Movable Lying Box Limiting Device for Cattle Injury Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lying boxes in livestock farming face issues with cows knocking against shoulder beams, leading to injuries, and existing limiting devices either allow excessive forward movement causing soiling or restrict comfortable lying positions.
Innovation Solution
A lying box with a limiting device that includes a movable plate with a yielding covering, operated by a spring and pivotal support, which limits forward movement when standing and releases space for comfortable lying by adjusting its position based on the cow's actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a shoulder beam is used to limit forward movement of the cow, then the cow is prevented from standing or lying too far forward, but the cow may knock against the beam leading to injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fixed shoulder beam with a movable limiting device that can dynamically adjust its position. The limiting device includes a movable plate that can shift forward when the cow pushes against it, allowing the cow to pass through without collision while still preventing excessive forward movement. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the harmful knocking effect while maintaining the limiting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the limiting device from fixed to variable. The limiting device is positioned at a distance from the front wall of the lying box, creating a variable space that adapts to the cow's movements. This parameter change allows the system to transition from a rigid constraint to a flexible guidance mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If a tube is used as a limiting device at a distance above the bottom, then the cow has more forward freedom of movement, but this leads to accelerated soiling of the lying box
Solution Approach 1:
The movable plate transitions from a static tube to a dynamic barrier that actively responds to cow movement. When the cow moves forward, the plate shifts accordingly, maintaining optimal positioning to prevent soiling while allowing necessary movement freedom. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between movement freedom and soiling prevention.
3Device complexity
If a tube is used as a limiting device, then the structure is simpler, but it leaves the cow with too limited space for comfortable lying
Solution Approach 1:
The movable plate creates a dynamic spatial configuration that adapts to the cow's needs. When the cow lies down, the plate position allows sufficient space for comfortable lying. The simplicity of the plate structure is maintained while its movable nature provides the necessary volume adjustment.
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
Prevents cows from standing or lying too far forward, maintaining a clean lying surface and reducing the risk of injury and contamination, while allowing sufficient space for comfortable lying and minimizing soiling.
Implementation Method 1
operated by a spring and pivotal support
Implementation Method 2
a top part (12, 162) which is movable between a limiting position and a releasing position, and has a covering (13, 163) of yielding material thereon
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A limiting device (9) for limiting the freedom of movement of a standing cow in a lying box(l) in a loose house for keeping cattle, in a direction towards a front end (8) of the lying box. The limiting device (9) is intended to be placed near the front end, on and projecting from the bottom(ll) of the lying box. At least one top part (13) of the limiting device is movable between a limiting position operatively projecting from the bottom for limiting the freedom of movement of the standing cow towards the front end of the lying box, and a releasing position, for leaving, for the purpose of the front legs of the cow lying down, at least a part of the space the limiting device occupies in the limiting position. A lying box and a loose house with such limiting device are also described.