FR2946685A1 - Adapter for integrating e.g. men passage, with barrier in animal husbandry field, has rectangular frame comprising rectilinear lateral portion and equipped with mounting clamps to ensure fixation of frame with vertical post - Google Patents

Abstract

The adapter has a rectangular frame partially delimiting a selective passage opening and including a rectilinear lateral portion (42) welded with fixing members e.g. yokes (51-54), for connecting the lateral portion against a rectilinear lateral upright (59) of barrier element. The frame has a second rectilinear lateral portion (44) opposite to the former lateral portion and equipped with mounting clamps (71, 72) to ensure fixation of the frame with a vertical post (78).

Description

The invention relates to a solution for integrating a selective passage opening such as a man passage or a drinking trough, to a barrier constituted by distinct barrier elements carried by support posts, each barrier element being a mechanically welded tubular structure comprising at least two rectilinear lateral uprights connected to one another by different longitudinal members. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the field of animal husbandry, the barriers generally consist of distinct barrier elements of predetermined lengths which are mounted next to each other, each element being carried by two consecutive posts.

Each barrier element is a welded structure formed of tubes for, once fixed on the poles carrying it, to provide the necessary mechanical resistance allowing it not to be damaged by the enclosed animals.

Since the barriers often have lengths that differ from one enclosure to another, a barrier is used, on the one hand, with a series of barrier elements of the same dimensions, which is completed by a barrier element. end having either the appropriate dimensions or adjustable dimensions. There is shown in Figure 1 a known adjustable barrier element, marked by 1, which includes telescopic rails to adjust the length of the assembly to a predetermined value.

This barrier element 1 adjustable in length comprises a fixed part 2 intended to be fixed to a not shown pole, and a movable part 3 capable of sliding relative to the fixed part 2. The fixed part 2 thus comprises a rectilinear lateral post 4 which is attached to a pole 2 not shown, and a series of four half-longitudinal members 6-9 oriented parallel to each other, and which each have an end welded to the lateral upright 4. The movable portion 3 includes similar to another lateral upright 11 and another series of four half-longitudinal members 12-15 each having an end welded to this lateral upright 11. The half-girder 12-15 are engaged in the half-girder 6-9, so that the moving part can slide relative to the fixed part. In practice, the lateral upright 11 of the mobile part is also attached to another pole which is not shown in FIG. 1. When it is desired to integrate a barrier, a selective passage opening such as a hole of man or the like, the simplest solution is to replace the telescopically movable portion of the variable length member with another movable portion that integrates the selective passage opening.

This solution is illustrated in FIG. 2, which shows a barrier element with an adjustable length marked by 17, also having a fixed part marked by 18, and a movable part 19 sliding in the fixed part 18 in a manner analogous to the case of the FIG. 1. The fixed part also comprises a vertical upright 21 to which five half-longitudinal members 22-26 are fastened, and the movable part comprises, at its free end, a selective passage opening 28 constituted by a frame 29 as well as five other half-beams 32-36 each having an end welded to a vertical portion of the frame 29. Complementarily, it further comprises an additional bar 37 carried by a substructure 35 itself sliding in the telescopic rails 3 to adjust to will the dimensions of the selective passage opening to a desired value. This solution thus makes it possible to integrate a selective passage opening with an existing barrier, by changing only the mobile part of the adjustable barrier element, which makes it possible to reduce the integration cost of such a selective passage. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to propose a solution that further simplifies the integration of a selective passage with an existing barrier. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To this end, the invention relates to an adapter for integrating a selective passage opening such as a man passage or a drinking trough, to a barrier consisting of separate barrier elements worn. by posts, each barrier element being a mechanically welded tubular structure comprising at least two rectilinear lateral uprights connected to each other by different longitudinal members, this adapter comprising an armature at least partially delimiting the selective passage, this reinforcement including a first rectilinear lateral portion equipped with fasteners for securing this lateral portion against the lateral upright of a barrier element, and at least a second lateral portion opposite to the first lateral portion and which is equipped with at least one fastener intended to secure it to a pole.

With this solution, a selective passage can be integrated into a barrier without the need for a sliding portion incorporating the selective passage, which is specifically designed to be mounted in a fixed part of an existing adjustable barrier element.

In the case of a new barrier, it may be sufficient to provide appropriate spacing between two posts for mounting on one of these posts a fixed length barrier element and for mounting the adapter on the one hand on the lateral amount of this fixed-length element and secondly on the other pole. In the case of an existing barrier having an adjustable length barrier member, it is sufficient to reduce the length of the adjustable member to secure the adapter to the amount of its movable portion and the adjacent post. The invention also relates to an adapter as defined above, in which the members for fixing the lateral amount of a barrier element comprise a plurality of screeds welded to the first lateral portion of the adapter. The invention also relates to an adapter as defined above, wherein the fasteners to the lateral upright each comprise a yoke including two wings oriented at right angles to each other and each having a hole in its end, and a half-closing collar whose ends are attached to the ends of the yoke to enclose the lateral amount of barrier element. The invention also relates to an adapter as defined above, further comprising means for modifying the dimensions of the opening delimiting the selective passage. The invention also relates to an adapter as defined above, comprising a first portion including the first rectilinear lateral portion, and a second portion including the second rectilinear lateral portion, and means for rigidly and removably securing the first portion. in the second part.

The invention also relates to an adapter as defined above, wherein the first part comprises a series of parallel tubes oriented perpendicular to the first lateral portion while being welded thereto, and wherein the second part is a standard telescopic barrier element comprising parallel tubes engaging in the parallel tubes of the first part. The invention also relates to a first adapter part as defined above considered alone. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a front view of a first known adjustable length barrier element; Figure 2 is a front view of a second known adjustable length barrier member; Figure 3 is a front view of a first embodiment of the adapter according to the invention shown alone; Figure 4 is a side view of the second embodiment of the adapter of the invention shown alone; Figure 5 is a top view of the second embodiment of the adapter according to the invention shown alone; FIG. 6 is a front view of a barrier portion equipped with the second embodiment of the adapter according to the invention; Figure 7 is a top view of the barrier portion of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a front view of a barrier portion equipped with an adapter according to a second embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The basic idea of the invention is to provide an adapter which delimits the selective passage opening 6 and which can be removably mounted between a post and a side jamb of an element. barrier barrier which may be either a fixed length barrier element or an adjustable length barrier element.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the adapter according to a first embodiment of the invention is formed by a mechanically welded tubular reinforcement, marked by 41, and having a general shape approximating that of the numeral 9.

This reinforcement comprises a first rectilinear lateral portion 42, forming a vertical upright, extended at its upper end by a crossbar 43 forming therewith a right angle, this upper crossbar being itself extended by a second lateral portion 44 extending in parallel at the first portion 42 being opposite thereto. The second lateral portion 44 itself has its lower end extended by an additional cross member 45, parallel to the crosspiece 43, this additional cross member thus having one end welded to the lower end of the second side portion, and its other end welded to an upper median region of the first lateral portion. Complementarily, another crosspiece 46 extends the lower end of the first lateral portion being oriented at right angles to the latter. As seen in the figures, the three crosspieces 43, 45 and 46 are parallel to each other having the same lengths, and they each have an end welded to the first straight portion 42. The first and the second straight portion 42 and 44 are parallel to each other, perpendicular to the cross members, and the second straight portion which is significantly shorter than the first, has its ends welded to the ends of the cross members 43 and 45. The three cross members 43, 45 and 46 here consist of portions of rectilinear round section tubes, while the first and the second rectilinear portion 42 and 44 here consist of rectilinear tubes with square section, which simplifies the welding operation of each end of the cross member. to a straight portion.

Complementarily, two pairs of reinforcements 47, 48 and 49, 50, in the form of metal plates are welded on the one hand to the additional cross member 45 and the straight portion 42, and on the other hand to the other cross 46 and to the lower end of the first straight portion 42. These reinforcements which are oriented at forty-five degrees relative to the rectilinear portions and the sleepers stiffen the general structure that constitutes the frame 41. This frame which is generally flat is equipped with a part of fasteners to a vertical amount of a barrier element, and secondly of fasteners to a post. The fixing members to a vertical amount of barrier element comprise four yokes 51-54 welded to one of the faces of the tube 42 constituting the first rectilinear portion, namely the face of this square section tube which is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the frame and which is the outermost in relation to this frame.

Each of these clevises 51-54 comprises two wings, these wings being marked 51a-54a and 51b-54b. As seen in Figure 5, the wings 51a and 51b of the yoke 51 are here oriented at right angles to each other, the yoke being made from a rectangular sheet metal plate which is folded to 8 right angle. This sheet metal plate is then welded to the outer face of the tube 42 by the base of the wing 51b whose outer face is applied against the outer face of the tube 42.

Thus, the wing 51b protrudes rearwardly of the armature 41 relative to the plane of this armature, locally extending the outer face of the tube 42, while the wing 51a extends parallel to the plane of the armature 41 extending it locally beyond the outer face of the tube 42. The same is true of other clevises 52-54, these various clevises being distributed along the tube 42. Each clevis wing has at its end a hole opening to be traversed by a bolt for fixing a complementary half-collar, the complementary half-collar of the yoke 51 being shown in Figure 5 by being marked by 56. This complementary half-collar 56 is also manufactured from a portion of rectangular sheet which is folded at right angles in its central region, to form two perpendicular sides 56a and 56b, and whose ends are also folded at right angles but outwards to constitute fixing lugs, these ends being themselves drilled to receive fixing bolts. Three other unrepresented half-collars are also associated with each of the other clevises 52-54. As shown in FIG. 6, these yokes make it possible to rigidly fix the adapter according to the invention to a barrier element 58 comprising two parallel lateral uprights 59 and 61 connected to one another by five parallel longitudinal members 62-66 between perpendicular to the uprights 59 and 61. During the installation of the adapter, the first straight portion 42 of the frame is placed against the vertical upright 59, which advantageously also has a square section, so that the wings 51a-54a bear against one of the faces of this vertical upright 59, and that the other wings 51b-54b of these yokes bear against another adjacent face of the upright 59. When the assembly is in position, the four complementary half-collars are attached, placing each collar around the lateral upright 59 at a corresponding yoke so as to put its pierced legs bearing on the ends of the islands of the corresponding screed. A first screw is then engaged to pass through the piercing of a leg of the half-collar and the drilling of the end of the corresponding clevis wing, and another screw is engaged to pass through the piercing of the other leg and the other wing of the screed. Nuts are then screwed to the free ends of these two screws, then tightened. The same operation is performed for each of the four yokes equipping the first straight portion 42, which rigidly secures the frame 41 to the lateral upright 59, maintaining the first portion 42 in a position where it runs along the lateral upright 59 of the barrier element 58.

Furthermore, the adapter according to the invention further comprises two fasteners to a pole, marked 71 and 72, which are carried respectively by the second straight portion 44 and the end of the lower cross member 46.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the fastening fastener 71 comprises a threaded rod 73 whose end bears an eyelet or eyelet 74, and this threaded rod is fastened to the second lateral portion 44 which it traverses parallel to the direction of the crosspieces 43, 45 and 46, by means of two nuts marked 76 and 77. The attachment fastener 72 also has a threaded rod extended at its end by an eyelet, but it is attached to the end of the lower cross member 46 being engaged in a nut which is directly welded to the end of this cross. As can be seen in FIG. 6, these fasteners 71 and 72 make it possible to secure the armature 41 to a vertical post which is shown in FIG. 6 and is indicated by 78. This vertical post carries two yokes 79 and 81. each clevis comprising two wings oriented horizontally, that is to say in a plane normal to the general direction of the pole, and which have their ends pierced. Each yoke is thus adapted to receive a fastening eyelet fixing the armature 41 between its wings, the whole being then locked in position by means of a not shown pin which is engaged jointly in the holes of the yokes and in the eyecup of the fastener. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the adapter according to the invention makes it possible to define a selective passage opening, indicated by 82, which is located essentially between the additional cross member 44 and the lower cross member 46. The adapter 41 may also comprise additional means for modulating the dimensions of this selective passage opening. These additional means can be in the form of a substructure removably attached to the frame 41, the operator then having different substructures each corresponding to a given opening size, so that it replaces the substructure mounted on the armature 41 by another when it wishes to change the size of the selective passage opening. These means may also be in the form of a sliding or pivoting member, making it possible to adjust the dimensions by adjusting the position of this member relative to the rest of the armature. Furthermore, in the example of Figures 1 to 7, the adapter 41 according to the invention comprises an opening 82 of predetermined size and constant. The user may have different adapters according to the invention, of the same external dimensions but each corresponding to a selective passage opening having a specific size and / or shape. In this case, when the user has to change the size of the selective passage opening, he dismantles the existing adapter to replace it with another adapter corresponding to different opening dimensions. In the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 8, the adapter, generally indicated by 101, is formed of two parts 102 and 103 that are rigidly detachably attached to one another. The first part includes a first rectilinear lateral portion 104, forming a vertical upright, extended by five tubes 106-110 regularly spaced along this vertical upright 104 extending at right angles to it. The dimensioning and the positions of these five tubes 106-110 correspond to the dimensioning and the positions of the half-spars of a fixed part of the telescopic barrier. The second portion 103 has a second lateral portion 112, also constituting a vertical upright. This second lateral portion 112 is part of a generally rectangular frame 113 and delimiting the selective passage opening. As seen in FIG. 8, this frame is formed by the upright 112, by a right angle angled tube 114 having an upper end welded to an upper end of the upright 112, by a lower cross member 116 having a welded end at one end. lower end of the upright 112 and its other end welded to the lower end of the tube 114. The bent tube 114 thus comprises a vertical portion forming an intermediate upright, oriented parallel to the upright 112, and to which are fixed five tubes 116-120 regularly spaced along this vertical portion while being oriented perpendicularly thereto. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the tubes 116-120 have an external diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the tubes 106-110, so that the securing of the second part to the first consists of engaging the ends of the tubes 116-120 in the ends of the tubes 106-110 to encase the assembly. Complementarily, each tube end 106-110 is provided with a welded nut, into which a screw engages, the end of which bears against the outer face of the corresponding tube 116-120, so as to completely block the two parts. one with respect to the other.

This adapter 101 which is generally flat is equipped on the one hand with fasteners to a vertical amount of a barrier element, and on the other hand fasteners to a pole. The fixing members to a vertical amount of barrier element comprise four clevises 121-124 welded to one of the faces of the upright 104. These clevises 121-124 are of the same type as the clevises 51-54 of the first embodiment. . They are distributed and fixed in the same way to the vertical upright 104 and each comprise a complementary collar allowing, by means of two screws 13, the fixing of the upright 104 to a barrier element 126. This barrier element 126 comprises at its end a vertical side pillar 127 connected to another lateral pillar not shown by five side members 128-132. As in the first embodiment, the installation of the adapter according to the second embodiment consists of placing the upright 112 against the vertical upright 127 of the barrier element, and to secure these two uprights by means of the clevises 121-124 and their collars, using screws and nuts. Furthermore, the second vertical upright 112 of the adapter 103 is equipped with two fasteners 15 to a pole, identified by 136 and 137. These two fasteners 136 and 137 are of the same type as the two fasteners 71 and 72 of the first embodiment. They make it possible to secure the adapter 103 to a vertical pole 138 which itself carries two complementary clevises 139 and 141 of the same type as the yokes 79 and 81 of the first embodiment. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the adapter 103 makes it possible to define a selective passage opening 142 circumscribed by the frame 113. This opening may be equipped with a gate 134 carried by the frame 113, allowing either the passage Selective 142 open, or close it. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the adapter 103 according to the second embodiment of the invention makes it possible to significantly reduce the manufacturing cost. Indeed, it is only its first part 102 which is specific, the second part 103 being simply a standard telescopic barrier element such as the sliding mobile part 19 of FIG. 2. In practice, the second element 102 is thus a 14 mobile sliding part of telescopic barrier, whose 116-120 longitudinal members are optionally shortened, for example by means of a sawing operation. In general, the adapter according to the invention makes it possible to implement, according to the need of the moment, a selective passage opening which may correspond, as the case may be, to a man passage, a passage for a drinking trough, a passage for calves, or other.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of clevises 51-54, 121-124 as fasteners to the lateral amount makes the adapter usable with almost all types of barrier elements, because these clevises being distributed along the rectilinear portion 42, 127 to ensure the attachment of the adapter to the lateral upright 59, they allow to fix the adapter regardless of the number of longitudinal members that comprises the barrier element considered. Complementarily, the choice of clevises 51-54, 121-124 each having two wings oriented at right angles to each other, in association with complementary half-collars gives the connection between the adapter and the Barrier element rigidity and strength sufficient to withstand the forces exerted by the animals enclosed behind the barrier thus formed. In addition, these clevises having wings at right angles facilitate the installation of the adapter: it can be first placed in a vertical plane parallel to that of the barrier element, then moved in a direction normal to this plane to engage in the space between the post and the amount, which allows to place it in its position of reference in a manner almost immediately.

However, the clevises equipping the first rectilinear portion 42, 127 may also be clevises with parallel wings, such as clevises 79 and 81 or 139 and 141 of the post 78, 138, but oriented parallel to a vertical plane, each clevis being then closed by a single bolt, instead of using a complementary collar. As can be seen in the figures, it is common for the barrier element to comprise an upper lug, identified by 83, 144, which extends in the extension of the upper spar 62, 128, towards the pole 78, 138, and which is generally used to secure the barrier element to the pole that carries it. This upper lug 83, 144 advantageously serves as an upper stop for positioning the adapter vertically with respect to the barrier element 58, 126, by placing the upper end of the rectilinear portion 42, 104 in abutment against the underside of this paw 83, 144.

Claims (7)

REVENDICATIONS1. An adapter (41; 103) for integrating a selective passage opening (82; 142) such as a manway or a drinking trough with a barrier constituted by separate barrier elements (58; 126) borne by poles (78; 138), each barrier element (58; 126) being a welded tubular structure having at least two rectilinear lateral uprights (59, 61; 127) connected to each other by different longitudinal members ( 62-66; 128-132), said adapter (41; 103) comprising an armature (113) at least partially delimiting the selective passage, said armature (113) including a first rectilinear lateral portion (42; fastening means (51-54; 121-124) for securing this lateral portion (42; 104) against the lateral post (59; 127) of a barrier element and at least a second opposing lateral portion (44; 112) at the first lateral portion (42; 104) and which is equipped with at least one fastener (7; 1, 72; 139, 141) for securing to a pole (78; 138). An adapter according to claim 1, wherein the fasteners (51-54; 121-124) at the side jamb (59; 127) of a barrier member (58; 144) comprise a plurality of yokes (51,54; 121-124) welded to the first lateral portion (42; 127) of the adapter (41; 103). An adapter according to claim 2, wherein the fasteners (51-54; 121-124) at the lateral upright (59; 127) each comprise a yoke (51-54; 121-124) including two wings (51- 54a, 51b-54b) oriented at right angles to each other and each having a hole at its end, and a half-closure collar (56) whose ends are attached to the ends of the clevis (51-54; 121-124) for clamping the side member (59; 127) of barrier member. 4. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for changing the dimensions of the opening defining the selective passage. An adapter according to one of the preceding claims, having a first portion (102) including the first straight side portion (104), and a second portion (103) including the second straight side portion (112), and means ( 106-110, 116-120) for rigidly and removably securing the first portion (102) to the second portion (103). An adapter according to claim 5, wherein the first portion (102) comprises a series of parallel tubes (106-110) oriented perpendicular to and welded to the first side portion (104), and wherein the second portion (103) is a standard telescopic barrier member having parallel tubes (116-120) engaging the parallel tubes (106-110) of the first portion (102). 7. First adapter part (102) as defined in claim 5 or 6.