Arrangement for covering a liquid surface in a container, as well as a method for manufacturing a floating body

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement for covering a liquid surface in a container, wherein a number of individual floating bodies are present in said container, which floating bodies cover the liquid at or near the surface thereof by at least substantially abutting against each other. The present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a floating body for use in the aforesaid arrangement.

1 . An arrangement for covering a liquid surface in a container, comprising a liquid-filled slurry pit and a number of individual floating bodies, which floating bodies cover the liquid surface by at least substantially abutting against each other, wherein the floating bodies are configured to be rotatable in the liquid for discharging manure being deposited thereon to the underlying liquid.  
   
   
       2 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the floating bodies are spherical in shape.  
   
   
       3 . An arrangement according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the diameter of the floating bodies ranges between 10 and 4 C cm.  
   
   
       4 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the specific weight of the floating bodies ranges between 0.4 and 0.6.  
   
   
       5 . An arrangement according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the diameter of the floating bodies ranges between 20 and 30 cm.  
   
   
       6 . An arrangement according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the floating bodies are made of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of HOPE, MDPE and LDPE.  
   
   
       7 . An arrangement according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the floating bodies are made of HDPE.  
   
   
       8 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the floating bodies are present at or near the surface of the liquid in a slurry pit for the purpose of reducing the formation of vapours rising from the manure.  
   
   
       9 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the floating bodies have a closed outer surface.  
   
   
       10 . A method for manufacturing a floating body for use in an arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , characterized in that two identical halves, which halves jointly form the floating body, are connected under a liquid surface, enclosing a part of said liquid therein, wherein the two halves Interlock via a tongue and groove joint and are durably bonded together through the use of an adhesive.  
   
   
       11 . A method for manufacturing a floating body for use in an arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , characterized in that a hollow floating body in which an opening is present, is provided with a filler by supplying the filler via said opening and subsequently sealing the opening.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , characterised in that said filler is a liquid, in particular water.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the floating bodies are made of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of 1-IDPE, MOPE and LDPE —   
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , characterised in that the floating bodies are made of HDPE.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the circumferential side of the floating body is provided with a layer of plastic material.  
   
   
       16 . A floating body for use in an arrangement for covering a liquid surface in a container, comprising a liquid-filled slurry pit and a number of individual floating bodies, which floating bodies cover the liquid surface by at least substantially abutting against each other, wherein the floating bodies are configured to be rotatable in the liquid for discharging manure being deposited thereon to the underlying liquid.  
   
   
       17 . A floating body according to  claim 16 , characterised in that the diameter of the floating body ranges between 10 and 40 cm.  
   
   
       18 . A floating body according to  claim 16 , characterized in that the specific weight of the floating body ranges between 0.4 and 0.6.  
   
   
       19 . A floating body according to  claim 16 , characterized in that the floating body is made of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of HDPE, MOPE and LDFE.  
   
   
       20 . A floating body according to  claim 16 , characterized in that the floating body has a closed outer surface.  
   
   
       21 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said floating bodies are spherical in shape with a diameter ranging between 10 and 40 cm., with a specific weight range between 0.4 and 0.6, and made of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of HDPE, MDPE, and LDPE.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the floating bodies are made of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of HDPE, MDPE and LDPE.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the circumferential side of the floating body is provided with a layer of plastic material.  
   
   
       24 . A floating body according to  claim 17 , wherein the specific weight of the floating body ranges between 0.4 and 0.6.  
   
   
       25 . A floating body according to  claim 24 , wherein the floating body is made of plastic material selected from the group consisting of HDPE, MDPE, and LDPE.