therein only on two of its perpendicularly adjacent side walls, has dung discharge openings in its bottom wall and has openings in another of its side walls for said water and fodder supply means. 4. The automatic device for the management of animals as defined in claim 3 wherein the side walls of each of said cages have upper edges defining an open top for their respective cage, said edges being flanged outwardly; said frame including a plurality of pairs of spaced support elements and said cages being respectively positioned between said support elements and having their flanged edges removably positioned in supporting engagement therewith. 5. The automatic device as defined in claim 1 wherein a portion of the by-pass passageway and the end of the adjusting screw are both conically shaped to tightly mate with one another and form a seal. 6. The automatic device as defined in claim 5 wherein the valve body is made of stainless steel. 7. The automatic device as defined in claim 6 wherein said adjusting screw is made of plastic. Other info: Inventors: Beltz, Heinrich (Lahn, DT) Application Number: 533655 Filing Date: 1974-12-17 Publication_date: 1976-06-29 Assignee: Behringwerke Aktiengesellschaft (Marburg, Lahn, DT) Primary Class(es): 119/476 119/72.5 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Chamblee, Hugh R. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Curtis, Morris & Safford |
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