FR3125942A1 - Breeding slats - Google Patents

Abstract

Title: Breeding grating The invention relates to a grating (1) for breeding, and preferably for poultry farming, to constitute a floor, the grating being made of plastic material and comprising:- an upper surface (10) fitting into a plane;- of the main rows (2) of drainage slots (4) passing through the grating (1), in which each main row (2) extends in length parallel to the other main rows (2), and in which, for each main row (2) of drainage slots (4), the slots (4) extend in length perpendicular to the length of the main row (2), and parallel to each other, the slots (4) being spaced from each other by bridges of material (11) of the grating (1). Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Breeding slats

The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of equipment for animal husbandry.

The invention relates more particularly to a grating intended to be used to pave the floor of a livestock building, and more specifically for poultry farming.

Livestock slats are panels intended to be placed next to each other to create a stable floor covering on which animals can be raised. The panels can conventionally be coupled together to form a stable and resistant continuous surface.

This type of grating must allow the animals to have a floor sufficiently sized to allow their movement on its surface, while having the capacity to be easily cleaned, the breeding of animals involving the production of waste and excreta likely to cover these surfaces.

A breeding slat basically takes the form of a perforated rectangular parallelepiped slab.

The solid parts of the grating make it possible to form the surface on which the animals can evolve, and the openings (or empty parts) between the solid parts make it possible to evacuate, for example, waste, excreta or even washing water from the room. breeding.

A basic grating can be made of metal. It can then have metal strips each extending in vertical planes, these metal strips being coupled to each other so as to form a mesh.

Such gratings can be considered expensive to produce due to the cost of the metal, while being complicated to handle due to their weight. In addition, it has been found that these metal grids do not offer optimal comfort to the animals intended to circulate on them.

In the more specific field of poultry farming, plastic gratings are known which, compared to the metal gratings described above, are easy and less expensive to produce and install, while offering better comfort to the animals intended to circulate above.

An example of plastic grating has slot-like openings.

More specifically, the grating comprises main rows of slots arranged parallel to each other, and at regular spacing. These main rows of slots are themselves spaced apart by intermediate rows of slots which extend lengthwise along the same axis and perpendicular to the slots of the main rows.

The mesh produced by this arrangement of slits offers significant comfort to animals circulating on the surface of a floor formed by these gratings.

Indeed, it should be remembered that the material used is more pleasant than metal, the plastic having in particular a low thermal conductivity thus avoiding the sensations of hot or cold contact.

In addition, the solid parts of the grating located between the slots, hereinafter referred to as “bridge of material”, can have a significant width which also contributes to improving the comfort of the animals.

This arrangement of slots promotes the evacuation of waste and animal droppings. This type of support is relatively well sized for poultry farming.

Finally, it should be noted that this type of plastic grating is relatively quick and inexpensive to produce, while being easy to install.

However, it has been observed that poultry moving on the surface of floors formed by these plastic gratings can present pathologies induced by the floors.

More specifically, a significant risk of the appearance of pododermatitis under the legs of poultry has been observed.

Indeed, an accumulation of excreta on the surface of these plastic gratings can still be observed over time. These accumulations are then likely to cause pododermatitis for animals evolving in contact with them.

In addition, accumulations of manure and waste lead to an increased risk of people falling when walking on these surfaces.

The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks of the prior art.

More precisely, the object of the invention is to propose a grating for breeding, and more particularly for poultry farming, which makes it possible to improve the comfort and the well-being of the animals evolving on the surface of the floor created using the grating.

The invention also aims to provide such a grating which makes it possible to reduce the risk of a person falling on the floor.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a grating which is simple and inexpensive to produce and install.

These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved thanks to the invention which relates to a grating for breeding, and preferably for poultry farming, to constitute a floor, the grating being made of plastic material and comprising :
- an upper surface forming part of a plane;
- main rows of drainage slots crossing the grating,
wherein each main row extends in length parallel to the other main rows,
and wherein, for each main row of drainage slots, the slots extend in length perpendicular to the length of the main row, and parallel to each other, the slots being spaced from each other by bridges of material from the grating,
characterized in that, for each main row of drainage slots, the slots are grouped into at least two groups of at least two slots, the two directly adjacent slots of two adjacent groups being spaced apart by a bridge of material of a first width, the directly adjacent slots within a group being spaced from each other by a bridge of material of a second width strictly less than the first width.

The grating according to the invention is a grating of the plastic type and is thus inexpensive and easy to produce, in particular compared to metal gratings. In addition, this type of grating is easy to handle and install.

The grating according to the invention is particularly draining. Consequently, it makes it possible to evacuate animal waste and excrement better than the gratings according to the prior art, and in particular those that the gratings according to the prior art which have main rows of slots with slots regularly spaced from each other. .

Indeed, it has been noticed that the grating according to the invention, thanks to the presence of the groups of slots within which the slots are spaced from each other by bridges of material of reduced width compared to the bridges of material spacing the groups to each other, makes it possible to promote and improve the evacuation of waste and excreta, in particular compared to the gratings according to the aforementioned prior art.

The waste and droppings falling at the level of these groups of slots naturally tend to flow better through these slots and the trampling of these wastes and these droppings leads to a flushing of these wastes and droppings through the grating via slits. This results in better comfort and well-being of the poultry, which present a lower risk of developing pododermatitis than what is observed in the solutions according to the prior art.

Thanks to the better evacuation of waste and excreta, it should be noted that the risk of a person falling on the surface of the grating is reduced.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the bridges of material in the second width have, below the upper surface, and along sections perpendicular to the lengths of the slots, a height strictly greater than the height of the bridges of material in the first width.

In this way, the bridges of material in the second width, which are thus less wide than the bridges of material separating the groups of slots, have reinforced structural strength. The decrease in width of these material bridges is compensated.

Preferably, the material bridges of the grating have, below the upper surface, and according to sections perpendicular to the lengths of the slots, profiles comprising two lateral faces extending from the upper surface while converging towards each other.

Evacuation of waste and manure is further improved.

In other words, the material bridges of the grating have a profile that can be assimilated to a trapezoid whose large base is located at the level of the upper surface of the grating.

The slits thus extend downwards while widening, thus improving the flow of waste and excreta.

According to a preferred design, the material bridges of the grating have, below the upper surface, and along sections perpendicular to the lengths of the slots, profiles comprising two flat side faces.

Thanks to the two flat side faces, the slots have no, or at the very least little, crevices liable to clogging. Accelerated soiling of the floor formed by the gratings is thus avoided.

According to an advantageous solution, at the level of the upper surface, the edge of the slots is rounded.

The comfort of the animals circulating on the surface of the gratings is reinforced while improving the evacuation of waste and droppings.

According to a preferred design, the grating comprises ridges projecting above the upper surface, each ridge extending in length perpendicular to the main rows passing, for each main row, over the bridge of material between two groups of slots.

Such ridges initially form a relief improving the grip of the shoes of people walking on the surface of the floor formed by the grating, thereby reinforcing their safety.

These edges improve the comfort and well-being of animals, and in particular ducks, circulating on the surface of the gratings.

Indeed, it has been found that these ridges act in synergy with the bridges of material having a smaller width, within the groups of the main rows, by creating a relief that can be compared to that formed by twigs and branches on which ducks in the wild are likely to evolve.

For example, for ducks around 5 weeks old, the size of their flippers is such that they are likely to always be in contact with at least one high point formed by an edge. This helps to fight pododermatitis.

Such an artificial relief thus proves to be particularly advantageous in that it reinforces the safety of people on the surface of the gratings while improving the comfort and well-being of the animals reared on the surface of the gratings.

Preferably, the ridge protrudes above the upper surface by a height of at least 2 mm and less than 5 mm, preferably 4 mm.

From 2 mm in height, the advantages relating to the edges become significant, and beyond 5 mm the advantages are no longer present with the exception of the reinforced grip for walking.

A height of approximately 4 mm forms a solution that optimizes the desired benefits.

According to an advantageous embodiment, between the main rows of drainage slots, the grating comprises intermediate rows of drainage slots in which all of the slots extend longitudinally parallel to the length of the intermediate rows.

These intermediate rows of drainage slots allow the grating to be structurally reinforced while forming drainage on either side of each main row of drainage slots.

In addition, these intermediate rows make it possible to cut the grating at regular intervals to paving a building.

Preferably, the edges extend continuously between two side edges of the grating, the edges passing between two adjacent slots of the intermediate row or rows.

In this way, the advantages provided by these edges are found throughout the grating.

According to a preferred design, along each main row of drainage slots, and measured from the two end slots of the main rows, the grating has a relief ratio corresponding to the sum of the widths of the bridges of material in the second width and material bridges surmounted by an edge, over the sum of the widths of all the material bridges, the relief ratio being greater than 25%, and preferably being between 50% and 75%.

Such a relief ratio makes it possible, as has been observed, to greatly improve the comfort of ducks moving on the surface of the gratings according to the invention.

According to an advantageous design, for each main row of drainage slots, the groups comprise only two slots.

This design offers a particularly interesting compromise between the drainage capacity of the grating and its overall resistance.

In addition, this design allows for more efficient cleaning of the grating with a water jet.

According to an advantageous characteristic, according to a top view of the grating, the grating has an opening ratio corresponding to the sum of the empty spaces, delimited by the slots, over the sum of the full spaces delimited between the slots, the opening ratio being comprised between 50% and 70%, and being preferably comprised between 60% and 65%.

The grating according to the invention thus offers a particularly important and more efficient drainage than the solutions according to the prior art.

• la est une représentation schématique selon une vue en perspective de dessus d’un caillebotis selon l’invention ;
• la est une représentation schématique selon une vue en perspective de dessous du caillebotis selon l’invention ;
• la est une représentation schématique selon une vue de dessus du caillebotis selon l’invention ;
• la est une vue de dessus d’un détail du caillebotis, selon le médaillon de détail IV de la ;
• la est une vue en coupe transversale d’une partie d’une rangée principale de fentes de drainage du caillebotis selon l’invention ;
• la est une vue en section de la vue en coupe de la .

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the appended drawings, among which:

• there is a schematic representation according to a perspective view from above of a grating according to the invention;
• there is a schematic representation according to a perspective view from below of the grating according to the invention;
• there is a schematic representation according to a top view of the grating according to the invention;
• there is a top view of a detail of the grating, according to detail medallion IV of the ;
• there is a cross-sectional view of part of a main row of grating drainage slots according to the invention;
• there is a sectional view of the sectional view of the .

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a grating 1 according to the invention is shown.

The grating 1 according to the invention is a breeding grating making it possible to constitute a floor of a breeding building.

Indeed, the grating 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3 corresponds to a unit suitable for being combined with other similar units in the form of a paving to produce a floor on which it is possible to move.

Grating 1 is more specifically suited to poultry farming.

With reference to the , the grating 1 takes the form of a slab having a front edge 101, two side edges 102, and a rear edge 103.

The grating 1 is made of plastic.

For example, the plastic material used to make the grating 1 is polypropylene which has the advantage, among others, of having a very low coefficient of thermal expansion.

The grating 1 is in one piece. This grating 1 according to the invention is in particular obtained by molding or by additive manufacturing.

The grating 1 comprises an upper surface 10 flat.

This upper surface 10 is intended to form the surface on which animals are intended to evolve.

The grating 1 comprises slots 4 for drainage. The drainage slots 4 pass through the grating 1. These slots 4 have, seen from above, a rectangular shape having a length and a width, the length being greater than the width.

These drainage slots 4 are intended to let waste or excreta flow through the grating 1, from a volume located above the grating 1, to a volume located below the grating 1.

More specifically, the grating 1 comprises main rows 2 of slots 4 for drainage.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, each main row 2 of drainage slots 4 extends in length parallel to the other main rows 2. In addition, for each main row 2 of drainage slots 4, the slots 4 extend in length perpendicular to the length of the main row 2.

In other words, within a main row 2 the slots 4 each extend in length parallel to the width of the main row 2.

Each of the slots 4 within a main row 2 runs parallel to the others.

Still according to Figures 1 to 4, the slots 4 are spaced from each other by bridges 11 of material. Each bridge 11 takes the form of a strip of material joining two slots 4.

These bridges 11 correspond to the very material of the grating 1 which laterally delimits the slots 4.

With reference to Figures 1 to 6, for each main row 2 of drainage slots 4, the slots 4 are grouped into at least two groups 21 of at least two slots 4.

According to this embodiment, within a main row 2 each group 21 comprises two slots 4.

The two directly adjacent slots 4 of two adjacent groups 21 are spaced apart by a bridge 11 of material with a first width L1.

The directly adjacent slots 4 within a group 21 are spaced apart from each other by a bridge 11 of material with a second width L2 which is strictly less than the first width L1.

In other words, the bridges of material 11 separating the slots 4 within a group 21 have a smaller width than the width of the bridges of material 11 separating two groups 21 of slots 4.

Consequently, within a group 21 the slots 4 are closer to each other than the two directly adjacent slots 4 of two directly adjacent groups 21.

According to more specific characteristics, the width of each of the slots 4 of the main rows 2 is approximately 8 mm, and more specifically 8.5 mm, while the first width L1 is approximately 5 mm, and preferably 5 .4mm. In this case, the width L2 is strictly less than 5 mm, and is preferably 3 mm.

These values are particularly suitable for poultry farming and even more specifically for raising ducks.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bridges of material 11 in the second width L2 have, below the upper surface 10, and according to sections perpendicular to the lengths of the slots 4, a height H2 strictly greater than the height H1 of the bridges of material 11 in the first width L1.

According to the present embodiment, the height H1 is 4 mm while the height H2 is 10 mm.

In other words, the bridges of material 11, which have a smaller width compared to the other bridges of material 11, have an increased height compared to the height of these other bridges of material 11.

This makes it possible to structurally reinforce the bridges of material 11 which have a smaller width. In addition, the cleaning of the grating 1 is easier.

Still according to Figures 5 and 6, the bridges of material 11 of the grating 1 have, below the upper surface 10, and according to sections perpendicular to the lengths of the slots 4, profiles comprising an upper face 111, two side faces 112, and an underside 113.

The upper faces 111 of these profiles participate in forming the upper surface 10 of the grating 1.

As can be seen, and according to the present embodiment, the two side faces 112 extend from the upper surface 10, or in other words from the upper face 111, converging towards each other.

In addition, these two side faces 112 are flat.

This facilitates the evacuation of waste or animal excreta produced at the level of the upper surface 10 of the grating 1 according to the invention.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the edge of the slots 4 is rounded. The comfort and well-being of the animals moving on the upper surface 10 of the grating and the evacuation of waste are then improved.

According to this embodiment and with reference to Figures 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the grating 1 also comprises:
- Intermediate rows 3 of slots 4 for drainage;
- edges 5 which protrude above the upper surface 10.

The intermediate rows 3 extend in length parallel to the main rows 2. Each intermediate row 3 is more precisely located between two main rows 2.

As can be seen in the figures, within the intermediate rows 3 of slots 4, the slots 4 extend along the same axis, parallel to the main rows 2 of slots 4. In other words, the slots 4 of the rows intermediate rows 3 extend in length parallel to the length of the intermediate rows 3.

According to another embodiment not shown, the slots 4 of the intermediate rows 3 are distributed in groups of two within which the two slots 4 are arranged one beside the other, extending parallel.

These two slots 4 are then spaced apart from each other by a bridge of material of a width identical to the width L2 of the bridges of material 11 separating two slots 4 within a group 21 of slots 4 in the rows main 2.

The two slots 4 of a group within the intermediate rows 3 then have the same length, and said groups are regularly distributed along the length of the intermediate rows 3.

More generally and with reference to Figures 1 to 6, the edges 5 extend in length perpendicularly to the main rows 2 passing, for each main row 2, over bridges of materials 11 between groups 21 of slots 4.

According to the present embodiment, the edges 5 extend continuously between the two side edges 102 of the grating 1, these edges 5 passing between two adjacent slots 4 of the intermediate rows 3.

According to the embodiment not illustrated, the edges 5 then pass between the groups of two slots 4 of the intermediate rows 3.

The edges 5 are parallel to each other.

Each edge 5 protrudes above the upper surface 10 by a height of at least 2 mm and less than 5 mm. Preferably, each edge 5 protrudes above the upper surface 10 by a height of 4 mm.

In addition, the directly adjacent edges 5 are spaced from each other by a center distance of 50 mm to 100 mm, and which is preferably about 75 mm, and more specifically 76 mm.

A centre-to-centre distance of around 75 mm is particularly suitable for the fins of ducks around 5 weeks old.

The upper surface 10 of the grating 1 has a particularly advantageous relief for the comfort of the animals brought up in contact with it. This relief can be characterized in the manner described below.

Along each main row 2 of drainage slots 4 and measured from the two end slots 4 of the main rows 2, the grating 1 has a relief ratio.

This relief ratio corresponds to the sum of the widths of the bridges of material 11 in the second width L2 and of the bridges of material 11 surmounted by an edge 5, over the sum of the widths of all the bridges of material 11.

This relief ratio is greater than 25% and is preferably between 50% and 75%.

The measurement along each main row 2 of slots 4 for drainage from the two end slots 4 of the main rows 2 is carried out in particular from the edges of the slots 4 which are located furthest at the end of the main row 2 .

The grating 1 is more particularly draining which further improves the comfort of the animals raised on its surface. This drainage capacity can be characterized in the manner described below.

According to a top view of the grating 1, the grating 1 has an opening ratio which corresponds to the sum of the empty spaces, delimited by the slots 4, over the sum of the full spaces delimited between the slots 4.

This aperture ratio is between 50% and 70%. From 50% the advantages relating to the opening ratio are significant, and beyond 70% the grating does not have sufficient mechanical resistance. The aperture ratio is preferably between 60% and 65%.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the grating has on its front edge 101 and its rear edge 103 assembly means taking the form of slots. These assembly means make it possible to butt the gratings together.

These assembly members also comprise a lower slot intended to be assembled on a vertical face of a section previously placed on the floor of the place of installation of the grating 1, according to a well-known technique.

Profiles, for example of fiberglass, are thus installed beforehand on the floor parallel to each other and at regular intervals, then the gratings 1 are coupled to the profiles by being butted to each other, so as to form a surface keep on going.

The gratings 1 according to the two previously described embodiments are particularly suitable for raising poultry and more specifically ducks. However, it is possible to use the grating 1 according to the invention for the breeding of other animals such as, for example, rabbits.

Claims (10)

Grating (1) for breeding, and preferably for poultry farming, to form a floor, the grating being made of plastic material and comprising:
- an upper surface (10) inscribed in a plane;
- main rows (2) of drainage slots (4) crossing the grating (1),
wherein each main row (2) extends in length parallel to the other main rows (2),
and wherein, for each main row (2) of drainage slots (4), the slots (4) extend in length perpendicular to the length of the main row (2), and parallel to each other, the slots (4) being spaced from each other by bridges of material (11) of the grating (1),
characterized in that, for each main row (2) of drainage slots (4), the slots (4) are grouped into at least two groups (21) of at least two slots (4), the two slots (4 ) directly adjacent of two adjacent groups (21) being spaced from each other by a bridge (11) of material of a first width (L1), the slots (4) directly adjacent within a group ( 21) being spaced from each other by a bridge (11) of material of a second width (L2) strictly less than the first width (L1). Grating (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bridges (11) of material in the second width (L2) have, below the upper surface (10), and according to sections perpendicular to the lengths of the slots (4 ), a height strictly greater than the height of the bridges (11) of material in the first width (L1). Grating (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bridges (11) of material of the grating (1) have, below the upper surface (10), and in sections perpendicular to the lengths of the slots (4), profiles comprising two side faces (112) extending from the upper surface (10) converging towards each other. Grating (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bridges (11) of material of the grating (1) have, below the upper surface (10), and in sections perpendicular to the lengths of the slots (4), profiles comprising two flat side faces (112). Grating (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises ridges (5) projecting above the upper surface (10), each ridge (5) extending in length perpendicular to the main rows (2) by passing, for each main row (2), over the bridge (11) of material between two groups (21) of slots (4). Grating (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, between the main rows (2) of drainage slots (4), the grating (1) comprises intermediate rows (3) of slots (4) drainage in which all the slots (4) extend longitudinally parallel to the length of the intermediate rows. Grating (1) according to the two preceding claims, characterized in that the edges (5) extend continuously between two lateral edges (102) of the grating (1), the edges (5) passing between two slots (4) adjacent to the intermediate row(s) (3). Grating (1) according to Claim 5 or Claim 7, characterized in that along each main row (2) of drainage slots (4), and measured from the two end slots (4) of the main rows ( 2), the grating (1) has a relief ratio corresponding to the sum of the widths of the bridges of material (11) in the second width (L2) and of the bridges of material (11) surmounted by an edge (5), on the sum of the widths of all the bridges of material (11), the relief ratio being greater than 25%, and preferably being between 50% and 75%. Grating (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for each main row (2) of drainage slots (4), the groups (21) comprise only two slots (2). Grating (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, according to a top view of the grating (1), the grating (1) has an opening ratio corresponding to the sum of the empty spaces, delimited by the slots (4), over the sum of the full spaces delimited between the slots (4), the aperture ratio being between 50% and 70%, and preferably being between 60% and 65%.