SEPARATOR FOR A LIVESTOCK BUILDING, ESPECIALLY FOR CATTLE

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of livestock farming. It relates in particular to separators for a livestock building, in particular for cattle. State of the art

[0002] In a livestock building, particularly for cattle, it is often useful to install dividers to delimit the space available for each animal and to reduce the pressure of dominant animals at the trough.

[0003] Such separators are usually installed on the feeder barriers. They can also be useful along the stalls, see for example document US1996196A.

[0004] However, in practice, the structure of these separators is not always optimal, with risks of injury to the animals.

[0005] To limit this risk, there are flexible separators which are made of flexible material, see for example document US2017 / 359997A1.

[0006] But current flexible separators are not yet entirely satisfactory in terms of deformation, often too flexible.

[0007] The animals are then likely to lean on these separators, making the system ineffective for positioning the animal and / or with a loss of effectiveness over time. Presentation of the invention

[0008] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawback of the state of the art, the present invention proposes a separator for a livestock building, in particular for cattle, intended to be secured to a receiving structure, for example a headlock barrier.

[0009] The invention according to claim 1 discloses a separator which comprises: a rigid front part, comprising a metal tubular member, which metal tubular member has two ends which are equipped with first means for securing to said receiving structure, and a laterally flexible rear part, comprising: - - at least two flexible tubular members made of plastic material, which tubular members made of plastic material each have two opposite ends, one front end of which is secured to said metal tubular member by means of second securing means, and - - a rigid connecting member, which is secured to a rear end of said tubular members made of plastic material by means of third securing means.

[0010] Other non-limiting and advantageous characteristics of the product in accordance with the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are as follows: the front part has a horizontal dimension ranging from 20 to 50 cm, and the rear part has a horizontal dimension ranging from 50 to 150 cm; the metal tubular member comprises at least three sections, namely a rising section, intended to come opposite and at a distance from the receiving structure, and two connecting sections, connected to the rising section and carrying said first means of securing to said receiving structure; the connecting member is made of rigid plastic material; the connecting member has a general U shape and cooperates by fitting with the rear end of the plastic tubular members to together form the third securing means; the rear end of a plastic tubular member has a notch in which the connecting member is housed; the connecting member has a through orifice, advantageously for securing an information medium;the metal tubular member comprises two cylindrical sections each receiving the front end of a plastic tubular member by fitting, to together form the second securing means.;

[0011] The present invention also relates to a separation system for a livestock building according to claim 9, in particular cattle, intended to be secured to a receiving structure, for example a headlock barrier.

[0012] The separation system includes: several separators according to the invention, and possibly an attached longitudinal bar, intended to be secured to the juxtaposed separators, and / or spraying means, for cooling the animals, advantageously carried by said attached longitudinal bar.

[0013] The present invention also relates to a livestock building according to claim 10 equipped with a separation system according to the invention, attached to a receiving structure, for example a headlock barrier.

[0014] Of course, the various features, variants and embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Detailed description of the invention

[0015] In addition, various other characteristics of the invention emerge from the appended description given with reference to the drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention and where: [ Fig. 1 ] is a schematic side view of a separator according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] is a schematic perspective view of the separator according to the invention.

[0016] It should be noted that, in these figures, the structural and / or functional elements common to the different variants may have the same references.

[0017] The present invention, illustrated in the Figures 1 and 2 , concerns a separator 1 for a livestock building B, in particular for cattle.

[0018] The separator 1 is intended to be secured to a receiving structure C, for example a headlock barrier ( figure 1 ) or within cubicles (not shown).

[0019] Such a separator 1 is particularly useful for delimiting the space available for each animal (for example cattle, and in particular dairy cows).

[0020] At a feed gate C, the separator 1, also called a "feed gate separator", is particularly useful for delimiting the space available for each animal (for example cattle, and in particular dairy cows) within a feeding area M.

[0021] In this case, the separator 1 is intended to be secured to the feed gate C, advantageously conventional in itself. Such a feed gate C comprises two longitudinal bars (one lower and the other upper), horizontal, connected by vertical uprights. Pairs of uprights delimit, with the two longitudinal bars, an opening (suitable for the passage of an animal's head) which is equipped with an oscillating restraint bar.

[0022] Generally speaking, according to the invention, the separator 1 comprises two parts: a front part 5, rigid, advantageously intended to extend at the level of the animal's head, a rear part 6, laterally flexible, advantageously intended to extend at the level of the animal's flanks.

[0023] The front part 5 and the rear part 6 advantageously extend in the same general plane P, preferably vertical and perpendicular to a longitudinal plane C' of the receiving structure C.

[0024] In this sense, the front part 5 and the rear part 6 advantageously have particular dimensions (measured in the general plane P): the front part 5 has a horizontal dimension ranging from 20 to 50 cm, and the rear part 6 has a horizontal dimension ranging from 50 to 150 cm.

[0025] Generally, the front portion 5 advantageously extends cantilevered from the receiving structure C; and the rear portion 6 advantageously extends cantilevered from the front portion 5. Front part

[0026] The rigid front part 5 comprises a metal tubular member 51.

[0027] This metallic tubular member 51 has two ends 511 which are equipped with first securing means 7 for fixing to the receiving structure C.

[0028] The metallic tubular member 51 advantageously comprises at least three sections 52: an upright section 521, intended to come opposite and at a distance from the reception structure C, carrying the rear part 6, and two connecting sections 522, connected to the upright section 521 and carrying the first securing means 7 to the reception structure C.

[0029] For this, the metal tubular member 51 advantageously consists of a metal tubular member shaped by bending.

[0030] The metallic tubular member 51 advantageously has the following dimensions, which can be taken in combination or independently of each other: a diameter ranging from 40 to 70 mm, a thickness ranging from 2 to 5 mm.

[0031] In particular, the rising section 521 advantageously extends vertically.

[0032] This section 521 rises, for example, over a height ranging from 1,000 to 1,800 mm.

[0033] The connecting sections 522 advantageously include: a lower connecting section 5221, advantageously horizontal, and an upper connecting section 5222, advantageously inclined (descending from the rear to the front).

[0034] Each connecting section 522 comprises, opposite the rising section 521, one of the two ends 511 which are equipped with first securing means 7.

[0035] The first securing means 7 are advantageously chosen from mechanical connection means suitable for securing with the receiving structure C, for example collars coming around the longitudinal bars or vertical uprights.

[0036] The metal tubular member 51, and in particular its rising section 521, advantageously comprises at least two cylindrical metal sections 5211, each receiving the rear part 6 by fitting, to together form second securing means 8. Rear part

[0037] The laterally flexible rear part 6 includes: at least two flexible plastic tubular members 61, and a rigid connecting member 62, which is secured to the plastic tubular members 61.

[0038] By “flexible” plastic tubular member is meant in particular a plastic tubular member which is capable, on the one hand, of being deformed by the animal coming to bear on the rear part 6 and, on the other hand, of completely returning to its shape after the support exerted by the animal has stopped.

[0039] Each plastic tubular member 61 is advantageously rectilinear, at rest.

[0040] This plastic tubular member 61 advantageously extends horizontally, once installed.

[0041] The plastic tubular members 61 advantageously extend parallel to one another.

[0042] A plastic tubular member 61 is made of plastic material (or plastic material), advantageously manufactured by extrusion.

[0043] A plastic tubular member 61 is for example made from a material chosen from HDPE (high density polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene).

[0044] The plastic tubular member 61 advantageously has the following dimensions, which can be taken in combination or independently of each other: a length ranging from 500 to 2,000 mm, a diameter ranging from 25 to 70 mm, a thickness ranging from 5 to 20 mm.

[0045] Each tubular member 61 has two ends: a front end 611, secured to the metal tubular member 51 by means of the second securing means 8, and a rear end 612, secured to the connecting member 62 by means of third securing means 9.

[0046] The front end 611 of a plastic tubular member 61 is advantageously fitted with a cylindrical section 5211 carried by the rising section 521, to together form the second securing means 8.

[0047] The fitting between the front end 611 of a plastic tubular member 61 and a cylindrical section 5211 can be locked by a metal insert, for example a pin.

[0048] Furthermore, by “rigid” connecting member 62, we mean in particular a connecting member 62 which does not undergo deformation during the deformation of the associated plastic tubular members 61.

[0049] The connecting member 62 is advantageously made of rigid plastic material, advantageously manufactured by injection molding.

[0050] The connecting member 62 advantageously ensures identical deformation in lateral bending on the plastic tubular members 61 (on either side of the general plane P), when lateral pressure is applied to the rear part 6; in other words, the connecting member 62 undergoes rotational movements, relative to a vertical axis, on either side of the general plane P.

[0051] This connecting member 62, connecting at least two plastic tubular members 61, also prevents a vertical movement of these plastic tubular members 61 (in the general plane P, upwards or downwards) when an animal is supported.

[0052] For this, the connecting member 62 advantageously has a general U shape and cooperates by fitting with the rear end 612 of the plastic tubular members 61 to together form the third securing means 9.

[0053] For this, the connecting member 62 here comprises two cylindrical sections 621 which are each intended to be housed in the rear end 612 of a plastic tubular member 61.

[0054] In this case, due to the rigidity of the connecting member 62, the cylindrical sections 621 do not undergo relative movements during the deformation of the associated plastic tubular members 61. These cylindrical sections 621 thus remain parallel and equidistant.

[0055] The fitting between the connecting member 62 and the rear end 612 of a plastic tubular member 61 can be locked by an insert 91, for example a pin.

[0056] The rear end 612 of a plastic tubular member 61 advantageously comprises a notch in which the connecting member 62 is housed (in particular to limit the force on the fixing means).

[0057] Generally speaking, moreover, the connecting member 62 comprises a rear surface 624 having a curved section (perpendicular to the general plane P).

[0058] The connecting member 62 also comprises two lateral faces (designated by the reference 625) extending on either side of the general plane P.

[0059] The width of the connecting member 62, corresponding to the distance between the lateral faces 625, advantageously corresponds to the diameter of the plastic tubular members 61.

[0060] The connecting member 62 comprises a through orifice 626, opening through the lateral faces 625 and oriented perpendicular to the general plane P, advantageously for securing an information medium. Separation system

[0061] In practice, the invention is implemented in the form of a separation system which comprises: several separators 1 according to the invention, advantageously in battle, and possibly an added longitudinal bar 10, intended to be secured to the juxtaposed separators 1, and / or spraying means 11, for cooling the animals, advantageously carried by the added longitudinal bar 10.

[0062] The attached longitudinal bar 10 is secured here to the front part 5, preferably at the level of the upper end of the upright section 521.

[0063] The spraying means 7 consist, for example, of nozzles connected to a water supply circuit.

[0064] The livestock building B is thus equipped with a separation system according to the invention, attached to a reception structure C, for example a headlock barrier.

[0065] Of course, various other modifications may be made to the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A separator for livestock building, especially for cattle, intended to be fastened to a receiving structure (C), for example a feed fence, comprising: - a rigid front part (5), comprising a metallic tubular member (51), said metallic tubular member (51) having two ends (511) that are equipped with first means (7) for the fastening to said receiving structure (C), and - a rear part (6), characterized in that the rear part (6) is laterally flexible, and comprises: o at least two flexible, plastic tubular members (61), said plastic tubular members (61) each having two opposite ends (611, 612), with a front end (611) fastened to said metallic tubular member (51) via second fastening means (8), and o a rigid linking member (62), which is fastened to a rear end (612) of said plastic tubular members (61) via third fastening means (9).

2. The separator for livestock building according to claim 1, characterized in that the front part (5) has a horizontal size from 20 to 50 cm, and the rear part (6) has a horizontal size from 50 to 150 cm.

3. The separator for livestock building according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the metallic tubular member (51) comprises at least three sections: - an upright section (521), intended to come opposite and remote the receiving structure (C), and - two linking sections (522), connected to the upright section (521) and carrying said first means (7) for the fastening to said receiving structure (C).

4. The separator for livestock building according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the linking member (62) is made of a rigid plastic material.

5. The separator for livestock building according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the linking member (62) has a generally U-shape and cooperates with the rear end (612) of the plastic tubular members (61) in an interlocked arrangement, to form together the third fastening means (9).

6. The separator for livestock building according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rear end (612) of a plastic tubular member (61) includes a notch into which is received the linking member (62).

7. The separator for livestock building according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the linking member (62) has a through-hole (626), advantageously for fastening an information carrier.

8. The separator for livestock building according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the metallic tubular member (51) includes two cylindrical sections (5211) each receiving the front end (611) of a plastic tubular member (61) in an interlocked arrangement, to form together the second fastening means (8).

9. A separating system for livestock building, especially for cattle, intended to be fastened to a receiving structure (C), for example a feed fence, said separating system comprising: - several separators (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and possibly - an added longitudinal bar (10), intended to be fastened to said juxtaposed separators (1), and / or - spraying means (11), for refreshing the animals, advantageously carried by said added longitudinal bar (10).

10. A livestock building equipped with a separation system according to claim 9, added on a receiving structure (C), for example a feed fence.