IE59665B1 - A fluid dispenser and method of dispensing - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of dipping animals comprises replenishing the dip bath with pesticidal concentrate every nth animal, where n is less than 10 preferably 1. A manual device may be used for this method, comprising a container 4 of concentrate mounted on a support 2 to 6 and having a lever-operated pump 13,14. Alternatively, a dipping crutch (20) is provided with a pump (21) which is actuated automatically on contact with the animal (Figure 6) or by hand (Figure 5). The method allows the pesticide concentration to be maintained approximately constant for the entire dipping process.

Description

The invention relates to a method of, and device for, replenishing dip-baths for animals.

An established method of treating animals, particularly sheep although cattle may also be dipped, to prevent infestation with parasitic and pathogenic organisms is to cause the animal to walk or swim through a dip-bath containing a dilute pesticidal preparation. When a sheep leaves the dip-bath, it takes with it a considerable volume of dip-bath wash, much of which will drain back into the bath. However, many insecticides and acaricides are hydrophobic in nature and as a result are preferentially removed from the wash by the wool grease in the fleece of the sheep. Thus, in such circumstances, the wash draining back into the bath is at a lower strength than that in the bath with the result that the concentration of active chemical in the dip-bath is steadily reduced with the passage of each sheep through the bath.

It is known, for example, from GB-A-1 481 475, to replenish the dip-bath by the addition of water and chemical concentrate to the dip-bath after the passage through the bath of a given number of sheep, namely ten or more. This method suffers from the disadvantage that the sheep do not receive a uniform dose of active chemical. Thus sheep passing through the bath just after addition of the active chemical will receive a high dose of the chemical whereas sheep passing through the bath just prior to addition of fresh active chemical may well receive insufficient active chemical as a result of the stripping phenomenon.

It is also known to replenish a dip-bath by introducing at a constant rate from an adjacent reservoir a pesticidal composition containing a high concentration of active chemical than that in the dip-bath. This method suffers from the disadvantage that a pre-mixing operation is required in order to dilute chemical concentrate to the required concentration. In order to minimise wastage through the preparation of too great a quantity of replenishing mixture, it is necessary to known in advance the number of animals to be dipped. Moreover, where large numbers of animals are to be dipped, the preparation of large volumes of replenishing mixture may necessitate the use of a number of reservoirs. Clearly such an operation is likely to be inconvenient, time-consuming and labour intensive. In addition, if errors are made in diluting the concentrate, the animals will be either overdosed with pesticide or underdosed; the consequences of which will readily be apparent to the skilled man. Furthermore, the concentration in the bath may rise undesirably if there is a long gap during which animals are not passing through the bath.

Particularly in the case of the disease known as scab, which is difficult to eradicate, it is most important that each animal received a very carefully controlled dose of insecticide.

The present invention provides a method of replenishing a dip-bath for animals comprising the addition to the dip-bath of a metered amount of a pesticidal composition with the passage of every nth animal through the said dip-bath, - 4 wherein n is less than 10. n may be 9# Q, 7# q, 5# 4., 3# 2 or 1. Preferably n is less than 5 and most preferably n is 1. The amount of pesticidal composition administered is chosen to coincide with the amount removed by each animal or group of animals as it passes through the dip-bath. Thus an equilibrium is established with the result that the animals receive substantially even doses of pesticide.

The invention further provides a device for use in the method comprising a dip-bath# a reservoir for holding a supply of the pesticidal composition# means operable to expel a metered amount of the composition from the reservoir into the dip-bath with the passage of each animal or group of less than 10 animals through the dip-bath and a support for supporting the reservoir and the expulsion means. The invention further provides a dipping crutch comprising an elongate member having an end adapted to contact animals passing through a dip-bath# a reservoir for a pesticidal composition# and a pump means adapted to allow a metered quantity of the composition to be expelled from the reservoir into the dip-bath when the said end of the elongate member contacts the animal. The devices of the present invention are particularly suitable for dispensing chemical concentrates thereby avoiding the need for a premixing stage and its inherent problems.

The pesticide may be any suitable known pesticide such as an organochlorine (eg lindane)# an organophosphate (eg chlorfenvinphos or diazinon) or a purethroid (eg deltamethrin# cyhalothrin# cypermethrin or permethrin) and is usually in a liquid form# such as an emulsifiable concentrate or dilutable suspension# but could alternatively be a free-flowing granular or powder material.

Four devices according to the invention will now be illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a first device, and Figure 3 is a view of a section of the upper portion of the device along line X-X in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified device similar to that of Figures 1 to 3, in place adjacent an animal dip; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a third device; and Figure 6 is a section of part of a fourth device.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the device has a support frame 1 having an upright backplate 2, conveniently formed from sheet metal, extending at its lower end into a baseplate 3 upon which rests a container 4 which may hold a pesticidal composition. Retaining members 5 and 6 extend between the vertical edges of the backplate 2 to retain the container 4 in an upright position. The backplate is provided with means defining holes 7 in order that the device may be secured, for example through the use of screws or bolts, to an appropriate support. At the upper end of the backplate, a lever arm 8 of open boxed section is attached by way of a pivot 9. The lever arm is adapted to grip the top of a plunger-pump by means of protuberances 10 on the inner surfaces of the lever arm 8, the protuberances being formed conveniently by impressing- the sides of the lever arm.

Located between the container 4 and the backplate, and secured to the backplate, for example by welding or brazing, is a collector pipe 11 having at its upper end an open slot 12 and having at its lower end a means for communicating with the dip-bath, for example a length of connecting pipe or hose.

The container 4, which typically is of a known commercially available variety, and conveniently is disposable, is provided at its upper end with a plunger pump such as the Englass S.C. Falcon pump (available commercially in combination with the container). Such a pump has a plunger button 13 grippable by the protuberances 10 of the lever arm, and a pipe or spout 14 through which any contents of the container may be ejected.

In operation, the lever arm 8 is depressed to cause the plunger button 13 to move downwards thereby causing expulsion of a metered amount of the contents of the container into the collector pipe and hence into the dipbath. Downward movement of the spout 14 is accommodated, by means of the slot 12 in the collector pipe.

Provision can be made for adjusting the volume of pesticidal compositions to be dispensed by employing limiting means; for example means for limiting the travel of the lever arm. Such limiting means may be integral with the container-pump assembly. b The device is also provided with a counting device 15 actuable by the lever arm, for counting the animals passing through the dip-bath.

In an alternative embodiment, the backplate itself is 5 pressed from a sheet of metal and formed with sides to grip the container 4.

Although the present invention is illustrated by one particular embodiment, this should in no way be seen as a limitation of the scope of the invention. For example, although the device according to Figures 1-3 is manually operable, it may be adapted so that the operator uses a pedal or indeed any means which may be moved by any part of his body. The device may be such that the animal, on entering the dip-bath, automatically triggers the dispensing operation. The triggering means may be a flexible wand connected at its base to an electronic switch, the animal entering the dip-bath displacing the wand and thereby actuating the switch. A hinged gate may be used instead of a wand.

Such a device, using a wand, Is illustrated in Figure 4, in which the pump assembly described above is indicated schematically at A mounted on a hollow post P, with the collector pipe 11’ adapted to deliver pesticide into the dip-bath D. A wand W is so placed as to be struck by animals entering the bath down the entry ramp R and levers are arranged inside the post P so that the pump is operated as described above.

As alternative triggering means, also shown in Figure 4, takes the form of a footplate F depressed by the animal immediately before entering the dip-bath. A light beam and photoelectric cell arrangement placed at the entrance to the dip-bath is a further alternative.

In a further embodiment, the container containing the pesticidal composition is a deformable tube formed of metal foil or plastics material, the device having a lever arm bearing a roller such that in operation, depression of the lever arm causes the roller to impact against and cam along the surface of the deformable tube to cause pesticidal composition to be expelled from the tube. In order to ensure that a constant dose of pesticidal composition is expelled, the movement of the lever arm is indexed by appropriate indexing means. Depression of the lever arm may be caused manually or by means of an electric motor or the like. A peristaltic pump may alternatively be used.

In the case of a free-flowing granular or powdered composition, the action of the user’s hand or the wand or the like may be to open an orifice for a predetermined period to allow a metered quantity of the composition to flow out.

A still further embodiment provides a dipping crutch device comprising a crutch portion to engage against the body of an animal, a reservoir for holding a pesticidal composition, and a manually operable trigger for causing expulsion of the pesticidal composition through an outlet into the bath. In operation, an animal such as a sheep will be contacted with the crutch portion, usually in such a way as to force the animal beneath the surface of the dip-bath wash. As the animal is contacted, the operator actuates the trigger mechanism to expel the liquid composition onto the sheep and into the surrounding dip-bath liquid.

A dipping crutch device of this type is shown schematically in Figure 5 in which the crutch portion is labelled 20, the trigger mechanism 21, the reservoir for holding the liquid composition 22 and the outlet for the liquid composition is labelled 23.

Referring to Figure 6, in an alternative embodiment of the dipping crutch, the triggering device, rather than being directly manually operable, instead takes the form of a pump which is operated when the crutch contacts the animal being dipped. The pump may be an optic type pump-unit 30 analogous to the type used in dispensing alcoholic drinks. The pump unit 30 is placed at or towards the end of the crutch (not shown) and comprises a cylindrical chamber 31 for the pesticide, which chamber may be kept filled through a port 32 from a remote reservoir via a non-return valve (not shown) . The chamber 31 is bounded to the side and below by a container 33 and above by a piston 34 which slides within the container 33. An outlet 35 in the lower surface of the container is closed by a valve member 36 which is fixed in relation to the piston 34. When the container 33 is pressed against an animal, the container slides upwardly in relation to the piston 34 and valve member 36 and thus the composition is urged out of the outlet 35. An annular abutment 37 in the chamber limits the amount of composition expelled. To release composition further away from the animal, either the pump unit can be located further up the crutch, with the container 33 being provided, with a rigid extension to contact the animal, or a tube may conduct expelled composition away from the outlet 35» By placing the outlet of the pump closer to or further away from the end of the crutch which contacts the animal, there is a greater or lesser chance of providing a pour-on type of treatment, that is to say one in which a concentrated pesticidal composition is released directly onto the animal. Depending on the circumstances, this may or may not be desirable.

A manual lock may be provided so that ths pump does not 5 operate, enabling the crutch to be used several times on the same animal without releasing too much pesticide.

The devices of the invention generally will be employed in conjunction with a means for supplying water to the dip-bath since, clearly, animals passing through the dip-bath will remove water as well as pesticide. The water supply may be continuous or intermittent and may be regulated by any method known in the art, for example by means of a ballvalve located in the dip-bath or a side chamber thereof.

Claims (12)

1. A method of replenishing a dip-bath for animals with a pesticidal composition, which method comprises the addition to the dip-bath of a metered amount of the pesticidal composition with the passage of every nth animal through the dip-bath, wherein n is less than 10»

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein n is less than 5.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein n is 1.

4. A device for use in the method of claim 1 comprising a dip-bath, a reservoir for holding a supply of the pesticidal composition, means operable to expel a metered amount of the composition from the reservoir into the dip-bath with the passage of each animal or group of less than 10 animals through the dip-bath and a support for supporting the reservoir and the expulsion means.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the expelling means is operable manually.

6. A device according to claim 4 wherein the expelling means is operable automatically as each animal passes through the dip.

7. A device according to any one of claims 4 to β comprising a frame for supporting the reservoir, the reservoir having pump and a nozzle, through which the pesticidal composition may be ejected; a collector tube attached to the supporting frame, the tube being so aligned as to be able to receive through an opening a quantity of the pesticidal composition and being provided with a further opening adapted to permit discharge of the composition into the dip-bath; and a lever arm pivotally mounted on the frame, wherein, in operation, the pump is actuated by depression of the lever arm to cause a metered amount of the pesticidal composition to be expelled through the nossle into the collector tube and hence into the dip-bath.

8. - A dipping crutch comprising an elongate member having an end adapted to contact animals passing through a dip-bath, a reservoir for a pesticidal composition, and a pump means adapted to allow a metered quantity of the composition to be expelled from the reservoir into the dip-bath when the said end of the elongate member contacts the animal.

9. A crutch according to claim 8 wherein, the pump means is operated manually.

10. A crutch according to claim 8 wherein the pump means is operated automatically when the said elongate member contacts the animal. end. of the 11. A device substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figures accompanying drawings. 1-3 of the 12. A device substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figures 1-3 as modified by Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

11. 13, A dipping crutch device substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

12. 14. A dipping crutch device substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figure β of the accompanying drawings .