liquid / solid separator for animal manure, process for the treatment of animal manure and installation incorporating such a separator
The liquid/solid separator with a slatted floor and reciprocating scraper system addresses inefficiencies in existing facilities by enabling efficient separation and simplified maintenance, facilitating outdoor installation and improved separation quality.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2024000392
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-30
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-01-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing animal manure treatment facilities are complex, difficult to maintain, and inefficient in separating liquid and solid components, particularly when positioned under animal rearing areas, leading to compromised separation quality and maintenance complexity.
A liquid/solid separator with a horizontal slatted floor design featuring V-shaped elongated elements and reciprocating scraper and unclogging blades, allowing gravity-driven liquid collection and simplified maintenance, facilitated by a common drive system for both scraper and unclogging mechanisms.
Enables high-quality separation of liquid and solid manure components with reduced maintenance, ensuring efficient collection and unclogging of drainage slots, suitable for positioning outside animal rearing areas.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Liquid / solid separator for animal excrement, method for treating animal excrement, and installation incorporating such a separator
[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid / solid separator for separating the liquid and solid parts of animal excrement, a method for treating animal excrement from livestock using such a separator and an installation incorporating such a separator.
[0002] It relates in particular to a liquid / solid separator for separating the liquid and solid parts of animal excrement, said separator comprising: - a horizontal waste collection surface with a top face, a bottom face, and one or more slots for draining the liquid, - a scraper on the top face of the collection surface, - a first drive system for moving the scraper on said upper face of the receiving surface, -at least one unclogging blade per drainage slot and - a second axial displacement drive system for the unclogging blade(s) in the associated drainage slots.
[0003] Many livestock facilities, such as those raising sheep, goats, and cattle, incorporate systems for treating animal manure, which can then be used for other purposes. This animal manure comprises a liquid and a solid component. The objective of the treatment is to obtain a solid component with the highest possible dry matter content for use as a fertilizer or in a composting facility. The liquid component, on the other hand, must be as free as possible from "mud" elements. This liquid component can be used as a fertilizer, particularly rich in potassium, for spreading on agricultural land. Existing animal manure treatment facilities are generally installed in livestock buildings, below the animals' movement areas, which makes such installations complex and difficult to maintain.
[0004] An object of the invention is to provide a liquid / solid separator of the aforementioned type whose design can allow its positioning outside the area of animal rearing and circulation.
[0005] Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid / solid separator of the aforementioned type whose design improves the quality of the separation to obtain the highest possible dry matter content and the least amount of liquid. can be loaded with "muddy" elements without compromising the simplicity of the separator and the ease of its maintenance.
[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a liquid / solid separator for separating the liquid and solid parts of animal excrement, said separator comprising: - a horizontal excrement receiving surface with a top face, a bottom face, and one or more slots for evacuating the liquid part, - a scraper for the top face of the receiving surface, - a first drive system for moving the scraper on said upper face of the receiving surface, -at least one unclogging blade per drain slot and - a second axially displaced drive system for the unclogging blade(s) in the associated drainage slots, characterized in that the manure receiving surface comprises a plurality of parallel elongated beam or profile-type elements separated from each other by an opening to form a slatted floor, referred to as a drainage floor, in that the opening(s) form one or more of the drainage slots of said manure receiving surface, in that each elongated element comprises a top portion forming a V open towards the ground, with each arm of the V forming a slope inclined towards a drainage slot for gravity feeding of said drainage slot. Constructing a drainage surface in the form of a slatted floor with elongated elements having a V-shaped profile open towards the ground allows for simple and low-cost gravity collection of the liquid portion of the manure.
[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, each elongated element has two longitudinal lateral sides converging towards the ground to aid in unclogging the drainage slots. The drainage slots are formed by the space left between two elongated elements. This arrangement of the lateral sides allows for a reduced slot width at the top face of the manure collection surface while facilitating the unclogging of said slots. The shape of the elongated elements constituting the drainage floor, thanks to the V-shaped profile of the elongated elements, promotes gravity flow towards the slots, and thanks to the lateral sides converging towards the ground of said elongated elements, assists the unclogging of the slots performed by the unclogging blades. Separation is thus achieved simply with reduced maintenance.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separator comprises a first frame supporting the scraper and a second frame supporting the unclogging blade(s), the first drive system for moving the scraper on the top face of the receiving surface is a reciprocating drive system for the first frame, The scraper comprises at least one movably pivoting scraper blade mounted on the first frame. This allows the scraper blade to move from a lowered, or active, position during the forward movement of the first frame to a raised, or inactive, position during the return movement of the first frame. The second drive system, which axially moves the scraper blade(s) within the associated discharge slots, is a reciprocating drive system for the second frame. This arrangement allows for simple processing of the solid portion of the manure.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first frame is at least partially common with the second frame, and the first and second drive systems comprise a common motor and a cable drive for reciprocating movement of the first and second frames. This results in a simplified construction of the separator.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, each elongated beam or profile-type element is made of a synthetic material. Alternatively, each elongated element may be made of metal, concrete, or other material.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the branches of the V of at least one, preferably of each elongated beam or profile type element, form an angle between them between 90° and 175°, preferably close to 165°.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal lateral sides of at least one of the elongated beam or profile type elements form an angle between them of between 2° and 90°.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, each longitudinal lateral side of an elongated beam or profile type element forms, with an inclined face formed by a branch of the V of the upper part of said element, an angle between 40 and 95°, preferably close to 92°.
[0014] The invention further relates to an installation for the treatment of animal excrement from livestock, said installation comprising at least one liquid / solid separator, characterized in that the liquid / solid separator is of the aforementioned type.
[0015] According to one embodiment of the installation, the installation comprises a collector for the liquid portion of the manure arranged vertically below the drainage floor of said separator and a collection zone for the solid portion of the manure arranged at one end of the drainage floor of said separator. This results in gravity collection of both the liquid and solid portions.
[0016] The invention further relates to a method for treating animal excrement from livestock using a liquid / solid separator, characterized in that the liquid / solid separator being of the aforementioned type, said method comprises a step of feeding excrement onto the excrement reception surface of said separator, and a step of retaining the excrement on said surface for a period drainage of excrement for collection of the liquid part of the excrement under said receiving surface, a step of scraping said receiving surface and a step of unclogging the slots by moving the unclogging blades. Brief description of the drawings
[0017] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0018] [Fig-1] represents a perspective view of a liquid / solid separator conforming to the invention;
[0019] [Fig.2] represents a partial perspective view taken from the rear of the scraper of a liquid / solid separator according to the invention;
[0020] [Fig.3] shows a partial top view of a conforming liquid / solid separator to the invention;
[0021] [Fig.4] represents a partial front view of a liquid / solid separator conforming to the invention associated with a detailed view of the droppings reception surface;
[0022] [Fig.5] represents a perspective view of an elongated element;
[0023] [Fig.6] represents a partial perspective view of a scraper in the active position of the scraper blade;
[0024] [Fig.7] represents the training steps in the form of schematic side views by moving the scraper blade of said scraper;
[0025] [Fig.8] represents a partial perspective view of a scraper in an inactive position raised from the scraper blade;
[0026] [Fig.9] represents a perspective view of an installation for the treatment of animal excrement;
[0027] [Fig. 10] represents a partial perspective view of an installation for the treatment of animal excrement according to the invention.
[0028] As mentioned above, the invention relates to a liquid / solid separator 1 for animal manure that can be attached to a livestock area, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, to form an installation 20 for the treatment of said manure. In [Fig. 9], the liquid / solid separator 1 is designed to extend below a livestock area, attached to the livestock area, and to be fed by gravity with manure from the livestock area. In this embodiment, preferably the liquid / solid separator 1 is located outside the building forming the livestock area.
[0029] In the example of [Fig. 10], the liquid / solid separator 1 is located below the rearing area but extends into the rearing building. Regardless of its embodiment, the liquid / solid separator 1 is generally not vertically above an area housing animals. This liquid / solid separator is therefore generally not located under an animal circulation area as is the case in the prior art. This liquid / solid separator can be either inside or outside the building forming the livestock area, or even, exceptionally, under this area.
[0030] Regardless of its location outside or inside the livestock building, the liquid / solid separator 1, the subject of the invention, comprises a receiving surface 2 for animal excrement that extends substantially horizontally. This receiving surface 2 includes a top face 3 for receiving untreated animal excrement, an opposite bottom face 4, and one or more slots 5 for draining the liquid portion of the excrement. In the example illustrated in the figures, several parallel drain slots 5 are provided.
[0031] The liquid / solid separator 1 further includes a scraper 6 of the top face of the waste receiving surface 2 and a first drive system 7 for moving the scraper 6 on said top face 3 of the receiving surface 2 for a reciprocating movement of the scraper 6 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the discharge slots 5.
[0032] The liquid / solid separator 1 comprises at least one, and generally several, cleaning blades 8 as illustrated in [Fig. 2], where each cleaning blade 8 is formed from a blank of cut metal and extends parallel to it. Each cleaning blade 8 is intended to clean a discharge slot 5 by moving axially along said discharge slot 5. For this purpose, the liquid / solid separator 1 comprises a second drive system 9 for axially driving the cleaning blades 8 within the associated discharge slots 5.
[0033] The waste collection surface 2 comprises a plurality of parallel elongated elements 10 separated from each other by a free space called a gap and represented in 11 in the figures to form a perforated waste drainage floor. Thus, the liquid part of the waste can pass through the floor to be collected beneath it, while the solid part of the waste remains on the surface of said floor.
[0034] Each day 11 therefore forms a slot 7 for evacuation of the surface 2 receiving the excrement.
[0035] To aid in this drainage without clogging the drainage slots 5, each elongated element 10 comprises a top portion 100 forming a V open towards the ground, with each arm 12 of the V forming a slope inclined towards a drainage slot 5 for gravity feeding of said drainage slot 5. Each elongated element 10 is in the form of a beam or a profile. In the case where said elongated element 10 is in the form of a profile, the arms 12 of the V of the each part of the top 100 of the elongated element 10 forms part of a dihedral open towards the ground.
[0036] Ideally, each elongated element 10 conforms to [Fig. 5] and is made of a synthetic material. This results in easy washing, maintenance, and replacement of said elongated elements 10. Alternatively, each elongated element 1 can be made of metal, concrete, or another material. The longitudinal lateral portions of this elongated element 10 adjoining the V-shaped upper portion 100 of said element form the longitudinal lateral sides 101 of this elongated element 10. These longitudinal lateral sides 101 extend convergently towards the ground to help unclog the drainage slots 5 formed by the space left between two elongated elements. The lateral sides 101 of an elongated element 10 therefore tend to move closer to each other from the V-shaped upper portion 100 of said elongated element 10 towards its base. Thus, the width of a slit increases from its top towards its base, as illustrated in [Fig.4], which increases the efficiency of the separation while facilitating the unclogging of the discharge slot 5.
[0037] In the example of Figures 4 and 5, the arms 12 of the V of each elongated element 10 form an angle between 90° and 175°. This angle A is here close to 165°. The lateral sides 101 of an elongated element 10 form an angle between 2° and 90°. Each lateral side 101 of an elongated element 10 forms an angle B between 40° and 95°, preferably close to 92°, with an inclined face formed by an arm 12 of the V of the upper part 100 of the elongated element 10.
[0038] This receiving surface 2 is suitable for passage by the scraper 6 and the unclogging blades 8. The scraper 6 comprises at least one scraping blade 15 mounted movably to pivot on a frame called the first frame 13. This first frame 13 is mounted to move back and forth on the receiving surface 2 and moves in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the discharge slots 5 of the receiving surface 2.
[0039] For the reciprocating drive of this first frame 13, the liquid / solid separator 1 includes a first drive system 7 for the movement of the scraper 6 on the upper face 3 of the receiving surface 2. The first frame 13 is particularly visible in Figures 2 and 8.
[0040] This first frame 13 comprises two parallel cheeks 132 extending parallel to the discharge slots of the receiving surface 2. These cheeks 132 are externally equipped with rollers to guide their movement along the edges of the waste receiving surface 2. These cheeks 132 are connected to each other by cylindrical rods extending transversely to the discharge slots 5. One of these rods, called the pivoting round 131, is equipped with the scraping blade(s) 15 of the scraper 6. The scraper blade(s) 15 of the scraper 6 are pivotally coupled to this round 131 for the passage of the scraper blade(s) 15 from a lowered position, called active, in which the leading edge of the blade is in contact with the top face 3 of the receiving surface 2 during a movement, called forward, of the first frame 13, and a raised position, called inactive, during a return movement of the first frame 13.
[0041] Thus, in other words, the scraper blade or each scraper blade 15 is mounted movable to pivot so as to take at least two positions, one in which the leading edge of the blade is lowered to come into contact with the surface 2 for receiving the droppings and the other in which the leading edge is raised to be away from the surface 2 for receiving the droppings, these positions each being a function of the direction of movement of the scraper 6.
[0042] To allow such automatic pivoting movement of the scraper blade 15 according to the travel of the first frame 13, the first frame 13 is equipped, between its cheeks 132, with a drawbar 18 or tiller parallel to the cheeks. This drawbar 18 is equipped with longitudinal slots 181 with a longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of travel of the first frame 13.
[0043] One of the slots 181 accommodates the pivoting ring 131 with play. A crescent-shaped stop 19 carried by the traction bar allows, by bearing contact with the scraper blade(s) 15, the pivoting of the scraper blade(s) 15. The relative displacement between the pivoting ring 131 and the traction bar 18 allows, by bearing contact of the scraper blade 15 with the crescent 19, a pivoting movement of the scraper blade in the direction of lifting during the return movement of the first frame 13, as illustrated in the lower view of [Fig. 7], whereas, during the forward movement of the first frame 13, the scraper blade 15 tends, under the effect of its own weight, to come into contact with the waste receiving surface 2.
[0044] The unclogging blades 8 are similarly supported by a frame called the second frame and shown in 14 in the figures. This second frame is also mounted to move back and forth by means of a drive system called the second drive system 9, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the discharge slots 5.
[0045] In the example illustrated in [Fig. 2], the unclogging blades 8 are supported by a connecting cross member of the cheeks 132 of the first frame 13, this cross member forming the second frame 14. In this embodiment, the first frame 13 and the second frame 14 are at least partially common, and the first and second drive systems are also at least partially common. Thus, the first drive system 7 and the second drive system 9 comprise a common motor 16 and a cable drive 17 for reciprocating movement of the first and second frames.
[0046] In the example shown in [Fig. 1], the motor 16 is positioned beyond one end of the floor. A return pulley is located at the opposite end of the floor, and the cable forms a loop between the motor 16, the return pulley, and the traction bar 18. Thus, rotating the motor in a first direction causes the traction bar 18 to move in a first direction, and rotating the motor 16 in the opposite direction causes the traction bar 18 to move in the opposite direction. Each direction of movement of the traction bar corresponds to an active or inactive position of the scraper blade 15.
[0047] In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first and second frames are common and driven simultaneously in motion. Of course, the first and second frames can be separate and driven successively or in parallel in motion. This solution is more complex to implement.
[0048] To complete the installation 20 for the treatment of animal excrement, a collector 21 for the liquid part of the excrement is arranged vertically and below the draining floor of the liquid / solid separator 1 and a collection zone 22 for the solid part of the excrement is arranged at one end of the draining floor of said liquid / solid separator 1.
[0049] In practice, the treatment of animal excrement using a liquid / solid separator 1, as described above, therefore includes a step of feeding excrement to the excrement reception surface 2 of said liquid / solid separator 1, a step of maintaining the excrement on said reception surface 2 during a period of excrement drainage for collection of the liquid part of the excrement under said reception surface, a step of scraping said reception surface 2 and a step of unclogging the discharge slots 5 by moving the unclogging blades.
[0050] As mentioned above, the scraping and unclogging steps can be carried out synchronously or successively. The liquid and solid parts of the manure are thus automatically and easily collected with high separation efficiency.
Claims
Demands
1. Liquid / solid separator (1) for separating the liquid and solid parts of animal excrement, said separator (1) comprising: - a horizontal excrement receiving surface (2) with a top face (3), a bottom face (4), and one or more liquid discharge slots (5), - a scraper (6) on the top face (3) of the receiving surface (2), - a first drive system (7) for moving the scraper (6) on said top face (3) of the receiving surface (2), - at least one unclogging blade (8) per discharge slot (5), and - a second drive system (9) for axially moving the unclogging blade(s) (8) in the associated discharge slots (5), characterized in that the excrement receiving surface (2) comprises a plurality of parallel elongated beam or profile-type elements (10) separated from each other by one day (11) to form a slatted floor known as a drainage floor,in that the one or each day (11) forms the one or one of the discharge slots (5) of said manure receiving surface (2), in that each elongated element (10) comprises a portion of the top (100) forming a V open towards the ground with each arm (12) of the V forming a slope inclined towards a discharge slot (5) for gravity feeding of said discharge slot (5) and in that each elongated beam or profile type element (10) is an element made of synthetic material or metal.
2. Liquid / solid separator (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each elongated element (10) has two longitudinal lateral flanks (101) converging towards the ground to help unclog the drainage slots (5).
3. Liquid / solid separator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a first frame (13) supporting the scraper (6) and a second frame (14) supporting the unclogging blade(s) (8), in that the first drive system (7) for moving the scraper (6) on the upper face (3) of the receiving surface (2) is a reciprocating drive system for the first frame (13), in that the scraper (6) comprises at least one scraping blade (15) movablely pivotally mounted on the first frame (13) for the passage of the scraping blade (15) from a lowered position active during a so-called forward movement of the first frame (13) and a raised position said to be inactive during a return movement of the first frame (13), and in that the second axial displacement drive system (9) of the unclogging blade(s) (8) in the associated evacuation slots is a reciprocating drive system (9) of the second frame (14).
4. Liquid / solid separator (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first frame (13) is at least partially common with the second frame (14), in that the first drive system (7) and the second drive system (9) comprise a common motor (16) and a drive cable control (17) for reciprocating movement of the first and second frames (13, 14).
5. Liquid / solid separator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the branches (12) of the V of at least one, preferably of each elongated beam or profile type element (10), form an angle between them between 90° and 175°, preferably close to 165°.
6. Liquid / solid separator (1) according to claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 5 taken in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the longitudinal lateral sides (101) of at least one of the elongated beam or profile-type elements (10) form an angle between them of between 2° and 90°.
7. Liquid / solid separator (1) according to claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 6 taken in combination with claim 2, characterized in that each longitudinal lateral flank (101) of an elongated beam or profile type element (10) forms, with an inclined face formed by a branch (12) of the V of the upper part (100) of said element (10), an angle between 40° and 95°, preferably close to 92°.
8. Installation (20) for the treatment of animal excrement from livestock, said installation (20) comprising at least one liquid / solid separator (1), characterized in that the liquid / solid separator (1) conforms to any one of claims 1 to 7.
9. Installation (20) for the treatment of animal excrement from livestock according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a collector (21) for the liquid portion of the excrement disposed vertically and below the floor draining of said separator (1) and a collection zone (22) for the solid part of the excrement disposed at one end of the draining floor of said separator (1).
10. A method for treating animal excrement from livestock using a liquid / solid separator (1), characterized in that the liquid / solid separator (1) conforming to any one of claims 1 to 7, said method comprises a step of feeding excrement onto the excrement receiving surface (2) of said separator (1), a step of maintaining the excrement on said surface (2) during a period of excrement drainage for collection of the liquid part of the excrement under said receiving surface (2), a step of scraping said receiving surface (2) and a step of unclogging the slots (5) by moving the unclogging blades (8).