GB1316202A - Lavatories for use by animals - Google Patents

Abstract

1316202 Animal lavatory D W SMITH 20 Jan 1972 [29 an 1971] 3513/71 Heading AIM [Also in Divisions B8 and El] An animal excretes onto an endless conveyer belt 47 in a compartment 52 and on leaving via exit 45 activates the belt drive motor 18 so that the belt rotates and is cleaned by a scraper 14 and water spray tubes 21. The excreta is collected in a trap 13 and then flushed into a sewage system via line 19. The animal enters the compartment 52 via entrance door 41 which is then closed and locked by mechanism 42 which incorporates a switch to activate a light 31 and an extractor fan 29. The animal leaves via exit door 45 which is closed by mechanism 46 which has a switch to activate the belt drive and the spray/flushing system after a short delay. A valve 22 controls flow from a mains connection 26 to the spray tubes 21 at the cleansing station and also at the interior of the compartment. The spray tubes 21 are connected to a container 23 holding disinfectant so that a thorough cleansing of the device is achieved. After a pre-determined period, the control unit 33 shuts off the motor 18 and switches the valve 22 to close the water supply to the spray tubes 21 and open a pipe 30 from a conventional water cistern so that its contents flush the trap 13 into the sewage mains via pipe 19. Simultaneously the extractor fan and lights are turned off and the mechanism 42 is released so that the device is ready for the next animal. Alternative arrangements are disclosed, in eliminated and the trap 13 is flushed solely by which, the flushing pipe 30 from the cistern is the volume of water flowing from the spray tubes or the sewage connection is removed and a collecting chamber with neutralising chemicals is employed to recirculate the water via a pump and the spray tubes. Pressure sensitive elements could be fitted to the belt to prevent accidental operation of the flushing system whilst the animal is still in the chamber.