Manure transfer system
AssigneeNTH, Inc.
InventorsClifford B. Nesseth, Raymond P. Nesseth, Clinton A. Nesseth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved manure transfer system is disclosed. A collection hopper is located at a first location, preferably within a building, for collecting manure and animal waste products from the building. A piston pump apparatus directs and forces the collected manure through a pump cylinder into a below-grade transfer conduit that carries and deposits the manure through a discharge outlet located at a remote, second location. Means for bypassing the pump piston and cylinder are provided for accessing the transfer conduit enabling safe servicing and maintenance of the system. Isolation means are provided at the conduit discharge outlet for isolating the outlet from accumulated manure at the second location.
Claims32
An improved manure transfer system for transferring manure or the like from a first location to a remote second location, comprising:
- (a) collection means at said first location for collecting and holding manure or the like;
- (b) conduit means operatively connected with said collection means, for transporting manure held thereby to a remote location;
- said conduit means defining an outlet through which the transported manure is discharged;
- (c) pump means operatively connected relative to said collection means and said conduit means for pumping manure normally in one direction from said collection means and through said conduit means;
- (d) maintenance means independent of said pump means, for enabling repair and maintenance of said pump means and said conduit means, comprising:
- (i) valve means operatively connected with said conduit means for closing back-flow of manure through said conduit means when said pump means is removed from said operative connection;
- and
- (ii) bypass access means operatively connected to said conduit means for providing access to said conduit means at a position intermediate said valve means and said conduit outlet;
- whereby said access means permits pressure relief of and bidirectional pumping of material to and from said conduit means.
System maintenance means for use in combination with a system for transferring manure from a first location to a remote second location of the type having:
- a collection hopper defining an open upper end suitable for receiving manure falling by gravity therethrough;
- conduit means having an inlet operatively connected in fluid communication with said collection hopper, for transferring manure from said hopper to said second location;
- and pump means having a movable member at least partially operable within said collection hopper for forcing manure from said hopper and through said inlet into said conduit means;
- comprising:
- bypass access means for providing access to said conduit from said collection hopper by bypassing said pump means;
- said bypass access means comprising a second conduit extending between a first end operatively connected to said conduit means at a position slightly downstream from-said conduit inlet and-beyond operable components of said pump means, and a second end disposed above that portion of said collection hopper that normally contains and holds collected manure;
- whereby working access to said conduit means downstream from said inlet is provided through said bypass access means independent of said pump means or said conduit inlet.
An improved collection hopper apparatus for manure transfer systems of the type designed to collect manure at a sub-floor collection location and to transfer collected manure through a conduit to a position remote from the collection location, comprising:
- (a) an outer wall configuration extending between an upper end defining a receiving port for accepting manure falling by gravity therethrough, and a lower end suitable for retainably collecting the manure entering said receiving port;
- said outer wall configuration defining a pump access port therethrough;
- (b) pump receiving means continuously extending outward from said outer wall configuration at said pump access port, for cooperatively receiving a pump housing member;
- said pump receiving means extending distally outward from said outer wall configuration a distance sufficient to fully accommodate a pump housing member and extension of any movable parts thereof, and terminating at a discharge port sized and configured for continuous operative connection with a transfer conduit;
- (c) a bypass access conduit operatively extending between the outer wall configuration adjacent its upper end and said pump receiving means adjacent said discharge port thereof, forming an open fluid flow path therebetween;
- and
- (d) closure means selectively sealing said bypass access conduit at its said outer wall configuration end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.