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EP-4739106-A1 - ANIMAL BRUSHING ARRANGEMENT

EP4739106A1EP 4739106 A1EP4739106 A1EP 4739106A1EP-4739106-A1

Abstract

The disclosure concerns an animal brushing arrangement (2) comprising a support part (6) a brush (8), and a suspension structure (12). A first member (14) is connected to the support part (6) and is pivotable about a first pivot axis (30), a second member (16) is connected to the first member (14) and is pivotable about a second pivot axis (26) in relation to the first member (14), and a third member (18) is connected to the second member (16) and is pivotable about a third pivot axis (28) in relation to the second member (16). The first pivot axis (30) extends substantially horizontally, the second pivot axis (26) extends at an angle (γ) to the first pivot axis (30) and in a common plane with the first pivot axis (30), and the third pivot axis (28) has a directional component extending perpendicularly to the second pivot axis (26).

Inventors

  • LAGAS, Ivar
  • VAN DER POEL, HANS

Assignees

  • DeLaval Holding AB

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240625

Claims (17)

  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 a first member (14), a second member (16), and a third member (18), wherein the first member (14) is connected to the support part (6) at a first interface (24) and is pivotable in relation to the support part (6) about a first pivot axis (30) at the first interface (24), the second member (16) is connected to the first member (14) at a second interface (20) and is pivotable about a second pivot axis (26) in relation to the first member (14) at the second interface (20), and the third member (18) is connected to the second member (16) at a third interface (22) and is pivotable about a third pivot axis (28) in relation to the second member (16) at the third interface (22), and wherein when the animal brushing arrangement (2) is attached to the support structure (4), the first pivot axis (30) extends substantially horizontally, the second pivot axis (26) extends at an angle (y) to the first pivot axis (30) and in a common plane with the first pivot axis (30), and the third pivot axis (28) has a directional component extending perpendicularly to the second pivot axis (26).
  2. 2. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 1 , wherein the second pivot axis (26) extends at a substantially perpendicular angle (y) to the first pivot axis (30).
  3. 3. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second pivot axis (26) and the third pivot axis (28) are arranged at a first obtuse angle (a) to each other.
  4. 4. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first member (14) has a first end portion (36) at the second interface (20) and comprises a first end-face (32) at its first end portion (36), wherein the second member (16) has a first end portion (38) at the second interface (20) and the second member (16) comprises a first end-face (34) at its first end portion (38), and wherein at the second interface (20), the first end-face (32) of the first member (14) and the first end-face (34) of the second member (16) are arranged facing each other.
  5. 5. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 4, wherein seen along the second 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 second pivot axis (26).
  6. 6. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the second member (16) has a second end portion (40) at the third 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 third interface (22) and comprises a first end-face (46) at its first end portion (44), wherein at the third interface (22), the second end-face (42) of the second member (16) and the first end-face (46) of the third member (18) are arranged facing each other.
  7. 7. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the brush (8) is connected to, or forms part of, the third member (18).
  8. 8. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second pivot axis (26), the third 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.
  9. 9. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second 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.
  10. 10. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first pivot axis (30) and the second pivot axis (26) extend in a common plane.
  11. 11. 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).
  12. 12. 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 second pivot axis (26).
  13. 13. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and/or second and/or third interface (24, 20, 22) each comprises at least one bearing (50, 54).
  14. 14. 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 second pivot axis (26).
  15. 15. 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 second pivot axis (26).
  16. 16. 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.
  17. 17. 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 provide an animal brushing arrangement that interacts with an animal being brushed in an alternative manner. In particular, it would be desirable to provide an animal brushing arrangement wherein the rotatable brush is able to easily move in three dimensions and/or to provide an efficient brushing of animals of different heights. 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 a first member, a second member, and a third member. The first member is connected to the support part at a first interface and is pivotable in relation to the support part about a first pivot axis at the first interface, the second member is connected to the first member at a second interface and is pivotable about a second pivot axis in relation to the first member at the second interface, and the third member is connected to the second member at a third interface and is pivotable about a third pivot axis in relation to the second member at the third interface. When the animal brushing arrangement is attached to the support structure, the first pivot axis extends substantially horizontally, the second pivot axis extends at an angle to the first pivot axis and in a common plane with the first pivot axis, and the third pivot axis has a directional component extending perpendicularly to the second pivot axis. Since the suspension structure comprises the first member pivotably connected to the support part at the first interface, the second member pivotably connected to the first member at the second interface, and the third member pivotably connected to the second member at the third interface, and since when the animal brushing arrangement is attached to the support structure, the first pivot axis extends substantially horizontally, the second pivot axis extends at an angle to the first pivot axis and in a common plane with the first pivot axis, and the third pivot axis has a directional component extending perpendicularly to the second pivot axis - the brush, which is connected to, or forms part of, the third member, has an improved or enhanced freedom of movement in three dimensions. Namely, in comparison with an animal brushing arrangement comprising a suspension structure with second and third pivot axes extending horizontally, the herein described second pivot axis extending at an angle to, and in a common plane with, the first pivot axis and the third pivot axis having a directional component extending perpendicularly to the second pivot axis, in combination, provide a different interaction pattern of the brush with an animal that pushes against the brush for being brushed by the brush. By the first pivot axis extending substantially horizontally and the second pivot axis extending at an angle to the first pivot axis and in a common plane w