Patent Description:
Such a shed-cleaning vehicle is known per se, such as a manure slidethat is advanced along a chain or a Lely Discovery®.

There is also known a shed-cleaning scraper according to the preamble of claim <NUM>, as disclosed in document <CIT>.

A drawback of the known shed-cleaning vehicles is that they may form a danger to the animals in the animal shed, because the vehicle may, for example, drive up against the livestock animal, in particular against a leg. Although this is prevented in the prior art by making the vehicle, for example, drive around the animal or making it wait, this makes the control unit needlessly complicated, requires sensors and may also make control of the vehicle less flexible.

Another drawback is the fact that the livestock animals may come into contact with the manure which has been gathered by the manure slide in an adverse way. After all, the slide will be able to push a relatively large amount of manure in front of it, so that the legs, and in particular the claws, of the livestock animals may end up relatively deep in the manure, whereas it is usually one of the objectives of a manure slide to keep the claws relatively clean.

It is an object of the present invention to solve said drawbacks, at least partly, and to this end provides an autonomous shed-cleaning vehicle according to Claim <NUM>.

The shed-cleaning vehicle according to the present invention provides the livestock animals with the possibility of stepping onto the plateau, that is to say onto the vehicle, when the vehicle with a pool of manure moves in their direction, and of stepping off the plateau again at any desired moment, but often immediately afterwards. As a result thereof, the vehicle can continue without stopping and without causing injury to the animals. Furthermore, the livestock animals are thus given the option of stepping over the pool of manure via the plateau. It should be noted here that the plateau reaches beyond the manure slide and may, as it were, form a small canopy over it. In this way, the vehicle does not push the pool of manure against the legs or over the claws of the livestock animals.

It should be noted that the predetermined step height is a height which can readily be covered by the average animal of the respective species of livestock animal. Obviously, this height depends on the species and, optionally, also on the age. Ideally, the step height is tailored to the group of livestock animals in the animal shed, but it will usually be possible to choose a safe step height. Furthermore, here, the expression "the plateau (. ) is configured to be walked on by one or more of the livestock animals" is understood to mean that the plateau is able to support the weight of one or more livestock animals. In this case, the dimensions of the plateau determine the maximum number of livestock animals for which there is space on the plateau. However, in practice, this will virtually always be limited to <NUM>, although this does not have to be the case. The vehicle is additionally configured in such a way that the vehicle may also continue to drive in case there are one or more livestock animals on the plateau. Obviously, in this case, the construction of the plateau, the frame and the drive means has to be adapted to the maximum weight of the animals to be expected. It is also possible, but not according to the invention, for the vehicle to be able to support the weight, but then, for example, rests on the floor and stops moving.

Specific embodiments and further advantages will be described below. In particular, the central section is higher than at least one, and in particular each, treadboard section. Thus, it is possible to provide more volume under the central section without making it more difficult to get on. This larger volume then has more space for the motors, for batteries, the control unit, etc. In other words, one or more treadboard sections may be at a lower level than the central section in order to facilitate getting on.

In useful embodiments, the treadboard sections are situated on opposite sides, and, in particular, one treadboard section is situated on a front side of the vehicle, viewed in the intended direction of travel. Such a positioning makes it possible for the animals to walk straight across the vehicle. However, a bend is not excluded. In a useful way, a treadboard section will be situated at the front side of the vehicle, viewed in the intended direction of travel, so that a livestock animal which is approached by the vehicle can simply step onto the vehicle, onto the plateau.

In embodiments, the treadboard sections are situated entirely around the central plateau section OR animal-guiding means are situated on either side of the central plateau section which extend from a first one of the treadboard sections to a second one of the treadboard sections. In the former embodiment, a livestock animal can readily step onto the vehicle and does not run the risk of having to step down from an excessive height. However, it is also possible to provide treadboard parts, for example, only at the front and rear side, or in two other directions, in which case the animal-guiding means are provided, as described, between the treadboard parts, in order to prevent the livestock animal from stepping off the plateau at a spot between the treadboard sections. The animal-guiding means comprise, for example, fences, ropes, elevated portions, etcetera.

In embodiments, the treadboard section on the front side extends beyond a front section of manure slide. Thus, even with a large manure slide and a consequently large pool of manure in front of the slide, the livestock animal will not have to stand in this pool, but can simply stand on the plateau via the treadboard section. Conversely, the slide can then have a shape and/or size which is such that it can carry along a (very) large amount of manure in one movement without inundating the livestock animals with this pool of manure.

In embodiments, at least one, and in particular each, treadboard section on the outer edge extends substantially to floor level. Thus, it is possible for the livestock animals to walk onto and across the vehicle from, in principle, any position, so that their freedom of movement is limited as little as possible and, conversely, the vehicle has to take the livestock animals into account to the smallest possible degree. It should be noted that the treadboard sections do not have to extend entirely down to floor level on all sides, because this would result in loss of the manure slide function. At least the treadboard section on the front side will have to be at a predetermined distance over the shed floor and/or have an opening which is sufficiently wide and high to allow the manure through to the manure slide. In practice, all this will depend on the manure, such as the consistency and amount.

In specific embodiments, the step height is adjustable. Additionally or alternatively, a width of the shed-cleaning vehicle, in particular of the manure slide and of the plateau, more particularly of the manure slide and at least one treadboard section and/or the central part, is adjustable. Thus, the vehicle can be rendered suitable for different animal species, ages, or in general different step heights and for walkways of different widths. Adjustment may be effected by means of an adjustment means which is controllable by the control unit, such as a cylinder or toothed belt.

In embodiments, the drive means comprise two or more drivable wheels or an external pulling device or a motor with an engagement means for engaging with an external fixedly arranged construction, such as a toothing or chain. By means of the two or more drivable wheels, the vehicle can not only be propelled by the control unit, but can also be controlled, although a control unit is not always necessary. It should furthermore be noted that it may suffice to have <NUM> wheels if the manure slide serves as the third point of support. Nevertheless, additional, optionally controllable wheels may be provided, such as swivel wheels. Alternatively or additionally, a fixedly arranged construction may be provided with respect to which the vehicle is able to move forward, such as a chain or toothing, e.g. a cogwheel track.

In specific embodiments, the vehicle furthermore comprises a manure suction means for sucking up manure gathered by the manure slide and a manure storage container which is connected thereto for collecting and temporarily storing the sucked-up manure. The manure storage container is then situated under the plateau, in particular under the central section thereof. The risk of the pool of manure which is being pushed along coming up against the legs of the livestock animals is then reduced even further, because the dimensions of the pool can remain limited. Furthermore, it is thus possible for a vehicle which, due to the manure storage container, could in principle be voluminous to effectively take up relatively little space in the animal shed, because the animals will not walk around it, but over it.

In significant embodiments, the central section comprises an animal treatment device for treating a claw or leg of the animal. Because the animal will move across the vehicle in a relatively controlled manner, this displacement may be combined with a treatment of a leg and then in particular of a claw. Because the vehicle moves through the animal shed by itself, it is thus in principle possible to reach more animals, at least more often or more quickly.

In useful embodiments, the animal treatment device comprises a leg bath which is configured to contain, and in particular is provided with, a disinfectant for the claws of the livestock animal. Alternatively or additionally, in embodiments, the animal treatment device comprises a spray nozzle for spraying a cleaning agent or disinfectant onto a leg or claw of the livestock animal. Actually, the synergetic combination of a manure slide with a leg bath or spray nozzle for treating claws is expedient in order to ensure that the claws of as many of the livestock animals as possible are in as good a condition as possible. Obviously, the vehicle then furthermore comprises a storage container with cleaning agent or disinfectant. Furthermore, it should be noted here that any cleaning agent or disinfectant which runs off the vehicle is spread in the animal shed and will thus end up on the floor, which will have a further disinfecting effect. In this case, the majority of the agent will end up on a shed floor which has been swept by the manure slide, which is considered to be even better.

The invention also relates to an animal shed for livestock animals, in particular dairy animals, and comprising an autonomous shed-cleaning vehicle according to the invention and a floor having a walkway for the livestock animals. It will be clear that in such an animal shed, the floor is kept clean whereas the livestock animals are disturbed as little as possible and the shed-cleaning vehicle may be controlled as easily as possible. In particular, the shed-cleaning vehicle has a width which is substantially equal to the walkway, so that it can not only be easily cleaned in one attempt, but also because the vehicle then actually only has to move forward. With a chain- or cogwheel-driven vehicle, this will be clear, but for an autonomously displaceable vehicle, this makes the control unit much simpler. Obviously, other widths are not excluded, in particular larger widths than the width of the vehicle.

In specific embodiments of the animal shed, the floor is a closed floor, that is to say not a slatted floor, and furthermore a manure-collecting means comprising a collecting trough recessed into the ground and at least one opening arranged in the ground above the collecting trough are provided, wherein, in particular, all this is provided in the animal shed. Thus, a simple manure slide can scrape the manure together and subsequently push it to the manure-collecting means, where the manure is dumped in the collecting trough, through the opening(s). Alternatively or additionally, the shed-cleaning vehicle may comprise a manure suction means, as has already been described above. In that case as well, the vehicle can dump the (sucked-up) manure in the collecting trough via the opening(s), but the manure does not have to be pushed to this location over the ground, which is quicker and more hygienic.

The invention will be explained below in more detail by means of one or more exemplary embodiments and the drawing, in which:.

<FIG> shows a highly diagrammatic view of an animal shed <NUM> according to the invention for livestock animals, in this case cows <NUM>. This animal shed <NUM> comprises a feed fence <NUM> behind which there is feed <NUM>, and three rows of cubicles <NUM>. Between all this, there are two walkways <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, in the latter of which a vehicle <NUM> is moving forwards in the direction of arrow A. At the ends of the walkway <NUM>-<NUM>, there are dumping grids <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> aboveground and belowground, respectively, and manure-collecting troughs <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> which are therefore drawn in dashed lines. Details which are not relevant to the invention, such as for example water troughs, gates or a milking device, are not illustrated.

In the animal shed <NUM>, cows <NUM> are in principle free to roam in walkways <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> and intermediate lanes connecting the former (not shown separately). In the right-hand section of the animal shed <NUM>, there are cubicles <NUM> where the cows spend a large part of the day ruminating. Furthermore, reference numeral <NUM> denotes a feed fence via which fence the cows can reach feed <NUM> and which fence can be reached by the cows via the walkway <NUM>-<NUM>.

In the course of the day, the cows will deposit manure in the walkways <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, which has to be cleared quickly in order to prevent problems with the claws or legs of the cows, and furthermore in order to prevent an excessive emission of harmful gases, such as ammonia. For the removal, a shed-cleaning vehicle <NUM> according to the invention is provided. This collects manure by pushing it, in the illustrated case in the direction of the arrow A. The vehicle <NUM>, at least the manure slide thereof (which is not denoted separately here), is virtually as wide as the respective walkway <NUM>-<NUM>. Thus, the vehicle <NUM> will be able to pick up all the manure on this walkway.

When it arrives at the end of the walkway, the vehicle <NUM> will push the manure until it is over the dumping grid <NUM>-<NUM>. The manure will drop through the latter and into the manure-collecting trough <NUM>-<NUM> which is situated under the floor under the dumping grid <NUM>-<NUM>. Subsequently, the vehicle <NUM> will move in the opposite direction and will start to push the manure which has been deposited in the meantime in the direction of the dumping grid <NUM>-<NUM> using the second manure slide (which has not been denoted separately here either) on the other side, in order to dump the manure in the collecting trough <NUM>-<NUM>. Incidentally, it is not necessary for the vehicle <NUM> to have a second manure slide in order to be able to push manure backwards as well, but this is optional.

<FIG> furthermore shows that a dairy animal is situated on the vehicle <NUM>. The vehicle <NUM> can be walked on, so that it does not impede the freedom of movement of the cows <NUM>. All this will be explained in more detail below.

<FIG> shows a diagrammatic view in perspective of a vehicle <NUM>' according to the invention.

The vehicle <NUM>' comprises a plateau having a central plateau section <NUM> with, in this case, a tray <NUM> for liquid, and treadboard sections <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. Reference numeral <NUM> denotes posts and reference numeral <NUM> denotes girders which together form animal guides. Reference numeral <NUM> denotes a tank and reference numeral <NUM> a leg bath liquid. Furthermore, the vehicle <NUM>' has an adjustable plateau height h.

Here, the shed-cleaning vehicle <NUM>' is in principle suitable for displacement along a longitudinal axis which runs parallel to the girders <NUM>. When the vehicle moves along a walkway and pushes the manure thereon forward, livestock animals which are situated on the walkway will be able to walk onto the vehicle, the central plateau section <NUM> thereof, via one of the treadboard sections <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM>. The illustrated treadboard sections are stepped and have a few steps. Alternatively, it is possible to configure the treadboard sections <NUM> as straight tracks. All this depends on the incline which is to be achieved and which should not be excessive in order to prevent slipping. The incline itself depends on the height h of the central plateau section <NUM> and on the length of the treadboard sections <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> in the longitudinal direction. In practice, suitable dimensions and inclines can easily be determined.

Along the central plateau section <NUM>, optional animal guides are provided which in this case consist of posts <NUM> and girders <NUM>. The girders may be beams, ropes, chains, partitions, etcetera, as long as they can serve to guide the animals across the platform section. On the one hand, this prevents the animals from being able to walk off or fall off the central plateau section <NUM>, on the other hand, it will force the animals to walk through the tray <NUM> containing leg bath liquid <NUM>. Thus, the vehicle <NUM>' also serves as a movable leg bath. The liquid <NUM> comprises, for example, standard cleaning agent or disinfectant for the claws or legs of the livestock animals.

The tank <NUM> may contain, for example, fresh leg bath liquid which may be poured via a tap or valve (not shown) into the tray <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, the tank <NUM> may also contain manure which is removed from the pool of manure in front of the manure slide (not visible here) by pumping. For details regarding a possible embodiment of such a manure-sucking system, reference is made to the <CIT>. Other embodiments are not excluded.

It should be noted here that the tank <NUM> in its entirety is optional and that it is also possible to provide a flat plateau section <NUM>. Either the manure is pushed forward in its entirety as a pool of manure, or a slightly greater height h is opted for and the manure is stored in a low but wide tank.

<FIG> shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a shed-cleaning vehicle <NUM>" according to the invention. Throughout the drawing, similar sections are denoted by identical reference numerals, optionally provided with one or more prime signs.

The vehicle <NUM>" comprises a frame <NUM> with a height adjustment means <NUM> to which wheels <NUM> are attached. Reference numeral <NUM> denotes a manure slide which moves a pool of manure <NUM> across the shed floor <NUM>. Via a line <NUM>, the pump <NUM> pumps the pool of manure into the tank containing manure <NUM>, with reference numeral <NUM> denoting venting means.

Reference numeral <NUM> denotes a storage container for leg bath liquid which can run into the tray <NUM> via a tap <NUM> or may be sprayed via a spray nozzle <NUM>. Finally, reference numeral <NUM> denotes a control unit.

The vehicle <NUM>" is in principle suitable for moving in the direction of the illustrated arrow and the control unit is preferably configured to move the vehicle autonomously. To this end, the control unit <NUM> may independently drive, for example, the wheels <NUM>, by means of motors (not shown here). It is also possible for a steering wheel to be provided in a manner which is known per se. Other drive mechanisms, such as caterpillar tracks or the like, are also possible.

When moving, the manure slide will collect manure and other dirt present on the shed floor <NUM> and slide it forward in a pool of manure <NUM>. When a sufficient amount of manure has been gathered in the pool of manure <NUM>, the pump <NUM> may start to suck it off via the line <NUM>, towards the tank <NUM>, where manure <NUM> which has been removed by pumping will collect.

The run-on sections <NUM>-<NUM>, but in particular <NUM>-<NUM>, will have to be able to drive over the manure on the shed floor <NUM> and to this end their ground clearance will have to be sufficiently large. To this end, the control unit <NUM> may adjust the height of the frame <NUM> above the wheels <NUM> by means of the height adjustment means <NUM>. It should be noted that the ground clearance preferably remains limited, at least to such a degree that the step height on the treadboard sections <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> remains comfortable for the animals in the animal shed. Incidentally, most manure is so thinly liquid that a ground clearance of a few centimetres will already suffice, which does not form a problem for the animals.

The storage container <NUM>, incidentally not to scale, contains a supply of cleaning agent or liquid disinfectant. This liquid serves either to replenish the leg bath liquid in the tray <NUM> via the tap <NUM> or, alternatively or additionally, to be sprayed onto the claws of passing animals via an optional spray nozzle <NUM>. Thus, a good claw health of the animals can be ensured even more securely.

<FIG> diagrammatically shows a top view, in partial cross section, of an alternative shed-cleaning vehicle <NUM>‴ according to the invention. The vehicle comprises a frame <NUM>' which is connected to a chain <NUM>, which is wound onto and unwound from two drums <NUM> by means of motors <NUM> (in each case one is shown). The manure slide comprises a central manure slide section <NUM>-<NUM> and two manure slide side sections <NUM>-<NUM> which are adjustable by means of cylinders <NUM>. In addition, a cover annex plateau <NUM>' is illustrated by a dashed line.

The vehicle <NUM>‴ is a very simple embodiment of a manure slide which can be moved to and fro by means of the chain <NUM>, as a result of the fact that the motor <NUM> winds up the drum <NUM>, or as a result of the fact that a second motor winds up a second drum at the other end of the chain <NUM> in order to move the vehicle back.

The width of the vehicle <NUM>‴ is in principle determined by the width of the manure slide <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. This width is adjustable because the cylinders <NUM> can adjust the angle which the manure slide side sections <NUM>-<NUM> make with the central manure slide section <NUM>-<NUM>. The cylinders are, for example, hydraulic, pneumatic or electrohydraulic cylinders. Alternatively, electrical spindles etcetera are possible as actuators. Furthermore, it is also possible to configure the manure slide side sections <NUM>-<NUM> to be telescopic instead of pivotable. In that case one side section <NUM>-<NUM> will already be sufficient.

The cover <NUM>' illustrated by dashed line again serves as a plateau which can be walked on for the livestock animals. In this case, the cover/the plateau <NUM>' may be opted to be width-adjustable, with plateau side sections and similar parts as for the manure slide. Alternatively, it is possible for the plateau/the cover <NUM>' to be a fixed part, i.e. with a fixed width. For example, this is sufficient if the variation in width of the manure slide is so small that the risk of livestock animals walking past the vehicle is very small. If every side section <NUM>-<NUM> can for example be moved sideways by only <NUM> at most, the risk of the animals not stepping onto the plateau <NUM>' is very small.

Claim 1:
Shed-cleaning vehicle (<NUM>) for removing manure from a shed floor in an animal shed (<NUM>) for livestock animals (<NUM>), in particular dairy animals, comprising:
- a frame (<NUM>) with drive means (<NUM>) for moving the vehicle across the shed floor,
- a control unit (<NUM>) for the drive means to make the vehicle move autonomously in an intended direction of travel,
- a manure slide (<NUM>) for moving manure (<NUM>) across the shed floor, and
- a plateau which is configured such that it can be walked on by one or more of the livestock animals,
wherein the plateau extends over the vehicle over an upper side thereof, with a central plateau section (<NUM>) and in each case a treadboard section (<NUM>) on at least two sides of the central plateau section which is situated on an outer edge of the plateau at most at a predetermined step height connected to the type of livestock animal,
wherein the shed-cleaning vehicle with the drive means is configured for moving the vehicle together with the one or more livestock animals on the plateau.