Geraldy Pigeon Transporter

Questions & Answers

CCF Geraldy Unit | General Operation, Airflow, Plenums & Fans

Source-based reference guide

Reviewed by Truck Committee

Version 5.0

1. General Geraldy Unit

Q: What is the Geraldy transporter designed to achieve?

A: The design focuses on pigeon welfare, fresh-air and oxygen supply, feeding and watering, a central corridor, and controlled liberation.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 10-11.

Q: What is the purpose of the central corridor?

A: The central corridor supports ventilation, feeding and watering and provides access to the internal basket and drinking systems.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 10, 37-43.

Q: What basket configuration is documented for the CCF unit?

A: The recommended configuration uses 240 mm-high baskets with liberator quarters. The presentation documents capacities of 6,944 pigeons at 31 birds per basket for Friday-night basketing, or 6,272 pigeons at 28 birds per basket for Thursday-night basketing.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 12-13.

Q: How does the watering system operate?

A: The proposed system uses two water tanks and two pumps for redundancy. Full-basket-length drinkers are located along the central corridor and can be rotated for filling and draining.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 37-43.

2. How the Air System Works

Q: What is the Geraldy ventilation system designed to achieve?

A: The system is designed to provide approximately 70-100 air changes per hour. Fresh air is supplied to the baskets to create positive air pressure, helping move used air out of the trailer.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 14-15.

Q: What is the intended airflow path?

A: Fresh outside air enters at the front air catcher, travels down the vertical fresh-air plenum, is distributed to the basket rows and into the void above each basket, and used air then exits through the designated exhaust paths.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 14-22.

Q: Where does fresh air enter the transporter?

A: Fresh air enters through the air catcher located outside at the front/top of the transporter. Fresh air can enter via the skylights and hallway fans (hallway fans are to support the main air system (Vertical Air Plenums) not replace it – supplementary system.  

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, p. 16.

Q: What is the vertical air plenum?

A: The vertical air plenum is the main fresh-air distribution chamber inside the front wall of the trailer. Air from the front air catcher travels down this plenum before being distributed to the basket rows.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, p. 17.

Q: Which direction should air travel through the vertical plenum?

A: Fresh air should travel from the front air catcher down the vertical plenum and then into the basket distribution system.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 16-18.

Q: Where is fresh air delivered at the baskets?

A: Geraldy documents fresh-air distribution to all rows of baskets and into the void above each basket.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 18-19.

Q: Does the Geraldy air-plenum system cater for the CCF configuration where two trailer sections are operated as one combined transporter?

A: Yes - the supplied Geraldy/CCF design material treats the ventilation system as part of the CCF transporter configuration itself. The design routes fresh air from the front air catcher through the vertical plenum, distributes it to all rows and above each basket, and uses the plenum supply fans plus defined exhaust paths to ventilate the complete transporter. The fact that the CCF unit is arranged as a combined/two-section configuration does not, by itself, mean the plenum system is unsuitable. The relevant question is whether the installed system is operating as Geraldy designed across the full configuration.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 14-22 and 54.

3. Fans - Supply vs Exhaust

Q: What do the three fans in the fresh-air plenum do?

A: They are supply-air fans. Their function is to accelerate fresh-air supply through the plenum toward the basket distribution system when required.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, p. 15.

Q: Which direction should the plenum supply fans move air?

A: They should assist the documented fresh-air path: outside air into the air catcher, through/down the plenum and onward toward the baskets.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 14-18.

Q: Does Geraldy reference fans in the central corridor or hallway?

A: Yes. optional roof fans in the central corridor for extreme outdoor temperatures.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, p. 15.

Q: Are the central corridor / hallway roof fans supply or exhaust fans?

A: Supply. Geraldy states that the roof fans in the central corridor supply air pulling outside air into the hallway.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, p. 52.

Q: Are the hallway roof fans the same as the three plenum fans?

A: No. They perform different functions: the three plenum fans provide fresh-air SUPPLY toward the baskets, while the central-corridor roof fans provide powered supply when under extreme heat conditions and work to compliment the air plenums, not replace them.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 15 and 52.

4. Used-Air Exhaust Paths

Q: How does used air leave the transporter?

A: Geraldy identifies roller-shutter slat vents, skylight roof vents and rear-wall ventilation grilles as used-air exhaust paths.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 20-22 and 52.

Q: What do the roller-shutter slits do?

A: They form part of the used-air exhaust system and allow used air to be expelled through the roller-shutter sides.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, p. 20.

Q: Are the roof skylights part of the ventilation system?

A: Yes. The skylights also act as roof vents

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 21-23.

5. Operating Configuration

Q: How should the transporter be configured while driving?

A: The Geraldy Operation Manual specifies skylights open toward the backside, shutters on slits, and the air-ventilation system completely on if very hot.

Reference: Geraldy Operation Manual, operating-condition instructions.

Q: Should the shutters be completely closed while travelling?

A: No. The supplied Geraldy Operation Manual specifies the shutters in the slit position while driving.

Reference: Geraldy Operation Manual, operating-condition instructions.

Q: How should the transporter be configured while stationary/loading?

A: The manual specifies skylights completely open and shutters completely open, with the air-ventilation system completely on if it is very hot.

Reference: Geraldy Operation Manual, operating-condition instructions.

Q: How should the transporter be configured at the liberation point?

A: The manual specifies skylights completely open and shutters completely open, with the air-ventilation system completely on if it is very hot.

Reference: Geraldy Operation Manual, operating-condition instructions.

6. Airflow Testing & Verification

Q: How do we verify the airflow system is operating effectively?

A: Use inspection and anemometer testing to confirm that fresh air flows through the plenum and reaches baskets across both sides and all areas of the transporter. Investigate material weak zones, blocked paths, failed fans or significant differences between comparable locations.

Reference: CCF Geraldy Airflow Test Manual methodology, based on Geraldy airflow design, pp. 14-22 of the CCF presentation.

Q: How should the plenum fan direction be checked?

A: Compare basket supply airflow with the plenum fans OFF and ON. Activating the supply fans should increase or support fresh-air delivery through the plenum toward the basket distribution points.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, p. 15; test method is diagnostic.

Q: How should the hallway roof fan direction be checked?

A: With the roof fans operating, verify airflow from the central corridor downward through the corridor. This checks the documented supply function.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, p. 52; test method is diagnostic.

Q: Why should both sides and all levels of the transporter be tested?

A: The Geraldy design is intended to distribute fresh air to the basket rows and above each basket. Testing both sides and multiple levels is necessary to identify local restrictions or imbalances.

Reference: CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, pp. 18-19.

Source Documents

1. Geraldy Operation Manual supplied with the CCF Geraldy transporter documentation.

2. CCF Euro Pigeon Transporter - visit to Geraldy Germany, Stephen Eggleton, Chair - CCF Welfare Working Group, presentation dated 27 April 2015 (59 pages).

Appendix Images