Apparatus for producing electrical energy within the body of a ruminant

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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.