Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
HEAD GATE FOR A CATTLE CONTAINMENT CHUTE
This invention relates to a head gate for a cattle containment chute
where cattle are confined to pass in a row through a chute with a head gate at
the end
and to a head gate arrangement which can make it easier for the handler to
control
movement of the animal in the chute and to better contain the animal when
engaged
by the head gate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Squeeze chutes are well known and conventionally include a generally
channel shaped frame structure having a head end for receiving a head of an
animal
to be confined, two sides each for extending along a respective side of the
animal to
be confined, a tail end remote from the head end. A head gate assembly at the
head
end is operable to move from a release position to a closed position in which
the neck
of the animal is grasped for confinement of the animal. In some cases, a
squeeze side
panel is arranged along one side or both sides and is operable in a pivoting
action to
squeeze the animal from one side onto the other side panel so that the body of
the
animal is also confined. A tail gate section is often provided at the rear end
to close
behind the animal as it enters the squeeze chute.
The head gate typically comprises a pair of upstanding squeeze bars
with a spacing between them sufficient to receive the neck of the animal
without
damage but insufficient for the head to be pulled out of the bars and
insufficient for the
animal to move forward. Each of the upstanding squeeze bars forms part of a
head
gate door which pivots about a vertical axis parallel to the upstanding
squeeze bar
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
2
and spaced outwardly of the bar. In the closed holding position the axis and
the
upstanding squeeze bars lie in a common plane transverse to the chute with the
upstanding squeeze bars at their point of closest approach. In a set portion
the bar
pivots so that it moves along the chute toward the incoming animal with the
frame
inclined out of the common plane thus increasing the space between the bars.
Thus to catch the cattle by the head, it is common to have a head gate
that locks by itself as the cattle try to walk through it. When set in the set
catch position,
the bars are turned toward the approaching cattle. The approaching animal will
see
an opening sufficient for its head and try to walk through. The head will fit
through the
opening, but as the animal tries to walk forward its shoulders hit the bars
and the bars
move forward with the shoulders until the bars hit a latch at a top of the
head gate
locking them in the catch or closed position in which the upstanding squeeze
bars lie
in the common plane. Normally head gate doors have a handle projecting out of
the
frame of one of the bars to one side of the chute which allows a worker
standing to
is that side to push the handle to pivot the frame about its vertical axis
that helps pivot
the head gate to be closed.
Head gates have been manufactured in this construction for many years
and many manufacturers have arrangements which operate effectively in this
manner.
It will be appreciated that the animals concerned are very large and strong
with great
ability to do damage to themselves and the worker. It is thus highly desirable
that even
highly recalcitrant animals are trapped in the head gate as quickly and simply
as
possible with little possibility to back up before being trapped.
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
3
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The arrangement described herein provide a number of improvements
over convention head gates.
A first improvement relates to a quick width adjustment where the
upstanding squeeze bars can be adjusted relative to the respective head gate
door so
as to adjust the point of closest approach to accommodate animals of different
sizes.
this is particularly important where the animals approaching the head gate are
of
different sizes to that the operator can quickly change the spacing as the
animal is in
it approach to properly trap smaller animals while avoiding potential injury
to the
animal if the spacing is too small.
In accordance with this important feature, there is provided an animal
confinement apparatus comprising:
a generally channel shaped frame structure having a head end for
receiving a head of an animal to be confined, two sides each for extending
along a
is respective side of the animal to be confined, a tail end remote from the
head end;
a head gate assembly at the head end operable to move from an open
position to a closed position in which the neck of the animal is grasped for
confinement
thereof; the head gate assembly comprising:
a support frame mounted on the frame structure at the head end;
a pair of head gate doors;
each head gate door having a respective upstanding squeeze bar
for cooperating with a respective upstanding squeeze bar of the other of the
doors to
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
4
trap the neck of the animal therebetween;
each head gate door being mounted on a hinge support member
carried on the support frame for pivotal movement of the door and its
respective
upstanding squeeze bar about a respective pivot axis generally parallel to the
respective upstanding squeeze bar and spaced outwardly toward a respective
side of
the support frame;
each head gate door comprising an upper rail and a lower rail
each connected to the hinge support member for pivotal movement about the
pivot
axis;
the head gate doors being movable from a closed position in
which the respective upstanding squeeze bars lie in a common plane including
the
pivot axes to a rearward open position in which the respective upstanding
squeeze
bars are positioned on a side of the common plane facing the tail end to allow
the
head of the animal to enter and to a forward open position in which the
respective
is
upstanding squeeze bars are positioned on a side of the common plane opposite
the
tail end to allow the animal to depart;
the upstanding squeeze bar of each head gate door being
mounted at an upper end on the respective upper rail for adjustment movement
toward
and away from the pivot axis;
each head gate door having an adjustment device for causing
said adjustment movement comprising:
an eccentric crank mounted on the upper rail rotatable about a
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
5
crank axis transverse to the upper rail;
an upper link connecting the eccentric crank to the upstanding
squeeze bar where rotation of the eccentric crank about the crank axis causes
the
upstanding squeeze bar to move toward and away from the pivot axis in said
adjustment movement;
and a manually operable lever for driving rotation of the eccentric
crank around the crank axis.
The eccentric crank operated by the lever therefore can rapidly and
immediately adjust the bar of each door between two positions, thus providing
three
separate spacings defined by the bars being both in the closest positions, one
being
moved outwardly and both being in the widest positions. This quick adjustment
can
allow the skilled operator to select from the three positions that which is
most suitable
for the approaching animal so that the animal is properly confined without
risk of injury
to an animal which is too small or too large for the selected spacing.
According to a second definition of this arrangement there is provided
an animal confinement apparatus comprising:
a generally channel shaped frame structure having a head end for
receiving a head of an animal to be confined, two sides each for extending
along a
respective side of the animal to be confined, a tail end remote from the head
end;
a head gate assembly at the head end operable to move from an open
position to a closed position in which the neck of the animal is grasped for
confinement
thereof; the head gate assembly comprising:
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
6
a support frame mounted on the frame structure at the head end;
a pair of head gate doors;
each head gate door having a respective upstanding squeeze bar
for cooperating with a respective upstanding squeeze bar of the other of the
doors to
trap the neck of the animal therebetween;
each head gate door being mounted on a hinge support member
carried on the support frame for pivotal movement of the door and its
respective
upstanding squeeze bar about a respective pivot axis generally parallel to the
respective upstanding squeeze bar and spaced outwardly toward a respective
side of
the support frame;
each head gate door comprising an upper rail and a lower rail
each connected to the hinge support member for pivotal movement about the
pivot
axis;
the head gate doors being movable from a closed position in
is which the respective upstanding squeeze bars lie in a common plane
including the
pivot axes to a rearward open position in which the respective upstanding
squeeze
bars are positioned on a side of the common plane facing the tail end to allow
the
head of the animal to enter and to a forward open position in which the
respective
upstanding squeeze bars are positioned on a side of the common plane opposite
the
tail end to allow the animal to depart;
the upstanding squeeze bar of each head gate door being
mounted at an upper end on the respective upper rail for adjustment movement
toward
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
7
and away from the pivot axis;
each head gate door having an adjustment device for causing
said adjustment movement comprising:
a manually operable lever movable between first and
second positions;
a latch arrangement which latches said lever in said first
and second positions;
and a link connection connecting the lever to the
upstanding squeeze bar where movement of the lever causes the upstanding
squeeze
bar to move toward and away from the pivot axis in said adjustment movement.
Preferably there is provided therefore a latch arrangement for locating
the lever in at least two adjustment positions of maximum and minimum spacing
from
the pivot axis.
Preferably the upstanding squeeze bar of each head gate door is
is .. mounted at a lower end on the respective lower rail for adjustment
movement toward
and away from the pivot axis; wherein each head gate door has a lower link
mounted
at the lower rail where causes the lower end of the upstanding squeeze bar to
move
toward and away from the pivot axis in said adjustment movement and wherein
the
manually operable lever includes a coupling for driving rotation
simultaneously of the
upper and lower links.
The eccentric crank arrangement is one preferred way in which a
rotation of the lever causes a simple quick linear adjustment of the position
of the
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
8
squeeze bar. However other arrangements can be used.
Using this arrangement, adjustment can take place in some
embodiments in as little as 2 seconds allowing the worker to adjust for the
actual
approaching animal in the stream of animals rather than to set up in advance
which is
necessary in prior art devices where adjustment can take up to several
minutes.
Preferably the upstanding squeeze bar of each head gate door is
mounted at a lower end on the respective lower rail for adjustment movement
toward
and away from the pivot axis; wherein each head gate door has a lower link
mounted
at the lower rail where rotation of the eccentric crank about the crank axis
causes the
lower end of the upstanding squeeze bar to move toward and away from the pivot
axis
in said adjustment movement and wherein the manually operable lever includes a
coupling for driving rotation simultaneously of the upper and lower links. In
this
arrangement, preferably the coupling comprises a bar generally parallel to the
upstanding squeeze bar.
Preferably the crank axis is upstanding so as to be generally parallel to
the upstanding squeeze bar.
Preferably the manually operable lever includes an upstanding arm or
handle allowing it to be easily grasped and which cooperates with a thumb
operated
latch on a rail of the respective head gate door parallel to and above the
upper rail. In
this way the operator can each up to the handle and quickly release it from
its latch
using thumb pressure and crank it around to a second position lying along the
upper
rail where it is engaged by a second latch. This avoids the use of
conventional
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
9
telescopic tubes and latching pins which are very slow and cumbersome.
Thus preferably the manually operable lever cooperates with first and
second latches on a rail of the respective head gate door parallel to the
upper rail and
the manually operable lever is movable between first and second positions
extending
longitudinal of the upper rail and cooperates in said first and second
positions with first
and second latches on a rail of the respective head gate door parallel to the
upper rail.
A second improvement disclosed herein relates to a neck sweep bar
which is mounted on one of the head gate doors to move across in front of the
associated squeeze bar so as sweep the head and front part of the neck of the
animal
across to one side to better expose one side of the neck and head for
treatment for
example by injection or for tagging.
In accordance with this important feature disclosed herein, there is
provided an animal confinement apparatus comprising:
a generally channel shaped frame structure having a head end for
is
receiving a head of an animal to be confined, two sides each for extending
along a
respective side of the animal to be confined, a tail end remote from the head
end;
a head gate assembly at the head end operable to move from an open
position to a closed position in which the neck of the animal is grasped for
confinement
thereof; the head gate assembly comprising:
a support frame mounted on the frame structure at the head end;
a pair of head gate doors;
each head gate door having a respective upstanding squeeze bar
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
io
for cooperating with a respective upstanding squeeze bar of the other of the
doors to
trap the neck of the animal therebetween;
each head gate door being mounted on a hinge support member
carried on the support frame for pivotal movement of the door and its
respective
upstanding squeeze bar about a respective pivot axis generally parallel to the
respective upstanding squeeze bar and spaced outwardly toward a respective
side of
the support frame;
each head gate door comprising an upper rail and a lower rail
each connected to the hinge support member for pivotal movement about the
pivot
axis;
the head gate doors being movable from a closed position in
which the respective upstanding squeeze bars lie in a common plane including
the
pivot axes to a first open position in which the respective upstanding squeeze
bars
are positioned on a side of the common plane facing the tail end to allow the
head of
is the animal to enter and to a second open position in which the
respective upstanding
squeeze bars are positioned on a side of the common plane opposite the tail
end to
allow the animal to depart;
and an upstanding neck sweep bar mounted on a respective one of the
head gate doors at a position in front of the head gate door and movable
relative
thereto from a retracted position to one side of the respective upstanding
squeeze bar
of the respective head gate door to an operating position forward of the
respective
upstanding squeeze bar of the head gate and spaced across the head gate to a
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
11
greater distance than the respective upstanding squeeze bar of the respective
head
gate door so as to engage the neck of the animal in front of the respective
upstanding
squeeze bar of the respective head gate door and to turn the neck and head to
a side
opposite the respective head gate door;
a linkage mounting the neck sweep bar on the frame structure for pivotal
movement between the retracted and extended positions;
and a manually operable lever for causing said pivotal movement of the
linkage and thus the neck sweep bar.
Preferably the linkage includes a latch to hold the neck sweep bar at a
plurality of positions relative to the respective head gate door. The latch
can comprise
a simple sliding friction lock which is infinitely adjustable to hold the neck
sweep bar
at the positions and can include a manually release to allow the neck sweep
bar return
to its retracted position when the animal is ready for release. It will be
appreciated that
the close confinement of the animal and particularly the head and neck acts to
reduce
stress leading to uncontained thrashing movements which can interfere with the
treatment and particularly case broken injection needles which become embedded
in
the meat after slaughter.
Preferably the neck sweep bar is mounted for pivotal movement about
the hinge support member of the respective head gate door and preferably there
is
provided a pivot link connected to the respective head gate door to guide
movement
of the neck sweep bar in an arc from a position to one side of the squeeze bar
around
in a sweeping action to a position aligned with and in front of the squeeze
bar and
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
12
beyond the squeeze bar to push the head and neck to one side as required.
Preferably the neck sweep bar cooperates with a neck holding bar on
the other one of the head gate doors where the neck holding bar is located in
front of
the upstanding squeeze bar of the other of the head gate doors. Preferably the
neck
holding bar pivots relative to the upstanding squeeze bar of the other one of
the head
gate doors to a deployed position from a retracted position closer to the
pivot axis.
This avoids a situation where the space between the squeeze bars appears to
the
animal to be partly closed thus restricting the tendency to pass through
between the
squeeze bars. Thus the neck holding bar is retracted in the set position of
the doors
so that it is hidden from the animal until it is deployed as the animal moves
the doors
to the closed position.
That is, preferably the neck holding bar is automatically moved to the
deployed position as the other one of the head gate doors is moved to the
closed
position. Preferably the neck holding bar is fixed in the deployed
position and the
is neck sweep bar is movable to selected adjustable positions adjacent the
neck holding
bar depending on the size of the neck of the animal. In this way the holding
bar locates
one side of the neck and the sweep bar pushes the other side of the neck
across the
space between the squeeze bars to the required inclined position.
Preferably the neck sweep bar is not straight but includes a recess at
around head height on the animal to restrict up and down movement when
confined.
A further improvement disclosed herein relates to an improved latching
arrangement where the head gate doors can more easily be released from the
latched
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
13
position, bearing in mind that the large animals involved can be applying
heavy
pressure forwardly or rearwardly to the gates when the release is required.
In accordance with this important feature disclosed herein, there is
provided an animal confinement apparatus comprising:
a generally channel shaped frame structure having a head end for
receiving a head of an animal to be confined, two sides each for extending
along a
respective side of the animal to be confined, a tail end remote from the head
end;
a head gate assembly at the head end operable to move from an open
position to a closed position in which the neck of the animal is grasped for
confinement
thereof; the head gate assembly comprising:
a support frame mounted on the frame structure at the head end;
a pair of head gate doors;
each head gate door having a respective upstanding squeeze bar
for cooperating with a respective upstanding squeeze bar of the other of the
doors to
is trap the neck of the animal therebetween;
each head gate door being mounted on a hinge support member
carried on the support frame for pivotal movement of the door and its
respective
upstanding squeeze bar about a respective pivot axis generally parallel to the
respective upstanding squeeze bar and spaced outwardly toward a respective
side of
the support frame;
each head gate door comprising an upper rail and a lower rail
each connected to the hinge support member for pivotal movement about the
pivot
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
14
axis;
the head gate doors being movable from a closed position in
which the respective upstanding squeeze bars lie in a common plane including
the
pivot axes to a rearward open position in which the respective upstanding
squeeze
bars are positioned on a side of the common plane facing the tail end to allow
the
head of the animal to enter and to a forward open position in which the
respective
upstanding squeeze bars are positioned on a side of the common plane opposite
the
tail end to allow the animal to depart;
each head gate door including an engagement portion cooperating with
a latching device for latching the head gate door in the closed position;
the latching device having a front abutment member for engaging a
forward surface of the engagement portion to hold the engagement portion and
thus
the head gate door against movement to the forward open position and a rear
abutment member for engaging a rearward surface of the engagement portion to
hold
the engagement portion and thus the head gate door against movement to the
rearward open position;
the front abutment member being movable in a direction generally along
the common plane to release the forward surface to allow movement of the head
gate
door to the forward open position;
the rear abutment member being movable in a direction generally along
the common plane to release the rearward surface to allow movement of the head
gate door to the rearward open position;
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
15
the front abutment member comprising a roller which rotators to roll over
the forward surface;
the rear abutment member comprising a roller which rotators to roll over
the rearward surface.
Preferably the front abutment member includes two separate rollers
each for engaging respective one of the head gate doors the rear abutment
member
includes two separate rollers each for engaging respective one of the head
gate doors.
Preferably the front abutment member and the rear abutment member
are independently operable.
Preferably the front abutment member and the rear abutment member
are operable manually.
Preferably the front abutment member and the rear abutment member
are located at a top of head gate doors.
Preferably the engagement portion comprises an upstanding post.
Preferably the front abutment member and the rear abutment member
are spring mounted so as to move to allow entry of the engagement portion
the rebetween.
Preferably the front abutment member is connected to a front lift roller
for lifting the front abutment member when the head gate door moves toward the
closed position and the rear abutment member is connected to a rear lift
roller for lifting
the rear abutment member when the head gate door moves toward the closed
position.
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
16
Preferably there is provided a front manually operable member arranged
to move the front abutment member to a raised position to release the head
gate door
and a rear manually operable member arranged to move the rear abutment member
to a raised position to release the head gate door, the front and rear members
being
connected to a tilt mechanism to allow to move one or other to the raised
position.
Preferably each of the head gate doors includes a hand grasp handle
adjacent the front abutment member projecting forward from the head gate door.
Preferably each of the head gate doors includes a projecting bar above
the respective upstanding squeeze bars extending across from the head gate
door
toward the other head gate door so as to prevent a part of the animal being
pinched
at the latching device.
A further improvement disclosed herein relates to the provision in the
structure of each head gate door of a torsion bar which allows the head gate
door to
twist under impact loads to reduce forces on the animal which could cause
injury.
In accordance with this important feature disclosed herein, there is
provided an animal confinement apparatus comprising:
a generally channel shaped frame structure having a head end for
receiving a head of an animal to be confined, two sides each for extending
along a
respective side of the animal to be confined, a tail end remote from the head
end;
a head gate assembly at the head end operable to move from an open
position to a closed position in which the neck of the animal is grasped for
confinement
thereof; the head gate assembly comprising:
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
17
a support frame mounted on the frame structure at the head end;
a pair of head gate doors;
each head gate door having a respective upstanding squeeze bar
for cooperating with a respective upstanding squeeze bar of the other of the
doors to
trap the neck of the animal therebetween;
each head gate door being mounted on a hinge support member
carried on the support frame for pivotal movement of the door and its
respective
upstanding squeeze bar about a respective pivot axis generally parallel to the
respective upstanding squeeze bar and spaced outwardly toward a respective
side of
the support frame;
each head gate door comprising an upper rail and a lower rail
each connected to the hinge support member for pivotal movement about the
pivot
axis;
the head gate doors being movable from a closed position in
is which the respective upstanding squeeze bars lie in a common plane
including the
pivot axes to a rearward open position in which the respective upstanding
squeeze
bars are positioned on a side of the common plane facing the tail end to allow
the
head of the animal to enter and to a forward open position in which the
respective
upstanding squeeze bars are positioned on a side of the common plane opposite
the
tail end to allow the animal to depart;
the upstanding squeeze bar of each head gate door being loosely
connected at an upper end thereof to the upper rail for movement relative to
the upper
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
18
rail;
the upstanding squeeze bar of each head gate door being loosely
connected at a lower end thereof to the lower rail for movement relative to
the lower
rail;
a latching arrangement at a top of the head gate doors which locks the
head gate doors in the closed position while bottom ends of head gate doors at
the
lower rails are free to pivot about the pivot axis;
and an upstanding torsion bar rigidly connected at an upper end to the
upper rail and rigidly connected at a lower end to the lower rail;
the upstanding torsion bar being located between the upstanding
squeeze bar and the hinge support member;
the upstanding torsion bar being arranged so as to twist when forces are
applied to the upstanding squeeze bars from impact with the animal where the
forces
are communicated to the latching arrangement at the upper ends while the
bottom
is ends pivot about the pivot axis.
Preferably the upstanding squeeze bar of each head gate door is loosely
connected at the upper end thereof to the upper rail for sliding adjustment
movement
relative to the upper rail and the upstanding squeeze bar of each head gate
door is
loosely connected at a lower end thereof to the lower rail for sliding
adjustment
movement relative to the lower rail.
Preferably the torsion bar is welded to the upper and lower rails.
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
19
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a cattle confinement chute including a
head gate according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the head gate of Figure 1 in the
closed position.
Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the head gate of Figure 1 in the
closed position showing adjustment of the squeeze bar of one head gate door to
a
wider position.
Figure 4 is an isometric view of the head gate of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the head gate along the lines 5-5 of
Figure 2.
Figure 6 is an isometric view of the neck sweep system of the head gate
of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is an isometric view of an upper part of the head gates showing
the latching arrangement.
Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the latching arrangement of Figure
7.
Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of the width adjustment system of
Figures 2 and 3.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
20
in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A squeeze chute generally indicated at 10 is formed by a frame structure
11 forming a front panel 20, a rear panel 13, a first side 14 and a second
side 15. Each
of the panels is formed by vertical posts so that the front panel includes
posts 16 and
17 and the rear panel includes posts 18 and 19. The front and rear panels are
connected by horizontal rails 12 and 21 at the top part of the frame forming a
rigid
channel shaped frame structure into which an animal to be confined can enter
from
the rear panel to a position between the side panels and rearwardly of the
front panel.
The front panel includes a head gate assembly generally indicated at 22
including a first head gate door 23 and a second door 24 each of which is
pivotally
mounted for opening and closing movement around a vertical axis at or adjacent
the
post 16, 17 from a closed or confinement position shown in Figure 1 to a
receiving
position in which the doors are pivoted to face inwardly and to the chute so
that the
is
animal pushes its head between the doors as it tries to escape out of the
front of the
squeeze chute with the animal automatically pushing the doors to the closed
confinement position as it engages the doors. The doors can then be pivoted to
a
release position facing outwardly of the front of the squeeze chute in which
the animal
can escape when the confinement is no longer required.
As shown the doors are mounted for pivotal movement around axes
16A, 17A at or adjacent the vertical posts 16 and 17 on hinge collars 168, 16C
and
17A, 17B. A diagonal lever 10A is provided which connects the doors 23. 24 and
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
21
ensures that the doors remain in synchronism so that if one door is pushed,
both of
the doors move into the required location. Each of the doors can be manually
operated
by levers 25A and 25B attached to the respective door which projects outwardly
from
the door toward the side of the squeeze chute. The levers can pivot downwardly
as
shown when not used. A handle at the end of the lever can be grasped to lift
the lever
allowing the worker to pivot the gate and thus synchronously the other gate
from one
position to another.
The pair of head gate doors 23 and 24 are arranged with each door
having a vertical or upstanding squeeze bar 26, 27 for cooperating with the
squeeze
bar of the other of the doors to trap the neck of the animal therebetween.
Each door
is mounted on the hinge support member 16, 17 carried on the support frame for
pivotal movement of the door and its vertical bar about a respective vertical
pivot axis
16A, 17A generally parallel to the first vertical post member and spaced
outwardly
toward a respective side of the support frame 11.
The doors are movable from the closed position shown in which the
squeeze bars lie in a common plane P (Figure 5) including the pivot axes 16A,
17A to
an open position in which the vertical bars are positioned on a side of the
common
plane P facing the rear end of the chute and the incoming animals to allow the
head
of the animal to enter between the bars while they are spaced apart.
The head gate assembly 22 at the head end at the front end is thus
operable to move from an open position (not shown) to a closed position in
which the
neck of the animal is grasped for confinement between the squeeze bars 26, 27.
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
22
The head gate assembly comprises a support frame 28 mounted on the
frame structure of the chute 10 at the head end or front end. The support
frame is
defined by the posts 16 and 17 which are connected at the top by a cross rail
30 and
at the bottom by a cross rail 29.
The pair of head gate doors 23, 24 each have the respective upstanding
squeeze bar 26, 27 for cooperating with a respective upstanding squeeze bar of
the
other of the doors to trap the neck of the animal therebetween. The bars are
straight
and parallel but other shapes are possible to better hold the head of the
animal.
Each head gate door is pivotally mounted on its respective hinge support
member defined by its respective post 16, 17 carried on the support frame 28
for
pivotal movement of the door 23, 24 and its respective upstanding squeeze bar
26,
27 about its respective pivot axis 16A, 17A which is generally parallel to the
respective
upstanding squeeze bar and spaced outwardly toward a respective side of the
support
frame.
Each head gate door 23, 24 comprising an upper rail 31 welded to the
collar 16C, 17C and a lower rail 32 welded to the collar 16B, 17B each mounted
on
the hinge support member 16, 17 for pivotal movement about the pivot axis 16A,
17A.
The collars 16B and 16C are separate and hence can pivot independently around
the
respective post. The top rail 31 is connected to the bottom rail by a torsion
bar 34
welded to both rails so that the structure defined by the top and bottom rails
and the
torsion bar lies in a common plane but can distort out of that plane under
sufficient
force.
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
23
The head gate doors are therefore movable from a closed position in
which the respective upstanding squeeze bars lie in a common plane including
the
pivot axes to a rearward open position in which the respective upstanding
squeeze
bars are positioned on a side of the common plane facing the tail end to allow
the
.. head of the animal to enter and to a forward open position in which the
respective
upstanding squeeze bars are positioned on a side of the common plane opposite
the
tail end to allow the animal to depart.
The upstanding squeeze bar 26, 27 of each head gate door is mounted
at an upper end on the respective upper rail 31 for sliding adjustment
movement
.. toward and away from the pivot axis 16A, 17A. This mounting comprises a
channel
35 in which the top rail 31 sits so that the channel can slide along the rail
to change
the distance of the squeeze bar from the pivot axis and thus from the squeeze
bar of
the other gate. Symmetrically the lower end of the squeeze bar is attached to
the
bottom rail 32 by an inverted channel 36 which sits on the bottom rail and can
also
is .. slide longitudinally of the bottom rail. As the connection between the
squeeze bar and
the top and bottom rail is not rigid, the squeeze bar does not contribute to
the rigidity
of the head gate door so that this can flex as stated above by twisting of the
torsion
bar 34.
Each head gate door includes an adjustment device 37 for causing
.. adjustment movement of the respective squeeze bar along the top and bottom
rails.
Turning to Figure 3, the adjustment device 37 comprises an eccentric
crank 38 mounted on the upper rail 31 for rotation in a bushing 39 rotatable
about an
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
24
upstanding crank axis 39A transverse to the upper rail. The crank attaches to
an
upstanding connection rod 40 which is offset from the crank axis so that
rotation of the
crank around the bushing axis causes the connecting rod to rotate around the
axis of
the crank from the inward position shown on the left of Figure 3 to the
outward position
shown on the right of Figure 3. The lower end 40A of the coupling rod 40 is
mounted
in a symmetrical crank 41 carried in a bushing 42 attached to the bottom rail.
The coupling rod 40 is attached at the top and bottom to the squeeze
bar by a pair of connected flanges 43 so that the lateral movement of the
coupling bar
is communicated to the squeeze bar 26 by the coupling bar with the squeeze bar
held
in lateral movement only along the rail by the channel coupling 35, 36.
In this way the coupling defined by the coupling rod 40 and the flanges
43 provides that rotation of the eccentric crank about the axis of its bushing
causes
the upstanding squeeze bar 26 to move toward and away from the pivot axis in
the
adjustment movement.
A manually operable lever 44 is provided for driving rotation of the
eccentric crank around the crank axis. The lever 44 includes an upstanding
handle 45
which can be readily grasped by the worker and moved between two positions as
shown.
A latch arrangement 46 is provided for locating the handle 45 of the lever
44 in two adjustment positions of maximum and minimum spacing from the pivot
axis
16A.
Symmetrically the upstanding squeeze bar of each head gate door is
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
25
mounted at a lower end on the respective lower rail for adjustment movement
toward
and away from the pivot axis; and each head gate door has a lower link mounted
at
the lower rail where rotation of the eccentric crank 38 about the crank axis
39 causes
the lower end of the upstanding squeeze bar 26, 27 to move toward and away
from
the pivot axis 16A, 17A in adjustment movement. The manually operable lever 44
includes the coupling bar 40 for driving rotation simultaneously of the upper
and lower
links where the coupling bar extends generally parallel to the upstanding
squeeze bar.
The manually operable lever cooperates with first and second latches
47, 48 mounted on a rail 49 of the respective head gate door parallel to the
upper rail
31. Thus the manually operable lever 44 is movable between first and second
positions extending longitudinal of the upper rail 31 and cooperates in the
first and
second positions with the first and second latches 47, 48 on the rail 49 fixed
to the
respective head gate door parallel to the upper rail and movable with the
door. The
latches are pivotally mounted on the rail so that the thumb of the worked can
be
applied to one end of the latch thus releasing the other end from holding the
upper
end of the handle 45 in the respective latched position. In this way the
worked can
instantly switch the latch lever from one position to the other to change the
spacing
between the squeeze bars for animals of different size.
Turning now to Figures 4, 5 and 6 there is shown an upstanding neck
sweep bar 50 mounted on the head gate door 24 at a position in front of the
head gate
door 24 and movable relative thereto from a retracted position to one side of
the
upstanding squeeze bar 27 of the head gate door 24 to an operating position
forward
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
26
of the upstanding squeeze bar 27 of the head gate 24. The neck sweep bar 50
extends
generally parallel to the squeeze bar 27 and has a height generally matching
the bar
27. The bar 50 is generally straight but can include a recessed notch 51 at
the height
of the head of the animal be engaged.
The bar 50 in its operating position shown in Figures 4 and 6 is spaced
across the head gate to a greater distance than the squeeze bar 27 of the head
gate
door 24 so as to engage the neck of the animal in front of the squeeze bar 27
and to
turn the neck and head to a side opposite the head gate door 24 toward the
head gate
door 23.
The retracted position is shown in Figure 5 where the bar 50 is retracted
inwardly of the squeeze bar 27 so that it has no influence on the animal
approaching
from the rear. When the animal is engaged between the bars 26 and 27, the neck
sweep bar can be deployed from the retracted position in an arc A to the
operating
position.
A linkage 54 mounts the neck sweep bar on the frame structure for
pivotal movement between the retracted and extended positions and includes a
lever
55 carried on cranks 57 and 58 which guide the motion and create the arc A
between
the retracted and deployed positions. The crank 57 is attached to a collar 56
mounted
in the post 17 for rotation around the axis 17A. The crank 58 is mounted on a
collar
59 carried on the torsion bar 34. The lever 55 is operable by a handle 60 so
that
rotation of the handle in a clockwise direction causes movement in the
deployment
direction.
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
27
The mounting linkage includes a latch to hold the neck sweep bar at a
selected one of plurality of positions relative to the head gate door where
the latch
comprises a rod 62 sliding through a hole in a plate 63 acting as a friction
lock to hold
the neck sweep bar at the required position and where the plate includes a
manually
operable release handle 64 to allow the neck sweep bar return to the retracted
position
driven by a spring 65.
In this way the neck sweep bar is mounted for pivotal movement about
the hinge support member 17 of the head gate door 24. The rod 58 is carried on
a
bracket 66 which allows the rod to follow the required path to act as a
friction lock on
the movement of the sweep bar 51.
The neck sweep bar 50 cooperates in holding the neck with a neck
holding bar 67 on the other head gate door 23. That is the neck holding bar 67
of the
gate 23 is deployed to a position in front of the squeeze bar 26 of the gate
23 and then
remains fixed as the operator actuates the neck sweep bar 50 to a required
position
using the handle 60. The required position will vary depending on the animal
and the
required treatment using the skill of the worker to properly locate the head
and neck
of the animal in the sweeping action. The friction lock 61 then holds the bar
50 in place
until the treatment is complete.
The neck holding bar 67 is mounted on arms 68 projecting forwardly
from the post 16 and pivots relative to an outer end the arms 68 on pivot arms
69.
Thus the neck holding bar is automatically moved to the deployed position as
shown
in front of the squeeze bar 26 as the head gate door 23 is moved to the closed
position
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
28
by a link 70 extending from the arm 69 to the gate 23 at a coupling 71 on the
torsion
bar 34.
In this way the neck holding bar 67 is fixed in the deployed position and
the neck sweep bar 50 is movable to selected adjustable positions adjacent the
neck
holding bar depending on the size of the neck of the animal.
The neck holding bar 67 is bowed from top to bottom so that the animal
is fairly free to raise and lower its head when engaged. However the notch 51
is used
to engage the other side of the neck and to more specifically locate the
height of the
head and neck when engaged for treatment.
The swinging movement in the arc A is under control of the worker who
can apply the necessary pressure and speed to the movement to bring the head
to
the required location without injury. The entrapment of the head and neck in
this way
reduces the tendency of the animal to struggle with danger to itself and the
worker
and the equipment.
Turning now to Figures 7 and 8, there is shown the latching arrangement
72 which holds the gates 23 and 24 in the closed position and can be released
to allow
the gates to move forwardly to the release position or rearwardly to the set
position as
required.
Thus each head gate door 23, 24 includes an engagement portion in the
form of an upstanding post 73 with a front face 74 and a rear face 75 standing
up
beyond the top of the gate for cooperating with the latching device 72 for
latching the
head gate door in the closed position.
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
29
The latching device has a front abutment roller 76 for engaging the
forward surface 74 of the post 73 to hold the post and thus the head gate door
against
movement to the forward open position. The latching device has a rear abutment
roller 77 for engaging the rearward surface 75 of the post 73 to hold the post
and thus
the head gate door against movement to the rearward open position;
The front abutment roller and the rear abutment roller are each movable
in an upward direction generally along the common plane containing the
surfaces of
the post to release the surface 74 and 75 to allow movement of the head gate
door
forwardly or rearwardly.
The fact that each of the abutment rollers 76, 77 can rotate on a
mounting shaft allows the surface of the roller to roll over the surfaces 74
or 75 as
required to reduce friction and allow easy release even when heavily laden by
forces
from the animal.
The front abutment member of the latch includes two separate rollers 76
each for engaging respective post 73 of the respective head gate doors 23 and
24.
Similarly the rear abutment member of the latch includes two separate rollers
77 each
for engaging respective one of the head gate doors. In this way the forces are
further
reduced as each roller 76 is free to rotate independently to release its door
from the
closed position.
The front abutment member including the rollers 76 is carried on a
support plate 79 carrying the shaft 78. The plate 79 is carried on a lower end
81 of a
pin 80 which is biased downwardly into a latched position by a spring 82. The
pin 80
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
30
passes through a hole in a support plate 83 attached to the top rail 12 of the
fixed
frame of the chute 10. A lift roller 84 is carried on a shaft 85 attached to
the plate 79
of the front abutment. This roller engages the post 73 of the door as it moves
rearwardly from an open position toward the closed position. Thus the lift
roller 84 lifts
the abutment roller 76 to allow the post 73 to move under the roller 76 into
position
causing compression of the spring 82 as the plate 79 moves upwardly. Once the
post
passes the roller 76, the roller drops down into engagement position latching
the post
73 against forward movement. As the roller 77 is already in place, the post
and thus
the door is latched.
The rear abutment including the roller 77 is exactly symmetrical so that
further explanation is not required.
The rollers 76 and 77 are lifted when required by a rotating shaft 86
which is rotated about its axis by a handle 87 on either side of the chute 10.
Rotation
of the shaft 86 acts to tilt an operating plate 88 to one side of the other.
The plate 88
is
engages an upper head 89 of the pin 80 acting to lift the pin and therefore
the rollers
76. As the plate 88 is tilted one way or the other by the handle 87, the
operator has
control over whether the gate opens either forwardly or rearwardly.
The key feature of the latching system is the provision of the rollers 76
and 77 engaging he surfaces of the post which roll to allow the door to be
released
even when under heavy pressure from the animal pushing forwardly or pulling
rearwardly in an attempt to escape.
In order to better control opening and closing of the gates without danger
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
31
to the worker or the animal, each of the head gate doors includes a hand grasp
handle
in the form of a loop 90 welded to the post 73 of the rood 24 at a position
adjacent the
front abutment member projecting forward from the head gate door. This extends
from
its ends at one post 73 across the gap between the posts 73 in front of the
gap to
provide a convenient and safe engagement point for the worker to grasp the
gate
manually to pull.
In addition, each of the head gate doors at its rail 31 includes a projecting
bar 91, 92 above the respective upstanding squeeze bars extending across from
the
head gate door toward the other head gate door so as to prevent the nose of
the
animal being pinched at the latching device.
Turning back to Figure 2, it has previously been described that the
upstanding squeeze bar 26, 27 of each head gate door 23, 24 is loosely
connected at
an upper end 35 thereof to the upper rail 31 for movement relative to the
upper rail
and at a lower end 36 thereof to the lower rail 32 for movement relative to
the lower
is rail. Further there is provided an upstanding torsion bar 34 rigidly
connected at an
upper end to the upper rail 31 and rigidly connected at a lower end to the
lower rail 32
with the upstanding torsion bar 34 being located between the upstanding
squeeze bar
26 and the hinge support member 16. In this way, the upstanding torsion bar is
arranged so as to twist when forces are applied to the upstanding squeeze bars
76
and 77 from impact with the animal where the forces are communicated to the
latching
arrangement 72 located at the upper ends while the bottom ends of the posts 26
and
27 pivot about the pivot axis. The torsion bar is welded to the upper and
lower rails
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
32
but can twist and flex so that the bottom rails 32 can pivot forwardly by a
distance as
much as 4 inches while the upper rail remains fixed with this amount of
movement
providing significant spring action to reduce the loading on the animal as it
impacts
the bars 26 and 27.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made
within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit
and scope,
it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification
shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-08
