Apparatus for producing electrical energy within the body of a ruminant

• US 5,634,432 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andris A. Kveps, Geoffrey A. Deboer, Gerald E O'Grady, Norman J. Ward
• Original Assignee: Andris A. Kveps, Geoffrey A. Deboer, Gerald E O'Grady, Norman J. Ward
• Inventors: Kveps, Andris A., DeBoer, Geoffrey A., Ward, Norman J., O'Grady, Gerald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABBOTT, YVONNE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US08/471,321
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 119/51.02, 119/174, 128/899, 128/631, 128/903
• US Class Current: 119/174
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/007 Boluses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

The need to positively identify ownership of cattle is well recognized and understood and has given rise to the practice of hot iron branding. This method, however, has proven less than satisfactory and a variety of alternate methods have been explored with varying degrees of success. One such method utilizes a transponder encased in a pellet and deposited in the cow'"'"'s reticulum where it remains until slaughter. This method, lacking an active source of electrical energy, is severely limited in its range of data transmission and in addition is unable to power other sensors for monitoring various bodily functions such as temperature. The present invention discloses a method and apparatus which overcomes these shortcomings by providing an active source of electrical power within the reticulum of the animal and which comprises an elongate, cylindrical zinc tube closed at one end and having an integral dividing wall with an elongate solid carbon rod extending coaxially therethrough. A first chamber in the zinc tube is coated with an insulating material such as plastic, which insulating material seals the carbon rod'"'"'s passage through the dividing wall. The zinc tube first chamber is filled with a compaction of Manganese Dioxide which completely encases the carbon rod. A membrane, porous to the animal'"'"'s digestive fluids covers the opening in the zinc tube and admits digestive fluids into the first chamber. The structure thus formed is essentially a single electrochemical cell capable of generating electrical energy. A second chamber in the zinc tube houses electronic circuitry which boosts the electrical power output of the cell to levels usable by a variety of additional electronics capable of monitoring bodily functions and transmitting this information along with animal identification information to a base station within a range of between 20 and 30 feet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing electrical energy within the body of a ruminant comprising:

elongate tubular casing means having a first internal chamber means and a second internal chamber means, the casing means forming a first electrical cell electrode;

a second electrical cell electrode contained within the casing means first internal chamber and electrically insulated from the first electrical cell electrode;

electron collection means co-axial with the casing means, the collection means extending through the first internal chamber means and into the second internal chamber means;

means for introducing digestive fluids to the first chamber means;

electrical circuit means for converting the electrical energy produced by the combination of the first electrical cell electrode, the second electrical cell electrode and the digestive fluids to a magnitude sufficient to power additional circuitry contained within the second internal chamber means; and

means for charging the electrical circuit means prior to normal operation of the electrical circuit means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second electrical cell electrode comprises powdered and compacted manganese dioxide.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electron collection means comprises an elongate, solid and generally cylindrical carbon rod.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for introducing digestive fluids to the first internal chamber means comprises a porous membrane, the membrane covering an opening to the interior of the first internal chamber means.