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EP-4739105-A1 - ANIMAL BRUSHING ARRANGEMENT

EP4739105A1EP 4739105 A1EP4739105 A1EP 4739105A1EP-4739105-A1

Abstract

The disclosure concerns an animal brushing arrangement (2) comprising a support part (6), a brush (8), and a suspension structure (12) for suspending the brush (8) and its electric motor (10) from the support part (6). The suspension structure (12) comprises at least a first member (14) and a second member (16), the first and second members (14, 16) being connected to each other at a first interface (20). At the first interface (20), the second member (16) is pivotable about a first pivot axis (26) in relation to the first member (14) and each of the first and second members (14, 16) has an end-face (32, 34) extending perpendicularly to the first pivot axis (26).

Inventors

  • LAGAS, Ivar
  • VAN DER POEL, HANS

Assignees

  • DeLaval Holding AB

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240625

Claims (20)

  1. 1. An animal brushing arrangement (2) for attaching to a support structure (4), the animal brushing arrangement (2) comprising a support part (6) configured to be attached to the support structure (4), a brush (8), an electric motor (10) arranged to rotate the brush (8) about a rotational axis (11), and a suspension structure (12) for suspending the brush (8) and the electric motor (10) from the support part (6), wherein the suspension structure (12) comprises at least a first member (14) and a second member (16), the first and second members (14, 16) being connected to each other at a first interface (20), and wherein at the first interface (20), the second member (16) is pivotable about a first pivot axis (26) in relation to the first member (14) and each of the first and second members (14, 16) has an end-face (32, 34) extending perpendicularly to the first pivot axis (26).
  2. 2. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 1, wherein the first member (14) has a first end portion (36) at the first interface (20) and the second member (16) has a first end portion (38) at the first interface (20), wherein the first member (14) comprises a first end-face (32) at its first end portion (36) and the second member (16) comprises a first end-face (34) at its first end portion (38), and wherein at the first interface (20), the first end-face (32) of the first member (14) and the first end-face (34) of the second member (16) extend perpendicularly to the first pivot axis (26) and are arranged facing each other.
  3. 3. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 2, wherein the suspension structure (12) comprises a third member (18) being connected to the second member (16) at a second interface (22), and wherein the third member (18) is pivotable about a second pivot axis (28) in relation to the second member (16).
  4. 4. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 3, wherein the first pivot axis (26) and the second pivot axis (28) are arranged at a first obtuse angle (a) to each other.
  5. 5. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the second member (16) has a second end portion (40) at the second interface (22) and comprises a second end-face (42) at its second end portion (40), wherein the third member (18) has a first end portion (44) at the second interface (22) and comprises a first end-face (46) at its first end portion (44), wherein at the second interface (22), the second end-face (42) of the second member (16) and the first end-face (46) of the third member (18) extend perpendicularly to the second pivot axis (28) and are arranged facing each other.
  6. 6. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of claims 3 - 5, wherein the brush (8) is connected to, or forms part of, the third member (18).
  7. 7. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of claims 3 - 6, wherein the first pivot axis (26) extends along a substantially vertical extension when the animal brushing arrangement (2) is attached to the support structure (4) and is in a rest position.
  8. 8. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of claims 3 - 7, wherein the first pivot axis (26) and the rotational axis (11) are arranged in parallel and off-centre from each other when the animal brushing arrangement (2) is attached to the support structure (4) and is in a rest position.
  9. 9. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of claims 3 - 8, wherein the first pivot axis (26), the second pivot axis (28), and the rotational axis (11) extend in a common substantially vertical plane when the animal brushing arrangement (2) is attached to the support structure (4) and is in a rest position.
  10. 10. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of claims 2 - 9, wherein the first member (14) has a second end portion (58) at the support part (6), and wherein the first member (14) at its second end portion (58) is connected to the support part (6).
  11. 11. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 10, wherein the first member (14) at its second end portion (58) is pivotable about a third pivot axis (30) in relation to the support part (6).
  12. 12. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 11, wherein the first pivot axis (26) and the third pivot axis (30) extend in a common plane.
  13. 13. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first member (14) has an elongated extension between the support part (6) and the second member (16).
  14. 14. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotational axis (11) of the brush (8) is arranged laterally displaced from the first pivot axis (26).
  15. 15. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first interface (20) comprises at least one bearing (50).
  16. 16. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the suspension structure (12) comprises a limiting mechanism (62) arranged to limit the extent of pivotal movement of the second member (16) in relation to the first member (14) about the first pivot axis (26).
  17. 17. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the suspension structure (12) comprises a damping mechanism (72) arranged to induce resistance in a pivotal movement of the second member (16) in relation to the first member (14) about the first pivot axis (26).
  18. 18. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein seen along the first pivot axis (26), the first end-face (32) of the first member (14) and the first end-face (34) of the second member (16) have substantially the same radial extension from the first pivot axis (26).
  19. 19. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second members (14, 16) have a substantially tubular form.
  20. 20. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first member (14) has a bent shape.

Description

Animal Brushing Arrangement TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to an animal brushing arrangement. BACKGROUND Animal brushing arrangements and devices of various kinds are known. One particular kind of animal brushing arrangement includes a rotatable cylindrical brush that is mounted to a fixed support structure, such as a wall or a post. The rotatable brush is suspended hanging downwardly like a pendulum that can swing back and forth, often in more than one direction. This kind of animal brushing arrangement is devised for brushing farm animals, such as cows and horses. Animals go voluntarily to the animal brushing arrangement for being brushed. The brushing is a way of keeping the animals clean, giving them massage and calming them down. Further, the brushing may be a way of improving the health of the animals and to provide for an increased feeling of well-being and comfort. One animal brushing arrangement of this kind is presented e.g. in WO 03/084316, which discloses a treatment device for livestock wherein an oblong brush is carried by a carrying means. The brush can be set in a preferably rotating motion by a drive unit. The motion is initiated by the animal coming into contact with the brush. By means of a flexible element in the carrying means, the brush is able to swivel from a vertical to a substantially horizontal orientation upon a force acting on it. WO 2010/040631 and WO 2013/176596 disclose further developments of this kind of animal brushing arrangement. Specifically, two pivot axes extending in horizontal directions when the brushing arrangement is at rest provide for the pendulum movement of the rotatable brush. SUMMARY It would be advantageous to improve reliability and/or safety aspects of an animal brushing arrangement. In particular, it would be desirable to improve such aspects in a suspension structure of an animal brushing arrangement. To better address one or more of these concerns, an animal brushing arrangement having the features defined in the independent claim is provided. According to an aspect there is provided an animal brushing arrangement for attaching to a support structure. The animal brushing arrangement comprises a support part configured to be attached to the support structure, a brush, an electric motor arranged to rotate the brush about a rotational axis, and a suspension structure for suspending the brush and the electric motor from the support part. The suspension structure comprises at least a first member and a second member, the first and second members being connected to each other at a first interface. At the first interface, the second member is pivotable about a first pivot axis in relation to the first member and each of the first and second members has an end-face extending perpendicularly to the first pivot axis. Since the first and second members of the support structure are connected to each other and pivotable about the first pivot axis at the first interface, and since each of the first and second members has an end-face extending perpendicularly to the first pivot axis - the first and second members are configured to be positioned close to each other. Thus, the first pivot axis is arranged within outer boundaries of the first and second members. Accordingly, the suspension structure is configured for limited access to the first pivot axis. Dust and debris are thus, kept away from the first pivot axis and animal body parts are prevented from being caught or pinched between the first and second members at the first pivot axis and the first interface. More specifically, the first and second members each having an end-face extending perpendicularly to the first pivot axis entails that the two end-faces are positionable close to each other, even in abutment with each other, without hindering pivoting of the second member in relation the first member about the first pivot axis. The close positioning of the end-faces will prevent the first pivot axis from being exposed and accessible from outside the suspension structure. It has been realised that in an animal brushing arrangement of the prior art with one or more substantially horizontally extending pivot axes at the rotatable brush, the pivot joint or pivot joints of a respective horizontal pivot axis is/are exposed. Thus, for instance, dust and debris will affect the pivot joint and may reduce operational reliability of the pivot joint and the animal brushing arrangement. Furthermore, exposed pivot joints increase risk of trapping or pinching animal or human body parts. Encapsuling a horizontally extending pivot axis may impede and/or limit the pivotal movement of the pivot axis. The herein presented arrangement of the first interface between the first and second members of the suspension structure with the end-faces extending perpendicularly to the first pivot axis provides for the first pivot axis to be arranged within the first and second members of the support structure. Thus, the first pivo