GB2089391A

GB2089391A - Repairing Slotted Concrete Cattle-Shed Flooring

Info

Publication number: GB2089391A
Application number: GB8039842A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: STRESSLINE PATENTS Ltd
Current assignee: STRESSLINE PATENTS Ltd
Priority date: 1980-12-12
Filing date: 1980-12-12
Publication date: 1982-06-23

Abstract

Slotted slabs 10 having projections 13, 14 depending from the undersurface thereof and with a slot 15 formed therein are keyed into the slots 2, 3 in the original floor, so as to restore the slots 2, 3 to their original width or even to diminish the width of the slots 2, 3 where they have become widened by damage during use. The original floor is formed from 'single slats' 16 with slots 18 between adjacent slats 16, or from 'twin slats' 1 with additional slots 2, 3 formed integrally with the slats 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements In and Relating To Concrete Structures for Floors This invention relates to concrete structures for floors and particularly to a concrete slotted floor structure for cattle and the like.

It has previously been known to provide a concrete slatted floor structure for a building intended to house cattle wherein the floor is formed of a plurality of elongate concrete slats, so arranged as to define a slot extending longitudinally between adjacent slats (hereinafter referred to as a 'single slat'), or each slat being provided with longitudinally extending integral slots (hereinafter referred to as a 'twin slat') such that when the slats are arranged in sidz-by-side relationship, slots additional to the integral slots are formed between adjacent slats.

With such 'twin slats', it has been found that the edges of the slats defining the integral slots become chipped or otherwise damaged in use and the width of the slots becomes increased, particularly where the edges of the slots taper to an acute angle. Similarly the outside edges of the slats when damaged, cause the slots between adjacent 'twin' or 'single' slats, to widen, presenting a danger to cattle or other animals.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for restoring the width of the slots to an original width, or even in some cases, reducing the width of the original slots.

According to the present invention, there is provided a concrete slatted floor structure, comprising a plurality of elongate concrete 'single slats' or 'twin slats' (as hereinbefore described) and wherein a pair of adjacent 'single slats' or a 'twin slat' is overlaid with a horizontal concrete slotted slab provided with at least one downwardly extending projection arranged to be keyed into a slot formed between the said pair of adjacent 'single slats' or into a slot formed integrally withthe 'twin slat' and damaged by use such as to diminish the width of the damaged slot to at least its original width.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with particular reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view to a reduced scale of a pair of 'twin slats' with three slotted slabs overlying the slats and shown in dotted lines; Figure 2 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale of one 'twin slat' with a slotted slab superimposed thereon taken on section station C-C of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section to an enlarged scale taken on the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section to an enlarged scale taken on the line B-B of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an oblique perspective exploded view to an enlarged scale of parts of a pair of twin slats showing how the slotted slab keys into a slot of a twin slat; Figure 6 is a plan view to the scale of Figure 1 of a slotted slab;; Figure 7 is a section taken on the line D-D of Figure 6 and Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the slab of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a plan view of five 'single slats' to the scale of Figure 1 with three slotted slabs superimposed thereon in dotted lines.

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 5, each 'twin slat' comprises a planar, elongate slab 1 of concrete having a pair of aligned slots 2, 3, extending substantially throughout the entire length of the slab, the walls 4, 5, of each slot 2, 3, being divergent as shown particularly in Figures 2 and 5 and the side walls 6, 7, of the slab 1, also tapering inwardly, as shown in Figures 2 and 5.

Each slab 1, has an enlarged head portion 8 formed at one end thereof and in practice, when forming a floor structure of a plurality of such slotted 'twin slats', adjacent slats are arranged in 'head-to-toe' relationship such that the enlarged head portion 8 of one 'twin slat' is laid adjacent the non-enlarged 'toe' portion of a slat as shown in Figure 1, thereby defining a further slot 9 between adjacent 'twin slats'.

When used as a concrete floor structure for cattle and the like, excrement from the animals falls through the slots or can be washed through the slots to be collected as manure in a pit or channel beneath the slats. However, it has been found in practice that the edges of the slots formed in the slats or between slats, becomes damaged by use causing the slots to become wider thereby presenting a danger to the animals when walking over the slotted floor in that animals' hooves and legs may become entrapped in the enlarged slots, causing possible damage to the animals' legs or even fracture of the limbs.

Accordingly the invention provides for slotted slabs, 10 to be superimposed on the damaged slotted slats 1. In Figure 1 , three slotted slabs 10 are shown overlying the pair of 'twin slats' 1 and in Figure 5, a slotted slab broken away to show the detail thereof is located above the damaged slot 2 of a twin slat 1. Each slotted slab 10 is approximately 2" thick and is of substantially rectangular shape in plan, each end thereof being provided with a cut-away or niched portion 11, 12 for a purpose hereinafter defined. Depending from the undersurface of the slab 10 are two spaced projections 13, 14, of substantially square section, arranged to engage in the damaged slot 2 of slab 1, thereby keying the slab 10 into the slot 2.The slot 1 5 extending substantially throughout the length of slab 10 is of a width either the same as the width of the original slot 2 in the slat 1 before damage thereto, or of narrower width such that the floor structure comprising the 'twin slats' 1 overlaid with the slotted slabs 10 can\be used for smaller animals e.g. pigs, sheep, calves, etc.

In a modification of the invention applicable to 'single slats' shown in Figure 9, the single slats 16, each comprise a hammer head 17 at one end thereof such that each slat 1 6 is of substantially 'T' shape in plan, the slats being arranged in 'head-to-toe' formation to form a floor structure having a slot 18 defined between adjacent slats.

To compensate for damage to the slots of the slats 16, the latter are overlaid with slotted slabs 10 such as that shown in Figure 5, the projections 13, 14, depending from the undersurface of the slab 10 engaging in the slot 1 8 formed between the slat 1 6 when the slats are located adjacent each other as shown in Figure 9.

As previously described, each slab 10 is formed with a recessed or niched end portion 11, 1 2 such that when the slotted slabs 10 are superimposed on the damaged slats 1 or 1 6 (Figure 9), the slots or niches 11, 12 form a recess for the reception of mortar or the like to key adjacent slabs 1 0.

It will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of considerable modification and is not to be deemed limited to the particular constructional features described by way of example only.

Claims

1. A concrete slatted floor structure, comprising a plurality of elongate concrete 'single slats' or 'twin slats' (as hereinbefore described) and wherein a pair of adjacent 'single slats' or a 'twin slat' is overlaid with a horizontal concrete slotted slab provided with at least one downwardly extending projection arranged to be keyed into a slot formed between the said pair of adjacent, 'single slats' or into a slot formed integrally with the 'twin slat' and damaged by use such as to diminish the width of the damaged slot to at least its original width.

2. A concrete slatted floor structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each slotted slab comprises a planar member having a slot extending substantially throughout the length of the slab, the width of the slot being less than the width of the damaged slot of the slat.

3. A concrete slatted floor structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein each slotted slab is provided with at least one projection depending from the undersurface thereof such as to engage in a damaged slot of a slat, to key the slab on the slat in close fitting superimposed relationship.

4. A concrete slatted floor structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein each slotted slab is provided with at least one projection depending from the undersurface thereof such as to engage in a damage slot formed between two adjacent single slats.

5. A concrete slatted floor structure substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.