AU596371B2

AU596371B2 - Construction of floors for animal pens

Info

Publication number: AU596371B2
Application number: AU62322/86A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gregory Percival Fitzpatrick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-09-03
Filing date: 1986-09-03
Publication date: 1990-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2006-09-03
Also published as: AU6232286A

Description

COMMON EALTHOF5g 6 671Iths PATENTS ACT 1962 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FORl OFFICE USE Application Number: PH02263 Lodged: 03/09/8 -2 .tx Complete Spocillication-Lodged: Accepted: Published: Class Int. Class a C C I Related Art: C C C Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant,.

Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Complete Specification TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT GREGORY PERCIVAL FITZPATRICK Lot 1, Millar Road, Wellard, in the State of' Western Australia, Commonwealth of Abstrilia GREGORY PERCIVAL FITZPATRICK.

Wray Azsoctates, Primary Industry HIouse, 239 Adelaide Terrace, Perth, W.A. 6000 for the Invention etidlad: CONSTRUCTION OF FLOORS FOR ANIMAL. PENS" The following statemant is a full desciription of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to rno

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t C -2- THIS INVENTION relates to the construction of floors for animal pens.

Phe object of the invention is to eprvdi~\a floor for an animal pen construction which is relatively simple and inexpensive and in which the removal of excreta and other rubbish is greatly facilitated.

-In one form the invention rosides in a floor for an animal pen formed form a plurality of segments laid in sid y side relationship characterised in that each side all of each segment is cambered slightly outwardly om one side to the other or from a substanti ly ce al longitudinal line to the outer side edge and t width of the upper surface is slightly less than e width of the base so that in the assembled po tsion there is a small gap between the upper sid edges of the adjacent panels to permit material pass therethrough into a passage defined by th arcuate side walls of adjacent panels, the dimensio of the segment being such that the crosssect' nal area of the passage is considerably greater than of the gap In -~ahr-Aform the invention resides in an animal pen construction wherein the floor is formed from a plurality of segments laid in side by side relationship characterised in that each side wall of each segment is substantially arcuate, the upper surface of each segment is cambered slightly downwardly from one side to the other or. from a substantially central longitudinal line to the outer side edge and the width of the upper surface is slightly less than the width of the base so that in the assembled position there is a small gap between the upper side edges of the adjacent panels to permit material to pass therethrough into a passage\defined by the arcuate side walls of adjacent panels, the dimensions of the

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segment being such that the cross-sectional area of the passage is considerably greater than the widt4eof the gap, Peoobaa by the upper outer edges of the segment /-ar slightly arcuate to facilitate the movement of excreta into the passage.

The segments may be made from concrete or metal or plastic.

It is also preferable that the outer edges of the base of each segment are also cambered so that in the assembled c 10 position a V-shaped channel is formed at the bottom of the c passage.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of the specific embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one concrete segment used in a first embodiment segment; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view of a floor formed by a number of assembled segments of the type shown in Scc Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of an extruded metal segment.

In the embodiment shown -n Fig's. 1 and 2 of .the,drawings, each segment is provided with substantially arcuate side walls or concave side walls 11 and 12 and is substantially I-shaped in cross-section. The upper surface is cambered slightly outwardly from a central longitudinal line 13 towards the outer edges 14, whilst the base 15 is substantially flat. The width of the upper surface is slightly less than the width of the base so that when the segments are assembled as is shown in Fig. 2 of the I I rP~ -_ili -i i iiL- i~i "-~D~*LW~nC-UI -4drawings there is a gap 16 between the upper side edges of adjacent segments which extends the full length of the floor. This gap is so dimensioned that it will permit excreta and other material to pass therethrough but is not sufficiently large to enable the hoof of an animal (e.g.

pig) to pass through. a ibl upper outer edge of the side of the paL.els defining the gap are radiussed to facilitate the movement of excreta into the passage referred to hereinafter. Preferably as is shown in Fig. 2 the lower bottom edges 17 of each base are also cambered so that in the assembled position the circul.ar passage 18 defined by adjacent side walls of panels is provided at the bottom with a V-shaped channel 19. The material passing through the gap 16 falls into and Sc accumulates in the channel and it is a relatively simple t 'r C C matter to use small quantities of water to flush the Smaterial from the channel by injecting streams of water at S one end. The ends of the segments are supported on suitable foundations and the joint between adjacent c c 20 segment (the V-shaped channel 19) is sealed with a suitable mastic to form a seal as indicated by reference in Fig. 2.

C CC C C C C Cr fi The floor surmounted by a building of any suitable construction may be divided up into a series of pens using a series of panels.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings is formed from extruded aluninium or other suitable metal to a configuration similar to that of Fig. 1. It will be seen that the upper surface of the extrusion is cambered slightly downwardly from a central longitudinal line 21 towards the outer edges 22 which are slightly radiussed.

Each side wall 23 and 24 are arcuate commencing with a short return 25, 26 at the upper end. The lower ends of the side walls are each provided with grooves 27, 28 so r I- I~~Ll.m dimensioned that each groove nests with the adjacent groove of an ad3acent segment. The side walls are strengthened by a web 29. The segments may be anodised to counter any corrosive effects of the animals excreta. The upper surface may be stiffled or suitably treated to prevent the animals slipping but the treatment should be such as not to provide recesses in which excreta may accumulate.

In both the embodiments described above the upper surface is cambered slightly downwardly from a central longitudinal line towards the outer edges. If desired the camber may extend from one outer edge to the other in which case the segments are assembled so that the higher side mates with the hiyj;r side of one adjacent segment and the lower side mates with the lower side of the other adjacent segment.

The -da-S.6sof camber required is not very great. In practice it has been found that with a camber of 5mm at the central longitudinal line is adequate for a segment having a width of the order of 220mm. The radius at the upper outer edges of each segment is preferably of the order of With the segments having the dimensions given above a passage having a diameter of the order of 90mm is desirable.

One suitable construction is to provide a floor constructed of the segments of the above invention, so that the circular channels are arranged longitudinally.

The area is divided into a series of pens by a series of concrete slab side walls, the pens are disposed on both sides of the floor with a feeding trough located on each side of a central longitudinal passage. The inner end of -6each pen is provided with a concrete slab roof to form a huddle. The outer end of each pen is provided with a mesh type wall fitted with removable and/or slidable panels of sheet metal so that the flow of air into the pen can be readily regulated. The pens are covered by shade cloth supported on a suitable structure covering the floor. If the panels defining the walls of the pen are to be made removable sockets 31 held by bolts 32 and brackets 33 are fitted in the gap as is shown in Fig. 2.

Where necessary the passages formed by the assembly of the segments may be used to ventilate the pens by feeding air into each end of the passage. The .temperature of the air may be varied as required.

r. The floor of the present invention may be used for pens for pigs, sheep and/or cattle and has been found to be o particularly suitable for pigs being virtually self a 0 .cleaning, the pigs pushing solid material with their pooo °snouts until it falls through the gap.

The amplitude of the term "small" used herein in relation oo'o 20 to the gap can be readily 3eAse"rbed from the dimensions 0 11 referred to above. The gap should be sufficiently wide to enable the excreta to pass readily through it but not e sufficiently wide to enable the animals foot to pass through.

Claims

1. A floor for an animal pen formed from a plurality of elongated segments laid in side by side relationship characterised in that each side wall of each segment is substantially -sri"qhtly arcuate and the upper surface is cambered slightly downwards from one side to the other or irom a substantially central longitudinal line to the outer side edge and the width of the upper surface is slightly less than the width of the base so that in the assembled position there is a small gap between the upper side edges of the adjacent segments to permit material to pass therethrough into a passage substantially circular in cross-section defined by the arcuate side walls of adjacent segments, the dimensions of the segment being such that the cross-sectional area of the passage is considerably greater than the cross-sectional area of the gap, the upper outer edges of each segment being radiussed to facilitate the movement of excreta into the passage.

2. A floor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer edges of the base of each segment are cambered so that in the assembled position a V-shaped channel is formed in the bottom of the passage.

3. A floor as claimed in claim 1 wherein each segment is formed from extruded metal and the lower end of each side wall is provided with a groove so dimensioned that each groove mates with the adjacent groove of an adjacent segment.

4. A floor for an animal pen substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. I ,t ;j j j -C ;C' P 1 -8- A floor for an animal pen substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings. DATED this THIRD day of SEPTEMBER, 1986. GREGORY PERCIVAL FITZPATRICK Applicant. WRAY ASSOCIATES, Perth, Western Australia, Patent Attorneys for Applicant. c g