Patent ID: 11917988
Assignee: BOHNING COMPANY, LTD.
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A hoof block configured to join with a livestock hoof via an adhesive, the hoof block comprising:
a body having a thickness extending between an upper surface and a lower surface, the thickness being at least ½ inch, the body bounded by a perimeter having a linear interior edge that transitions to at least one curvilinear exterior edge that approximates an outer hoof edge of the livestock hoof;
a first plurality of shearing polygonal apertures extending upward from the lower surface, each of the first shearing polygonal apertures having a first end and a second end, the first end formed by an intersection of a first wall and a second wall at a first angle between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, inclusive, the second end formed by an intersection of a third wall and a fourth wall at a second angle between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, inclusive, the first plurality of shearing polygonal apertures laying along a first reference line that is at a third angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees inclusive relative to the linear interior edge; and
a second plurality of shearing polygonal apertures extending upward from the lower surface, each of the second shearing polygonal apertures laying along a second reference line that is at a fourth angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees inclusive relative to the linear interior edge, but that is offset and distal relative to the first reference line,
wherein the first plurality of shearing polygonal apertures and the second plurality of shearing polygonal apertures are joined by a plurality of bridges that are configured to shear through the thickness of the body when the hoof block encounters a pump impeller, and so that the hoof block breaks into a plurality of pieces that do not substantially impair continued operation of the pump impeller, and
wherein each of the plurality of bridges are between respective ones of the first plurality of shearing polygonal apertures and each of the plurality of bridges are configured to shear through at least one of a thickness thereof and a thickness of the body when the hoof block encounters the pump impeller, such that the first and second ends joined at respective angles at those ends at least one of propagate, enhance, or increase shearing of the plurality of bridges so that the body breaks apart.