GB2335340A

GB2335340A - Animal sprayer

Info

Publication number: GB2335340A
Application number: GB9906605A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David William Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-03-20
Filing date: 1999-03-22
Publication date: 1999-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-22
Also published as: GB9906605D0; GB2335340B

Abstract

An animal shower comprises a floor 6 mounted on a chassis 1 which carries opposed side walls 8 and 9. The side walls 8 and 9 define an entrance 10 and an exit 11. The entrance and exit have closable gates 12 . Recessed into the floor 6 are a series of upwardly directed spray nozzles 14 connected by feed lines 15 to a supply line 16 fed from a fluid line 17 connected with a pump means 27. The floor 6 is arranged to drain towards a collecting gutter 18 which includes a filter system or sieve 19 which then drains back into a holding tank 20 located beneath the floor 6. Fluid from the holding tank 20 is drawn in by the pump means 27 and fed through the line 17 to the nozzles 14. Positioned above the floor 6 is a gantry supporting a series of downwardly directed spray nozzles 21 fed from a rotating boom assembly 22 connected to the line 17. Adjacent the exit 11 is a draining pen comprising a platform 24 which is hinged to the chassis 1. Fluid on the platform is drained back to the holding tank 20.

Description

417eadel.doc 1 TITLE:

Apparatus for drenching animals 2335340 This invention relates to an apparatus for drenching animals with a fluid treatment medium and, more particularly, to an apparatus termed hereinafter a "shower" by which domesticated animals, such as sheep, may be treated by drenching with a fluid.

Dipping animals, such as sheep, by plunging into and through a tank or bath of fluid treatment medium has been a customary method for control of lo parasites and disease. Such a method is hazardous to personnel as well as being stressful to the animals. It is also necessary to ensure the animal is fully submerged at some point during the passage through the bath and this requires manual intervention.

One object of this invention is to provide an apparatus suitable for drenching animals, particularly sheep, with a fluid treatment medium and which is preferably portable.

According to this invention there is provided an apparatus for drenching animals with a fluid, the apparatus comprising:a) a chassis, preferably incorporating wheels and adapted for towing behind a vehicle, a b) a floor supported by the chassis and having an animal retaining boundary wall or fence, c) an entrance port in one part of the fence for introducing animals onto the floor, d) an exit port in another part of the fencing for removing animals from the 2 floor, e) a series of upwardly directed fluid spray nozzles located in the floor, f) a holding tank for containment of fluid treatment medium beneath the floor, g) a downwardly directed series of fluid treatment medium spray nozzles located spaced overhead the floor, h) a pump means for conveying fluid medium from the tank to the nozzles, i) a fluid run-off collecting means to collect surplus fluid from the floor and to recirculate same, preferably after passing through a filter means, back to the lo holding tank.

In a preferred construction the holding tank lies beneath, and may be an integral part of, the floor. The fluid run-off collecting means may comprise a filter with collecting gutter located at an end of the floor.

Preferably a draining pen is located adjacent the exit port. Fluid collected in the pen being recirculated back to the holding tank.

In one construction the floor includes boundary side walls in opposed relationship and extending upwardly from opposed sides of the floor. The entrance port being at one end of the floor and the exit port being at the other end. The entrance and exit ports may comprises doors or gates pivotally mounted on the side walls. 4 It is preferable for the chassis wheels to be dismountable thereby allowing the apparatus to be lowered on site from a normal towing configuration. Optionally the wheels may include a lowering mechanism. It is a particular feature of this invention that the upwardly directed spray nozzles are located beneath the upper surface of the floor thus leaving the floor i 3 clear of pipe work and nozzles which might form a hazardous obstruction. A further important feature of this construction is that such an arrangement leaves the floor clear so that faeces and other matter is cleared and collected in a filter system which separates solids form the liquid to be recirculated. The 5 circulation rate is typically 900 litres/hour.

The dismountable, or lowerable, trailer wheels allow the whole chassis to be dropped from a typical height of 0.5 to 1.0 metres to 20 cm thus avoiding a steep ramp entry for the animals. The recirculating tank is an integral part of the chassis construction adding lo rigidity and avoiding external connections. The draining pen provides for an integrated construction and ensures surplus fluid does not pollute the environment.

An embodiment by way of an example of this invention and modification thereof will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a sheep shower apparatus, Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the apparatus viewed in the direction of the entrance port, Fig. 3 shows a detail of the floor and spray nozzles, Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment, and Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a further construction.

Referring to Figs 1 and 2 of the drawings in particular, there is shown a sheep shower apparatus comprising a chassis 1 with a drawbar 2 at the front 2 5 and a pair of wheels 3 and 4 at the rear. A jacking point 5 is provided to enable 4 the wheels to be removed after which the chassis can be lowered closer to the ground. The drawbar is supported by a jack 7 after uncoupling from a vehicle. A floor 6 is mounted on the chassis 1 and carries opposed side walls 8 and 9 each formed from three corrugated sheets. The side walls 8 and 9 define an entrance pod 10 and an exit port 11 at opposed ends of the floor 6. The entrance port 10 has a closable door or gate 12 and the exit port 11 has a closable door or gate 13.

Recessed into the floor 6 are a series of upwardly directed spray nozzles 14 connected by feed lines 15 to a supply line 16 fed from a fluid line 17 l o connected with a pump means 27 (shown in Figs. 4 and 5).

The floor 6 is arranged to drain towards a collecting gutter 18 which includes a filter system or sieve 19 which then drains back into a holding tank 20 located beneath the floor 6. Fluid from the holding tank 20 is drawn in by the pump means and fed through the line 17 to the nozzles 14.

is Positioned above the floor 6 is a gantry supporting a series of downwardly directed spray nozzles 21 fed from a boom assembly 22 connected to a supply line 23 fed by the pump means from the line 17.

Adjacent the exit port 11 and gate 13 is a draining pen comprising a platform 24 which is hinged to the chassis 1 or floor 6 at 25 whereby the platform may be hinged upwardly for transportation purposes. This, platform may be fenced and has an exit gate 26. Fluid on the platform is drained back to the holding tank 20.

In use sheep may be guided through the entrance port gate 12, preferably solid, to the floor 6 and the spray nozzles are activated through the pump and valve system 27 whereby fluid is sprayed upward through nozzles 14 i and downward through nozzles 21 to fully drench the animals. After this action the exit port gate 13, preferably a bar gate with a tipping action, is opened and the animals move into the draining pen 24. After a suitable time the animals are allowed to exit through gate 26.

Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings show a second embodiment which is generally similar to that described and the same references are used for parts of like function. Fig. 5 shows the motor driven pump 27 being an internal combustion engine or electric motor with the wheels 3 and 4 dismounted. The barriers 50 shown here may be stored in the apparatus for transport.

Advantages of this construction according to this invention are that personnel are not exposed to the sprayed fluid and the animals are not stressed through manual interference. The arrangement nevertheless provides for total coverage with the fluid.

The apparatus provides excellent portability and is useful where relatively large distances have to be travelled between sites or pastures. The apparatus will have pneumatic wheels 3 and 4 for this purpose and removable or retractable to allow lowering of the chassis.

The chassis includes the under floor holding tank as an integral part of the structure. A particular feature is the recessed nature of the floor spray nozzles 14 which do not impede the animals and which permit ready cleaning and removal of grit, mud and droppings from the floor 6. By using a tip gate 13 the functional area of the draining pen 24 is maximised.

6

Claims

Claims:

1. An apparatus for drenching animals with a fluid medium, the apparatus comprising:a) a chassis, b) a floor supported by the chassis and having an animal retaining boundary wall or fence, c) an entrance port in one part of the fence for introducing animals onto the floor, d) lo floor, h) an exit port in another part of the fencing for removing animals from the a series of upwardly directed fluid spray nozzles located in the floor, f) a holding tank for containment of fluid treatment medium, g) a downwardly directed series of fluid treatment medium spray nozzles located overhead the floor, a pump means for conveying fluid medium from the tank to the nozzles, i) a fluid run-off collecting means to collect surplus fluid from the floor and to recirculate same.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the holding tank is positioned beneath the floor and preferably forms an integral structure with the floor.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the chassis incorporates or is adapted to receive wheels and is preferably further adapted for towing behind a vehicle.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the fluid run-off collecting means recirculates the fluid, after passing through a fitter means, 7 back to the holding tank.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the holding tank lies beneath, and is preferably an integral part of, the floor.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the fluid run-off collecting means comprises a fitter with a collecting gutter located at an end of the floor.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein a draining pen is located adjacent the exit port, means being provided to collect fluid draining into the pen for recirculation back to the holding tank.

8. An apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the floor includes boundary side walls in opposed relationship and extending upwardly from opposed sides of the floor, an entrance port being at one end of the floor and an exit port being at the other end.

9. An apparatus in accordance with any preceding Claim, wherein the entrance and exit ports each comprise doors or gates pivotally mounted on the side walls.

10. An apparatus in accordance YWth any preceeding Claim, wherien chassis wheels are provided which are dismountable thereby allowing the floor of the apparatus to be lowered on site from a normal towing configuration.

11. An apparatus according to any preceding Claim 1 to 9, wherein chassis wheels are provided which incorporate a lowering mechanism enabling the chassis to be lowered relative to the ground.

12. An apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the downwardly directed spray nozzles are carded by a boom assembly.

13. An apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the boom assembly 8 carrying the nozzles is rotatable.

14 An apparatus constructed and arranged to function substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the drawings.

15. A method for the drenching of animals with fluid medium comprising introducing the animals into the apparatus according to any preceding Claim, retaining the animals in the apparatus for a time sufficient to ensure drenching with fluid, removing the animals to the draining pen and thereafter releasing the animals.