IE61460B1

IE61460B1 - Floor Unit for an Animal House

Info

Publication number: IE61460B1
Application number: IE108188A
Authority: IE
Inventors: William Charles Mcburney
Original assignee: William Charles Mcburney
Priority date: 1987-04-11
Filing date: 1988-04-11
Publication date: 1994-11-02
Also published as: GB8808498D0; GB8708751D0; GB2203625B; GB2203625A; IE881081L

Abstract

A floor unit is provided to form part of a floor covering a waste pit of an animal house. The unit has at least one closable opening 24 with a cover 26 therein adapted to allow for access to the pit below. The unit comprises a plurality of closely spaced beams anchored together, ie. two longitudinal beams 20A, one on each lateral side, between which six beams 20B or (20C) extend. The cover 26 for the opening 24 is hinged to the rest of the unit to lie flush therewith when closed. A second smaller closable opening (38) with a lid 40 is provided and its lid 40 is hinged in a manner to lie flush with the rest of the unit.

Description

This invention relates to a floor snxt for ose in an animal house incorporating a pit to receive wastes Floors of such animal booses are commonly called slatted floors and are formed by locating a series of closely spaced concrete beams over said pit? the ends of the beams bearing upon walls between which the pit is definedr the spaces between the beams allowing wastes to pass therethrough Into said pit. The beams can be individually used or acre likelyt units comprising a© several beams cast together are used. The wastess when sitting any length of time, separate into layers, generally a lower layer of liquid, a middle layer of semi-fluent mixed matter and liquid, and an upper layer of buoyant material which being in the atmosphere dries IS to form a crust. To dredge the pit, a few of the beams, or ©ne unit, are removed to provide an open space through which mixing apparatus can be lowered to first mix the layers together before the mixed wastes can bs pumped from the pit. The disadvantages of such an „ 20 arrangement are firstly, the need to remove one unit or the few beams and secondly, when these beams are removed and fche isdxing apparatus Is in position, relatively large openings are left uncovered which present a very real haxard to passing animals, workers and any other person in fche vicinity, such as children.

It is an object of the present invention to » obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantagesJ In accordance with the present invention,, an elongate floor unit is provided to form part of a floor covering of an animal house, the unit being installable to bridge over a waste pit formed between walls upon which the outer ends of the unit are intended to bear,, wherein the unit has two longitudinals, one on each lateral side, between which a weight bearing structure extends with at least one closable opening being provided in said structure and adapted, when the unit is installed, to allow for access to the pit below.

Preferably, the structure comprises a plurality of closely spaced beams anchored together. The beams preferably extend parallely between the longitudinals.

The beams alternatively may extend transversely between the longitudinals.

Preferably also, a cover for the one opening is provided to lie flush with the rest of the unit when closed» The cover is preferably hinged to the rest of the unit. A second elosable opening is preferably provided in the unit to lie flush therewith. The second closable opening is desirably smaller than th© cover of the one opening and is provided in the cover of the one opening® A lid of the second, closable opening is hinged to said cover. Alternatively., the second closable opening is provided separately in the unit from the cover for the one opening. A lid of the second closable opening is desirably hinged to the unit.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an existing floor of an animal house having several concrete beams removed with a mixing apparatus in place thereby showing open spaces on each side of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the floor in Fig. 1 with an elongate floor unit according to a first embodiment of the present Invention occupying the space of the several beams removed in the existing floor as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the unit in Fig. 2 with a cover of a closable opening therein hinged open, and the mixing apparatus positioned in place? Fig. 4 is a plan view of the unit shown in Fig. 2 showing also a second closable opening; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a unit according to a second embodiment of the invention, showing also in broken line different positions In which the second closable opening can be placed.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the floor of the animal house is formed from a plurality of closely spaced concrete beams 12 whose outer ends bear upon walls 14 and bridge over a waste pit 16 formed therebetween. The beams 12 may be provided Individually, d or provided in a cast unit of several beams. To empty the pit 16, one unit or several of the beams 12, for 05 example four, are removed and a mixing apparatus 18 is extended into the opening formed. As can be seen from Fig.1, gaps are left on each side of the mixing apparatus 18. These gaps are dangerous since there is nothing to prevent animals, workers or other persons 10 from falling into the pit if they Inadvertantly step in the wrong place.

An elongate floor unit acccording to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs 2, and 4, and is for use in replacing, for example eight 15 beams 12, or two cast units each of four beams. The unit comprises two longitudinal beams 20A, on® on each lateral side, between which a weight bearing structure extends. The structure comprises a plurality of closely spaced beams ie. six beams 20B as shown, parallel 20 therewith, which are secured together at their outer ends to two transverse supports 22. Intermediate the outer ends of the beams, a square closable opening 24 -is provided in the central six beams 20B. The opening 24 is provided with a cover 26 which lies over the opening 24 and its top lies flush with the top of the beams 20B. On each side of the opening 24, two inner transverse supports 28 are provided and secure the inner ends of the beams 20B together. The inner supports 28 are secured to the two outer beams 20A. The cover 26 comprises beams 30, aligned with beams 20B, secured to transverse end supports 32. The cover 26 is hinged at 36 to one of the outer beams 20A. Four corner web support plates 34 are provided across the corners between the inner transverse supports 28 and the two outer beams 20A and are to support the cover 26 such that the top of the cover 26 lies flush with the rest of the floor unit. The unit is primarily, but not necessarily, manufactured from galvanised mild steel with the beams 20A, 20B and 30 and supports 22 and 32 formed from, for example box section or Inverted channel section.

A second closable rectangular opening 38 is provided of smaller dimensions than the cover 26, and provided In the cover 26, and through which, for example a pip® or hose can be lowered into the pit, such pipe being for use in emptying the pit after the waste has been mixed. Xn this case, the pipe would be connected to a pump located on the floor. Such a situation would arise if the mixing apparatus did not incorporate a pump. The opening 38 is provided as shown in Fig. 4 at the opening end of the cover 26, and its lid 40 is hinged to a beam 30» The opening is approximately the width of a beam 20B or 30 and the normal space on each lateral side of said beam. Again, four corner web support plates 42 are provided to hold the lid 40 with its top flush with the top of the cover 26.

The cover 26 and lid 40 may be removable (as cover 26 is in Fig. 3ί, although from a safety aspect it is preferred that they are hinged. Locking mechanisms are provided for cover 26 and lid 40 to enable them to be locked to the rest of the unit to prevent unauthorised opening.

In use, the cover 26 or lid 40 as required is lifted up and the mixing apparatus or pipe respectively is extended into the pit. During the time the apparatus or pipe respectively is in use, the remainder of the unit remains in place so that no hazardous gaps exist around the respective opening.

In a second embodiment as shown in Fig 5, in which like parts are denoted by like numerals, the beams 20G are provided transverse of the longitudinal beams 20AThis embodiment Is preferred since it allows units of various lengths to be manufactured from standardised lengths of transverse beams 20C. Also, by the beams 20C being transverse of andsecured to the longitudinal beams 20A it dispenses with the necessity of transverse supports 22 and inner supports 20. The opening 24 can be centrally located as shown in Fig. 5 or it cans be off-set towards either end· The position of the opening 38 is shown as spaced from the cover 26# however it can be in the cover 26 as shown in Fig- 4 or can be located in any other suitable position such as any one of those three positions shown in broken line at Ά, B or ¢.

In an extended version of either embodiment, two 05 openings 24 can be provided with one or two openings 30» these openings being positioned as required. The cover 26 can be hinged at any one side to either of the beams 20A 28 or beams 20C.

Floor units of the present invention have 10 application, not only with existing floors, but may also be incorporated into new floors being built.

Materials other than galvanised mild steel may be used for the floor unit, but these materials should be strong enough to withstand the weight of the animals and be relatively resistant to corrosion from animal urine and other wastes.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An elongate floor unit provided to form part of a floor covering of an animal house, the unit being installable to bridge over a waste pit formed between walls upon which the outer ends of the unit are Intended

2. Λ floor unit as claimed in Claim i, wherein the structure comprises a plurality oi closely spaced beams anchored together.

3. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the beasss extend parallely between the longitudinals. 15

4. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the beams extend transversely between the longitudinals.

5. With the rest of the unit. 5- Λ floor unit as claimed In any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a cover for the one opening is provided fco lie flush with the rest of the unit when closed. 05 to beat, wherein the unit has two longitudinals, one on each lateral side, between which a weight bearing structure extends with at least one closable opening being provided in said structure and adapted, when the unit is installed, to allow for access to the pit below. 10

6. „ A floor unit as claimed in Claim 5, wherein ths cover is hinged to the rest of the unit.

7. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 5 or ®, wherein one or more supports are provided to hold the cover flush

8. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 5, 6 or 7, snereia a second closable opening is provided in the unit.

9. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 8# wherein the second closable opening is smaller than the cover of Tl © the one opening and is provided in the cover of the ©ne opening. 10. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 9# wherein a lid of the second closable opening lies flush with the cover. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 10# wherein the lid •55 is hinged to said cover. 12. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the second closable opening is provided separately in the unit from the cover for the one opening. 13. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 12# wherein a lid 20 of the second closable opening is hinged to the unit. 14. Λ floor unit as claimed in Claim 9» 10>„ 11» 12 or 13» wherein one or more supports are provided to hold the top of the lid flush with the rest of the unit. 15. A floor unit as claimed in Claim 7 or 14» wherein 05 four supports are provided each being a corner web support plate. 16. Λ floor unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 2» 3 or 4 of the accompanying drawings.

10. 17. A floor unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.