GB2060729A - Improvements in broiler houses - Google Patents

Abstract

A broiler house comprises side walls 12, gable end walls, a roof 10 pitched from a central ridge to the tops of the side walls and a ventilation system comprising a series of openable flaps (14) along the ridge and a weather-protecting roof cap 16 supported above the ridge in a manner to permit airflow upwardly through the roof flaps when open and laterally outwards over the roof from beneath the roof cap. A series of openable flaps (19) are provided along each side wall (12) at or near the top of the side wall and the roof and side flaps are individually operable. The walls and roof may be formed from heat- insulating material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in broiler houses Field of Invention This background relates to a broiler house.

Background to the Invention A ventilation system is essential in a broiler house in order than the interior temperature can be carefully controlled having regard both to weather conditions and to the age of the birds as they develop from chicks to mature broilers.

Hitherto, in order to provide accurate temperature control, it has been considered essential to provide faciiity for forced ventilation by means of electric fans. Quite apart from the power costs involved, however, a power failure can quickly lead to ventilation problems which can be harmful to the birds, possibly fatally harmful in the case of mature broilers.

It is an object of this invention to provide a broiler house having a sensitive system of natural ventilation.

The Invention The broiler house according to the invention comprises side walls, gable end walls, a roof pitched from a central ridge to the tops of the side walls, and a ventilation system which comprises a series of openable flaps in the roof along the ridge thereof, a weather protecting roof cap supported above the ridge in a manner which permits air flow upwardly through the roof flaps when open and laterally outwards over the roof from beneath said roof cap, and a series of openable flaps along each side wall at or near the top thereof. Preferably, both the roof flaps and the side flaps are individually openable.

In operation, all the roof flaps and all or nearly all the side flaps will be kept closed when young chicks are being housed. As the chicks become older, an increasing number of side flaps are opened to cool and change the air. Opening of the side flaps is usually sufficient until the birds mature into broilers producing more body heat.

The roof flaps are then brought into operation to stimulate increased ventilation. When both the side and roof flaps are open, warm air exits through the roof flaps, causing fresh air to be drawn in through the side flaps.

The walls and roof of the broiler house are preferably made of a heat insulating structure to ensure that the ventilation system exercises maximum control over conditions in the house, as heat loss and heat entry through the wall and roof structures are minimised. The series of roof and side flaps preferably run continuously the whole length of the house in the insulating side walls and roof.

For increased flexibility of the system, both the side flaps and the roof flaps are preferably openable to controllable extents. Thus, the side flaps are conveniently openable outwardly on top hinges to an adjustable extent determinable by a flap stay, while the roof flaps are conveniently openable downwardly on side hinges parallel to the ridge to an adjustable extent determinable, for example, by ropes or wires running over pulleys mounted under the roof. In a preferred arrangement, the hinges of successive flaps of the series alternate from one side of one flap to the opposite side of the next.

Conveniently, in order to assist interior lighting, the roof cap may incorporate light transparent panels, which allow light to enter the house when the roof flaps are open.

A practical arrangement of broiler house in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example.

In the Drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section through the broiler house; Figure 2 is a view of the side flaps from inside the house; and Figure 3 is a view of the top flaps from inside the house.

Detailed Description of the Drawings As can be seen from Figure 1 , the broiler house has a low pitched roof 10 extending with overhang 11 between two side walls 12. The roof has a ridge region 13, and the house structure is completed by two gable end walls (not shown).

The walls of the house are formed of an insulating structure consisting of a thin plywood internal facing, a thick plywood external facing and a conventional plastics foam insulating material between the two facings. The roof is formed of an insulating structure consisting of a corrugated asbestos outer facing, a thin plywood internal facing and similar plastics foam insulating material between the two facings.

The roof has a series of individually openable flaps 1 4 extending continuously along the ridge. In Figure 1, one such flap 14 is shown in full line in its fully open position, while the fully closed position of said flap is indicated in dotted line. The roof flaps 14 are individually openable to an adjustable extent between the fully open and fully closed positions by means (not shown) of ropes or wires extending over pulleys mounted beneath the roof. As can be seen from Figure 3, showing the open roof flaps 14 from underneath, these roof flaps are carried by side hinges 1 5 which alternate from one side of one flap to the opposite side of the next flap. In Figure 3, the reference 21 designates the roof trusses in the broiler house.

Above the roof flaps 14 in the ridge, the roof 10 supports a weather-protecting roof cap 1 6 of corrugated asbestos. The roof cap 1 6 is mounted to the roof 10 on upright plates 1 7 extending transversely to the ridge, so that the space beneath the roof cap is open to the sides. The roof cap 1 6 incorporates panels 18 of transparent coloured plastics material, one of which is visible through an open roof flap in Figure 3.

The side walls each have a series of individually openable flaps 1 9 extending continuously along the length of the broiler house just below the roof overhang 11. As shown in Figure 2, the side flaps 19 are hinged at the top and are openable to an adjustable extent by means of stays 20. In Figure 1, two side flaps 19 are shovvn partly open in full line, the fully open position being indicated in dotted line.

Again referring to Figure 1 , the arrowed dashdot lines indicate the ventilating airflow which occurs when both the roof flaps 14 and the side flaps 19 are open. Warm air exits through the ridge region 13, causing fresh air to be drawn in at the tops of the side walls 12, thus effecting efficient ventilation of the broiler house without the use of fans or other powered means for forced air flow. The ventilation system is highly sensitive, enabling the temperature in the house to be accurately controlled by varying the number of flaps which are opened and the extent of opening of these flaps. In general, all the flaps will be closed when young chicks are being housed and, as the chicks mature, progressively first the side flaps and then additionally the roof flaps will be opened to chosen extents.

It will be appreciated that the above-described arrangement may be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention. For example, it is not essential for the side and roof flaps, especially the roof flaps, to be adjustably openable, and alternative means may be employed for individual opening of the flaps, which may be such as to enable efficient ventilation to be achieved in some instances without extending as a continuous series along the full length of the side walls and roof. It may also suffice in some instances for the roof flaps, in particular, to be openable in groups instead of individually.

Claims (10)

1. A broiler house comprising side walls, gable end wa!ls, a roof pitched from a central ridge to the tops of the side walls, a ventilation system comprising a series of openable flaps in the roof along the ridge thereof, a weather-protecting roof cap supported above the ridge in a manner which permits air to flow upwardly through the roof flaps when open and laterally outwards over the roof from beneath said roof cap and a series of openable flaps along each side wall at or near the top thereof.

2. A boiler house as claimed in claim 1 in which both the roof flaps and the side flaps are individually openable.

3. A broiler house as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the walls and roof are constructed of a heat-insulating material.

4. A broiler house as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the roof and side flaps run continuously the whole length of the house in the insulating side walls and roof.

5. A broiler house as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which both the side flaps and the roof flaps are openable to controllable extents.

6. A broiler house as claimed in claim 5 in which the side flaps are openable outwardly on top hinges to an adjustable extent determinable by a flap stay.

7. A broiler house as claimed in claim 5 or 6 in which the roof flaps are openable downwardly on side hinges parallel to the ridge to an adjustable extent determinable by ropes or wires running over pulleys mounted under the roof.

8. A broiler house as claimed in claim 7 in which the hinges of successive flaps of the series alternate from one side of one flap to the opposite side of the next.

9. A broiler house as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the roof cap incorporates light transparent panels to allow light to enter the house when the roof flaps are open.

10. A broiler house with integral ventilation system constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.