Device for automatically controlling exhaust flow to a rack for animal cages

• US 6,357,393 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allentown, LLC
• Original Assignee: Allentown Caging Equipment Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Herdt, Frank J., Bilecki, Brian M., Coiro, Michael A. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nelson, Judith A.
• Application Number:
  US09/605,449
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 119/457, 119/418, 119/416, 119/419
• US Class Current: 119/419
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/031 Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for automatically controlling exhaust flow to a ventilated rack of animal cages when an air inlet system, such as an air supply blower, to the rack is not operating. Accordingly, the device can be used in a system that assures that the ventilation system is balanced when one or more of the ventilated racks are removed from their respective air supplies. The device includes a damper housing that is adapted to be connected between an exhaust outlet of the ventilated rack and an exhaust system. A movable damper is positioned within the damper housing and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the device creates a partial obstruction to air flow in the connection.

Claims

1. A device for controlling exhaust flow from an exhaust system to a ventilated rack of animal cages, said ventilated rack having an exhaust outlet and air inlet system, said device comprising:

a damper housing adapted to be connected between said exhaust outlet and said exhaust system;

a movable damper positioned within said damper housing; and

actuator means for moving said movable damper being between an open and a closed position,

wherein said actuator means moves said movable damper into an open position when the air inlet system is operating and said movable damper is moved into a partially closed position when said air inlet system is not operating and in said closed position said damper obstructs said exhaust flow from flowing to said exhaust outlet of said ventilated rack.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said damper housing comprises a hollow tube and said damper is a damper panel having a circular shape.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said damper housing has an inner diameter D₁, said damper panel has an outer diameter D₂ and said outer diameter D₂ is about 75% to about 95% of said inner diameter D₁.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said outer diameter D₂ is about 90% of said inner diameter D₁.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said damper comprises:

a damper panel coupled to a damper control rod, said damper control rod extending through an aperture in said damper housing, said damper control rod adapted to be rotated for moving said damper panel into said open position wherein said damper panel is substantially vertically positioned or vertically angulated within said damper housing and said closed position wherein said damper panel is substantially horizontal within said damper housing.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein said actuator means comprises a linear actuator coupled to an actuator shaft, said linear actuator extending and retracting said actuator shaft, said actuator shaft being coupled to said damper control rod.

7. The device according to claim 6 further comprising:

a damper interface electrically connected to said linear actuator, said damper interface adapted to receive a signal from an air inlet interface, said signal including information indicating either that the air inlet system is operating or that the air inlet system is not operating, the damper interface activating the linear actuator upon receiving the signal indicating that the air inlet system is operating for moving the damper panel into the open position and the damper interface deactivating the linear actuator upon receiving the signal indicating that the air inlet system is not operating for moving the damper panel into the closed position.

8. A system for controlling exhaust flow to at least one ventilated rack of animal cages having an exhaust outlet, said system comprising:

an exhaust system for removing the exhaust from said at least one ventilated rack;

at least one damper housing connected to said exhaust system;

a movable damper positioned within said damper housing;

actuator means for moving said movable damper being between an open and a closed position; and

at least one air inlet system supplying air to said at least one ventilated rack,

wherein said actuator means moves said movable damper into an open position when the air inlet system is operating and said movable damper is moved into a closed position when said air inlet system is not operating and in said closed position said damper obstructs said exhaust flow from flowing to said exhaust outlet of said ventilated rack from said exhaust system.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said damper comprises:

a damper panel coupled to a damper control rod, said damper control rod extending through an aperture in said damper housing, said damper control rod adapted to be rotated for moving said damper panel into said open position wherein said damper panel is substantially vertically positioned or vertically angulated within said damper housing and said closed position wherein said damper panel is substantially horizontal within said damper housing.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said actuator means comprises a linear actuator coupled to an actuator shaft, said linear actuator extending and retracting said actuator shaft, said actuator shaft being coupled to said damper control rod.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

an air inlet interface providing a signal including information indicating either that the air inlet system is operating or that the air inlet system is not operating.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a damper interface receiving said signal from said air inlet interface, the damper interface activating the linear actuator upon receiving the signal indicating that the air inlet system is operating for moving the damper panel into the open position and the damper interface deactivating the linear actuator upon not receiving the signal indicating that the air inlet system is operating for moving the damper panel into the closed position.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein said damper housing comprises a hollow tube and said damper is a damper panel having a circular shape.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said damper housing has an inner diameter D₁, said damper panel has an outer diameter D₂ and said outer diameter D₂ is about 75% to 95% of said inner diameter D₁.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said outer diameter D₂ is about 90% of said inner diameter D₁.