GB2149284A

GB2149284A - A dividing system

Info

Publication number: GB2149284A
Application number: GB08330102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Guy Gibbs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-11-11
Filing date: 1983-11-11
Publication date: 1985-06-12
Also published as: GB8330102D0; GB2149284B

Abstract

A dividing system comprises dividers 4 pivotably mounted with respect to a wall 2 of a barn intended to house livestock. Each divider 4 is pivotable about a vertical axis from a first position in which it projects into the interior of the building, thus dividing the building into separate areas in which to keep livestock, and a second position, in which it is adjacent the wall 2 to enable the building to be used for other purposes, for example for a cow during calving. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A dividing system This invention relates to a dividing system, for example for use in a housing for livestock.

When providing a housing for livestock, in particular barns for cattle, it is usual to form in some manner separate compartments, each cow thereby occupying its own area of the barn. Such compartments are generally formed by metal dividers of a suitable shape which are rigidly fastened to the wall and the floor and/or the ceiling of the barn. This results in efficient and safe storage of cattle, but does not allow the barn to be used for any purpose requiring a large floor area, for example such as a cow might require during calving.

A particular known dividing system has provision for each divider to pivot upwards about a horizontal axis; however, the previously vertical section of the divider then protrudes undesirably into the interior of the barn. This may be dangerous for an animal during calving, and does not give the required free area.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dividing system for use in a building intended to house livestock, the system comprising a plurality of dividers spaced apart along a wall of the building, each divider being pivotably mounted to the wall such that it is capable of pivoting about a vertical axis between a first position in which it projects into the interior of the building to form divisions, and a second position in which it is adjacent the wall.

Preferably the system further comprises an elongate member, pivotally mounted with respect to the dividers such that, when the dividers are in the first position, the elongate member is substantially perpendicular to the dividers and is attached to a fixed member to maintain the dividers in the first position.

If an end most divider is prevented by an obstruction from pivoting fully into the second position, it may be removable, thereby allowing the other dividers, linked by the elongate member, to move fully into the second position.

The elongate member is preferably situated at a position with respect to each divider such that it is spaced from the pivoted end of the divider and from the free end of the divider, and is closer to the pivoted end than to the free end.

For a beter understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a barn incorporating a dividing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken along line ll-ll in Fig. land Figures 3a and 3b show respective halves of a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, with one half illustrating the dividing system in a wholly inoperative position; and the other half illustrating the dividing system in a partially inoperative position.

Fig. 1 shows a barn having a roof 1, side walls 2, and a floor 3. The floor 3 has two raised side regions 3a, and a lower central region 3b. A plurality of dividers 4 are provided at inervals along each wall 2 (Fig. 2).

These dividers 4 may be substantially Ushaped as illustrated, or of any suitable configuration. Each divider 4 is attached to the wall 2 by means of a bracket 5 and is pivotable with respect to the bracket 5 about a vertical axis. One endmost divider 4a on each wall 2 is removably attached to its respective bracket 5 by means of a bolt 6, shown partially withdrawn in Fig. 1. The reason for this will be described hereinafter.

A crossbar 7 is mounted pivotably with respect to the dividers 4, being removably mounted to end most dividers 4a. This crossbar 7 is mounted in a position spaced from the pivoted end 41 of each divider 4, but nearer to that end than to the free end 42 of the divider 4. This ensures sufficient rigidity of the system when in use, while preventing a cow from standing too close to the wall 2.

The cow can be tethered to the crossbar 7.

This crossbar 7 has been omitted from Fig. 3a for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 2 illustrates the dividing system in its operative position, that is with the dividers 4 extending substantially perpendicular from the side walls 2 towards the interior of the barn.

In this position, the dividers 4 serve to form individual compartments for cattle, for example. In this way, the barn can be used as winter housing for livestock. The barn can be simply cleaned by swilling out the lower region 3b of the floor 3.

When more space is required, for example to allow freedom of movement for a cow during calving, the dividing system can be swung into an inoperative position against the wall 2 of the barn, as shown in Fig. 3a. In order to achieve this, the crossbar 7 is disconnected from a front wall of the barn at connection 8 (Fig. 2) and from the endmost dividers 4a, and the end most dividers 4a are removed by withdrawing the bolts 6 from their brackets 5. If the endmost dividers 4a are not removed, the dividers can be pivoted only partially because the end most dividers 4a abut the back wall of the barn.

Full pivoting can be quickly and easily accomplished manually, via the partially inoperative position shown in Fig. 3a, until the dividers 4 lie adjacent the side wall 2 of the barn as shown in Fig. 3a.

Claims

1. A dividing system for use in a building intended to house livestock, the system comprising a plurality of dividers spaced apart along a wall of the building, each divider being pivotably mounted to the wall such that it is capable of pivoting about a vertical axis between a first position in which it projects into the interior of the building to form divisions, and a second position in which it is adjacent the wall.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elongate member, pivotally mounted with respect to the dividers such that, when the dividers are in the first position, the elongate member is substantially perpendicular to the dividers and is attached to a fixed member to maintain the dividers in the first position.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein an end most divider is removable, thereby allowing the other dividers, linked by the elongate member, to move fully into the second position.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the elongate member is situated at a position with respect to each divider such that it is spaced from the pivoted end of the divider and from the free end of the divider, and is closer to the pivoted end than to the free end.

5. A dividing system, for use in a building intended to house livestock, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.