Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting eggs with injection liquid includes arranging a plurality of eggs in an egg tray, moving the egg-filled tray to an injection station, injecting liquid into the eggs by effecting relative movement between the tray and a plurality of injection needles such that a needle pierces each egg and by forcing injection liquid through each needle into the respective egg, heat-sealing the injection hole in each egg by effecting relative movement between the tray and a plurality of heating devices which apply sufficient heat at the location of the injection hole in each egg to solidify albumin at the hole, applying a coating of liquid hardenable sealing material to the exterior of each egg shell at the location of the injection hole by effecting relative movement between the tray and a source of the sealing material.

Abstract: An electric fish-scaring device for water inlet and extraction structures contains several main and counter-electrodes below the surface of the water and which are connected to a voltage supply unit. To monitor operation, at least one simulator electrode is positioned at a predetermined distance in front of the main electrodes.

Abstract: Artemia (14,90) are kept under such conditions as high density in a flowing aqua-culture (2) that either nauplii (90) or cysts (14) are deposited as offspring (14,90).A treatment inducing cyclic cysts production consists of a cyclic reduction of the oxygen concentration of the flowing aqua-culture (2).A device (1,44) for depositing only one selected type of offspring (14,90) comprises for the production of cysts (14) inducing means (12,53,64,67) for the cyclic reduction of the oxygen concentration.A packing (67) of such offspring (14,90) is provided with a label (68) indicating a specification predetermined by the conditions the flowing aqua-culture (2) had been operated at.Methods for feeding Artemia (14,90) are characterized by the use of agricultural derivatives (7) and/or chicken manure (7).A method for preparing food (14,90) is characterized by the use of nauplii (90) and/or cysts (14) produced in the flowing aqua-culture (2) and/or by the use of particles coated with a food additive.

Abstract: A conventional animal cage for housing experimental animals comprises a standard small animal shoe box with a filter bonnet modified with an auxiliary disposable sterile filter connected to a source of pressurized air so as to permit a forced circulation of air through the sterile filter and through an air filter sheet in the filter bonnet so as to permit only the exhausting of gases from the chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a feed conveyor for receiving feed and depositing it into a feeder bunk. It includes a hopper for receiving feed and depositing it upon a motor-run belt conveyor. Disposed between the upper or load-carrying flight and the lower or return flight of the conveyor belt are pulleys over which is reeved a cable, rope or chain in a horizontal plane, that is, each cable flight is located laterally with respect to the opposite flight. These pulleys are run by a drive taken from the same motor as that driving the belt of the conveyor via pulleys which transfer the plane of the drive belt from the vertical to the horizontal. The cable joined into a continuous loop by a cable clamp having holes drilled in one face thereof for insertion of the cable ends and a concave semi-cylindrical depression formed in the same face so as to match closely the radius of the pulleys driving the cable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a reusable litter in a pet animal litter box which utilizes a relatively heavy non-porous, non-absorbent gravel litter material which is cleansed of animal excrements in the litter box. The excrements are dispersed in a volume of water which is rapidly transferred from a first to a second compartment of the litter box to remove the dispersed waste materials.

Abstract: A tissue retention spool is disposed on the anvil actuating rod of an intraluminal anastomotic surgical stapling instrument. Tubular tissue is gathered and held on the spool by a suture tie, thus eliminating the previously required purse-stringing procedure. The spool and rod are constructed to initially resist relative sliding motion as the spool is withdrawn into the staple carrier/cylindrical scalpel area prior to setting of staples and internal tissue excision. The combined spool and instrument serve to hold tubular tissue in an erect, closed condition, facilitating the use of closed surgical techniques, without purse-stringing, in limited access areas such as lower colon resections. Alternative spools and methods are included.

Abstract: An animal cradle comprising a frame which is adapted to be attached to the bucket of a tractor so that the cradle can be lifted and rotated about a horizontal axis with the bucket when the bucket is raised and rotated by the tractor. The frame has a back wall and an entrance opening at one end. A gate is pivotally mounted to the frame at the opposite end of the frame by extending along the front of the frame and across the entrance opening. Means are provided for supporting the animal within the cradle to enable the cradle to be rotated 90.degree. about a horizontal axis so that the back wall assumes a lower horizontal position wherein the weight of the animal is transferred from the supporting means to the back wall.

Abstract: Method of growing molluscs, such as oysters, which method comprises placing a bed of discrete oysters in a vessel through which a stream of a culture medium is caused to flow upwardly and wherein the flow rate is sufficient to maintain the oysters in suspension without causing turbulent movement in the bed.

Abstract: A pet feeding dish is provided having a base receptacle for holding a disposable liner, the receptacle having mounting means for affixing the dish to a wall such as a kitchen baseboard or the like. The means for mounting the dish to a wall comprise a male extension extending outwardly and downwardly from the side wall of the base receptacle and being removably insertable into a female bracket affixed to the wall. The female bracket may be temporarily affixed to the wall as by an adhesive or it may be permanently installed, as with screws. Multiple dish units can be provided which are joined together. The dish(es) so provided will eliminate much of the mess and spilling associated with the feeding of pets.

Abstract: A safety stirrup which has two arms arranged in a generally parallel co-extensive spaced relationship, a foot engaging base attached to one of the arms and supported by the other arm, and wherein the base and one of the arms are pivotally attached to the other arm so that upon a rider being dislodged from the saddle, the rider's foot will apply a transverse force to the stirrup thereby causing pivoting of the base to eject the rider's foot from within the stirrup.

Abstract: A cylindrically hollow housing has an inlet at its upper end and an outlet at the lower end. A valve seat having a primary bore extending axially through its center is located in the housing dividing it into an upper and a lower chamber communicating through the primary bore. A ball is freely located in the upper chamber and an operating lever extends axially through the outlet opening. The lever has a flanged head closing the outlet. The lever is resiliently biased in a first position wherein the head closes the outlet and is movable into a second position wherein the outlet is open for the passage of fluid. The valve is arranged so that when the lever is in the first position the primary bore is open for fluid flow and when the lever is in the second position the ball occludes the primary bore.

Abstract: In a support and withdrawal mechanism for milking clusters, a support pipe is positioned inside a main column in such a way that it can be rotated and moved up and down inside it. At the bottom of the support pipe is an articulated extension arm with its free end connected to the milking cluster. A clamping component that surrounds the support pipe and in the horizontal position does not impede its free motion is positioned below the main column. The clamping component is secured on one side by a spring and a sloping chain and on the other side by the piston rod of an operating cylinder. The spring, chain, and cylinder are attached to points of suspension on the main column. When the piston rod moves out, the clamping component is tilted and clamps onto the support pipe, carrying the pipe down as it moves. The sloping chain, however, allows a downward motion only if the clamping component simultaneously rotates.

Abstract: An automated feeding device for dispensing living insects to caged animals comprises a support frame detachably connected to an animal cage, a removable cassette assembly connected to the support frame and having a bottom plate with an annular portion having a smooth upper surface and a dispensing aperture therethrough, a top plate with an annular array of individual cells to hold live insects, each cell having a smooth interior surface devoid of insect grippable protrusions and an access opening for alignment with the dispensing aperture of the bottom plate with the top plate being rotatably mounted to the bottom plate for successive alignment of the access opening of the cells with the dispensing aperture and with the top plate in mating engagement with the bottom plate so that the smooth upper surface closes off the abutting access opening of the cells, the cassette assembly being removably mounted to the support frame to permit selective replacement of the cassette assembly, and an advancement mechanism f

Abstract: An improved livestock watering system is provided which is adapted to selectively circulate water between a reservoir and a drinking basin in response to the temperature of the water in the drinking basin so as to prevent water in the drinking basin from freezing during low temperature conditions, and to cool the water in the drinking basin during high temperature conditions. The livestock watering system comprises a housing, a drinking basin supported by the housing, a reservoir disposed within the ground so as to be positioned below the frostline of the ground, and a water circulation assembly for selectively circulating water between the reservoir and the drinking basin. A flow control valve, disposed in a lower portion of the drinking basin, is connected to a pressurized water source such that a substantially constant level of water is maintained in the drinking basin.

Abstract: A collector member for the vacuum hose lines and pulsator lines from the milking cups of an automatic milking machine is provided which permits connection of the vacuum hose lines to a milk line or milk pail such that milk never contacts any part of the collector member itself. The collector is advantageously used in a system in which the vacuum hose lines for the milking cups are attached to a multi-lumen milk hose with each hose line being connected to a respective lumen in the multi-lumen milk hose. The collector member is sufficiently weighted so as to provide desirable tension to the teats of the animal being milked.

Abstract: A livestock self-feeder includes a main feed storage hopper supplying feed to a retaining area in which the height of feed is constant and independent of the amount of feed in the main hopper. The feed is then dispensed from the retaining hopper through an adjustable feed gate.

Abstract: A hood (20) having a pair of ear openings (22) and eye openings (24) configured to fit the contour of an animals head. A selected eye opening (24) has a semi-rigid ball cup (34) permanently attached on the outside with a removable fabric ring (36) on the inside. The ring (36) is attached with gripper snaps (38) and a sterile gauze pad (40) is held taut over the eye opening (24) with the ring (36) creating a resilient surface to maintain the animals eye in a closed position. A tear pad (42) is positioned under the ring (36) and the hood (20) is affixed to the animals head with a pair of jowl straps (28). A conventional halter (44) is placed over the invention and a pair of upper halter straps (26) are looped and affixed over the halter. The invention keeps the animals eye closed to allow healing of an injured or infected eye.

Abstract: A corner tank especially configured to fit the contour of a corner of a room produces the optical appearance of a tank of rectangularly solid shape while occupying only one-quarter of the volume. The tank has a horizontal cross sectional profile in the shape of a right isoceles triangle and includes a front vertical member of transparent material and two side vertical members having reflective surfaces facing the interior of the tank. With the side members located adjacent and parallel to the abutting walls of the corner of a room, the tank appears, to an observer looking through the front member, to possess substantially greater volume with the increased volume appearing to extend into the walls of the corner. Tank supporting structures and hoods of congruous configuration and operation can be employed with the corner tank.

Abstract: The rack comprises a plurality of hollow, sheet metal shelves supported in spaced, horizontal planes by four tubular corner posts. Two rows of animal cages of generally box-like configuration are removably suspended beneath each shelf, with the upper, open end of each cage disposed in near sealing engagement with the underside of the shelf from which it is suspended. Each shelf is divided into three compartments which extend between opposite ends of the rack. The middle compartment of each shelf overlies adjacent portions of the cages in each of the two rows suspended therebeneath, and has in its bottom a plurality of spaced openings so that each cage is in communication at its upper end with the middle compartment. The two outer compartments of each shelf overlie, respectively, the remaining portions of the cages in the two rows thereof, and also have in their lower sides spaced openings which communicate with the interiors of the cages positioned therebeneath.