WO2022136942A1

WO2022136942A1 - Modular floor for livestock farms

Info

Publication number: WO2022136942A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/056579
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea Lusetti; Annalisa Lusetti; Daniele Curti; Luciano LOMBARDI; Massimo SENINI
Original assignee: Senini S.R.L.; Alleviamo S.R.L.
Priority date: 2020-12-23
Filing date: 2021-07-21
Publication date: 2022-06-30
Also published as: EP4266875A1; IT202000032318A1

Abstract

The modular floor (1) for livestock farms comprises at least a first modular element (2a) and a second modular element (2b) which can be associated with each other to define at least one walking surface (X-Y), wherein each of the modular elements (2a, 2b) comprises at least one connecting surface (3 a, 3b) and a walking surface (4a, 4b), the connecting surface (3 a) of the first modular element (2a) being, in use, intended to be arranged facing the connecting surface (3b) of the second modular element (2b), wherein the modular floor comprises coupling means (6) associated with at least one of the connecting surfaces (3a, 3b) and configured to couple the modular elements (2a, 2b) to each other.

Description

MODULAR FLOOR FOR LIVESTOCK FARMS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a modular floor for livestock farms, particularly a self-locking floor.

Background Art

In the field of livestock farming, in particular pigs, the use is well known of floor made of reinforced concrete panels thickly cracked, called “grids”, under which are made tanks or pits to collect the sewage produced by animals. The manure, through the cracks in the gratings, is made to fall by gravity into the pits below. Periodically the tanks are emptied by means of “runoff’, “vacuum”, “continuous overflow”, or through the use of “scrapers”.

These floors do, however, have some drawbacks, including the need for major excavation work to create the pits beneath the grids.

In addition, the persistence of large quantities of sewage, accumulating between one emptying and another of the pits, causes the exhalation of large amount of ammonia which, coming into contact with the pigs, increase the risk of frequent outbreaks of respiratory diseases that can involve the entire farm.

Additionally, the floors of known type are not very comfortable for walking animals due to the presence of a high percentage of cracked area in the walking surface.

In addition, the suspension of the grids above the pits defines an empty space that causes high heat loss.

This loss is especially noticeable during rest breaks for animals that come into contact with the floor as they lie down.

In order to partly overcome these drawbacks, another type of floor has been devised, which is described in patent publication no. 101993900298545, wherein the walking surface is made by means of a concrete screed, inside which rigid tubular profiled elements are embedded. After the concrete has hardened, the tubular elements are opened at the top to form the cracks in the floor, which will convey the sewage towards the drainage channels during the daily washing of the livestock. This type of floor does however have some problems of a technical nature deriving from the presence of important concrete castings in place and the request for a high degree of accuracy during the laying of the profiled elements. Moreover, these works are even more expensive when intervening in the renovation of an existing farm wherein the spaces and internal divisions are already made.

These drawbacks are partly overcome through the use of different types of channeled floors of a modular type, described in patent documents no. 102003901095235, no. 102009901723181 and no. 102018000002167, wherein the walking surface is made by means of a plurality of prefabricated modular elements that can be interlocked on a second plurality of modular elements arranged to form the base of the floor. The arrangement and conformation of the modular elements make it possible to define a series of drainage channels open at the top to collect livestock manure.

However, these types of floor are difficult and expensive to implement on a large scale.

This is due to the fact that, in order to withstand the aggressive temperament of livestock on farms, it is necessary for the walking surface to be made of modular elements of large size and heavy weight that are manufactured only with artisan techniques, thus preventing large-scale production thereof. Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a modular floor for livestock farms which allows increasing the strength and durability of flooring in barns and/or pigsties thus ensuring the stability and mutual cohesion of the modular elements.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a modular floor for livestock farms that has the same structural characteristics of self-locking floors for civil use, thus inheriting the speed of installation, ease of maintenance, high resistance to wear and compression, large mass production, the possibility of being laid dry and then removed for possible reuse.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a modular floor for livestock farms wherein each modular element is small in size and may be fabricated by means of vibratory compacting concrete fabrication technology.

A further object of the present invention is to devise a modular floor for livestock farms which facilitates the installation operations and almost completely eliminates the need for repairs and maintenance by allowing each modular element to be laid in a single phase, thus avoiding the need to lay two separate portions which must be superimposed on each other.

Still one object of the present invention is to devise a modular floor for livestock farms adaptable to the different seasons so as to ensure better resistance to issues related to temperature variations.

A further object of the present invention is to devise a modular floor for livestock farms which allows for a simple, rational solution which is easy and effective to use as well as cost effective.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a modular floor for livestock farms, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet nonlimiting example, in the accompanying tables of drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the individual modular element according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the modular floor;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the modular floor in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the modular floor according to a further embodiment.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a modular floor for livestock farms, preferably for pig farms.

Preferably, the aforementioned modular floor is a self-locking floor.

The modular floor 1 is intended to provide a walking surface adapted to support livestock during, e.g., stabling.

The modular floor 1 comprises at least a first modular element 2a and a second modular element 2b associable with each other to define at least one walking surface X-Y. Figure 2 shows a pair of second modular elements 2b arranged side by side along the direction X-X.

Preferably, the walking surface X-Y is arranged substantially horizontally.

In other words, the walking surface X-Y is arranged on a plane parallel to the directions X-X and Y-Y of a Cartesian reference system.

In the context of the present disclosure, the terms “top” and “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “vertical” and “horizontal”, as used with reference to the modular floor 1, shall be understood to refer to the conditions of normal use of the modular floor 1, i.e., those wherein the modular elements 2a, 2b are resting on the ground.

As shown in Figure 1, each modular element 2a, 2b comprises at least one connecting surface 3 a, 3b and a walking surface 4a, 4b. The connecting surface 3a of the first modular element 2a is, in use, intended to be arranged in contact with the connecting surface 3b of the second modular element 2b.

Advantageously, the modular floor 1 comprises coupling means 6 associated with at least one of the connecting surfaces 3 a, 3b and configured to couple the modular elements 2a, 2b to each other. As a result, the floor 1 is more resistant to the destructive action of livestock, resulting in a longer life of the floor resulting in less need for repair and maintenance.

As shown in Figure 3, the modular floor 1 may comprise a plurality of modular elements 2a, 2b aligned along the direction X-X and positioned side by side along the direction Y-Y to define the walking surface X-Y.

Preferably, at least the modular elements 2a, 2b aligned and interposed between another pair of modular elements 2a, 2b comprise a first connecting surface 3 a, 3b and a second connecting surface 5a, 5b opposite each other.

As shown in Figure 1, preferably, the walking surface 4a, 4b of each modular element 2a, 2b is comprised between the connecting surfaces 3a, 3b, 5a, 5b and opposite a basic surface 7a, 7b arranged, in use, resting on the ground. Furthermore, each connecting surface 3a, 3b, 5a, 5b of each modular element 2a, 2b is comprised between the walking surface 4a, 4b and the basic surface 7a, 7b.

Advantageously, each modular element 2a, 2b comprises at least one recess 8 arranged below the walking surface 4a, 4b. Conveniently, the recess 8, in use, faces the respective recess 8 of an adjacent modular element 2a, 2b.

In detail, the recess 8 has, in cross-section, a substantially “C” shape, shaped in such a way that, in use, the recesses 8 of two adjacent modular elements 2a, 2b define at least one concave compartment 9 configured to serve as a drainage channel. In detail, as we will see in the continuation of the present disclosure, the concave compartment 9 is configured to receive and drain the excrement of livestock.

Preferably, the recess 8 is arranged laterally to the modular element 2a, 2b, and extends along substantially the entire length of the modular element 2a, 2b. In this way, the drainage channel extends substantially along the direction X-X.

Conveniently, each modular element 2a, 2b comprises a bottom edge 10 and a top edge 11. In cross-section, the recess 8 extends between the bottom edge 10 and the top edge 11.

Advantageously, the bottom edge 10 is moved laterally with respect to the top edge 11 so that, in use, between the top edges 11 of the modular elements 2a, 2b positioned side by side there is a through opening 12 in communication with the concave compartment 9. This through opening 12 allows the flow, and therefore the collection, of livestock excrement in the drainage channel made by the compartment 9 in order to drain it.

Preferably, the modular element 2a, 2b has at least one pair of recesses 8 arranged opposite each other at the two sides of the modular element 2a, 2b. In this case, the modular element 2a, 2b is, in cross-section, shaped approximately as a double T.

Preferably, the top edge 11 has a predefined thickness of a sloping shape, in cross-section. In particular, along the vertical direction, the mutual distance between the top edges 11 of two modular elements 2a, 2b positioned side by side increases from top to bottom. In other words, the through opening 12 has a substantially reversed funnel shape. Conveniently, the modular floor 1 comprises at least one covering 13 configured to at least partly cover the concave compartment 9 and allow for the flow of a washing fluid. The latter is jetted in order to convey the excrement collected in the concave compartment 9 towards, e.g., a collection area.

As shown in Figure 2, the covering 13 has a substantially complementary shape to that of the concave compartment 9. Preferably, the covering 13 extends between the top edges 11 of the modular elements 2a, 2b positioned side by side so as to substantially cover the entire concave compartment 9.

Conveniently, the covering 13 is made of a waterproof material, such as e.g. a plastic material, to prevent seepage that could ruin the floor 1.

Conveniently, each modular element 2a, 2b comprises a lower groove 14 obtained along the basic surface 7a, 7b and configured to accommodate thermal adjusting means 15 of the modular floor 1. The temperature adjustment of the modular elements 2a, 2b allows reducing any temperature fluctuations of the floor, for example as a result of changing seasons, thus increasing the strength and durability thereof, as well as providing a temperature-controlled living environment for livestock.

Preferably, the lower groove 14 extends along the entire basic surface 7a, 7b between the first connecting surface 3a, 3b and the second connecting surface 5a, 5b.

Preferably, in use, the lower grooves 14 of the first modular element 2a and of the second modular element 2b are arranged aligned with each other so as to be in communication.

The thermal adjusting means 15 comprise one or more hydraulic ducts 16 for the circulation of a fluid, preferably liquid (such as e.g. water), connected to a thermostat configured to adjust the temperature of the fluid. The ducts are, in use, accommodated inside the lower groove 14 of the modular elements 2a, 2b.

As shown in Figure 1, each walking surface 4a, 4b has a substantially trapezoidal shape. In particular, the connecting surfaces 3a, 3b, 5a, 5b form the bases of the trapezoidal shape. Thus, one of either the first connecting surface 3 a, 3b or the second connecting surface 5a, 5b has a smaller width than the width of the other of either the second connecting surface 5a, 5b or the first connecting surface 3 a, 3b.

As we will see during the present disclosure, this conformation allows promoting and facilitating the laying of the floor 1 and possible removal operations of the modular elements 2a, 2b.

Preferably, by way of example, the first connecting surface 3a, 3b of each modular element 2a, 2b has a greater width than the width of the second connecting surface 5a, 5b.

Conveniently, each modular element 2a, 2b is positioned side by side, along the direction Y-Y, with at least another modular element 2a, 2b so that the first connecting surface 3a, 3b of each modular element 2a, 2b is positioned side by side with the second connecting surface 5a, 5b of the other of the modular elements 2a, 2b. In actual facts, the modular elements 2a, 2b are arranged side by side with each other along the direction Y-Y, with the first connecting surface 3a, 3b aligned with the second connecting surface 5a, 5b. In addition, along the direction X-X, the first modular element 2a is arranged aligned with the second modular element 2b so as to arrange the first connecting surface 3 a of the first modular element 2a facing and adhering to the first connecting surface 3b of the second modular element 2b. At the same time, the second connecting surface 5a of the first modular element 2a is arranged facing and adhering to the second connecting surface 5b of another second modular element 2b.

Advantageously, the trapezoidal configuration allows making the drainage channels provided with a suitable inclination adapted to facilitate the flow of sewage in such a way that it doesn’t remain stationary thus creating blockages. Moreover, the trapezoidal configuration of the surfaces 4a, 4b, 7a, 7b allows the quick, automated and easier extraction of the modular elements 2a, 2b from the manufacturing mold, thus allowing the manufacturing of the modular elements 2a, 2b on an industrial scale.

Furthermore, the modular elements 2a, 2b are arranged so that the recesses 8 are aligned with each other to define a substantially continuous drainage channel. Overall, the floor 1 has a plurality of drainage channels extending along the direction X-X.

The combination of the trapezoidal shapes of each walking surface 4a, 4b results in a conformation of the drainage channels which alternately runs in opposite directions at constant angles. In other words, the drainage channels have a substantially “zigzag” conformation.

Preferably, each modular element 2a, 2b may be made of concrete, by the vibratory compacting concrete technique.

This makes it possible to use modular elements 2a, 2b, industrially manufactured on a large scale in vibratory compacting concrete and installed with the devices of the technology of self-locking flooring by teams of professional installers.

Advantageously, the coupling means 6 comprise at least one male element 17 and at least one female element 18 wherein one is associated with at least the first modular element 2a and the other is associated with at least the second modular element 2b. The male element 17 and the female element 18 are configured to make a coupling by shape with each other. In particular, the coupling occurs by complementarity of shape. In this way, by interlocking with each other, the coupling means 6 allow the connecting surfaces 3 a, 3b to arrange themselves in contact with each other, thus reducing the presence of interruptions, or defects, along the walking surface X-Y where cattle could stand and rage.

As shown in Figure 1, the female element 18 comprises at least one groove 19 associated with the connecting surface 3a, 3b of at least one of the modular elements 2a, 2b, and the male element 17 comprises at least one protrusion 20 associated with the connecting surface 3a, 3b of at least the other of the modular elements 2a, 2b. The protrusion 20 and the groove 19 are configured to make a coupling to each other by complementarity of shape. Furthermore, the protrusion 20 and the groove 19 are symmetrically arranged along the connecting surface 3 a, 3b of the respective modular element 2a, 2b so that, in use, they are facing each other. Conveniently, the protrusion 20 and the groove 19 have an elongated shape extending between the walking surface 4a, 4b and the basic surface 7a, 7b. Such a conformation facilitates the insertion and removal of the modular elements by promoting the installation and maintenance of the floor 1 since the groove 19 can operate as a sliding guide for the protrusion 20.

The walking surface 4a, 4b and the connecting surface 3 a, 3b are arranged substantially perpendicular to each other. In this embodiment, the groove 19 and the protrusion 20 extend substantially perpendicular to the walking surface 4a, 4b.

In this way, the insertion and removal of the modular elements 2a, 2b preferably take place along the vertical direction, making it easier to lay, replace and maintain the floor 1.

Each connecting surface 3a, 3b, of the modular elements 2a, 2b comprises at least the protrusion 20 and at least the groove 19.

In such an embodiment, the groove 19 and the protrusion 20 of each modular element 2a, 2b are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the connecting surface 3a, 3b. By doing so, the modular elements 2a, 2b can be mass-produced by using one and the same mold for the entire production of the floor 1. In fact, by arranging the first and the second modular elements 2a, 2b with the first connecting surfaces 3a, 3b, or the second connecting surfaces 5a, 5b facing each other, the groove 19 and the protrusion 20 of the first modular element 2a face the protrusion and the groove 19, respectively of the second modular element 2b.

In an embodiment shown in Figure 4, the coupling means 6 are associated with one of the connecting surfaces 3a, 3b, 5a, 5b of each modular element 2a, 2b. For instance, the coupling means 6 may comprise at least one male element 17 and one female element 18 associated with one and the other of the first connecting surface 3a, 3b of the modular elements 2a, 2b, respectively. It cannot however be ruled out that the coupling means 6 be associated with both the connecting surfaces 3a, 3b, 5a, 5b of each modular element 2a, 2b. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the coupling means 6 may comprise a male element 17 and a female element 18 arranged on both the connecting surfaces 3a, 3b, 5a, 5b, of both modular elements 2a, 2b.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects and, in particular, the fact is emphasized that the manufacture of a modular floor provided with connecting means allows facilitating the laying of the modular elements thus increasing, at the same time, the strength and the duration of the flooring. Moreover, the particular conformation of the connecting means allows carrying out maintenance and replacement operations of the modular elements in an easy and fast manner.

Claims

1) Modular floor (1) for livestock farms, comprising at least a first modular element (2a) and a second modular element (2b) which can be associated with each other to define at least one walking surface (X-Y), wherein each of said modular elements (2a, 2b) comprises at least one connecting surface (3 a, 3b) and a walking surface (4a, 4b), said connecting surface (3a) of said first modular element (2a) being, in use, intended to be arranged facing said connecting surface (3b) of said second modular element (2b), characterized by the fact that it comprises coupling means (6) associated with at least one of said connecting surfaces (3a, 3b) and configured to couple said modular elements (2a, 2b) to each other.

2) Modular floor (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said coupling means (6) comprise at least one male element (17) and at least one female element (18) wherein one is associated with at least said first modular element (2a) and the other is associated with at least said second modular element (2b), said male element (17) and said female element (18) being configured to make a coupling by shape with each other.

3) Modular floor (1) according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that said female element (18) comprises at least one groove (19) associated with said connecting surface (3 a, 3b) of at least one of said modular elements (2a, 2b) and said male element (17) comprises at least one protrusion (20) associated with said connecting surface (3 a, 3b) of at least the other of said modular elements (2a, 2b), said protrusion (20) and said groove (19) being configured to make a coupling by complementarity of shape with each other.

4) Modular floor (1) according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that said connecting surface (3 a, 3b) of each of said modular elements (2a, 2b) is comprised between said walking surface (4a, 4b) and a basic surface (7a, 7b), and by the fact that said protrusion (20) and said groove (19) have an elongated shape extending between said walking surface (4a, 4b) and said basic surface (7a, 7b). 5) Modular floor (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by the fact that said walking surface (4a, 4b) and said connecting surface (3a, 3b) are arranged substantially perpendicular to each other and said groove (19) and said protrusion (20) extend substantially perpendicular to said walking surface (4a, 4b).

6) Modular floor (1) according to one or more of claims 3 to 5, characterized by the fact that each of said connecting surfaces (3 a, 3b) of said modular elements (2a, 2b) comprises at least said protrusion (20) and at least said groove (19).

7) Modular floor (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that each of said modular elements (2a, 2b) comprises at least one recess (8) arranged below said walking surface (4a, 4b), said recess (8), in use, facing the respective said recess (8) of an adjacent modular element (2a, 2b).

8) Modular floor (1) according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that said recess (8) has, in section, a substantially “C” shape, shaped in such a way that, when one of said modular elements (2a, 2b) is positioned side by side with at least another of said modular elements (2a, 2b), said recesses (8) define at least one concave compartment (9) configured to serve as a drainage channel.

9) Modular floor (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by the fact that each of said modular elements (2a, 2b) comprises a bottom edge (10) and a top edge (11), said recess (8) extending between said bottom edge (10) and said top edge (11).

10) Modular floor (1) according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that said bottom edge (10) is laterally moved forward with respect to said top edge (11) so that, in use, between said top edges (11) of said modular elements (2a, 2b) positioned side by side there is a through opening (12) in communication with said concave compartment (9).

11) Modular floor (1) according to one or more of claims 7 to 9, characterized by the fact that it comprises a covering (13) configured to at least partly cover said concave compartment (9) and allow for the flow of a washing fluid.

12) Modular floor (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that each of said modular elements (2a, 2b) comprises a lower groove (14) obtained along said basic surface (7a, 7b) and configured to accommodate thermal adjusting means (15) of said modular floor (1).

13) Modular floor (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that each modular element (2a, 2b) comprises a first connecting surface (3a, 3b) and a second connecting surface (5a, 5b) opposite each other, one of either said first connecting surface (3 a, 3b) or said second connecting surface (5a, 5b) having a smaller width than the width of the other of either said second connecting surface (5a, 5b) or said first connecting surface (3a, 3b), said walking surfaces (4a, 4b) of each of said modular elements (2a, 2b) having a substantially trapezoidal shape.

14) Modular floor (1) according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that each of said modular elements (2a, 2b) is positioned side by side with at least another of said modular elements (2a, 2b), said first connecting surface (3 a, 3b) of each of said modular elements (2a, 2b) being positioned side by side with said second connecting surface (5a, 5b) of the other of said modular elements (2a, 2b).