WO2022005279A1 - Apparatus and method for collecting, separating and discharging manure - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for collecting, separating and discharging manure, particularly pig manure, comprising: - at least one collecting element for manure which is arranged movably above a bottom of an animal accommodation, particularly a pig accommodation, and which comprises a number of openings for throughfeed of liquid, - means for moving the at least one collecting element to a discharge location, and - means arranged at the discharge location for the purpose of removing from the at least one collecting element manure lying thereon. The apparatus is further provided with means for keeping or making the openings in the at least one collecting element free of solid manure. The apparatus can further be provided with a number of collecting elements which are each movable through the animal accommodation, along the discharge location and back to the animal accommodation in succession by the moving means. The apparatus further relates to a method for collecting, separating and discharging manure, particularly pig manure, wherein use can be made of such an apparatus.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING, SEPARATING AND DISCHARGING MANURE

The invention relates to an apparatus for collecting, separating and discharging manure. The invention relates particularly to an apparatus for collecting, separating and discharging pig manure, comprising at least one collecting element for manure which is arranged movably above a bottom of an animal accommodation, particularly a pig accommodation, and which comprises a number of openings for throughfeed of liquid, means for moving the at least one collecting element to a discharge location, and means arranged at the discharge location for the purpose of removing from the at least one collecting element manure lying thereon. Such an apparatus is known in different variants.

A problem with animal manure is that the substances in the solid fraction and the liquid fraction together form ammonia. The emission of ammonia has a very high impact on the environment. It has been found that the formation and emission of ammonia can be limited by separating the solid and liquid fractions of the manure from each other as quickly as possible. Various solutions have already been proposed to this end.

It has for instance been proposed to provide the floor of an animal accommodation or livestock accommodation with openings through which the liquid fraction (liquid manure or urine) can immediately run off to a receptacle or pit located under the accommodation floor. In these known solutions a manure scraper is present, which can be moved along the floor via chains or the like in order to collect the solid fraction and discharge it to a central point. Examples of such open floors with manure scraper are described in EP 1 159 871 A2, NL 1 020 139 C2 and US 5 477654 A.

Solutions are additionally known, particularly from poultry farming, wherein manure falls onto a transporter, for instance a conveyor belt, whereby the manure is discharged to a collection point at the end of the belt. The belt can have openings for passage of a liquid fraction.

The known solutions have the drawback that it is difficult to select a dimensioning of the openings whereby, on the one hand, an effective separation of the solid and liquid fractions of the manure is ensured and, on the other, animal welfare is not adversely affected. When the openings are too small and/or there are too few openings, the liquid fraction cannot run off properly, whereby it is mixed with the solid fraction and ammonia is created. In addition, small openings become easily blocked by solid particles in the manure, this impeding the discharge of the liquid fraction further still. When the openings are however too big and/or there are too many openings, this creates irregularities in the surface of the floor, whereby the animals cannot stand or lie comfortably thereon. US 2019/021274 A1 describes a pig accommodation with a space for excreta, the bottom of which is formed by an upper run of a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt allows passage of urine, which is collected in a receptacle placed between the upper run and a lower run of the belt. The conveyor belt consists of modules which are connected by hinges. This document states that the mutual pivoting movement of the modules prevents manure particles from sticking, which would make the belt self-cleaning.

KR 10-1486698 B1 describes a pig accommodation with a manure treatment system which is arranged under a perforated floor of the accommodation. The system comprises a conveyor belt which allows urine to pass. The conveyor belt, which discharges the solid fraction of the manure to a fermentation chamber, is kept clean by two rotating brushes and by a sprinkler system for a liquid on the basis of purified urine.

The invention now has for its object to provide an apparatus of the above described type, wherein the stated drawbacks do not occur, or at least occur to lesser extent. According to a first aspect of the invention, this is achieved in that the apparatus is provided with means for keeping or making the openings in the at least one collecting element free of solid manure. Preventing solid manure particles from ending up or remaining behind in the openings prevents blockage of the openings, whereby smaller and/or fewer openings can suffice. By using small openings no solid manure can be entrained with the liquid fraction, whereby an effective separation takes place. Any ammonia still formed under the collecting element can furthermore not escape from a space closed off by the collecting element, or hardly so, owing to the small openings.

The manure -free means can here comprise displacement members co-acting with the openings. By selectively closing the openings it can be prevented in effective manner that solid manure particles enter therein.

In an embodiment of the invention the displacement members can be protrusions to be arranged fittingly in the openings. By placing protrusions, for instance pins, close-fittingly in the openings any solid manure particles which may be present therein can be pushed from the openings, or solid manure particles can be prevented from entering therein. The protrusions here function in effect as pistons or plungers.

A rapidly and simply operating embodiment is obtained here when the protrusions are arranged on a carrier, which can be brought into engagement with the at least one collecting element. By bringing the carrier with the protrusions thereon into engagement with the collecting element all openings in the collecting element are pressed empty and closed all at once.

In a structurally simple embodiment of the apparatus the at least one collecting element and the carrier are each plate-like. By embodying the carrier as a plate on which protrusions stand, and also embodying the collecting element as a plate, these two components can be brought into mutual engagement over their whole surface in simple manner. The manure -free means can be arranged at or close to the discharge location. At this location the solid manure is removed from the surface of the collecting element, wherein the solid manure is thus moved over the surface and the risk of it entering into the openings is greatest.

The manure -free means can therefore be configured to act on the at least one collecting element substantially simultaneously with the manure removing means. It is thus prevented that part of the solid manure remains in the openings when it is removed from the collecting element.

When the manure -removing means comprise at least one scraper, the manure-free means can be configured to engage with the at least one collecting element when the collecting element and the at least one scraper are moved relative to each other. When a scraper scrapes along the collecting element, the manure accumulated in front of it is pushed away and could be pressed into the openings with force, which is then prevented by the manure-free means.

In an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the plate -like carrier is arranged under and parallel to the plate-like collecting element and is configured to be moved upward substantially transversely of its plane until its protrusions protrude into the openings of the collecting element, wherein the carrier is further configured to be moved along under the at least one scraper substantially parallel to its plane. In this way the carrier this carries the collecting element along the scraper and the manure-free means thus simultaneously fulfil a function in the removal of the solid manure from the collecting element.

For this purpose the apparatus can further be provided with a reciprocally moving first drive which is connected to the carrier. Giving the drive of reciprocal form enables the carrier to carry a collecting element along the scraper repeatedly. The drive here forms on the one hand part of the moving means, but on the other also forms part of the manure removing means. The drive can be of an electric, hydraulic or optionally even pneumatic nature. When an electric motor is applied, which can be connected to the carrier via a transmission, no separate conduits need be installed for this purpose. On the other hand, a hydraulic drive with piston/cylinder combinations can take a relatively compact form and still generate a great force.

According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus can be provided with a number of collecting elements which are each movable in succession through the animal accommodation, along the discharge location and back to the animal accommodation by the moving means. By moving a number of collecting elements cyclically along the animal accommodation and the discharge location in this way a uniform discharge of manure is achieved.

Each of the collecting elements can here be plate -like and substantially rectangular, and the collecting elements can be arranged in two parallel rows movable in opposite directions, wherein the discharge location forms an end of one of the rows and a start of the other row. The collecting elements are thus carried along the discharge location in a continuous movement in order to be rid of the solid manure. In an embodiment of the apparatus a space the size of a collecting element can be kept free in each row. The collecting elements can thus in each case be advanced over a length, somewhat in the manner of a sliding puzzle. This manner of advancing the collecting elements can be performed in both a horizontal and a vertical plane.

An embodiment of the apparatus can further be provided with a second discharge location at the start of the one and at the end of the other row. The collecting elements can thus be carried along the animal accommodation in a cyclical movement, moving back and forth from the one to the other discharge location, wherein the manure is discharged on both sides of the animal accommodation. An apparatus with a high capacity is thus formed.

In order to move the collecting elements in this way the moving means can comprise for each row of collecting elements a second drive co-acting with the, as seen in the direction of travel, rearmost collecting element. A simple moving mechanism is thus formed, wherein the rearmost collecting element pushes along an adjacent collecting element, which in turn pushes along a collecting element adjacent thereto, and so on. The second drive can in practice also comprise either an electric motor and a transmission, or a hydraulic piston/cylinder combination.

In an embodiment of the apparatus a drive direction of the first drive and a drive direction of the second drive enclose an angle, and these drive directions are particularly perpendicular of each other. In this way the collecting elements are thus moved in a first direction from the animal accommodation to the discharge location, there moved along under the scraper in a second direction, then moved parallel but opposite to the first direction back to the animal accommodation and, from there, to the second discharge location, and then finally once again moved along under the second scraper parallel but opposite to the second direction.

The invention further relates to a method for collecting, separating and discharging manure, particularly pig manure, comprising the steps of: a) arranging at least one collecting element for manure, which comprises a number of openings for throughfeed of liquid, movably above a bottom of an animal accommodation, particularly a pig accommodation, b) moving the at least one collecting element to a discharge location, and c) removing manure lying on the at least one collecting element at the discharge location.

Such a method is also already known from the above stated prior art.

The method according to the invention is distinguished from the known method in that the openings in the at least one collecting element are kept or made free of solid manure. This entails the above discussed advantages.

Embodiments of the method according to the invention are described in the dependent claims 18-28. The invention will now be elucidated on the basis of an embodiment, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which corresponding components are designated with reference numerals increased in each case by 100, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially broken-away perspective view of an animal accommodation with two apparatuses according to a first embodiment of the invention therein,

Fig. 2 is a detail view on enlarged scale as according to the arrow II in Fig. 1 , wherein a carrier with protrusions is not yet in engagement with a collecting element with openings,

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding with Fig. 2, wherein the carrier is in engagement with the collecting element and carries the collecting element along a scraper,

Fig. 4 is a cross-section along the line IV-IV in Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a path along which the carrier is movable,

Fig. 6 shows schematically an alternative embodiment of a carrier with protrusions,

Fig. 7 is a top view of a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, wherein the first and second drive are shown,

Fig. 8 is a top view of a detail VIII in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a collecting element which is movable in two C-shaped guides,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a displaceable lifting device whereby the carrier is brought into contact with a collecting element, and

Fig. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an animal accommodation with a third embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.

An animal accommodation 1 , particularly a pig accommodation, comprises a ground surface or bottom 2 and a number of (here three) outer walls 3. A roof, which has been omitted in Fig. 1 for reasons of clarity of the drawing, rests on outer walls 3. Positioned on bottom 2 are a number of partitions 4, which together with outer walls 3 bound two collecting compartments 5 of an apparatus 6 to be discussed hereinbelow for collecting, separating and discharging manure. Beams 7 which extend between two mutually opposite outer walls 3 and which form a framework run over the partitions 4. On this framework rests a floor 8 of an indoor accommodation 9 which is bounded by four inner walls 10, only three of which are shown partially in Fig. 1. This floor 8 allows passage of manure and can for instance be formed by gratings or concrete beams between which gaps are formed. Although not shown here, indoor accommodation 9 will be provided with an entrance or exit through which animals are able to enter the indoor accommodation 9.

In the shown embodiment two apparatuses 6 for collecting, separating and discharging manure are arranged between the floor 8 of indoor accommodation 9 and the bottom 2. It is not necessary for both apparatuses 6 to always be in use. It is thus possible to envisage that, when the pigs in the accommodation are still young, only half of the indoor accommodation 9 is opened up, which then also requires only one of the apparatus to be operational.

In the shown embodiment each apparatus 6 comprises a number of rectangular, plate -like collecting elements 11 which are movable in opposite directions LI, L2 along the indoor accommodation 9 in two rows 12. Collecting elements 11 are movable between a first discharge location 13 on a side of animal accommodation 1 and a second discharge location 14 on an opposite side of the accommodation. In the shown embodiment the collecting elements 11 are bearing-mounted with their side edges 18 slidably on legs 19 of beams 7 on either side, these beams forming an inverse T-profile.

The movement of collecting element 11 is provided for by moving means.

These moving means comprise a first drive (not shown here) at the position of each discharge location 13, 14. With this first drive a collecting element 11 can in each case be transported along means 15 in a direction Tl, T2 transversely of the longitudinal direction LI, L2 for the purpose of removing from the collecting element 11 solid manure lying thereon. These manure removing means 15 comprise here a scraper 16 and one of the collecting compartments 5.

The moving means further comprise for each row of collecting elements 11 a second drive (not shown here either) which co-acts with the, as seen in the direction of movement, rearmost collecting element 11. This rearmost collecting element 11 here presses against a collecting element 11 lying directly in front of it, which in turn pushes against a collecting element lying in front of it, and so on. The first and second drive will be further described hereinbelow with reference to Figs. 7, 8 and 10.

Each second drive moves the corresponding row of collecting elements 11 in steps from the first to the second discharge location 13, 14, or vice versa. The row of collecting elements 11 does not extend all the way from the one to the other discharge location 13, 14, but has an open space the size of a collecting element 11. Each row 12 can hereby in each case be displaced over the length of a collecting element 11 in the direction LI, L2. The front collecting element 11 in the row 12 in each case reaches the discharge location 13, 14 here, where it comes into engagement with the first drive which provides for the transverse movement Tl, T2.

The collecting elements 11 are thus successively transported in steps in row 12 in the first direction LI underneath the floor 9 of indoor accommodation 8 to the first discharge location 13, there carried along the manure removing means 15 in transverse direction Tl, then once again carried underneath the floor 9 of indoor accommodation 8 in opposite direction L2, and finally, at the second discharge location 14, carried back to the other row 12 in reverse transverse direction T2 along other manure removing means 15. The movement of each row 12 in longitudinal direction LI, L2 is in each case possible only when the front collecting element at the discharge location 13, 14 has been moved in transverse direction Tl, T2, this creating an open space at the front of the row 12. Collecting elements 11 are here thus moved in a horizontal plane in the manner of a sliding puzzle.

The frequency with which the rows are in each case shifted over the length of a collecting element 11 depends on the amount of manure produced by the pigs. It is possible to envisage the drives being started only once a day in order to guide all collecting elements 11 along one of the two discharge locations 13, 14 in succession, but the rows 12 can for instance also be advanced over the length of a collecting element 11 every hour.

Each collecting element 11 is provided with a number of openings 17 which are arranged distributed over the length and width of the element. These openings 17 are relatively small, so that only the liquid fraction of the manure is able to flow therethrough and the solid fraction remains on the surface of the collecting element 11. An effective separation between the solid and the liquid fraction of the manure thereby already takes place directly below indoor accommodation 9, so that the risk of ammonia formation is greatly limited. If ammonia were nevertheless to be created in a pit 20 under collecting elements 11 into which the liquid fraction flows, ammonia vapours are unable to easily escape from this pit through the small openings 17, this keeping the air quality in the animal accommodation 1 good. The liquid fraction can be discharged from the pit 20 by a system (not shown here) of pumps and conduits.

Because the small openings 17 can become blocked relatively easily by solid manure particles, the invention provides means 21 for keeping or making openings 17 free of solid manure. In the shown embodiment these so-called “manure -free means” 21 comprise displacement members for the different openings, here in the form of protrusions 22 which can be arranged close -fittingly in the openings 17. For this purpose the protrusions 22 are here arranged on a carrier 23 which can be brought into engagement with each of the collecting elements 11 so that the protrusions 22 protrude into the openings 17. In the shown embodiment the carrier 23 takes a rectangular and plate-like form, just as collecting elements 11 , and the protrusions 22 are arranged thereon in the same pattern as that of the openings 17 in each collecting element 11.

Displacement members or protrusions 22 have the same cross-section as the openings 17 and have a length l which is adapted to the thickness d of each collecting element 11 , so that the upper sides 24 of protrusions 22 lie flush with the surface of the collecting element 11 (Fig. 4). No solid manure is thus able to end up in opening 17, and solid manure which may have already been present therein is pressed out of the opening 17. Each protrusion 22 functions here in effect as a plunger or piston. In the shown embodiment the openings 17 are round holes and the protrusions 22 are cylindrical pins, although any random cross-sectional shape can be envisaged.

In the shown embodiment a carrier 23 with protrusions 22 is present at each discharge location 13, 14, which carrier can there be brought into engagement with each of the collecting elements 11 in succession (Fig. 2). Carrier 23 engages on the collecting element 11 such that the protrusions 22 are placed into the openings 17 before the solid manure is removed from the collecting element 11. When a collecting element 11 is located straight above it, the carrier 23 can for this purpose be moved upward transversely of its plane (arrow U in Fig. 4) until its protrusions 22 protrude into openings 17. The carrier 23 with the collecting element 11 resting thereon can then be moved in transverse direction Tl, T2 under the scraper 16 of the manure removing means 15 (Fig. 3) parallel to its plane. A lower edge 25 of scraper 16 moves here over the surface of collecting element 11 and over the upper sides 24 of the protrusions 22 in the openings 17. The solid manure is thus pushed over the side edge 18 as according to the arrow M, and falls into the collecting compartment 5. In this collecting compartment 5 a mechanism (not shown here) can be provided for discharging the solid manure, as indicated schematically with arrows A.

In the shown embodiment the collecting element 11 is not supported by the carrier 23 during the movement along the scraper 16, but slides with its front and rear edges 26 over transverse guides 30, which carrier 20 moves along underneath. In this embodiment the length l of the protrusions 22 is therefore equal to the thickness d of the collecting element 11 plus the thickness of the transverse guide 30. Once collecting element 11 has passed scraper 16 completely, the carrier 23 is moved downward again transversely of its plane (arrow D in Fig. 4), whereby the protrusions 22 are retracted from the openings 17. Carrier 23 is then moved parallel to its plane at a distance below scraper 16 back to the starting position as according to the arrow R, where a subsequent collecting element 11 awaits to be pulled along under scraper 16. All forward and return movements T, R and up and downward moments U, D of carrier 23 are provided for by the above -described first drive, which ensures that the carrier describes in effect a rectangular path in a vertical plane (Fig. 5).

Owing to the presence of the protrusions 22, no solid manure has entered into the openings 17 during scraping off of the collecting element 11, so that these openings are wholly passable to the liquid fraction when the collecting element 11 is moved back to a position under the floor 8 of the indoor accommodation 9. A relatively small number of openings 17, which can moreover each be relatively small per se, can thus suffice, so that collecting element 11 is relatively closed.

The carrier and the collecting element need not both take a plate -like form and be the same size. In an alternative embodiment of the manure -free means 121 the carrier 123 on which the protrusions 122 are arranged is embodied as an endless belt trained round two reversing rollers 127 (Fig. 6). An upper part 128 of the belt-like carrier 123 here runs just below the scraper 116, while a lower part 129 runs back at a greater distance from scraper 116. In this embodiment the collecting element 111 does rest directly on the carrier 123, so that the length l of the protrusions 122 can here be equal to the thickness d of the collecting element 111.

In another embodiment of the apparatus 201 an intermediate space with the width of a collecting element 211 is formed between the two rows 112 which are movable in opposite directions (Fig. 7). Also visible in this figure is the first drive 231 which, as in the first embodiment, provides for the transport of the successive collecting elements 211 in transverse direction T1 along the scraper 216 of the manure removing means 215. Also visible in this figure is the second drive 232 which, as in the first embodiment, provides for the transport of the successive collecting elements 211 in two opposite longitudinal directions LI, L2. This second drive therefore takes a double form. In this embodiment a discharge location 213 is only provided on one side of the apparatus 201 so that the first drive 231 takes a single form here. A third drive 233, which provides for the transport of the collecting elements 211 in the second transverse direction T2, is therefore provided at a return location 234.

The first, second and third drives 231-233 here each comprise one or more reciprocally movable jacks, in the shown embodiment hydraulic piston/cylinder combinations. The second and third drives 232, 233 comprise double-action hydraulic cylinders 235, 236 which drive a push bar 239, 240 via a piston rod 237, 238 (Fig. 8). The piston rods 237, 238 and push bars 239, 240 here protrude through openings in the side walls 3 of animal accommodation 1. The push bars 239 of the second drive 232 each engage on a rear edge 226 of the collecting element 211 to be moved forward, while the push bar 240 of the third drive engages on a side edge 218 of collecting element 211. Each hydraulic cylinder 235, 236 is configured here to have its piston rod 237, 238 perform a stroke corresponding to a length or width of each collecting element 211. Collecting element 211 is thus displaced one step and space is created for a subsequent collecting element 211, after which piston rods 237, 238 are retracted again. In the shown embodiment the respective edges 218 and 226 on which the push bar 239, 240 in question does not engage are guided in guides 219 with C- shaped cross-section (Fig. 9).

In the shown embodiment the first drive 231 serves not only to move each collecting element 211 along the manure scraper 216, but also ensures that the collecting element 211 is brought into contact with the carrier 223. For this purpose the first drive 231 likewise comprises a double-action hydraulic cylinder 241 which is arranged in the collecting compartment 205. This cylinder 241 has a piston rod 242, an outer end of which is connected to a lifting device 243 which is reciprocally movable in the collecting compartment 5 (Fig. 10). In the shown embodiment the lifting device 243 comprises a scissor lift with a lower frame 244 which is connected to piston rod 242, a double scissor 245 and an upper frame 246 in which carrier 223 is mounted. Arranged on carrier 223 are the protrusions 222 which are inserted into the openings 217 of the collecting element 211 in order to keep them free of manure when collecting element 211 is guided along the scraper 216. In the shown embodiment the protrusions 222 take a stepped form and each have a relatively wide base part 247, the diameter of which is greater than that of the opening 217 in question, and a narrower tip 248 which fits in the opening 217. When piston rod 242 is fully retracted, lifting device 243 with carrier 223 thereon lies between the two rows 212 and lifting device 243 is partially collapsed. When piston rod 242 is now extended, the lifting device is first moved along under scraper 216 to an end position under the row 212. When the lifting device has reached the end position and the second drive 232 has moved a collecting element 211 to the corner position, piston rod 242 can be extended further still. Scissor 245 is then extended and carrier 223 with protrusions 222 is brought into contact with the collecting element 211, which is carried by the base parts 247. Scissor 245 is fixed in this position, and when piston rod 242 is retracted, lifting device 243 with the collecting element 211 thereon moves along underneath the scraper 216 to the position between the two rows 212 so that the manure is removed from the collecting element 211. After this, scissor 245 is released again and piston rod 242 is retracted further, whereby the protrusions 222 of carrier 223 are pulled back out of the openings 217 of collecting element 211, which then remains resting on guides 230, as also shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The above described drives 231-233 are otherwise not limited to use in the setup shown here, but can also be applied in the first embodiment of Fig. 1-5.

Although the collecting elements in each case describe a path in a horizontal plane in the embodiments shown up to this point, it is also possible to have collecting elements 311 describe a partially vertically oriented path, as shown in Fig. 11. The collecting elements 311 in a row 312 are there guided in steps underneath the accommodation floor 308, which allows passage of manure, in the direction of the arrow LI by a second drive (once again not shown here). Manure here falls through the accommodation floor 308 and onto the collecting elements 311, which are once again provided with openings 317 through which the liquid fraction of the manure can run off. This liquid fraction is here caught and collected in a reservoir 320, from where the liquid fraction is pumped away.

When a collecting element 311 reaches the end position (to the right in the drawing), it is not transferred to an adjacent row in transverse direction, but in vertical direction V2 to a lower row 312. The collecting elements 311 which carry the solid fraction of the manure are there moved in opposite direction L2 to the discharge location 313 by another part of the second drive. A third drive 333, here in the form of a lift, is responsible for the transfer in the vertical direction from the upper row 312 to the lower row 312. At the end of the lower row the collecting element once again comes to rest on a carrier 323 with protrusions 322, which is received in a lifting device 343. This lifting device 343 moves the collecting element 311 with the protrusions 322 in the openings 217 upward to the discharge location 313. The horizontally oriented drive there provides for the collecting element 311 being moved along underneath the scraper 316 so that the manure falls into the collecting compartment 305. In this embodiment scraper 316 could otherwise also be placed above the lower row 312 so that each collecting element 311 could subsequently be moved upward to the upper row 312 while empty.

In this way the invention thus provides an apparatus and method with which manure can be separated in simple manner into a solid and a liquid fraction, which can then be discharged and processed separately. This greatly reduces the emission of ammonia. The invention can in principle be applied with any type of animal manure, not just pig manure.

Although the invention has been elucidated above on the basis of a number of embodiments, it will be apparent that it is not limited thereto but can be varied in many ways. Types of drive other than shown and described here could thus be applied, and the collecting elements could take a different form. The number of openings in the collecting elements and the shape and dimensions of each opening can also be varied as desired. Lifting devices other than those shown here, for instance on the basis of jacks or chains, can also be envisaged. The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the following claims.

Claims

Claims

1. Apparatus for collecting, separating and discharging manure, particularly pig manure, comprising:

- at least one collecting element for manure which is arranged movably above a bottom of an animal accommodation, particularly a pig accommodation, and which comprises a number of openings for throughfeed of liquid,

- means for moving the at least one collecting element to a discharge location, and

- means arranged at the discharge location for the purpose of removing from the at least one collecting element manure lying thereon, characterized by means for keeping or making the openings in the at least one collecting element free of solid manure.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manure-free means comprise displacement members co-acting with the openings.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the displacement members are protrusions to be arranged fittingly in the openings.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the protrusions are arranged on a carrier, which can be brought into engagement with the at least one collecting element.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one collecting element and the carrier are each plate-like.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the manure -free means can be arranged at or close to the discharge location.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the manure-free means are configured to act on the at least one collecting element substantially simultaneously with the manure removing means.

8. Apparatus according to claims 4 and 7, wherein the manure-removing means comprise at least one scraper and the manure-free means are configured to engage with the at least one collecting element when the collecting element and the at least one scraper are moved relative to each other.

9. Apparatus according to claims 5 and 8, wherein the plate-like carrier is arranged under and parallel to the plate-like collecting element and is configured to be moved upward substantially transversely of its plane until its protrusions protrude into the openings of the collecting element, wherein the carrier is further configured to be moved along under the at least one scraper substantially parallel to its plane.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, further provided with a reciprocally moving first drive which is connected to the carrier.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble of claim 1, further provided with a number of collecting elements which are each movable in succession through the animal accommodation, along the discharge location and back to the animal accommodation by the moving means.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of the collecting elements is plate-like and substantially rectangular, and wherein the collecting elements are arranged in two parallel rows movable in opposite directions, wherein the discharge location forms an end of one of the rows and a start of the other row.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a space the size of a collecting element is kept free in each row.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, further provided with a second discharge location at the start of the one and at the end of the other row.

15. Apparatus according to any one of the claims 12-14, wherein the moving means comprise for each row of collecting elements a second drive co-acting with the, as seen in the direction of travel, rearmost collecting element.

16. Apparatus according to claims 10 and 15, wherein a drive direction of the first drive and a drive direction of the second drive enclose an angle and are particularly perpendicular of each other.

17. Method for collecting, separating and discharging manure, particularly pig manure, comprising the steps of: a) arranging at least one collecting element for manure, which comprises a number of openings for throughfeed of liquid, movably above a bottom of an animal accommodation, particularly a pig accommodation, b) moving the at least one collecting element to a discharge location, and c) removing manure lying on the at least one collecting element at the discharge location, characterized in that the openings in the at least one collecting element are kept or made free of solid manure.

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein the openings are kept or made free of solid manure by arranging fitting protrusions therein, wherein the protrusions are arranged on a carrier which is brought into engagement with the at least one collecting element.

19. Method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the openings are kept or made free of solid manure when the manure lying on the at least one collecting element is removed therefrom.

20. Method according to claim 18 and 19, wherein the solid manure is scraped off the at least one collecting element and the carrier is in engagement with the at least one collecting element during the scraping.

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein the carrier and the at least one collecting element are each plate-like and the carrier is arranged under and parallel to the collecting element, and wherein the carrier is moved upward substantially transversely of its plane until its protrusions protrude into the openings of the collecting element, after which the carrier is moved along under the scraper substantially parallel to its plane.

22. Method according to claim 21, wherein, after passing the scraper, the carrier is moved downward substantially transversely of its plane and its protrusions are pulled from the openings, after which the carrier is moved substantially parallel to its plane back to a starting position.

23. Method according to any one of the claims 17-22 or according to the preamble of claim 17, wherein a number of collecting elements are each moved through the animal accommodation, along the discharge location and back to the animal accommodation in succession.

24. Method according to claim 23, wherein each of the collecting elements is plate-like and substantially rectangular, and wherein the collecting elements are moved in opposite directions to or from the discharge location in two parallel rows.

25. Method according to claim 24, wherein a space the size of a collecting element is kept free in each row and the collecting elements in the row are in each case advanced over a length.

26. Method according to claim 24 or 25, further provided with a second discharge location, wherein the collecting elements are moved in opposite directions from the one to the other discharge location in two parallel rows.

27. Method according to any one of the claims 24-26, wherein the collecting elements in each row are advanced by driving the, as seen in the direction of travel, rearmost collecting element.

28. Method according to claims 21 and 27, wherein the movement of the carrier along the scraper is orientated at an angle, particularly a perpendicular angle, relative to a direction of forward movement of the row of collecting elements.