Ventilated rack and animal cage system

Abstract

An animal cage rack includes a forced air system for removing air from the periphery of the animal cages. The rack includes "U" shape guides for positioning and aligning each cage with respect to a positive ventilating probe and an automatic watering device. Each cage includes a top bonnet section, a bottom section which supports the bonnet around the periphery thereof, a flat rim wire bar lid, and a filter in the bonnet. An L-shaped spacer separates the bonnet from the bottom section so that air exhaust ports in the Unshaped guide can remove exhausted air from the periphery of the cage. Positive air supplied by an air inlet manifold is introduced through an aperture in the bonnet and the L-shaped bracket, to the top of each cage. A downwardly facing port in the air tube forces air toward the bottom of the cage which after it circulates is removed through the periphery by the exhaust ports in the Unshaped cage guides. In an alternate embodiment, the bonnet has a solid upper surface to prevent air from escaping through the top of the bonnet.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.