WO2008041973A2

WO2008041973A2 - Manure-collecting apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2008041973A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/038250
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph J. Livezey; Shawn M. Schwendy
Original assignee: Livezey Joseph J; Schwendy Shawn M
Priority date: 2006-10-02
Filing date: 2006-10-02
Publication date: 2008-04-10
Also published as: WO2008041973A3

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle-mounted device for collecting waste products, a storage device for storing such waste products, and related methods.

Description

DEVICE FOR COLLECTING WASTE PRODUCTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates generally to waste-collecting devices, and more particularly, to a vehicle-mounted device for collecting solid waste products, such as animal excrement, from a surface upon which such waste products lie.

2. Background Art

Systems and devices for collecting waste products, including animal excrement, are known in the art. Plow-like devices have long been employed to move such waste products to storage and/or disposal areas. Such devices are inefficient, however, at removing liquid waste products, which are often admixed with solid waste products.

In an effort to overcome this deficiency, various devices have been proposed that include a "squeegie-like" apparatus. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0045699 to Peck et al. describes a vehicle-mounted device including a forward-mounted "squeegie-like" apparatus comprising a pair of movable arms, each fitted with a rubber surface adapted to scrape a surface containing solid and/or liquid waste products. These arms then direct such waste products toward a chain-driven conveyor, which transports the waste products to a storage tank mounted elsewhere on the vehicle.

Devices such as that of Peck et al., however, suffer from a number of deficiencies. First, movable arms, such as those of the Peck et al. device, make use

LIVE-0001 1 of such devices difficult or impossible in confined areas. That is, fully extended, such arms often will not fit within the confined space of a barn or other animal housing facility. Similarly, fully contracted, such arms make maneuvering within such a confined space difficult or impossible.

Second, devices such as that of Peck et al. are inefficient in collecting solid waste products from loose base materials, such as sand, which are often used in animal housing facilities to alleviate standing fatigue in the animals. For example, the rubber surfaces of the arms of the Peck et al. device often fail to remove solid waste products from the loose base material due to the tendency of such materials to move and/or compact as pressure from the arms is applied to them. In addition, if increased pressure is applied to the arms in an attempt to overcome this deficiency, the consequence is often the inadvertent collection of a larger proportion of base material than is desired, requiring either the collection and recycling or replenishment of such base material.

Finally, devices such as that of Peck et al. provide no efficient mechanism for removing collected base material from the collected solid and/or liquid waste products. Thus, the costs associated with both the disposal of the waste products and the replenishment of the base material are increased.

To this extent, a need exists for a waste-collecting device that does not suffer from the deficiencies of known devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

LIVE-0001 2 A first aspect of the invention provides a vehicle-mounted device for collecting waste products comprising: a front-mounted collection apparatus having: an inclined planar member having a distal end adjacent a surface containing waste products to be collected; and a rotatable member comprising a plurality of scoop members located along an outer surface of a conveyor member, wherein the outer surface of the conveyor member is oriented substantially parallel to the inclined planar member; a rear-mounted storage device; and a conveyor apparatus operable to transport waste products between a proximal end of the front-mounted collection apparatus and the rear-mounted storage device.

A second aspect of the invention provides a method for collecting waste products, the method comprising: directing toward waste products to be collected a vehicle-mounted device comprising: a front-mounted collection apparatus having: an inclined planar member having a distal end adjacent a surface containing the waste products; and a rotatable member comprising a plurality of scoop members located along an outer surface of a conveyor member, wherein the outer surface of the conveyor member is oriented substantially parallel to the inclined planar member; a rear-mounted storage device; and a conveyor apparatus operable to transport the waste products between a proximal end of the front-mounted collection apparatus and the rear-mounted storage device; and removing the waste products from the surface containing the waste products using the vehicle-mounted device.

A third aspect of the invention provides a storage device comprising: a walled portion having an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the walled portion defines a periphery of the storage device; a floor portion having a pair of inclined members, each inclined member extending upward from a lower edge of the walled portion;

LIVE-0001 and a door passing through the walled portion operable to permit passage of products from within the storage device to an area outside the storage device.

The illustrative aspects of the present invention are designed to solve the problems herein described and other problems not discussed, which are discoverable by a skilled artisan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a vehicle-mounted device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of select components of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the storage device shown in FIG. 1.

It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.

LIVE-0001 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As indicated above, the invention provides a vehicle-mounted device for collecting waste products, a storage device for storing such waste products, and related methods.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a side view of a vehicle-mounted device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. Device 100 includes a front-mounted collection apparatus 110, a rear-mounted storage device 180, and a conveyor apparatus 150 mounted between the collection apparatus 110 and the storage device 180. Device 100 may further include any number of vehicle-related components, including, for example, a cab 140 containing various devices operable to control the various components of device 100.

Collection apparatus 110, as shown in FIG. 1 , includes an inclined planar member 120 having a distal end 122 adjacent a surface containing waste products 102Ato be collected and a conveyor 130, such as a conveyor belt or chain, having a plurality of scoop members 136 located along an outer surface of the conveyor 130. As can be seen, a surface of conveyor 130 is oriented substantially parallel to inclined planar member 120, such that surfaces of scoop members 136 are oriented substantially perpendicular to both the surface of conveyor 130 and inclined planar member 120. Thus, upon rotation of conveyor 130 in direction A, waste products 102A, 102B are scooped onto inclined planar member 120 by scoop members 136 and transferred from a distal end 122 to a proximal end 124 of inclined planar member. In a preferred embodiment, conveyor 130 includes at least one chain operable to rotate around sprockets 132, 134 and to which scoop members 136 may be attached. In an alternative embodiment, conveyor 130 may include a belt or similar device. While scoop members 136 are shown having a substantially

LIVE-0001 5 triangular cross-sectional shape, this is not essential. Accordingly, scoop members 136 having any number of cross-sectional shapes may be used, as will be recognized by one having skill in the art.

Collection apparatus 110, specifically, or device 100, generally, may optionally include one or more wings 137A-B extending forward from device 100, such that waste products 102A, 102B from a path wider than inclined planar member 120 and/ or conveyor 130 are directed toward inclined planar member 120 and conveyor 130. Wings 137A-B may be fixed or articulable, such that a width of the path covered by wings 137A-B may be varied.

One advantage of the present invention is the component nature of device 100. If, for example, collection apparatus 110 were to become damaged or otherwise inoperable, collection apparatus 110, in its entirety, may be replaced with an equivalent unit. Optionally, inclined planar member 120 may be retained while the balance of collection apparatus 110 is replaced. Thus, device 100 need not be taken out of service in order to make such repairs.

Once a waste product is transported to a proximal end 124 of inclined planar member 120, it is deposited onto a conveyor apparatus 150. As shown in FIG. 1, conveyor apparatus 150 includes a belt 152 operable to rotate in direction B about drums 154, 156. In order to minimize maintenance, belt 152 is preferably composed of a rubber material. Once waste product 102C is deposited onto belt 152, it is transported to and deposited into a rear-mounted storage device 180.

Storage device 180 includes a walled portion 182 and a floor portion 184. As will be described in greater detail below, in a preferred embodiment, floor portion 184 comprises at least one inclined member extending upward from a bottom edge of walled portion 182. In a particularly preferred embodiment, floor portion 184

LIVE-0001 6 comprises a pair of inclined members, each extending upward from a bottom edge of walled portion 182 toward the center of storage device 180.

As will also be described in greater detail below, storage device 180 may include a door 186 for releasing collected waste products from storage device 180. In another embodiment of the invention, floor portion 184 may be heated by a component of the exhaust system 190 of the vehicle upon which device 100 is mounted.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of device 100 is shown, with components of the vehicle removed for purposes of clarity.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a top view of device 100 of FIG. 1 is shown. As can be seen in FIG. 3, cab 140 is located above conveyor apparatus 150, providing improved visibility, as compared to known devices, in which the cab is typically located next to the conveyor. Storage device 180 is shown having four walls 182A- D, with two doors 186A-B extending through walls 182D and 182B, respectively. Floor portion 184 includes a pair of inclined members 184A, 184B, each extending upward from a bottom edge of walled portion 182 (more specifically walls 182D and 182B, respectively).

As can be seen in FIG. 3, waste products 102C-F are transported along belt 152 (102C-D) and into storage device 180 (102E-F). Due to the orientation of inclined members 184A, 184B described above, waste products deposited toward the center of storage device 180 will, upon contact with inclined members 184A, 184B, preferably move downward along inclined members 184A, 184B toward wall 182D or wall 182B. Once waste products 102F have been so deposited, they may be released from storage container 180 via doors 186A-B.

LIVE-0001 FIG. 4 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of storage device 180. Here, in order to improve the movement of waste products toward wall 182B or 182A (FIG. 3) and also to improve the separation of solid and liquid waste products from any base materials collected (i.e., base materials at bottom, solid waste materials thereabove, and liquid waste materials at top), floor portion 184 may be warmed. In a preferred embodiment, therefore, inclined member 184A comprises an upper floor 184A1 and a lower floor 184A2, whereby a void 185A is formed therebetween. Similar elements of inclined member 184B are shown as 184B1 , 184B2, and 185B. Floor portion 184 (specifically upper floor 184A1) is warmed by passing vehicle exhaust C from an exhaust system component 190, through a port 184C and into void 185A. Thus, heat D is imparted to upper floor 184A1. Floor portion 184 may further include an exhaust port 184D, through which vehicle exhaust C may exit storage device 180.

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

LIVE-0001 8

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle-mounted device for collecting waste products comprising: a front-mounted collection apparatus having: an inclined planar member having a distal end adjacent a surface containing waste products to be collected; and a rotatable member comprising a plurality of scoop members located along an outer surface of a conveyor member, wherein the outer surface of the conveyor member is oriented substantially parallel to the inclined planar member; a rear-mounted storage device; and a conveyor apparatus operable to transport waste products between a proximal end of the front-mounted collection apparatus and the rear-mounted storage device.

2. The vehicle-mounted device of claim 1 , wherein a planar surface of each of the plurality of scoop members is oriented substantially perpendicular to the inclined planar member.

3. The vehicle-mounted device of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor member is operable to rotate each of the plurality of scoop members about the rotatable member.

4. The vehicle-mounted device of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor member and the conveyor apparatus are adapted to rotate in opposite directions.

LIVE-0001

5. The vehicle-mounted device of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor apparatus is angled such that a distal end of the conveyor apparatus is lower than a proximal end of the conveyor apparatus.

6. The vehicle-mounted device of claim 1 , wherein the rear-mounted storage device comprises: a walled portion having an upper edge and a lower edge; and a floor portion having a pair of inclined members, each inclined member extending upward from a lower edge of the walled portion.

7. The vehicle-mounted device of claim 6, further comprising: a door passing through the walled portion operable to permit passage of waste products from within the rear-mounted storage device to an area outside the rear-mounted storage device.

8. The vehicle-mounted device of claim 6, wherein the floor portion includes: an upper floor; a lower floor; and a void between the upper floor and the lower floor operable to contain a vehicle exhaust.

9. The vehicle-mounted device of claim 1 , wherein the front-mounted collection apparatus is operable to collect at least one of the following: a solid waste product and a liquid waste product.

LIVE-0001 10

10. A method for collecting waste products, the method comprising: directing toward waste products to be collected a vehicle-mounted device comprising: a front-mounted collection apparatus having: an inclined planar member having a distal end adjacent a surface containing the waste products; and a rotatable member comprising a plurality of scoop members located along an outer surface of a conveyor member, wherein the outer surface of the conveyor member is oriented substantially parallel to the inclined planar member; a rear-mounted storage device; and a conveyor apparatus operable to transport the waste products between a proximal end of the front-mounted collection apparatus and the rear-mounted storage device; and removing the waste products from the surface containing the waste products using the vehicle-mounted device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a planar surface of each of the plurality of scoop members is oriented substantially perpendicular to the inclined planar member.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the conveyor member and the conveyor apparatus are adapted to rotate in opposite directions.

LIVE-0001 11

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the rear-mounted storage device comprises: a walled portion having an upper edge and a lower edge; and a floor portion having a pair of inclined members, each inclined member extending upward from a lower edge of the walled portion.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle-mounted device further comprises: a door passing through the walled portion operable to permit passage of waste products from within the rear-mounted storage device to an area outside the rear-mounted storage device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of: releasing at least a portion of the collected waste products from the rear- mounted storage container using the door.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the collected waste products includes a base material.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the portion of the collected waste products released includes the base material.

LIVE-0001 12

18. A storage device comprising: a walled portion having an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the walled portion defines a periphery of the storage device; a floor portion having a pair of inclined members, each inclined member extending upward from a lower edge of the walled portion; and a door passing through the walled portion operable to permit passage of products from within the storage device to an area outside the storage device.

19. The storage device of claim 18, wherein the floor portion includes: an upper floor; a lower floor; and a void between the upper floor and the lower floor operable to contain a heated fluid for heating the upper floor of the floor portion and products within the storage device.

20. The storage device of claim 19, wherein the heated fluid includes a gas.

LIVE-0001 13