U.S. patent application number 12/883242 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-06 for livestock footbath system.
This patent application is currently assigned to TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.. Invention is credited to Shawn R. Eckhardt, Alexander P. Kobryn, William S. Nelson, Parimal G. Rajkondawar.
Application Number | 20110000439 12/883242 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38920614 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110000439 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rajkondawar; Parimal G. ; et
al. |
January 6, 2011 |
Livestock Footbath System
Abstract
A footbath system for livestock includes a water and/or chemical
containment tank, a footbath pan with a drainage exit door,
non-turbulent flow, and a multiple branch system.
Inventors: |
Rajkondawar; Parimal G.;
(Madison, WI) ; Nelson; William S.; (Sun Prairie,
WI) ; Kobryn; Alexander P.; (Cottage Grove, WI)
; Eckhardt; Shawn R.; (Sun Prairie, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANDRUS, SCEALES, STARKE & SAWALL, LLP
100 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE, SUITE 1100
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202
US
|
Assignee: |
TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS CORP.
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
38920614 |
Appl. No.: |
12/883242 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11528290 |
Sep 27, 2006 |
7798104 |
|
|
12883242 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
119/651 ;
119/673 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61D 11/00 20130101;
A01K 13/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/651 ;
119/673 |
International
Class: |
A01K 29/00 20060101
A01K029/00 |
Claims
1. A footbath system for livestock, comprising a footbath pan for
livestock to walk through, said pan having walls containing
footbath liquid therein, a water tank separate from said pan, said
tank receiving water from a water source for containment in said
tank to provide said footbath liquid, said tank supplying said
footbath liquid to said pan.
2. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said tank has
an inlet conduit receiving water from said water source, and has an
outlet conduit supplying said footbath liquid to said pan, and
wherein said tank is disposed in serial fluid flow communication
between said inlet conduit and said outlet conduit such that water
flows from upstream to downstream from said inlet conduit into said
tank and then from said tank to said outlet conduit, said tank
isolating said outlet conduit from said inlet conduit such that
liquid pressure in said outlet conduit supplying said footbath
liquid to said pan is isolated from water pressure in said inlet
conduit supplying water from said water source.
3. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said tank has
an outlet conduit supplying said footbath liquid to said pan, and
comprising a valve having an on state permitting liquid flow from
said tank through said outlet conduit to said pan, and having an
off state blocking said liquid flow from said tank through said
outlet conduit to said pan.
4. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said tank has
an outlet conduit supplying said footbath liquid to said pan, and
comprising a pump pumping liquid from said tank through said outlet
conduit to said pan at a pressure independent of water pressure
from said water source.
5. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said tank has
an outlet conduit supplying said footbath liquid to said pan, and
comprising a pump in said outlet conduit pumping liquid from said
tank through said outlet conduit to said pan, and a valve in said
outlet conduit downstream of said pump and having an on state
permitting liquid flow through said outlet conduit to said pan and
having an off state blocking liquid flow through said outlet
conduit to said pan.
6. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said tank is a
combined water containing and chemical mixing tank separate from
said pan, said tank receiving water from said water source and
receiving one or more chemicals from a chemical source for mixing
in said tank to provide a pre-mixed said footbath liquid, said tank
supplying said pre-mixed footbath liquid to said pan.
7. The footbath system according to claim 6 wherein said tank has
an inlet conduit receiving water from said water source, and has an
outlet conduit supplying said pre-mixed footbath liquid to said
pan, and wherein said tank is disposed in serial fluid flow
communication between said inlet conduit and said outlet conduit
such that water flows from upstream to downstream from said inlet
conduit into said tank and then from said tank to said outlet
conduit, said tank isolating said outlet conduit from said inlet
conduit such that liquid pressure in said outlet conduit supplying
said pre-mixed footbath liquid to said pan is isolated from water
pressure in said inlet conduit supplying water from said water
source.
8. The footbath system according to claim 6 wherein said tank has a
chemical inlet conduit, and wherein said chemical source comprises
a chemical container storing one or more chemicals, said chemical
container supplying said one or more chemicals along said chemical
inlet conduit to said tank.
9. The footbath system according to claim 8 wherein said chemical
container is a hopper storing one or more powder chemicals, and
wherein said chemical inlet conduit transports said powder
chemicals to said tank.
10. The footbath system according to claim 6 wherein said tank has
a first inlet conduit receiving water from said water source, a
second inlet conduit receiving one or more chemicals from said
chemical source, and an outlet conduit supplying said pre-mixed
footbath liquid to said pan.
11. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said footbath
liquid consists solely of said water.
12. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said footbath
liquid comprises said water and one or more chemicals.
13. The footbath s stem according to claim 1 wherein said pan has
walls containing footbath liquid therein, said walls comprising
upstream and downstream end walls and a pair of sidewalls extending
axially therebetween, said end walls and said sidewalls having a
height sufficient to contain footbath liquid around the livestock's
hooves, the livestock initially stepping into said pan over said
upstream end wall and then walking axially while between said
sidewalls and then exiting said pan by stepping over said
downstream end wall, each of said end walls having a respective
length extending laterally between said sidewalls, each of said
sidewalls having a respective length extending axially between said
end walls, an inlet supplying said liquid into said pan, a door
having a closed position retaining said liquid in said pan, and
having an open position draining said liquid from said pan, said
door comprising at least a portion of a designated one of said
walls, said door having an edge pivoted on a hinge about a pivot
axis, and an opposite edge swingable in an arc about said pivot
axis between said closed position and said open position.
14. The footbath system according to claim 13 wherein said door is
pivoted about an upper edge on said hinge about an upper pivot
axis, and wherein said opposite edge is a lower edge swingable in
an arc about said upper pivot axis between said closed position and
said open position.
15. The footbath system according to claim 13 wherein said door is
at said downstream end wall and extends laterally along said
downstream end wall.
16. The footbath system according to claim 15 wherein said pan is
axially elongated along a longitudinal axis, and said sidewalls
extend axially longitudinally between said end walls.
17. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said pan has
walls containing footbath liquid therein, said walls comprising
upstream and downstream end walls and a pair of sidewalls extending
axially therebetween, said end walls and said sidewalls having a
height sufficient to contain footbath liquid around the livestock's
hooves, the livestock initially stepping into said pan over said
upstream end wall and then walking axially while between said
sidewalls and then exiting said pan by stepping over said
downstream end wall, each of said end walls having a respective
length extending laterally between said sidewalls, each of said
sidewalls having a respective length extending axially between said
end walls, an inlet supplying said liquid into said pan, a door
having a closed position retaining said liquid in said pan, and
having an open position draining said liquid from said pan, said
door comprising at least a portion of a designated one of said
walls, said door having a length which is at least 50% of the
length of said designated wall.
18. The footbath system according to claim 17 wherein said door
extends along substantially the entire length of said designated
wall.
19. The footbath system according to claim 17 wherein said door is
at said downstream end wall.
20. The footbath system according to claim 19 wherein the lateral
length of said door is less than the lateral length of said
downstream end wall, and comprising tapered ramp surfaces between
respective said sidewalls and said end wall and guiding flow
therealong.
21. The footbath system according to claim 17 wherein said door has
an edge pivoted on a hinge about a pivot axis, and has an opposite
edge swingable in an arc about said pivot axis between said closed
position and said open position.
22. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said pan has
walls containing footbath liquid therein, a door having a closed
position retaining said liquid in said pan, and having an open
position draining said liquid from said pan, and an inlet supplying
said liquid in non-turbulent flow into and along said pan.
23. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said inlet
comprises an inlet manifold having one or more flow ports along a
given span, and said door is distally opposite said flow ports and
has a length at least as great as said span.
24. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said inlet
comprises an inlet manifold having one or more flow ports, and
wherein said non-turbulent flow is along a rectilinear flow path
from said flow ports to said door without eddy currents.
25. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said inlet
supplies said liquid in laminar flow into and along said pan.
26. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said inlet
supplies said liquid in transitional flow into and along said
pan.
27. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said inlet
supplies said liquid in non-turbulent flow into and along said pan
in each of said closed and open positions of said door.
28. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said
livestock comprises dairy animals.
29. The footbath system according to claim 1 comprising a plurality
of said footbath pans for livestock to walk through, said pans
having walls containing footbath liquid therein, a water tank
separate from said pans, said tank having a first inlet conduit
receiving water from a water source for containment in said tank to
provide said footbath liquid, said tank having an outlet conduit
supplying said footbath liquid to said pans, said outlet conduit
comprising an upstream segment receiving said footbath liquid from
said tank, and a plurality of parallel downstream segments
receiving said footbath liquid in parallel from said upstream
segment and supplying said footbath liquid to respective said pans,
a plurality of valves, each in a respective one of said downstream
segments and having an on state permitting liquid flow from said
tank through said upstream segment then through the respective said
downstream segment to the respective said pan, and having an off
state blocking said liquid flow.
30. The footbath system according to claim 29 wherein said tank
comprises a combined water containing and chemical mixing tank
separate from said pans, said tank having a second inlet conduit
receiving one or more chemicals from one or more chemical sources
for mixing in said tank to provide a pre-mixed said footbath
liquid, said outlet conduit supplying said pre-mixed footbath
liquid to said pans.
31. A method for treating hooves of livestock, comprising:
providing a footbath system comprising a footbath pan for livestock
to walk through, said pan having walls containing footbath liquid
therein; providing a water containing tank separate from said pan;
supplying water from a water source to said tank to provide said
footbath liquid; supplying said footbath liquid from said tank to
said pan.
32. The method according to claim 31 comprising: providing said
tank with an inlet conduit receiving water from said water source,
providing said tank with an outlet conduit supplying said footbath
liquid to said pan; disposing said tank in serial fluid flow
communication between said inlet conduit and said outlet conduit;
supplying said water to flow from upstream to downstream from said
inlet conduit into said tank and then from said tank to said outlet
conduit; isolating said outlet conduit from said inlet conduit by
said tank therebetween such that liquid pressure in said outlet
conduit supplying said footbath liquid to said pan is isolated from
water pressure in said inlet conduit supplying water from said
water source.
33. The method according to claim 31 comprising: providing said
tank as a combined water containing and chemical mixing tank
separate from said pan; supplying one or more chemicals from a
chemical source to said tank; mixing said water and said one or
more chemicals in said tank to provide a pre-mixed said footbath
liquid; supplying said pre-mixed footbath liquid from said tank to
said pan.
34. The method according to claim 33 comprising: providing said
tank with an inlet conduit receiving water from said water source,
providing said tank with an outlet conduit supplying said pre-mixed
footbath liquid to said pan; disposing said tank in serial fluid
flow communication between said inlet conduit and said outlet
conduit; supplying said water to flow from upstream to downstream
from said inlet conduit into said tank and then from said tank to
said outlet conduit; isolating said outlet conduit from said inlet
conduit by said tank therebetween such that liquid pressure in said
outlet conduit supplying said pre-mixed footbath liquid to said pan
is isolated from water pressure in said inlet conduit supplying
water from said water source.
35. The method according to claim 33 comprising: providing said
tank with a chemical inlet conduit; providing said chemical source
as a chemical container storing one or more chemicals; supplying
said one or more chemicals from said chemical container along said
chemical inlet conduit to said tank.
36. The method according to claim 35 comprising: providing said
chemical container as a hopper; storing one or more powder
chemicals in said hopper; transporting said powder chemicals along
said chemical inlet conduit to said tank.
37. The method according to claim 31 comprising providing said
footbath liquid solely as water.
38. The method according to claim 31 comprising providing said
footbath liquid comprising both water and one or more
chemicals.
39. A method for treating hooves of livestock, comprising:
providing a footbath system for livestock comprising a footbath pan
for livestock to walk through, said pan having walls containing
footbath liquid therein; providing said pan with a door having a
closed position retaining said liquid in said pan, and having an
open position draining said liquid from said pan; providing said
pan with an inlet; supplying said liquid from said inlet in
non-turbulent flow into and along said pan.
40. The method according to claim 39 comprising supplying said
liquid in laminar flow into and along said pan.
41. The method according to claim 39 comprising supplying said
liquid in transitional flow into and along said pan.
42. The method according to claim 39 comprising supplying said
liquid in non-turbulent flow into and along said pan in each of
said closed and open positions of said door.
43. The method according to claim 39 comprising providing said
system with a drain mode, a flush mode, and a fill mode, and
comprising: in said drain mode, opening said door without liquid
flow into said pan; in said flush mode, opening said door and
supplying said liquid in non-turbulent flow into and along said
pan; in said fill mode, closing said door and supplying said liquid
in non-turbulent flow into and along said pan.
44. The method according to claim 43 comprising, during said fill
mode, additionally supplying one or more chemicals into said pan
through the same said inlet supplying said liquid in said
non-turbulent flow.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0001] The invention relates to footbath systems for livestock,
including methods for treating hooves of livestock.
[0002] The invention arose during continuing development efforts
directed toward treatment of the hooves of dairy animals as they
enter and/or exit a milking parlor. The invention provides
improvements in such systems, and is applicable to various
livestock, including dairy animals, including cows, goats, sheep,
buffalo, and to other livestock including horses and cattle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a livestock footbath
system in accordance with the invention.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a water and chemical supply
system for the footbath of FIG. 1.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from a different angle of a
portion of FIG. 2.
[0006] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the footbath of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 5 is like FIG. 4 and shows a further embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 6 is a top elevation view of the footbath of FIG.
4.
[0009] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the footbath of FIG.
4.
[0010] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a footbath system 20 for livestock, including
dairy animals such as 22. A footbath pan 24 is provided for
livestock to walk through. The pan has an inlet manifold 25, FIGS.
1, 4, for receiving footbath liquid, and walls 26, 28, 30, 32
containing the footbath liquid therein, for example as shown at 34.
A combined water containing and chemical mixing tank 36, FIGS. 2,
3, is separate from pan 24. Tank 36 receives water from a water
source 38, and receives one or more chemicals from one or more
chemical sources such as 40 for mixing in tank 36 to provide a
pre-mixed footbath liquid. Tank 36 supplies the pre-mixed footbath
liquid to pan 24, to be described.
[0012] Tank 36, FIG. 2, has an inlet conduit 42 receiving water
from water source 38. Tank 36 has one or more outlet conduits 44,
46, 48, 50 supplying the pre-mixed footbath liquid to respective
footbath pans such as 24. Tank 36 is disposed in serial fluid flow
communication between inlet conduit 42 and outlet conduits 44-50,
such that water flows from upstream to downstream from inlet
conduit 42 into tank 36 and then from tank 36 to outlet conduits
44-50. Tank 36 isolates outlet conduits 44-50 from inlet conduit 42
such that liquid pressure in outlet conduits 44-50 supplying
pre-mixed footbath liquid to a respective pan such as 24, e.g. at
conduit 44, FIG. 4, is isolated from water pressure in inlet
conduit 42 supplying water from water source 38. Each of the outlet
conduits 44-50 has a respective valve 52, 54, 56, 58, each having
an on-state permitting liquid flow from tank 36 through the
respective outlet conduit to the respective pan such as 24, and
having an off-state blocking liquid flow from tank 36 through the
respective outlet conduit to the respective pan. A pump 60, FIGS.
2, 3, pumps liquid from tank 36 via drain outlet conduit 62 then
through outlet conduits 44-50 to a respective pan such as 24 at a
pressure independent of water pressure from water source 38. Valves
52-58 are provided in respective outlet conduits 44-50 downstream
of pump 60.
[0013] Tank 36 has a chemical inlet conduit 64, FIG. 2. Chemical
source 40 is a chemical container storing one or more chemicals and
supplying the one or more chemicals through chemical conduit 64 to
tank 36. In one embodiment, container 40 is a hopper storing one or
more powder chemicals, and chemical conduit 64 includes an auger
transporting the powder chemicals to tank 36. Powder chemicals may
be desirable in various applications for the convenience of the
dairy farmer enabling him to merely dump the powder into hopper 40
for storage and subsequent usage. The chemicals typically include,
but are not limited to, germicides, bacteriacides, other medical
treatments, and so on, to treat the hooves of livestock.
[0014] Tank 36 has the noted outlet conduits 62, 44-50, FIGS. 2, 3,
supplying the pre-mixed footbath liquid to one or more footbath
pans such as 24, FIG. 4, 24a, FIG. 5, etc. The outlet conduit
includes an upstream segment 62 receiving the pre-mixed footbath
liquid from tank 36, and a plurality of parallel downstream
segments 44-50 receiving the pre-mixed footbath liquid in parallel
from upstream segment 62 and supplying the pre-mixed footbath
liquid to respective pans such as 24, 24a, and so on. Valves 52-58
are provided in respective downstream segments 44-50 of the outlet
conduit.
[0015] In the preferred embodiment, footbath pan 24 is axially
elongated along a longitudinal axis 70, FIGS. 4, 6. The noted walls
include upstream and downstream end walls 26 and 30, and a pair of
sidewalls 28 and 32 extending axially longitudinally therebetween.
End walls 26, 30 and sidewalls 28, 32 have a height sufficient to
contain footbath liquid around the livestock's hooves. The
livestock initially steps into the pan over upstream end wall 26
and then walks axially (rightwardly in FIGS. 1, 4, 6, 7) while
between sidewalls 28, 32 and then exits the pan by stepping over
downstream end wall 30. Each of end walls 26 and 30 has a
respective length extending laterally along lateral direction 72
between sidewalls 28 and 32. Each of sidewalls 28, 32 has a
respective length extending longitudinally along longitudinal axial
direction 70 between end walls 26 and 30. The above noted outlet
conduit 44 from tank 36 is connected to a pan inlet 74 supplying
liquid into pan 24 at manifold 25.
[0016] A door 76, FIGS. 4-8, has a closed position, FIG. 4,
retaining liquid in pan 24, and has an open position, FIGS. 5, 7,
8, draining liquid from the pan, as shown at arrow 78. The door
forms at least a portion of, and preferably most or all of, a
designated one of the noted walls 26-32, preferably downstream end
wall 30. Door 76 preferably has a length of at least 50% of the
length of the noted designated wall, e.g. downstream end wall 30,
for reasons noted below. Door 76 has an upper edge 80 pivoted on a
hinge 82 about an upper pivot axis, and has a lower edge 84
swingable in an arc 86 about the noted upper pivot axis between the
closed position and the open position. Door 76 is preferably at the
downstream end wall and extends laterally along lateral direction
72 substantially the entire lateral length of downstream end wall
30, which in the preferred embodiment enhances desired flow, noted
below. Door 76 is actuated between the closed and open positions by
pneumatic cylinder 88.
[0017] Pan inlet 74, FIG. 4, preferably supplies liquid in
non-turbulent flow into and along pan 24 via inlet manifold 25.
Inlet manifold 25 has one or more flow ports 90, FIG. 4, provided
by one or more slots or openings or the like, along a given lateral
span 91 and preferably discharging liquid at high volume, low
velocity flow, namely selected to provide a Reynolds number less
than 600,000, to provide non-turbulence. In a further preferred
embodiment, the flow is selected to provide a Reynolds number
between 300,000 and 600,000, to provide non-turbulent transitional
flow. In a yet further preferred embodiment, the flow is selected
to provide a Reynolds number less than 300,000, to provide
non-turbulent laminar sheet flow. Door 76 is distally opposite flow
ports 90 and preferably has a length at least as great as the noted
lateral span 91 thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the noted
non-turbulent flow is along a rectilinear flow path from the inlet
at flow ports 90 to the outlet at door 76 without eddy currents,
and further preferably in the noted laminar sheet flow. At the
downstream end, if the lateral length of door 76 is not as great as
the lateral length of downstream end wall 30, then it is preferred
that tapered ramp surfaces be provided as shown at 92, 94, to guide
the noted flow in non-turbulent manner, and without eddy currents,
to door 76.
[0018] The present system provides a method for treating hooves of
livestock, including dairy animals. The method includes the steps
of providing a footbath system including a footbath pan 24 for
livestock to walk through, the pan having walls 26-32 containing
footbath liquid therein, providing a combined water containing and
chemical mixing tank 36 separate from pan 24, supplying water from
a water source to the tank, supplying one or more chemicals from a
chemical source 40 to the tank, mixing the water and the one or
more chemicals in the tank to provide a pre-mixed footbath liquid,
and supplying the pre-mixed footbath liquid from the tank to the
pan. The method includes providing the tank with an inlet conduit
42 receiving water from the water source 38, providing the tank
with an outlet conduit 62, 44-50, supplying the pre-mixed footbath
liquid to one or more pans 24, 24a, etc., disposing the tank 36 in
serial fluid flow communication between inlet conduit 42 and outlet
conduit 62, 44-50, supplying water to flow from upstream to
downstream from inlet conduit 42 into tank 36 and then from tank 36
to outlet conduit 62, 44-50, isolating outlet conduit 62, 44-50
from inlet conduit 42 by tank 36 therebetween such that liquid
pressure in outlet conduit 62, 44-50 supplying the pre-mixed
footbath liquid to pans 24, 24a, etc., is isolated from water
pressure in inlet conduit 42 from water source 38. The method
further includes providing tank 36 with a chemical inlet conduit
64, providing the chemical source 40 as a chemical container
storing one or more chemicals, and supplying the one or more
chemicals from the container 40 through the chemical conduit 64 to
tank 36. The method further includes providing the container 40 as
a hopper, storing one or more powder chemicals in the hopper,
providing the chemical conduit 64 as an auger, and transporting
powder chemicals with the auger to tank 36. The method further
includes providing the pan with a door 76 having a closed position
retaining liquid in the pan, and having an open position draining
liquid from the pan, providing the pan with an inlet 74 including
inlet manifold 25, and supplying liquid from the inlet manifold 25
at flow ports 90 in non-turbulent flow into and along pan 24. The
method includes supplying the liquid in non-turbulent flow into and
along pan 24 in each of the noted closed and open positions of door
76.
[0019] In one embodiment, the system has a drain mode, a flush
mode, and a fill mode. In the drain mode, the method preferably
includes opening door 76 without liquid flow into pan 24 at inlet
74. In the flush mode, the method preferably includes opening door
76 and supplying liquid in non-turbulent flow from the inlet at
flow ports 90 into and along pan 24. In the fill mode, the method
preferably includes closing door 76 and supplying the liquid at
inlet 74 in non-turbulent flow into and along pan 24. In the fill
mode, the method further preferably includes additionally supplying
one or more chemicals into pan 24 through the same inlet 74 and
same manifold 25 and same flow ports 90 supplying water into the
pan in non-turbulent flow.
[0020] The present system desirably eliminates high velocity jet
nozzle flow into the pan, and consequent turbulence and eddy
currents. Prior art systems typically include an agitation phase
prior to the drain phase, wherein high velocity turbulent and eddy
current flow is used for agitation, followed by draining and
flushing.
[0021] The present system desirably eliminates turbulent agitation
and eddy current flow because of undesirable splatter and jet
spray, and undesirable release of bacteria and odor upon break-up
and/or dissolution of manure and the like. Laterally elongated door
76 is desired over prior smaller discharge orifices because door 76
facilitates easy drainage without agitation and turbulence. The
high volume, low velocity inlet flow at ports 90 at Reynolds number
less than 600,000, and preferably less than 300,000 to provide
laminar sheet flow, is further desired because it enables the noted
chemicals to be introduced through the same inlet flow ports 90 as
the water, without requiring a second separate set of one or more
chemical inlets as in the prior art using a first set of high
velocity jet nozzle ports for water inlet, and a second set of
ports for chemical inlet.
[0022] In another embodiment, one or more liquid chemical
containers 102, 104, 106, FIG. 2, may be used instead of, or in
addition to, powder chemical container 40. The liquid chemicals are
pumped by respective pumps 108, 110, 112 through respective
conduits 114 and 116, 118 and 120, 122 and 124, from respective
storage tank containers 102, 104, 106 to mixing tank 36. The
footbath liquid may include water plus one or more chemicals, or
water only, or one or more chemicals only. The system may be
manually controlled, or in another embodiment may be automated
including a control panel 126 or the like responsive to livestock
count, sensed chemical conditions in the footbaths, timing
patterns, including time of day or week, and so on. In a further
embodiment, one or more of the footbaths may have folding hatch
doors such as 128, 130, FIG. 5, for closing and covering the
footbath when not in use. In further embodiments, auger 64 may
instead be a conveyor or some other transport mechanism
transporting chemicals therealong to tank 36. In further
embodiments, the various chemical inlets may be unused or not
connected, e.g. for a water-only flush, fill, etc., wherein tank 36
only contains water, which water is the sole constituent of the
footbath liquid.
[0023] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used
for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary
limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of
the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes
and are intended to be broadly construed. The different
configurations, systems, and method steps described herein may be
used alone or in combination with other configurations, systems and
method steps. It is to be expected that various equivalents,
alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *