Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to animal handliny equipment,
and has as an object to provide a mechanism to assist in
controlling animals passing along a pa~sageway.
According to one broad aspect, the invention relates
to an animal control mechanism for controlling the movement of
animals through a passageway, compr:ising a control member
rotatable about a horizontal axis extending transversely
between the sides of the passageway at a height to allow the
animal to pass under the axis, the control member comprising
a plurality of limbs extending from the axis so that on xotation
of the control member successive limbs pass through a depending
position in the path of animal~ passing along the passageway,
means for restricting the rotation so that an animal can pass
the control mechanism in one direction on rotation of the !~
control member but be prevented from ret~ning by ~he Ij;
obstruction of a depending limb of the member, each limb of the
cojntrol member having a pair of side frames which are divergent
in the direction of advance of the limb so that the side frames
of a depending limb wedge onto the rump of an animal and thereby
centrally locate it.
The control member may be adapted or unidirectional
rotation by means of a pawl and ratchet device. This device
may be releasable to allow rotation in either direction should
the occasion arise.
The mechanism preferably includes means for manually
rotating the control member. This may for example comprise a
cranked handle, a lever or a wheel.
In ord~r that the invention may be more clearly
understood, ~arious embodiments, given by way of example only,
w~ll n~w be described with reference to the accompanying !
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drawings, wh~rein~ 732~
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a cattle handling : '
; unit embodying one form of the invention,
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Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an alternative form
of control member~
Fig, 3 shows a cross-sectional plan view on the line
III-III of Fig.-2,
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a third ~orm of
control member, and
Fig. 5 shows a diagrammatic plan view of the control
member of Fig. 4 in use.
Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings; the cattle
handling unit comprises a parallel-sided race made up ~rom
hurdles 10 interconnected through an intermediate arch member
12. At the end of the race is arranged a crush gate 14 for
trapping the,neck of an animal in the race.
An animal control mechanism is provided in the end
part of the race, at a distance from the crush gate which
roughly coincides with the rear end of an animal whose head , ' '
is through the crush gate. The mechanism has a control
member 15 comprising a pair o~ opposite limbs 18 of tubular
steel frame construction and a central axle 20 by means of
which it is rotatably mounted to bars 22 clamped to the top
rails of the two hurdles forming that part o~ the race. The
positions of the bars 22 can be adjusted along the hurdles,
and the height can be varied by clamping them onto lower bars
of the hurdles. A pawl 24 on one of the bars 22 co-operates
with a ratchet 26 on the axle 20 to allow rotation of the '
control member only in one direction (as indicated by the
arrow 'A'). Rotation can be effected manually by means of a ,,~ ~
wheel 28 which can be mounted directly on the end of the axle '
20, but, in the embodiment shown, is rotatably mounted
alongside the axle 20 and connected therewith by a chain 29
trained around sprockets 31j33 on the axle 20 and the wheel
28 respectively, to effect a reduction gearing in the
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transmission between the ~heel and control member. The pawl
can be lifted, if desired, by means of a handle 21.
In operation, the animals are driven down the race,
and when the first animal reaches the control mechanism an
operator rotates the wheel 28 to bring the limbs 18 to -the
horizontal position thus allowing the animal to pass under
the axle to~ards the crush gate. As the animal passes, the
operator rotates the handle further, bringing a limb 18 down
behind the animal, thus preventing any rearward movement by
the animal. ~en the animal has been dealt with and
released from the crush gate, the wheel 28 is rotated and the
next animal allowed through. If desired at any time, ths
pa~l 24 can be lifted to allow the wheel to be rotated in the
other direction.
As an additional and desirable feature, a~ shown in
Fig. 1, a freely rotatable transverse roller 30 may be -
provided at the end of each limb 18, rather than a fixed
transverse bar. l!~en the animal walks under the horizontal ~ ;
control member its back may contact the end of one or both
limbs, and the rollers by rotating provide the minimum of
resistance to movement and the least risk of grazing the ;
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animal. Furthermore, Fig. 1 shows how the transverse bar
at each end of the control member may be adjustably mounted
to the side frames of the control member so as to be movable
towards and away from the axle 20 to vary the effective
length of each limb. Rods 19 at each end of the transverse
member are slidable in tubular side frame members 17. The
rods have a number of apertures which can be selectively
en~aged by pins 15 or the like removably extending through
apertures in the side frame members.
Figs. 2 and 3 show a modification to the control member
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of ~ig. 1. The side frames incorporate additional frame
elements to assist in locating against the rump o~ the
animal being controlled. Each :limb of the contro~ member
has a pair of forwardly projecting frame elements 40 and a
pair of rea~ardly projecting frame elements 42. The frame
elements 40 are slightly divergent and the frame elements
42 are appreciably convergent, as is clearly seen in Fig. 3.
The depending limb of the control member can thus locate
better against the rump 44 of an animal, and can accommodate
animals of different sizes. This can be further
facilitated by making the side frame members pivotable about
the longitudinal axis of the frame member 17. The amount of
pivot1ng can be limited to about 10 or 15 , and allows
the side frames to adjust automatically to the different
~izes and shapes of rump which occur in, for example, cows.
The animal's rump becomes lightly wedged between the side
frames, and is then more securely located.
Figs. 4 and 5 show an alternative form of control
member, having essentially the same functional ~eatures
as the control member of ~igs. 2 and 3. A pair of
parallel generally rectangular side frames 46 each have a
central longitudinal frame member 48 between which extend
the central axle 20 and the rotatable transverse end
members 30. The transverse members ~0 are joined to their
respective frame member~ 48 through rod~ 19, as in the
previous embodiments~ so that they can be adjusted. The
side frames 46 are mounted to the frame members 48 by
rotatable collars 50 so as to be pivo-table over a
limited range of movement to locate against the rump
44 of the animal, as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 also
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shows -that -the side frames 46 need not be planar, but can be
angled about the central frame rnernbers 43 to provide a better
fit against the rump of -the animal,
The mechanism of the present invention can be mounted
in the entrance or exit or both of animal handling crates or
animal weighing crates to control the entry and/or exit of
animals. Instead of a pawl and ratchet, the control member
could be locked by ~ her means, for example a removable pin
inserted in a sl~t in a fixed part of the struc-ture so as to
engage the control member and either prevent or limit i-ts
rotation~
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