초록

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.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A footbath system for livestock, having a footbath pan for livestock to walk through, said pan containing footbath liquid therein, wherein said pan comprises upstream and downstream end walls and a pair of sidewalls extending axially therebetween, said end walls and said side

What is claimed is: 1. A footbath system for livestock, having a footbath pan for livestock to walk through, said pan containing footbath liquid therein, wherein said pan comprises 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, said pan being axially elongated along a longitudinal axis, said sidewalls extending axially longitudinally between said end walls, a tank provided separate from said pan, said tank 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 pan, 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 footbath liquid, said tank supplying said pre-mixed footbath liquid to said pan, said tank is disposed in serial fluid communication between said water source and said outlet conduit such that water flows from upstream to downstream from said water source into said tank and then from said tank to said outlet conduit, said tank isolates said outlet conduit from said water source such that liquid pressure in said outlet conduit supplying said pre-mixed footbath liquid to said pan is isolated from water pressure from said water source supplying water to said pan, said tank preventing chemicals from entering said water source, said tank providing said pre-mixed footbath liquid to said pan at a rate independent of said water source, via an inlet to said pan at said upstream end wall, wherein said inlet has one or more flow ports, said flow ports comprising one or more laterally elongated slots laterally spaced from each other, the one or more flow ports discharging liquid at sufficiently high volume and sufficiently low velocity flow to provide non-turbulence, to flush manure without turbulent agitation and eddy current flow otherwise causing splatter and release of bacteria and odor upon break-up of the manure. 2. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said pre-mixed footbath liquid is supplied to said pan by a pump. 3. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said pre-mixed footbath liquid is supplied to said pan by gravity flow. 4. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said pan comprises a door having a closed position retaining said pre-mixed footbath liquid in said pan, and an open position draining said pre-mixed footbath liquid from said pan, and wherein said pre-mixed footbath liquid flows from said tank into and along said pan in each of said closed and open positions of said door. 5. The footbath system according to claim 1 comprising a valve having an on state permitting liquid flow from said tank to said pan, and having an off state blocking said liquid flow from said tank to said pan. 6. The footbath system according to claim 1 comprising a pump pumping liquid from said tank to said pan at a pressure independent of water pressure from said water source. 7. The footbath system according to claim 1 comprising a pump pumping liquid from said tank to said pan, and a valve having an on state permitting liquid flow to said pan and having an off state blocking liquid flow to said pan. 8. The footbath system according to claim 1 comprising a chemical container storing one or more chemicals, said chemical container supplying said one or more chemicals 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 tank has a chemical inlet conduit transporting said powdered chemicals from said hopper to said tank. 10. The footbath system according to claim 1 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 said outlet conduit supplying said pre-mixed footbath liquid to said pan. 11. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said pan comprises a door having a closed position retaining said pre-mixed footbath liquid in said pan, and an open position draining said pre-mixed footbath liquid from said pan, said door is at said downstream end wall, said door has 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. 12. The footbath system according to claim 11 wherein said edge is an upper edge, and said door is pivoted about said 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. 13. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said pan comprises a door having a closed position retaining said pre-mixed footbath liquid in said pan, and an open position draining said pre-mixed footbath liquid from said pan, said door is at said downstream end wall and extends along substantially the entire length of said downstream end wall. 14. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said pan comprises a door having a closed position retaining said pre-mixed footbath liquid in said pan, and an open position draining said pre-mixed footbath liquid from said pan, said door is at said downstream end wall, and 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 downstream end wall and guiding flow therealong. 15. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said pan comprises an inlet receiving water from said tank, said pan inlet comprises an inlet manifold having one or more flow ports along a given span, said pan comprises a door having a closed position retaining said pre-mixed footbath liquid in said pan, and an open position draining said pre-mixed footbath liquid from said pan, and said door is distally opposite said flow ports of said manifold and has a length at least as great as said span. 16. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said tank supplies said pre-mixed footbath liquid in non-turbulent flow into and along said pan along a rectilinear flow path through said pan. 17. The footbath system according to claim 16 wherein said pan has a pan inlet receiving said pre-mixed liquid from said tank, said pan inlet comprising an inlet manifold having one or more flow ports, said pan comprises a door having a closed position retaining said pre-mixed footbath liquid in said pan, and an open position draining said pre-mixed footbath liquid from said pan, said non-turbulent flow is along a rectilinear flow path from said flow ports to said door without eddy currents. 18. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said tank supplies said pre-mixed footbath liquid in non-turbulent and laminar flow into and along said pan. 19. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said tank supplies said pre-mixed footbath liquid in non-turbulent and transitional flow into and along said pan. 20. The footbath system according to claim 1 wherein said outlet conduit comprises an upstream segment receiving said pre-mixed footbath liquid from said tank, and a plurality of parallel downstream segments receiving said pre-mixed footbath liquid in parallel from said upstream segment and supplying said pre-mixed footbath liquid to a plurality of 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 downstream segment to the respective said pan, and having an off state blocking said liquid flow. 21. The footbath system according to claim 20 wherein said tank comprises a combined water containing and chemical mixing tank separate from said pans, said tank receiving one or more chemicals from one or more chemical sources for mixing in said tank to provide said pre-mixed footbath liquid, said outlet conduit supplying said pre-mixed footbath liquid to said pans. 22. A footbath system for livestock, having a footbath pan for livestock to walk through, said pan containing footbath liquid therein, said pan 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, said pan being axially elongated along a longitudinal axis, said sidewalls extending axially longitudinally between said end walls, comprising: an inlet to said pan at said upstream end wall comprising a manifold supplying said liquid into said pan; a tank provided separate from said pan, said tank 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 pan, said outlet conduit being connected to said pan inlet; 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 footbath liquid, said tank supplying said pre-mixed footbath liquid to said pan, said tank has an inlet conduit receiving water from said water source; said tank is disposed in serial fluid 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 isolates 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; said pan further comprises a door having a closed position retaining said pre-mixed footbath liquid in said pan, and having an open position draining said pre-mixed footbath liquid from said pan; said inlet through said manifold supplies said pre-mixed footbath liquid to flow into and along said pan; wherein said manifold has one or more flow ports along a given lateral span and discharging liquid at sufficiently high volume and sufficiently low velocity flow to provide non-turbulence, to flush manure without turbulent agitation and eddy current flow otherwise causing splatter and release of bacteria and odor upon break-up of the manure; wherein said one or more flow ports comprise one or more laterally elongated slots laterally spaced from each other. 23. The footbath system according to claim 22 further 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. 24. The footbath system according to claim 22 further 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. 25. The footbath system according to claim 22 further 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. 26. The footbath system according to claim 22 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. 27. The footbath system according to claim 26 wherein said chemical container is a hopper storing one or more powder chemicals, and wherein said chemical inlet conduit transports said powdered chemicals to said tank. 28. The footbath system according to claim 22 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. 29. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said door is at said downstream end wall, and wherein said door has 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. 30. The footbath system according to claim 29 wherein said edge is an upper edge, and said door is pivoted about said 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. 31. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said door is at said downstream end wall and extends along substantially the entire length of said downstream end wall. 32. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said door is at said downstream end wall, and 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 downstream end wall and guiding flow therealong. 33. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said manifold has 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. 34. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said non-turbulent flow is along a rectilinear flow path from said manifold to said door without eddy currents. 35. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said manifold supplies said pre-mixed footbath liquid in laminar flow into and along said pan. 36. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said manifold supplies said pre-mixed footbath liquid in transitional flow into and along said pan. 37. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said manifold supplies said pre-mixed footbath liquid to flow into and along said pan in each of said closed and open positions of said door. 38. The footbath system according to claim 22 wherein said outlet conduit comprises an upstream segment receiving said pre-mixed footbath liquid from said tank, and a plurality of parallel downstream segments receiving said pre-mixed footbath liquid in parallel from said upstream segment and supplying said pre-mixed footbath liquid to a plurality of 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. 39. The footbath system according to claim 38 wherein said tank comprises said 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 said pre-mixed footbath liquid, said outlet conduit supplying said pre-mixed footbath liquid to said pans. 40. A method for treating hooves of livestock, comprising; providing the structure of the footbath system for livestock of claim 1, providing said pan with a door having a closed position retaining said footbath liquid in said pan, and having an open position draining said footbath liquid from said pan; supplying said footbath liquid from said inlet in non-turbulent flow into and along said pan; providing said system with a drain mode, a flush mode, and a fill mode; in said drain mode, opening said door without liquid flow into said pan; in said flush mode, opening said door and supplying said footbath liquid in non-turbulent flow into and along said pan; in said fill mode, closing said door and supplying said footbath liquid in non-turbulent flow into and along said pan; wherein livestock manure is flushed and drained from said pan without the use of turbulent flow. 41. The method according to claim 40 comprising, during said fill mode, additionally supplying one or more chemicals into said pan through the same said inlet supplying said footbath liquid in said non-turbulent flow. 42. The method according to claim 40 comprising providing said door with an edge pivoted on a hinge about a pivot axis, and an opposite edge swingable in an arc about said pivot axis, and swinging said opposite edge of said door about said arc about said pivot axis between said closed position and said open position. 43. The method according to claim 42 comprising providing said edge as an upper edge, and pivoting said door about said upper edge on said hinge about an upper pivot axis, and providing said opposite edge as a lower edge, and swinging said lower edge in an arc about said upper pivot axis between said closed position and said open position. 44. The method according to claim 40 comprising providing said pan with an upstream end wall and a downstream end wall, providing said door at said downstream end wall and extending said door along substantially the entire length of said downstream end wall. 45. The method according to claim 40 comprising providing said pan with upstream and downstream end walls and a pair of sidewalls extending axially therebetween, providing said door at said downstream end wall, providing said door of a lateral length less than the lateral length of said downstream end wall, providing tapered ramp surfaces between respective said sidewalls and said downstream end wall and guiding flow therealong. 46. The method according to claim 40 comprising providing said inlet of said pan with a manifold having one or more flow ports along a given span, and providing said door distally opposite said flow ports of said manifold and of a length at least as great as said span. 47. The method according to claim 40 comprising supplying said footbath liquid in non-turbulent flow into and along said pan along a rectilinear flow path through said pan. 48. The method according to claim 47 comprising supplying said inlet of said pan with a manifold having one or more flow ports, and providing said non-turbulent flow along a rectilinear flow path from said flow ports to said door without eddy currents.