Abstract:
A floor arrangement for use with livestock such as in a barn is in the form of a concrete panel and includes plural spaced, elongated, linear flumes, or channels, disposed within the panel and extending its length. Each flume is generally cylindrical in shape and opens to the upper surface of the panel via a narrow slot in the upper surface. Animal waste enters the flume via its upper slot and is carried away by flowing water introduced at a first end of the flume and discharged at a second, opposed end. The panel&#39;s upper surface is notched to provide safe, stable footing for the animals, with the notches terminating in a slot to facilitate discharge of animal waste into the spaced flumes. The floor is comprised of plural connected panels, with the flumes of adjacent floor panels aligned to provide continuous flow channels extending the entire floor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to a floor for use in an area or structure used by livestock, and is particularly directed to a concrete floor such as for use in a barn containing livestock which provides safe footing for the animals and facilitates removal and discharge of animal waste. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A floor used in an agricultural building containing livestock is typically comprised of poured concrete. The upper surface of the concrete floor is typically provided with parallel, spaced grooves for animal foot traction. The animal waste is typically discharged into a pit, known as a digester, with methane given off by the waste used for generating electricity on the farm. Solid residue recovered may be used as a fertilizer or as mulch. The animal waste must be provided to the digester while the methane is still in a useable form, or typically within eight (8) hours of discharge. The concrete floor slopes to facilitate removal of the animal waste. A hand tool is typically applied to the concrete&#39;s upper surface to incorporate the aforementioned grooves therein before the concrete sets. Even with these grooves, the concrete floor must be frequently swept, washed down or otherwise cleared of debris to prevent accumulation of animal waste. 
   This approach is not without its problems. For example, dairy livestock, i.e., cows, are characteristically quite awkward and frequently slip and fall down, causing injury to the animal. If the injury is serious, the cow may have to be destroyed. Even a minor injury requires that additional care be taken of the injured cow by the farmer, with the injured cow&#39;s milk production typically reduced as a result of the injury. In addition, the floor&#39;s surface grooves frequently become obstructed with solid waste preventing waste removal. This condition does not promote the health of the animals, and makes the floor itself more hazardous and likely to cause injury to the animals. 
   The present invention overcomes the aforementioned limitations of prior art floors such as used in a barn for livestock by facilitating the removal of animal waste from the floor using a unique flushing system while providing a high strength support surface which affords stable footing and promotes the health and safety of the animals. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a clean, safe flooring arrangement for use with livestock such as in a barn. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a flooring arrangement for use with livestock which facilitates the removal of animal waste and provides safe, stable footing for the animals. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a floor which is particularly adapted for use with livestock, of high strength, easily fabricated and assembled, safe for the animals, and promotes sanitary conditions. 
   The present invention contemplates a floor arrangement for use with livestock comprising: a poured concrete panel; a textured upper surface on said concrete panel for providing firm footing for the livestock; and plural flumes disposed within an upper surface of said concrete panel and extending between opposed first and second ends of said concrete panel, wherein the flumes are disposed in a spaced manner between opposed lateral edges of the concrete panel and allow for removal of animal waste from the upper surface of the concrete panel. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The appended claims set forth those novel features which characterize the invention. However, the invention itself, as well as further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like reference characters identify like elements throughout the various figures, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of a flume floor panel in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of a flume floor panel in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view showing additional details of the inventive flume floor panel; 
       FIG. 4  is an upper perspective view shown partially in phantom of another embodiment of a flume floor panel in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view of an end portion of the inventive flume floor panel showing details of the manner in which a water supply may be coupled to the panel for flushing animal waste from the panel; 
       FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view of an arrangement for forming the flumes in the inventive flume floor panel in accordance with another aspect of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is a partial end-on view of a pair of flume floor panels showing the manner in which adjacent floor panels are positioned in edge-abutting contact in a sealed manner. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an upper perspective view of a flume floor panel  10  in accordance with the principles in the present invention. The flume floor panel  10  is preferably comprised of cast concrete which in one embodiment is 20 feet in length, 12 feet in width, and is on the order of 8½ inches. The inventive flume floor panel  10  is, of course, not limited to these specific dimensions, as these dimensions are provided only by way of example of one embodiment of the present invention. 
   Disposed on the upper surface of the flume floor panel  10  is a criss-cross pattern of elongated surface grooves, or notches,  24 . The surface grooves  24  are formed in the flume floor panel  10  by providing a form within which the concrete is poured with a matching set of linear, upraised elements for engaging and forming these surface grooves  24  in the upper surface of the panel. This concrete form and the manner in which the flume floor panel  10  is formed are described in detail below. The surface grooves  24  provide the panel&#39;s upper surface with a rough texture so as to increase the frictional engagement of the panel&#39;s upper surface with the hooves of an animal standing on the flume floor panel  10 . In this manner, the animals are provided with firm footing on the flume floor panel  10 , even when wet, for substantially reducing the susceptibility of the animals to slipping on the panel and falling, resulting in injury. The pattern of the surface grooves  24  preferably covers the entire upper surface of the flume floor panel  10 , with the individual grooves preferably being on the order of ¾″ deep. 
   Disposed within the flume floor panel  10  and extending the length thereof are plural spaced, linear flumes, or channels,  14 . Flumes  14  are arranged in a spaced manner across the width of the flume floor panel  10  and extend its length. Each of the flumes includes plural spaced upper slots  20   a - 20   d  and a lower cylindrical channel  18  as shown for the uppermost flume  15  in FIG.  1 . The lower cylindrical channel  18  of flume  15  extends in a continuous manner from one end of the panel to its other end. The flume&#39;s upper slots  20   a - 20   d  are continuous with its lower cylindrical channel  18  and allow animal waste deposited on the upper surface of the flume floor panel  10  to flow into the lower cylindrical channels of the flume  15 . A similar arrangement is provided for the other flumes within the flume floor panel  10 . In a preferred embodiment, each of the upper slots is 1½″ in width and the cylindrical channels are 4½″ in diameter. Each of the flumes preferably slopes within the flume floor panel  10  allowing fluid within the flumes to flow under gravity from a first end of the panel to a second, opposed end of the panel. Similarly, each of the surface grooves  24  is sloped downwardly toward an adjacent slot within a flume to facilitate flow of fluids on the surface of the flume floor panel  10  into the spaced flumes disposed within the panel. Also disposed within the flume floor panel  10  are four threaded lift brackets  26   a - 26   d  which facilitate lifting and moving the panel after it is poured. The threaded lift brackets  26   a - 26   d  are described in detail below. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a sectional view of another flume floor panel  30  in accordance with the present invention. Flume floor panel  30  also includes plural spaced flumes  34  disposed on its upper surface. Disposed within the flume floor panel  30  adjacent its lower surface is a wire mesh  36  which extends substantially the entire length and width of the panel. Wire mesh  36  is comprised of a high strength metal such as steel for reinforcing the flume floor panel  30 . Also disposed within the flume floor panel  30  and extending the length thereof are plural spaced prestressed steel cables  33  for further increasing the strength of the panel. The prestressed steel cables  33  and the wire mesh  36  are positioned within the form used in fabricating the flume floor panel  30  prior to the concrete pouring operation. Also disposed within the flume floor panel  30  are the aforementioned plural threaded lift brackets, where only two of the lift brackets are shown as elements  42  and  44  in the sectional view of  FIG. 2  for simplicity. There are preferably four threaded lift brackets within the flume floor panel  30 , as previously described with respect to the flume floor panel  10  shown in FIG.  1 . 
   A partial sectional view of the flume floor panel  30  is shown in  FIG. 3  to illustrate additional details of the threaded lift brackets, where the first threaded lift bracket  42  is shown disposed between adjacent flumes  34  within the flume floor panel  30 . Threaded lift bracket  42  extends between the upper and lower surfaces of the flume floor panel  30  and includes upper and lower threaded portions for receiving one or two threaded coupling pins, such as bolts (which are not shown in the figure for simplicity). By inserting one or two bolts in each of the threaded lift brackets, the flume floor panel  30  may be easily lifted by a hoist mechanism (also not shown) using cables attached to the threaded lift brackets. This facilitates moving the flume floor panel after fabrication such as for transport and installation. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown partially in phantom an upper perspective view of a flume floor panel  50  showing additional details of the invention. As in the previously described embodiments, the flume floor panel  50  includes plural spaced flumes  52  extending the length of the panel and positioned within the upper surface of the panel. The surface grooves have been omitted from the upper surface of the flume floor panel  50  shown in  FIG. 4  so that other features of the panel can more clearly be illustrated, it being understood that these grooves are also preferably incorporated in the panel shown in FIG.  4 . Also disposed within the panel are plural mesh reinforcing strips  56   a - 56   e  arranged in a spaced manner along the length of the panel and extending substantially its entire width. Each of the mesh reinforcing strips  56   a - 56   e  is preferably comprised of a high strength steel and is disposed adjacent the upper surface of the panel in those locations where the upper slots of the flumes are not present. 
   Disposed on opposed edges of the flume floor panel  30  are plural spaced dowels  62  which are also preferably comprised of a high strength metal such as steel. Each of the dowels  52  is disposed within a respective slot in an edge of the flume floor panel  30  and is adapted for insertion in a corresponding slot in an adjacent panel arranged in abutting contact with flume floor panel  30 . The plural dowels  62  secure and couple adjacent ends of flume floor panels and maintain them in alignment. Also disposed within the ends of the flume floor panel  30  are plural spaced water couplings  54 . Each of the water couplings  54  extends beyond the edge of the flume floor panel  30  and is continuous with a respective flume within the panel. The water couplings  54  allow a source of water to be connected to each of the flumes within the panel as shown for the case of flume  66  disposed adjacent the right hand edge of the flume floor panel  30  as shown in FIG.  4 . Flume  66  is coupled to a source of water  60  by means of the combination of a water coupling  64  and a water conduit  58 . The source of water  60  is shown coupled to only one flume  66  for simplicity, it being understood that the source of water would similarly be coupled to the remaining flumes disposed within the flume floor panel  30 . By connecting a source of water  60  under pressure to each of the flumes at one end of the panel, animal waste deposited within the flumes may be flushed from the panel and discharged from its opposite end such as into a digester for decomposition as well as the generation of electricity. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a simplified sectional view of an end portion of a flume floor panel  70  and the manner in which a water coupling  76  extends into and is connected to the panel&#39;s flume  72 . Water coupling  76  extends from an outer edge of the panel into its flume  72 . It is formed by positioning the water coupling  76  within the form in which the panel is formed prior to the pouring of concrete. Water conduit  76  is disposed between an upper surface of the flume floor panel and its lower base portion  70   a . The upper portion of the flume floor panel  70  as shown in the sectional view of  FIG. 5  includes an inner edge  74  defining an end of the upper slot portion of the flume  72  shown in the figure. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a simplified sectional view of an arrangement for forming a flume within a flume floor panel in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. A lower portion of the form  80  used in forming a flume floor panel in accordance with the present invention includes a plastic bottom portion  82  having a textured upper surface  82   a . Prior to pouring the concrete into the form  80 , an elongated, linear slot insert  84  is positioned within a lower portion of the form  80  and within an aperture in the form&#39;s plastic bottom portion  82 . The elongated slot insert  84  is used for forming a linear slot within the upper surface of the flume floor panel. Disposed within the elongated slot insert  84  is a T-insert  86  which is maintained in a generally vertical orientation as shown in the figure by the elongated slot insert. The upper portion of the T-insert  86  is positioned within a narrow slot  88   a  extending the length of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe  88  which is disposed on the elongated slot insert  84 . The combination of the elongated slot insert  84  and T-insert  86  maintains the PVC pipe  88  securely in position within the form  80  during the pouring of concrete. After the concrete is poured and cures, the form  80  is turned over and the plastic bottom portion  82  of the form is removed from the upper surface of the thus-formed flume floor panel and the combination of the elongated slot insert  84  and T-insert  86  is removed from the upper surface of the flume floor panel. The elongated, linear PVC pipe  88  is then withdrawn from an end of the panel in a sliding manner. The panel is thus formed with plural flumes each having an upper slot in the upper surface of the panel and a lower cylindrical channel continuous with the slot as previously described. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a simplified end-on view of a pair of flume floor panels  94  and  96  arranged in an abutting manner along their lateral edges in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. Flume floor panel  94  includes plural flumes such as flume  98 . Similarly, flume  96  includes plural flumes including flume  100 . Upper lateral edges of each of the flume floor panels  94  and  96  include a notched-out portion allowing for the insertion of a backer rod  102  between the panels when placed in edge-abutting contact as shown in FIG.  7 . Backer rod  102  maintains the two flume floor panels in common alignment along their abutting lateral edges. A joint sealant  104  is deposited within the notched-out portions above the backer rod  102  to prevent fluids and other materials from entering the space between panels  94  and  96  and for preventing these materials from contacting the backer rod  102 . 
   While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the relevant art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.