The present invention relates to a manure storage arrange¬ ment which is adapted to be emptied by means of a pump for manure via an associated first opening in a wall of the manure store and which is adapted to be vented of manure gas by means of a fan via an associated second opening in a wall of the manure store, where the openings are bounded outwardly by an associated shaft directed obliquely upwards and outwards.

Hitherto it has been usual either to employ a pump for manure permanently submerged in the manure store which via an elongate shaft portion is led endways inwardly into or is drawn outwardly from the manure store via an access opening cut out of a plank breast piece in an associated port opening or cut directly out of the wall of the store.' Certain problems have resulted from employing an access opening formed directly in the wall of the store or in a plank breast piece in a port opening in the wall of the store, since the lower edge of such a vertically oriented access opening has then set a limit for the level of the manure in the manure store. With heavy filling of the manure store this involves uncontrolled emptying of manure on uncovering the access opening, for example on inspection of or at the start of pumping out manure from the manure store. Problems have also been encountered with effective sealing of the access opening during use of the manure store, especially on overfilling the

manure store so that fluid manure has leaked out in an unintentional manner at the covered access opening. In practice the users have often elected to limit the manure level of the manure store to a level substantially below the lower edge of the access opening. This involves limiting the capacity of the manure store to an unnecessarily strong degree. In many instances the manure is driven out unlawfully onto frozen fields as a conse¬ quence of the lack of storage capacity of the manure store.

From Swiss patent 432,112 a manure store is known having shafts permanently designed in the wall of the store itself. With the present invention the aim is a solution which can be employed in a simple and ready manner in arbitrary store walls which are made without such permanently designed shafts.

With the present invention the aim is to be able to utilise, in a ready manner, the volume of the manure store to the maximum and simultaneously to achieve several advantages, for example with respect to the ready possibility of inspection, ready and controlled withdrawal of manure gases from the manure store together with the ready introduction of a pump for manure in the manure store and corresponding ready withdrawal of a pump for manure from the manure store, without thereby risking uncon¬ trolled emptying of manure or manure fluid in the region of the access opening.

The arrangement according to the invention is characterised in that the shaft is made separately in the form of a housing having an easily lockable hatch member at the upper access opening of the shaft and with a laterally directed, permanent opening at the lower and inner end of the shaft, the access opening being adapted to be mounted at a level just above the maximum manure level in the manure store, and that the access opening is adapted to be uncovered via the hatch member for introducing the pump for manure in the shaft, and for providing communication with the fan, the fan being adapted to be supported at the access opening of the shaft, wholly or partly via the hatch member.

In instances where a cutting out has been effected in the vertical wall of the manure store in order to form an access opening to the manure store, several advantages can be achieved according to the invention by mounting on the separately made shaft-forming housing and thereby by transferring the access opening upwardly and outwardly from the wall of the store and simultaneously turning the access opening from a vertical to a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction. Firstly it is possible to increase the storage volume of the manure store to a significant degree, with the aid of simple means, by raising the level of the access opening upwardly to a level above the maximum manure level in the manure store. Furthermore it is possible, by turning the access opening to a horizontal direction and by bringing the access opening upwardly and outwardly from the wall of the store, to ensure an easier admission to the access opening for inspection of the level in the manure store and for being able to introduce the pump for manure into the manure store in a controlled manner, without the danger of soiling the region just by the access opening. In addition the access opening can with minimal measures allow a simple and ready mounting of a suction fan in the access opening for removal of manure gas from the manure store. This involves during manure mixing and emptying of the manure store in a controlled manner being able to remove dangerous manure gases, without the danger of contact between fan and manure, even with manure stores filled up to the maximum. By allowing the access opening to be transferred to the upper end of a shaft extending upwardly and outwardly, which is built on to the wall of the store or is built on to a port arrangement in the store wall, there can be ensured furthermore a controlled steering of the pump for manure during displacement of the latter through the shaft to or from the manure store and during movement of the pump for manure laterally in the manure store.

A particular advantage according to the invention consists in having the possibility with the new solution of locking the shafts against unintentional access to the manure store, when the shafts are not in use, or when the fan is arranged in position in connection with its associated shaft.

Further features of the invention will be evident from the following description having regard to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a vertical section of a manure store according to a preferred embodiment, having two access openings arranged in mutually opposite walls of the store.

Fig. 2 shows on a larger scale a section of a downwardly ranging shaft according to the invention, having a vent fan secured in the access opening.

Fig. 3 shows in perspective a detail in the upper, outer edge of the downwardly ranging shaft at the fitted cover.

Fig. 4 shows a detail in the upper, outer edge of the cover.

Fig. 5 shows a detail in the upper, outer edge of the down¬ wardly ranging shaft.

Fig. 6 shows in side view another construction of the downwardly ranging shaft according to the invention.

Fig. 7 shows the same as in Fig. 6 seen from the front.

Fig. 8 shows the same as in Fig. 6 seen from above.

Fig. 9 shows a modified construction of the shaft according to Fig. 6, illustrated in side view.

Fig. 10 shows the same as in Fig. 9, seen from the front.

Fig. 11 shows a segment of Fig. 9, illustrated in section.

In Fig. 1 there is shown an operational building 10 having a domestic animal room 11 arranged straight above a manure store 12, separated from each other by a floor 13. In the floor 13 there is designed in a conventionally known manner a manure drain 14 which empties into a manure discharge 15 having an associated manure lock 16 and with a discharge opening 17 arranged at a level just below the floor 13. In two opposite (alternatively in two adjacent) store walls 18 and 19 directly below the floor 13 there are cut out vertical openings 20 and 21, each with an area of about 100 cm x 100 cm. Alternatively there can be employed only one opening or if desired more than two separate openings in the store walls.

According to the invention there is permanently secured to the edge portions around the openings 20 or 21 a downwardly ranging shaft or a projection 22a, 22b with an upper, horizon-

tally disposed access opening 23 arranged at a level above the opening 20 (or 21) and just below discharge opening 17 of the manure lock 16. The shaft or the projection 22a (22b) (see Fig. 2) is provided with vertical side walls 24 and an intermediate base wall 25 directed obliquely upwards and outwards which is terminated by a relatively short end wall 26 directed vertically upwards. The edge portion of the access opening 23 is defined along top edges of the side walls 24 and the end wall 26. Just within at the wall of the store horizontal pivot pins for a cover 28 are rotatably mounted in bearings 27. In the fitted position the cover is adapted to form a sealing abutment against top edges of the end wall 26 and the side walls 24 during covering of the access opening 23. In this position the cover can be locked in place with the aid of locking means not shown. From this position the cover after release of the locking action can be swung freely upwards as is illustrated by the arrow 29.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a vent fan 30 mounted in place in one shaft or one projection 22a of the manure store, while in its other shaft or other projection 22b there is introduced a com¬ bined pump for manure and mixing means for manure 31.

The pump/mixing means 31 is carried in a known manner via an elongate shaft 32 supported in a stand 33 which rests against the earth of the ground 34 in connection with a tractor 35. The pump/mixing means 31 is driven in a known manner from a power outlet in the tractor 35. In the shaft there is designed a conveyor pipe 36 for the mass of manure.

On starting up the vent fan 30 in the projection 22a, fresh air can be drawn inwardly into the manure store via the other projection 22b. In this way the gas in the manure store can be controlled and thereby one can ensure that the region by the other projection 22b is less dangerous to work in. After the mixing means 31 is set in motion for mixing together the liquid and solid mass in the manure store (by movement of the pump/mixing means in a swinging motion along the bottom of the manure store), there will be expelled simultaneously dangerous manure gases from the mass of manure. These will be immediately vented via the vent fan 30 in the projection 22a. After the mass

of manure is mixed together by means of the mixing means 31 into a substantially homogeneous mass one can start pumping out the mass of manure via the conveyor pipe 36 in the shaft 32 to a container 37 for manure on a trailer 38.

In Fig. 2 there are illustrated further details in a vent fan 30 which can be installed in a ready manner at a level just above access opening 23 of the projection 22a, at the same time as the fan 30 is closed off in an adequately secure manner between the outer end edge of the cover 28 and the top edge of the end wall 26. The fan 30 consists of an inner sleeve-shaped fan housing 39 in which there is received on brackets 40 a drive motor 41 which supports and drives an associated fan rotor 42. The sleeve-shaped fan housing 39 is as shown in Fig. 2 directed somewhat obliquely upwards and outwards and is connected to a discharge pipe 43 having a substantially horizontal path and having a downwardly inclined discharge opening 44. In the dis¬ charge pipe 43 there is secured a protective grill 45. Radially outwards from the fan housing 30 there extends a flange -portion 46 which below forms a support against the top edge of the end wall 26 via a fork-shaped support portion 47 having downwardly directed fork arms and which above forms a corresponding support against the outer edge of the cover 28 via a fork-shaped support portion 48 having backwardly directed fork arms. In an extension of the one fork arm there is arranged a hook-shaped fastening means 49 which self-lockingly engages a hoop 50 on the upper, outer portion of the cover 28. The hoop 50 can also form a part of the mechanism for locking the cover in its closed position. On mounting the fan 30 the fastening means 49 is first pushed into position through the hoop 50. Thereafter by pivoting the fan 30 somewhat downwards and inwards towards the access opening 23 the support portion 48 bears against the outer edge of the cover 28, while the hook part of the fastening means 49 engages the cross web of the hoop 50. Thereafter by lowering the cover 28 with associated fan 30 downwards towards the access opening 23, the support portion 47 is threaded into engagement with the top edge of the end wall 26. In an extension of the flange portion 46 there are turned at right angles triangular side plates 51 which

with their lower edge form support and sealing abutments against the top edge of an associated side wall 24 and with their upper edge form support and sealing abutments against the under side of the cover 28. In this way it is possile by a simple mounting operation to secure the fan in place on the projection 22 in a steady support position, at the same time as there is ensured sealing between the projection 22a (22b) and the cover 27 via the side walls 24. The lower edge portion of the side walls 24 can if desired be provided with fork-shaped support portions equivalent to support portion 47 of the flange portion 46. At 52 there is shown a row of transverse struts for the mutual bracing of the side plates 51. The flange portion 46 and the side portions 51 together constitute with the inner fan housing 39 a rigid unit. In a ready-for-use condition on the shaft of the projection the cover 28 is included as a part of the outer fan housing of the fan. Instead of the illustrated side plates fastened to the fan there can be employed if desired side plates fastened to the cover.

In the instances the fan is not in use in connection with airing of the manure store the fan can for example be employed for injecting dry air to a grass silo or employed as a vent fan for the grass silo.

It will also be possible to employ the same fan in the room 11 for domestic animals or in a cubicle (not shown) in the room for domestic animals directly above discharge 15 of the drain for manure, so that venting from the domestic animals room can take place via said fan, with a minimum danger of the dangerous manure gases being able to penetrate to the domestic animals in the room for domestic animals.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the downwardly ranging shaft 22a is provided at its upper, outer edge with a locking member 55 which projects a distance upwards above the upper edge of the shaft. The locking member 55 is provided with a transverse bore 55a. In Fig. 3 the locking member 55 is introduced into a locking groove 56 in the cover 28 the bore 55a being flush with the opening 57 in the hoop 50 on the cover 28. The cover 28 can be secured to the locking member 55 by means of a suitable locking

means, such as a padlock or similar locking means, which is connected only via the bore 55a in the locking member 55 or via the bore in the locking member and the opening 57 in the hoop 50. In Fig. 5 the locking member 55 is introduced into a locking groove 58 in the support portion 47 on the fan unit, while the fastening means 49 (see Fig. 4) is hooked via the opening 57 in the hoop 50 into position under and behind the cross web of the hoop 50, and the support portion 48 forms a support abutment against the front edge of the cover 28. In the position which is shown in Fig. 5 the support part 47 and thereby the whole of the fan unit can be locked into position in engagement with the locking member 55 with a suitable locking means such as the padlock as mentioned above. By this one has the possibility, by simple means, of securing the cover 28 and the fan unit in an adequate manner in place above the downwardly ranging shaft 22a, so that at any time the shaft can be maintained inaccessible to children or other intruders.

In Fig. 6-8 there is shown another construction of the shaft as illustrated in Fig. 2. There is illustrated a shaft 22' having a shaft housing 24', 25' 26', 28' which is mounted in a manner corresponding to that shown in Fig. 2 for the shaft housing, so as to communicate with an opening 20 or 21 in a wall of the manure store 12, as is indicated in Fig. 1. The shaft 22' has an open inner side 22 ¹ , two mutually opposite, vertical side walls 24', a vertical front side wall 26' and an obliquely extending bottom wall 25' . Along obliquely extending upper edges 24a' of the side walls 24' and along horizontal upper edge 26a ¹ of the front side wall 26' there is formed an abutment for a hatch member 28' which is hingedly connected at 27' to a fastening flange 27a ¹ . By means of the hatch member 28' one can inter¬ mittently close off the access opening 23 ' at the upper end of the shaft housing. The fastening flange 27a' along the upper rear side portion of the shaft housing and a fastening flange 24b' along the rear side edge of the side walls 24' together with a fastening flange 25a ¹ along the lower, rear side edge of the

bottom wall 25" form an abutment against and fastening for the shaft housing against said opening 20 of the manure store as shown in Fig. 2.

By means of the access opening 23' directed obliquely upwards in the shaft housing easy inspection into the manure store via the shaft 22' is obtained, at the same time as easy access for the pump for manure via the access opening 23' to the shaft 22' is achieved.

From the upper edge of the front side wall 26' there projects horizontally outwards a flap 55' having an associated fastening hole and from the front edge of the hatch member 28' there projects horizontally outwards from this a flange 58' and at right angles downwards from this a flap 58" having an asso¬ ciated fastening hole 58a'. The flap 58" is adapted in the closed position of the hatch member 28', as shown in Fig. 6-9, to be received in the fastening hole of the flange 55, in order to prevent thereafter by means of a locking bar in a padlock 59' unintentional access to the shaft 22'. At 50' there is shown a handle-forming hoop for opening and closing the hatch member 28'.

On the top of the hatch member 28' there is releasably fastened in a circular cavity 28" (see Fig. 11) a circular cover member 28a' which forms a support abutment against the hatch member 28' along the edge portion of the cavity 28". The cover member 28a' is secured in engagement with a pair of permanently fixed, outwardly projecting fastening lugs 28b', 28c' and is locked in place with a releasably fastened, outwardly projecting fastening lug 28d' . Fastening lug 28d-' has a flap 28e' which projects through a locally designed slot in the hatch member 28' and which is locked to the hatch member 28' on its side facing inwardly into the shaft by means of a separate locking member.

In Fig. 9 - 11 the cover member 28a' is removed from the hatch member 28' and instead in a manner equivalent to that described for the cover member 28a' there is secured a fan housing 30a' for a fan 30', the fan housing 30a ¹ having a fastening flange 30b' which forms a support abutment against the edge portion around the cavity 28" in a manner corresponding to the cover member 28a'. There are shown fastening lugs 40' for

fastening drive motor 41' of the fan 30' to the inner wall of the fan housing 30a' . Just in front of the rotor 42' of the fan 30' there is fastened a protective grill 45'.

According to the other construction as shown in Fig. 6 - 11 the fan 30' can be mounted and dismounted in an easy manner from hatch member 28' of the shaft as required and when the fan 30* is removed from the hatch member 28' the cavity in the hatch member can be covered with the cover member 28a' . In instances where for example there are present -two shafts to a common manure store the one shaft can be equipped with the fan, while the pump for manure is introduced in the other shaft. In manure stores of large or complicated design the manure can be removed if desired in part via the one shaft and in part via the other shaft by correspon¬ dingly repositioning the pump for manure and the fan in the two shaf s. A special advantage of the second construction relative to the first construction is that one can arrange the fan in position in connection with the shaft with the hatch member in the closed and locked condition.