Animal enclosure with pressure controlled ventilation inlet and deflection means

• US 4,043,256 A
• Filed: 10/14/1975
• Issued: 08/23/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Big Dutchman Cyclone Incorporated
• Original Assignee: US Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Van Huis, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/621,675
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 98/1, 98/5, 98/41, 98/33 R, 98/43 R, 98/40 D, 98/40 C, 119/16, 119/21
• US Class Current: 454/238
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0058 Construction of air inlets or outlets in roofs
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0064 Construction of air inlets or outlets in walls
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 31/00 Housing birds
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/1426 characterised by actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/1433 with electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/1453 with cables, e.g. bowden cables

Abstract

Proper ventilation is achieved by exhaust fans which draw fresh air into the building through an inlet duct. The inlet opening is adjustable by a valve movable between generally open and closed positions and a movable deflector controls the direction of flow in accordance with the rate of flow to achieve even circulation. The valve and deflector position are controlled by an actuator responsive to the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the building. Preferably, the inlet opening is a longitudinal slot extending the length of the building along each side at the ceiling and the exhaust fans are positioned at the floor. Preferably, a louver in front of the opening controls the effective size of the opening and the deflection angle of flow into the building.

Claims

1. A ventilation system for a livestock house having spaced side walls, spaced end walls, a floor and ceiling and livestock cage means elevated above the floor comprising in combination:

exhaust fans positioned for removing air from said house and drawing it through said cage means;

an inlet duct above said cage means for admitting replacement air into said house and drawing said air through said cage means, said inlet duct including an opening defining a slot means extending lengthwise of at least one of said side and end walls of said house, said slot means being positioned at the transition of said ceiling and said one of said side and end walls;

louver means adjacent said slot means and movable between a generally open and closed position to generally permit or block air flow through said opening, said louver means including deflection means adjustable relative said slot means for varying the direction of air flowing into said house;

means supporting said louver means in front of said slot means, said louver means including an upper and lower margin, said lower margin being supported along said one of said side and end walls and being pivotal about said lower margin whereby said upper margin is movable into and out of abutment with said transition of said ceiling to vary the amount of air flow opening through said slot means providing automatic adjustment of the deflection of air flow into said house relative to the size of air flow opening;

sensing means for sensing the pressure differential between the inside and outside of said house; and

actuating means responsive to changes in said pressure differential to open or close said louver means and adjust said deflection means to maintain a preselected constant pressure differential and provide continuous and even distribution of air circulation through said house.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means is a motor-driven cable means which varies the inlet opening and deflection angle simultaneously by causing pivotal movement of said louver means in response to changes in the pressure differential between said room and outside said building.

3. Apparatus for controlling and circulating the flow of ventilating air through an enclosed room in a building comprising in combination:

air inlet and outlet means from outside said buildings into said room, said inlet means comprising an opening located at the transition of one of the walls and ceiling of the room and extending substantially the entire length of at least one side of said room;

exhaust means causing air outside said building to flow into said room through said inlet means and out said outlet means;

valve and deflection louver means associated with said opening and extending in front thereof, said louver means being movable relative said opening between generally open and generally closed positions to admit or prevent flow through said inlet means and to cause even distribution of air flowing through said inlet means through said room, said louver means being positioned in close proximity to the ceiling of said room and the lower margin being positioned in close proximity to the said wall of said room when in said generally closed position to prevent flow of air through said opening;

bracket means anchored to the said wall of said room for supporting said valve and deflection louver means, the lower margin of said louver means being supported by said bracket means for positioning at various selected spacing from said wall of said room to adjust the down-wash flow of air from said opening vertically generally downwardly along the said wall of said room, said support means supporting said louver means for pivotal movement relative said opening, said louver means being pivotable to varying angles of incline relative the plane of said opening to vary both the effective flow of air through said opening and the angle of deflection of air into said room;

sensing means for sensing the pressure differential between the ambient pressure outside said building and the pressure within said room; and

control means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said valve and deflection louver means to maintain a preselected pressure differential, said control means adjusting said valve and deflection louver means to provide continuous and even distribution of air circulation through said room.

4. A ventilation system for an animal house having spaced side walls, spaced end walls, a floor and ceiling comprising in combination:

an air outlet duct;

exhaust means for removing air from said house, an inlet duct for admitting replacement air into said house, said inlet duct including an opening in at least one of said walls;

louver means associated with said inlet duct and movable between a generally open and closed position to generally permit or block air flow through said opening;

said louver means including deflection means adjustable relative said inlet duct for even distribution of air flowing into said housing through said inlet duct;

actuating means for operating said louver means;

support means for said louver means comprising a plurality of brackets anchored to said one or more walls, said louver means being supported for pivotal movement relative said inlet duct and being pivotal to varying angles of incline relative the plane of said inlet duct to vary both the effective flow of air through said inlet duct and the angle of deflection of air past said louver means into said house, said louver means comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending plates supported by said brackets, each of said plates including a tongue means at each end thereof engageable with said brackets whereby said brackets support said plates and said plates are pivotal relative thereto so that the upper margin of said plates can be pivoted into close proximity to the ceiling of said housing, said opening being positioned at the transition of said one wall and ceiling, whereby the pivoting of said plates defines the effective inlet opening into said housing, said actuating means including a cable means which simultaneously pivots each of said plates in unison together so that the effective inlet opening is varied and the inlet deflection angle is simultaneously adjusted relative the pressure differential between the inside and outside of said house, and sensing means for sensing the pressure differential between the inside and outside of said house, said sensing means controlling the operation of said actuating means to open or close said louver means and adjust said deflection means to maintain a preselected constant pressure differential and provide continuous and even distribution of air circulation through said house.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said cable means includes a cable extending the length of said one wall, said cable extending through said brackets and being anchored at one end to a spring means anchored to said house and at the other end to a drum, said cable means further including secondary cables anchored to said first cable and extending through said brackets for attachment to said plates whereby rotation of said drum in one direction causes upward pivotal rotation of said plates to reduce the effective flow opening through said inlet duct opening and rotation of said drum in the other direction causing said plates to pivot downwardly to enlarge the effective flow opening through said inlet duct.

6. A ventilation system for a poultry house having spaced side walls, spaced end walls, a floor and ceiling and poultry cage means elevated above the floor comprising in combination:

exhaust fans positioned beneath said cage means for removing air from said house;

an inlet duct above said cage means for admitting replacement air into said house and drawing said air through said cage means, said inlet duct including an opening defining a slot means extending generally the length of at least one of said side and end walls of said house, said slot means being positioned at the transition of said ceiling and said one of said side and end walls;

louver means adjacent said slot means and movable between a generally open and closed position to generally permit or block air flow through said opening, said louver means including deflection means adjustable relative said slot means for varying the direction of air flowing into said house;

means supporting said louver means in front of said slot means, said louver means including an upper and lower margin, said lower margin being supported along said one of said side and end walls and positionable at selected spacings from said one of said side and end wall to vary the down-wash flow of air from said slot means vertically generally downwardly along said one of said side and end wall and further being pivotal about said lower margin whereby said upper margin is movable into and out of abutment with said ceiling to vary the amount of air flow opening between the ceiling and said upper margin the angle of said louver means relative said ceiling providing automatic adjustment of the deflection of air flow into said house relative the size of air flow opening;

sensing means for sensing the pressure differential between the inside and outside of said house; and

actuating means responsive to changes in said pressure differential to open or close said louver means and adjust said deflection means to maintain a preselected constant pressure differential and provide continuous and even distribution of air circulation through said house.

7. A ventilation system for a livestock house having opposite spaced side walls, opposite spaced end walls, a floor and ceiling and livestock cage means elevated above the floor comprising in combination:

exhaust fans positioned beneath said cage means along the proximity of the floor for removing air from said house;

an inlet duct above said cage means for admitting replacement air into said house and drawing said air through said cage means, said inlet duct including opposed openings defining opposed slot means extending generally the length of one of said opposed side and end walls of said house, said slot means being positioned at the transition of said ceiling and said one of said opposed side and end walls;

louver means adjacent said slot means and movable between a generally open and closed position to generally permit or block air flow through said opening, said louver means further defining deflection means being adjustable relative said slot means for varying the direction of air flowing into said house;

means supporting said louver means in front of said slot means said louver means including an upper and lower margin, said lower margin being supported along said one of said side and end walls and being pivotal about said lower margin whereby said upper margin is movable into and out of abutment with said transition of said ceiling to vary the amount of air flow opening through said slot means providing automatic adjustment of the deflection of air flow into said house relative the size of air flow opening;

sensing means for sensing the pressure;

differential between the inside and outside of said house; and

actuating means responsive to changes in said pressure differential to open or close said louver means and adjust said deflection means to maintain a preselected constant pressure differential and provide continuous and even distribution of air circulation through said house.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein said exhaust means are positioned in said one of said opposed side and end walls associated with said slot means.