Livestock cooling system

#The present invention generally relates to devices and systems for sheltering livestock and more specifically to a programmable system for efficiently using evaporative cooling devices to create an environment which protects the health and productivity of the animals.

#It is known in animal agriculture to cool livestock with evaporative cooling by wetting the animal and then drying the animal through mechanical ventilation or via natural ventilation. Alternatively, lowering the temperature of the environment will also cool animals if the decreased temperature may be maintained. The disclosed system provides cooling to livestock through direct evaporative cooling and also by decreasing the temperature of the livestock environment.

#The disclosed system may deliver water to a given area without wetting the area, unlike the other known devices which wet one area continuously and usually result in wet bedding. With the disclosed system, by the time a fan oscillates back to the original zone, water previously emitted has partially or totally evaporated. The disclosed system allows the wetting-drying cycle to be accelerated or decelerated to maximize evaporative cooling given current environmental conditions. Temperature and humidity are monitored so that the maximum amount of water for evaporative cooling can be supplied to each fan under real time environmental conditions. The upper constraint on the amount of water delivered by each fan will usually be a volume of water which would wet the animal's bedding. Other environmental conditions may also be monitored, such as wind velocity, the intensity of sunlight, or the position of the sun with respect to the location of the livestock and a shading structure.

#FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a typical fan of the disclosed livestock cooling system.

#FIG. 2 is a second isometric view of a fan of the disclosed cooling system.

#FIG. 3 is a detailed view of one embodiment of a drive mechanism for fan oscillation.

#Referring now specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a structure 14 having a roof 16 connected to supporting members 18. Mounted within the structure 14, is at least one fan 20. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the major components of a typical fan 20 used in the disclosed system. Depending upon the particular application, a plurality of similar fans 20 may be used in the system. Each fan comprises a blade, not shown, enclosed within housing 22, a motor 24 attached to the housing 22 for rotating the blade, a grill 26 attached to the front of the housing 22, a mist ring 28 attached to the grill 26, nozzles 30 connected to the mist ring 28, a water supply line 32 for providing high pressure water to the nozzles 30, power cable 34 for providing electrical power to the motor 24, motor starter 36 for starting motor 24, and mounting bracket 38, which supports the weight of fan 20. Mounting bracket 38 is connected to pivot arm 40 which is rotationally attached to stationary member 42, which is attached to a supporting member 18 or other member of the structure 14. Fan 20 creates an air stream 44 into which water droplets are injected from the nozzles 30 mounted within the mist ring 28. Water is provided to the mist ring 28 by high pressure water line 32.

#Oscillation means are provided to the disclosed system which allows each fan to oscillate within a pre-programmed arc, up to a maximum of 270 degrees for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Various oscillation means may be operably attached to the fan 20, which rotate the fan through a plurality of rotational positions. In one embodiment, the oscillation means comprise a drive shaft 46, having a first end 46A and a second end 46B, to which drive shaft 46 means for rotational motion are applied so as to rotate drive gear 48. Drive gear 48 imparts rotation to pivot arm 40 by use of a chain 50 connected to free gear 52, thereby causing oscillation of fan 20. Drive gear 48, which is attached to first end 46A, and free gear 52 are supported by bearings 54. Alternatively, chain 50 may be eliminated by directly enmeshing drive gear 48 to free gear 52 to provide direct drive.

#Various means for applying rotational motion to drive shaft 46 are available. In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 1, cables 56 are connected to drive shaft flange 58, attached to second end 46B, by drive shaft clamps 60. Instead of using drive shaft flange 58, it is also possible to connect cables 56 to a drum attached to drive shaft 46. If a drum is used, it is possible to increase the maximum arc of oscillation to a value greater than 270 degrees.