WO1999021412A1

WO1999021412A1 - A device for moving animals

Info

Publication number: WO1999021412A1
Application number: PCT/SE1998/001939
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lars-Arne Larsson
Original assignee: Alfa Laval Agri Ab
Priority date: 1997-10-27
Filing date: 1998-10-27
Publication date: 1999-05-06
Also published as: SE9703912D0; AU9771898A; SE9703912L; SE511015C2

Abstract

A device for moving of animals, particularly milch cows, in essentially one moving direction. The device comprises a mover member (3), which in an inactive position is located above the animals and in an active position is lowered behind the animals, and at least one closed loop of an elongate flexible element (1) for the suspension of the mover member (3), wherein the flexible element (1) is arranged to be driven along the loop. Said loop forms two essentially parallel first and second parts (1a, 1b) with opposite moving directions. The device comprises means arranged to attach the mover member (3) to said first and second parts (1a, 1b) in such a way that the mover member (3) is displaceable in horizontal and vertical directions by said driving of the elongate element (1).

Description

A device for moving animals

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a device for moving animals in essentially one moving direction, comprising a mover member, which in an inactive position is located above the animals and in an active position is lowered behind the animals, and at least one closed loop of an elongate flexible element for the suspension of the mover member, wherein the flexible element is arranged to be driven along the loop.

Such moving devices are used in modern farms, which have a low manning and many animals to be moved in a rational way from one place to another. Especially, such moving devices are applicable to milk cows, for example freely walking milk cows present in a collection fold and to be moved to a milking parlour.

From DD, A1 , 270 652 a device for moving of milch cows is known, comprising elongate flexible elements for the driving and suspension of a mover member. The driving of the moving device in horisontal and vertical directions is very complicated for this device and requires a lot of facilitites. The flexible elements are also very long and for that reason very sensitive to loads especially in a vertical direction and the device will probably not work well for the suspension of the mover member. The mover member comprises a rigid rod horizontally directed and suspended by the flexible elements via two wires. A disadvantage of such a rod is if that the animals run against the rod there is a great risk that the whole device is pulled down.

From FR, A1 , 2 621 345 a flexible mover member, driven by a wire, is known. This wire has a considerable length and is not suitable for the suspension of the mover member. Therefore, the mover member is suspended by two fixedly arranged rails directed in parallel.

From US, A, 3 921 586 a rigid mover member of a more heavy construction is known. The device for the suspension of the mover member also in this case is constituted by fixed rails located at the top.

Such fixed rails require a considerable installation work and are frequently difficult to attach in existing stalls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a moving device to a low cost of production and which operates in a reliable and rational way. The moving device is also to be suitable for widely differing animal spaces with respect to for example dimensions and to be suspended without rail constructions, which raise the price.

This object is achieved by said loop forming two essentially parallel first and second parts with opposite moving directions, and the device comprising means arranged to attach the mover member to said first and second parts in such a way that the mover member is displaceable in horizontal and vertical direction by said driving of the elongate element.

By this design of the device, a suspension of the mover member is obtained at two parallel parts of the loop, which means that the weight of the mover member and possible loading forces which may occur at the moving of the animals are distributed in an advantageous way along the length of the loop. Furthermore, by the attachment of the mover member to said first and second parts of the loop, with opposite moving directions, a possibility is obtained to arrange the mover member displaceable in horizontal and vertical direction in a simple and uncomplicated way. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said means for displacement of the mover member in horizontal and vertical directions comprises a first carrying member, which is fixedly attached to one end of the mover member and attached to said first part by means of a first connection, and a second carrying member, which is attached to said second part by means of a second connection and arranged to carry slideably the mover member. Said carrying member are preferably elongated elements extending over the whole width of the mover member. Said second carrying member may also comprise a sliding surface over which the mover member is slideable.

According to further embodiment of the invention, one of said connections comprises a connection fixed to the respective part whereas the other of said connections comprises a connection moveable along the respective part. By this embodiment the possibility is obtained to arrange locking means to lock said carrying members to their respective parts at a minimal and a maximal distance, respectively, from each other. Said minimal distance may involve that the carrying members essentially are located at the same horizontal position along the extension of the loop whereas said maximal distance may involve essentially the whole lengthwise extension of the mover member. At said minimal distance between the carrying members, the mover member is in an active position and hanging essentially vertically downwards and is displaceable horizontally in the moving direction. At said maximal distance between the carrying members, the mover member is in an inactive position and displaceable horizontally above the animal against the moving direction. When the carrying members are located at a distance between the minimal and the maximal distances, they move in opposite directions, wherein when the carrying members are moved against each other the mover member is displaced vertically downwards and horizontally in the driving direction whereas when the carrying members are moved from each other the mover member is displaced vertically upwards and horizontally by against the moving direction. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, said locking means comprise a portion of one of the connections at one of said first and second parts and this portion extends to the other of said first and second parts and is arranged to stop the sliding of the mover member in relation to the second carrying member in the moving direction at said minimal distance. Said portion may comprise surfaces interacting with the opposite connection, wherein the fixed one of these connections displaces the displaceable connection. In order to provide a stable abutment of said portion against the opposite connection, the portion may comprise a member provided to abut the other of said first and second parts of the loop. This member may for example be a wheel device. The looking means may also comprise at least one stop member attached to the mover member and arranged to stop the movement of the mover member in relation to the second carrying member against the moving direction at said maximal distance. Said stop member may comprise at least one stop surface arranged on the mover member, which in contact with the second carrying member prevents the sliding of the mover member thereover.

According to further preferred embodiment of the invention, said first and second parts of the loop are located in an essentially vertical plane. Thereby, a stable suspension of the mover member against forces directed vertically downwards and arising due to the weight of the mover member and to loads which may be arise at the moving of the animals.

By another preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a plurality of loops provided essentially in parallel. Thereby, the mover member obtains a better lateral balance. The flexible element of these loops may be driven commonly by a driving device. This driving device may comprise a transverse axis for transmitting a driving motion between the loops.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a voltage unit arranged to apply an electric potential to the mover member via said loop. Thus, the loop in this case is used to apply an electric potential to the mover member, wherein no further electric conduits or wires need to be attached to the device.

According to advantageous embodiments of the invention, said loop forms two ends, which run around a respective wheel device. Furthermore, said loop may comprise means to control the tensile of the loop. Said tensile means may be attached to said wheel devices mentioned above or to any of said carrying members at the connection of the loop.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the mover member comprises a flexible member. Thereby, the mover member is displaceable in a simple manner in horizontal and vertical directions and may be formed as a very light construction. The flexible mover member may comprise a plurality of elongate elements arranged in parallel, which may be manufactured by an electrically conductive material. In order to extend said elongate element, weight members may be provided at the lower part of at least two of said elongate elements. Said weight members may, at one of theirs ends, be provided pivotally to one of said elongate elements and, at the other end, be provided releasably to one of said elongate elements. By this embodiment, it is obtained that one end of the weight members is released by greater loads. This prevents injuries of the animals and damages of the moving device at the moving operation.

Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention appears from the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Below, preferred embodiments of the invention, shown by way of example, are described with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig 1 shows a perspective view of a moving device, according to the invention, with a mover member in an inactive horizontal position.

Fig 2 shows a perspective view of the moving device with the mover member in an active vertical position. Fig 3 shows a sideview of the carrying members in the position described in Fig 2. Fig 4 shows weight members provided on the mover member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The moving device, shown in the attached figures, comprises two wires 1 in parallel, especially metal wires. Each of the wires 1 runs in a loop comprising an upper part 1 a and a lower part 1 b with opposite moving directions. Said parts 1 a, 1 b are located in a vertical plane. The loops form two ends where the wires 1 run around first and second vertical wheels 2. The two wires 1 , arranged in parallel, are provided for the suspension and the driving of a mover member 3. Said first vertical wheels 2 are connected to each other by a shaft 4 driven by a motor 5. The mover member 3 is at its upper part attached fixedly to a first carrying member 6 and provided slideably along its length in relation to a second carrying member 7. The carrying members 6, 7 comprise elongated elements extending over essentially the whole width of the mover member 3 and being manufactured of tubes of, for instance, aluminium. The carrying member 6 is by means of a connection 8 displaceably provided on the upper part 1 a of the loop 1 and the second carrying member 7 is by means of a fixed connection 9 provided on the lower part 1 b of the loop 1 . The mover member 3 comprises a great number of line members 10, which in order to increase the moving effect may be electrically conductive and which are attached at the top to the first carrying member 6 and are hanging slideable in a releasable way over the second carrying member 7. In order to tense the free hanging line members 10, weights 1 1 are provided in the lower part of the line members 10. An electric fence apparatus may be connected to the wires 1 for transferring voltage pulses to the line members 10 of the mover member 3 via for example an electrically conductive wire which extends along the extension of the mover member 3. It is to be noted, that the line members 10, or similar elongate elements, also may be used to move animals without the application of electric voltage, or that electric voltage is applied only at certain moving occasions.

The device shown in Fig 1 is in an inactive position, in which the carrying members 6, 7 are at a maximal distance from each other, wherein the line members 10 are entirely pulled up, and thus permit the animals to move freely beneath the device. When the motor 5 is activated, the shaft 4 transmits a rotational movement to said first vertical wheels 2, located at one end of the respective loop. Thereby, the wheels 2 drive the two wires 1 , the loops of which comprise the upper 1 a and lower 1 b parts. The carrying members 6, 7 are attached by the connections 8, 9 to the parts 1 a, 1 b, respectively. In said initial phase of the moving process, the carrying members 6, 7 are moved against each other, whereby the line members 10 of the mover member 3 slides over the carrying member 7, in such a way that the mover member 3 is displaced vertically downwardly and forming a curtain of line members 10 behind the animals to be moved. In the position shown in Fig 2, the carrying members 6, 7 are provided at the minimal distance from each other so that the line members 10 of the mover member 3 hang essentially vertically downwardly. Hereby, the second carrying member 7, with the connection 9 fixed to the lower part 1 b of the loop, displaces the first carrying member 6 which slides in relation to the upper part 1 a of the loop by means of the displaceable connection 8. The mover member 3 is now in its active position and the lowered vertical curtain of line members 10 is displaced in a horizontal direction in the moving direction a behind the animals. In order to increase the moving effect of the device, the line members 10 may be electrified by means of the aggregate 12. Thereby, the line members 10 may comprise electrically conductive wires to emit current pulses to animals in contact with the line members 10.

When the device is transferred from its active position in Fig 2 to its inactive position in Fig 1 , the motor 5 is reversed and thereby the motor 5 drives the loop in the opposite direction. Thereby, the carrying members 6, 7 are displaced from each other, and the line members 10 of the mover member 3 slide over the second carrying member 7 in such a way that the mover member 3 is transferred from an essentially vertical position to a horizontal position. The carrying members 6, 7 reach the maximal distance from each other when the stop members 13, provided on two of the line members 10, engage an interacting guide member 14 of the second carrying member 7. By further activation of the motor 5, the second carrying member 7 conveys the first carrying member 6, whereby the mover member 3 arranged in an inactive position is displaced in horizontal direction opposite the moving direction a.

As appears from Fig 3, the displaceable connection 8 between the first carrying member 6 and the upper part 1 a of the loop 1 may be performed as a friction clutch comprising a friction part 15 pressing against the loop 1 by means of a clamp 16, which extends around the first carrying member 6. The friction part 15 may comprise a rubber plate abutting the wire 1 . The prestressing force of a spring member 17 may be adjusted by a nut. In order to enable the second carrying member 7 to displace the first carrying member 6, at a mutual maximal distance, the connection 9 of the second carrying member 7 may comprise a portion 18 extending to the opposite part 1 a of the loop 1 , and thereby said fixed connection 9 contacts said moveable connection 8 in such a way that the carrying member 6 may be displaced. The portion 18 also comprises a wheel device 19, whereby the portion 18 is held in a stable position between the parts 1 a, 1 b of the loop. The loop 1 also comprises a wire stretcher 20.

The weight members 1 1 , shown in Fig 4, are formed by elongated plates, extending between the lower ends of two adjacent line members 10 of the mover member 3. An end of the weight members 1 1 is attached to one of the line members 10 by a joint 21 whereas the other end of the weight members 1 1 is releasably attached to an adjacent line member 10 of the mover member 3 by a friction lock 22. If loads arise onto the mover member 3 during the moving operation, the weight member 1 1 is disconnected from the friction lock 22, whereby injuries of animals and damage of the moving device may be prevented.

The driving wires 1 are arranged both for the suspension and the driving of the mover member 3 and for the transferring of an electrical potential to the same.

The invention is not in any way restricted to the embodiment described above but may be varied within the scope of the claims.

The device does not need to comprise two loops but may, depending on for example the width of the space in which the mover member 3 operates, comprise one or more loops 1 .

Furthermore, the displaceable connection 8 needs not to be provided on the upper loop 1 a but may instead be provided on the lower loop 1 b, whereby the fixed connection 9 is provided on the upper loop 1 a. Likewise, the separate carrying members 6, 7 may be provided in variable ways to the fixed and displaceable connections 8, 9, whereby the mover member 3 still shows the above mentioned displaceability in horizontal and vertical directions.

Claims

1. A device for moving animals in essentially one moving direction, comprising a mover member (3), which in an inactive position is located above the animals and in an active position is lowered behind the animals, and at least one closed loop of an elongate flexible element (1 ) for the suspension of the mover member (3), wherein the flexible element (1 ) is arranged to be driven along the loop, characterised in that said loop forms two essentially parallel first and second parts (1 a, 1 b) with opposite moving directions, and that the device comprises means arranged to attach the mover member (3) to said first and second parts (1 a, 1 b) in such a way that the mover member (3) is displaceable in horizontal and vertical directions by said driving of the elongate element (1 ).

2. A device according to claim 1 , characterised in that said means comprises a first carrying member (6), which is fixedly attached to one end of the mover member (3) and attached to said first part (1 a) by means of a first connection (8), and a second carrying member (7), which is attached to said second part (1 b) by means of a second connection (9) and arranged to carry slideably the mover member (3).

3. A device according to claim 2 characterised in that said second carrying member (7) comprises a sliding surface over which the mover member (3) is slideable.

4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that one of said connections (8, 9) comprises a connection fixed to the respective part (1 a, 1 b) whereas the other of said connections (8, 9) comprises a connection movable along the respective part (1 a, 1 b).

5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that locking means are arranged to lock said carrying members (6, 7) to their respective parts (1a, 1 b) at a minimal and a maximal distance, respectively, from each other, wherein the mover member (3) at WO 99/21412 _, , PCT/SE98/01939

1 1

these positions of the carrying members (6, 7) is only moveable in a horizontal direction.

6. A device according to claim 5, characterised in that said locking means comprise a portion (18) of one of the connections (8, 9) at one of said first and second parts (1 a, 1 b) and that this portion (18) extends to the other of said first and second parts (1 a, 1 b) and is arranged to stop the sliding of the mover member (3) in relation to the second carrying member (7) in the moving direction at said minimal distance.

7. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that said portion (17) comprises a member (18) provided to abut the other of the said first and second parts (1 a, 1 b).

8. A device according to any one of claims 5-7, characterised in that said locking means comprise at least one stop member (13) attached to the mover member (3), which stop member (13) is arranged to stop the sliding of the mover member (3) in relation the second carrying member (7) against the moving direction at said maximal distance.

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first and second parts (1 a, 1 b) of the loop are located in an essentially vertical plane.

10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of loops provided essentially in parallel.

1 1 . A device according to claim 10, characterised in that said flexible elements (1 ) are commonly driven along the loops by a driving device (5).

12. A device according to claim 1 1 , characterised in that the driving device (5) comprises a transverse axis (4) for transmitting a driving motion between the loops.

13. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a voltage unit (12) is arranged to apply an electric potential to the mover member (3) via said loop.

14. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said loop forms two ends, which run around a respective wheel device (2).

15. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises means (20) to control the tensile of the said loop.

16. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said mover member (3) comprises a flexible member (10).

17. A device according to claim 16, characterised in that mover member (3) comprises a plurality of elongate elements (10) arranged in parallel.

18. A device according to claim 17, characterised in that at least one transverse weight member (1 1 ) is provided at the lower part of the mover member (3) between two of said elongate elements (10).

19. A device according to claim 18, characterised in that said weight member (1 1 ), at one of its ends, is provided pivotally to one of said elongate elements (10) and, at the other end is provided releasable to one of said elongate elements.