GB2323011A - Mechanically assisted apparatus for dipping animals - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for dipping animals comprises two cages 10 for suspending animals, a container 16 of solution and a hand wheel 12 for moving the cages between a first position in which one of the cages is suspended above the container and a second position in which the other cage is above the container. The one cage counterbalances the other cage. The apparatus may form a mobile unit and may be powered.

Description

APPARATUS FOR DIPPING ANIMALS The present invention relates to an animal dipper and, in particular, to apparatus and method for dipping animals such as sheep.

Sheep dipping involves the use of water-based solutions containing organophosphates or other potentially toxic pesticides and typically requires full immersion for at least one minute. In order to prevent operators coming into contact with the solution, a range of personal protective equipment is recommended. However, such protective equipment tends to be bulky and inhibits the dipper and can be expensive. For this reason, dippers do not tend to use protective clothing fully.

In general, farmers manually dip sheep into a tank or trench or similar located in the ground so that the risk of contact, especially by splashing of the pesticide, is high. Furthermore, adequate draining of solution from the sheep back into the container is not feasible so that this method can be wasteful of the dip solution and can present a ground-water contamination problem.

Other known dipping methods involve leading the sheep up a long ramp which slopes down sharply at one end towards a large cone-shaped tank. The sheep fall off the end of the ramp into the tank. Again, manual involvement with removal of the sheep from the tank leads to a high risk of contact with the dip solution and inadequate draining.

It is also known to use a large tank capable of accommodating many sheep together. After immersion, the tank can be drained off and the sheep removed. Such a tank, although allowing less contact risk, is very expensive, impractical for the smaller farms, and requires the use of a large quantity of dip and the means to collect and contain the waste solution.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of the disadvantages with known dipping methods and in order to provide an apparatus and method which facilitates animal dipping while reducing the risk to operators of contact with the dipping solution.

Further preferred objects or advantages of the invention include providing an apparatus which is easy to use, inexpensive, efficient, mobile and one version of which is particularly suited to the small farmer or a contract dipper.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for dipping animals comprising suspension means for suspending one or more animals above a container of solution and activation means for moving part or parts of the suspension means between a first position in which one or more such animals are suspended above said container and a second position in which one or more such animals are lowered into said container.

Preferably, the suspension means comprises one or more cables, chains or the like mounted on support means such as an elongated support member.

Preferably, an animal securing means such as a cage or container is provided at a free end of such cable or chain. The cable or chain may be mounted on the support member by means of a pulley or the like mechanism. The suspension means may comprise a cable or chain located around a pulley mounted at an upper region of a support member and having an animal securing means secured to each free end of the cable or chain. The activation means may comprise a manually operated mechanism such as a hand wheel or the like adapted to rotate the pulley in a given direction when manually turned in a corresponding direction. The suspension means and activation means may comprise one or more pulleys or gear means as required.

The activation means may comprise any suitable power source or drive mechanism and may be adapted to be powered by a tractor, for example via a mechanical take off shaft or hydraulic drive.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a locking mechanism adapted to hold or lock the suspension means in a given position, for example in the first position.

Preferably, the activation means is adapted to move the suspension means continuously between said first and second positions.

Preferably, two animal securing means are provided.

The securing means may be in a counterbalance arrangement such that as one securing means is lowered the other is raised and vice-versa. Alternatively the apparatus may be adapted such that both securing means are raised or lowered simultaneously, or separately without the counterbalance arrangement.

Preferably, each animal securing means comprises a cage having a lid and/or gate to allow access for the animal yet retain the animal in the cage during use. The securing means may be sized and shaped to accommodate one or more animals, typically sheep. The lid and/or gate may be suitably interlocked with the raising and lowering mechanism to control the entry and exit of the sheep.

A platform, ramp or similar means may be provided to allow access for the animals to the securing means.

Alternatively, the access may be arranged at ground level and the containers placed below ground level. The apparatus may include one or more containers for receiving dip.

In use, the securing means may be movable to an access position in which animal access to the securing means is facilitated, to a dipping position in which the securing means is lowered into a tank and to a draining position in which the securing means is suspended at or higher than the access position to facilitate draining.

The apparatus may be adapted to be mounted on a suitable vehicle such that the apparatus is mobile. The container may also be mounted on or under such a vehicle.

Preferably, the apparatus includes shield means such as a flexible or rigid transparent sheet or flexible strip curtain mounted between the securing means and the activation means.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of dipping animals comprising respectively lowering and raising animals into and out of a container containing dip by mechanical means such as an apparatus of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile apparatus for dipping animals comprising apparatus of the invention mounted on or incorporated into a mobile vehicle such as a tractor, trailer, truck or lorry and container means for receiving dip mounted in, on or under the vehicle.

Preferably, the mobile apparatus includes ramps or the like access means. Preferably, automotive power for operating the apparatus is supplied by or incorporated into the vehicle.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic front view of an apparatus of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the apparatus for dipping animals comprises a support member 2 having a pulley mechanism 4 mounted at an upper region thereof. A suitable cable 6 is suspended over the pulley mechanism 4 and an animal container 8 is secured to each free end of the cable. Typically the animal containers are of a size and shape to accommodate the required number and type of animal. For example, each container may be designed to accommodate a single sheep 10. The containers may be rectangular box like structures or cages having a cover to retain the animal therein. In the embodiment shown, the containers are fixed in a counterbalance arrangement so that as one container is lowered the other container is raised. The raising and lowering of the containers may be achieved by turning a handwheel 12 in the required direction to cause the pulley mechanism to rotate.

The tank 14 for containing the dip substance 16 is located below the pulley arrangement. When the animal containers 8 are in equilibrium the base 18 of the containers lies above the upper edge of the tank 14. The tank 14 may be set on the ground so that its base 20 lies at ground level. In this case a suitable platform 22 is provided for leading the animals into the containers while the latter are held in the equilibrium position by any suitable mechanism. Suitable ramps may be provided for access to the platform.

Alternatively the tank may be set in the ground so that its base 20 is below ground level. The upper edge of the tank may be at ground level. The base 18 of the animal containers then lies at ground level when the containers are in the equilibrium position. In this case, a platform or ramps are not required.

In use, the pulley mechanism is locked in position and sheep are guided into the cages or animal containers 8 on each side of the support member 2. The cages may have gates which may for example be lowered and raised by a simple cable and pulley system. A cover located on top of each cage prevents the sheep raising itself above the sides. The cages and lids may for example comprise gauze, mesh, wire, net or the like to facilitate draining of the animals before removal.

When the sheep are secured in the cages, the mechanism is unlocked and the cage with the heavier sheep sinks into the dip 16. The cover on the cage top prevents the sheep escaping upwards and also holds it in place while complete immersion takes place. The operator can immerse and lift the sheep clear of the dip as required by turning the handwheel.

On completion of the dip of the first sheep, the animal container or cage is lifted and the second (lighter) sheep is lowered. The operator provides the motive power for this operation by turning handwheel 12 which requires an upward force equal to the difference in weight of the sheep. The sheep emerging from the dip will have some buoyancy force, but as it emerges from the dip, it will exert a load equal to its weight plus that of liquid dip absorbed on the fleece of the sheep. Much of this will quickly drain back into the dip tank. The load on the operator will depend on the hand wheel diameter and any gearing or pulley system which is included.

The second sheep is then dipped, the first being held in the cage at a point above ground or platform level, where further draining takes place. Again, most of this will drain downwards into the dip tank. On completion, the second sheep is raised from the dip container, the lifting mechanism is locked and the sheep ejected as fresh sheep are injected.

The handwheel operator is shielded from splash by a transparent shield 24 for example of flexible plastic material. Alternatively, a rigid shield of polycarbonate or the like may be used. The other operators involved in removing and guiding the sheep need only approach after the bulk of draining has taken place, their task being to ensure that the sheep clear the cage and to prevent the following sheep escaping before the cage door shuts.

Alternatively, these doors may be interlocked appropriately to prevent sheep escaping. Side extensions to the shield may be provided to protect such operators during the sheep draining period.

The apparatus may be placed over an existing sheep dip trough or suitable trench and the dip containers placed in the trough or the solution placed directly in the trench or trough. Alternatively the dip containers can be placed at ground level and a suitable platform erected around them with the apparatus mounted on top of the platform. In this case suitable ramps may be provided to enable the sheep to reach the cages.

A larger version of the apparatus is possible such that a number of sheep such as two or more per cage may be dipped. Suitable gearing, pulley system or the like may allow this version also to be manually operated but it is likely that power will need to be provided. The power for such an apparatus may be provided in a variety of ways such as from a tractor with mechanical take off shaft or hydraulic drive for example to hydraulic rams. However, any suitable power sources such as electric drive may be used. Particularly with this embodiment, the principal operator may be remote from the dipping mechanism e.g.

seated on the tractor. The duties of the other operators may be as for the manual one, to ensure that sheep are steered and loaded correctly. With the powered embodiment, the need for a counterbalancing arrangement is not so strong. Thus if it is more convenient from the point of view of other factors such as sheep handling, both cages may be dipped simultaneously. Such simultaneous dipping would increase the throughput considerably.

The powered embodiment is particularly suitable for mobile arrangements, for example used by contract dippers.

For example, the system may be lorry-mounted, with dip tanks under the trailer and suitable ramps to guide sheep on and off the trailer. The power source may be provided for example by the vehicle's engine.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which is described by way of example only. In particular it will be noted that any suitable arrangement of gears, pulleys, cables or the like may be used according to the specific design and mechanical advantage required.

Claims (20)

1. An apparatus for dipping animals comprising suspension means for suspending one or more animals above a container of solution and activation means for moving part or parts of the suspension means between a first position in which one or more such animals are suspended above said container and a second position in which one or more such animals are lowered into said container.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suspension means comprises one or more cables or chains mounted on support means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an animal securing means is provided at a free end of such cable or chain.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the suspension means comprises a cable or chain located around a pulley mounted at an upper region of a support member and having an animal securing means secured to each free end of the cable or chain.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the activation means comprises a manually operated mechanism.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the activation means is adapted to be powered by a tractor.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes a locking mechanism adapted to hold or lock the suspension means in a given position.

8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the activation means is adapted to move the suspension means continuously between said first and second positions.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein two animal securing means are provided.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the securing means are in a counterbalance arrangement.

11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each animal securing means comprises a cage having a lid and/or gate to allow access for the animal yet retain the animal in the cage during use.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the lid and/or gate is interlocked with the raising and lowering mechanism.

13. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes one or more containers for receiving dip.

14. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes shield means such as a flexible or rigid transparent sheet or flexible strip curtain mounted between the securing means and the activation means.

15. A method of dipping animals comprising respectively lowering and raising animals into and out of a container containing dip by mechanical means such as an apparatus according to any preceding claim.

16. Mobile apparatus for dipping animals comprising apparatus according to any preceding claim, mounted on or incorporated into a mobile vehicle such as a tractor, trailer, truck or lorry and container means for receiving dip mounted in, on or under the vehicle.

17. Mobile apparatus for dipping animals according to claim 16, wherein automotive power for operating the apparatus is supplied by or incorporated into the vehicle.

18. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

19. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

20. Mobile apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.