The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 11, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 26, 1996
Thomas W Davis, Ola, AR (US);
Other;
Abstract
A system for cleaning litter in a poultry house by removing caked litter while leaving uncaked litter. The system comprises a separator that connects and disconnects to the front bucket of a skid-steer loader while the operator remains seated. The separator and bucket couple via a bucket and separator coupling. One coupling comprises two spaced apart parallel arms that insert into corresponding sleeves that form the other coupling. Connecting requires aligned forward loader movement with the separator on the ground while disconnecting requires reverse loader movement. The separator comprises a chassis supporting a blade that forces litter into the separator. A plurality of spikes on a rotating reel forcefully break the entering litter into smaller pieces as an integral ramp feeds the litter onto an upwardly moving conveyor. Several perforations in the plates comprising the conveyor permit uncaked litter to fall through onto a return chute while caked litter is retained by a plate lip until being deposited in the bucket. The separator is powered by a hydraulic motor assembly employing a quick-coupling split shaft with automatically mating halves. When removing caked litter, the operator drives the loader through the house while pushing the separator to sift the litter. When the bucket gets full, the operator disconnects the separator and dumps the bucket. The separator is then reconnected to the loader bucket to continue cleaning.