AU681303B2

AU681303B2 - Dipping tank

Info

Publication number: AU681303B2
Application number: AU28336/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Leslie James Atkins; Bernard James Ballantyne; John Michael Craft; Bruce Milton Keenan
Original assignee: RIPPA DIPPA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: RIPPA DIPPA Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-08-15
Filing date: 1995-08-02
Publication date: 1997-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2015-08-02
Also published as: AU2833695A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT DIPPING TANK THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION, INCLUDING THE BEST METHOD OF PERFORMING IT KNOWN TO ME:- The present invention relates to sheep dip units of the type provided with wheels and a trailer hitch so that the unit can be towed behind a vehicle. In r particular the invention relates to an improved tank configuration for such units.

Sheep require regular treatment with lousicidal formulations to keep the sheep free from lice.

Ideally, this treatment is carried out by total *o 10 immersion of the sheep in a lousicidal solution, a process known as "plunge dipping" The present invention aims to provide an improved tank configuration for mobile plunge dipping tanks.

S: *The invention thus provides a mobile sheep dip unit including a dipping tank having an entry and an exit, said tank defining a sinuous path between the entry and exit, said sinuous path including at least one right and at least one left turn.

Preferably, the path defined by the tank consists of one left- and one right-hand U-turn such that the path is substantially S-shaped.

I I -2- Further preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to Fig. 1, which is a plan view of a mobile sheep dip unit according to the invention.

The dip unit is set up as a trailer for towing behind a vehicle, being mounted on an axle (not shown) and having a trailer hitch 16 at its front end. Prior to operation of the dip at a location, the wheels are removed for greater stability.

The dip unit consists generally of a tank 10 adapted to be filled with a lousicide solution to a depth greater than the height a sheep. The tank defines a sinuous path from the tank entry point 12 to its exit 15 14, consisting of three legs lla,llb,llc separated by right 13a and left 13b turns.

The illustrated unit has the entry arrangement described in the applicant's Australian patent application No. 63241/94. Attached to the tank are an entry race 18 leading to an entry compartment 20, an exit race 22, a false race 24 and a "dummy" sheep pen 26. The unit also has a walkway 31 extending around some of the tank periphery, and may have spray nozzles 28 located above the tank to ensure total saturation of the dipping solution into the sheep's fleece.

e. The path of the sheep through the unit is shown by the dotted line. The sheep are herded up the ramped entry race 18 towards the entry compartment 20, the operation of which is described in detail in Patent Application No. 63241/94. As each successive sheep steps into the entry compartment, its weight triggers operation of the movable floor 30 of the entry compartment, causing the sheep to fall into the tank with assistance from the pusher 44.

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The height of the entry compartment above the tank is sufficient to ensure that the sheep is immersed in the dip when the sheep first falls in. The sheep will then swim the length of the tank, being plunged once more by a person standing on the walkway 31 near the bend 13a between the first 1la and second llb legs of the S-shaped path. The exit end of the tank has an inclined floor 32 to allow the sheep to walk out of the tank onto the exit race.

The false race 24 and dummy sheep pen 26 reduce baulking by the sheep stepping into the entry compartment, as described in patent rpplication No. 63241/94.

To change the dip unit to its transport mode, the wheels are replaced and the entry race 18, dummy race and exit race 22 are removed and stored on the unit. The entry race 18 may be retained beside the first leg of the S tank, while the exit race is adapted to fit inside the third leg of the tank, to keep the width of the unit in transport mode to a minimum.

S 25 While the inventive tank configuration has been described and illustrated here in conjuction with the entry arrangement of patent application No. 63241/94, it will be appreciated that it may be used with other entry arrangements, such as a simple entry ramp or a conveyor system.

By providing both left and right turns in the sinuous path defined by the tank, the Applicant believes that the dip will result in improved penetration of the dip solution into the fleece, as the fleece on the sheep's left side will open up when it turns right, and vice versa. The tank configuration will also provide a -4relatively long contact period between the sheep and the solution, while keeping the unit compact enough for towing behind a vehicle.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come 15 within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

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Claims

2. A mobile sheep dip unit according to claim 1 wherein the path defined by the tank is substantially S-shaped.
3. A mobile sheep dip unit according to claim 2 .eo. wherein the S-shaped path consists of three parallel legs in side-by-side formation. 15 4. A mobile sheep dip unit according to claim 1 further comprising entry and exit ramps adapted to be :external to the tank in an operating mode and to be stored on the unit in a transport mode.
5. A mobile sheep dip unit according to claim 1 further comprising a walkway adjacent the tank periphery.
6. A mobile sheep dip unit according to any preceding claim wherein the tank is mounted on a trailer adapted for towing behind a vehicle.
7. A mobile sheep dip unit according to claim 6 wherein the path is S-shaped and consists of three parallel legs substantially parallel to a forward direction of the trailer.
8. A mobile sheep dip unit substantially as herein i described with reference to Fig. 1. DATED this 2nd day of August, 1995. RIPPA DIPPA PTY. LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys HALFORD CO -7- ABSTRACT A mobile sheep dip unit is set up as a trailer for towing behind a vehicle. The unit includes a dipping tank (10) to be filled with a lousicide solution, defining a sinuous path between its entry (12) and exit The path includes at least one right turn (13a) and one left turn (13b), so that improved penetration of the lousicide solution into the sheep's fleece can be attained, while keeping the unit compact enough for towing. *e* S* ee e i'i' II I I