Mobile equipment for feeding large economic animals

Abstract

A mobile device for large livestock has: a base surface with a floor; at least four stable lateral boundaries, such as sidewalls; a roof covering the base surface; a frame; the chassis is provided with at least one moving mechanism fixed on the frame; a device for displacement in a drag or push mode of operation or by self-driving; the base surface is formed by a functional floor, the functional floor is connected with the frame, or the supporting mechanism of the functional floor is designed as a frame, and the functional floor can be divided into functional areas by a fixed and / or lockable and mobile separating device. The invention relates to a functional floor, in which a plurality of receptacles for inserting modules are provided, on which functional floor at least one walking field for animals and persons is arranged, which walking field also allows machines and vehicles to travel, on which functional floor at least one rest field for animals is arranged, a functional floor is provided with a plurality of variable entrances and exits, suitable for animals to independently step on the functional floor, provided with at least one entrance for vehicles and at least one passageway for people to step on the functional floor.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a system and mobile equipment for the biologically appropriate and sustainable husbandry of animals in natural environments. This primarily relates to the husbandry of large commercial animals such as cattle, horses, goats, buffalo, alpacas, bison, camels, pigs, donkeys, llamas, sheep, and wild animals. The core advantage of this invention lies in the rational and biologically appropriate design, equipment, structure, supply functions, and intended use of the mobile equipment. Throughout the year, this mobile equipment provides animals with all the conditions available to them except for pasture grazing, conditions that are unavailable in nature, for example, due to vegetation conditions or pasture zoning.

[0002] Currently, animal husbandry is divided into intensive and extensive farming methods, both of which have specific problems.

[0003] In intensive animal husbandry, animals are primarily kept in barns. Some barns provide space for movement, while others do not. This creates an unnatural living environment, which reduces and suppresses natural behaviors, needs, and movement patterns. This limits the animals' well-being and health, triggering a chain reaction of negative consequences. Only in rare cases are animals allowed to graze freely in their natural environment. Under this method, animals mainly feed on roughage and concentrates, which are grown using chemical fertilizers far from the rearing area and require transportation.

[0004] Transportation and fertilizer production require significant energy expenditures, leading to high carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Furthermore, nitrogen fertilizers produce substantial amounts of nitrous oxide (N2O) during metabolism, while concentrated feeds unsuitable for animal physiology cause herbivores to produce methane (CH4), which is then emitted. CO2, N2O, and CH4 are considered highly efficient accelerators of global warming.

[0005] Animal manure contains extremely high levels of nutrients, but it is difficult to apply as a natural liquid fertilizer to farmland unless one is willing to accept the risk of eutrophication of the soil and water bodies. Furthermore, it is generally not compostable. In livestock sheds, contaminants and the flies they attract negatively impact animal health. Diseases can easily spread.

[0006] Extensive farming methods often cannot avoid concentrating animals in certain areas, leading to soil overburden in these locations. Furthermore, during winter, due to weather conditions and lack of vegetation, animals are often housed in fixed buildings and barns, which do not constitute a natural living environment. Additionally, there are farming methods primarily used for beef cattle, where they can live outdoors year-round and only require supplemental feed during periods of sparse vegetation.

[0007] Here, mixed herds with different large livestock are also known. They rely primarily on grazing rather than regular feeding. These mixed herds can be grouped in such a way that, even with different grass species, the animals can graze the pasture area to its fullest extent according to their preferences. This aligns with the natural behavior of migratory grassland animals.

[0008] The significant advantage of this management method is that it produces almost no greenhouse gases, and grazing also triggers a root growth reflex in plants, allowing each hectare of pasture to absorb approximately half a ton of CO2 annually. For this to be effective, grazing must allow for an appropriate regeneration period for grasses and herbs. If the regeneration period is too short, CO2 cannot be deposited into the soil; if the regeneration period is too long, the grasses and herbs will flower and cease further root growth, resulting in a lower-than-expected level of CO2 deposited as root mass.

[0009] Therefore, grazing management methods that conform to the natural migratory behavior of large herds are needed. Although approximately 40% of the world's usable land is suitable for grazing, in a fragmented world crisscrossed by roads and railways, every piece of land is owned and subject to regulations, thus this approach faces various concerns and obstacles. The only solution is to relocate shelters, requiring mobile equipment capable of meeting all supply functions and regulatory requirements. This mobile equipment should be equipped and constructed in a reasonable and biologically compliant manner, allowing passage for light agricultural machinery and possessing a stable structural design to safely house heavier and stronger animals.

[0010] Several experimental solutions have been described in the prior art. For example, EP 1 002 461 A1 describes a mobile pigsty with a slotted floor, equipped with a sludge tank, side walls, a roof, and ventilation equipment with controlled air intake and exhaust. The pigsty and feeding equipment can also be installed. However, the mobile pigsty needs to be disassembled for relocation; it cannot be moved or moved as a single unit.

[0011] FR 2 496 401 describes a small, mobile barn primarily for housing horses. Its structure resembles a road-accessible horse trailer for transporting horses and also includes stable features such as a feeding station. The barn is not designed for the movement of agricultural machinery or equipment.

[0012] WO 2000 059 296 A1 describes a mobile poultry house with foldable side walls and a scratching floor with scratching grooves. This prevents animals from getting dirty outside the house and then bringing the dirt into the house, thus contaminating the eggs. The scratching grooves are positioned close to the ground, preventing chickens from reaching underneath them. After the side walls and lateral scratching floor are folded up, the poultry house can be moved along public roads. Multiple such poultry houses can be longitudinally connected to each other in a train-like configuration when erected to form large poultry houses, thus providing economic advantages. However, the poultry house itself cannot be used for agricultural machinery.

[0013] DE 20 2017 007 021 U1 describes a vaulted outdoor feeding facility for dairy cows, featuring a free-range barn system, a tethering system, and milking equipment. Animals can freely enter and exit to feed and milk simultaneously. An automated milking machine travels overhead to the animals for milking, but the entire outdoor feeding facility cannot be moved as a whole. Additionally, there are rest areas for the cows and management equipment. Management robots can be used for drying or treating the ground, such as cleaning, removing dirt, composting, or oxygenating. Animals and equipment are monitored by cameras.

[0014] DE 20 2013 007 369 U1 describes a mobile pasture shed mounted on a trailer, featuring folding side walls, a roof, and a rotating gate. This provides shelter for multiple animals at a lower cost, as assembly and disassembly are minimal and quick due to all necessary components being fixed to the trailer. The pasture shed does not have its own floor. To move the pasture shed, wheels with snap-fit ​​axles are mounted to the frame after the shed is lifted. The pasture shed can also be used as a herding vehicle, with livestock following the tractor pulling the trailer in the enclosed trailer during relocation. The pasture shed can also be equipped with a floor and thus used as a livestock transport vehicle. However, it cannot be used for machinery or vehicles.

[0015] US 2019 / 0110430 A1 describes a mobile protective enclosure for poultry and rabbits, wherein the bottom is open and the frame, with a roof and feeding equipment, can be moved in multiple directions via a mobility mechanism consisting of transport wheels, in a programmable, remotely controlled, or GPS-controlled manner. Here, flexible, wraparound skirts at the bottom of the side frames compensate for unevenness in the foundation. The upper part of the side walls can be folded up and can serve as a sun protection device; the opening is protected by a wire mesh. On the one hand, there is no provision allowing animals to leave the enclosure; on the other hand, there is no prevention of animals digging outwards or predators digging inwards.

[0016] EP 2 702 866 B1 describes a mobile livestock pen for housing poultry, calves, or pigs. The pen is movable on open ground by sleds and has a base, walls supported by the base, and a roof. The mobile pen has no floor but may have a grid to prevent animal contact with feces. When the feces on the floor reach its maximum capacity, the mobile pen must be moved using a tractor. Animals can freely enter and exit the pen. The mobile pen cannot be used for movement by machinery or vehicles.

[0017] DE 20 2005 005 236 U1 describes a mobile ranch shed consisting of modular sidewalls and a roof connected by a frame. When the ranch shed needs to be moved from one location to another, the sidewall modules and roof are disassembled separately, and the modules and frame are transported in their disassembled state. At the destination, the mobile ranch shed is reassembled; the ranch shed has no floor.

[0018] DE 83 05 464 U1 describes a mobile barn for the temporary residence of animals (such as horses or wild animals) and for storing items such as feed and harnesses, wherein the mobile barn can be moved at any time by connecting to a tractor.

[0019] For the relevant sites within this mobile facility, there are also existing technologies related to modular structural methods, such as those in animal transport technology. For example, EP 654 396 B1 describes floor elements that provide stable footing support for even-toed ungulates even in contaminated conditions. These floor elements have an H-shaped profile, are replaceable, and are easy to clean.

[0020] The systems described above are either small, only suitable for small animals, or complex and very bulky, severely limiting their mobility. Regarding mobility, the primary consideration is weight; small mobile barns, including the animals inside, typically weigh less than a few tons, while larger units for large livestock can be much heavier due to the need for stability. This is even more crucial if the mobile equipment requires transportation by machinery and vehicles.

[0021] Here, when heavy machinery is moved, the floor will be subjected to great force, which may damage the floor and greatly increase the difficulty of the overall movement.

[0022] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a solution that combines the advantages of intensive and extensive farming while avoiding their respective disadvantages, and achieves both economic and ecological benefits.

[0023] This invention achieves this objective through a mobile device for large livestock, which has... • At least one base surface with a floor. • At least four stable lateral boundaries, such as sidewalls. • A roof that at least covers most of the base surface, •frame, • At least one chassis, the at least one chassis having at least one moving mechanism fixed to a frame. • At least one device for achieving displacement in a towing and / or pushing operation mode, or by self-drive or as a sub-drive or auxiliary drive, and • Braking system, in • The base surface is formed by functional flooring. • In this case, the functional flooring is connected to the frame, or the load-bearing structure of the functional flooring is designed as a frame. • Functional flooring can divide functional areas using fixed and / or lockable and movable partitions. • The functional flooring includes multiple receptacles for inserting modules. • The functional flooring includes at least one walking area for animals and people, which can also be used by machines and vehicles. • On functional flooring: at least one resting area is provided for the animals. • Equipped with multiple variable entrances and exits, suitable for animals to independently access the functional flooring. • It is provided with at least one entry point for vehicles and at least one passageway for people to step onto the functional floor.

[0024] Here, the division of functional areas for animals is achieved in a manner reasonable and consistent with the biological habits of the respective animals, and can be adjusted accordingly based on changes in animal species. For the housing of the insert modules, "multiple" should be understood as a number between two and one thousand, in order to achieve a variable and modular structure. Here, the at least one vehicle entrance and the at least one passageway allowing personnel to step onto the functional floor can also be combined for animal use.

[0025] Here, the functional flooring is not placed directly on the ground, thus protecting the surface soil, especially the turf. Only a few components will remain on the surface soil or turf for a limited time. The functional flooring is shape-stable and supported by at least one moving mechanism and / or supporting element. The functional flooring may consist of an upper functional floor and a lower functional floor.

[0026] Functional areas are created on the functional flooring, including: lying areas, resting areas, walking areas, exercise areas, feeding areas, drinking areas, nursing areas, group areas, disease care areas, farrowing areas, young animal areas, milking areas, and shearing areas, all suitable for different animals. These areas are adjusted for the animals' optimal comfort, health status, natural behavior, and needs, and are tailored to their required distances and avoidance spaces within the hierarchical structure and their intended use. The construction, design, and configuration of these areas are reasonable and biologically consistent with individual, batch, and group rearing. Through a modular structure, different needs can be met by re-inserting partitions when livestock numbers change. In this way, in cases of animal illness or farrowing, sufficient isolation can be provided in treatment and young animal areas using individual and group enclosures or compartments with fixed side walls. Flexible operation is possible through variable partition structures in the form of plug-in walls or other internal equipment.

[0027] The design scheme involves plug-in walls. These plug-in walls have mating parts and removable locking parts, and are fixedly but removably connected to the functional floor via these parts. The plug-in walls can consist of a grid, lattice, or continuous wall or pole with enclosure protection, fence elements, panels, or other elements, and their heights can vary. Equipment for functional areas can be fixed to them. This also applies to other similarly structured partition devices. Various folding, sliding, tilting, telescopic systems, as well as other systems made of hollow profiles, are provided for this purpose.

[0028] Other design options involve functional flooring. For specific functional areas, these areas can be formed on top of a superfloor with interlocking elements that also engage with and are detachably connected to the interlocking receptacles of the functional flooring. Cleaning and disinfection can be achieved by periodically removing the interlocking elements of the superfloor if necessary for hygiene reasons, such as after a disease outbreak, or for maintenance or repair of components and systems located below. Through the interlocking elements of the superfloor and interlocking walls, functional areas can be designed according to specific applications and spatial isolation can be achieved when animals and herds have special requirements.

[0029] Other design proposals include: • It is equipped with at least one vertical lifting device, which can be used in combination with or separately from the moving mechanism, and can lift or stabilize the moving equipment. • It is equipped with multiple fixed and / or height-adjustable support elements, which enable height adjustment, stabilization, and leveling of uneven areas throughout the mobile equipment.

[0030] In another design, the load-bearing structure of the functional floor is designed as a truss, which bears the load and has strong torsional resistance. The load-bearing structure is formed by flat, open, and / or closed profiles. Solid profiles can also be used. Support elements and interlocking receptacles are fixed to the load-bearing structure.

[0031] Therefore, the upper floor has fixed connections and interlocking joints in its load-bearing structure. The design and equipment of the upper floor are tailored to the animal species, ensuring compliance with biological habits, slip resistance, health benefits, and social behavior. In addition, it includes other equipment such as milking facilities and milking robots, individual compartments, lying and resting areas, feeding equipment, activity and behavior enrichment zones, waste collection areas, and grooming and care areas for riding purposes. For mixed herds, the upper floor can be designed with different areas for different animal species.

[0032] Functional flooring receives or separates animal excrement, for example, by using straw as a trampled manure area or deep bedding area. It prevents fecal contamination of the underlying surface soil and over-fertilization, and avoids vegetation death due to trampling. Therefore, in one design, functional flooring typically has, at least in certain areas, a fixed, sufficiently enclosed upper floor and an impermeable lower floor.

[0033] To facilitate manure removal, the upper floor can be designed to allow wheel loaders, telescopic boom loaders, or tractors to travel along a defined path. Alternatively, a roll-up floor, push-plate system, or similar device can be installed for manure removal. Rubber mats, water mats, or similar components can be laid on the upper floor if beneficial to animal health. Other types of bedding materials, such as sawdust and pellets, can also be used.

[0034] Here, the basic structure of the functional floor, along with its associated frame, chassis, and moving mechanism, conforms to conventional modular structural design methods used in vehicle manufacturing, vehicle technology, agricultural technology, livestock housing construction, lightweight structures, trusses, and grid structures. The design difference lies in the slower movement speed of the mobile equipment. Therefore, in terms of the forces that need to be withstood, the design primarily considers static factors rather than dynamic factors. Furthermore, the components of the functional floor should be corrosion-resistant and have a long service life.

[0035] The sophisticated functional flooring of mobile equipment provides animals with all and complete functional areas to fully meet their natural needs in a manner, scope, and approach consistent with their biological habits. Compared to existing technologies, it provides the space and grounds required for natural behavior: large animals, such as cattle, prefer to maintain distance, requiring a distance of 0.5 to 5 meters from each other. They are social animals with a clear hierarchical structure. Space and resources must be sufficient to allow lower-ranking animals to avoid higher-ranking animals. Furthermore, the possibility of isolating sick animals or those preparing to give birth in farrowing pens is necessary.

[0036] The following uses dairy cows as an example to illustrate the space requirements for mobile equipment and pastures, in order to design dimensions. In fixed-location pen-and-graze barns, each dairy cow requires four to six square meters of space. In extensive farming, the livestock density is one to two animals per hectare, while in intensive farming, five or more animals can be raised per hectare. To optimize grazing management, there is usually an optimal balance between the natural growth conditions and regeneration needs of the pasture, especially without additional fertilization of the grazing area. This optimized grazing management also allows the soil to store a significant amount of CO2 in the form of humic acid, absorbing approximately 0.5 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per hectare per year.

[0037] Functional flooring also serves to collect animal waste. Especially during drinking, resting, activity, and feeding, waste remains on the functional flooring instead of being directly discharged into the surface soil as during grazing. This reduces the nutrient balance of the pasture itself, allowing for increased livestock density. This is contingent on the collected manure being either composted or discharged to other areas or plots of land outside the animal's enclosure. Therefore, from an ecological perspective, higher livestock densities can be achieved, resulting in a herd size of 39 large animals, such as dairy cows, on a pasture area of ​​13 to 19.5 hectares, where 2 to 3 large animals can be raised per hectare. Rotation between two or more adjacent pastures is also possible.

[0038] The resulting total area for the functional flooring is between 160 and 240 square meters. An additional 60 square meters is required for additional equipment, such as the chassis and milking equipment. Therefore, the dimensions of this movable facility can be constructed, for example, from 15 × 15 meters to 15 × 20 meters. Here, the weight of the animals inhabiting the facility is approximately 26 tons, and the weight of the structural components is roughly equivalent and conforms to the requirements of the foundation, such as based on slope and weather conditions.

[0039] Depending on the site conditions regarding periodic relocation, multiple smaller units can be coupled together to replace large functional floors used for large mobile equipment.

[0040] While mobile barns are already a viable technology for raising small animals such as poultry and rabbits, mobile barns for large animals have been limited by the weight and size of their structures. Due to the immense weight and strength of large animals, these structures must be designed to be extremely robust and torsional. Functional flooring achieves both this rigidity and lightweight construction.

[0041] For example, it could be proposed that the load-bearing frame and the lower floor be constructed of thin-walled, closed-cell hollow profiles, which are stacked in a cross-hatching manner in at least two layers. They are preferably interconnected using elastomeric elements. These elastomeric elements do not reduce stiffness but can dampen vibrations, thus creating an animal-joint-friendly resilient floor. If the two layers are constructed of square or rectangular profiles made of galvanized steel tubing with gaps between every other row, the weight generated for 220 square meters would be approximately 18 tons using tubing with sides of 100 x 100 mm and a wall thickness of 3 mm, or approximately 12 tons using tubing with sides of 80 mm and a wall thickness of 2 mm. Of course, other hollow profiles and materials can also be used, and the spacing between the hollow tubes can be chosen to be larger or smaller. Double T-beams and / or grid structures can also be used instead of hollow profiles.

[0042] For example, supply and discharge lines can extend between bars and profiles or inside hollow profiles, and these lines can be effectively cleaned using cleaning techniques when necessary. An upper floor, such as one made of plywood or reinforced concrete, is designed and fixed above these profile layers, reinforced in areas where vehicles such as manure-clearing pushers need to pass. Slotted floors or trenches with drain outlets and mesh covers can be installed in areas where animals prefer to urinate. These slotted floors or trenches connect to sewage lines and collection devices, preventing contamination of the ground beneath the functional floor. This also prevents the formation of excessive ammonia aerosols.

[0043] Other design options involve a mobile mechanism, which requires special attention due to its significant weight. Here, based on the size of the mobile equipment and on-site installation conditions, three basic options can be selected, with each pair of options possible to be combined. Furthermore, the mobile mechanism can also be designed as a separate unit. These options share the common feature of including height adjustment and height regulation mechanisms to compensate for uneven terrain. At least one mobile mechanism is required.

[0044] The moving mechanism is connected to the chassis, frame, and / or the load-bearing structure of the functional floor via a tracked, tire-mounted, or rail-mounted traveling mechanism. At least one moving mechanism is arranged between the frame / chassis and the functional floor, or below the upper floor or outside the area of ​​the functional floor. Here, at least one traction device suitable for vehicle movement, or at least one auxiliary drive or sub-drive for assisting a traction machine, or at least one device suitable for displacement by winch or hydraulic means, or at least one drive suitable for independent drive, is provided on the frame. A skid system may also be used.

[0045] To enable the movement of mobile equipment, a steering device is provided on at least one side, which can be a tow bar or tow rope with a traction mechanism. The mobile equipment can be moved slowly without disassembly using an external traction machine or winch. Larger mobile equipment is equipped with at least one follow-up steering device and / or forced steering device on its traveling mechanism.

[0046] Here, tracks correspond to those used in tracked excavators or combine harvesters, and wheels correspond to those used in heavy-duty road vehicles or LOF vehicles, where LOF stands for agricultural or forestry permit. These wheels may be mounted on driven axles depending on steering requirements. Tracks correspond to those used in trams. For mobile equipment, at least two, but preferably four or more, such tracks or wheels are required. They may also be installed in pairs and / or in series. Tracks or wheels are preferably used on dry pasture ground or paved driveways or roads.

[0047] On pastures without a hard subgrade, the degree of soil compaction is related to wheel load, ground contact area, and pressure. This determines the required number of wheels or tracks. Ground protection plates / running boards can also be used to reinforce the subgrade. Higher axle loads can be selected when using tracks fixed to the ground.

[0048] The mobile equipment is placed within a sufficiently large pasture area, which serves as a natural living environment. This pasture may contain trees, shrubs, waterways, ditches, rocks, etc., preferably with some heterogeneity, allowing animals to intuitively utilize the natural environment, such as lying on the grass or seeking shelter. A natural ecosystem should be formed among the economically important animals, plants, and insects. Rotational grazing between different sections of the pasture area can also be implemented, allowing the pasture to regenerate during grazing intervals. Because this method stimulates root growth, thereby increasing humus for carbon dioxide formation, each hectare of land can act as a humus reservoir, sequestering half a ton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually.

[0049] Mobile devices can replenish ecosystems when natural environments reach their limits due to weather or vegetation conditions. The proposed mobile devices can be used autonomously, intuitively, and instinctively by animals. Therefore, the devices provide free movement space, habit-appropriate lying and resting areas, climate protection, drinking water, feeding areas, predator protection, and more. Animals can freely enter and exit the devices. Identification systems for wolves or other predators can be implemented or integrated into animal monitoring systems.

[0050] To avoid surface damage and localized overload of the soil and turf, the mobile equipment will be moved periodically. This movement can be continuous or discontinuous, but discontinuous movement is preferred. The movement can be monitored and controlled via GPS or a similar system if necessary.

[0051] Continuous movement is achieved using a track-guided method, preferably on tracks laid on the pasture. Transporting heavy objects by rail is a known existing technology and can utilize well-established design concepts for rail vehicles. The speed is very slow, typically between 5 and 50 centimeters per hour. Ideally, the width of a livestock shed is moved every three days. Therefore, despite the large mass to be moved, a large drive power is not required; a transmission with a fairly large gear ratio suffices. This drive is preferably electrically powered and can be powered by solar energy, thus allowing operation even at night, for example.

[0052] Because the movement is very slow and uniform, animals can remain inside the equipment or enter and exit during movement. Only sensors are needed to ensure the tracks are clear in the direction of movement. Alternatively, paved roads can be used, in which case drive is achieved via tracked walking mechanisms or wheels. The disadvantage is the need to overcome higher running resistance, which negates the advantage of not requiring tracks. The tracked drive and wheels are located between the frame's load-bearing mechanism and the upper floor, or below the upper floor, or can be positioned to the side of the base surface.

[0053] Discontinuous movement should also be guided by a trajectory whenever possible, but using only a tractor to move the equipment can be problematic, as it may damage the pasture surface if no road is laid. Instead, it is preferable to equip the equipment with additional wheeled or tracked drives to assist the tractor, or to pull the equipment from a distance using a tow rope until it reaches its destination. During this process, some of the livestock must leave the equipment, and it is essential to ensure they do not interfere with the process. The traction and required energy can be provided via a winch, motor, or pump, driven by the tractor's power take-off shaft or by the tractor's hydraulic system.

[0054] If the equipment cannot travel on flat, straight terrain, it is equipped with a steering mechanism similar to a drawbar, to which a tow rope or tractor is attached. The equipment can then be steered or reoriented by a tractor. Larger mobile equipment is equipped with at least one follow-up steering mechanism and / or forced steering mechanism on its running gear.

[0055] One design proposes that both the moving mechanism and the entire mobile equipment are height-adjustable. This allows the mobile equipment to be lowered and placed on supporting elements for stability without affecting the ground below, and to be raised when needed to compensate for uneven terrain. The height adjustment can be achieved mechanically as a rope drive, hydraulically via a cylinder, or electrically via a screw actuator. Airbags can also be used as supporting elements. The supporting elements are preferably located in the area of ​​the intersection of the load-bearing mechanisms of the functional floor.

[0056] If the displacement (including lifting) is achieved discontinuously during self-propelled movement, the support element can be coupled to the propulsion mechanism. Despite its significant weight, the required power is minimal, as only a few centimeters per minute are needed for each lift. The electrical energy required can be generated by solar power.

[0057] Other design proposals suggest incorporating lockable longitudinal and transverse hinges on the frame as height compensation components. These hinges are necessary for movement, depending on the terrain and displacement distance, to overcome, for example, depressions or small protrusions. Here, the longitudinal and transverse hinges can be implemented as single-turn or double-turn hinges.

[0058] If public roads must be used, the frame, functional flooring, and structure can be designed to be foldable, flip-up, detachable, or retractable via hinges, allowing them to be folded to the width of the road or disassembled in modules, with detachable modular connectors consisting of retractable mating profiles. This foldability or modular disassembly is also useful when there is a significant distance between the manufacturing and installation sites.

[0059] Another design proposes that mobile devices be combined in a modular fashion, either front to back or side to side, with each module constructed to be detachable so that they can be transported on roads or arranged in a front-to-back manner like train carriages, and can be towed over large open spaces.

[0060] Other design options involve equipment. This equipment involves... • Activity area, eating area, recreation area, care area, and behavior enrichment area, • Disease care area, farrowing area, and young animal area • Individual and group rearing areas, • For use in areas with bedding materials such as straw, pellets, sawdust, or similar materials. • Location for fecal ingestion and collection • Wastewater collection devices with urine and feces collection containers or tanks, • A device for mechanical or automated removal of manure from trampled areas and bedding areas. • Water and feed supply devices, which are implemented, for example, by means of storage capacity, reserves, or by means of supply lines that can be connected independently or to supply points or supply vehicles / connected to supply points or supply vehicles. • Milking equipment, shearing equipment, and grooming, care, and health management equipment for riding purposes. • Solar roofs used to power operating equipment • An air conditioning unit that includes heating and cooling functions, featuring insulated floor, wall, and ceiling elements, such as panels. • A ventilation system that prevents drafts. • Exhaust filters used for hazardous substances, • Rainwater retention and collection facilities used to provide clean water. • Animal trapping devices • Space for offices, rest areas, cheese making, slaughtering, and meat processing. • Equipment used for cleaning, maintenance, repair, and disinfection. • Protective equipment against predators, • A device to protect against solar radiation, wind and drafts, rain and snow. • Insect-proof device • Adequate sunlight and lighting.

[0061] For animal species that can overcome significant height differences in nature (such as goats and certain cattle breeds), a double-layer structure or climbing facilities and platform structures can be installed.

[0062] In one design, at least one feeding device is installed above the upper floor, preferably multiple independent feeding devices. Animals should have long-term access to the feeding device from the inside, and if necessary, from the outside. Feeding can be performed mechanically or automatically from both the inside and outside. The feeding device should be protected from weather conditions and predators.

[0063] In another design, milking equipment is also installed above the upper floor. If mobile equipment is used in the dairy industry, these two pieces of equipment can also be interconnected in a known manner so that cows can feed during milking. In other cases, livestock prefer to graze on pasture.

[0064] In other design options, solar panels and rainwater retention and collection systems are installed on the roof. The solar panels generate electricity for electrical equipment, while the rainwater retention and collection systems provide clean water for mobile equipment.

[0065] In another design, a ventilation system is installed with exhaust devices that can separate and store methane. For approximately 40 dairy cows, with the cows spending the entire day in the barn, up to 10 cubic meters of methane is expected to be produced. Depending on the feed, the amount of methane may be lower, especially if the cows are outdoors and only consume natural, biologically appropriate feed.

[0066] In one design, a milking device is also included that the cows can enter autonomously. This milking device has a signaling system to notify the milking personnel to start and subsequently end the milking process; alternatively, the milking process can also be performed by an automated milking robot.

[0067] Not only the internal structures, but also the sidewalls provide shape-stable boundaries for animals and protect them from weather and predators. Various open or closed implementation schemes have been proposed, such as solid structures with wooden planks, concrete slabs, corrugated panels, or panels topped with netting or canvas; and external climate sidewalls made of netting or canvas, with or without folding or rolling features, with shape-stable boundaries for animals made of steel, wood, aluminum, or plastic. For example, pluggable or retractable poles are also used.

[0068] For the roof, different implementation schemes can be adopted, such as: gable roof, sawtooth roof, single-slope roof, cantilever roof, gas station roof, and structure with overhangs. It should be used as a green roof, solar roof, etc., whenever possible, or simply use canvas to collect rainwater. The roof should at least cover most of the base surface.

[0069] Of course, the strength of all components must be designed based on factors such as forces, loads, and influences acting externally and internally; it cannot be too great or too small. Furthermore, they must be equipped with durable protective coatings, such as anti-corrosion coatings, with a service life exceeding several decades. The materials and drive and transmission devices that can be used are all known technologies, such as steel, wood, concrete, rubber, plastics; fiber materials, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and pneumatic systems.

[0070] To facilitate relocation, the damp and unreinforced pasture foundation / ground needs to be reinforced to prevent damage to the surface / pasture. This can be achieved using materials such as bark mulch, gravel, stones, asphalt, concrete, or tracks. If the foundation is unreinforced, the tires and / or tracked walking mechanism should have a suitable or sufficiently large contact area to avoid damaging and over-compacting the soil and turf. Appropriate ground protection plates / driving boards can also be used.

[0071] The present invention has the following advantages: • Animal husbandry should be carried out in a natural environment in a way that is in line with biological habits and sustainable, rather than with the limitations imposed on animals and nature conservation as in traditional intensive or extensive farming methods.

[0072] • Healthy and sustainable animal-based foods, products, and derivatives.

[0073] • Provide optimal health and maximum comfort for happy animals.

[0074] • Maximize the promotion of the animal's immune system and social behavior.

[0075] • Avoid illness, injury, infection, and the use of drugs, medicines, and veterinary treatments.

[0076] • By adopting feeding methods that conform to biological habits and natural practices, methane emissions are significantly reduced. • By reducing the planting and harvesting of forage crops and utilizing the natural regeneration and grazing of pasture areas, carbon dioxide emissions are significantly reduced. In this way, a large amount of CO2 is fixed in the pasture soil.

[0077] • By forming humus and protecting microorganisms, insects, birds, etc., the soil can achieve natural restoration.

[0078] • By improving the soil's water absorption and storage capacity, and by recycling rainwater when necessary and avoiding methods that cause soil compaction or tillage to prevent drought, the groundwater level can be restored, while promoting the formation of the humus layer.

[0079] • Solar energy generates its own energy.

[0080] • Improve plant health and soil fertility.

[0081] • Store and supply nutrients to plants.

[0082] • Improves soil stability and prevents erosion.

[0083] The present invention has been illustrated in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the invention is not limited to these drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 A floor plan of mobile equipment for dairy cows is shown. Figure 2 Showing the front view Figure 3 Showing a side view Figure 4 A floor plan of a large mobile facility for dairy cows is shown. Figure 5A front view showing the detailed functional floor structure is shown. Figure 6 A plan view showing the load-bearing structure and upper floor of the functional flooring. Figure 7 A side view of the mobile device is shown. Figure 8 A floor plan of a mobile facility for cattle is shown. Figure 9 Showing the front view, Figure 10 A floor plan of a mobile device for horses is shown. Figure 11 Showing the front view, Figure 12 The diagram shows a floor plan consisting of four detachable device modules. Figure 13 The diagram shows a front view of the device, which consists of four detachable modules. Figure 14 A floor plan showing a large assembly of equipment is provided.

[0084] Figure 1 A plan view of a mobile facility for dairy cows is shown, comprising four walking mechanisms 1, a height-adjustable walking mechanism 2, a walking area 3, a resting area 4, milking equipment 5, a feeding area 6, multiple entrances and exits 7, and a towing device 8 for pulling vehicles. The walking area 3 is for driving, while the resting area 4, which also serves as a resting area, is not. When needed, a mobile partition 9 for variable functional areas can be used to divide the space into isolated zones 10, which can also be achieved via inserts 11. The resting area 4 also includes pen 12, and a watering station 13 is shown.

[0085] During the parking of the mobile equipment, the walking mechanism 1 is in an unloaded state and is conditionally parked on the surface soil to maintain stability. At this time, machinery and light vehicles can also be used on the ground reinforcement part 14. If it is necessary to move the entire mobile equipment, the height-adjustable moving mechanism 2 lowers the walking mechanism 1, and the entire mobile equipment is slightly raised.

[0086] Figure 2 A front view of the mobile equipment, taken from the perspective of the traction device, is shown, but the front with the doorway is not shown. (Except in...) Figure 1 In addition to what has already been described, lateral boundary 19 and roof 20 are also shown. The load-bearing profiles are fixedly installed.

[0087] Figure 3 A side view of the mobile equipment is shown, with a wide feeding device 6 arranged in the foreground. (As shown in...) Figure 1 As in the middle, the walking mechanism is in an unloaded state, and other components are also in contact with... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The structure is consistent with that described in the text. In addition, a truss-shaped reinforcing strut 21 is shown.

[0088] Figure 4 A plan view of a large mobile facility for dairy cows is shown, featuring six walking mechanisms 1, walking areas 3, and multiple entrances and exits 7. Walking areas 3 allow for movement. Resting areas 4 are implemented as berths 12. A total of 18 such berths 12 are shown in this embodiment. The number of berths can be increased by four if needed by applying mobile partitions 9 (in this example, plug-in walls) for variable functional areas. Due to the hierarchical structure of the dairy herd, further plug-in walls 9 can be used to partition the areas to prevent fighting. Additionally, plug-in walls 9 can also be used to partition calving pens. The remaining reference numerals are the same as... Figures 1 to 3 The corresponding reference numerals in the attached figures correspond to each other.

[0089] Figure 5 A front view of the mobile equipment is shown, including a detailed functional floor structure and an extended movement mechanism 2 (wheels 1 in this example). Longitudinal beams 15, crossbeams 16, and a grid structure 17 are shown. The functional floor rests on support elements 18 that connect the functional floor to the surface soil. If only minor height differences need to be compensated, the mobile equipment can be lifted and then moved by changing tire pressure and bearing pressure.

[0090] Figure 6 Showing with Figure 4 The same variant is shown, illustrating the design and structure of the functional flooring. This is another variant for dairy cows, suitable for larger herds. Here, an exemplary layout of the functional flooring and its equipment for dairy cows is illustrated. Areas 3 and 14, and their supporting surfaces, are designed as load-bearing surfaces for walking and movement areas, and are made, for example, of concrete or wood. They allow for good movement of small agricultural machinery. Area 4 has a load-bearing substructure made of metal, wood, or concrete for lying and resting areas, and is equipped, for example, with rubber mats, water mats, straw, and sawdust coverings. Normally, they are not for driving. These coverings are fixed to the longitudinal beams 15 and transverse beams 16 or secured by interlocking connections, and also serve to maintain the torsional stiffness of the structure during transport.

[0091] therefore, Figure 6 It shows the relationship with Figure 4 Similar to the plan view shown, from Figure 5The plan view from this angle shows that the elements are identical at the height of the load-bearing frame. Here, the longitudinal beams 15 and the transverse beams 16 are connected in a truss manner and form a load-bearing mechanism. In the area of ​​the intersection, functional flooring is placed on support surfaces 18, which are either fixedly mounted in shape or height-adjustable. For example, they are folding airbags connected to a pneumatic system, or in this case, lifting cylinders. The choice of suitable support surfaces depends on the terrain profile and height compensation requirements. If a correspondingly large height compensation is provided by the support elements, there is no need to use the height-adjustable moving mechanism 2. In the area 3 where vehicles can also travel, the longitudinal beams 15 are arranged at shorter intervals.

[0092] Figure 7 A side view is shown. Compared to the side view of the smaller implementation variant, more struts 19 and 21 are used to correspondingly enhance stability without significantly increasing weight.

[0093] Figure 8 Another variant suitable for large livestock is shown. Here, a partition wall 9 is provided as a lateral boundary to reserve individual areas 4 for special purposes. Furthermore, animals can freely use area 4 as needed, and area 3 can also be used for simple vehicle traffic. A drinking water station 13 is also provided.

[0094] Figure 9 A front view is shown. It can be seen that the sports field 4 is slightly inclined and designed to slope downwards to the right. The slope is approximately 6 degrees. Therefore, as indicated by the arrows, excrement flows into the manure-treading and cleaning area 3 and can be cleaned by a sweeper or pusher.

[0095] Figure 10 A floor plan shows the layout of the playing area for horses. Play area 22 is equipped with compartments, which can be group compartments or individual compartments as needed. Play area 3 is the exercise area. Play area 24 serves as a grooming area where horses can be washed and groomed, and it also serves as a work area for staff. Play area 24 is equipped with doors 25, which, unlike the entrance and exit 7, cannot be opened by the animals themselves. The passageways 25 leading to the compartments are implemented as sliding doors and can be locked. A watering station 13 is also shown.

[0096] Area 23 is used for collecting feces and is lined with bedding. A passageway is opened by opening sliding door 25 to facilitate cleaning of the collection area. A feeding area 6 is also provided.

[0097] Figure 11 A front view shows an implementation variant for horses. A windproof net 27 is installed below the roof 20, allowing fresh air to flow into the mobile equipment while preventing flies from entering. A compartment with a sliding door 25 is located on the left side, with a central passageway 7 also accessible to horses. Adjacent to the right is a feeding area 6, which animals can access from the inside or outside, depending on weather conditions. A passageway 7 for staff is located on the far right. The load-bearing frame is laterally supported by side walls or supports 19 and rests on a support plate 18.

[0098] Figure 12 A plan view of the mobile equipment is shown. The mobile equipment is modularly composed of four detachable equipment modules 28 for operation on public roads. The mobile equipment is divided into four longitudinal sections, each of which can be independently transported by road. Each of these four sections has its own traction device 8 and a moving mechanism 2 with wheels 1, and they can be towed to another pasture area using a conventional tractor.

[0099] The individual modules are separated by detachable module connectors 29. These connectors link the individual modules together in the detached state. The movable separation device 9 forms a separation structure for the animals and, in the detached state, creates boundaries for transport, allowing the animals to be transported together. The remaining reference numerals correspond to those in the previous figures. Figure 12 The upper part shows two device modules 28 that are completely separated from each other, and the lower part shows two device modules 28 that are about to be separated for subsequent transportation.

[0100] Figure 13 Shown from the front view, that is, from the perspective of the tractor. Figure 12 The mobile equipment also shows detachable modular connectors 29 with height-compensated hinges, which may be necessary when the ranch ground is uneven for installation. The two equipment modules 28 shown on the left are separated from each other and located at different heights on uneven ground, while the two equipment modules 28 shown on the right are still connected to each other, wherein the modular connectors 29 can still be detached despite the tilt.

[0101] In the assembled state, the height-variable support elements 18 achieve height compensation, but these support elements 18 are retracted before transportation, and the individual equipment module 28 stands on the wheels 1 of its moving mechanism 2, wherein the towing load on the traction device 8 is kept as small as possible, which can be achieved by adjusting according to known methods.

[0102] The diagram also shows a foldable roof cantilever 30, which can be folded down to ensure that it does not exceed the maximum permissible width during transport. Depending on the transport route, the roof 20 can also be designed to be retractable, thereby reliably complying with height restrictions, such as when traveling across bridges or traffic lights.

[0103] Figure 14 A plan view of a larger equipment assembly 31 is shown, whose modules, while unsuitable for road transport, can be towed over a large open area. Here, the individual modules are designed to be full width but segmented in length. For ease of movement, the traveling mechanism 2 is implemented as a steering device 32, typically a driven axle or a forced steering device, thereby enabling steering and turning. Depending on the applicable traction force, individual modules can also be coupled via a towing device 8 and transported together. The required traction force can be generated by a towing rope and a fixedly mounted hydraulic winch, where proper anchoring must be ensured.

[0104] Of course, in Figures 12 to 14 The segmentation methods shown can also be combined to allow modules to have both horizontal and vertical divisions.

[0105] Terminology Definition Using both abstract and concrete concepts, the same reference numerals are used in some parts.

[0106] - The abstract concept of "traveling mechanism" can be understood as the concrete concepts of "tire-type traveling mechanism" and "wheel". Track-type traveling mechanism or crawler-type traveling mechanism also belong to "traveling mechanism".

[0107] - "Site" is an abstract concept, and "area" is a concrete concept. Unlike a simple surface, they can be divided. Other concrete concepts refer to the specific uses of a site or area. In the attached figure, reference numeral 3 represents a drivable surface, and reference numeral 4 represents a non-drivable surface.

[0108] - "Channel" is an abstract concept. If the channel allows bidirectional passage, then "entrance and exit" are concrete concepts. If the channel only allows unidirectional passage, then only one of the terms "entrance" or "exit" is a concrete concept. If the reference numerals in the accompanying drawings exemplarily represent multiple channels, then the plural form is used.

[0109] - "Functional floor" is an abstract concept, while "truss", "longitudinal beam" and "crossbeam" are exemplary concrete concepts. Functional floor can be formed from these components, but it is not necessary to do so.

[0110] - "Supporting element" is an abstract concept, while "supporting surface" and "supporting plate" are concrete concepts.

[0111] - "Separation device" is an abstract concept, while "mobile separation device", "lateral boundary", "support rod", "separation wall" and "side wall or support" are concrete concepts, each of which is a separation device with a special function.

[0112] List of reference numerals 1. Walking mechanism, tire-type walking mechanism, wheels 2 Chassis / Moving Mechanism 3. Walking areas, sports areas, and activity areas / manure treading and manure cleaning areas 4. Resting areas, lying-down areas, and leisure areas 5. Milking equipment 6 Feeding Area 7. Entrances and exits, passageways 8 traction devices 9. Movable partition devices and partition walls for variable functional areas. 10 quarantine areas 11 plug-in board 12-bedroom 13 Drinking Water Station 14 Ground reinforcement components for vehicles and machinery 15 longitudinal beams 16 crossbeams 17. Grid Structure 18 support elements 19 Lateral boundaries, supports, struts 20 roofs 21 reinforced struts 22 individual and group compartments 23 Fecal collection locations 24-hour nursing and care area 25 channels 26 windows 27 Windbreak Net 28 Detachable equipment modules for public road operation 29 Detachable modular connectors with height-compensated hinges 30-foldable roof cantilever 31 Equipment Combinations 32. Steering mechanism.

Claims

1. Mobile device for large livestock, having • at least one floor-based base surface, • at least four stable lateral boundaries, • at least a roof (20) covering the entire base surface, • a frame, • a chassis (2) with at least one mobile mechanism (2) fixed to the frame, • at least one device for displacement in a towed or pushed mode of operation or by self-propulsion or as a partial or auxiliary drive, and • a braking facility, characterized in that • the base surface is formed by a functional floor (15, 16), • in which the functional floor (15, 16) is connected with the frame or the load-bearing mechanism of the functional floor (15, 16) is designed as a frame, • the functional floor (15, 16) can be divided into functional areas by fixed and / or lockable and mobile partition devices (9, 19), • in the functional floor there are provided a plurality of housings for interposed modules, • on the functional floor there is arranged at least one walking area (3) for animals and persons, which is also drivable for machines and vehicles, • on the functional floor: there is configured at least one resting area (4) for animals, • there are configured a plurality of variable entries (7) and exits (7) for the independent access of animals to the functional floor, • there is provided at least one drive-in for vehicles and at least one access for persons to the functional floor. As mobile partition devices (9) there are provided plug-in profiles with a mating piece and a detachable locking piece. As fixed and / or mobile partition devices (9, 19) there are provided walls, grids, bars, rods, fence elements and panels. There is provided at least one vertical lifting device by which the entire mobile device can be lifted or stabilized. There are provided a plurality of height-adjustable or fixed support elements (18) by which the entire mobile device can be height-adjusted, stabilized and leveled. The load-bearing mechanism of the functional floor is designed as a truss (15, 16) and has a grid structure formed by flat, open and closed profiles or solid profiles. At least one mobile mechanism is a tire-based or track-based walking mechanism (1) and is arranged between the frame / chassis and the functional floor or below the upper floor or outside the area of the functional floor. On the frame there is provided at least one traction device (8) for vehicles suitable for movement, or at least one auxiliary drive or partial drive for an auxiliary traction machine, or at least one device suitable for displacement by winches or hydraulic devices or at least one drive suitable for independent drive. On the frame there is provided at least one device for steering, or an autonomous steering device, or a follow-up steering device or a forced steering device. On the frame there are provided lockable longitudinal and / or transverse articulations. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein ​ 3. The mobile apparatus of claim 2, wherein, ​ 4. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein ​ 5. The mobile apparatus of claim 1, wherein, ​ 6. Mobile device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that ​ 7. Mobile device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that ​ 8. Mobile device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that ​ 9. Mobile device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that ​ 10. Mobile device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that ​ 11. Mobile device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The mobile device is configured to be disassembled into modules.

12. The mobile apparatus of claim 11, wherein, The frame is designed to be detachable, disassemblable, foldable, collapsible, extendable or retractable, so that it can be reduced to road width.

13. Mobile device according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that The mobile device is combined in a modular manner, front and / or side by side.

14. Mobile device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that At least one of the following equipment is provided: • active area, feeding area, entertainment area, care area and enrichment area, • disease care area, farrowing area and youngstock area, • single and group housing area, • litter area for straw, pellets and sawdust or similar material, • manure containment and collection location, • sewage collection device with urine and manure collection containers or tanks, • mechanical or automated manure removal device for areas with trampled manure and litter, • water and feed supply device, for example by means of storage capacity, reserves, or by means of lines and / or hoses that can be individually connected to supply lines or to supply points or to supply vehicles or that can be connected by supply vehicles or supply points, • milking device, shearing device, grooming, care and health management device for riding purposes, • solar roof for powering the operating device, • air conditioning device with heating and cooling, with thermally insulated floor, wall and roof elements, for example panels, • draught-free ventilation system, • exhaust filter for harmful substances, • rainwater retention and collection facility for providing clean water, • animal catching device, • space for office, rest, cheese making, slaughter, meat processing, • equipment for cleaning, maintenance, repair and disinfection, • predator protection device • device for protection against sun, wind and draught, rain and snow, • insect protection device, • appropriate daylight and lighting.

Images