Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – Scraping
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2002-09-10
Graham, Gary K. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
Scraping
C198S748000, C198S749000, C119S451000, C119S479000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06446298
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to equipment for animal husbandry. More specifically the invention relates to a scraper device particularly suited for clean up of cattle confinement areas such as barns, free stalls and pits.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various scraper devices have heretofore been utilized for the clean up of cattle stalls and barns. Typically such devices employ some type of scraper blade. With conventional blades, however, clean up efficiency is reduced by the fact that if a straight blade encounters an irregularity in the floor surface, a one piece blade is caused to rise up and thus leave areas which are not scraped clean.
One type of scraper assembly is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,137 wherein a pair of scraper blades are hingedly connected to a frame. However, to allow the blades to move vertically the device of that patent requires that the blades be formed of several components which are loosely bolted together, thus reducing the ability to maintain downwardly directed scraping forces.
A need has existed for improved scraper devices for use in cleaning up of animal manure from floor surfaces which enable improved cleanup of floor surfaces that are characterized by various surface irregularities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved scraper mechanism particularly useful in cleaning up of stalls such as free stalls wherein animals are free to roam within the stall structure. In accordance with one aspect of the invention the scraper mechanism is supported on a frame structure which enables movement of the scraper in reciprocating travel paths which enables the scraping of a selected floor surface similar to that shown in connection with the above-mentioned '137 patent. In accordance with a related aspect the scraper mechanism can be moved by means of existing power sources such as motorized cables, chains or the like.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention the scraper device consists of several sections which enable efficient scraping by one end of the scraper device even if the opposite end encounters an irregular or raised area on a stall floor surface. In accordance with a further related aspect, each of a pair of blade-supporting beams are supported independently of each other, being separately pivotally supported by a cross frame component of the frame structure. In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention the blade sections are mounted so that they can be pivoted upwardly into a non-scraping orientation when the blade is retracted and which will again be lowered for further scraping when the blade is advanced.
In accordance with still further aspects of the invention the frame, further, supports end sections of the scraper which are pivotally attached so that they can swing backwardly into an extended orientation someone less than parallel to the frame cross axis but will pivot to an orientation perpendicular to that axis when the device is retracted. In accordance with still further aspects of the invention, a novel structure is provided on the blades which cause the blades to be pivoted upwardly to the non-scraping position when the mechanism is retracted and once again fall to a vertical scraping orientation when the blade is once again advanced.
Briefly, the invention provides a scraper for removing debris from the floor of an animal stall which includes a central frame member oriented generally parallel to the direction of movement of the scraper assembly and a cross frame member integral with the central frame member, the cross frame member having opposed first and second ends. First and second beams are pivotally supported on the first and second frame member ends and are generally parallel to the cross frame member. First and second scraper blades are pivotally supported, respectively, by the first and second beams, the blades being pivotal from a vertical orientation adapted for scraping a floor surface during advancement of the blade assembly in a first direction and pivotal to elevated, non-scraping orientation for retraction of the assembly in a direction opposite from the scraping direction. Preferably, a pair of end scrapers are supported by the outer ends of each of the two beams and hingedly connected thereto by a vertical hinge. The extension blade members are, thus, pivotal from an orientation generally parallel to the beams for scraping of a floor surface and pivotal to a second orientation generally perpendicular to the beams for retraction of the scraper device in a non-scraping direction.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying claims, the detailed description and the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2264939 (1941-12-01), Hawkins
patent: 2552743 (1951-05-01), Simpson
patent: 3306435 (1967-02-01), Wenger
patent: 3458029 (1969-07-01), Allen et al.
patent: 4243137 (1981-01-01), Laurenz
patent: 4320008 (1982-03-01), Kokubo
patent: 5010620 (1991-04-01), Young
patent: 5450815 (1995-09-01), Krehl et al.
patent: 5607046 (1997-03-01), Krehl et al.
patent: 5662068 (1997-09-01), Childs
patent: 5950565 (1999-09-01), Guyot
patent: 2209309 (1972-09-01), None
patent: 976911 (1982-12-01), None
Berg, Jr. Vernon R.
Johnson Leon D.
Berg Equipment Company
Graham Gary K.
Ryan Kromholz & Manion S.C.
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