EXTRACTOR

Abstract: The extractor (21), which is used especially for the removal of dung from animal accommodation (20), includes a cyclone separator (1), a feed pipe-run (3) with pipes and a fan (2) connected to this, these being arranged to suck air from the cyclone separator and create a vacuum in it, by means of which air flows from the feed pipe-run (3) and with it particles which go to the cyclone separator (1), in which the particles are separated by gravity from the carrying air. The extractor includes a balance member (11), which is arranged to switch the fan (2) off when the cyclone separator (1) has filled. The cyclone separator (1) includes a turnable base (8) and the fan (2) includes an extract pipe (6), the end (7) of which is located close to the openable base (8) in such a way that the extract air blast turns the open base (8) back close to the closed position, when the vacuum in the cyclone separator (1) finally pulls it shut.

Description: EXTRACTOR The object of the invention is an extractor, which includes a cyclone separator, a feed pipe-run with pipes and a fan connec- ted to the cyclone, which fan is arranged to suck air from the cyclone separator and create a vacuum in it, by means of which air flows from the feed pipe to the cyclone separator, and with it particles, the particles being separated by gravity from the carrying air in the separator. The extractor in accordance with the invention is intended to be used especially for the cleaning of animal accommodation by collecting the litter used in animal accommodation. The invention is also concerned with a dung removal system for animal accommodation, in particular horse stables. The removal of dung from animal accommodation, especially horse stables, takes place mainly by hand, by collecting the used litter with a shovel and other hand tools, e.g. a wheelbarrow, by means of which it can be transported to the collection heap. It is not possible to use normal extractors, on account of their low power. The amount of the mass to be moved is also considera¬ ble. Several vacuum extractors are known, in which a fan sucks air to create a vacuum in the storage space, which creates a flow in the feed pipe-run. The end of the pipe-run includes a nozzle, by means of which the mass can be collected. The air is led tangen- tially to the tank, when the particles drop and separate from the carrying air. The suction takes place from above in the centre of the storage tank. The suction of large quantities of substances leads to a large cyclone, in which case its operation is difficult. The intention of the invention is to create an extractor inten¬ ded for the removal of large quantities, and by means of it a dung removal system for animal accommodation. The characteristic features of the invention are presented in the accompanying Patent Claims. The main principle of the invention is to make the extractor automatically emptying, in which case the cyclone tank can be made quite small. Naturally the extractor is located in the roof, so that the dung-heap forms beneath it. The extrac¬ tor in accordance with the invention can be installed, for example, outside of a building, when the removal of the dung-heap takes place simply in large amounts at a time. Other advantageous forms of application * of the invention are shown in connection with the later example of its application. Figure 1 shows the extractor in cross-section Figure 2 shows the extractor seen from above Figure 3 shows the extractor seen from beneath Figure 4 shows a dung removal system for a stable The extractor is advantageously arranged to hang from a roof or the wall of a building and space is reserved beneath for the collection of the heap. The main components of the extractor are a cyclone 1, a feed pipe-run 3, a fan 2, and an output pipe-run 6. The cyclone 1 is principally formed of a cylindrical tank 4 and a plate-like base 8. The fan 2 is located above the cyclone tank and its suction duct 5 is arranged in the centre of the cyclone. The feed pipe-run 3 is connected tangentially to the cyclone. Bracket 10 is attached to the upper part of the cyclone, and from it the entire extractor is suspended by bar 11, which is in turn suspended by a joint from the ceiling or similar. There is a counter-weight at the opposite end of bar 11 to the extractor, by means of which the operating setting of the cyclone 1 can be adjusted. A limit-switch 12 is located on the ceiling or similar in the line of movement of bar 11, and switches the fan 2 off. The base 8 then opens, and the mass collected in the cyclone 1 drops down. At the same moment the weight of the extractor becomes less, so that the counter-weight of bar 11 raises it and correspondingly the limit-switch 12 closes and the fan 2 starts. The output pipe-run 6 of the fan 2 is arranged in such a way that it end 7 directs the flow of air against the base plate 8 and turns it to the closed position. The base plate 8 has a curved flange 14 that collects a damming pressure, and a coun¬ ter-weight 15 is attached to it at the end of an arm. Due to the effect of the vacuum inside the cyclone 1, base 8 closes tightly and the operation of the extractor begins all over again. The base 8 is attached to tank 4 by means of a hinge 9. In hinge 9 the axle pin is able to move inside a vertical runner, so that the base 8 has also a vertical movement tolerance on the hinge side. This is important, because when it drops down, the mass can adhere to the base 8, and this is sucked off the edge of the tank 4 during the closing phase, and the base 8 closes complete¬ ly. In the test equipment, the power of the fan motor has been about 11 k , and the capacity of the cyclone separator about 0,6 m . In place of the balance member it is possible to use a surface height sensor, which is in the same way arranged to switch off when the cyclone separator fills. The surface height measurement is in that way more advantageous that it is independent of the density of the mass. The density of the dung and litter can vary, in which case a solution based on a balance is not accura¬ te. Any known sensor solution, which can be applied to particle and mixed masses can be used as a surface height sensor. In practical tests, the control based on a balance member has worked well. Figure 4 shows the use of an extractor in accordance with the invention in a stable dung removal system. The essential feature of the system lies in the fact that the central extractor 21 is located outside the stable at such a height that there is space for the dung collection heap beneath it. The base 8 of the extractor 21 opens for the emptying of the cyclone 1. The system includes operating devices in the base 8 to open and close it. These operating devices are most advantageously similar to those described above, but in principle other kinds of operating devices can be adapted to this .purpose. The total system is extremely useful, even though the operating devices would be completely manually operated, that is, without automation. A main vacuum pipe 16 (fό 160 mm) is connected to the central extractor 21, and further branch pipes 17 (ø 110 mm) are con¬ nected to it, one to each four stalls 20, located at the edge of the passage between the stalls. Each branch pipe 17 is connected to the side of the main vacuum pipe 16. Its bottom then remains complete, which is necessary from the point of view of the danger of blockage. The end of each branch pipe 17 is equipped with a plug, in place of which the end of a flexible pipe 18 is connected. By means of a nozzle 19 the dung and used litter can be collected precisely, leaving the unused litter in place.

Claims: Patent Claims 1. A dung removal system for animal accommodation, such as especially stables, in which the used litter is collected and removed from the animal accommodation (20) to a collection heap, from which the litter is moved for transportation in larger amounts, characterized in that the system includes a central extractor (21) , located above the collection heap, a pipe-run (16, 17) connecting the heap and the animal accommodation, and a suction nozzle (19) with a flexible pipe (18) to collect the mass, and that the central extractor (21) is equipped with an openable base (8) and its operating equipment for emptying the extractor (21) onto the heap. 2. An extractor, which includes a cyclone separator (1), a feed pipe-run (3) with pipes and a fan (2) connected to it, and which is arranged to suck air from the cyclone separator and create a vacuum in it, by means of which air flows from the feed pipe-run (3) , and with it particles of the mass to be collected, to the cyclone separator (1) , in which the particles are separa¬ ted from the carrying air by means of the effect of gravity, characterized in that the extractor includes a balance member (11, 12) and/or a surface height measuring member, and connected to it a limit switch, which is arranged to switch off the fan (2) when the cyclone separator (1) has filled, and that the cyclone separator (1) includes a turnable base (8) and that the fan (2) includes a extract pipe (6) , the end (7) of which is located close to the openable base (8) in such a way that the extract air blast turns the open base (8) back close to the closed position, when the vacuum in the cyclone separator finally pulls it shut. 3. An extractor in accordance with Patent Claim 2, charac¬ terized in that the base (8) is attached to the foot of the cyclone separator (1) by means of a hinge (9) , in which the hinge pins are arranged to move in a vertical runner, by means of which the hinge side of the base (8) can moved slightly vertically also on the hinge side. 4. An extractor in accordance with Patent Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the balance member includes a hanger bar (11) , which is suspended from the ceiling or similar by means of a joint and to the one end of which the extractor is suspended by means of joint, and the other * end of which includes a coun¬ ter-weight (13), and that a switch (12) operating the fan (2) is located on the path of the hanger bar (11) . 5. An extractor in accordance with one of Patent Claims 2 - 4, characterized in that the base (8) includes a curving flange (14) to collect the damming pressure beneath the base.

Inventors: KANGAS JARMO MATTI, KANGAS, JARMO, MATTI
Applicants: KANGAS JARMO MATTI, KANGAS, JARMO, MATTI
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A01K1
IPC codes: A01K1