Abstract:
A blower apparatus is supported on a frame detachably mounted on the implement mounting plate for a skid steer loader. The blower is powered by a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the auxiliary hydraulic system of the skid steer loader. The blower is mounted on the frame in a manner that orients the discharge spout upwardly to be directed at elevated structure within the chicken house. Re-orientation of the air stream from the blower can be affected by manipulating the tilt position of the implement mounting plate and by raising the boom arms of the skid steer loader to elevate the blower apparatus. By properly positioning and orienting the discharged air stream from the blower apparatus, the dirt and debris in elevated structure of the chicken house can be dislodged and removed from the chicken house to improve the health and environment for a subsequent flock of birds installed therein.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims domestic priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/842,286, filed on Jul. 2, 2013, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to devices to facilitate the cleaning of chicken houses after chickens have been removed and before a new batch of chickens are delivered, and more particularly, to a hydraulically driven blower that can be mounted on a skid steer loader or other similar carrier to remove debris from the emptied chicken house structure. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Chicken houses are used to raise chickens from a young age to an adult bird when the adult chickens are crated and delivered to a processing plant. Modern chicken houses can be provided with automated feeding devices that deliver food for the growing chickens and with automated watering devices that provide fresh supplies of water as the water is consumed by the chickens. Once the chickens have been grown to an adult size and removed from the chicken house, the chicken house must be cleaned to reduce the spread of any diseases from one flock of chickens to the next flock of chickens to be raised in the facility. 
         [0004]    Proper cleaning the emptied chicken house requires the removal of the feathers, litter and dirt from the interior of the chicken house. To that end, manually operated blowers are typically utilized by people carrying the blowers through the chicken house structure to relocate the unwanted material into a pile at one end of the structure where a skid steer loader can be utilized to remove the collected unwanted material from the facility. Because of the quantity of feathers, dirt and dried litter found throughout the chicken house structure, carrying manually operated blowers to relocate the unwanted material is a dusty job requiring the use of respirators and eyewear. 
         [0005]    Blowers are particularly valuable for cleaning dirt and debris off of the elevated heating systems, such as tube heaters, brooders and space heaters, typically utilized within the chicken houses. In addition, blowers are very useful in the cleaning of the vertically oriented exhaust fans mounted in the chicken house walls, including the fan blades and the shutters controlling the flow of air through the exhaust fans. Cleaning the shutters is particularly sensitive matter for operating chicken houses in the warm summer months as the accumulation of dust and feathers restrict air flow through the shutters, making the fans less effective in operation. Cleaning the shutters is typically accomplished from the exterior of the chicken house. 
         [0006]    Skid steer loaders are typically used in the cleaning of a chicken house because of the low profile and the maneuverability of the vehicle is particularly suited to the long, one story chicken house structure. Skid steer loaders have hydraulically driven wheels that steer the loader through differential steering by varying the flow of hydraulic fluid through the motors powering the rotation of the wheels on the respective sides of the loader. Skid steer loaders are provided with a boom structure that terminates at a mounting plate located forwardly of the operator&#39;s cab. Different operative devices can be detachably mounted on the boom mounting plate, including buckets and hydraulically driven rotary brooms that can be utilized in the cleaning of the chicken house. Alternatively, small compact tractors can be utilized instead of skid steer loaders, as compact tractors have booms that can carry attached implements as well. 
         [0007]    It would be desirable to provide a device that can replace the manually operated blowers to facilitate and speed the process of cleaning chicken houses for the delivery of a new flock of young chickens. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of this invention to provide a blower apparatus mounted on a skid steer loader to clean debris from a vacated chicken house. 
         [0009]    It is an advantage of this invention that the skid steer mounted blower mechanism can be manipulated to direct a stream of air into elevated structure in a vacated chicken house. 
         [0010]    It is a feature of this invention that the blower is driven by a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the auxiliary hydraulic system of the skid steer loader on which the blower apparatus is mounted. 
         [0011]    It is another feature of this invention that the discharge tube of the blower apparatus is angled upwardly to direct a stream of air toward elevated structure of a vacated chicken house. 
         [0012]    It is another object of this invention to provide a skid steer mounted blower apparatus for cleaning vacated chicken houses that is positionally adjustable through manipulation of the skid steer loader&#39;s boom and implement attachment plate. 
         [0013]    It is still another feature of this invention that the orientation of the stream of air from the blower apparatus can be varied by tilting the implement mounting plate on the skid steer loader. 
         [0014]    It is another advantage of this invention that the orientation of the air stream from the blower apparatus can be lowered by tilting the implement adjustment plate forwardly. 
         [0015]    It is still another feature of this invention that the blower apparatus includes a mounting frame supporting the hydraulically powered blower so that the blower apparatus can be detachably mounted on the implement mounting plate of the skid steer loader. 
         [0016]    It is still another advantage of this invention that the dirt and debris from elevated structure within a vacated chicken house can be dislodged and deposited on the floor where other implements can be utilized to remove the dirt and debris from the vacated chicken house before installing a new flock of chickens. 
         [0017]    It is yet another advantage of this invention that the blower apparatus can improve the cleaning operation for a vacated chicken house between flocks of chickens to improve the health and environment for the subsequently installed flock of chickens. 
         [0018]    It is still another object of this invention to provide a blower apparatus and method of cleaning a vacated chicken house that is easy to manufacture and assembly, and easy and effective in operation. 
         [0019]    These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished according to the instant invention by providing a blower apparatus supported on a frame that is detachably mounted on the implement mounting plate for a skid steer loader. The blower is powered by a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the auxiliary hydraulic system of the skid steer loader. The blower is mounted on the frame in a manner that orients the discharge spout upwardly to be directed at elevated structure within the chicken house. Re-orientation of the air stream from the blower can be affected by manipulating the tilt position of the implement mounting plate and/or the elevation of the blower apparatus affected by raising the boom arms of the skid steer loader. By properly positioning and orienting the discharged air stream from the blower apparatus, the dirt and debris in elevated structure of the chicken house can be dislodged and removed from the chicken house to improve the health and environment for a subsequent flock of birds installed therein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the loader mounted blower apparatus incorporating the principles of the instant invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a right side elevational view of the loader mounted blower apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a left side elevational view of the loader mounted blower apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the loader mounted blower apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the loader mounted blower apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a right side perspective view of the loader mounted blower apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is an upper right side perspective view of the loader mounted blower apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 , looking into the discharge tube of the blower. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    Referring now to the drawings, the structural components of the skid steer mounted blower apparatus  10  can best be seen. Any left and right references are used as a matter of convenience and are determined by standing behind the mounting frame  12 , which is mounted on the implement mounting plate of the skid steer loader, which would be the orientation of an operator seated in the skid steer loader to which the blower apparatus  10  would be mounted, and facing the forward direction, the normal direction of travel. The blower apparatus  10  is mounted on the implement mounting plate at the forward end of the loader boom apparatus which is located in front of the operator&#39;s cab of the skid steer loader. One skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the instant invention are not limited to the mounting of the blower apparatus  10  on a skid steer loader as the blower apparatus  10  can be mounted on other prime movers (not shown), such as a compact tractor or perhaps an all terrain vehicle (ATV). Since the preferred embodiment is a blower apparatus  10  that is mounted on a skid steer loader, this is the embodiment shown in the drawings. 
         [0029]    The blower apparatus  10  includes a mounting frame  12  that is adapted for mounting on the implement mounting plate on the skid steer loader. Accordingly, the mounting frame  12  has a generally vertical rear plate  13  that has a retention bracket  14  along the upper horizontal edge to capture a skid steer loader implement mounting plate, as is conventional in the art of skid steer loader attachments. As is conventional in the mounting of detachable devices on skid steer loader mounting plates, the rear plate  13  would also have preferably have mounting slots  19  for engagement by the overcenter mounting clamps provided on skid steer loader mounting plates. Thus, the mounting frame  12  is configured in a conventional manner for mounting on a skid steer loader, or on any other prime mover that has a similar implement mounting structure. 
         [0030]    Extending forwardly of the rear plate  13  in a cantilevered manner is the support frame  15  on which the blower  20  is mounted for operation, as will be described in greater detail below. The mounting frame  12  includes an angled mount  16  that is preferably connected to the rear plate  13  and projecting forwardly thereof for connection to the blower  20  to support and position the blower  20  in an orientation that is angled forwardly at an acute angle to being parallel to rear plate  13 . In this orientation, the discharge spout  22  of the blower  20  is oriented to the side and forwardly with respect to the skid steer loader, which assists in the sight lines from the operator&#39;s cab of the skid steer loader as the blower apparatus  10  is being operated. The drawings depict the blower  20  in the preferred embodiment as being oriented to blow a stream of air upwardly and to the right of the skid steer loader; however, one skilled in the art will recognize that the angled mount  16  can be flipped over to mount the blower  20  so that the blower discharge spout  22  is directed forwardly and to the left of the skid steer loader. 
         [0031]    An adjustable support brace  30  is connected to the side of the support frame  15  and extends upwardly therefrom to engage the blower discharge spout  22  to help support the blower  20  on the mounting frame  12 . The use of the support brace  30  coupled with the angled mount  16  secures the blower  20  in a stable position on the mounting frame  12 . The support brace  30  is preferably formed with two telescopic members  32 ,  33  that are fixed by a click pin to allow the support brace to be connected to the support frame  15  at a selected position defined by mounting holes  17  formed therein. Furthermore, the adjustable length of the telescopic support brace  30  allows the blower  20  to be mounted in a selected upward angle for the blower discharge spout  22 . Alternatively, the support brace  30  can be of a fixed length to secure the blower discharge spout  22  at a fixed, non-adjustable angle. 
         [0032]    A connection head  35  at the distal end of the telescopic support brace  30  provides further flexibility in the support of the blower discharge spout  22 . The connection head  35  can be formed with an arcuate slot (not shown) to permit the connection head  35  to be connected to the clamp  39  that encircles the discharge spout  22  irrespective of the orientation of the connection head  35  to the clamp  39 . The clamp  39  is preferably bifurcated and secured on the connection head  35  so that the clamp  39  can be properly oriented and clamped onto the blower discharge spout  22 . 
         [0033]    A hydraulic motor  25  is operatively connected to the blower  20  to provide a source of rotational power for the internal blower fan (not shown). The hydraulic motor  25  is connected to the on-board hydraulic system carried by the skid steer loader by hydraulic lines  28  to provide a flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the hydraulic motor  25 . The operation of the hydraulic motor  25  is reversible, which permits the reverse mounting of the blower  20  on the mounting frame  12 , as compared to the orientation shown in the drawings, and the rate of flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor  25  is controlled within the enclosed skid steer loader operator cab. Accordingly, the on/off function, as well as the rate of air discharge, of the blower  20  is controlled by the operator from within the enclosed skid steer loader operator cab. 
         [0034]    Typically, the blower  20  is mounted in an orientation for either a left discharge of air or a right discharge of air, as is depicted in the drawings. The orientation of the blower  20  is not changed once selected and secured to the mounting frame  12 . The orientation of the blower discharge spout  22  can be selected and the support brace  30  mounted on the support frame  15  and extended to engage the discharge spout  22  with the clamp  39 . Once properly assembled, the blower apparatus  10  is ready to be mounted on the implement mounting plate of the skid steer loader. The operator of the skid steer loader simply positions the mounting plate under the retention bracket  14  and raises the boom slightly to elevate the rear plate  13  above the ground. The weight of the support frame  15  and the mounted blower  20  will rotate the rear plate  13  onto the skid steer loader mounting plate where the overcenter clamps (not shown) can secure the rear plate  13  onto the implement mounting plate. The operator then needs to connect the hydraulic lines  28  from the hydraulic motor  25  to the skid steer loader hydraulic system, through connection ports carried on the skid steer loader, and the blower apparatus  10  is ready to be operated. The direction of operation of the hydraulic motor  25  depends on the selected orientation of the blower  20  mounted on the mounting frame  12 . 
         [0035]    An enclosed operator cab on the skid steer loader protects the operator from the blowing dirt and debris relocated by the operation of the blower apparatus  10  to enable the operator to drive the skid steer loader along the length of the chicken house and direct a stream of air from the blower  20  through the discharge spout  22  to the structure of the chicken house. The hard to reach material at the top of the chicken house structure, or on elevated heating systems, etc., can easily be reached through raising and directing the blower discharge spout  22  through operation of the skid steer loader boom controls. Raising the boom can simply raise the blower apparatus  10  above the floor of the chicken house to reach the upper structure, while the forward tipping of the mounting plate with the rear plate  13  attached thereto will change the orientation of the blower discharge spout  22  from an upwardly directed direction to a downwardly directed direction. 
         [0036]    Thus, the manipulation of the operative controls of the skid steer loader boom will direct a stream of air from the blower discharge spout  22  anywhere along the vertical and horizontal structure of the chicken house to dislodge dirt and debris therefrom in a manner that cannot be accomplished through manually operated blowers. With the blower  20  mounted on the mounting frame  12  as shown in the drawings with the stream of air discharged to the right of the skid steer loader, the operator can travel the length of the chicken house moving the orientation of the blower discharge spout  22  up and down as the length of the chicken house is traversed to dislodge the accumulated dirt and debris from the chicken house structure and then return back along the length of the chicken house in the same manner to dislodge the dirt and debris from the opposite side of the chicken house. The collected unwanted material can then be swept up and removed from the structure by other implements mounted on the skid steer loader mounting plate. 
         [0037]    It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.