FR2781331A1 - Side separator for use in animal pen, has telescopic adjustment to suit different depths of pen - Google Patents

Abstract

The side separation element (2) of an animal pen consists of a principal body (4) and a fixed support element (5a, 5b). The position of the main body relative to the supports can be adjusted in a direction corresponding to the depth of the pen, by a distance (L) by means of an adjuster (19) and then fixed in that chosen position.

Description

The invention relates to a lateral separation element

cubicle for animals.

  The invention also relates to a cubicle comprising at least one separation element. The document EP-A-779 026 describes a set of elements of

  cubicle separation connected to a transverse barrier.

  A coupling device connects the transverse barrier to each separating element, allowing the adjustment of the

  distance between two separating elements.

  Document EP-A-57 490 describes a fixed separation barrier, once the cubicle depth has been chosen,

  permanently by a plate on the ground.

  The documents EP-A-438 191 and EP-A-437 298 describe a device for adjusting the position of an animal in a

  cubicle using at least one tourniquet bar.

  The withers, which are intended to force animals to stoop, have the disadvantage of hampering the

animal movement.

  In particular, when animals get up, they risk being injured or making movements

uncontrolled backwards.

  A first object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a cubicle separation element allowing a simple adjustment of the

depth of this cubicle.

  To this end, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a side cubicle separation element comprising: - a main body; - a fixed support member; - Means for adjusting the position of the main body relative to the fixed support member; - means for holding the main body in a selected position, after adjustment, relative to the fixed support member; the main body being movable, in an adjustable manner, by the adjustment means, relative to the fixed support member, in a direction corresponding substantially to the

depth of the cubicle.

  In one embodiment, the main body has a first end part which can be telescopically interlocked in the fixed support member over a length

  L for adjusting the depth of the cubicle.

  In another embodiment, the main body has a first end portion in which the fixed support member is nestable, over an adjustment length L

the depth of the cubicle.

  The first end part of the main body and the support member are tubular and coaxial in a telescoping direction D. The invention relates, according to a second aspect, to a cubicle comprising at least one separation element such

as presented above.

  Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear

  during the following description of modes of

  realization, description which will be made with reference to

  attached drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a cubicle comprising two dividing elements, according to an embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of a support member and a means for holding the main body of the separation element on this support member, according to one embodiment of the invention; - Figure 3 is a perspective view, in detail, of the telescopic mounting of the main body of the separation element on the support member, according to one embodiment; - Figures 4a, 4b, 4c show side views of alternative embodiments of the main body of the separating element; - Figures 5, 6a, 6b, 6c, 7 and 8 show partial side views of alternative embodiments of the main body and the fixed support member of the separating element in the sliding zone; - Figures 9 to 14 show side views of alternative embodiments of the adjusting means and holding means; - Figure 15 shows a cross-sectional view

  of an alternative embodiment of the holding means.

  We first refer to Figure 1.

  In Figure 1 is shown in perspective a cubicle

  1 comprising two lateral separation elements 2, 3.

  In the embodiment shown, the elements of

  lateral separation 2, 3 are substantially identical.

  Only the lateral separation element 2 will be described, in

  Consequently, with reference to Figure 2.

  The lateral separation element 2 comprises a body

  main 4 and two support members 5a, 5b.

  These support members are fixed, possibly

removable, with a rigid structure.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, these support members 5a, 5b are fixed respectively to a high spar 6a and a low spar 6b of a substantially vertical frame, two uprights 7a, 7b substantially vertical forming with the spars 6a, 6b a rigid frame

  allowing the fixing of the support members 5a, 5b.

  The distance 1 separating the uprights 7a, 7b is adjustable,

  in some embodiments, not shown.

  Similarly, the distance h separating the lower spar 6b from the ground can be adjustable, the upper spars 6a and

  lower 6b can be moved simultaneously.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the main body 4 comprises two end parts arranged in a substantially vertical plane, these end parts 8a, 8b being mounted to slide, telescopically.

  in the support members 5a, 5b respectively.

  Between these end portions 8a, 8b, the main body 4 has a general shape of a U, the opening of the U being oriented towards the frame formed by the side members 6a, 6b and

the amounts 7a, 7b.

  More specifically, starting from the first upper, upper 8a part of the main body 4 and going towards the second lower lower end 8b, this main body 4 comprises a substantially rectilinear portion 9, a portion in the form of an arc of a circle or of C 10 , a substantially straight portion 11, a downwardly curved portion 12, a substantially straight portion 13 and a curved portion 14 joining the straight portion 13 to the second

extreme part 8b.

  The main body 4 extends in a substantially vertical plane P, the first rectilinear portion 9 extending substantially vertically and facing the second and

  third straight portions 11, 13.

  In one embodiment, the main body 4 is a

  tube of circular cross section, full or hollow.

  The support members 5a, 5b have, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a general form of cylindrical sleeve, of axis D of substantially horizontal sliding. The end portions 8a, 8b of the main body 4, of cross sections smaller than the opening of the

  sleeves Sa, 5b slide in the support members 5a, 5b.

  In other embodiments, not shown, the support members 5a, 5b are nestable, over a length L for adjusting the depth of the cubicle, in the parts

  hollow ends 8a, 8b of the main body 4.

  We now refer to Figure 2.

  This FIG. 2 presents a perspective view of a support member used in the embodiment.

shown in figure 1.

  A fixing plate 15 allows the attachment, possibly removable, of the support member 5a, 5b at a chosen point of a fixed structure such as a chassis

  metal, wall, stake or equivalent.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, this fixing plate 15 has through holes 16,

  allowing assembly by bolting.

  The support member 5a, 5b comprises, starting from the fixing plate 15 and going towards the free end 17, a first reinforcing part 18 and a second adjusting part 19. In the embodiment shown, the cross section of the reinforcement 18 and adjustment 19 parts is

substantially circular.

  In other embodiments, not shown, this

  section is elliptical or polygonal.

  The radial thickness of the peripheral wall of the reinforcement part 18 is greater than the radial thickness of the

  cylindrical peripheral wall of the adjusting part 19.

  The length L 'of the support member 5a, 5b, measured in the telescoping direction D, is greater than the adjustment length L of the telescopic interlocking of the end parts 8a, 8b of the main body in this support member a, 5b . The adjustment part 19 has at least one hole

crossing 20.

  In certain embodiments, at least one pair of holes 20a, 20b is provided on the adjustment part 19 so as to define a passage for a pin or a pin

  perpendicular to the telescoping direction D.

  These holes 20a, 20b form locating means, corresponding holes being provided in the end portions 8a,

8b of the main body 4.

  The lateral separation element 2 comprises means for holding the main body 4 in a position chosen after each adjustment of this position relative to

the fixed support member.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, these holding means comprise an annular flange 21 supporting threaded screws 21a which can be engaged in

the holes 20a, 20b.

  When the flange 21 is in the clamping position, the screws 21a being placed in the holes 20a, 20b, the main body 4 is in a fixed position relative to the support members a, 5b. Conversely, when the flanges 21 are in the loosened position, manual action by an operator in the direction F of FIG. 1 allows the end parts 8a, 8b of the main body 4 to exit or re-enter in the

  sleeves of the support members 5a, 5b.

  As an indication, the cubicle can have a depth of 1.75 m to 2.25 m approximately and a width 1 of 1 m to 1.25 m approximately. The diameter of the tube which can form the main body 4 is of the order of 50 to 70 millimeters, in the case of cubicles

for cattle for example.

  In the following description, the embodiment of

  Figure 1 is considered the basic embodiment. Alternative embodiments relating to the different parts of the separating element can be

implemented.

  We now describe variant embodiments of the

main body 4.

  In the basic embodiment, the main body 4

  is slidably mounted on two support members 5a, 5b.

  The number of support members is different in certain variant embodiments, for example reduced to one when the mechanical stresses allow it, or greater than two so as to form an element of

  separation with several branches of the barrier type.

  In the basic embodiment, the main body 4 is tubular and has a general shape of U. This shape can be changed, provided that at least one end portion 8a, 8b is slidably mounted on a support member 5a, 5b. In an alternative embodiment, the main body 4 has the form of a solid rectangular flat metal plate or

hollow (Figure 4c).

  According to another alternative embodiment, the main body 4, mounted to slide with two support members 5a, 5b, comprises several bars forming a barrier

substantially rectangular.

  According to other alternative embodiments, the main body, mounted on a single support member, is tubular and has several uprights (Figure 4b) assembled between

  them removably or permanently.

  In the basic embodiment, the main body 4 is tubular and extends vertically substantially in a single plane P. In an alternative embodiment, it is tubular and extends substantially vertically in several planes: the portions 9 and 11 for example are located in

two different parallel planes.

  In the basic embodiment, the main body 4

  is of substantially constant cross section.

  The section of the end parts 8a, 8b mounted sliding, and the section of the adjustment parts 19 are constant, close to each other, and sufficient to allow easy sliding and good resistance of the element.

  separation 2 with mechanical forces.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the section of the main body 4, except for the sliding end portions 8a, 8b, is not constant. It is for example greater in the portions 9, 14 than in the end portions 8a, 8b. We now describe alternative embodiments of the support members 5a, 5b, with respect to the embodiment

basic.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the support members 5a, b comprise, between the adjustment part 19 and the fixing plate 15, a tubular portion called the intermediate part 22. This intermediate part 22 can be straight, bent, or include several segments

straight (Figures 5 to 6c).

  The section of the intermediate part 22 may be non-constant, and different from the section of the adjustment part 19. For example, this section is increasing in

  from the adjustment part 19 towards the fixed structure.

  In the basic embodiment, the support members a, 5b define a horizontal sliding axis D. This sliding axis D is, according to an alternative embodiment, inclined downward relative to the horizontal. Portion 9 and Portion 14 may

  then present a bend near the end portions 8a, 8b.

  We now describe alternative embodiments of the adjustment part 19 and the holding means, by

compared to the basic realization.

  We now describe a first variant of

  embodiment, with reference to FIG. 10.

  The adjustment part 19 of the support members 5a, 5b comprises, as in the basic embodiment, at least one through hole 20. The holding means comprise in this variant a pressure screw 23 passing through the hole 20 and abutting transversely against the wall internal

  24 directly above the end portions 8a, 8b.

  According to a second alternative embodiment (FIG. 15), the holding means comprise an inner flange 29 which presses the end portions 8a, 8b against the

  adjustment parts 19, preventing sliding.

  We now describe a third variant of

  embodiment, with reference to FIG. 11.

  The section of the adjusting part 19 is smaller than the section of the end parts 8a, 8b. The end portions 8a, 8b include a slot 30 along the axis D. The holding means are an annular clamp 31 forming a clamp. This clamp 31 is open and has two facing edges 31a, 31b folded, o are formed two holes for the passage of a threaded screw. By reducing the diameter of this clamp, the end portions 8a, 8b are pressed against

  against the adjusting part 19, preventing sliding.

  According to a fourth alternative embodiment (FIG. 12), the adjustment parts 19 comprise two aligned cylindrical tubular rings 32, spaced in the direction D, connected to each other and to the reinforcement part 18 by a longitudinal bar 33. The end parts 8a , 8b are slidably mounted in these rings 32. The end portions 8a, 8b comprise at least two pairs of facing through holes 34a, 34b. The holding means comprise two pins 35 placed perpendicular to the axis D. We describe a fifth alternative embodiment, in

reference to figure 9.

  The adjustment part 19 is of smaller cross-section than that of the end parts 8a, 8b. The holding means comprise a projection 36 of the internal wall of the end parts 8a, 8b. This projection 36 comes, by leverage, into abutment against the external wall of the part of

  setting 19. Sliding is then prevented.

  In the basic embodiment, sliding is prevented in both directions along the axis D. According to another embodiment of the invention, the holding means prevent translation, once the adjustment position has been chosen, according to the sliding axis D only in the direction: main body 4 towards support member 5a, 5b, that is to say in the direction of reduction

the depth of the cubicle.

  According to an alternative embodiment (FIG. 13), in which the adjustment part is of cross section greater than that of the end parts 8a, 8b, the holding means comprise a stop ring 37. This stop ring 37 is held by a pin 38 which passes through a pair of through holes formed on the end portions 8a, 8b. According to another embodiment (FIG. 14), a jumper pin 39, placed manually on each of the end portions 8a, 8b, prevents additional penetration in the desired main body adjustment position.

  end portions 8a, 8b in the adjustment portion 19.

  Compared to the basic embodiment, the fixing of the support members 5a, 5b may also have

several variants.

  Removable attachment means allowing attachment to the side members 6a, 6b can for example be used, such as a system using a connection plate associated with

hooks with threaded ends.

  Thanks to the structure of the separation element 2 as described above, the adjustment of the depth of the cubicle is not final, which makes it possible to make it

  vary depending on breeding conditions.

  To change the adjustment position, the holding means are actuated or released manually so as to allow the sliding to another adjustment position.

13 2781331

Claims (12)

  1. Lateral separation element (2) for an animal cubicle, characterized in that it comprises: - a main body (4); - a fixed support member (5a, 5b); - adjustment means (19) of the position of the main body (4) relative to the fixed support member (5a, b); - means for holding the main body (4) in a selected position, after adjustment, relative to the fixed support member (5a, 5b); the main body (4) being movable, in an adjustable manner, by the adjustment means (19), relative to the fixed support member (5a, 5b), in a direction corresponding substantially to the depth of the cubicle (1) . 2. lateral separation element (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the main body (4) comprises a first end fitting part (8a), telescopically, in the fixed support member (5a, b), on a length L for adjusting the depth of the cubicle (1).   3. Lateral separation element according to claim 1, characterized in that the main body (4) comprises a first end part (8a) in which the fixed support member (4) is nestable, over a length L of adjustment of the depth of the cubicle (1).   4. Lateral separation element according to any one   claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first   end part (8a) of the main body (4) and the support member (5a, 5b) are tubular and coaxial in a telescoping direction D. 5. Lateral separation element according to claim 4, characterized in that the cross sections of the 14 2781331   first end part (8a) of the main body (4) and of the support member (5a, 5b), perpendicular to the   direction D, are circular, elliptical or polygonal.   6. Lateral separation element according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the cross sections of the first end part (8a) of the main body (4) and of the support member (Sa, 5b) are constant on the   length L for adjusting the depth of the cubicle (1).   7. Lateral separation element (2) according to one   any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that   the adjustment means comprise a stop member, removably attached to the main body (4) or to the fixed support member (5a, 5b).   8. Lateral separation element (2) according to one   any of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that   the adjustment means comprise positioning means such as holes (20) spaced on the first end portion (8a) of the main body (4), able to be placed opposite corresponding holes (20) spaced on the fixed support member (5a, 5b).   9. lateral separation element according to claim 8, characterized in that the holding means comprise an outer flange (21) forming a clamp for the   main body (4) against the support member (Sa, 5b).   10. Lateral separation element according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the holding means comprise a pin or a pin passing through at least one hole in the first end part (8a) of the main body (4) and at least one corresponding hole (20) in the support member, these two holes being substantially in   look at each other in the chosen adjustment position. 2781331   11. Lateral separation element (2) according to one   any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that   the first end part (8a) of the main body (4) comprises at least one pair of holes which can be placed opposite at least one pair of holes (20) corresponding to the support member (5a, 5b), a pin or a brooch   can be mounted through pairs of holes.   12. Animal cubicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one separation element (2) according to one   any of claims 1 to 11.