US 4,986,469 AGranted

Method of ventilating an animal enclosure in response to temperature

OwnerJames A. Sutton, Jr.inventor

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Abstract

A method of ventilating an animal enclosure such as a poultry house which permits alternating use of powered sidewall ventilation, natural sidewall ventilating and powered tunnel ventilation dependant upon outside temperature, with automatic control of the ventilation devices to insure safe and effective use. At and below a predetermined low outside ambient temperature, sidewall ventilation exhaust fans are operated to exhaust air drawn into the animal enclosure through the sidewall ventilation openings while tunnel ventilation openings are closed and tunnel ventilation fans are disabled to achieve a relatively low level of powered air movement through the animal enclosure. Between a predetermined middle range of outside ambient temperature, the sidewall ventilation openings are opened while disabling both sidewall ventilation exhaust fans and tunnel ventilation exhaust fans to achieve natural cross-ventilation through the animal enclosure. At and above a predetermined high range of outside ambient temperature, the sidewall ventilation openings are closed, the sidewall ventilation exhaust fans are disabled, the tunnel ventilation openings are opened and the tunnel ventilation exhaust fans are operated to achieve a relatively high level of powered air movement through the animal enclosure.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method of ventilating an animal enclosure through a wide range of temperature variations to maximize production efficiency and minimize physiological stress in animals, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an animal enclosure having:
(ii) sidewall ventilation exhaust fans positioned in the sidewalls of the animal enclosure;
(iii) sidewall ventilation openings positioned in the sidewalls of the animal enclosure and including means for closing said sidewall ventilation openings against the passage of air therethrough;
(iv) tunnel ventilation exhaust fans positioned in one end of the animal enclosure;
and
(v) tunnel ventilation openings proximate the other end of the animal enclosure and including means for closing said tunnel ventilation openings against the passage of air therethrough;
(vi) automatic means for sensing outside ambient temperature and controlling the operation of the sidewall ventilation exhaust fans and tunnel ventilation exhaust fans responsive to the sensed temperature:
(b) at and below a predetermined low outside ambient temperature, operating said sidewall ventilation exhaust fans to exhaust air drawn into the animal enclosure through said sidewall ventilation openings while said tunnel ventilation openings are closed and said tunnel ventilation fans are disabled to achieve a relatively low level of powered air movement through the animal enclosure to provide both minimum ventilation and high temperature control;
(c) between a predetermined middle range of outside ambient temperature, opening the sidewall ventilation openings while disabling both sidewall ventilation exhaust fans and tunnel ventilation exhaust fans to achieve natural cross-ventilation through the animal enclosure;
and
(d) at and above a predetermined high range of outside ambient temperature, closing the sidewall ventilation openings, disabling the sidewall ventilation exhaust fans, opening the tunnel ventilation openings and operating the tunnel ventilation exhaust fans to achieve a relatively high level of powered air movement through the animal enclosure.

8 more elements

A method of ventilating an animal enclosure through a wide range of temperature variations to maximize production efficiency and minimize physiological stress in animals, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an animal enclosure having:
(i) opposed sidewalls and opposed endwalls;
(ii) sidewall ventilation exhaust fans positioned in the sidewalls of the animal enclosure;
(iii) sidewall ventilation openings positioned in the sidewalls of the animal enclosure and including means for closing said sidewall ventilation openings against the passage of air therethrough;
(iv) tunnel ventilation exhaust fans positioned in one end of the animal enclosure;
and
(v) tunnel ventilation openings proximate the other end of the animal enclosure and including means for closing said tunnel ventilation openings against the passage of air therethrough;
(vi) automatic means for sensing outside ambient temperature and controlling the operation of the sidewall ventilation exhaust fans and tunnel ventilation exhaust fans responsive to the sensed temperature:
(b) at and below a predetermined outside ambient temperature, operating said sidewall ventilation exhaust fans to exhaust air drawn into the animal enclosure through said sidewall ventilation openings while said tunnel ventilation openings are closed and said tunnel ventilation fans are disabled to achieve a relatively low level of powered air movement through the animal enclosure;
and
(c) above the predetermined outside ambient temperature, closing the sidewall ventilation openings, disabling the sidewall ventilation exhaust fans, opening the tunnel ventilation openings and operating the tunnel ventilation exhaust fans to achieve a relatively high level of powered air movement through the animal enclosure.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.