JP2004236584A - Device for regulating environment for living thing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for regulating the environment for a living thing, usable by being attached to an arbitrary box for raising or transporting the living thing, having excellent generality and attachability, and also having excellent ability, or the like, for regulating the temperature in the interior of the box. <P>SOLUTION: The device for regulating the environment for the living thing is used by being attached to the outside of the box for storing the living thing, and keeps the interior of the box so as to have the environment suitable for the growth of the living thing. The device is provided with an outer frame part having two or more opening parts in the face laid on the box, a temperature regulator for regulating the temperature of the air in the interior of the outer frame part, and a circulator for circulating the air in the interior of the outer frame part and the air in the interior of the box through the opening parts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a biological environment control device for holding a temperature environment and the like inside a box for breeding or transporting an organism such as an animal, a plant, or an insect, and particularly, a birdhouse for pollinating insects such as bumblebees. This is a biological environment adjustment device that is used by attaching it to a biological environment.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Organisms such as animals, plants, and insects greatly differ in their growth environments depending on their types, and when breeding or transporting them, it is necessary to simulate environments such as temperature and humidity suitable for each. Conventionally, since boxes and the like are used for breeding and transportation, the inside temperature and humidity are adjusted by electrical means and the like to optimize the environment, and the boxes are attached so as to cover these boxes themselves. Equipment for adjusting the environment has been developed and used.
An example of a conventional apparatus for performing such environmental adjustment is a thermostatic box used for pollinating insects such as bumblebees. In recent years, in the cultivation of tomatoes and eggplants, the use of bumblebees for pollen transmission has been increased with the aim of improving productivity and quality. The temperature is adjusted to be about 10 ° C. to 25 ° C. which is a temperature suitable for performing the pollination activity (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
A conventionally disclosed thermostatic box for pollinating insects such as bumblebees will be described with reference to FIG.
The constant temperature box 8 accommodates bumblebee nest boxes 10 in an outer box body 9 that has been heat-insulated, and attaches an upper lid section 11 provided with a temperature control means such as an electronic cooling element to adjust the internal temperature of the box bodies. Thus, the inside of the hive 10 is maintained in an environment suitable for bumblebees to be active. Here, the bumblebee nest box 10 placed inside the thermostatic box 8 is a commercially available one, and usually contains one queen bee and ten working bees, and feeds food such as honey at the bottom. A bait box is provided, a bee doorway is formed on the side wall surface, and a slit for taking in air is formed on the upper surface. The temperature adjusting means cools the metal plate 12 by the electronic cooling element and adjusts the temperature of the air in the box, and prevents water droplets generated by condensation on the metal plate from falling into the nest box 10. Therefore, oil paper 13 and the like are placed on the nest box 10. In addition, in order to allow the bees to freely enter and exit the nest box 10 during pollination activities, an opening 14 is formed on the side surface of the outer box body 9 in accordance with the entrance position formed in the nest box 10 (for example, a patent). Reference 2).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 3018150 (paragraph [0009])
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2003-88 (paragraphs [0014] to [0019])
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the above-mentioned constant-temperature box has a structure that covers the entire nest box, it is not possible to directly check the state of bees in the nest box and feed it, and it is necessary to remove the nest box from the constant-temperature box once. There's a problem. In addition, there is a problem in that the entire thermostatic box becomes large due to the structure, and it is inconvenient to carry it at the time of installation, movement and the like.
It is necessary to cool or heat the entire thermostatic chamber in order to control the temperature inside the hive, and when using the above-mentioned electronic cooling element, the amount of power consumption is larger than when only the inside of the hive is targeted. There is a problem that efficiency is poor.
Also, by placing the oil paper 13 or the like, water droplets due to dew condensation can be prevented from directly entering the nest box. However, since it takes time until moisture is discharged to the outside of the constant temperature box, the humidity in the box increases. There is a problem that mold is easily generated.
In addition, as a usage form of these constant temperature boxes, they are often used outdoors, and if they are kept as they are, rainwater may enter the inside of the device at the time of rainfall and electronic parts etc. may be damaged, so the user makes his own umbrella etc. There is a problem that it is necessary.
[0006]
Other than the constant temperature box such as the bumblebee described above, in the case where the box itself is provided with a temperature control device, etc., in addition to the problem that the unit price of the box becomes high, there are many things dedicated to specific organisms and lack versatility There is a problem.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in order to address such a problem, and can be used by being attached to an arbitrary box for breeding or transporting an organism, is excellent in versatility and attachability, and has an interior inside the box. It is an object of the present invention to provide a biological environment control device excellent in temperature control ability and the like.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The biological environment adjustment device of the present invention is a biological environment adjustment device that is attached to the outside of a box for containing an organism and is used to maintain the inside of the box in an environment suitable for the growth of the organism, An outer frame having a plurality of openings on a surface attached to the box, temperature adjusting means for adjusting an air temperature inside the outer frame, air inside the outer frame, and air inside the box; And circulating means for circulating through the opening. Further, the box is a nest box for storing pollinating insects such as bumblebees.
The circulating means is a blower installed near the opening inside the outer frame and for flowing air from the box body toward the inner side of the outer frame.
[0009]
By adopting a structure attached to the box, the whole can be reduced in size as compared with a case where the box is stored in a thermostatic box or the like. In addition, by providing a circulating means for circulating the air inside the outer frame portion and the air inside the box body, the volume of air requiring temperature adjustment can be minimized, and stagnation of air inside the box body can be prevented. It is not possible to make the temperature uniform.
[0010]
The temperature control means uses an electronic element that generates or absorbs heat when energized.
By using the electronic element, the entire device can be reduced in size. In addition, by changing the voltage and the like, cooling, heating, and the strength thereof can be adjusted, so that the temperature can be easily adjusted.
[0011]
The outer frame portion has a structure in which water droplets generated inside the outer frame portion are drained outside of the outer frame portion other than the box body side.
With this structure, the generated water droplets are discharged to the outside of the apparatus, whereby the intrusion of water into the box and an increase in humidity are suppressed, and the generation of mold inside the box can be prevented.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The environment controlling apparatus for living things of the present invention is a box for putting in living things, for example, a nesting box for pollinating insects such as bumblebees, a breeding box for summer insects such as stag beetles and beetles, a breeding box for pets living in tropical inhabitants, an egg creature It is used as a device that is attached to an incubator, a pet house such as a cat, a pet transfer box such as a vehicle, and the like to adjust the temperature inside the device, or a device suitable for growing a plant. In particular, the present invention is used by being attached to a birdhouse for pollinating insects such as bumblebees among the above-listed ones.
[0013]
One embodiment of the biological environment adjusting device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the biological environment adjusting device of the present invention attached to the upper part of a bumblebee nest box, and FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the main body of the biological environment adjusting device in FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the main body as viewed from above, FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the main body as viewed from the back, and FIG. The perspective views with the lid removed are shown.
The apparatus main body 1 has an outer frame 2 in contact with the upper surface of the bumble bee hive 5, and an electronic element for adjusting the internal air temperature of the outer frame, a heat sink 3b, and a cooling fan 3c. Means 3 and a blower fan 4 as a circulating means are provided inside the outer frame portion 2. Further, a power supply device 1a for driving the electronic element, the blower fan 4, and the like is mounted.
The bumble bee hive 5 is similar to the above-mentioned conventional one and is generally available on the market. The bee hive 5 contains a queen bee and a worker bee. The lower part of the bee hive 5 is provided with a feed stand 5a for feeding adult food such as sugar water. In addition, a bee entrance / exit 5b is formed on the side wall surface, and a slit for taking in air is formed on the upper surface.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, the outer frame portion 2 is composed of a side plate 2 a made of a heat insulating material and an inner lid 2 b provided on the side attached to the nest box 5. For heat insulation, each part may be molded with a heat insulating material itself such as expanded polyester or expanded polystyrene, or may have a structure in which a heat insulating material is laminated on a normal metal material or the like. The inner lid 2b has an opening 2c for circulating the air in the apparatus and the air in the nest box 5 attached thereto. Further, a temperature sensor 3h for measuring the temperature of the air circulating between the nest box 5 and the apparatus main body 1 is disposed near the opening 2c.
Since the nest box 5 has a slit for air intake formed on the upper surface thereof, the present device is attached to the upper surface, and the above-described opening 2c is formed on the inner lid 2b on the outer frame attaching surface side. Thus, air can be circulated between the outer frame portion and the nest box. In addition, when attaching to an arbitrary box other than the bumblebee nest box 5 and not having an opening such as a slit on the upper surface of the box, an opening is provided at an appropriate position of the box. To use.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 1 has a structure that is directly attached to the upper surface of the nest box 5 and does not protrude outside the upper surface. Therefore, the size of the apparatus and the nest box can be reduced. As a result, portability becomes easy, and installation in a narrow space becomes possible.
In addition, since it is attached to only one surface of the nest box, the nest box can be easily removed and the state of a bee can be easily observed. Since the apparatus does not interfere with the nest box side surface at all, when the heat insulation of the nest box is insufficient, an arbitrary amount of heat insulating material can be reinforced on this side surface. In addition, since it does not interfere with the bait table 5a of the nest box, bait can be exchanged with the device attached. Further, it is not necessary to provide an opening for the entrance of the bee in the constant temperature box as in the related art and to communicate this with the entrance of the beehive, and the bee can directly enter and exit from the entrance 5b of the hive.
[0016]
The temperature adjusting means 3 and the circulating means will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.
The temperature control means 3 includes a Peltier element 3a, which is an electronic element for cooling and heating, a heat sink 3b arranged outside the outer frame portion 2 while being in contact with an upper surface 3e serving as a heat radiation surface of the element during cooling. A cooling fan 3c for air-cooling the heat sink 3b, and a cooling plate 3d disposed inside the outer frame portion 2 while being in contact with a lower surface 3f serving as a cooling surface of the element via a spacer 3g.
The spacer 3g is a heat conductor such as aluminum or copper, and is provided to ensure heat insulation between the heat radiation side and the cooling side.
In addition, it is preferable to apply a heat conductive grease to each contact surface of the heat sink 3b, the Peltier element 3a, the spacer 3g, and the cooling plate 3d in order to eliminate an air layer and perform efficient heat transfer.
In the Peltier device, the heat generation surface and the heat absorption surface are reversed by reversing the direction of current supply, and cooling and heating can be switched.
[0017]
The temperature control means 3 may be any means capable of performing cooling and heating so that the air inside the outer frame portion 2 and the inside of the nest box 5 has a predetermined temperature. Except for the electronic elements described above, a cooling / heating device using a refrigerant gas is used. Etc. can be used. It is preferable to use the above-mentioned Peltier element because it can be made compact and temperature control can be easily performed by a power supply voltage.
When attached to the bumble bee hive which is the main embodiment of the present invention, the activity of the bumble bee is high in low-temperature activity, the optimal activity temperature is 10 ° C. to 25 ° C., and the activity becomes remarkably dull at a high temperature exceeding 30 ° C., The main purpose of the temperature control means 3 is to cool, because it has the characteristic that it hardly visits flowers at 35 ° C. or higher, and that crops such as target tomatoes pollinate mainly in summer.
[0018]
The flow of air inside the apparatus 1 and inside the hive by the circulating means will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. FIG. 4A shows the flow of air as viewed from above the device, FIG. 4B shows the flow of air as viewed from the side of the device and the nest box, and FIGS. 5A and 5B show the flow of circulating air. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD when a partition plate is provided as a current plate.
A blower fan 4 serving as a circulating means is arranged near one side of the opening 2 c of the inner lid inside the outer frame 2, and flows air from the nest box side toward the inside of the outer frame 2. With this arrangement, an air flow indicated by an arrow in the drawing is generated, and the air inside the nest box 5 and the air inside the outer frame portion 2 whose temperature is adjusted by the temperature adjusting means are circulated (FIG. 4B )reference). That is, the air in the nest box 5 is drawn into the inside of the outer frame part 2 through the one opening 2c by the blower fan 4, circulates through the inside while being cooled by the cooling plate 3d, and then again into the nest box from the other opening 2c. It is exhausted (see FIGS. 3 and 4A).
[0019]
During air circulation, it is preferable to provide a partition plate 2e as shown in FIG. 5 in order to eliminate a stagnation of the air inside the outer frame portion 2 and to achieve a stable air flow. By providing the partition plate, when the blower fan 4 is driven, air flows in a certain direction indicated by arrows in FIGS. 3, 4A, and 5, and thermal efficiency is improved. Also, as shown in FIG. 5A, the cooling plate has a mountain-like structure in accordance with the laminar air flow, and the thermal efficiency is greatly increased by arranging the mountain-like peaks alternately. To improve.
It should be noted that a plurality of blower fans 4 may be used when higher circulation capacity is required. For example, by providing a blower fan for flowing air in the discharge direction near the discharge-side opening as well as the suction-side opening into the outer frame portion 2, the circulation capacity is improved.
[0020]
A method of adjusting the temperature in the nest box 5 by the temperature adjusting means 3 and the circulating means will be described. The temperature is measured by the temperature sensor 3h attached to the inside of the outer frame portion 2, and the power is turned on and off, or the direction of the current is automatically switched as necessary so that the inside of the nest box 5 maintains a predetermined set temperature. . By providing the temperature sensor 3h on the cooling fan 4 side of the outer frame opening 2c as shown in FIG. 2, the air temperature immediately after being sucked from the nest box 5 can be measured, and the temperature inside the nest box 5 can be accurately determined. be able to. In order to more accurately adjust the inside of the nest box 5 to the set temperature, it is preferable to attach the temperature sensor 3h inside the nest box 5.
The temperature of the circulating air is measured by the temperature sensor 3h, and the temperature is adjusted by automatically switching between the cooling and the heating, so that the apparatus can be used year-round without turning off the power.
[0021]
By using the temperature adjusting method using the circulating means, the volume of air to be cooled or heated need only be the same as the internal volume of the nest box 5 and the outer frame portion 2. It is less efficient than one using a thermostat. In the case where the temperature adjusting means using an electronic element is used, the maintenance cost can be significantly reduced with a decrease in power consumption.
In addition, by forcibly circulating the air, the temperature inside the nest box and the humidity can be made uniform without local stagnation of the air.
[0022]
During cooling, water droplets are generated due to condensation on the cooling plate 3d, and the water droplets accumulate on the inner lid 2b. A drain port 2d is formed on the side surface of the outer frame 2 as shown in FIG. Further, in order to prevent water droplets accumulated on the inner lid 2b from entering the inside of the nest box 5, the inner lid 2b is inclined slightly toward the opposite side with the opening 2c side slightly upward. It is preferable to provide the drain port 2d at the opposite part.
With this structure, water droplets and the like generated by dew condensation inside the outer frame portion 2 can be quickly drained to the outside, and an increase in humidity inside the outer frame portion 2 and inside the nest box 5 can be suppressed. As a result, problems such as the occurrence of mold in the birdhouse or on the bait can be solved.
[0023]
A power supply device 1b for driving an electronic element, a blower fan, or the like is provided with an external power supply when fixedly installed and used for a long time, such as a bumble bee hive, and a portable power supply such as a battery with a pet transfer box. Can be used.
[0024]
Another embodiment of the biological environment adjusting device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a biological environment control apparatus in which a rain roof and a transport outer box are added to the embodiment shown in FIG.
By attaching the rain protection roof 6 to the upper part of the apparatus main body 1, breakage of electronic components and the like due to rainwater intrusion during outdoor use can be prevented. Further, since the device 1 itself is attached to the upper surface of the nest box 5, it is possible to prevent rainwater from entering the nest box 5 at the same time. By fixing the outer box 7 and the apparatus 1 by using the outer box 7 for transportation, it is more stable than the case where only the nest box 5 is solidified in the apparatus 1, and the apparatus 1 and the nest box 5 are transported. Separation can be prevented. In addition, by using a heat insulating material for the outer box 7, a heat insulating effect can be obtained. In this case, it is necessary to provide an opening in the exterior box in accordance with the bee entrance and exit 5b of the nest box 5 to secure the entrance of the bee.
Further, in the present embodiment, the bait table 5c for holding pollen, which is bait for larvae, can be slidably removed from the side of the apparatus.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
The environment control apparatus for living things of the present invention is used by being attached to the outside of a box for putting living things, for example, a nest box for putting pollinating insects such as bumblebees, and the inside of the box is suitable for growing the living things. A biological environment adjusting device for maintaining an environment, wherein the outer frame portion has a plurality of openings on a surface attached to the box, temperature adjusting means for adjusting the air temperature inside the outer frame portion, Since there is provided a circulating means for circulating the air inside the outer frame and the air inside the box through the opening, the overall size can be reduced as compared with a case where the box is housed in a thermostatic box or the like. In addition, the circulating means that circulates the air inside the outer frame and the air inside the box can minimize the volume of air that needs temperature adjustment and minimizes the volume of air inside the box. Temperature.
[0026]
Since the temperature adjusting means uses an electronic element that generates or absorbs heat when energized, it is possible to reduce the size of the entire apparatus. In addition, by changing the voltage and the like, cooling, heating, and the strength thereof can be adjusted, so that the temperature can be easily adjusted.
Since the outer frame has a structure in which water droplets generated inside are drained to the outside of the box other than the side of the box, intrusion of water into the box and an increase in humidity are suppressed, and mold inside the box is prevented. Can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a biological environment control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main body of the biological environment adjusting device.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA and a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the air circulation inside the biological environment control device and inside the birdhouse.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line CC and a line DD in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a biological environment control apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional biological environment adjustment device using a thermostatic box.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Device main body part 2 Outer frame part 3 Temperature control means 4 Blower fan 5 Birdhouse 6 Rainproof roof 7 Exterior box

Claims (5)

An environment adjusting device for living beings, which is attached to the outside of a box for containing living things and is used to maintain the inside of the box in an environment suitable for growing the living things,
An outer frame portion having a plurality of openings on a surface attached to the box, a temperature adjusting means for adjusting an air temperature inside the outer frame, and air inside the outer frame and air inside the box. And a circulating means for circulating through the opening. 2. The biological environment control device according to claim 1, wherein the box is a nest box for receiving pollinated insects. The biological environment control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature control unit includes an electronic element that generates or absorbs heat when energized. The biological environment control according to claim 1, wherein the outer frame portion has a structure for draining water droplets generated inside the outer frame portion to the outside of the outer frame portion other than the box body side. 5. apparatus. The air circulation device according to claim 1, wherein the circulation unit is a blower installed near the opening inside the outer frame and flowing air from the box body toward the inner side of the outer frame. The biological environment control device according to any one of claims 4 to 7.

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