| 摘要 |
<p>A pumping system for conveying animal waste from a livestock housing to a remote storage area includes a hopper which is conveniently located in a pit adjacent to a chain driven barn cleaner or the like, a vertically oriented upwardly open pumping chamber in communication with the hopper and a hydraulically operated ram which travels vertically through the hopper into the pumping chamber to force the waste through a reducer and discharge pipe to a storage pit or area located remote from the livestock housing. The ram is in the form of a hollow cylinder with a ram head at one end and open at the other end. A hydraulic cylinder extends into the cylinder with a piston rod connected to the ram head. The other end of a hydraulic cylinder is pivotally supported to a frame. The use of a vertical ram eliminates the need for liquid seals required for the ram in a horizontal orientation, and reduces wear on sealing surfaces, requires less horsepower, and electric controls are safely located outside the pit. Other features include a vacuum relief valve located in the pumping chamber or ram to release the vacuum on the return stroke of the ram and thus, reduce the power required to move the ram to its retracted position. The vacuum relief valve also eliminates the need in some installations for a check valve to pre vent reverse flow of manure into the hopper from the storage pit. For installations requiring check valves, valves operated by hydraulic cylinders are provided. A hydraulically actuated agitator prevents straw bridges from forming between the hopper walls which can clog the hopper and prevent manure flow into the pumping chamber.</p> |
