FR2563969A1 - Animal cleaning machine with liquid dispensing - Google Patents

Abstract

This is an apparatus which is used for cleaning cattle, by brushing with brushes having hard synthetic bristles, and by depositing, during each passage, a veterinary product intended to avoid contamination between the animals and to combat parasites and various diseases. It comprises, in its articulated upper part, a reservoir 2 which is also used as brush support 3. Small reservoirs made of flexible rubber 4, which are pierced at the end by a hole, are mounted under this reservoir and between the brushes. A small quantity of liquid 5 is released at each passage and only during this passage of the animals under the brushes 3 mounted on the reservoir 2. The invention may be used in agriculture for the treatment of animals, but may optionally be used in other fields where animals must be brushed and treated, in particular in zoological parks.

Description

 The present invention relates to an animal cleaning device with dispensing of veterinary liquid.

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It is well known in the agricultural field that cattle always try to scratch, as a result of the fact that they carry parasites, skin diseases or more simply various dirt. At first, to alleviate their desires, a brushing system was developed composed of two elements, one vertical, the other horizontal united between them so that the animals can come and scratch there. After observation, we realized that these brushes could be a factor in the spread of disease. This device, originally designed for cattle on farms, can also be used in zoos.

 The present invention overcomes this drawback.

The device consists of two elements carrying brushes lined with synthetic bristles, one vertical, the other horizontal. The horizontal element of the device is movable around an axis so as to adapt to the height of the animal passing beneath it. This element also acts as a veterinary fluid reservoir. Between the brushes and in communication with the main reservoir there are small flexible rubber reservoirs pierced at their end with a slot so as to allow the liquid to escape when they are deformed and only in this case. These slots are of a size proportional to the quantity of liquid which it is desired to distribute.

According to one embodiment, the device, object of the invention can be constructed in the following form, corresponding to the attached drawing
The device essentially consists of two parts, one vertical, the other horizontal.

The vertical element consists of a sheet folded into a "U" (6) on which are welded perpendicularly two "U irons" (7) of small section each drilled with two holes and used to fix the assembly to a suitable height (against a wall or on a pillar for example).

On the main sheet "U" (6) are fixed, in two groups of two, four brushes (3) furnished with hard synthetic bristles. They are intended for brushing the blanks of the animal. The assembly of the brushes on the "U" is made by bolts (13) passing through the sheet and the brushes right through.

The sheet in the shape of "U" is drilled in its upper part and on both sides of a hole allowing the passage, from side to side, of the bolt which will be used to fix the horizontal part and pivot axis of the latter.

The horizontal part essentially consists of a rectangular section tube (2), closed at each end by two welded sheet rectangles (12), acting as a reservoir.

At the end of the tank and below are welded two gussets (11) each pierced with a hole in the transverse direction. A bolt with self-locking nut (8) acts as an axis of rotation and ensures the connection of the horizontal tank to the vertical element. The pivoting of the horizontal element allows the device to be adapted to different animal sizes.

A hole is drilled on the top of the tank to allow filling and a plug (10) closes it after this operation.

 Under the tank, four holes are drilled and four tubular sleeves (14) are welded down and are intended to receive the flexible rubber tanks (4).

Under the tank are also welded four flat irons (9), each pierced with two holes on either side of the tank, to allow the fixing by bolts (13) of four brushes (3) identical to those of the element vertical.

 The brushes are separated in the longitudinal direction by a space or will be housed, fixed on the tubular sleeves (14), four flexible rubber tanks (4), pierced at their end with a small slot.

The veterinary liquid (5) from the metal tank and contained in the rubber tanks flows over the body of the animal
each time the latter, passing under the brushes, deforms these flexible tanks.

Claims (7)

 1) Device for ensuring the cleaning of animals, characterized in that it comprises horizontal and vertical brushes (3) and a supply of veterinary liquid (5).  2) Device according to 1 claim 1 characterized in that the support of the horizontal brushes (2) acts simultaneously as the main reservoir of veterinary liquid.  3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the reservoir-support for the horizontal brushes (2) is articulated around an axis (8) allowing the system to adapt to the size of the animals.  4) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the flow of the liquid (5) is done by flexible rubber tanks (4) pierced at their lower end.  5) Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the liquid flows from the flexible tanks (4) through a slot at their lower end, the veterinary liquid being retained at rest and flowing when the tanks are deformed by the passage of 'an animal.  6) Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the slots drilled at the lower end of the flexible tanks (4) are of a size proportional to the amount of liquid to be dispensed.  7) -A device according to claim 4 characterized in that the flexible tanks (4) are placed between the brushes (3), so that the liquid (5) flows each time, and only each time, that a pressure is exerted on the brushes.