Slat replacement machine

A slat replacement machine having an elongated rectangular frame supported at each end by a tracked drive unit which provides zero turn capability to the machine. A pair of outrigger assemblies is provided at the forward end of the frame and a pair of outrigger assemblies is provided at the rearward side of the frame. The outrigger assemblies may be pivotally moved from a stowed position adjacent the frame to an outwardly extending position. A telescopic boom is pivotally mounted on the upper end of a rotatable pedestal which extends upwardly from the center of the frame. Various components of the machine such as hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic motors are radio controlled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a slat replacement machine and more particularly to a self-propelled machine which has zero turn capability and which may be used to replace concrete slats in a livestock building such as a hog confinement building or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Livestock buildings such as hog confinement buildings normally include a slatted floor suspended above a waste pit. The slatted floor is commonly comprised of a plurality of pre-cast concrete slats which are usually ten feet long and four feet wide and may weight as much as 2200 pounds. The slats have elongated spaced-apart openings or slits formed therein which permit animal waste and flush water to pass therethrough into the waste pit. The installation of the concrete slats in a new building is relatively uncomplicated due to the fact that the floor is normally installed prior to the completion of the side walls and roof of the building. Over a period of time, the concrete slats may deteriorate and may collapse causing injury or death to the animals within the building. Thus, it is frequently necessary to replace the worn slats but the replacement of the slats is complicated by the fact that the building may have narrow doors which makes it difficult to utilize large equipment to lift the worn slats from their supporting surface and remove the same from the building. Frequently, it is necessary to remove a portion of the roof of the building or a wall of the building to enable large equipment to replace the slats. The worn condition of the slats also makes it difficult to support heavy equipment thereon which is used to replace the slats.

At least one slat replacement machine has been provided for the slat replacement process but that machine is believed to be extremely expensive, inconvenient to use and requires that an operator physically be present on the machine to operate the same. It is also believed that the prior art machine does not have the necessary versatility and maneuverability that is required in the slat replacement process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A slat replacement machine is provided which comprises a generally horizontally disposed rectangular frame having a forward side, a rearward side, and opposite ends. A selectively reversibly driven tracked drive unit is mounted at each end of the frame to support the frame approximately three inches above the floor and which enables the frame to be moved forwardly, rearwardly, or in a zero turn fashion. The overall length of the frame with the tracked drive units thereon is approximately 9.5 feet with the width of the machine being approximately 32 inches so that the machine may be moved through a standard 36 inch door opening.

A pair of outrigger assemblies are secured to the forward side of the machine and a pair of outrigger assemblies are secured to the rearward side of the machine. Each of the outrigger assemblies may be moved from a stowed position adjacent the frame to an operative position extending outwardly from the frame. Each of the outrigger assemblies includes a manually operated screw jack which is used to lower the outer end of the outrigger assembly into sliding floor engagement.

A selectively rotatable pedestal is mounted on the frame at the center thereof and extends upwardly therefrom. A telescoping boom assembly is pivotally mounted on the upper end of the pedestal about a horizontal axis. The boom assembly comprises a first tube which is pivotally mounted on the upper end of the pedestal, about a horizontal axis, and which has a second tube selectively manually slidably mounted therein which may be moved between retracted and extended positions. A third tube is slidably mounted within the second tube and is moved between retracted and extended positions by means of a hydraulic cylinder which is secured to and extends between the second tube and the third tube. A lifting hook or the like is provided on the outer end of the third tube for attachment to a slat. A hydraulic cylinder is pivotally secured to and extends between the pedestal and the first tube for raising and lowering the boom assembly.

A power means such as an internal combustion engine or electric motor is provided on the frame with drives a hydraulic pump for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the various hydraulic motors and hydraulic cylinders of the machine. The hydraulic cylinders and motors are controlled by an electro-mechanical valve controller which may be either manually operated or which may be radio controlled by means of a transmitter and receiver. The receiver is positioned on the frame means and the transmitter is hand-carried by an operator who is positioned remote from the machine.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved slat replacement machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved slat replacement machine which is highly maneuverable and, versatile.

A further object of the invention is to provide a slat replacement machine which is economical of manufacture and durable in use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a slat replacement machine which does not require the presence of an operator thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a slat replacement machine which has zero turn capability.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a slat replacement machine which may be moved into a livestock building through a conventional 36 inch door opening.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a slat replacement machine which may be moved into the livestock building through the side curtain opening in the side wall or end wall of the building.

A further object of the invention is to provide a slat replacement machine which is radio controlled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The numeral10refers generally to the concrete slat replacer machine of this invention. Machine10includes an elongated, generally rectangular frame12having a first end14, a second enc16, a forward side18, and a rearward side20. A selectively reversible drive unit22is provided on end14of frame12and a selectively reversible drive unit24is provided on end16of frame12. In the preferred embodiment, drive unit22includes an endless rubber track26driven by a reversible hydraulic motor28and drive unit24includes an endless rubber track30driven by a reversible hydraulic motor32. Each of the hydraulic motors28and32are independently controllable so that the machine10has zero turn capability. Preferably, the distance from the outside of track26to the outside of track30is approximately 9.5 feet so that the machine may be positioned on a ten-foot concrete slat. Preferably, the distance between the forward side18to the rearward side20is approximately 22.5 inches while the drive units have a length of approximately thirty-two inches. Preferably, the lower end of frame12is positioned approximately three inches above the bottom of the drive units22,24.

A power means such as an internal combustion engine34, preferably diesel or electric motor, is mounted on frame12adjacent end14for driving a hydraulic pump36. Hydraulic reservoir38is fluidly connected to pump36in conventional fashion as is electro-mechanical valve controller40which is operated either manually or by radio control. Radio receiver42is mounted on frame12which is operatively connected to the valve controller40for operating the various hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic motors on the machine. Radio receiver42receives radio signals from a hand-held transmitter44carried by an operator so that the machine10is remotely controllable.

Outrigger assembly46has its inner end48pivotally secured, about a vertical axis49, to the forward side18of frame12adjacent end14. Outrigger assembly46is selectively pivotally movable from a stowed position adjacent the forward side18of frame12(FIG. 4) to an operative position wherein the length of the outrigger assembly46is substantially transversely disposed with respect to frame12(FIGS. 1,2). Outrigger assembly46includes an inner member48having an outer member50pivotally secured thereto about a horizontal axis at52. The lower outer end of outer member50is provided with a shoe54adapted to slidably engage a concrete slat or concrete floor upon which the machine10is supported or the next adjacent concrete slat. A length adjustable actuator or screw jack56is pivotally connected to and extends between members48and50so that the outer member50may be raised and lowered with respect to inner member48. An elongated brace58is selectively pinned to and extends between the outer end of outer member50and the forward side18of frame12to maintain the outrigger assembly46in its operative position. When the outrigger assembly46is positioned in its stowed position ofFIG. 4, the outer end of outer member50is pinned to frame18at59and the brace58is stowed, as will be described hereinafter. Outrigger assembly46′ is secured to the forward side18of frame12and is identical to outrigger assembly46. Outrigger assemblies46″ and46′″, which are identical to outrigger assembly46, are secured to the opposite ends of frame12at the rearward side20of frame12. Braces58′,58″ and58′″ maintain the outrigger assemblies46′,46″ and46′″ in their operative positions, respectively, as seen inFIG. 2.

The numeral60refers to an upstanding pedestal or turret which is rotatably mounted, about a vertical axis, to frame12at the center thereof. Pedestal60includes a toothed ring gear62at its lower end which is in engagement with a toothed drive gear64which is operatively secured to the drive shaft of a reversible hydraulic motor66so that pedestal60may be selectively rotated with respect to frame12. Pedestal60includes a pair of horizontally spaced-apart support members68,70, as seen in the drawings. Limit switches LS1and LS2are mounted on frame12and are engaged by brackets B1and B2, respectively, to limit the movement of pedestal60with respect to frame10. Hydraulic motor66is deactivated when either B1engages LS1or B2engages LS2.

A length adjustable boom arm assembly72is pivotally mounted on the upper end of pedestal60, as will now be described. Boom arm assembly72includes a hollow tube74which is positioned between support members68and70and which is pivotally secured thereto, about a horizontal axis, by a pivot pin assembly76. Hydraulic cylinder78is pivotally connected to and extends between pedestal60and tube74for raising and lowering the boom arm assembly72relative to pedestal60. Boom arm assembly72also includes a tube80which is slidably received within tube74. Preferably, tube80is selectively manually slidably movable with respect to tube74although a hydraulic cylinder could be employed to move tube80with respect to tube74if so desired, although the same would increase the expense of the machine10. Tube80is locked in either its extended position or in its retracted position by means of a removable pin81which extends through tubes74and80.

A tube82is slidably mounted in tube80and is selectively movable by means of a hydraulic cylinder83secured to and extending between tubes80and82within tube80. The outer end of tube82has a lifting eye84secured thereto to which will be attached a conventional slat lifting or grasping tool85for raising or lowering slat S (FIG. 3).

A pair of horizontally spaced-apart frame members or plates86and88are secured to and extend rearwardly from pedestal60and are each adapted to have counterweights90mounted thereon (FIG. 6). A lifting eye or hook92is secured to tube74so that a front end loader or crane may be attached thereto to enable the machine10to be lifted from the ground and moved into the building by way of a side or end window or lifted onto a transport vehicle or the like. Limit switches LS3and LS4are provided to limit the pivotal movement of the boom arm assembly72with respect to pedestal60. When either LS3or LS4is actuated, hydraulic cylinder78is deactivated.

The machine of this invention is extremely versatile in that it may be positioned in the stowed or transport position ofFIG. 4. In that position, the outrigger assemblies46,46′,46″ and46′″ are folded against the frame and the tube80is slidably moved inwardly into tube74with tube82being retracted. In the position ofFIG. 4, the machine may be placed upon a dolly or the like and moved through a standard thirty-six inch door. The machine may also be hoisted and lifted through a side or end window of the building.

Once the machine is within the building, it is lowered into engagement with a supporting surface, the outrigger assemblies46,46′,46″ and46′″ are pivotally moved outwardly to their operative position and the screw actuators56are operated to lower the outer ends of the outrigger assemblies into engagement with the supporting surface. If both of the drive units22and24are moved in the same direction, the machine will either move forwardly or rearwardly. If one of the drive units is moved in one direction and the other drive unit is moved in the opposite direction, the machine has zero turn capability. The hydraulic control of the drive units22and24makes the machine extremely maneuverable and versatile. The machine may be steered much like a zero turn mower. The fact that the machine may be operated by remote control lessens the chances of injury to an operator since the operator does not need to stand by the machine or sit on the machine as is the case in certain prior art machines. The compactness and versatility as well as the maneuverability of the machine makes the job of replacing slats much easier and more readily accomplished.

Although the machine of this invention is ideally suited for use in replacing slats, the machine may have other uses as well.