FR2466198A1 - Anaesthetising chamber for animals to be slaughtered - reduces gas consumption by cooling gas to below ambient temp. - Google Patents

Abstract

Abutting plant installation is for anaesthetising animals, partic. pigs, just before they are slaughered. The installation is of the type in which the animals are suspended in carriers of an elevator which advances them through a vertical shaft contg. an anaesthetic gas, pref. CO2. Each anaesthetised animal is delivered alongside the alongside the elevator loading point. The anaesthetic gas inside the shaft is kept at a temp. below ambient. The temp. of the gas is pref. not low enough to produce condensn. inside the shaft. The shaft temp. is pref. maintained by a thermostatically controlled, cooling jacket. A substantial proportion of the vol. of the shaft is pref. filled with an inflatable bag. Gas is pref. injected into the shaft through a number of inlets spaced around the top of the shaft. The consumption of CO2 per animal is substantially reduced by cooling the gas to counteract the heating effect of introducing warm animals into the shaft. There is a gas saving of some 20% on the previous consumption figure of about 140g per pig an aesthetised.

Description

 Anesthetic system for animals to be slaughtered.

 The present invention relates to an anesthetic system for animals to be slaughtered, preferably for pigs, comprising an elevator carrying the animals suspended in baskets through a well-shaped chamber containing a gas, preferably CO2, and delivering the animals anesthetized next to the elevator entrance.

 A system of this type is known, for example, from the specification of Danish patent No. 125,549. The consumption of carbon dioxide in this system is approximately 140 g / pig. A corresponding system is described in the specification of Swedish patent no. 163,523.

 The object of the present invention is to reduce the consumption of carbon dioxide per animal.

 The anesthetic system according to the present invention is characterized in that the gas in the well-shaped chamber is kept cold relative to the ambient temperature. the result is that the loss of carbon dioxide, which occurs as the air leaks out and as animals supply heat to carbon dioxide, and as the amount of hot carbon dioxide increases more than cold carbon dioxide , is decreased.

 According to the present preferred invention, it is because the cooling is so minor that there is no condensation in the well-shaped chamber, otherwise 1 condensed water could lead to an increase in CO2 consumption. .

 In addition, a bag is preferably provided in the well-shaped chamber. The rac decreases the effective volume of the well-shaped chamber and thus decreases the consumption of carbon dioxide, and moreover, it forms the inner wall of a channel for one elevator.

 Finally, according to the present invention, a part forming a peripheral channel is provided at the upper end of the well-shaped chamber filled with gas, said part forming a channel comprising a large number of openings for blowing a gas. In this way, an air surface is formed which facilitates the reduction of the consumption of carbon dioxide.

 The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing showing an anesthetic system according to the present invention.

The anesthetic system shown in this drawing, for animals to be slaughtered, preferably for pigs, comprises an endless chain elevator comprising two chains, preferably carrying discontinuously, the animals suspended in the baskets 1 through a chamber 10 in the form of a well, that is to say in the lower part of the system, said chamber preferably being filled with carbon dioxide.

Via a corridor 11, the pigs are led to an entry window through which only one animal at a time can enter the system. In front of the window, a basket 1 is present in the form of inclined sides 3 connected to each other. When an animal passing through the window is mounted on the bridge forming the bottom of the basket 1, and the window has then been locked, an electric current is established, which causes the bridge to tilt upward in an inclined position. Then the animal standing on the catwalk is lowered until its side remains on the sloping sides. Then, the basket 1 is lowered into the chamber 10 filled with carbon dioxide.

According to the present invention, the temperature in the chamber 10 has been reduced compared to the ambient temperature,
In this way, carbon dioxide is prevented from rising into the environment, which it would do as a result of the emission of heat from pigs, and thus the loss of carbon dioxide is avoided or at least reduced. In order to further reduce C02 consumption, an estos airbag 2 according to the present invention, preferably provided in the bedroom.

This bag is preferably housed in the middle of the room. In this way, the volume of carbon dioxide stirred during the passage of the pigs through this abutment part is reduced. The bag also makes it possible to form the walls of a channel in the chamber 10. In addition, flaps 4 and 5, preferably flaps fitted with springs, can be placed at the entrance and at the exit of the chamber, this which retains carbon dioxide in the chamber. Finally, a peripheral part 6 forming a channel can be placed at the junction between the chamber and an upper part 14 forming a container, said part forming a channel comprising openings 6a for the suction or blowing of a gas. In this way, an air surface is formed above the chamber 10.

The temperature in the well-shaped chamber must not be too low so that condensation does not occur because such condensation consumes carbon dioxide, that is to say that carbonated water is formed.

 The chamber 10 is surrounded by cooling means 8 preferably adjusted by thermostat. The cooling means may, for example, be cooling coils containing brine or else cooling coils in which a refrigerant evaporates.

 The consumption of carbon dioxide in the system according to the present invention is reduced to approximately 120 g of CO 2 per pig, that is to say is reduced by approximately 20%.

 The bag can possibly be at a short distance less than that shown in the drawing.

It should be understood that the foregoing description has been given for illustrative and nonlimiting purposes only and that any variations or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the general scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. attached.

Claims (5)

 1. Anesthetic system for animals to be slaughtered, preferably for pigs, comprising an elevator transporting the animals suspended in baskets (11 through a well-shaped chamber (10) containing a gas, preferably CO2, and delivering the animals anesthetized next to the entrance to the elevator, this system being characterized in that the gas in the chamber (10) in the form of a well is kept cold with respect to ambient temperature.  2. Anesthetic system according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling with respect to room temperature is so unimportant that there is no condensation in the chamber (10) in the form of a well. 3. Anesthetic system according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the chamber (10) in the form of a well is surrounded by cooling means (8) regulated by thermostat.  4. Anesthetic system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by a bag (2) placed in the chamber (10) in the form of a well.  5. Anesthetic system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by a peripheral part (6) forming a channel at the upper end of the chamber (10) in the form of a well filled with gas, said part (6) forming a channel being provided with a large number of openings (6a) for blowing a gas.