GB2179535A - Animal restraint - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to cattle crushes and the like. Thus, a crush (10) has a pair of pivotally mounted gates (14, 15) which in normal operation are opened and closed by a toggle mechanism (20). The gates (14, 15) are mounted on a pair of vertical shafts (22, 23) such that in the locked position, the size of the yoke defined by the gates (14, 15) can be adjusted by rotation of the shafts (22, 23). This rotation is achieved by rotation of the cross member (32) by means of a handle (33). A lifting device for supporting an animal held in the crush is also disclosed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Animal restraint This invention relates to animal restraints and in particular, but not exclusively, to cattle crushes.

Cattle crushes are well-known in which the animal is heldfrom forward movement by a yoke through which its neck passes. The yoke is constituted by two separate halves which can be swung awayfrom each otherto allowtheanimalto leavetheconfines ofthe crush when the desired operation has been completed.

Recent breeding techniques have developed animalswhich have much larger necks andwhich cannot be comfortably retained in existing crushes.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved crush.

From one aspect of the invention consists in an animal crush orthe like having a pair of co-operating yoke members movable between a closed position in which they receive an animal's neck and an open position in which the animal may leave the crush, means for locking the yoke members in the closed position and adjustment means forvarying the separation of the yoke members in the closed position.

In a preferred embodiment the yoke members are carried by support members which are pivotally mountedonarespectivewallofthecrush byfirst pivots and are further pivotally mounted intermediate the yoke members and the walls and wherein the adjustment means causes pivoting ofthe support mem bers about their intermediate mountings. Thus, the adjustment means may act on the first pivots, which may be located on respective vertical rotatable shafts mounted on either side ofthe crush. in this case each shaft may be coupled to a rotatable crossmember such that on rotation ofthecross-member the shafts rotate in opposed senses and hence the yoke members open or close.

For example, the cross-member may have a pair of threaded portionsthreaded in oppositesenses and coupled to respective shafts to produce the opposed rotations.

From anotheraspectthe invention consists in a crush having a pair of yoke members and means for adjustingtheirseparation.

For example, the yoke members may be opened and closed by an operative mechanism which can be locked in an intermediate position or positions to provide adjustable separation ofthe yoke members.

Although the invention has been defined above, it is to be appreciated that it also includes any inventive combination of the features set out above, or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a crush; Figure 2 is a viewfrom above of a forward portion of the crush; Figure3 is a frontviewon the arrowAofFigure2; Figure 4 is a view from above of an animal support winch mounted on a crush; Figure 5 is a side view ofthe winch of Figure 4; Figure 6 is an end view on the arrow B of the winch of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a view from above of a crush having a detachablesidepanel; and Figure8 is a view from above of a crush having an adjustable side panel.

A cattle crush 10 is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and comprises a pair of sidewalls 11 and 12 interconnected by strengthening transverse members 13 and 13a. The passage defined above by the side walls 11 and 12 can be closed by a pair of pivotally mounted gates 14 and 15, which comprise halfyoke members 16and17andsupports18and19.

In normal operation the gates can be opened and closed byforward or backward movement of a toggle mechanism generally indicated at 20. The movement ofthetoggle mechanism is achieved byforward or backward movementofan operating handle2l,which can be locked in its rearward, downward position to holdthe closed gates 14, i6againstforwardmove- mentofananimal held in the crush.

In this locked position the yoke members 16, 17 define a fixed neck aperture and as has previously been mentioned this can be insufficientforsome of the larger cattle now available.

In order to overcome this problem the applicant provides an adjustment mechanism which is constituted by a pair of vertical shafts 22,23 rotatably mounted within respective side walls 11,12 and having lugs 24, 25 for carrying respective supports 18, 19. On the opposite side of each shaft a further lug 26, 27 is provided each of which is connected by a swivel connection 28,29 to the threaded end 30,31 of a rotatable member 32. The ends 30,31 arethreaded in an opposed sense so that when the cross-member 32 is rotated by a handle 33 the lugs 28,29 are moved towards or away from each other and hence opposed rotation of the shafts 22,23 takes place.As each support 18,19 is both pivotally mounted on its respective lugs 26,27 and on the toggle mechanism at an intermediate pivot 34, this rotation ofthe shafts causesthe supports 18, l9tobepivotedaboutthe intermediate pivots 34 and hence causes movement of the yoke members 16, 17 either towards or away from each other according to the direction of rotation of the cross-member 32. In this way the neck aperture defined by the yoke members can be adjusted when the gates 14, 15 are locked in their closed position by the operating handle 21.

In some circumstances it may be possible to achieve this adjustment by providing intermediate lockable positions of the operating handle 21 so that a partially open position ofthe gates provides a bigger neck aperture. This arrangement may be unsatisfactory for two reasons: first it is difficu It to provide a suitable adjustable lock which can resist the strength of cattle and which can be achieved with certainty during agricultural use, and secondly the forward movement ofthe gates will alterthe position of the animal within the crush and hence its position relative to the drench gates and vet gates normally supplied in such apparatus.

When it is intended to treatthe animal's feet in the crush, it is desirable to support the animal within the crush. This is often done by a sling or cradle passed underneath the animal. Figures 4 to 6 illustrate a winch which tightens straps which slidinglysupportthe cradle, so that an animal's weight, in part, can be taken off its legs.

Thewinch, generally indicated at40, includes a frame4l,which straddles the top of the crush 1 Oto support a strap anchor42 on one side ofthe crush and paralleltothewall 12 and a roller mechanism 43 on the other side ofthe crush parallel to wall 13.

The strap anchor42 carries a pair of pins 44which extend between respective pairs of lateral lugs 45 and which are releasably received therein. The looped, free ends of a pair of cradle supporting straps, not shown, arethreaded onto the pins 44. The other ends ofthe straps (not shown) are passed underthe animal and up to locate on pegs 46 mounted on a roller47 on the roller mechanism 43. The roller 47 is rotatably mounted on the frame 41 by upstanding plates 48 and carries a fixed crown wheel 49 at one end. This crown wheel isengaged by aworm gear50,which itself can be rotated by means of a handle 51.

Thus, in use, the handle 50 is rotated to rotate the roller47 in a sense to wrap the straps around the roller to shorten the straps and hence partially liftthe animal in the cradle. As the cradle is slidably mounted on the straps, it is self-centring.

When the crush lOis used with smaller animals it may not properly restrain them laterally due to the space between the crush walls. Figures7 and 8 show two different solutions to this problem. The first, see Figure 7, comprises a detachable side wall 52 having bent arms 53 which offsetthe side wall panel 52 into the crush 10 to reduce its lateral width. The panel 52 is mounted by top and bottom pairs offlanges (the upper ones are indicated at 53) which locate on pegs onthe crush.The detachability ofthe panel 52 has the additional advantage of providing good access to downer cows.

Asimilararrangement is shown in Figure 8, but in this case the panel 52 is mounted on straight arms 54 which are slidably adjustable within located apertures on the crush 10 and lockable into a variety of positions for example by pins passing through a series of spaced holes in the arms 55. Itwill be seen that this arrangement allows for adjustment ofthe lateral width so that a wide range of cattle sizes can be closeiy restrained.

Claims (15)

1. 7. An animal crush orthe like having a pair of co-operating yoke members movable between a closed position in which they receive an animal's neck and an open position in which the animal may leave the crush, means for locking the yoke members in the closed position and adjustment meansforvarying the separation ofthe yoke members in the closed position.
2. 2. A crush as claimed in claim 1 wherein the yoke members are carried by support members which are pivotally mounted on a respective wall of the crush by first pivots and further pivotally mounted intermediate the yoke members and the walls and wherein the adjustment means causes pivoting of the support members about their intermediate mountings.
3. 3. Acrush as claimed in claim 2wherein the adjustment means act on the first pivots.
4. 4. A crush as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first pivots are located on respective vertical rotatable shafts mounted either side ofthe crush.
5. 5. A crush as claimed in claim 4 wherein each shaft is coupled to a rotatable cross member such that on rotation ofthe cross member, the shafts rotate in opposed senses and hence theyoke members open or close.
6. 6. A crush as claimed in claim Swherein the cross member has a pair ofthreaded portions, threaded in opposite senses and coupled to respective shafts to produce the opposed rotation.
7. 7. Acrush having a pair of yoke members and means for adjusting their separation, wherein the yoke is opened and closed by an operative mechanism which can be locked in an intermediate position to provide adjustable separation ofthe members making the yoke.
8. 8. A crush as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, incorporating an animal support system comprising a frame mounted on the crush to extend above and across it, a strap orthe like for passing underthe animal, means forfixing one end of the strap to the frame on one side ofthe crush, and such means mounted on the other side of the crush including a roller having means for releasably engaging the other end of the strap and means for rotating the roller, whereby rotation of the roller in one direction causes thestraptowraparoundtherollerand hence shorten its effective length.
9. 9. Acrush as claimed in claim 8 including two straps having a cradle slidablythereon.
10. 10. Acrush as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the rotation means includes a worm gear engaging a crown gear coaxially mounted on the roller,and
11. 11. An animal crush orthe like, incorporating an animal support system comprising a frame mounted on the crush to extend above and across it, a strap or the like for passing underthe animal, means forfixing one end ofthe strap to the frame on one side of the crush, and such means mounted on the other side of the crush including a roller having means for releasably engaging the other end ofthe strap and means for rotating the rollerwhereby rotation ofthe roller in one direction causesthestraptowrap around the roller and hence shorten its effective length.
12. 12. An animal crush, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. 13. An animal crush including meansforaltering or adjusting the lateral width ofthe crush.
14. 14. Acrush as claimed in Claim 13wherein the width altering means comprises a detachable panel mountable on the crush to project into the inner space ofthecrush.
15. 15. A crush as claimed in Claim 13 wherein a width adjustment means comprises a side panel mounted on a side wall of the crush for lateral adjustment thereto.