GB1602280A - Pig cabin - Google Patents

Description

(54) A PIG CABIN (71) We, GEORGE MIXER AND COM PANY LIMITED, a British Company of Catfield, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a pig cabin in which piglets are weaned.

It is important in pig cabins to be able to control the temperature and the ventilation conditions.

According to the invention, there is provided a pig cabin having a fan for blowing air from outside into the cabin, a duct at the ceiling of the cabin through which the air passes, a heater arranged near the duct outlet inside the cabin over which heater the air passes, and a vent or vents below the level of the duct outlet through which used air can leave the cabin, the relative capacities of the fan and the vent being such that the pressure in the cabin can be maintained slightly above atmospheric pressure.

Preferably the cabin is sealed, apart from the duct outlet supplying air past the heaters, the said vents, and a thermostatically-controlled an exhaust shutter provided at the upper part of the cabin to open when the temperature rises above a predetermined limit and close when the temperature drops again.

The vents may be provided with nonreturn flaps to prevent back-draughts entering the cabin through the vents.

Preferably a thermostat controls the fan and heaters so as to provide a predetermined environment inside the cabin.

The system provides for sufficient pressure within the cabinet to ensure a continuous flow of fresh air.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a pig cabin according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the cabin of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view, and Figure 4 is a detail of a portion of a cabin wall.

The cabin shown is mounted above the ground on timber floor beams 1. The walls, roof and floor are all insulated to prevent heat loss. The roof 2 has a 3" thickness of polystyrene and is lined internally with Q" asbestos par partition board. The walls 3 have a 2" thickness of polystyrene and are lined internally with +" oil tempered hardboard or fully compressed asbestos sheeting. The floor 4 consists of 1" exterior grade plywood with insulation provided by 4" thick P5 purlboard fixed beneath the plywood.

In the interior of the cabin, a passage 5 for personnel is provided at the right-hand side as seen in Figure 1. The rest of the cabin is occupied by pens 6 which are formed by galvanised steel partitions 7.

The floors of the pens are galvanised perforated steel.

A slurry tank 8, preferably lined with chemical resistant g.r.p., is arranged beneath the pens to receive excrement. This has a drainage well 9. Feed hoppers 10 form the fronts of the pens and also provide access to the pens. At the other end, the pens have two nipples 11 (see Figure 3) connected to a water supply (cistern 12 and pipe 13). The nipples are set at different heights to cater for the growth range.

Ventilation is provided by a fan 14 mounted externally of one end of the cabin. This fan is arranged to direct air into the cabin through a duct 15 which is fixed centrally under the roof 2. Adjustable baffles 16 (Figure 3) are arranged in the duct 15, and provide duct outlets to control the flow of air from the duct into the cabin over two gas heaters 17. A heavy steel heat deflector or air chamber 18 is suspended below each heater 17 to ensure that an even temperature is attained throughout the cabin. The deflectors 18 comprise adjacent mild steel plates and "Asbestolux". The heated air spills over from the deflectors 18 into the cabin.

Air leaves the cabin via wall vents 20 positioned below half eight along both of the long walls of the cabin. The vents are in fact simply openings through the walls, and are covered with vermin proof wire netting. On the outside of the cabin, plywood baffles 21 are mounted on weather strips 22, so as to be spaced from the walls 3 to leave an air gap. A flexible nylon baffle strip 23 depends from each plywood baffle 21, and can move against the cabin wall, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, to close off the vent. This prevents back draughts, and would become effective, for example, when a wind blows directly against one wall of the cabin.

On the inside of the cabin wall 3 which also forms an end to the pig pens, a hardwood leg support 24 (Figure 4) is fixed at the upper edge of the vent. This support has a bevelled upper surface and is provided with a metal water barrier 24a to lead any water flowing down the walls into the slurry tank 8. The legs of the pens which are supported on the support 24 are correspondingly bevelled.

A thermostatically controlled shutter 25 is provided at the end of the duct 15 opposite to the fan 14. This shutter will open if the temperature rises too high to evacuate hot air from the cabin, and so to reduce the temperature and pressure.

When the temperature drops, the shutter will close again. The shutter is protected by a hook 26.

Four lights, two of which are controlled by dimmers, provide illumination in the cabin.

Typically, a cabin of overall dimensions 20 ft length by 10 ft width by 8 ft high can accommodate 72-75 piglets in six pens.

One door 27 is provided for access at one end of the passage 5. There are no windows.

The heaters 17 can suitably be S.B.M.

heaters, model 6 DPRFA burning Calor gas. The fan can be of 18" diameter with variable speed. Controls for the heating, ventilation and lighting are mounted on a panel 28 at the far end of the passage 5 away from the door 27. A thermostat is used to maintain the temperature set between close limits.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: - 1. A pig cabin having a fan for blowing air from outside into the cabin, a duct at the ceiling of the cabin through which the air passes, a heater arranged near the duct outlet inside the cabin over which heater the air passes, and a vent or vents below the level of the duct outlet through which used air can leave the cabin, the relative capacities of the fan and the vent or vents being such that the pressure in the cabin can be maintained slightly above atmospheric pressure.

2. A pig cabin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heaters are gas heaters.

3. A pig cabin as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the cabin is sealed, apart from the duct outlet supplying air past the heaters, the said vents, and a thermostatically-controlled air exhaust shutter provided at the upper part of the cabin to open when the temperature rises above a predetermined limit and close when the temperature drops again.

4. A cabin as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vent or vents are provided with non-return flaps to prevent backdraughts entering the cabin.

5. A pig cabin as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a thermostat is provided to control the fan and heaters so as to maintain a predetermined temperature inside the cabin.

6. A pig cabin substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Air leaves the cabin via wall vents 20 positioned below half eight along both of the long walls of the cabin. The vents are in fact simply openings through the walls, and are covered with vermin proof wire netting. On the outside of the cabin, plywood baffles 21 are mounted on weather strips 22, so as to be spaced from the walls 3 to leave an air gap. A flexible nylon baffle strip 23 depends from each plywood baffle 21, and can move against the cabin wall, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, to close off the vent. This prevents back draughts, and would become effective, for example, when a wind blows directly against one wall of the cabin. On the inside of the cabin wall 3 which also forms an end to the pig pens, a hardwood leg support 24 (Figure 4) is fixed at the upper edge of the vent. This support has a bevelled upper surface and is provided with a metal water barrier 24a to lead any water flowing down the walls into the slurry tank 8. The legs of the pens which are supported on the support 24 are correspondingly bevelled. A thermostatically controlled shutter 25 is provided at the end of the duct 15 opposite to the fan 14. This shutter will open if the temperature rises too high to evacuate hot air from the cabin, and so to reduce the temperature and pressure. When the temperature drops, the shutter will close again. The shutter is protected by a hook 26. Four lights, two of which are controlled by dimmers, provide illumination in the cabin. Typically, a cabin of overall dimensions 20 ft length by 10 ft width by 8 ft high can accommodate 72-75 piglets in six pens. One door 27 is provided for access at one end of the passage 5. There are no windows. The heaters 17 can suitably be S.B.M. heaters, model 6 DPRFA burning Calor gas. The fan can be of 18" diameter with variable speed. Controls for the heating, ventilation and lighting are mounted on a panel 28 at the far end of the passage 5 away from the door 27. A thermostat is used to maintain the temperature set between close limits. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

1. A pig cabin having a fan for blowing air from outside into the cabin, a duct at the ceiling of the cabin through which the air passes, a heater arranged near the duct outlet inside the cabin over which heater the air passes, and a vent or vents below the level of the duct outlet through which used air can leave the cabin, the relative capacities of the fan and the vent or vents being such that the pressure in the cabin can be maintained slightly above atmospheric pressure.

2. A pig cabin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heaters are gas heaters.

3. A pig cabin as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the cabin is sealed, apart from the duct outlet supplying air past the heaters, the said vents, and a thermostatically-controlled air exhaust shutter provided at the upper part of the cabin to open when the temperature rises above a predetermined limit and close when the temperature drops again.

4. A cabin as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vent or vents are provided with non-return flaps to prevent backdraughts entering the cabin.

5. A pig cabin as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a thermostat is provided to control the fan and heaters so as to maintain a predetermined temperature inside the cabin.

6. A pig cabin substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.