EP-4739107-A1 - ANIMAL BRUSHING ARRANGEMENT

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) each comprises a first axial end (32, 34), the first axial end (32) of the first member (14) and the first axial end (34) of the second member (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). The first axial ends (32, 34) of the first and second members (14, 16) are arranged facing each other such that the first pivot axis (26) extends, from the first member (14) to the second member (16), centrally through the first axial ends (32, 34) of the first and second members (14, 16). Elected for publication:

Inventors

• LAGAS, Ivar
• VAN DER POEL, HANS

Assignees

• DeLaval Holding AB

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240625

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS 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) each comprises a first axial end (32, 34), the first axial end (32) of the first member (14) and the first axial end (34) of the second member (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), wherein the first axial ends (32, 34) of the first and second members (14, 16) are arranged facing each other such that the first pivot axis (26) extends, from the first member (14) to the second member (16), centrally through the first axial ends (32, 34) of the first and second members (14, 16). 2. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 1, wherein the first pivot axis (26) extends in a longitudinal direction of the first member (14) at the first interface (20). 3. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 1 or 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. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 3, wherein the first pivot axis (26) and the second pivot axis (28) are arranged at an inner angle (a) to each other, the inner angle (a) being within a range of 91 - 179 degrees, preferably within a range of 100 - 150 degrees, or even more preferably within a range of 110 - 130 degrees. 5. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the second member (16) comprises a second axial end (42) at the second interface (22), wherein the third member (18) comprises a first axial end (46) at the second interface (22), wherein the second axial end (42) of the second member (16) and the first axial end (46) of the third member (18) are connected to each other at the second interface (22)and are arranged facing each other such that the second pivot axis (28) extends, from the second member (16) to the third member (18), centrally through the second axial end (42) of the second member (16) and centrally through the first axial end (46) of the third member (18). 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. 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. 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. 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. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of claims 2 - 9, wherein the first member (14) has a second axial end (58) at the support part (6), and wherein the first member (14) at its second axial end (58) is connected to the support part (6). 11. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to claim 10, wherein the first member (14) at its second axial end (58) is pivotable about a third pivot axis (30) in relation to the support part (6). 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. 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. 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. 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. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure (4) 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. The animal brushing arrangement (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure (4) 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. 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. 19. 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 is an object of the invention to alleviate some of the shortcomings of prior animal brushing arrangement and to provide an improved, or at least an alternative, movement pattern of an animal brushing arrangement. According to one aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by 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 each comprises a first axial end. The first axial end of the first member and the first axial end of the second member are 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. The first axial ends of the first and second members are arranged facing each other such that the first pivot axis extends, from the first member to the second member, centrally through the first axial ends of the first and second members. Since the first axial ends of the first and second members are arranged facing each other such that the first pivot axis extends, from the first member to the second member, centrally through the first axial ends of the first and second members - an alternative movement pattern of the second member in relation to the first member is provided in comparison with prior art solutions. Thereby, an improved, or at least alternative, overall movement pattern of the whole animal brushing arrangement is provided regarding the reach of the brush on an animal body and comfort for said animal during use of the animal brushing arrangement. In prior art brushing arrangements where members of a suspension structure are pivotably connected to each other at e.g. a horizontal pivot axis, which may extend in parallel with the axial ends of the members, e.g. perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the members, the members will have a swinging movement in relation to each other. Namely, if one of members in such prior art solutions is hanging from the pivot axis and is subjected to a lateral force, the member will swing out laterally, like a pendulum, in relation to the other member. In the herein described animal brushing arrangement, the pivoting of the second member about the first pivot axis in relation to the first member will be a rotational motion of the second member with the first pivot axis extending, at least partly, through the second member. More specifically, the second member will be able to pivot around the first pivot axis, i.e. rotate back and forth with the first pivot axis as an axis of rotation, during which said first axial ends will continue to be arranged facing each other. The animal brushing arrangement according to the above-described aspect will provide for a trajectory of the constituent members which differs from prior art solutions where the constituent members mainly swing/pivot in a flat plane in relation to each other. Thus, in corresponding brushing situations, the brush of the herein described brus