GB2139065A

GB2139065A - Collection and cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2139065A
Application number: GB08308675A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Grossman; Arthur Alfred Rolfe
Original assignee: Modular Systems & Dev Co Ltd
Current assignee: Modular Systems & Dev Co Ltd
Priority date: 1983-03-29
Filing date: 1983-03-29
Publication date: 1984-11-07
Also published as: GB8308675D0; GB2139065B

Abstract

Apparatus for collecting and flushing droppings from a series of cages (10) comprises a collecting tray (14), a self propelled cleaning carriage (15) movable along the tray (14), a fluid inlet (27) and an outlet from the tray for fluid and droppings collected on the tray. The carriage (15) has a flexible blade (24) extending across the tray such that matter on the tray is cleared by the carriage as it moves along the tray. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Collection and cleaning apparatus The invention relates to apparatus for collecting droppings from, for example, animal cages.

According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for collecting and flushing droppings from a series of cages, which apparatus comprises a collecting tray, a self propelled cleaning carriage movable along the tray, means for introducing fluid into the tray, and outlet means from the tray for fluid and droppings collected on the tray, the carriage having flexible blade means extending across the tray such that matter on the tray is cleared by the carriage as it moves along the tray.

There are preferably blade means at each end of the carriage.

The tray is preferably channel shaped with a base and side walls. The side walls each preferably have a lower portion lying in a plane at an acute angle, for example 45" to the base and an upper portion lying substantially perpendicular to the base.

The carriage preferably has at leastfourwheels each having concave radially outwardly facing surfaces, and the free edge of each side wall preferably has a convex upwardly facing surface for engaging the associated wheels. The carriage is preferably driven by motor means driving at least one wheel.

Preferably all wheels are driven. The motor may be electrically powered, and means are preferably provided for holding electrical supply cable clear of the tray and carriage during movement thereof. The cable may be arranged in discrete lengths connected together, each length being suspended at each end thereof from elongate support means extending parallel to and above the tray.

Each blade means may comprise a rubber strip.

The strip preferably extends to contact the base and the lower sidewall portions.

The convex upwardly facing surface on each side wall of the tray may be provided by an elongate resilient member supported on the associated side wall. The elongate resilient member may be a rubber extrusion, and may be circular in cross section.

There are preferably outlet means at each end of the tray.

The invention further provides a cage assembly comprising a row of cages, and apparatus according to the invention for collecting and flushing droppings from the cages.

By way of example, one embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for collecting and flushing droppings will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa side view of an assembly of cages and apparatus for collecting and flushing droppings; Figure2 is a sectional view along the lines Il-Il in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan view of a carriage.

Figure lisa front view of an assembly of cages 10, in this embodiment rabbit cages. Only part of the assembly is shown. The assembly has a framework 11 of galvanised steel or stainless steel or other suitable material supporting the cages 10 in rows.

The cages are supported by means of support flanges 12 on the framework 11 and cooperating flanges 13 on each cage.

Beneath each row of cages 10 extends a tray 14 of stainless steel or other suitable material, the trays 14 being of channel section to collect droppings from the cages 10. The trays 14 extend beyond the ends of the rows of cages 10, drains (not shown) being provided from the trays 14 at both ends thereof and a cleaning carriage 15 is movable along each tray 14.

The arrangement is further illustrated in Figure 2, a sectional view along the lines ll-ll in Figure 1.

The trays 14 are of channel section having a planar base portion 16 and side walls 17 and 18. The side walls 17 and 18 have lower portions 19 and 20 respectively arranged at an angle of approximately 45" to the base 16 and upper portions 21 and 22 substantially perpendicular to the base 16. Supported on the free edges of the upper portions 21 and 22 of the trays 14 are rubber extrusions 23 of substantially circular cross section.

The carriages 15 are supported on the extrusions 23 and have flexible laminated rubber cleaning blades 24 arranged at both ends of each carriage 15.

The length and configuration of the cleaning blades 24 is such that the blades contact the base 16 and the lower portions 19 and 20 of each side wall of an associated tray 14.

The carriages 15 are self propelled by means of an electric motor and electrical supply to each carriage is by means of a supply cable 25 connected to the carriage 15 by means of a plug and socket connection 26. The cables 25 are supported behind the cages 10 and above the carriages 15to prevent snaring of the cables on the carriages 15. The cables 25 are divided into discrete lengths, each length being slung from a support bar or wire 28 by means of eyes provided at each end of each cable length.

The total length of cable is sufficient to reach the associated carriage 15 at any position of the carriage along the associated tray 14 but in all positions of the carriage the cable is clear of the carriage. Cable guards 29 protect upper parts of the cables 25.

A supply of drinking water to the cages 10 is provided by pipes 27.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a carriage 15 with upper box cover removed to show the interior of the carriage. The carriage 15 is boxshaped and made of sheet steel or other suitable material. Secured to a base 30 is an electric motor 31 supplied with electrical power via a socket 32 of the plug and socket arrangement 26 previously described. Electrical connection between the socket 32 and the electric motor 31 are not shown.

The electric motor 31 drives a toothed belt 33 which in turn drives a toothed wheel 34 fixed for rotation with a shaft 35. The shaft 35 in turn drives a second toothed belt 36 by means of a toothed wheel 37, the second toothed belt 36 driving a second shaft 38 by means of a further toothed wheel 39. The shafts 25 and 38 are mounted in bearings in end walls 40 and 41 of the carriage 15.

Fixed for rotation with the shaft 35 are two wheels 42 and 43 and fixed for rotation with the second shaft 38 are two wheels 44 and 45. The wheels 42,43, 44 and 45 have concave radially outwardly facing surfaces adapted to be engaged by the extrusions 23 supported on the trays 14.

The two cleaning blades 16 previously described are attached by rivets or other suitable means to the body of the carriage 15.

A control system (not shown) is provided for the apparatus and the complete unit may be programmed so that at a predetermined time, a solenoid (not shown) adjacent to each tray opens and delivers a predetermined amount of water onto the tray. A typical amount of water is 2.25 gallons. The carriages 15 then move along the trays to sweep all droppings to the end drain.

The advantages of this embodiment of apparatus according to the invention are that the cleaning carriage is self propelled and automatically operated and is quiet in operation. Each carriage can clean in both directions of movement and a plug and socket supply allow easy replacement of a carriage unit in place of breakdown. The arrangement of the carriages with concave wheels sitting on a rubber extrusion provides good traction for the vehicles.

Claims

1. Apparatus for collecting and flushing droppings from a series of cages, which apparatus comprises a collecting tray, a self propelled cleaning carriage movable along the tray, means for introducing fluid into the tray, and outlet means from the tray for fluid and droppings collected on the tray, the carriage having flexible blade means extending across the tray such that matter on the tray is cleared by the carriage as it moves along the tray.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the tray is channel shaped with a base and side walls.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the side walls each have a lower portion lying in a plane at an acute angle to the base and an upper portion lying substantially perpendicular to the base.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the lower portion of each side wall lies at 45" to the base.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein the carriage has at least four wheels each having a concave radially outwardly facing surface.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the free edge of each side wall has a convex upwardly facing surface for engaging the associated wheels.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the convex upwardly facing surface on each side wall of the tray is provided by an elongate resilient member supported on the associated side wall.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the resilient member is a rubber extrusion.

9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the resilient member is circular in cross section.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the blade means comprise a rubber strip.

11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 as depen dent on any one of Claims 2 to 9 wherein the strip extends to contact the base and the lower side wall portions.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim comprising blade means at each end of the carriage.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the carriage is driven by motor means driving at least one wheel.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 13 wherein all the wheels are driven.

15. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14 wherein the motor means is electrically powered and means are provided for holding electrical supply cable clear of the tray and carriage during movement thereof.

16. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 15 wherein the cable is arranged in discrete lengths connected together, each length being suspended at each end thereof from elongate support means extending parallel to and above the tray.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim comprising outlet means at each end of the tray.

18. Acage assembly comprising a row of cages and apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim for collecting and flushing droppings from the cages.

19. Apparatus for collecting and flushing droppings from a series of cages substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.