Telescopic Lifting Work Piece for Automated Cage Tilting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The labor-intensive process of manually clearing dung from individual animal cages, particularly in calf housing, hinders the widespread adoption of individual animal housing, which is beneficial for health and reduces antibiotic use, due to inefficiencies and unpleasant working conditions for cattle breeders.
Innovation Solution
A work piece comprising a rectangular bar-frame with telescopic bar combinations and hooks, mounted on a lifting gear, allows for the automated lifting and tilting of cages, enabling the dung and straw to be dropped out automatically, reducing manual intervention and facilitating efficient cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual housing of calves is implemented, then animal health improves and antibiotic use decreases, but labor intensity increases due to manual cleaning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The cage cleaning system enables self-service cleaning where the cage structure itself facilitates the cleaning process. The mounting frame with bottom panel is designed to be tiltable, allowing dung and straw to be automatically discharged when the cage is tilted forward, eliminating the need for manual scooping or raking by workers
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system introduces dynamic movement to the previously static cage structure. The mounting frame can be tilted forward by 90 degrees or more from its normal horizontal position, transforming the cleaning operation from a manual stationary process to an automated dynamic process where gravity assists in material discharge
2Reliability
If manual cleaning of individual cages is performed, then complete cleaning is achieved, but productivity decreases and working conditions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows the cage to clean itself through gravitational discharge. When the mounting frame is tilted forward, the bottom panel angles downward causing dung and straw to automatically slide out of the cage without human intervention, ensuring complete cleaning while dramatically improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system extracts the harmful waste materials (dung and straw) from the cage environment by tilting the mounting frame to discharge these materials externally, separating the waste removal function from the cage structure and enabling efficient elimination of contaminants
3Adaptability or versatility
If telescopic bar combinations are used in the lifting gear, then adaptability to different cage sizes is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic bar combinations provide dynamic adjustability to the lifting gear, allowing the attachment points to be positioned at different distances from the cage depending on the cage size. This dynamic structure enables the same lifting mechanism to accommodate various cage dimensions without requiring multiple specialized devices
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic lifting mechanism serves multiple functions by adjusting its length to accommodate different cage sizes and configurations. The same basic lifting gear structure can be adapted to handle various cage types, making the system universal rather than requiring separate specialized equipment for each cage size
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a work piece as well as to the use of this work piece in a method for the efficient cleaning of a cage. To this end, the work piece comprises a rectangular bar frame (1) and telescopic bar combinations (2) for mounting underneath a mounting frame (7) of the cage, enabling the cage to be lifted and forwardly tilted until a bottom placed on the mounting frame (7) along with the dirt on it falls out of the cage. To this end, the work piece is steered from the cabin of a lifting gear with which it is connected through means of clamps and a hydraulic connection.