EP1804572A1

EP1804572A1 - A wall element

Info

Publication number: EP1804572A1
Application number: EP05757989A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bjarne Kongsgaard
Original assignee: Ikadan System AS
Current assignee: Ikadan System AS
Priority date: 2004-07-09
Filing date: 2005-07-08
Publication date: 2007-07-11
Also published as: EP1804572A4; WO2006005346A1; JP2008505266A

Abstract

A wall element (1), particularly a partitioning element, including a number of shell elements (2), which are interconnected along a vertical plane (3) and designed with one or more wall zones (4) which are symmetrical about a horizontal plane of symmetry (5), and where each of the wall zones (4) of the shell elements (2) has different thickness.

Description

A WALL ELEMENT

Scope of the Invention

The present invention concerns a wall element, particularly a partitioning element, including a number of shell elements which are interconnected along a vertical plane and designed with one or more wall zones which are symmetrical about a horizontal plane of symmetry.

The present invention furthermore concerns a method for making a wall element.

Background of the Invention

With regard to animal welfare and working environment, in a stable where many animals are staying, the indoor climate is important. Therefore, ventilation systems are installed, providing regular replacement of the air in the stable.

In these ventilation systems, motors are mounted for driving ventilators and/or blowers that provide for the required exchange of air. In order to achieve an acceptable indoor climate, the ventilators and/or the blowers are to run for a large part of the 24 hours of a day, entailing large expenses for power.

In modern stables, there are typically some partitionings so that the various animals can stay there individually or in small groups. The partitionings consist of wall elements placed on the stable floor. Regrettably, the wall elements contribute to impeding the air flow through the stable. Actually, there may be areas in the stable where no air exchange occurs, which is disadvantageous for the animals staying in these areas.

In order to ensure sufficient air exchange in the entire stable, fresh air is blown in by means of ventilation units or larger ventilators and/or blowers which are mounted in the stable, and which are running all the day, thus increasing power consumption. By designing the wall elements as lattice work, the air flow may occur relatively unhindered. The lattice work is typically made of rustproof or surface-coated metal, so that it may resist the aggressive stable environment.

A disadvantage of wall elements which are made with a metal lattice work is that it is relatively expensive to equip an entire stable with the above wall elements. Besides, wall elements made of metal lattice work do not provide for animal welfare, as the animals may easily be injured when they walk into, kick on or bite in the metal rods.

A further drawback of large ventilation systems for ensuring the necessary air exchange in the stable is that draught may arise in the stable, which is unsuitable for the animals staying in the stable.

It is also possible to build the wall elements of a synthetic plastic material, which is designed with holes so that the needed air flow occurs in the delimited areas of the stable.

Such a wall element is described in EP-Bl-O 872 177, where the wall element is made up of two shell elements, and where a number of elongated apertures are formed in the wall element which are special in that they each have four edge sides with convex cross-section so that dirt and liquids cannot accumulate on the edge sides. Even though air may flow through wall elements which are designed with a number of elongated apertures, the design of the edge sides of the apertures causes the air flow to be reduced.

FR-A 1-2 712 772 shows a wall element which is designed with an upper and lower wall zone arranged symmetrically about a horizontal plane of symmetry. The upper wall zone is either closed or designed with metal lattice work, while the lower wall zone is closed and made up of a number of juxtaposed posts. This wall element has some of the above mentioned drawbacks. Object of the Invention

The purpose of the present invention is to indicate a wall element which is easy to produce and assemble and which has a flexible design while simultaneously allowing very large air through-flow.

This purpose is achieved with a wall element of the kind specified in claim 1, where each of the wall zones of the shell elements has different thickness.

Brief description of the invention A wall element according to the present invention consists of a number of shell elements, preferably two shell elements, which are interconnected along a vertical plane, where the vertical plane is either a vertical complementary plane or a vertical plane of symmetry.

If the shell elements are joined in a vertical plane of symmetry, the shapes of the shell elements are the identical, and the two sides of the wall element are also identical. This entails that possible dimensional changes occur at both sides of the vertical plane of symmetry.

If the shell elements, however, are joined in a vertical complementary plane, the shapes of the shell elements may still be identical, while the sides of the wall element are asymmetrical. An example of a identical, but asymmetrical shape is e.g. two triangles that are assembled into a rectangle, whereas an example of shell elements with different shapes e.g. is a curved shell element with a plate fitting on to the shell element.

The shell element is designed with one or more wall zones which are symmetrical about a horizontal plane of symmetry, so that the wall element may have different shapes and at the same time allow very large air flow there through. As the wall zones are symmetrical about a horizontal plane of symmetry, it is possible to assemble the wall element so that a wall zone A and a wall zone B are juxtaposed with a wall zone A and a wall zone B, respectively. It is also possible to turn one of the shell elements 180 degrees, whereby a wall zone A and a wall zone B are juxtaposed with a wall zone B and a wall zone A, respectively.

These wall zones may have different functions, why each of the wall zones of the said shell elements has different thickness, so that the wall element has e.g. a rectangular cross-section or a larger lower part and a smaller upper part when two shell elements are connected.

A stable may be divided by means of partitionings with the purpose of separating different animals. In some cases, no visual contact between the areas or access from one area to another is allowed. Hence, at least one of the said wall zones is designed with a screening plate.

hi other cases, visual contact between the areas may be desirable, so that one may look into the adjoining area or survey all areas of the stable. Therefore, at least one of the said wall zones are designed with an open area whereby at the same time free air flow may be created in the stable.

In order to ensure good air flow through the wall element and simultaneously prevent the animals from walking between the compartments in the stable, at least one of the said wall zones is designed with a number of ribs which are disposed with preferably equidistant spacing.

The ribs may be disposed with arbitrary spacing, depending on the animals in the stable. For example, there may be greater spacing between the ribs if the wall elements are intended for cattle and/or horses than if the wall elements are intended for sheep and/or pigs.

Since pigs are very inquisitive and destructive, it is of particular importance that the ribs in wall elements intended for pigs are adapted so that the pig cannot thrust its snout in between the ribs and get stuck with the snout, or bite in a rib and thereby destroy it. However, the ribs may not to be so close either that they impede the air flow in the stable. Therefore, the spacing between the ribs will be different in the wall element according to the present invention so that one may buy a wall element depending on the animals in the stable.

On the face of it, it may be preferred to use a lesser spacing to ensure that the pigs do not damage the ribs. However, when the spacing between the ribs is large, there is no risk that the pig is injured by biting in a rib. Therefore, wall elements with ribs with greater spacing may be preferred, as the consumption of material by the making thereof is less. Besides, the ribs are easier to clean and simultaneously provide greater inflow of light in the stable.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ribs are designed with one first shell element, so that the first shell element comprises a whole set of ribs, and the first shell element is connected with a second shell element, where there is a wall zone with an open area opposite the wall zone with the ribs on the first shell element.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the ribs may be divided into two parts, where a first part of the ribs is designed with a first shell element, and a second part of the ribs is designed with a second shell element, where the ribs are assembled when the shell element are assembled into a wall element. This, however, entails that the two parts of the ribs are to be assembled simultaneously with the shell elements, which may be time-consuming.

By testing various rib designs, it has appeared that the best air flow through the ribs is achieved where the cross-sectional shape of the ribs is elliptical, and where the major axis of the ellipse of the ribs extends perpendicularly to the vertical plane, irrespectively whether the ribs are disposed horizontally or vertically.

As the ribs have elliptical shape and are disposed with their elliptical major axes perpendicularly to the said vertical planes, there is no direct air resistance action when the airstream strikes the wall element. Instead, the air flow is guided around the ribs along the elliptical shape, entailing an approximately laminar flow through the wall zone of the wall element with ribs.

The following advantages appear when using elliptical ribs: - Air-physically optimal design of the lattice work provides an optimal air flow- through, and thereby more air than wall elements with oval holes.

- Improved inflow of light in the stable.

- Improved survey of the stable.

- Very rigid ribs in the direction they typically are acted on.

As the wall zones may be screened as well as open, it is possible to make the shell elements in various combinations, e.g. with:

- ribs in a lower wall zone and an open upper wall zone,

- ribs in both upper and lower wall zones, - screening of the lower wall zone and ribs in the upper wall zone,

- screening in both upper and lower wall zones, - etc.

A shell element is to be connected with another shell element in order to form a wall element, whereby further combinations are possible. For example, a first shell element with ribs in a lower wall zone and an open upper wall zone, and a second shell element having open upper and lower wall zones. Hereby is formed a wall element where there are ribs in a lower wall zone whereas the upper wall zone is open.

Shell elements are moulded in a plastic material, e.g. by injection moulding. Wall elements consisting of shell elements made of plastic material are easier to clean and may resist an aggressive stable environment.

Short Description of the Drawing The invention will be explained more closely below with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a wall element according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a shell element according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows a close-up view of a rib according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention Fig. 1 shows a wall element 1 which includes two shell elements 2 connected around a vertical complementary plane 3.

Fig. 2 shows a shell element 2 with a front side 2A and a rear side 2B which are designed with wall zones 4 which are symmetrical about a horizontal plane of symmetry 5. Here is shown a shell element with an upper open wall zone 4 A and a lower wall zone 4B, which are designed with ribs 6, and where there is a transverse rib 6A in order to avoid the ribs 6 becoming too long and unstable.

Fig. 3 shows that the ribs 6 have elliptical shape and are turned so that the elliptical major axis (not shown) is perpendicular to the vertical plane (not shown) of the shell element, so that air resistance is reduced, and the airflow may pass almost laminarly through the wall zone 4B.

Claims

1. A wall element (1), particularly a partitioning element, including a number of shell elements (2) which are interconnected along a vertical plane (3) and designed with one or more wall zones (4) which are symmetrical about a horizontal plane of symmetry (5), characterised in that each of the wall zones (4) of the shell elements (2) has different thickness.

2. Wall element according to claim 1, characterised in that the vertical plane (3) is a vertical complementary plane.

3. Wall element according to claim 1, characterised in that the vertical plane (3) is a vertical plane of symmetry.

4. Wall element (1) according to claims 1-3, characterised in that at least one of the wall zones (4) is designed with a screening plate.

5. Wall element (1) according to claims 1-3, characterised in that at least one of the wall zones (4) has an open area.

6. Wall element (1) according to claims 1-3, characterised in that at least one of the wall zones (4) is designed with a number of ribs (6).

7. Wall element according to claim 6, characterised in that the cross-sectional shape of the ribs is elliptical.

8. Wall element according to claims 6-7, characterised in that the elliptical major axes of the ribs extend perpendicularly to the vertical planes (4).

9. A method for making a wall element (1) according to claims 1 — 8, characterised in that the shell elements are moulded in a plastic material.