CONDITION - RESPOSIVE CLOSURE DEVICE

• US 3,802,479 A
• Filed: 05/18/1972
• Issued: 04/09/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfred Turenne Iii Newell, Larry Winfred Wolfe
• Original Assignee: Alfred Turenne Iii Newell, Larry Winfred Wolfe
• Inventors: Newell, Alfred Turenne III, Wolfe, Larry Winfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Caun, Peter M.
• Application Number:
  US05/254,651
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 160/1,5,6 98/32-35 62/125,129 210/85
• US Class Current: 160/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/007 Arrangement of curtain systems
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/40 Control units therefore
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/21 of identical elements, e.g. of identical compression springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence

Abstract

The disclosure pertains generally to curtain-raising and lowering mechanisms and, more particularly, to automaticallyoperated mechanisms used in connection with cable or rope suspension systems for controlling curtains on animal enclosures, such as cattle sheds, hog parlors and poultry houses, for example. When temperatures within the enclosure are sufficiently high, the curtain is automatically moved to an open position to facilitate appropriate ventilation. When outside temperatures are low, the curtain is normally closed to conserve heat, but is opened automatically when the interior humidity reaches dangerously high levels. Additional controls are provided whereby heavy rainfall or high winds will cause the curtains to close partially to minimize the effects thereof on the interior environment. Similarly, an interior ammonia detector causes the curtain to open partially when ammonia levels become dangerously high.

Claims

1. In an enclosure for animals, poultry and the like, having side walls and an overhanging roof constituting a substantially closed structure with a ventilating opening in a side wall thereof and a closure member for such ventilating opening movable between a lowered full-open position and a raised full-closed position, an automatic control system for such closure member, comprising means for moving such closure member toward the opened position and toward the closed position in response to temperatures within such enclosure respectively greater than and less than predetermined levels, means responsive to a relative humidity above a predetermined level within such enclosure for rendering inoperative said temperature-responsive means and for moving such closure member toward the open position, means for rendering inoperative said humidity-responsive means in response to temperatures within such enclosure below a predetermined minimum level, means responsive to a coNcentration of ammonia in excess of a selected level in the air within such enclosure for rendering inoperative said temperature-responsive means and for moving such closure member toward the open position irrespective of the temperature within such enclosure, and means responsive to the movement of such closure means to a selected partially-open position for rendering inoperative said ammonia concentration responsive means, whereby the interruption of the basic temperature-control function under conditions of excess humidity is terminable by a sufficient drop in relative humidity and by an excessive drop in temperature within the enclosure, whichever occurs first, whereas the interruption of the basic temperature-control function under conditions of excessive ammonia concentration is terminable by a sufficient drop in ammonia concentration and by the opening of such closure member to a predetermined extent, whichever occurs first.

2. An automatic control system in accordance with claim 1, and including timing means for causing said movement of such closure means under the control of each of said environment-responsive means to be performed in incremental steps of movement separated by periods of no movement.

3. An automatic control system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the ratio of the periods of movement to periods of no movement is smaller under the control of said humidity-responsive means and of said ammonia concentration responsive means than under the control of said temperature-responsive means.

4. An automatic control system in accordance with claim 1, and including means responsive to the occurrence of rainfall on such enclosure for rendering inoperative said temperature-responsive means and for moving such closure member toward the closed position irrespective of the temperature within such an enclosure, and means responsive to movement of such closure member to a selected partially closed position for rendering inoperative said rainfall-responsive means.

5. An automatic control system in accordance with claim 1, and including means responsive to a wind velocity in excess of a selected level in the ambient air at such enclosure for rendering inoperative said temperature-responsive means and for moving such closure member toward the closed position irrespective of the temperature within such enclosure, and means responsive to the movement of such closure means to a selected partially-closed position for rendering inoperative said wind velocity responsive means.