GB2063637A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for spraying sheep and cattle - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for spraying animals which comprises a passageway through which an animal to be sprayed can pass, a spray means to which spray fluid is provided under pressure and means to collect spray fluid not deposited on the animal for recirculation, in which the spray means comprises a plurality of nozzles 32 deployed to direct spray fluid on an animal in the passageway, the nozzles each having a plurality of jets to provide an intense spray pattern. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to apparatus for spraying sheep and cattle This invention relates to apparatus for spraying animals such as sheep and cattle.

Conventional sheep and cattle spray races are generally wastefu I of the spray fluid which is, for example, water and disinfectant, or some chemical for treating the animal. This is because a fairly large volume of the spray material is not deposited on the animal but runs to waste either into the ground or drain gullies.

Our copending Patent Application No. 7915763 discloses an apparatus for spraying animals which comprises a passageway through which an animal to be sprayed can pass, a spray means to which a spray fluid is provided under pressure and means to collect spray fluid, not deposited on the animal, for recirculation.

The apparatus may take the form of an open ended tunnel, the floor thereof being in the form of a grid or mesh to allow spray fluid to drain therethrough into tanks located beneath the floor for recirculation to the spray nozzles.

The fluid tank or tanks may also act as a support for the tunnel assembly.

The side walls of the tunnel may slope downwardly towards the interior of the tunnel to help spray fluid impinging on the side walls to drain through the floor after contacting the sides of the apparatus.

The nozzles of the spray means may be adjusted to swing in an arc of approximately 1800 so that the spray nozzles can be deployed in the most effective manner towards an animal to be sprayed. In a preferred embodiment additional nozzles are provided which are arranged to impinge on the underparts of an animal to be sprayed.

Nozzles operating at varying degrees of spray pattern and pressure may be fitted to the spray means to ensure adequate coverage and penetration of the spray fluid on the animal to be sprayed, depending on the thickness and quality of the animal's coat.

We have now found that a far more intensive and efficient spray pattern may be obtained if each of the nozzles of the spray means is provided with a plurality ofjets.

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for spraying animals which comprises a passageway through which an animal to be sprayed can pass, a spray means to which a spray fluid is provided under pressure and means to collect spray fluid, not deposited on the animal, for recirculation, in which the spray means comprises a plurality of nozzles deployed to direct spray fluid on an animal in the passageway, the nozzles having a plurality of jets to provide an intense spray pattern.

The apparatus of the invention provides an intense spray pattern ensuring that the animal is thoroughly treated. The number and size of the jets in each spray nozzle is chosen according to the type of fluid to be sprayed, and the particular spray pattern desired. The spray pattern may vary according to the type of animal to be sprayed and also with the position of the spray nozzle in relation to the passageway, i.e. whether the spray nozzle is directed to impinge fluid on the back, side or belly of the animal to be sprayed. The axis of each jet may be parallel with, or inclined to, the nozzle axis to suit the required spray pattern.

The apparatus of the present invention may befit- ted with a draw-bar and wheels for towing. Each wheel can be raised by means of, for example, a screw-jack mechanism to allow the body of the apparatus to be lowered onto the ground for site use. Entry and exit ramps can be hinged at the point where they join the fluid tank or tanks and vertically positioned when the assembly is being towed.

In one embodiment, sliding gates are incorporated at the entry and exit points of the appartus to retain an animal within the spray area for a prolonged period if necessary.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a spraying apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective diagram showing the arrangement of the spraying device and nozzles rela tiveto the tunnel assembly; Figure 3 is a cross-section through a modified form of spray assembly; Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a spraying apparatus in accordance with the invention which is designed to be mobile; Figure 5 is a cross-section through a spray nozzle for use in apparatus of the invention, and Figure 6 is an end view of the spray nozzle shown in Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1, the spray race assembly comprises an open-ended tunnel formed of vertical panels 2, 4 and roof panels 6 connected together by angle irons 8, 10 in a standard fashion. The panels are connected end to end so as to form a tunnel of any desired length.

The vertical panels 4 are secured to inturned flanges 12 surrounding open-topped fluid tanks 14, the tanks being positioned side by side and interconnected through connection holes 16.

The inside of the tunnel assembly has downwardly sloping side panels 18 at each side, the bottom flanges 20 of which are each secured across one of the tanks 14 respectively. The bottom edges of the side panels 18 are spaced apart at their point of connection to the tanks 14 so that spray fluid impinging on the side walls 18 can run down these walls into the open top of the tank.

Top plates 22 are secured to the tanks outside the position of connection of the vertical walls 4 when the tunnel is required to be relatively narrow for the The drawing(s) originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

treatment, for example, of sheep. The tunnel can be widened so as to allow cattle comfortably to move down the tunnel and in this case, the vertical panels 4 will be connected to the outside edges of the tanks 14 and the top plates 22 will then not be required.

The floor of the tunnel is constituted by a grill member 24 secured between the two sloping side wall panels 18 so that spray fluid falling onto this grill floor panel can pass therethrough into the tanks 14 located beneath the floor.

Ramps 26 are positioned at each end of the tunnel to enable the animal to reach the height of the floor panel 24 above the tanks 14. Side panels 28 surround the ramps to act as a guide for the animals and as a support for the ramps.

The ramps and floor panel can be made of the louvred members described in detail in the specification of our copending Application No.48870/75.

Referring to Figure 2, a supply nozzle pipe 30 in the form of a hoop is secured to the vertical and sloping side panels of the tunnel, the nozzles 32 of which are distributed around the pipe so as to be able to cover with spray any animal passing through the tunnel.

The pipe 30 is connected by means of a flexible hose 34 and T-junction 36 to a pump 38 driven by a motor 40. Fluid is sucked from the tanks 14 through a strainer or filter element 42 and pipe 44 to the pump and is then pumped out through a pressure regulating valve 46 which can be used to control the pressure of the nozzles either back to the tanks 14 through a pipe 48 or to the T-junction 36 through a flexible pipe 50 depending upon the position of a changeover valve 52.

A by-pass pipe line 54 is provided to return excess spray fluid back to the tanks 14 ready for recirculation.

The tanks 14 can be filled and emptied by use of the pump 38 and pipe lines 44 and 48. A drain plug 56 is provided at the bottom of the interconnected tanks 14 for drainage purposes.

It will be appreciated that spray fluid emerging from the nozzles 32 of one or other of the spray hoop members 30 either impinge on an animal passing through the tunnel and surrounded by the spray "hoop" 30 or onto the sloping walls 18 from whence it runs down into the open top of the tank. Alternatively, the fluid can fall on the grill surface of the floor panels 24 and again pass back to the tank 14 to be recirculated through the strainerifllter 42 pump 38 and spray lines 50,34.

In this way, a considerable quantity of spray fluid can be reused.

Referring to Figure 3, couplings 58 are provided which can be loosened so as to allow the position of the respective associated group of nozzles 32 to be adjusted. Additional nozzles 60 are provided for impinging on the underside of the animal to be sprayed.

Referring to Figure 4, wheels 62 and tow bar 64, provided for towing the mobile spraying apparatus, are shown with the wheels 62 raised to lower the spraying apparatus into an operative position. Entry and exit ramps 66 are hingedly attached to the tank 14for raising to a vertical position when the spraying apparatus is being towed. Sliding gates 68 enable the animal to be sprayed to be retained in the spray area fort prolonged period.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a spray nozzle having four jets 70 which are arranged on the circumference of a circle and have their axes parallel to the axis of the nozzle. Four jets have been found to give a very efficient spray pattern although the nozzle may include more or less jets arranged in any desired manner. A symmetrical spray pattern is preferred although in some instances, it may be desirable to use an asymmetrical spray pattern. The spray nozzle may conveniently be provided with a threaded portion 72 so that nozzles may readily be interchanged to vary the spray pattern according to the spray fluid or animal to be sprayed.

Claims (15)

1. Apparatus for spraying animals which comprises a passageway through which an animal to be sprayed can pass, a spray means to which spray fluid is provided under pressure and means to collect spray fluid not deposited on the animal for recirculation, in which the spray means comprises a plurality of nozzles deployed to direct spray fluid on an animal in the passageway, the nozzles each having a plurality of jets to provide an intense spray pattern.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the axis of each jet in a nozzle is inclined to the axis of the nozzle.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the axis of each jet in a nozzle is parallel to the axis of the nozzie.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 in which at least a portion of the nozzles have four jets which are equally spaced around the circumference of a circle centred on the nozzle axis.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including means to strain orfilter particles of dirt or foreign bodies from the spray fluid before recirculation.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the passageway comprises an open-ended tunnel assembly having sidewalls, a roof and a floor which is in the form of a grid or mesh with a tank located beneath the floor for collecting spray fluid for recirculation to spray nozzles.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 in which the tank supports the tunnel assembly.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 in which the side walls of the tunnel assembly slope downwardly to the interior of the tunnel thereby facilitating drainage through the floor, of spray fluid impinging on the side walls.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8 in which the tunnel assembly is formed from a plurality of side and roof panels connected together.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 9 in which the side walls of the tunnel assembly can be secured to the tank at different positions to produce tunnels of different widths to accommodate different sized animals.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the spray means is provided with nozzles, the position of which is adjustable.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the spray means is provided with nozzles arranged to impinge on the underparts of an animal being sprayed.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is provided with wheels and a draw-bar for towing.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the apparatus is provided with entry and exit gates.

15. Apparatus for spraying animals as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.