VEHICLE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING AN ANIMAL-RELATED ACTION

Abstract

A vehicle for performing an animal-related operation, in particular for use with cows, is delimited by an outer side. The vehicle includes an electrical shock device for emitting an electrical shock to an animal. The shock device includes at least one pair of elongate, electrically conductive strips which run substantially parallel to each other so as to leave clear an electrically insulating intermediate space in between and which extend at least along a portion of the outer side of the vehicle. The strips of the or each pair of mutually parallel strips each have a shape including first parts which extend in a first direction which corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the elongate, mutually parallel strips, and including second parts which extend transversely, preferably substantially perpendicularly, with respect to the first direction. The shock device includes an electrical voltage source which is electrically connected to the strips in such a way that an electrically closed circuit is formed when the strips are electrically connected across the intermediate space, such as when both strips are touched by an animal.

Claims

1. A vehicle for performing an animal-related operation, wherein the vehicle is delimited by an outer side, and wherein the vehicle comprises an electrical shock device for emitting an electrical shock to an animal, wherein the shock device comprises: at least one pair of elongate, electrically conductive strips which run substantially parallel to each other so as to leave clear an electrically insulating intermediate space in between and which extend at least along a portion of the outer side of the vehicle, wherein the strips of the or each pair of mutually parallel strips each have a shape comprising first parts which extend in a first direction which corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the elongate, mutually parallel strips, and comprising second parts which extend transversely with respect to said first direction, and an electrical voltage source which is electrically connected to said strips in such a way that an electrically closed circuit is formed when said strips are electrically connected across the intermediate space.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pair of mutually parallel strips extends substantially horizontally on the outer side of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pair of mutually parallel strips is fitted to an electrically conductive, earthed component of the vehicle, and wherein said strips extend substantially above one another, and wherein the electrical voltage source has a cathode and an anode, wherein the anode is electrically connected to the bottom strip and the cathode is electrically connected to the top strip.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pair of mutually parallel strips is arranged at a distance above a floor, wherein said strips extend substantially above one another, and wherein the strips, viewed in cross section, each have a top portion with a substantially vertical contact surface, and a bottom portion with a substantially horizontal contact surface.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the bottom portion of each strip extends inwards with respect to the top portion of said strip.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the shock device is provided with a plurality of pairs of elongate, electrically conductive strips, which run substantially parallel to each other so as to leave clear an electrically insulating intermediate space in between, and wherein each pair of mutually parallel strips extends at least along a portion of the outer side of the vehicle, and wherein the electrical voltage source is electrically connected to each pair of mutually parallel strips in such a way that an electrically closed circuit is formed when said strips are electrically connected across the intermediate space.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the pairs of mutually parallel strips are arranged on the outer side of the vehicle in such a way that said pairs of mutually parallel strips collectively extend substantially completely from a front side to a rear side of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the pairs of mutually parallel strips extends substantially vertically on the outer side of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the strips of the or each pair of mutually parallel strips are each substantially block-shaped.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the distance between adjoining second parts of each strip is less than 40 mm.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate space between the strips of the or each pair of mutually parallel strips is formed by an air gap which is preferably at least 10 mm wide.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is autonomous.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is configured to push feed in the direction of a feeding fence in an animal shed and/or for the automatic feeding of animals.

14. A system for performing an animal-related operation, comprising: a shed space for keeping animals, which shed space comprises a feeding fence; a feeding alley which extends along the feeding fence on the side of the feeding fence which is situated opposite the shed space; and the vehicle according to claim 1.

15. A method for performing an animal-related operation, comprising emitting an electrical shock to an animal which comes into contact with the or each pair of mutually parallel strips of the shock device of a vehicle according to claim 1.

16. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the pair of mutually parallel strips is fitted to an electrically conductive, earthed component of the vehicle, and wherein said strips extend substantially above one another, and wherein the electrical voltage source has a cathode and an anode, wherein the anode is electrically connected to the bottom strip and the cathode is electrically connected to the top strip.

17. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the pair of mutually parallel strips is arranged at a distance above a floor, wherein said strips extend substantially above one another, and wherein the strips, viewed in cross section, each have a top portion with a substantially vertical contact surface, and a bottom portion with a substantially horizontal contact surface.

18. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the pair of mutually parallel strips is arranged at a distance above a floor, wherein said strips extend substantially above one another, and wherein the strips, viewed in cross section, each have a top portion with a substantially vertical contact surface, and a bottom portion with a substantially horizontal contact surface.

19. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the shock device is provided with a plurality of pairs of elongate, electrically conductive strips, which run substantially parallel to each other so as to leave clear an electrically insulating intermediate space in between, and wherein each pair of mutually parallel strips extends at least along a portion of the outer side of the vehicle, and wherein the electrical voltage source is electrically connected to each pair of mutually parallel strips in such a way that an electrically closed circuit is formed when said strips are electrically connected across the intermediate space.

20. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the shock device is provided with a plurality of pairs of elongate, electrically conductive strips, which run substantially parallel to each other so as to leave clear an electrically insulating intermediate space in between, and wherein each pair of mutually parallel strips extends at least along a portion of the outer side of the vehicle, and wherein the electrical voltage source is electrically connected to each pair of mutually parallel strips in such a way that an electrically closed circuit is formed when said strips are electrically connected across the intermediate space.

Description

[0019] The invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic top view of a system according to the invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a vehicle of the system illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an electrical shock device of the vehicle illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0023] FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c show views of a first pair of mutually parallel, electrically conductive strips of the electrical shock device illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0024] FIGS. 5a and 5b show views of a second pair of mutually parallel, electrically conductive strips of the electrical shock device illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0025] The system according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 forms an automatic feeding system 1 for feeding animals, in particular cows, such as dairy cows or meat cows. The feeding system 1 is arranged in an operational area 2. The feeding system 1 comprises a feed storage system 7 containing feed types a, b, c, an animal shed 8 containing animals 9, and an autonomous vehicle 10 for feeding the animals 9 using feed from the feed storage system 7. Obviously, the feed storage system 7 may also contain more than the three feed types a, b, c shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the operational area 2 may optionally also contain a dwelling, one or more further animal sheds, other sheds and other buildings (not shown).

[0026] In this exemplary embodiment, the autonomous vehicle 10 for feeding the animals 9 is configured as a self-propelled feed wagon. Obviously, it is possible, according to the invention, for the feeding system 1 to comprise more than one autonomous feed wagon 10, in particular two autonomous feed wagons 10 (not shown). By means of wheels 11, the feed wagon 10 is movable across a floor, farm yard or other ground surface. The feed wagon 10 comprises a container 12 for accommodating feed and a mixing device 13 for cutting and/or mixing said feed. A dispensing device 14 is provided in order to dispense the feed from the container 12. The dispensing device 14 comprises, for example, a door which is displaceable between a closed and an open position.

[0027] The feed wagon 10 is autonomously displaceable by means of a driving and steering system for driving and steering the feed wagon 10 (not shown). The driving and steering system of the feed wagon 10 is controllable by means of an electronic control unit 15 of the feed wagon 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the driving and steering system comprises in each case an electrical drive motor (not shown) for each rear wheel 11. The electrical drive motors of the rear wheels 11 are controllable independently from one another. By controlling the rotary speed of the rear wheels 11, the feed wagon 10 can travel forwards or backwards in a straight line or make a bend.

[0028] The driving and steering system comprises a battery system for storing electrical energy (not shown). The battery system is connected to the electrical drive motors. In FIG. 1, the feed wagon 10 is situated at a feed loading area 16, at which the container 12 of the feed wagon 10 is filled with feed. The feed loading area 16 comprises a charging point 17 of a charging system 18 for charging the battery system of the feed wagon 10. The feed loading area 16 therefore also acts as a charging point. The control unit 15 of the feed wagon 10 is configured to control the mixing device 13 in such a way that the mixing device 13 mixes the feed contained in the container 12 while the feed wagon 10 is connected to the charging point 17 and the battery system of the feed wagon 10 is charged by means of the charging system 18.

[0029] In this exemplary embodiment, the feed storage system 7 comprises a feed kitchen. The feed kitchen comprises a number of feed loading areas 19 to accommodate the feed types a, b, c and optionally further feed types (not shown). The feed loading areas 19 are separated from each other—the feed loading areas 19 are, for example, formed by delineated spaces on a floor, on which a silage block or a pressed bale is situated. Also, one or more of the feed loading areas 19 may comprise a trough for accommodating bulk feed, such as maize, potatoes or beets.

[0030] A feed-loading device 20 is provided for transferring feed from the feed storage system 7 to the container 12 of the feed wagon 10 if the feed wagon 10 is positioned at the feed loading area 16. In this exemplary embodiment, the feed-loading device 20 comprises a movable carrying rail 21 which is displaceably (see arrow A) arranged on two fixed carrying rails 23 which are arranged mutually parallel to and spaced apart from each other. The movable carrying rail 21 comprises a trolley 22 which is displaceable along the former (see arrow B). The trolley 22 is provided with a vertically displaceable grab 24 to grab feed from the feed storage areas 19. The grab 24 suspended from the trolley can be displaced in a substantially horizontal plane so as to be situated above each of the feed storage areas 19.

[0031] After the grab 24 has taken an amount of feed from one of the feed storage areas 19, said feed can be displaced by the grab 24 until it is situated over the container 12 of the feed wagon 10 and then be dropped into the container 12. By transferring several feed types to the container 12 of the feed wagon 10, a mixed feed batch of feed types according to a desired ration is formed in the container 12, i.e. a mixed feed batch (kg) of feed types in a desired ratio. Incidentally, the feed-loading device could also be incorporated in the feed wagon 10. In this case, the feed-loading device of the feed wagon 10 loads the desired amount of feed of the desired composition into the container 12.

[0032] Obviously, the feed storage system 7 may also be configured differently. Instead of or in addition to the feed storage areas 19 shown in FIG. 1, the feed storage system 7 may comprise one or more other feed storage devices, such as a driven conveyor belt for holding compressed bales in combination with a releasing device for releasing feed from a bale, for example a cutter or blade, and/or a trough for bulk feed comprising an auger for the metered discharge of the feed, and/or a tower silo and/or something else. In this case, the feed-loading device may be provided with one or more driven conveyor belts for displacing the feed from the or each feed storage device to the container 12 of the feed wagon 10.

[0033] The feed storage system 7 is surrounded by a safety fence 25. A pass-through door 28 for the feed wagon 10 is provided in the safety fence 25. The feed wagon 10 is able to enter and exit the feed storage system 7 via the pass-through door 28. The feeding system 1 may comprise further safety features in addition to the safety fence 25, for example an emergency stop, by means of which the feed wagon 10 and/or the feed-loading device 20 is immediately stopped. In this case, for example, an alarm may sound and/or a message may be sent to a user, such as an e-mail or text message.

[0034] The animal shed 8 comprises a door opening 29, via which the feed wagon 10 can enter and exit the animal shed 8. The door opening 29 is closable by means of a shed door which is preferably openable automatically. In this exemplary embodiment, the animal shed 8 has two feeding alleys 30. Obviously, more or fewer feeding alleys may be provided. In this exemplary embodiment, every feeding alley 30 is delimited on either side by a feeding fence 31. Each feeding alley 30 comprises a plurality of feeding areas for feeding the animals 9. Viewed from the feeding alley 30, the feeding areas are situated behind the feeding fence 31, in a shed space 3 in which the animals 9 are being kept. The feeding areas extend substantially transversely with respect to the feeding alley 30. The animals 19 are positioned with their head turned towards the feeding alley 30 and are able to put their head through the feeding fence 31 in order to eat feed which has been deposited along the feeding fence 31 by the feed wagon 10.

[0035] The feeding fences 31 in the animal shed 8 are situated at a distance from the feed loading area 16 of the feed storage system 7. Each of the feeding fences 31 is reachable by the feed wagon 10 from the feed loading area 16. Various beacons are arranged in the operational area 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the beacons are formed by strips 32 which are disposed in or on a floor or another ground surface, walls 33 of the animal shed 8 and impact points 34. The feed wagon 10 comprises a sensor system (not shown) which is configured to cooperate with the beacons 32, 33, 34. In addition, the feed wagon 10 comprises a gyroscope (not shown) in order to travel straight ahead over a predetermined distance. The gyroscope is connected to the control unit 15 of the feed wagon 10.

[0036] The feeding system 1 comprises a control system 35 with a memory 35a in which data are stored, such as navigation data, ration data and operating data. The navigation data comprise beacon data from the beacons 32, 33, 34. On the basis of the navigation data, the feed wagon 10 is able to travel from the feed loading area 16 to and through the animal shed 8 along various routes. The ration data comprise a plurality of rations for the animals 9. Each ration is determined by a total amount of feed and the composition thereof, for example the total amount of feed in kg and the recipe (ratio between various types of feed) in kg per type of feed. The operating data comprise, for example, operating data for operating the dispensing device 14 of the feed wagon 10.

[0037] The feed wagon 10 is illustrated in detail in FIG. 2. The feed wagon 10 comprises a peripheral skirt 52 with an outer surface for displacing and/or pushing the feed in the direction of the feeding fence 31 while the feed wagon 10 travels forwards. The skirt 52 is rotatable about an axis of rotation and has a peripheral bottom edge 53 which extends in a plane which runs at an angle with respect to the floor. At its lowest point, the bottom edge 53 makes contact with the floor and/or the feed situated thereon, so that the skirt 52 is rotatably driven when the feed wagon 10 moves.

[0038] The feed wagon 10 is delimited by an outer side 41. The outer side 41 of the feed wagon 10 is determined by the portions of the feed wagon 10 which can be touched by the animals 9 behind the feeding fence 31 when the feed wagon 10 travels past. According to the invention, the feed wagon 10 comprises an electrical shock device 42 for emitting an electrical shock to an animal (see also FIG. 3).

[0039] In this exemplary embodiment, the shock device 42 comprises a plurality of pairs 43 of elongate, electrically conductive strips 44, 45, which run substantially parallel to each other so as to leave clear an electrically insulating intermediate space 46 in between. The strips 44, 45 are formed by thin-walled, metal strips. In this exemplary embodiment, the intermediate space 46 between each pair of mutually parallel strips is formed by an air gap.

[0040] Each pair 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45 runs at least along a portion of the outer side 41 of the feed wagon 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the pairs 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45 are arranged in such a way that said pairs 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45 collectively extend substantially completely along both longitudinal sides of the feed wagon 10. Viewed in their longitudinal direction, the elongate strips 44, 45 run substantially along a straight line. Such strips are easy to produce.

[0041] The shock device 42 comprises an electrical voltage source 47. The voltage source 47 is electrically connected to each pair 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45, i.e. to both strips 44, 45 of each pair of electrically conductive strips. When said strips 44, 45 are electrically connected across the air gap 46, such as when said strips 44, 45 are touched by an animal 9, an electrically closed circuit is produced and the animal 9 receives an electrical shock. Due to the fact that the various pairs 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45 are each independently supplied with power by the voltage source 47, it is ensured that each pair 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45 is live.

[0042] The voltage source 47 is configured to generate a predetermined difference in voltage between each pair 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45. The difference in voltage is chosen, for example, to emit an electrical shock with an energy of 0.01-1 Joule, such as 0.015 Joule. Such a shock is smaller than, for example, the electrical shock of an electrified wire. The width of the air gap 46 is adapted to the difference in voltage in such a way that no flashover across the air gap 46 is produced. The air gap 46 is preferably at least 10 mm wide.

[0043] All electrically conductive components of the feed wagon 10 are connected to an earth of a switch box of the feed wagon 10. The pairs 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45 are attached to electrically conductive, earthed components of the feed wagon 10, in particular metal suspension brackets which are disposed on the metal undercarriage of the feed wagon 10.

[0044] As is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a number of pairs 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45 run substantially horizontally at a distance above the floor on which the feed wagon 10 travels. Each pair 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45 comprises a bottom strip 44 and a top strip 45. The voltage source 47 has a cathode 47a and an anode 47b, which are illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 3. The anode 47b is electrically connected to the bottom strip 44, whereas the cathode 47a is electrically connected to the top strip 45. Due to the fact that the top strip 45 is not electrically connected to the anode 47b, but to the cathode 47a of the voltage source 47, no short circuit is produced if dirt, such as feed, remains behind on the top strip 45. This is advantageous for the operation and safety of the feed wagon 10.

[0045] The feed wagon 10 is fitted with a safety bumper comprising two vertical bars, one bar of which is visible in FIG. 2. These vertical bars form components which are also touchable by the animals 9 from behind the feeding fence 31 when the feed wagon 10 travels past. In this exemplary embodiment, these vertical bars are also provided with in each case one pair 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45.

[0046] The elongate, mutually parallel strips 44, 45 each have a shape comprising first parts 48 which extend in a first direction which corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the elongate strips 44, 45, and comprising second parts 49 which extend substantially perpendicularly with respect to said first direction. As a result thereof, it is virtually impossible for an animal 9 to touch a pair 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45 and not receive an electrical shock. As is illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and FIGS. 5a, 5b, each pair 43 of mutually parallel strips 44, 45 in this exemplary embodiment is substantially block-shaped. In this exemplary embodiment, the distance d between adjoining second parts 49 of each strip 44, 45 is approximately 20 mm.

[0047] The mutually parallel strips 44, 45 which are disposed on the feed wagon 10 substantially horizontally at a distance above the floor each comprise, viewed in cross section, a top portion 50 with a substantially vertical contact surface 50a which faces outwards, and a bottom portion 51 with a substantially horizontal contact surface 51a which faces downwards. The bottom portion 51 of each strip 44, 45 is bent inwards with respect to the top portion 50 of said strip 44, 45. The vertical contact surfaces 50a of the top portions 50 of the strips 44, 45 are designed to emit an electrical shock when an animal 9 laterally touches them. If an animal 9 moves its head upwards from under the strips 44, 45, the animal 9 will also receive an electrical shock by touching the horizontal contact surfaces 51a of the bottom portions 51 of the strips 44, 45.

[0048] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures. The person skilled in the art may apply various modifications which fall within the scope of the invention. Instead of the above-described autonomous feed wagon 10, the vehicle according to the invention may be designed for pushing feed across a floor in the direction of a feeding fence. In that case, the vehicle may, for example, comprise the above-described rotating skirt 52. The vehicle according to the invention may also be designed for cleaning a floor, such as the animal-shed floor on which the animals walk, or for yet other animal-related operations.