Scraper for animal stalls

A scraper for removing debris from the floor of an animal stall is provided with a first motorized drum, a second motorized drum, a cable extending between the first and second drums, a scraper and a switch tripper carried by the cable. The switch tripper actuates a switch in communication with the first motorized drum to stop and reverse direction of the scraper and cable.

This invention relates to equipment for animal husbandry. More specifically the invention relates to a scraper device particularly suited for clean up of cattle confinement areas such as barns, free stalls and pits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various scraper devices have heretofore been utilized for the clean up of cattle stalls and barns. Typically such devices employ some type of scraper blade. With conventional blades, however, clean up efficiency is reduced by the fact that if a straight blade encounters an irregularity in the floor surface, a one piece blade is caused to rise up and thus leave areas which are not scraped clean.

One type of scraper assembly is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,137 wherein a pair of scraper blades are hingedly connected to a frame. However, to allow the blades to move vertically the device of that patent requires that the blades be formed of several components which are loosely bolted together, thus reducing the ability to maintain downwardly directed scraping forces.

A need has existed for improved scraper devices for use in cleaning up of animal manure from floor surfaces that enable improved cleanup of floor surfaces that are characterized by various surface irregularities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved scraper mechanism particularly useful in cleaning up of stalls such as free stalls wherein animals are free to roam within the stall structure.

Alley scrapers of the present invention keep barn alleys clean. Clean alleys contribute to better animal health with fewer foot problems and a better overall barn environment. Clean alleys also provide safer conditions for both animals and workers with better footing. Clean alleys mean less animal stress, fewer muscle strains, and fewer fall downs. Healthy, less stressed animals give better milk production. Alley scrapers are easy to install in new barns or retrofitted to existing barns, with or without guide grooves in the floor. Pre-wired terminal boxes and unitized construction make installation of the present invention in barns quite simple.

A device for cleaning animal waste from stalls is disclosed, the device having a first motorized drum; a second motorized drum; a cable extending between said first and said second motorized drums; a scraper carried by said cable; a switch tripper carried by said cable; a switch in communication with said first motorized drum; said switch responsive to said switch tripper to perform at least one of the following: moving the cable in a first direction, moving the cable in a second direction, and stopping movement of said cable.

In preferred embodiments, the switch is carried by a housing, which also carries an override stop between the switch and the first drum.

A method of operating an alley scraper is also disclosed, wherein a time-independent switch is operable to slide said alley scraper a predetermined distance.

Longer alleys can be cleaned by adding more scraper blades.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, there is seen a scraper assembly10of the present invention. Assembly10comprises first and second drum houses20, a wire30, a scraper40, a draw bar50, and wheels60if the user desires a multiple alley configuration.

The wire30runs between the two drum houses20, around two wheels60in the displayed configuration, although more or less wheels60may be used in accordance with a desired configuration.

When one of the drums80within one of the drum housings20is operated in a forward direction (pulling cable) the second drum is allowed to operate in a reverse direction (feeding out cable) by disengaging a motor driving the reverse direction drum. Because of the gearing described later, the dead motor and drum will provide a sufficient drag on the scraper assembly10such that the cable30will be kept desirably taught.

In the preferred embodiment, two switch trippers90are provided closest in proximity to limit switch housings70relative to any scraper40in the direction of cable travel. As will be described later, the switch trippers90serve to trip switches in communication with the motorized drums80, to first move the cable30(and all scrapers attached to the cable30) in a first direction toward one of the drums80, next to stop the cable30and scrapers once the switch trippers90reach a portion of a limit switch housing70, and next to reverse direction of the cable30, so that the cable30is moving away from the first drum80and being drawn into the second drum80.

This embodiment also allows for less than half of the entire cable length to be placed on a single drum80, whereas the prior art mainly required a single drum has to be large enough to hold all of the cable at once.

In a preferred embodiment, an axis of the drum80(or the entire housing20carrying the drum) is canted at a slight angle Ø from perpendicular between the direction of the cable30and the axis of the drum80, such that winding the cable30onto the drum80is promoted in an orderly winding fashion. This angle Ø thus allows (but does not require) the user to forego use of a cable winder as is present in the prior art, as rotating of drum80winds cable30onto the drum promoted along the axis of the drum80.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a top view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the scraper assembly10is equipped without wheels60, for a single alley configuration.

Referring now toFIG. 3, a side view of the drum housing20and the limit switch housing70is shown.

In commercial embodiments, an efficient drive unit comprises an electric motor130through a ratio heavy duty gear box, comprising driving belt140, in turn driving wheel150, in turn driving (next components displayed onFIG. 4) high speed sprocket160, in turn driving a chain155, in turn driving a larger, slower sprocket170, in turn driving a chain155, in turn driving a larger, slower sprocket180, in turn driving a chain155, in turn driving a larger, slower sprocket190, until finally a chain155(remaining components shown inFIG. 3again) drives drum80at a rate reduced from the turning speed of the motor130. In a preferred embodiment, an approximately 1750 to 1 reduction is provided, meaning one revolution per minute of the drum80for every 1750 revolutions per minute from the motor130. Also preferred, wheels190mounted on a pivot with springs keep slack out of the roller chains155.

In a preferred embodiment, this arrangement transfers power to the drive drum80via #60 roller chain for a safe scraper speed of preferably 6 feet per minute, although preferred speed may be application specific. The drive unit also preferably features easily accessible, greaseable 1½″ ball bearings210, carried by cross bar200, to support the drive drum80. The thrust of the bearing210is taken by the cross bar200a preferable 45° angle so there is no pull on it.

In commercial embodiments, the cable capacity of the drum will approximate 360 feet of ⅜″ cable, as one scraper blade stroke has been found to efficiently clean 300 feet of alley, although again preferences may be application specific. Of course, larger or smaller mechanical components could be used and this is also application specific.

For control of the unit10, several control boxes/switches are designated throughout the drawings at CB/S, where typically controls such as stop, go, reverse and forward can be advantageously provided to manually control the unit10.

Referring now toFIG. 5a side view of an embodiment of a limit switch housing70is shown. As can be seen, when the switch tripper90approaches the housing70along cable30, the switch tripper90will engage limit switch operating arm75sending a control to CB/S by actuation of switch72. It is preferred that switch72stop cable30upon actuation and then reverse direction of switch tripper90(and the scrapers behind it).

When two switch trippers90are used in conjunction with two housings70and two limit switch operating arms75, such as shown inFIGS. 1or2, it will be understood that the scrapers will can run in a continuous mode continuously reversing direction of travel toward and away from one of the drum housings20to automate alley scraping.

Alternatively, the system can be equipped with sufficient controls at one of the CB/S to operate in a single-cycle mode, wherein the switch tripper90will travel through a single cycle from its start position, through a reversal, and then return to its start position, providing a single alley sweep. In this respect, the present invention differs from the prior art in that the prior art primarily operated continuously, or through a time-dependent setting such as 15 minute run time. The single cycle mode is thus considered time-independent.

Still referring toFIG. 5, a fail-safe is provided at fail-safe arm77actuating fail-safe switch76, which is intended to be a system shutoff. Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 4, in conjunction withFIG. 5, if fail-safe arm77should fail to actuate fail-safe switch76and shut the system down, a secondary failsafe door100is provided that is pivotally coupled to the housing20, and communicatively coupled with secondary fail-safe rod120, intended to shut down the system through secondary fail-safe switch130.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), a speed change switch may be provided so that at start-up of the system, if slack is present such as if the scraper is on frozen manure, the speed change switch can account for the slack or speed change from start winding to run winding. With a single phase motor provided, cable30may be impreferably tight enough that when switch tripper90gets to limit switch housing70, cable30could relax and turn one of the motors130backwards. A centrifugal on a shaft carrying one of the sprockets may be provided. Alternatively, an overrunning clutch could be provided on the motors130.

The configurations described above may be modified by inclusion of any number of drum houses or wheels, to fit the application or as a user desires. In this manner, one or more drum houses20may be used in conjunction with zero, one or more wheels60to configure a scraper system.

Further modifications and variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention should be considered limited only by the scope of the following claims and including equivalents thereof.