FLOOR CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT

Abstract

Floor construction element for a horse stable with a cover surface element (6) and a support device for support against a floor (1), wherein the cover surface element (6) has a variety of passage openings (5, 50) and by the supporting device between the floor (1) and the cover surface element (6) at least one drainage cavity (4) is formed by way of which liquid excretions of the horse can be drained out, wherein the passage openings (5, 50) are arranged in an evenly distributed manner over the cover surface element, wherein bridges (110) run for supporting or stiffening between the passage openings (5, 50), and wherein the passage openings (50) are each defined by an arrangement of a number of screen openings (71) which are formed in the cover surface element (6), or a screen element (7) with a plurality of screen openings (70) is inserted in the passage openings, wherein the screen openings (70, 71) are permeable to the liquid excretions, but prevent the entry of relatively large, solid particles into at least one drainage cavity (4) and the clogging of the passage openings (5, 50), whereby the diameter or opening width (k) of the screen openings (70, 71) is much smaller than the diameter D or the opening width of the passage openings (5, 50) and the thickness (C) of the screen element (7) or the depth of the screen openings (70, 71) is much smaller than the diameter D or the opening width of the passage openings (5, 50).

Claims

1. A floor construction element for a horse stable with a cover surface element and a supporting device for supporting against a floor, wherein the cover surface element has a variety of passage openings and at least one drainage cavity is formed by the supporting device between the floor and the cover surface element, through which liquid excretions of the horse can be removed, characterized in that wherein the passage openings are arranged distributed uniformly on the cover surface element, whereby bridges for supporting or stiffening extend between the passage openings, and that the passage openings each are defined by an arrangement of several screen openings that are formed in the cover surface element or a screen element is inserted into the passage openings with a number of screen openings, whereby the screen openings are permeable to the liquid excretions, but prevent the entry of relatively large, solid particles into at least one drainage cavity and prevent obstruction of the passage openings, whereby the diameter or the opening width of the screen openings is much smaller than the diameter (D) or the opening width of the passage openings and the thickness (C) of the screen element or the depth of the screen openings is much smaller than the diameter (D) or the opening width of the passage openings.

2. The floor construction element according to claim 1, wherein the passage openings are arranged in a matrix shape.

3. The floor construction element according to claim 1, wherein the cover surface element comprises a cover plate having at the bottom support in the other direction or stiffening bridges.

4. The floor construction element according to claim 3, wherein the cover plate is formed of an elastic material.

5. The floor construction element according to claim 4, wherein on the upper side of the cover plate, a damping layer is attached or a cover plate is arranged made of an elastic material.

6. The floor construction element according to claim 3, wherein the screen openings are formed in the cover plate (60).

7. The floor construction element according to claim 1, wherein the screen element is formed by a hollow insert, which is fitted into the respective passage opening, and that the upper end of the hollow insert exhibits a grid screen.

8. The floor construction element according to claim 7, wherein the hollow inserts are glued or cast into the passage openings of the cover plate.

9. The floor construction element according to claim 1, wherein the cover surface element comprises a supporting grid element and on the grid element a cover plate made of an elastic material is attached or arranged, wherein the passage openings are provided in the cover plate, which passage openings are arranged in alignment with grid openings of the grid element, and that the screen elements are embedded or glued in the passage openings of the cover plate.

10. The floor construction element according to claim 1, wherein the supporting device comprises two lateral support walls spaced apart from one another by a bottom wall, on which the cover surface element can be placed.

11. The floor construction element according to claim 10, wherein the bottom wall of the supporting device forms parallel grooves for draining the liquid excretions, and that on the connecting lines of adjacent grooves support surfaces are formed, on which the inner support bridges of the cover plate rest when the cover surface element is attached.

12. The floor construction element according to claim 10, wherein the parallel grooves opposite the support walls are formed, projecting at one end and recessed at the opposite end, so that the projecting groove sections with the recessed groove sections of two adjacent floor construction elements can be brought into contact with the front side and connected with a seal by means of a sealing element.

13. The floor construction element according to claim 10, wherein groove and spring elements are arranged on the outer sides of the mutually opposite support walls, so that in each case two adjacent floor construction elements can be engaged with one another on their support wall side.

14. The floor construction element according to claim 10, wherein the bottom wall is formed as a sloping plane and a drain hole is formed at the lowest point of the inclined plane and a flushing bore for connection to a flushing line in the area of the highest point.

15. The floor construction according to claim 1, wherein a support frame is formed for supporting the cover surface element, through which the flushing lines are passed, and which is mounted on its underside by support feet relative to the floor (1), wherein the support frame has recesses through which the liquid excretions can be drained away.

Description

[0055] The invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In the following figures,

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a view from above of a detail of an embodiment of a floor construction element according to the invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a section K-K of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1;

[0059] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1;

[0060] FIG. 5 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 from below;

[0061] FIG. 6 is an oblique view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0062] FIG. 7 shows a section H-H through the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0063] FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1;

[0064] FIG. 9 shows a detail of a section of the embodiment according to FIG. 1;

[0065] FIG. 10 shows a section K-K through a further embodiment of the floor construction element according to the invention;

[0066] FIG. 11 shows a side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 10;

[0067] FIG. 12 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 10;

[0068] FIG. 13 shows a section H-H of the embodiment according to FIG. 10;

[0069] FIG. 14 shows an oblique view of the embodiment according to FIG. 10;

[0070] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 10;

[0071] FIG. 15A is a partially cutaway oblique view of a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 10;

[0072] FIG. 15A to 15D is a top view, a side view, a section C-C and an oblique view of a screen element of the embodiment of FIG. 10 in magnification;

[0073] FIG. 16 shows a section K-K through a further embodiment of the floor construction element according to the invention;

[0074] FIG. 17 shows a side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 16;

[0075] FIG. 18 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 16;

[0076] FIG. 19 shows a section H-H through the embodiment according to FIG. 16:

[0077] FIG. 20 shows an oblique view of the embodiment according to FIG. 16;

[0078] FIG. 21 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 16;

[0079] FIG. 22 shows a section K-K through a further embodiment of the floor construction element according to the invention;

[0080] FIG. 23 shows a side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 22;

[0081] FIG. 24 shows a top view of the embodiment according to FIG. 22;

[0082] FIG. 25 shows a section H-H through the embodiment according to FIG. 22:

[0083] FIG. 26 is an oblique view of the embodiment of FIG. 22;

[0084] FIG. 27 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 22;

[0085] FIG. 28 shows a section K-K through a further embodiment of the floor construction element according to the invention;

[0086] FIG. 29 shows a side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 28;

[0087] FIG. 30 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 28;

[0088] FIG. 31 shows a section H-H through the embodiment according to FIG. 28:

[0089] FIG. 32 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 28;

[0090] FIG. 33 shows an oblique view of the embodiment according to FIG. 28;

[0091] FIG. 34 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 28;

[0092] FIG. 35 shows a detail of a further embodiment of the floor construction element according to the invention;

[0093] FIG. 36 shows a section J-J of the embodiment according to FIG. 35;

[0094] FIG. 37 shows a side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 35;

[0095] FIG. 38 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 35;

[0096] FIG. 39 shows a further detail of the embodiment according to FIG. 35;

[0097] FIG. 40 shows a section through the embodiment according to FIG. 35;

[0098] FIG. 41 shows an exploded view of the embodiment according to FIG. 35;

[0099] FIG. 42 shows a section J-J of a further embodiment of the floor construction element according to the invention;

[0100] FIG. 43 shows a side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 42;

[0101] FIG. 44 shows a top view of the embodiment according to FIG. 42;

[0102] FIG. 45 shows an oblique view of the embodiment according to FIG. 42;

[0103] FIG. 46 is an exploded view of the embodiment according to FIG. 42.

[0104] FIGS. 1 to 9 show a floor construction element for a horse stable with a cover surface element 6 essentially spaced in parallel from a floor 1, on the upper side of which a bedding layer 2 (FIG. 2) is applied in the state of use, wherein a drainage cavity 4 is formed by a supporting device 170, 171 between the floor 1 and the cover surface element 6, by means of which the liquid secretions of a horse can be drained.

[0105] The support device has two lateral support walls 170, 171 spaced apart by a bottom wall 173 and on which the cover surface element 6 can be placed.

[0106] The cover surface element 6 is executed in the embodiment shownwithout being limited theretowith a square base with the dimensions 300300 mm. By laying several cover surface elements 6 close to each other, the respective stable can be completely covered, in order to be able to apply a bedding layer to the surface created thereby. The laid cover surface elements thereby form a setting surface with evenly distributed through holes for draining the liquid excretions. Preferably, the underlying soil is on a slope or such a slope is made artificially.

[0107] The bottom wall 173 of the support device forms parallel grooves 180 for discharging the liquid excretions, wherein in the embodiment shown five parallel semi-cylindrical grooves 180 are provided which extend parallel to the two lateral support walls 170, 171. However, the design of the gutters is not essential to the invention and may vary within the scope of the invention.

[0108] The parallel grooves 180 are projecting at one end opposite the support walls 170, 171 and set back at the opposite end, so that the projecting groove sections 181 can be brought into contact with the recessed groove sections 182 of two adjacent floor construction elements and can be connected with a seal by means of sealing elements (not shown).

[0109] Furthermore, groove 175 and spring elements 176 are arranged on the outer sides of the mutually opposite support walls 170, 171, so that in each case two adjacent floor construction elements can be brought into engagement with one another on their support wall side.

[0110] In this context, it should be noted that in the description horse stables are understood to mean all facilities for housing and/or transport of horses, such as horse stables with stalls, free-range horse stables, horse trailers, horse transporters, etc. Such facilities are designed specifically for horses and take into account the specifics of horse husbandry. The bedding layer 2 has several functions, among other things, it protects against injury and also provides a base on which the horse can lie down or rest or sleep. Furthermore, the bedding layer 2 prevents splashing during urination, which in horses may cause them to stop delivering urine, which can lead to urinary retention. The floor 1 is, for example, the existing floor in a horse stall, for example, concrete, clay, screed, etc.

[0111] To prevent injury and to protect the joints of the stalled horse, the cover surface element 6 is made of an elastic material, such as a plastic, to effect a good state and the required damping effect for the horse, but at least the cover surface element 6 is formed elastically on its upper side or at least one elastic layer is present.

[0112] The cover surface element 6 thus has sufficient elastic properties in order to ensure a hoof- and joint-protecting type of accommodation. Furthermore, the cover surface element 6 also prevents horses from injuring themselves when lying down or getting up. The cover surface element 6 has a number of square passage openings 50 for draining the liquid excretions into the drainage cavity 4.

[0113] The cover surface element 6 is formed as a cover plate 60, which has at the bottom support ribs 140 and stiffening ribs 130 (FIG. 7) in the other direction, which consist of a different, harder material than the cover plate 60. However, in the manufacture of the cover surface element 6, the softer cover plate 60 and the harder support ribs 140 and stiffening ribs 130 and a surrounding frame 131 are formed in one process, so that the latter are integrally connected to the cover plate 60.

[0114] At the connecting lines of adjacent grooves 180, support surfaces 190 are formed, on which the inner support bridges 140 of the cover plate 60 rest when the cover surface element 6 is fitted.

[0115] According to the invention, the passage openings 50 are arranged in a uniformly distributed manner over the cover surface element, whereby bridges 110 (FIG. 1) extend between the passage openings 50 for support or stiffening, and the passage openings 50 are each defined by an arrangement of several screen openings 71, wherein the screen openings 71 are permeable to the liquid excretions, but prevent the entry of relatively large, solid particles into at least one drainage cavity 4 and prevent clogging of the passage openings 50 (FIG. 9).

[0116] As shown in FIG. 7, the support ribs 140 and the stiffening ribs 130 are arranged just below the ridges 110 to stiffen and support the cover plate 60. The thickness of the cover plate is about 5 mm and thins in the area with the screen openings to 2 mm, so that the screen openings are about 2 mm deep.

[0117] The arrangements of screen openings 71 forming the passage openings 50 are formed by through holes in the cover plate 60. FIG. 1 shows a detail with one of the passage openings 50, which is defined by a total of 16 screen openings 71, for example, with a diameter of 3 mm, so that a through hole of approximately 2020 mm results, and which is separated from the adjacent passage openings by bridges 110 with a width of e.g. 8 mm. In the interior of the passage openings, additional cross-shaped stiffening bridges 210 are provided (FIGS. 1 and 9) in order to avoid being pushed in by a horse's hoof. The screen openings 71 open conically downwards to allow a better drainage of the liquid excretions. The bridges 110 and the stiffening bridges 210 serve to reinforce and should have the smallest possible width but be sufficiently wide to protect the screen openings 71 against breakage.

[0118] The passage openings 50 are arranged in a matrix-like manner, but it is also possible to make a deviating shape of the arrangement.

[0119] In order to prevent the entry of relatively large solid particles through the passage openings 50 into the drainage cavity 4 and clogging of the passage openings 50, the diameter or opening width k of the screen openings 71 is much smaller than the diameter D or the opening width of the passage openings 50, and depth t of the screen openings 71 is much smaller than the diameter D or the opening width of the passage openings 50 (FIG. 9).

[0120] A further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 10 to 15, in which the passage openings 5 are distributed uniformly over the cover surface element 64 and are separated from one another by bridges 110 (FIG. 12). In each of the passage openings 5, a screen element 7 is inserted which has a number of screen openings 70 which are permeable to the liquid excretions, but which prevent the entry of relatively large, solid particles into the drainage cavity 4 and the clogging of the passage openings 5 (FIGS. 15A to 15D).

[0121] The diameter or the opening width k of the screen openings 70 is much smaller than the diameter D or the opening width of the passage openings 5 and the thickness C of the screen 7, or the depth of the screen openings 70 is much smaller than the diameter D or the opening width of the passage openings 5 is.

[0122] The screen element 7 is formed by a hollow insert 75, which is fitted into the respective passage opening 5 of a cover plate 64, the upper end of the hollow insert 75 having a grid screen 17 and the lower end having a flange 19 (FIG. 15D). The depth t of the screen openings 71 corresponds to the thickness of the grid screen 17, which is just kept very thin for better drainage. For stiffening the very thin grid screen 17, cross-shaped reinforcing bridges 20 are formed in the interior of the hollow insert 75.

[0123] The screen elements 75 are inserted, preferably glued, into the passage openings 5 of the cover plate 64, as can be seen from FIG. 14, whereby the grid screen 17 is oriented upwards in the position of use.

[0124] The screen openings 70 open conicallyin the position of usein a downward direction to the bottomso instead have a truncated conical shape, to better prevent clogging or shifting. The cone angle is formed in the range between 5 and 15, preferably 10.

[0125] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 to 15D have circular passage openings 5, but they may also have any other shape, for example, n-cornered, oval or slot-like, etc.

[0126] The cover plate 64 with the number of passage openings 5 extending in the thickness direction is formed from a material having a relatively high elasticity, for example made of rubber, foam, or the like.

[0127] The cover plate 64 is supported by a frame 131, which is provided with support ribs 140 and stiffening ribs 130, which form openings for discharging the liquid excretions into the drainage cavity 4.

[0128] The passage openings 5 have a circular diameter and are arranged in the form of a matrix, but could also be provided in any other form, for example square, hexagonal, etc. or in an arrangement. The diameter of the passage openings 5 may, for example, be selected from a range of 5 mm to 50 mm, but other diameters may also be formed.

[0129] In order to allow, to the extent possible, no accumulations of liquid above the cover plate 64, the passage openings 5 are arranged close to each other. In order to provide a sufficient footprint for the horse to be stalled and a corresponding strength, however, the spaces or bridges between the passage openings 5 must be kept sufficiently large.

[0130] The screen element 7 is fitted into the respective passage opening 5, so that the diameter D of the passage openings 5 is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the screen elements 7, the upper end of the insert 75 forming the grid screen 17, which is preferably formed integrally with the insert 75. The diameter or the opening width k (FIG. 15C) of the screen openings 70 of the grid screen 17 and the thickness C of the grid screen 17 are many times smaller than the diameter D of the openings 5.

Example

[0131] D=30 mm, C=2 mm (factor F1=15 times smaller) and k=2.6 mm (factor F2=11.5 times smaller)

[0132] The factors F1, F2 are preferably in the range 10 to 30.

[0133] The thickness C of the grid screen 17 (=passage length of the screen openings 70) is much smaller than the diameter D or the opening width of the passage opening 5, whereby shifting of the grid screen 17 by debris can be avoided.

[0134] The diameter or the opening width k of the grid screen 17 is also much smaller than the diameter D or the opening width of the passage opening 5, whereby clogging of the passage openings 5 by solid components, such as bedding, etc., is prevented.

[0135] The screen element 7 is seated with its flange 19 on the underside of the cover plate 64, wherein the screen 17 of the screen element insert 75 is offset slightly downwards relative to the upper side of the cover plate 64, so that the horse's hoof cannot come into contact with the screen element 7.

[0136] The screen element inserts 75 are offset in the installed state by a distance which may, for example, be 1-2 mm in size, relative to the top of the cover plate 64. However, no offset can also be provided for.

[0137] Furthermore, the screen element 7 exhibits the reinforcing bridges 20 in the interior, which are arranged diametrically and crosswise. The screen element 7 and the reinforcing bridges 20 may be embodied, for example, by injection molding, wherein the reinforcing bridges serve for mechanical reinforcement, in order to counteract deformations that could arise due to the burden of the horse's weight.

[0138] The screen element 7 thus allows the horse urine or the horse substrate into the drainage cavity 4 and thereby prevents other main solid materials such as bedding, hay, straw or horse manure from being able to penetrate into the next lower level.

[0139] The screen element 7 can also be installed in the cover plate 64, for example, it can be vulcanized in.

[0140] Possible embodiment of the grid screen 17: [0141] Screen grid with a mesh size or opening width k of the screen openings 70, e.g. 1 to 5 mm. Changes in the dimensions and opening widths of grid screens 17 are possible within the scope of the invention

[0142] The passage openings 5 are circular in cross-section, so hollow-cylindrical, diameter D, for example, 5 mm-50 mm arranged in a matrix, but any other geometric shape and/or arrangement of the openings 5 can be selected, as long as the drainage of the liquid horse excretions can occur without appreciable liquid accumulation from the bedding layer 1. The remaining bridges of material between the openings 5 are dimensioned so that they have sufficient strength to ensure the integrity of the cover plate 64 when loaded by the horse's legs, so that no permanent deformation or destruction can result.

[0143] The screen element 7 can be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer from the group of the TPEV or an impact-resistant polypropylene copolymer. These materials have the following mechanical properties:

[0144] Flexural modulus 1100-1400 MPa, in particular 1250 MPa

[0145] Tensile strength: 20-30 MPa, in particular 26 MPa

[0146] Impact strength: 150-180 kJ/m2

[0147] Possible embodiments of the cover plate 64: [0148] Cut-resistant flame retardant rubber mat, 1000 mm1500 mm (or 1000 mm3000 mm), material thickness preferably between 6 mm to 30 mm, weight between 10 to 23.5 kg (7 kg to 16 kg/m.sup.2), natural rubber (virgin material) black or special colors [0149] Rubber mat, 1000 mm1500 mm, material thickness preferably between 6 mm to 30 mm, weight between 10 to 23.5 kg (7 kg to 16 kg/m.sup.2), natural rubbernew, black or special colors [0150] Rubber matrecycling, 1000 mm1500 mm, material thickness preferably between 6 mm to 30 mm, weight between 8 to 19 kg (5.5 kg to 12.7 kg/m.sup.2), mainly recycled natural rubber black.

[0151] Previous bedding strata pursued the goal of an uptake of the liquid components of equine excretions that is as complete as possible, preferably by a high absorbency of the bedding material. The fully moist bedding thus needs to be changed relatively often and mixes with the solid horse excrement or horse droppings. For hygienic reasons and the resulting formation of ammonia, frequent mucking out has been required, and the excretions could be difficult to recycle.

[0152] Since the liquid excretions are separated from the solid ones via the cover plate 64 according to the invention in combination with the screen elements 7 by appropriate drainage from the bedding layer, such recovery can now be carried out much better. The horse urine can be drained and collected in tanks or manure pits, the horse droppings can be picked up and collected in a dry state, for example by means of pitchfork. For the formation of the bedding layer 2, preferably a very low-absorption material or low-absorption material execution is therefore used in the context of the inventionin contrast to conventional bedding. This contributes to the well-being of the horse as well as to the easier mucking out of the horse droppings.

[0153] Possible embodiment for the bedding layer 2: [0154] Bedding height at least 5 cm and not more than 10 cm. [0155] Wood granules with a diameter of 3 to 5 mm or up to 8 mm and a length of 5 mm to 10 mm or up to 30 mm, de-dusted and thermally treated.

[0156] FIGS. 16 to 21 show a further embodiment of the floor construction element according to the invention, in which the cover surface element 66 comprises a cover plate 67 and a supporting grid element 90, which is formed in the present embodiment by a step grid, e.g. GRP grid, with mutually perpendicular grating bars that form rectangular grid openings 91, which is placed on the support walls.

[0157] On the grid element 90, the cover plate 67 made of an elastic material, such as rubber, is arranged, wherein the passage openings 51 are provided in the cover plate 67, for which passage openings 51 are arranged in alignment with the grid openings 91 of the grid element 90, so that the excretions draining off through the passage openings 51 can flow through the grid openings 91 without flow obstacles.

[0158] The flat screen elements 7 with screen openings are embedded or glued into the passage openings 51 of the cover plate 67. The dimensioning of the screen openings again corresponds exactly to the principle according to the invention: The diameter or the opening width of the screen openings of the screen element 7 and the thickness of the screen element 7 are many times smaller than the diameter of the passage openings 51.

[0159] In the further embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 22 to 27, the screen sleeves 17 are not glued to the elastic cover plate 64, but are integrally formed together with the cover plate 64, for example by injection molding.

[0160] In the further embodiment according to the invention according to FIGS. 28 to 34, the floor construction element according to the invention represents a narrow variant of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 9 with only one groove 180 and one central reinforcing rib 130.

[0161] Different dimensions of prefabricated floor construction elements according to the invention can be used when installed in the stable floor, whereby the column can be covered at the edge by edge strips which are tailored as needed.

[0162] FIGS. 35 to 41 show a further embodiment of the floor construction element according to the invention with a box-shaped supporting device 350, in which a bottom wall 340 as a sloping plane and at the lowest point of the inclined plane a drain hole 302 for connection of a connecting element for the adjacent floor construction element and a purge line bore 301 is formed for connection to a purge line in the area of the highest point, by way of which the flushing water can be introduced into the interior of the floor construction element according to the invention, in order to drain the liquid excretions via the drain hole 302.

[0163] FIGS. 42 to 45 show a further embodiment of the floor construction element according to the invention, in which a support frame 470 is formed to support the cover surface element 69, through which the purge lines are conducted, and which is mounted on its underside by support legs 440 relative to the bottom 1, whereby the support frame 470 has lateral recesses 490, through which the liquid excretions can be drained away.