Floor plate for a manure cellar in a stable, floor plate production method, and system for removing air from a manure cellar

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor plate (100) for a manure cellar of a stable, comprising: • - multiple passage openings (110) for the passage of animal feces, • - an embedded channel (120) having a first access opening (221) in a first side wall (104a) of the floor plate (100), and • - distributed over a length of the channel (120) two or more access locations (260) where a thickness between the channel (120) and a bottom surface of the floor plate (100) is smaller than surrounding locations.

Description

[0001] TITLE OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Floor plate for a manure cellar in a stable, floor plate production method, and system for removing air from a manure cellar

[0003] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention relates to a floor for a manure cellar in a stable.

[0005] A manure cellar is commonly used below a stable floor to collect the manure of animals, typically cattle, e.g. cows, residing in the stable. The floor therefore generally includes a plurality of openings for the passage of animal feces. However, most manure cellars also receive the urine of the animals.

[0006] Ammonia is produced from the urea present in the urine. This process is accelerated by the enzyme urease. Urease is found in manure and is made by microorganisms. Urea, which is present in urine, is converted into ammonium (NH4+) by the enzyme urease in the manure cellars. Ammonium is in equilibrium with ammonia (NH3) in the liquid phase.

[0007] When no measures are taken, the ammonia can escape the manure cellar via the same passage openings for the passage of animal feces. The ammonia then enters the stable and is subsequently released into the environment.

[0008] To prevent the release of ammonia into the environment, several prior art solutions exist. One solution is to prevent the mixing of urine and manure by trying to separate the urine from the manure as quickly as possible on stable floor level to prevent the urine from entering the manure cellar. The aim is then to prevent the ammonia from forming.

[0009] In another solution, the ammonia is trapped inside the manure cellar by using respective valves in the plurality of openings which open to allow the passage of manure but are closed when no passage of manure occurs. In a further solution, the ammonia is captured and removed from the manure cellar. There exist a couple of solutions in which the floor of the manure cellar is used to capture the ammonia in the manure cellar, which will be briefly described below.

[0010] In prior art document NL1043843, floor plates are disclosed that define a cavity with inlet openings at the bottom of the floor plate allowing to suck ammonia from the manure cellar and for instance allow the captured ammonia to pass a filter for removal. The floor plates are formed using two floor parts arranged on top of each other thereby forming the cavity and the passage openings for allowing the passage of manure through the floor plate. An entire floor is formed by a plurality of floor plates arranged adjacent to each other such that the cavity of one floor plate is in communication with the cavity of an adjacent floor plate.

[0011] In prior art document DE2709510, a floor of alternately arranged floor plates and tubing is disclosed. The floor plates include the passage openings for the passage of manure and the tubing is provided with inlet openings at the bottom allowing to capture the ammonia via the tubing, e.g. using suction.

[0012] In prior art document KR10-2009-0056178, ammonia is captured and removed using two tubes arranged parallel to each other below the floor at opposite sides of the manure cellar. One tube is used to force air into the manure cellar thereby urging the air with ammonia towards the other tube which removes the air including ammonia using suction.

[0013] Prior art document EP2181583 uses the sidewalls of the manure cellar to remove air including ammonia from the manure cellar.

[0014] A disadvantage of the above solutions is that too much ammonia is still able to leak through the floor into the stable and thus the capture and removal of ammonia is not efficient. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In view of the above it is an object of the invention to provide a system for capturing and removing ammonia in a manure cellar that has an improved efficiency.

[0016] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a floor plate for a manure cellar of a stable, comprising: multiple passage openings for the passage of animal feces, an embedded channel having a first access opening in a first side wall of the floor plate, and distributed over a length of the channel two or more access locations where a thickness between channel and bottom surface of the floor plate is smaller than surrounding locations.

[0017] An advantage of the floor plate according to the first aspect of the invention is that a plurality of access locations to embedded channels in the floor plate is distributed over a manure cellar to allow a more homogeneous air removal, including ammonium, from the manure cellar with less chance of leakage of air and ammonium from the manure cellar. This results in an improved efficiency.

[0018] Air removed from the manure cellar will typically be replenished by air coming from above the floor plate. Hence, there will be a downwardly directed flow from the stable through the passage openings towards the manure cellar to replace the removed air, which will also remove any air including ammonium that is directly above the floor plate. Hence, in an embodiment, rows of passage openings are arranged adjacent an embedded channel, e.g. one or more rows of passage openings and one or more embedded channels are arranged intermittently in the floor to be formed using multiple floor plates, so that air flowing through the passage openings can easily flow to a nearby embedded channel for removal of ammonia. This further improves the efficiency of the system. The air in the stable is typically replenished by outside air that is substantially free of ammonia.

[0019] In an embodiment, the embedded channel has a second access opening in a second side wall of the floor plate opposite the first side wall. This allows to connect embedded channels of adjacent floor plates in series and / or to remove air in two directions using the embedded channels.

[0020] In an embodiment, the access locations are formed in the floor plate as recesses at a bottom side of the floor plate, wherein preferably the recesses have a cross-sectional size that decreases in a direction towards the embedded channel. The recesses may thus have a substantially (truncated) conical or pyramid shape.

[0021] In an embodiment, the embedded channel is formed by a tube embedded in the floor plate, which tube is preferably made of a material different from the material surrounding the tube.

[0022] In an embodiment, the recesses extend all the way up to the tube.

[0023] In an embodiment, the embedded channel at the first access opening includes a sleeve for receiving a connecting tube, wherein the sleeve preferably includes a deformable collar for sealingly engaging with the connecting tube.

[0024] In an embodiment, the access locations are formed in the floor plate as downward extending recesses in the embedded channel.

[0025] In an embodiment, the embedded channel is a first embedded channel and the floor plate further comprises a second embedded channel arranged parallel to the first embedded channel, said second embedded channel having a first access opening in a first side wall of the floor plate, and the floor plate further comprising two or more access locations distributed over a length of the second embedded channel where a thickness between second embedded channel and bottom surface of the floor plate is smaller than surrounding locations.

[0026] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for producing a floor plate for a manure cellar of a stable, which floor plate comprises: multiple passage openings for the passage of animal feces, and an embedded channel having a first access opening in a first side wall of the floor plate, wherein the method includes the following steps: a. forming a mold for the floor plate including inserts for the multiple passage openings, b. placing reinforcement in the mold, c. placing an insert in the mold for the channel, d. filling the mold with material, and e. allowing the material to harden to form a rigid floor plate

[0027] In an embodiment, the method further includes the step of providing one or more visual markers at a bottom side of the floor plate to indicate a location of the embedded channel.

[0028] In an embodiment, the method further includes the step of placing an insert in the mold for forming one or more recesses at a bottom side of the floor plate below the embedded channel as the one or more visual markers.

[0029] In an embodiment, the embedded channel includes one or more recesses in the embedded channel extending downwards towards a bottom of the floor plate.

[0030] In an embodiment, visual markers are provided to indicate the location of the one or more recesses in the embedded channel.

[0031] In an embodiment, multiple recesses per embedded channel are provided thereby defining a plurality of access locations where a thickness between embedded channel and bottom surface of the floor plate is smaller than surrounding locations.

[0032] In an embodiment, the method includes making a hole in one or more of the access locations of the floor plate to allow fluid communication between the embedded channel and a space below the floor plate. Preferably, making a hole includes drilling a hole using a drill bit of a predetermined size. In an embodiment, the floor plate is a floor plate according to a first aspect of the invention. Features and embodiment described in relation to the floor plate according to the first aspect of the invention will not be unduly repeated here, but the skilled person will understand that any suitable combination of features and embodiments is envisaged.

[0033] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for removing air from a manure cellar, comprising: a plurality of floor plates forming a floor of the manure cellar, said floor comprising at least one flow channel in fluid communication with the manure cellar, and an air removal and filter system connected to the at least one flow channel for removing and filtering air from the manure cellar, wherein the floor plates are floor plates according to the first aspect of the invention and / or floor plates produced using a method according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0034] In an embodiment, each floor plate includes one or more openings at a bottom side to provide the fluid communication with the at least one flow channel, wherein the number of openings and / or the size of the openings is / are dependent on a flow distance from the floor plate from the air removal and filter system.

[0035] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The invention will now be described in a non-limiting way by reference to the accompanying drawings in which like parts are indicated by like reference symbols, and in which:

[0037] Fig. 1 schematically depicts a perspective top view of a floor plate according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0038] Fig. 2A schematically depicts a bottom view of the floor plate of Fig. 1;

[0039] Fig. 2B schematically depicts a vertical cross section of the floor plate of Fig. 1;

[0040] Fig. 3A schematically depicts a mold for producing a floor plate according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3B schematically depicts the mold of Fig. 3A to be used as a first step in a method for producing a floor plate according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0041] Fig. 3C schematically depicts a second step in a method for producing a floor plate according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0042] Fig. 3D schematically depicts a third step in a method for producing a floor plate according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0043] Fig. 3E schematically depicts a fourth step in a method for producing a floor plate according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0044] Fig. 4A schematically depicts a top view of a manure cellar to illustrate a method for covering a manure cellar using a plurality of floor plates according to the invention;

[0045] Fig. 4B schematically depicts a side view of the manure cellar of Fig. 4A covered with floor plates;

[0046] Fig. 5A schematically depicts a top view of a floor plate according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0047] Fig. 5B schematically depicts a cross-sectional detail of the floor plate of Fig. 5A; and

[0048] Fig. 6 schematically depicts a cross-sectional detail of a floor plate according to a further embodiment of the invention having a similar top view as the floor plate of Fig. 5A.

[0049] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050] Fig. 1 schematically depicts a perspective top view of a floor plate 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2A schematically depicts a bottom view of the floor plate 100, and Fig. 2B schematically depicts a vertical cross section of the floor plate 100.

[0051] The floor plate has a top side 101, a bottom side 102, and four side walls 103a, 103b, 104a, and 104b. Side wall 103a is arranged opposite side wall 103b, and side wall 104a is arranged opposite side wall 104b. In this embodiment, the floor plate has a substantially rectangular shape with the side walls 103a, 103b having a shorter length than the side walls 104a, 104b. The floor plate 100 includes a plurality of passage openings 110 extending from the top side 101 to the bottom side 102 for the passage of animal feces, e.g. feces from cattle, for instance cows or pigs. Only one passage opening has been designated using reference numeral 110. Animal feces in the context of this embodiment includes manure and urine. In this embodiment, the passage openings in top view have a rectangular shape. Further, the passage openings are arranged in an array of passage openings, in this case a 7x4 or 4x7 array depending on the chosen orientation of the rows and columns.

[0052] The floor plate 100 further includes an embedded channel 120. In the example of Fig. 1, the floor plate 100 includes three embedded channels 120. The embedded channels 120 are arranged parallel to each other and extend between the side walls 104a and 104b. At both side walls 104a, 104b, the embedded channels are accessible via an access opening 221 and 222, see Fig. 2A.

[0053] Although in this embodiment, each embedded channel has two access openings, having only one access opening is also possible. In case of a single access opening, this access opening is intended to function as a drain opening allowing air to flow out of the embedded channel. In case of two access openings, both access openings may be intended to function as a drain opening allowing air to flow out of the embedded channel at two different locations, but alternatively, one access opening may be intended to function as supply opening allowing air to enter the embedded channel, e.g. when embedded channels of adjacent floor plates are connected in series as will be explained below in more detail. Similar configurations apply to the cases that the embedded channels have more than two access openings provided that at least one access opening is intended to function as drain opening.

[0054] At the bottom side 102, which is clearly shown in Fig. 2A, the floor plate is provided with access locations 260 where a thickness between channel 120 and bottom surface of the floor plate is smaller than surrounding locations. In this embodiment, the smaller thickness is obtained by corresponding recesses at the bottom side. Each embedded channel 120 includes at least two such access locations, in this particular embodiment three access locations, distributed over a length of the channel embedded channel 120.

[0055] An access location in this specification means that an opening 225 exists or can be formed, e.g. by drilling, to allow air to enter the embedded channel 120.

[0056] The floor plate 100 at the sides 103a and 103b includes a respective cutaway 127 resulting in a protrusion that is flush with an upper surface of the floor plate and that can rest on an edge of a manure cellar for support of the floor plate, as will be explained below in more detail by reference to Fig. 4. An advantage of the cutaway 127 may be that a relatively thick floor plate 100 can be used in an existing manure cellar without resulting in an elevated floor surface compared to prior art floor plates that are typically thinner due to the absence of the embedded channel. Another advantage may be that the floor plate is prevented or at least limited to move sideways due to engagement of the cutaway with a corresponding shoulder. However, a cutaway is not necessary per se. It is for instance also possible that the floor plate rests on a wall, which wall has measures, e.g. a cutaway or other means, to prevent the floor plate from moving sideways.

[0057] Fig. 3A schematically depicts a mold 390 for producing a floor plate 100 according to Fig. 1 (and Figs. 2A and 2B). The mold 390 in this embodiment includes a bottom 391 provided with inserts 392a for forming the passage openings 110. The bottom 391 of the mold 390, which may be made from for instance metal, corresponds to a bottom side 102 of the floor plate 100 to be made using the mold 390.

[0058] The inserts 392a have an upwardly tapered shape so that a size of the passage opening at the top side 101 of the floor plate is smaller than at the bottom side 102. This may have one or more of the following advantages:

[0059] 1. animal feces passing the passage opening is less likely to stick to side walls of the passage opening;

[0060] 2. the passage opening having a higher flow resistance for air flowing upwards from the manure cellar to reduce the risk of air escaping from the manure cellar via the passage opening; and 3. it will be easier to remove the floor plate from the mold as the chance of the floor plate sticking to the inserts is smaller.

[0061] The bottom 391 of the mold 390 is also provided with inserts 392b for forming the access locations 260. The inserts 392b in this embodiment also have an upwardly tapered shape so that a size of a cross section of the recess reduces towards the embedded channel 120. In this embodiment, the cross-section of the inserts 392b is circular, but may have any shape, e.g. square, triangular, rectangular or any other polygon shape.

[0062] To form the cutaways 127, the bottom 391 of the mold 390 may be provided with inserts 392c.

[0063] As mentioned above, the bottom 391 of the mold 390 may include or be made of metal. Alternatively, or additionally, the mold may include ferromagnetic material. The inserts 392a, 392b and / or 392c may be provided with magnets to attach them to the bottom 391 using the ferromagnetic material.

[0064] Extending upwards from the bottom 391 of the mold 390 are in this case four sidewalls 393, 393', 393". In this embodiment, the sidewalls indicated using reference numeral 393 are fixed to the bottom 391 while the sidewalls 393' and 393" are moveable between an open position and a closed position. Fig. 3B may depict an embodiment of an open position of the sidewalls, but alternatively it is possible that the sidewalls 393', 393" are hingedly connected to the bottom 391 and are rotated between the closed and open position.

[0065] Although in this embodiment, the moveable sidewalls 393' and 393" are moveable to in between respective ends of the fixed sidewalls 393. However, it is alternatively possible, and typically preferred, that the fixed sidewalls 393 are short in length and the moveable sidewalls 393' and 393" are longer so that the fixed sidewalls extend in between respective ends of the moveable sidewalls. This may have the advantage that the moveable sidewalls are easier to be moved between their respective open and closed positions and less chance of the moveable sidewalls getting stuck in between the fixed sidewalls. It also provides the possibility to clamp both moveable sidewalls to the fixed sidewalls thereby improving the accuracy of the closed position.

[0066] The situation in Fig. 3B in which the mold is open, i.e. the sidewalls 393', 393" are in the open position, may be regarded in this embodiment as a first step in a method for producing the floor plate 100. Fig. 3C depicts a second step in this method, although a couple of sub-steps can be distinguished in this second step that will be explained below.

[0067] In the first step of Fig. 3B, a mold for the floor plate is formed including inserts 392a for the multiple passage openings in the floor plate, and in this embodiment also including inserts 392b and 392c for forming the access locations and the cutaways 127.

[0068] A floor plate 100 must have sufficient strength to be able to bear the loads applied to it.

[0069] In a stable, animals will regularly walk over or stand on the floor plate. Depending on the type of animal and / or the number of animals that may be present on the floor plate 100, the weight to be supported can be significant. A single cow can easily weigh up to 600 kg.

[0070] It is therefore preferred, but not necessary, that the floor plate 100 includes some kind of reinforcement. In a sub-step of the second step of the method depicted in Fig. 3C, a reinforcement basket 350 is arranged in the mold 390 at a predetermined distance from the bottom 391 of the mold 391 as is known in the art of concrete molding such that the reinforcement is emersed fully in the material later.

[0071] In another sub-step of the second step of the method depicted in Fig. 3C, three tubes 230 are arranged in the mold for forming the three embedded channels 120 of the floor plate. The tubes 230 include a sleeve 240 at both free ends of the tubes 230. Each sleeve 240 includes an elastomeric collar 241 used for coupling the embedded channel to another channel or tubing as explained below in more detail.

[0072] To correctly position the tubes 230 in the mold, the sidewalls 393' and 393" are provided with protrusions 394 to engage with the sleeves 240 of the tubes 230. An advantage of the protrusions 394 is that the tubes 230 can be positioned with relatively high accuracy, which may be relevant for the coupling of the embedded channels 120 with embedded channels 120 of adjacent floor plates or with other tubing as will be explained below in more detail. The engagement is preferably a sealing engagement such that the interior of the tubes 230 is inaccessible for mold material and kept free of mold material to form the embedded channel. Engagement, in particular the sealing engagement, between tubes 230 and protrusions 394 occurs when the sidewalls 393' and 393" are arranged in the closed position as shown in Fig. 3D. Closing of the mold as shown in Fig. 3D is referred to as a third step of this embodiment.

[0073] The reinforcement 350 in the mold is preferably arranged such that portions of the reinforcement are arranged in between the inserts 392a, in between the inserts 392a and the tubes 230, above and below the tubes 230, and / or between the inserts 392b.

[0074] In the fourth step of the method, shown in Fig. 3E, the mold 390, after being closed (by moving the sidewalls 393' and 393" to the closed position as shown in Fig. 3D, is filled with material, e.g. concrete, that is allowed to harden to form a rigid floor plate.

[0075] Once the material has sufficiently hardened, the floor plate 110 can be removed from the mold. Using the mold according to this embodiment, this is typically done by moving the sidewalls 393' and 393" to the open position and lifting the floor plate 100 from the bottom 391. Some (or even all) inserts 392a, 392b and 392c may stick to the floor plate 100 when lifting the floor plate from the bottom 391. Due to the tapered shapes of the inserts 392a, the inserts 392a sticking to the floor plate can be pushed out of the openings 110. Due to the tapered shapes of the inserts 392b, the inserts can be pulled out of the access locations 260.

[0076] In the above-described embodiment, the tubes 230 and sleeves 240 remain behind and are not removed. The tubes and sleeves may be made of any material, but preferably plastic. The inserts 392b forming the access locations 260 may have extended all the way up to the tubes 230, such that the tubes 230 may be visible from below via the access locations 260, but without establishing a flow connection between the embedded channel and the space below the floor plate via the access locations. This can be done afterwards thereby allowing to custom-make and optimize the openings towards the embedded channel for each floor plate depending on requirements of the manure cellar and stable.

[0077] Fig. 4A schematically depicts a top view of a part of a manure cellar 490 with support edges 491 running along both sides of the manure cellar. The manure cellar 490 has a substantially rectangular shape with the edges 491 extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of this rectangular shape and thus form the long edges. Extending between the long edges are the short edges of the rectangular shape of which one short edge 492 is shown in Fig. 4A.

[0078] In this embodiment, it is assumed that an air removal and filter system is located at the short edge opposite the short edge 492 shown in Fig. 4A. The short edge near the air removal and filter system will be referred to as the proximal end of the manure cellar and the short edge 492 visible in Fig. 4A will be referred to as the distal end of the manure cellar. When positioning the floor plates 100 shown in Figs. 1, 2A and 2B on the edges 491 of the manure cellar, the embedded channels of the floor plates will be connected to each to form three large flow channels extending from the distal end to the proximal end, i.e. parallel to the long edges to be connected to the air removal and filter system at the proximal end of the manure cellar. It is possible that the large flow channels formed by the floor plates are also connected at the distal end of the manure cellar to the same or another air removal and filter system, but in this embodiment the large flow channels are only connected to an air removal and filter system at the proximal end of the manure cellar.

[0079] A first floor plate denoted using reference numeral 100' is arranged at the distal end of the manure cellar. As the embedded channels 120 of this first floor plate 100' are not connected at the distal end of the manure cellar to other tubing, the embedded channels may be closed at this end to prevent any leakage of ammonium, e.g. using a plug or cover or any other kind of seal. Alternatively, the first floor plate 100" has another construction with embedded channels 120 having only an access opening at one side of the floor plate to be connected to the embedded channels of adjacent floor plates. A connecting tube 440 may be inserted into the sleeves 240 of the embedded channels 120. The connecting tube 440 sealingly engages with a collar 241 inside the sleeve 241 to provide an airtight connection. The connecting tube 440 extends from the respective sleeve 240 to be received in a sleeve 240 and engage with the corresponding collar 241 of a corresponding embedded channel 120 of a second floor plate denoted using reference numeral 100". The second floor plate 100" may be arranged on the edges 491 at a distance from the first floor plate 100'. The connecting tubes 440 may be inserted into one of the sleeves of the embedded channels of the first and second floor plates. By subsequently moving the second floor plate 100" sideways into engagement with the first floor plate 100" the connecting tubes 440 will provide a sealing connection between two embedded channels of the first and second floor plates.

[0080] Subsequent floor plates can be arranged next to the second floor plate 100" until the entire floor of the stable above the manure cellar has been formed. The last floor plate is then connected to the air removal and filter system such that the large flow channels are all connected to the system for air removal and filtering of the ammonium from the air.

[0081] Fig. 4B depicts a cross-sectional view of the manure cellar and floor plate. The crosssection depicts a plane extending through passage openings 110 and access locations 260 of a floor plate.

[0082] Before or after arranging the floor plates on the edges 491 of the manure cellar 490, the openings at the access locations 260 have to be made as shown in Fig. 4B to allow air to enter the embedded channels 120 via the openings at the access locations to be transported to the air removal and filter system.

[0083] Because the flow resistance through the embedded channels 120 depends on a distance from the air removal and filter system, floor plates at a larger distance from the air removal and filter system may be provided with more openings and / or larger openings to lower the flow resistance at the access openings and compensate for the larger flow resistance of the embedded channels. As a result, a more homogeneous removal of air over the entire length of the manure cellar can be obtained.

[0084] In the example of Fig. 4A, each floor plate includes three access locations 260 distributed along the length of each embedded channel 120. Depending on the desired flow resistance, one, two or three access locations may be opened. Opening an access location may for instance be done by drilling from below through the tube 230. The diameter of the drill bit used to drill the opening through the tube 230 may also be chosen to obtain a desired flow resistance. In some embodiment, the openings at the access locations of a floor plate have the same size and the size of the drill bit is only changed when moving to another floor plate having a different distance to the air removal and filter system, but it is also possible that the drill bit size is changed depending on the distance from the respective access location to the air removal and filter system. It is also possible that adjacent floor plates use the same drill bit size, and the drill bit size is only changed per two or even three floor plates. This can be the case when the distance to the air removal and filter system is relatively large compared to a size of the floor plate.

[0085] An advantage of the embodiment shown in Figs. 4A and 4B is that a single mold can be used in a single way to produce multiple identical floor plates, which floor plates can be used to form a floor and connect the embedded channels to an air removal and filter system. The floor plates itself are then adapted based on their location, for instance closing one end of the embedded channels and / or the number and size of the openings at the access locations of a floor plate. However, it is of course also possible that different molds and / or different methods are used to produce multiple floor plates which are not all identical to each other. It has already been mentioned that an embedded channel with only one access opening is used. It is also possible that different diameters for tubes 230 are used allowing to increase the size of the embedded channel when getting closer to the air removal and filter system to improve the flow resistance for a more homogeneous removal of air over the entire length of the manure cellar.

[0086] Although in the above-described embodiment of Figs. 4A and 4B, the embedded channels are connected "in series", i.e. in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the manure cellar, it is also possible that the embedded channels are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the manure cellar to be connected to a tube or channel running in a side wall or next to this sidewall of the manure cellar. Such a different orientation can be obtained by changing the orientation of the above disclosed floor plates by 90 degrees, but also by using alternative floor plates in which the embedded channels are to extend between side walls 103a, 103b, possibly without making use of cutaways 127.

[0087] An example of such an alternative floor plate is depicted in Figs. 5A. Fig. 5A depicts a floor plate 100 for a manure cellar of a stable, comprising multiple passage openings 110 for the passage of animal feces, an embedded channel 120 having a first access opening 221 in a first side wall of the floor plate, and distributed over a length of the embedded channel two or more access locations 260 where a thickness between embedded channel and bottom surface of the floor plate is smaller than surrounding locations. This is shown in more detail in Fig. 5B.

[0088] Fig. 5B depicts a cross-sectional view of a portion of the embedded channel 120 including an access location 260. As shown in Fig. 5A, the embedded channel 120 extends parallel to a Y-direction. This Y-direction is indicated in Fig. 5B as well to indicate the orientation of the cross-sectional view.

[0089] The floor plate 100 has a bottom side 102 with a bottom surface 102a. The embedded channel 120 includes a recess extending downwards towards the bottom side 120 to form the access location thereby locally reducing a thickness DI between embedded channel 120 and the bottom surface 102a compared to a thickness D2 between embedded channel 120 and the bottom surface 102a in surrounding locations, i.e. adjacent the recess. The embedded channel 120 is in this case preferably formed using an insert, which insert is made using a tube including an extension, which tube and extension remain in the mold, i.e. do not have to be removed, similar to the production method described in relation to Figs. 3A to 3E.

[0090] Although a specific production method has been described, a more general description of suitable production methods for floor plates for a manure cellar of a stable having multiple passage openings for the passage of animal feces and an embedded channel having a first access opening in a first side wall of the floor plate includes the following steps: a. forming a mold for the floor plate including inserts for the multiple passage openings, b. placing reinforcement in the mold, c. placing an insert in the mold for the channel, d. filling the mold with material, and e. allowing the material to harden to form a rigid floor plate.

[0091] The method may further include the step of placing an insert in the mold for forming one or more recesses below the embedded channel at a bottom side of the floor plate as visual marker for indicating a location of the embedded channel.

[0092] An example thereof is depicted in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 depicts a cross-sectional view of a detail of a floor plate that has a similar construction as depicted in Fig. 5A with the exception of the access locations 260. Fig. 5A includes a Y-direction and an X-direction. The cross- sectional view of Fig. 6 indicates the X-direction so that it is clear that the embedded channel 120 extends perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Fig. 6.

[0093] In Fig. 6, a recess 260 extends parallel to the embedded channel 120 at a bottom side 102 of the floor plate 100. Preferably, the recess 260 runs along a large portion, e.g. more than 50% of the length, of the embedded channel 120. The recess 260 is a visual marker indicating the location of the embedded channel 120 from below allowing to easily make one or more holes towards the embedded channel 120. At the bottom, i.e. the lowest point, of the recess 260, a distance DI to the embedded channel 120 is larger than a distance D2 that would apply in case of absence of the recess 260. Alternatively, the recess 260 may be omitted and other visual markers may be used to indicate the location of the embedded channel 120 to allow the making of holes to the embedded channel

[0094] 120.

Claims

C L A I M S1. A floor plate for a manure cellar of a stable, comprising: multiple passage openings for the passage of animal feces, an embedded channel having a first access opening in a first side wall of the floor plate, and distributed over a length of the embedded channel two or more access locations where a thickness between embedded channel and bottom surface of the floor plate is smaller than surrounding locations.

2. A floor plate according to claim 1, wherein the embedded channel has a second access opening in a second side wall of the floor plate opposite the first side wall.

3. A floor plate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the access locations are formed in the floor plate as recesses at a bottom side of the floor plate.

4. A floor plate according to claim 3, wherein the recesses have a cross-sectional size that decreases in a direction towards the embedded channel.

5. A floor plate according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the embedded channel is formed by a tube embedded in the floor plate.

6. A floor plate according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the recesses extend all the way up to the tube.

7. A floor plate according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the embedded channel at the first access opening includes a sleeve for receiving a connecting tube.

8. A floor plate according to claim 1, wherein the access locations are formed in the floor plate as downward extending recesses in the embedded channel.

9. A floor plate according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the embedded channel is a first embedded channel and the floor plate further comprises a second embedded channel arranged parallel to the first embedded channel, said second embedded channel having a first access opening in a first side wall of the floor plate, and the floor plate further comprising two or more access locations distributed over a length of the second embedded channel where a thickness between second embedded channel and bottom surface of the floor plate is smaller than surrounding locations.

10. A method for producing a floor plate for a manure cellar of a stable, which floor plate comprises: multiple passage openings for the passage of animal feces, and an embedded channel having a first access opening in a first side wall of the floor plate, wherein the method includes the following steps: a. forming a mold for the floor plate including inserts for the multiple passage openings, b. placing reinforcement in the mold, c. placing an insert in the mold for the channel, d. filling the mold with material, and e. allowing the material to harden to form a rigid floor plate.

11. A method according to claim 10, further including the step of providing one or more visual markers at a bottom side of the floor plate to indicate a location of the embedded channel.

12. A method according to claim 11, further including the step of placing an insert in the mold for forming one or more recesses at a bottom side of the floor plate below the embedded channel as the one or more visual markers.

13. A method according to any of claims 10-12, wherein the embedded channel includes one or more recesses in the embedded channel extending downwards towards a bottom of the floor plate.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein visual markers are provided to indicate the location of the one or more recesses in the embedded channel.

15. A method according to any of claims 10-14, wherein multiple recesses per embedded channel are provided thereby defining a plurality of access locations where a thickness between embedded channel and bottom surface of the floor plate is smaller than surrounding locations.

16. A method according to claim 15, further including the step of making a hole in one or more of the access locations of the floor plate to allow fluid communication between the embedded channel and a space below the floor plate.

17. A method according to any of claims 10-16, wherein the floor plate is a floor plate according to any of claims 1-9.

18. A system for removing air from a manure cellar, comprising: a plurality of floor plates forming a floor of the manure cellar, said floor comprising at least one flow channel in fluid communication with the manure cellar, and - an air removal and filter system connected to the at least one flow channel for removing and filtering air from the manure cellar, wherein the floor plates are floor plates according to any of claims 1-9 and / or produced according to any of claims 10-17.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein each floor plate includes one or more openings at a bottom side to provide the fluid communication with the at least one flow channel, wherein the number of openings and / or the size of the openings is / are dependent on a flow distance from the floor plate from the air removal and filter system.

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