Abstract: A scraper for removing debris from the floor of an animal stall includes a central frame member oriented generally parallel to the direction of movement of the scraper assembly and a cross frame member integral with the central frame member, the cross frame member having opposed first and second ends. First and second beams are pivotally supported on the first and second frame member ends and are generally parallel to the cross frame member. First and second scraper blades are pivotally supported, respectively, by the first and second beams, the blades being pivotal from a vertical orientation adapted for scraping a floor surface during advancement of the blade assembly in a first direction and pivotal to elevated, non-scraping orientation for retraction of the assembly in a direction opposite from the scraping direction. Preferably, a pair of end scrapers are supported by the outer ends of each of the two beams and hingedly connected thereto by a vertical hinge.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing materials including a receptacle for containing and processing fluid materials such as animal feed. A frame supports the receptacle on a base surface. A weighing mechanism supports the frame and includes at least one member yieldable proportionally in response to the weight of materials contained in the receptacle. An arm connected to the yieldable member is movable in response to its movement. An enclosed collapsible container or bellows having circumferentially corrugated cylindrically-shaped sidewalls and first and second closed ends has a first end being supported by a fixed support. The second end is aligned with, and movable in response to, movement of the arm. A conduit in fluid flow communication with the interior of the collapsible container is at its other end visually transparent, vertically aligned, open to the atmosphere, and contains a liquid.

Abstract: Pumping apparatus for conveying animal waste from a livestock housing to a remote storage area includes a hopper with one downwardly inclined hopper surface with the other surfaces of the hopper being vertical and in which the inclined surface supports an agitating plate which oscillates and minimizes bridging of straw across the hopper walls. The agitating plate is oscillated by a motor driven crank. Spray tubes arranged around the vertical and inclined walls provide a water curtain to further minimize sticking and bridging of the manure in the hopper. Other features of the invention include a reducing cone to reduce the diameter of the pumping chamber to that of the discharge pipe with the reducing cone provided with check valves to prevent back flow of manure from the storage area through the pump and into the livestock housing when the pump is not in use.

Abstract: 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. 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 prevent reverse flow of manure into the hopper from the storage pit.