Collection device specifically for equine excrement

Abstract

COLLECTION APPARATUS, PARTICULARLY FOR EQUINE EXCREMENT. The invention relates to a collection apparatus (100) comprising a frame (104) alternately assuming a collection position and an emptying position, a reservoir (106) having an opening (106a), and a rotor (108) rotatable at the opening (106a), where in the collection position, the opening (106a) is oriented forwards and the rotor (108) rotates in a first direction of rotation (109a), and where in the emptying position, the opening (106a) is oriented downwards and the rotor (108) rotates in a second direction of rotation (109b), where the rotor (108) comprises a rotatable shaft (108c) and a plurality of blades (108b), and where each blade (108b) is flexible and has a proximal edge fixed to the shaft. (108c) and a distal edge opposite the proximal edge. With such an assembly, the collection of excrement is facilitated. Fig. 4

Description

Title of the invention: COLLECTION DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR EQUINE EXCREMENT Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a collection device, particularly for equine and similar animal excrement such as that of donkeys. The invention also relates to a machine equipped with such a collection device, as well as a method for collecting and emptying such a collection device. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Usually, the excrement left in buildings by animals, particularly horses, is scooped up with a shovel. This task is relatively arduous due to the size of the buildings and the small surface area of ​​the shovel.

[0003] It is therefore necessary to find a particular arrangement which makes it easier to collect excrement. Description of the invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a collection device with a reservoir and a rotor which rotates in one direction to fill the reservoir with excrement and in the opposite direction to empty the reservoir.

[0005] To this end, a collection device is proposed comprising:

[0006] - a chassis intended to be fixed to means of operation arranged to move the chassis alternately from a pickup position to an emptying position,

[0007] - a tank attached to the chassis and having an opening, and

[0008] - a rotor mounted to rotate freely at the opening and equipped with a motor arranged to drive the rotor alternately in a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite to said first direction of rotation,

[0009] where in the pickup position, the opening is oriented towards the front and the motor drives the rotor in the first direction of rotation and where in the emptying position, the opening is oriented towards the bottom and the motor drives the rotor in the second direction of rotation, where the rotor comprises a shaft mounted movable in rotation and a plurality of blades and where each blade is flexible and has a proximal edge fixed to the shaft and a distal edge opposite the proximal edge.

[0010] Advantageously, for each blade, the two edges of said blade are parallel to the axis of the shaft.

[0011] Advantageously, the distal edges extend forward beyond the pickup device.

[0012] Advantageously, the rotation speed of the rotor is between 900 rpm and 1100 rpm.

[0013] Advantageously, the tank has a removable hatch.

[0014] Advantageously, the collection device includes support means fixed to the front of the tank so as to guarantee the height of the opening.

[0015] The invention also proposes a machine comprising a collection device according to one of the preceding variants and a tractor comprising maneuvering means to which the chassis is fixed.

[0016] The invention also proposes a method for collecting and emptying waste using a collection device according to one of the preceding variants, said method comprising:

[0017] - place the chassis in the pickup position,

[0018] - activate the motor to rotate the rotor in the first direction, and

[0019] - move the pickup device forward,

[0020] when the collection is complete,

[0021] - deactivate the motor to stop the rotor,

[0022] - place the collection device in an unloading area,

[0023] - place the chassis in the draining position, and

[0024] - activate the motor to rotate the rotor in the second direction until drained complete emptying of the tank onto the unloading area. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0026] [Fig-1] is a side view of a machine equipped with a collection device according to the invention in a collection position,

[0027] [Fig.2] is a view similar to that of [Fig.1] in a discharge position of the collection device,

[0028] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the collection device according to the invention,

[0029] [Fig.4] is a cross-sectional view through the vertical median plane P of [Fig.3] of the device of pickup in the pickup position, and

[0030] [Fig.5] is a view similar to that of [Fig.4] for the drain position of the collection device.

[0031] DETAILED STATEMENT OF IMPROVEMENTS

[0032] Figures 1 and 2 show a machine 150 comprising a tractor 152 with articulated arms 102 constituting maneuvering means 102 which can conventionally to be alternately placed in a lowered position ([Fig. 1]) and in a raised position ([Fig. 2]). The device 150 also includes a collection device 100 according to the invention, which comprises a chassis 102 fixed to the operating means 102.

[0033] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the collection device 100 is not autonomous because it is fixed to the tractor 152, but in another embodiment of the invention not shown, the tractor 152 and the maneuvering means 102 can be integrated into the collection device 100 which then becomes autonomous.

[0034] Here, the collection device 100 is fixed to the maneuvering means 102 by a coupling that can take all the forms known to the person skilled in the art.

[0035] In the following description, terms relating to a position are taken with reference to a machine 150 in a forward position, that is to say as it is represented in Figs. 1 and 2, where the arrow F shows the direction of forward movement of the machine 150.

[0036] The lower position of the operating means 102 corresponds to a pickup position of the pickup device 100 and the upper position of the operating means 102 corresponds to an emptying position of the pickup device 100.

[0037] Fig. 3 is a general view of the collection device 100 and Figs. 4 and 5 show enlargements of the collection device 100 respectively in the collection position and in the emptying position.

[0038] The collection device 100 also includes a tank 106 which is integral with the chassis 104. The tank 106 consists of a set of walls which together define an internal volume 107; for this purpose, the tank 106 has a rear wall 107a, an upper wall 107b, two side walls 107c and 107d, and a lower wall 107e. The rear wall 107a is positioned on the side of the tractor 152, and in the collection position, the lower wall 107e is against the ground on which the waste 50 to be collected, in particular manure, is deposited.

[0039] At the front of the collection device 100, there is no front wall and the internal volume 107 is therefore open at this point and the tank 106 thus has an opening 106a which is between the lower wall 107e and the upper wall 107b.

[0040] Instead of a front wall, the pickup unit 100 comprises a rotor 108. The rotor 108 is mounted to rotate freely at the opening 106a and is equipped with a motor 108a that drives the rotor 108 in rotation. The motor 108 is, for example, a hydraulic motor powered by the hydraulic system of the tractor 152 and controlled from the tractor 152's control station.

[0041] The motor 108 is designed to be able to drive the rotor 108 in rotation alternately in a first direction of rotation 109a and a second direction of rotation 109b opposite to said first direction of rotation 109a. The rotor 108 is at the front of the opening 106a.

[0042] In the pickup position, the opening 106a is oriented forwards so that the waste 50 can enter the tank 106 through the opening 106a. To help the waste 50 enter, the motor 108a drives the rotor 108 in the first direction of rotation 109a.

[0043] In the emptying position, the opening 106a is oriented downwards to help the waste 50 to exit the tank through the opening 106a and the motor 108a then drives the rotor 108 in the second direction of rotation 109b.

[0044] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the rotor 108 comprises a shaft 108c which is mounted to rotate freely and a plurality of blades 108b, where each is flexible and has a proximal edge fixed to the shaft 108c and a distal edge which is opposite the proximal edge and which rubs against the ground during the rotation of the rotor 108. The use of flexible blades 108b instead of, for example, brushes, facilitates the collection of manure which consists of small balls.

[0045] The first direction of rotation 109a corresponds to a direction where, when the distal edge of a blade 108b rubs against the ground, it simultaneously moves towards the lower wall 107e. Conversely, the second direction of rotation 109b corresponds to a direction where, when the distal edge of a blade 108b rubs against the ground, it simultaneously moves away from the lower wall 107e.

[0046] Here, the rotor 108 is mounted to rotate freely on the tank 106 and more particularly on the side walls 107c-d.

[0047] The emptying of the reservoir 106 is therefore carried out by gravity and by expulsion of the waste 50 under the effect of the rotating blades 108b.

[0048] With such an arrangement, the collection device 100 is easy to make and simple to use because collection and emptying are done without the need to open the tank 106, in addition it is possible to quickly collect waste 50 throughout a building.

[0049] According to a particular embodiment, the blades 108b are made of polyurethane. The blades 108b extend over the entire width of the opening 106a for a larger collection area.

[0050] In the embodiment of the invention, for each blade 108b, the two edges of said blade 108b are parallel to the axis of the shaft 108c. Each blade 108b thus takes the form of a rectangle.

[0051] As shown more clearly in [Fig. 1], the distal edges extend forward beyond the collection device 100, here beyond the reservoir 106 and more particularly here beyond the side walls 107c-d. Thus, when the collection device 100 comes face to face with a wall, the blades 108b come as close as possible to the wall to collect the waste 50 which is stuck to the wall.

[0052] A rotor speed 108 between 900 rpm and 1100 rpm allows for optimal collection and shredding of waste 50, particularly manure. The waste 50 is then discharged in shredded form to facilitate composting and spreading.

[0053] To clean the inside of the tank 106, it has a hatch 106b which is removable and which is here arranged at the level of the upper wall 107b.

[0054] To ensure that the lower wall 107e, and therefore the opening 106a, remains at the correct distance from the ground for optimized collection of the waste 50, the collection device 100 includes support means 110 that are fixed to the front of the tank 106, here on the side walls 107c-d. The support means 110 bear on the ground so as to guarantee the height of the opening 106a relative to the ground. The support means 110 can be skids, as shown here, or multidirectional wheels.

[0055] A method for collecting and emptying waste 50 using the collection device 100 described above comprises the steps of:

[0056] - place the chassis 104 in the pickup position using the maneuvering means 102,

[0057] - activate the motor 108 to rotate the rotor 108 in the first direction 109a in order to to collect the waste 50, and

[0058] - move the pickup device 100 forward by moving the tractor 152 all by maintaining the rotation of rotor 108.

[0059] When the collection is complete, the process comprises the following steps:

[0060] - deactivate motor 108 to stop rotor 108,

[0061] - place the pickup device 100 in a discharge area by moving the tractor 152,

[0062] - place the chassis 104 in the emptying position using the operating means 102, And

[0063] - activate the motor 108 to rotate the rotor 108 in the second direction 109b until complete emptying of waste 50 from tank 106 in the unloading area.

Claims

Demands

1. A collection device (100) comprising: - a frame (104) intended to be fixed to operating means (102) arranged to move the frame (104) alternately from a collection position to an emptying position, - a tank (106) integral with the frame (104) and having an opening (106a), and - a rotor (108) mounted for rotation at the opening (106a) and equipped with a motor (108a) arranged to drive the rotor (108) alternately in a first direction of rotation (109a) and a second direction of rotation (109b) opposite to said first direction of rotation (109a), wherein in the collection position, the opening (106a) is oriented forward and the motor (108a) drives the rotor (108) in the first direction of rotation (109a) and where in In the drain position, the opening (106a) is oriented downwards and the motor (108a) drives the rotor (108) in the second direction of rotation (109b),where the rotor (108) comprises a shaft (108c) mounted to rotate freely and a plurality of blades (108b), and where each blade (108b) is flexible and has a proximal edge fixed to the shaft (108c) and a distal edge opposite the proximal edge.

2. Pickup device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that for each blade (108b), the two edges of said blade (108b) are parallel to the axis of the shaft (108c).

3. Collection device (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the distal edges extend forward beyond the collection device (100).

4. Collection device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rotation speed of the rotor (108) is between 900 rpm and 1100 rpm.

5. Collection device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tank (106) has a removable hatch (106b).

6. Collection device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises support means (110) fixed to the front of the tank (106) so as to guarantee the height of the opening (106a).

7. Machine (150) comprising a pickup device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims and a tractor (152) comprising maneuvering means (102) to which the chassis (102) is fixed.

8. Method of collecting and emptying waste (50) using a collection device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, said method comprising: - placing the chassis (104) in the collection position, - activating the motor (108) to rotate the rotor (108) in the first direction (109a), and - moving the collection device (100) forward, when the collection is finished: - deactivating the motor (108) to stop the rotor (108), - placing the collection device (100) in a discharge area, - placing the chassis (104) in the discharge position, and - activating the motor (108) to rotate the rotor (108) in the second direction (109b) until the tank (106) is completely emptied in the discharge area.

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