A Flooring System Support Unit In A Modular Flooring System for Construction of a Piggery with A Plurality of Pigsties With Underlying Manure Channels

Abstract

A modular flooring system for construction of a piggery with a plurality of pigsties with underlying manure channels, wherein the flooring system includes one or more flooring system support units. Each flooring system support unit including a top part with a flooring support surface and an opposing underside and a bottom part with a support side and an opposing topside, and a middle part. The middle part including at least two interconnecting support legs extending between, and connecting the top part with the bottom part. The modular flooring system including one or more gratings for being mounted on and extend between top parts of the flooring system support units and one or more watertight manure channel membranes.

Claims

1. A modular flooring system for construction of a piggery with a pigsty with an underlying manure channel, wherein the modular flooring system comprises: one or more flooring system support units each comprising: a top part comprising: a flooring support surface; and an opposing underside; a bottom part comprising: a support side; an opposing topside; and a middle part comprising at least two interconnecting support legs extending between, and connecting the top part with the bottom part, wherein the support side of the bottom part is placed directly on a supporting floor surface; one or more gratings mounted on the top part of the one or more flooring system support units, wherein each of the one or more gratings is configured for providing a support floor for carrying one or more pigs; and one or more watertight manure channel membranes configured to ensure imperviousness of sides, a bottom, and/or ends of the one or more manure channels defined in a space between the one or more watertight manure channel membranes and the one or more gratings.

2. The modular flooring system according to claim 1, wherein the flooring support surface of the top part of each of the one or more flooring system support units comprises furrows or recesses and/or a protrusion at or near a side on the flooring support surface for mounting the one or more gratings.

3. The modular flooring system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more flooring system support units are made of injection molded plastic.

4. The modular flooring system according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two interconnecting support legs comprises an adjustment system for adjusting a distance between the opposing underside of the top part with the opposing topside of the bottom part.

5. The modular flooring system according to claim 1, wherein the top part of each of the one or more flooring system support units further comprises one or more through-openings extending entirely through the top part from the flooring support surface to the opposing underside.

6. The modular flooring system according to claim 1, wherein the top part of each of the one or more flooring system support units further comprises means for attaching one or more wall elements designed to constitute one or more partition walls of the pigsty.

7. The modular flooring system according to claim 1, wherein the bottom part further comprises an insert attached to the opposing topside of the bottom part and wherein the insert extends outwards from the opposing topside of the bottom part.

8. The modular flooring system according to claim 1, further comprising: wherein the top part and/or the bottom part of one of the one or more flooring system support units comprises an interlocking system so that the one of the one or more flooring system support units is attached to a second one of the one or more flooring system support units in a side-by-side manner so as to obtain an extended, even flooring support surface extending from the top part of the one of the one or more flooring system support units to the top part of second one of the one or more flooring system support units.

9. The modular flooring system according to claim 1, wherein the support side of the bottom part has a two-dimensional surface area, of an outer surface in direct contact with the supporting floor surface at least twice a total two-dimensional surface area of the at least two interconnecting support legs if the two-dimensional surface area of the at least two interconnecting support legs is measured where the total two dimensional surface area is largest.

10. The modular flooring system according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two interconnecting support legs is divided into two substantially similar sized half-legs hereby obtaining at least four interconnecting half-legs, and wherein each of the one or more flooring system support units comprises: a first piece comprising the top part and at least two of the at least four interconnecting half-legs; and a second piece comprising the bottom part and at least another two of the at least four interconnecting half-legs.

11. The modular flooring system according to claim 10, wherein the first piece comprises holes in the top part corresponding to shapes of the at least two of the at least four interconnecting half-legs so the first piece is stackable with a first piece of another one of the one or more flooring system support units, and wherein the second piece comprises holes in the bottom part corresponding to shapes of the another two of the at least four interconnecting half-legs so the second piece is stackable with a second piece of the another one of the one or more flooring system support units.

12. The modular flooring system according to claim 11, wherein the first piece and the second piece are of similar shape and size.

13. The modular flooring system according to claim 12, wherein the first piece and the second piece are stackable with each other.

14. A flooring system support unit in a piggery with a pigsty with an underlying manure channel, wherein the flooring system support unit comprises: a top part comprising: a flooring support surface; and an opposing underside; a bottom part comprising: a support side; an opposing topside; and a middle part comprising at least two interconnecting support legs extending between, and connecting the top part with the bottom part, wherein the support side of the bottom part is placed directly on a supporting floor surface.

15. A piggery comprising: a modular flooring system comprising: one or more flooring system support units each comprising: a top part comprising: a flooring support surface; and an opposing underside; a bottom part comprising: a support side; and an opposing topside; and a middle part comprising at least two interconnecting support legs extending between, and connecting the top part with the bottom part, wherein the support side of the bottom part is placed directly on a supporting floor surface; one or more gratings mounted on the top part of the one or more flooring system support units, wherein each of the one or more gratings is configured for providing a support floor for carrying one or more pigs; and one or more-watertight manure channel membranes configured to ensure imperviousness of sides, a bottom, and/or ends of one or more manure channels defined in a space between the one or more watertight manure channel membranes and the one or more gratings; and an animal standing on the grating.

16. (canceled)

17. The modular flooring system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting floor surface is selected from the group consisting of: a concrete floor, a compressed bed of sand on a concrete floor, and a watertight manure channel membrane on a compressed bed of sand, and a watertight manure channel membrane on a compressed bed of sand that is on a concrete floor.

18. The flooring system support unit according to claim 14, wherein the supporting floor surface is selected from the group consisting of: a concrete floor, a compressed bed of sand on a concrete floor, and a watertight manure channel membrane on a compressed bed of sand, and a watertight manure channel membrane on a compressed bed of sand that is on a concrete floor.

19. The piggery according to claim 15, wherein the supporting floor surface is selected from the group consisting of: a concrete floor, a compressed bed of sand on a concrete floor, and a watertight manure channel membrane on a compressed bed of sand, and a watertight manure channel membrane on a compressed bed of sand that is on a concrete floor.

20. The piggery according to claim 15, further comprising wall elements attached to the top part, wherein the animal is positioned between the wall elements.

21. The piggery according to claim 15, wherein the animal is a pig.

22. The piggery according to claim 15, wherein manure of the animal is present within the manure channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0079] The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of example embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0080] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a piggery constructed with a plurality of pigsties according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0081] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a flooring system support unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0082] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a flooring system support unit according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0083] FIG. 4 shows a top view of a flooring system support unit according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0084] FIG. 5 shows a top view of a flooring system support unit further comprising mounted gratings according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0085] FIG. 6 shows a top view of a flooring system support unit further comprising mounted gratings and a mounted wall element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0086] FIG. 7 shows a top view of two connected flooring system support units also comprising mounted gratings and a mounted wall element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0087] FIG. 8 shows a top view of a flooring system support unit according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0088] FIG. 9 shows a top view of a flooring system support unit according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0089] FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of a flooring system support unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0090] Various examples are described hereinafter with reference to the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the examples. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the claimed invention or as a limitation on the scope of the claimed invention. In addition, an illustrated example needs not have all the aspects or advantages shown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular example is not necessarily limited to that example and can be practiced in any other examples even if not so illustrated, or if not so explicitly described.

[0091] FIG. 1 shows a pig 101 in a piggery. The piggery is constructed with a plurality of pigsties 105, wherein only one is shown in the figure, the one comprising the pig 101. The pigsties have underlying manure channels 107. The flooring system in the figure is constructed of several gratings 109 that are mounted partially on a flooring support surface 111 of the top part 113 of a flooring system support unit 115. The gratings in the figure is also mounted on concrete pillars 117 making up part of the piggery 103. The flooring system support units 115 comprising a top part 113 with a flooring support surface 111 and an opposing underside 119, a bottom part 121 with a support side 123 and an opposing topside 125, and a middle part 127 comprising at least two interconnecting support legs 129 extending between, and connecting, the opposing underside 119 of the top part 113 with the opposing topside 125 of the bottom part 121, wherein the support side 123 of the bottom part 121 is placed on a watertight manure channel membrane 131 placed between a compressed bed of sand on a concrete floor 135 and the support side 123 of the bottom part 121. The manure channels 107 comprises a vacuum manure system/piping 137 placed under the gratings 109 of the pigsty 105. The figure further shows wall elements 139 attached to the top part 113 of the flooring system support units 115. These wall elements 139 can be removed of rearranged if needed.

[0092] FIG. 2 shows a flooring system support unit 215 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The flooring system support unit 215 comprises holes 241 for stacking in the top part 213 of the flooring system support unit 215. These holes 241 for stacking are designed to fit in size to the interconnecting support legs 229, which in this embodiment is rigidly attached to the opposing underside 219 of the top part 213 of the flooring system support unit 215. The interconnected legs 229 are in this embodiment divided in two substantially similar sized legs each, called interconnecting half-legs 243. As these interconnecting half-legs 243 are rigidly attached to the opposing underside 219 of the top part 213 of the flooring system support unit 215, this makes up a first piece comprising the top part 213 and the interconnecting half-legs 243. The holes 241 for stacking is extended down into the interconnecting half-legs 243. As the holes 241 have a shape corresponding to the interconnecting half-legs 243, makes is possible to stack the first pieces on atop another. A similar principal is obtainable with the bottom part 221, if the interconnecting half-legs 243 fitted to the opposing topside 225 is rigidly connected and the bottom part 221 comprises holes (not shown) in a similar fashion as for the top part 213.

[0093] The interconnecting half-legs 243 can be made so that they can be adjusted in height if the floors are crooked. The embodiment of FIG. 2 further shows that the adjustment system for adjusting the distance 251 between the opposing underside 219 of the top part 213 with the opposing topside 225 of the bottom part 221 is a screw mechanism in which the distance in this embodiment can be adjusted between all four connecting regions of the interconnecting half-legs 243 (only three shown due to the view).

[0094] The flooring system support unit 215 is designed with a support side 223 of the bottom part 221 and a flat flooring support surface 211 of the top part 213, with through-openings 245 extending all the way through the top part 213 from the flooring support surface 211 to the opposing underside 219. This minimises the risk of build-up of manure along the walls and makes it easier to clean.

[0095] The flooring system support unit 215 is provided with furrows 247 near two sides on the flooring support surface 211 for mounting of gratings or footplates.

[0096] Since it may be desirable that manure channels have an area adapted to the drainage system/vacuum manure system, the bottom part 221 of the flooring system support unit 215 can be provided with an insert 249 attached to the opposing topside 225 of the bottom part 221. This insert 249 extends outwards from the opposing topside 225 of the bottom part 221, which ensures that the channel has the desired content hereby ensuring that the drainage system works optimally. In this particular embodiment the insert 249 is triangularly shaped with a blunt end pointing towards the top part 213.

[0097] The flooring system support unit 215 can be provided with click locks (not shown) so they are quick to assemble side-by-side. The low weight of plastic/composites makes it easy to handle and assemble the elements.

[0098] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the flooring system support unit 215 is further provided with means for attaching 253 wall elements designed to constitute the pigsty partitions. The means for attaching 253 is in this particular embodiment a deep channel/furrow located in the middle of the flooring support surface 211 of the top part 213 extending from one side of the top part 213 to the opposing side.

[0099] FIG. 3 shows a similar embodiment to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, however, in the embodiment of FIG. 3 the flooring system support unit 315 is provided with protrusions 355 near two sides on the flooring support surface 311 for mounting of gratings or footplates.

[0100] FIG. 4 shows a similar embodiment to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, however, in the embodiment of FIG. 4 the flooring system support unit 415 is provided with means for attaching 457 wall elements designed to constitute the pigsty partitions in the form of two flanges 459 with a distance between the two flanges corresponding to the thickness of the wall elements designed to constitute the pigsty partitions. The flanges 459 are attached to the top part 413 of the flooring system support unit 415 and extends outwards from the flooring support surface 411 located in the middle of the flooring support surface 411 of the top part 413 extending from one side of the top part 413 to the opposing side.

[0101] FIG. 5 shows a similar embodiment to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, however, in the embodiment of FIG. 5 the furrows are mounted with gratings 509 fitting into these furrows.

[0102] FIG. 6 shows a similar embodiment to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, however, in the embodiment of FIG. 6 the deep channel/furrow located in the middle of the flooring support surface 611 of the top part 613 extending from one side of the top part 613 to the opposing side serving as the means for attaching 653 wall elements is attached to a wall element 639 as shown.

[0103] FIG. 7 shows a similar embodiment to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, however, in the embodiment of FIG. 7 two flooring system support units 715 are connected an four gratings 709 are mounted on the flooring support surface 711. Further two wall elements 739 are attached to the deep channel/furrow located in the middle of the flooring support surface 711 of the top part 713 extending from one side of the top part 713 to the opposing side serving as the means for attaching 753 wall elements.

[0104] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, however, in the embodiment of FIG. 8 the flooring system support unit 815 comprises holes 841 for stacking in the top part 813 of the flooring system support unit 815 and interconnecting half-legs 843, which are tooth wheel shaped. Further, the provided means for attaching 853 wall elements is stepwise narrowed in width as the channel/furrow is stepwise increased in depth. Even further, the bottom part 821 is made of a web of interconnecting walls creating a grid structure with openings, hereby creating a lightweight bottom part 821 in comparison to a bottom part made of solid material all the way through. It is also envisioned to construct the top part 813 in a similar fashion. Further, the insert 849 attached to the opposing topside 825 of the bottom part 821 is in this embodiment constructed in connection with the bottom part 821 making up one piece. Lastly, the bottom part 821 and the top part 813 are identical in this specific embodiment.

[0105] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the present disclosure similar to the embodiment of FIG. 8, however, in the embodiment of FIG. 9 the top part 913 and the bottom part 921 are extended to comprise an interlocking system 961, wherein the top part 913 of the flooring system support unit 915 is formed so one side 963 of the top part 913 can be fitted under an adjacent side 995 of the top part 913 of another flooring system support unit 915, hereby attaching the flooring system support units 915 to each other in a side to side manor, hereby obtaining an extended even flooring support surface 911 extending from one top part 913 to another. The bottom part 921 in this particular embodiment also comprises a similar interlocking system 961. In this embodiment, the insert 949 is detachable from the bottom part 921 and is shaped in the form of a rounded triangular shape.

[0106] FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of the embodiment as disclosed in FIG. 9. This gives a better view of the adjustment system 1051 used between the interconnecting half-legs 1043.

[0107] When describing the embodiments, the combinations and permutations of all possible embodiments have not been explicitly described. Nevertheless, the mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims or described in different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The present invention envisage all possible combinations and permutations of the described embodiments.

[0108] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. The person skilled in the art further realizes that modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

REFERENCES

[0109] 101 —Pig [0110] 103—Piggery [0111] 105—Pigsty [0112] 107—Manure channel [0113] 109, 509, 609, 709—Grating [0114] 111, 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, 811, 911, 1011—Flooring support surface [0115] 113, 213, 313, 413, 513, 613, 713, 813, 913, 1013—Top part [0116] 115, 215, 315, 415, 515, 615, 715, 815, 915, 1015—Flooring system support unit [0117] 117—Concrete pillar [0118] 119, 219, 319, 419, 519, 619, 719, 819, 919, 1019—Opposing underside [0119] 121, 221, 321, 421, 521, 621, 721, 821, 921, 1021—Bottom part [0120] 123, 223, 323, 423, 523, 623, 723, 823, 923, 1023—Support side [0121] 125, 225, 325, 425, 525, 625, 725, 825, 925, 1025—Opposing topside [0122] 127—Middle part [0123] 129, 229, 329, 429, 529, 629, 729, 829, 929—Interconnecting support leg [0124] 131—Watertight manure channel membrane [0125] 133—Compressed bed of sand [0126] 135—Concrete floor [0127] 137—Vacuum manure system/piping [0128] 139, 639, 739—Wall element [0129] 241, 341, 441, 841, 941, 1041—Hole [0130] 243, 343, 443, 543, 643, 743, 843, 943, 1043—Interconnecting half-leg [0131] 245, 345, 445, 545, 645, 745, 845, 945, 1045—Through-opening [0132] 247, 447, 547, 647, 747—Furrow [0133] 249, 349, 449, 549, 649, 749, 849, 949, 1049—Insert [0134] 251, 351, 451, 551, 651, 751, 851, 951, 1051—Adjustment system [0135] 253, 353, 553, 653, 753, 853, 953, 1053—Means for attaching [0136] 355—Protrusion [0137] 457—Means for attaching [0138] 459—Flange [0139] 961—Interlocking system [0140] 963—One side [0141] 965—Adjacent side