Segmented Broiler Container With Ventilation Column
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current broiler transport containers face challenges in providing adequate ventilation, leading to increased stress and reduced meat quality due to inadequate airflow, especially during stationary periods, and are difficult to clean, posing hygiene risks and potential cross-infection issues.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a ventilation column system with segments that extend through the internal volume of broiler containers, allowing for connection to an active ventilation system, forming a common ventilation column when stacked, and features a pallet and cover element for efficient air flow and hygiene, ensuring better ventilation and reduced stress for the birds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If broiler chicken containers use solid bottoms to prevent bird droppings from falling, then hygiene is improved, but ventilation is insufficient leading to increased stress and reduced meat quality
Solution Approach 1:
The solid bottom is segmented by incorporating a ventilation column that runs through it, dividing the bottom surface into multiple sections around the column. This segmentation allows ventilation openings to be created without compromising the overall solid structure, enabling droppings prevention while providing adequate airflow to reduce stress and maintain meat quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation column acts as an intermediary element between the solid bottom and the ventilation requirement. It provides a structured pathway for airflow through the solid bottom, mediating between the conflicting needs of maintaining a solid surface for hygiene and creating openings for ventilation to ensure meat quality.
2Productivity
If broiler chicken containers are designed as stackable units for high transport capacity, then productivity is improved, but ventilation becomes inadequate during stationary periods
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple ventilation columns from stacked containers are merged to form a continuous common ventilation column that extends through all containers in the stack. This merging allows a single active ventilation system to serve multiple stacked containers simultaneously, maintaining high transport capacity while ensuring adequate ventilation during stationary periods to preserve bird welfare.
Solution Approach 2:
The common ventilation column serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for stacking, enables ventilation across multiple containers, and acts as a conduit for the active ventilation system. This multi-functionality allows the design to maintain high productivity through stacking while ensuring reliable ventilation for bird welfare.
3Use of energy by moving object
If ventilation openings are added to broiler chicken containers, then air flow is improved, but cleaning becomes more difficult posing hygiene risks
Solution Approach 1:
Ventilation openings are localized specifically in the ventilation column rather than distributed throughout the container walls and bottom. This local concentration of openings in a single accessible location makes cleaning easier compared to scattered openings, while still providing sufficient airflow to maintain bird welfare and reduce stress.
4Reliability
If active ventilation systems are implemented, then meat quality is improved by reducing stress, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual ventilation columns are merged into a single common ventilation column that can be connected to one active ventilation system. This merging reduces the number of separate ventilation systems needed, thereby reducing device complexity while still providing adequate ventilation to maintain meat quality and reduce stress in broiler chickens during transport.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances ventilation within broiler transport containers, reducing stress-related meat quality issues and improving hygiene by providing a reliable air flow system that maintains bird welfare during transport and handling.
Implementation Method 1
each broiler chicken container comprises at least one segment of a ventilation or venting column which extends through the internal volume and has at least one ventilation or vent opening spaced apart from the side walls, wherein each segment of the ventilation or vent column is designed and configured for connection to corresponding segments of broiler containers of the same type and for connection to an active ventilation system
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a broiler container (1) with a base (11) and side walls (12), which define an internal volume, which broiler container is designed and set up for receiving and holding at least five living broilers, wherein the broiler container is designed and set up to be stackable together with broiler containers of identical type and has at least one ventilation opening and at least one venting opening, and is distinguished in that the broiler container comprises at least one segment of a ventilation or venting pillar (14) which runs through the internal volume and has at least one ventilation or venting opening at a distance from the side walls, wherein each segment of the ventilation or venting pillar is designed and set up for connection to corresponding segments of broiler containers of identical type and for connection to an active ventilation system. The invention also relates to a unit comprising at least two containers, an arrangement comprising a unit and a ventilation system, a transport trailer, a poultry slaughterhouse and a method for ventilation of the broilers.