GB2203625A

GB2203625A - Removable cover for animal waste pit in animal house

Info

Publication number: GB2203625A
Application number: GB08808498A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Mcburney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-04-11
Filing date: 1988-04-11
Publication date: 1988-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 2008-04-11
Also published as: GB2203625B; GB8708751D0; GB8808498D0; IE881081L; IE61460B1

Abstract

A floor unit is provided to form part of a floor covering a waste pit of an animal house. The unit has at least one closable opening 24 with a cover 26 therein adapted to allow for access to the pit below. The unit comprises a plurality of closely spaced beams anchored together, ie. two longitudinal beams 20A, one on each lateral side, between which six beams 20B or (20C) extend. The cover 26 for the opening 24 is hinged to the rest of the unit to lie flush therewith when closed. A second smaller closable opening (38) with a lid 40 is provided and its lid 40 is hinged in a manner to lie flush with the rest of the unit. <IMAGE>

Description

FLOOR UNIT FOR AN ANIMAL HOUSE This invention relates to a floor unit for use in an animal house incorporating a pit to receive wastes.

Floors of such animal houses are commonly called slatted floors and are formed by locating a series of closely spaced concrete beams over said pit, the ends of the beams bearing upon walls between which the pit is defined, the spaces between the beams allowing wastes to pass therethrough into said pit. The beams can be individually used or more likely, units comprising several beams cast together are used. The wastes, when sitting any length of time, separate into layers, generally a lower layer of liquid, a middle layer of semi-fluent mixed matter and liquid, and an upper layer of buoyant material which being in the atmosphere dries to form a crust. To dredge the pit, a few of the beams, or one unit, are removed to provide an open space through which mixing apparatus can be lowered to first mix the layers together before the mixed wastes can be pumped from the pit.The disadyantages of such an arrangement are firstly, the need to remove one unit or the few beams and secondly, when these beams are removed and the mixing apparatus is in position, relatively large openings are left uncovered which present a very real hazard to passing animals, workers and any other person in the vicinity, such as children.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages.

In accordance with the present invention, a floor unit is provided to form part of a floor covering a waste pit of an animal house, the unit having at least one closable opening therein adapted to allow for access to the pit below.

Preferably, the unit comprises a plurality of closely spaced beams anchored together The unit preferably has two longitudinals, one on each lateral side, between which the beams extend. The beams preferably extend transversely between the longitudinals.

Preferably also, the cover for the one opening is hinged to the rest of the unit to lie flush therewith when closed. A second smaller closable opening is preferably provided in the cover of the one opening and its lid is hinged to said cover to lie flush therewith.

Alternatively, the second smaller closable opening is provided separately in the unit from the cover for the one opening and its lid is hinged directly to the unit.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an existing floor of an animal house having several concrete beams removed with a mixing apparatus in place thereby showing open spaces on each side of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the floor in Fig. 1 with a floor unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention occupying the space of the several beams removed in the existing floor as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the unit in Fig. 2 with a cover of a closable opening therein hinged open, and the mixing apparatus positioned in place; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the unit shown in Fig. 2 showing also a second closable opening; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a unit according to a second embodiment of the invention, showing also in broken line different positions in which the second closable opening can be placed.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the floor 10 of the animal house is formed from a plurality of closely spaced concrete beams 12 whose outer ends bear upon walls 14 and bridge over a waste pit 16 formed therebetween. The beams 12 may be provided individually, or provided in a cast unit of several beams. To empty the pit 16, one unit or several of the beams 12, for example four, are removed and a mixing apparatus 18 is extended into the opening formed. As can be seen from Fig.1, gaps are left on each side of the mixing apparatus 18. These gaps are dangerous since there is nothing to prevent animals, workers or other persons from falling into the pit if they inadvertantly step in the wrong place.

A floor unit acccording to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs 2, 3 and 4, and is for use in replacing, for example eight beams 12, or two cast units each of four beams. The unit comprises two longitudinal beams 20A, one on each lateral side, between which six beams 20B, parallel therewith, are secured together at their outer ends to two transverse supports 22. Intermediate the outer ends of the beams, a square closable opening 24 is provided in the central six beams 20B. The opening 24 is provided with a cover 26 which lies over the opening 24 and flush with the top of the beams 20. On each side of the opening 24, two inner transverse supports 28 are provided and secure the ends of the beams 20 together. The inner supports 28 are secured to the two outer beams 20. The cover 26 comprises beams 30, aligned with beams 20, secured to transverse end supports 32.The cover 26 is hinged at 36 to one of the outer beams 20. Four corner web plates 34 are provided across the corners between the inner transverse supports 28 and the two outer beams 20 and are for the cover 26 to rest upon such that the cover 26 lies flush with the rest of the floor unit. The unit is manufactured from galvanised mild steel with the beams 20 and 30 and supports 22 and 32 formed from, for example box section or inverted channel section.

A second smaller closable rectangular opening 38 is provided in cover 26 and through which, for example a pipe or hose can be lowered into the pit, such pipe being for use in emptying the pit after the waste has been mixed. In this case, the pipe would be connected to a pump located on the floor. Such a situation would arise if the mixing apparatus did not incorporate a pump. The opening 38 is provided as shown in Fig.4 at the open end of the cover 26, and its lid 40 is hinged to a beam 30. The opening is approximately the width of a beam 20B or 30 and the normal space on each lateral side of said beam. Again four corner web plates 42 are provided to hold the lid 40 flush with the top of the cover 26.

The cover 26 and lid 40 may be removable, although from a safety aspect it is preferred that they are hinged. Locking mechanisms are provided for cover 26 and lid 40 to enable them to be locked to the rest of the unit to prevent unauthorised opening.

In use, the cover 26 or lid 40 as required is lifted up and the mixing apparatus or pipe respectively is extended into the pit. During the time the apparatus or pipe respectively is in use, the remainder the the unit remains in place so that no hazardous gaps exist around the respective opening.

In a second embodiment as shown in Fig 5, in which like parts are denoted by like numerals, the beams 20C are provided transverse of the longitudinal beams 20A.

This embodiment is preferred since it allows units of various lengths to be manufactured from standardised lengths of transverse beams 20C. Also, by the beams 20C being transverse of and secured to the longitudinal beams it dispenses with the necessity of transverse supports 22 and inner supports 28. The opening 24 can be centrally located as shown in Fig. 5 or it can be off-set towards either end. The position of the opening 38 is shown as spaced from the cover 26, however it can be in the cover 26 as shown in Fig. 4 or can be located in any other suitable position such as any one of those three positions shown in broken line at A, B or C.

In an extended version of either embodiment, two openings 24 can be provided within one or two openings 38, these openings being positioned as required. The cover 26 can be hinged at any one side to either of the beams 20A or beams 20C.

Floor units of the present invention have application, not only with existing floors, but may also be incorporated into new floors being built.

Materials other than galvanised mild steel may be used for the floor unit, but these materials should be strong enough to withstand the weight of the animals and be relatively resistant to corrosion from animal urine and other wastes.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A floor unit provided to form part of a floor covering a waste pit of an animal house, the unit having at least one closable opening therein adapted to allow for access to the pit below.

2. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the unit comprises a plurality of closely spaced beams anchored together.

3. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the unit has two longitudinals, one on each lateral side, between which the beams extend.

4. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the beams extend parallely between the longitudinals.

5. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the beams extend transversely between the longitudinals.

6. A floor unit as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a cover for the one opening is hinged to the rest of the unit to lie flush therewith when closed.

7. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 6, wherein a second smaller closable opening is provided in the cover of the one opening and its lid is hinged to said cover to lie flush therewith.

8. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the second smaller closable opening is provided separately in the unit from the cover for the one opening and its lid is hinged directly to the unit.

9. A floor unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2, 3 or 4 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A floor unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.