US 7,458,886 B1Granted

Neck washer

OwnerTerry Cemlyn Griffiths, Larry Paul Griffiths +2inventors

InventorsTerry Cemlyn Griffiths, Larry Paul Griffiths, Duane Dutton, Greg Bilyeu

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Abstract

An apparatus for washing the neck area of an animal carcass includes a pair of upwardly inclined brushes sharing a common angle of inclination, followed by a first pair of vertically disposed brushes, a second pair of vertically disposed brushes, and by a pair of downwardly inclined brushes sharing a common angle of inclination. The brushes of each pair of brushes are transversely spaced apart from one another to accommodate an animal carcass between them. First and second fluid headers are positioned in parallel relation to each inclined brush. A neck area of a carcass is initially cleaned by the pair of upwardly inclined brushes and associated fluid headers. The neck area then passes between the first and second pair of vertical brushes and associated fluid headers. The final cleaning is administered by the pair of downwardly inclined brushes and their associated fluid headers.

Claims29

Dependent claims

An apparatus for washing the neck area of an animal carcass, comprising:

a pair of longitudinally disposed, parallel, upwardly inclined, elongate brushes sharing a common angle of inclination and being transversely spaced apart from one another by a distance sufficient to accommodate an animal carcass therebetween;
a first motor means for rotating said upwardly inclined brushes about respective axes of rotation in counter-rotating relation to one another;
a first pair of vertically disposed brushes disposed in transversely spaced apart relation to one another by a distance sufficient to accommodate an animal carcass therebetween;
a second motor means for rotating said first pair of vertically disposed brushes about respective axes of rotation in counter-rotating relation to one another;
a second pair of vertically disposed brushes disposed in transversely spaced apart relation to one another by a distance sufficient to accommodate an animal carcass therebetween, said second pair of vertically disposed brushes being disposed in longitudinal alignment with said first pair of vertically disposed brushes;
a third motor means for rotating said second pair of vertically disposed brushes about respective axes of rotation in counter-rotating relation to one another;
a pair of longitudinally disposed, parallel, downwardly inclined, elongate brushes sharing a common angle of inclination and being transversely spaced apart from one another by a distance sufficient to accommodate an animal carcass therebetween;
a fourth motor means for rotating said pair of downwardly inclined brushes about respective axes of rotation in counter-rotating relation to one another;
whereby a neck area of a carcass is cleaned in sequence by said pair of upwardly inclined brushes, said first pair of vertical brushes, said second pair of vertical brushes, and said pair of downwardly inclined brushes.

6 more elements

A method of washing the neck area of a carcass, comprising the steps of:

positioning a first pair of longitudinally disposed, parallel, upwardly inclined, elongate brushes sharing a common angle of inclination in transversely spaced apart relation to one another;
positioning a first pair of vertically disposed shafts in transversely spaced apart relation to one another and in longitudinal alignment with said first pair of upwardly inclined brushes;
positioning a second pair of vertically disposed brushes in transversely spaced apart relation to one another and in longitudinal alignment with said first pair of vertically disposed brushes;
and
positioning a first pair of longitudinally disposed, parallel, downwardly inclined, elongate brushes sharing a common angle of inclination in transversely spaced apart to one another and in longitudinal alignment with said second pair of vertically disposed brushes.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.