AU2006201223A1 - Cattle catching head gate - Google Patents

Description

"Cattle Catching Head Gate" This invention relates to an improved cattle head gate for more effective holding and calming of cattle with associated operator benefits and safety.

Background Art When handling cattle for dehorning, ear tagging and many other operations required to manage a herd whilst at the same time providing Operator safety, it is a requirement in most operations that there be a device such as the afore mentioned device which holds the beasts head firmly by a pair of parallel vertical bars which move in from each side clamping the beasts neck thus restraining the beast. The catching head gate is attached to a ling narrow race or a cattle crush through which cattle are forced, the cattle head gate doubles as a gate through which the animals can pass, when the gate is fully opened, and also a unit for catching and restraining cattle by the neck between the head and the beasts shoulders. The headgate can be manually operated or remotely using electronics over air or hydraulics, the headgate primarily consists of a frame with a pair of vertical doors which move parallel and open and close in opposite directions to each other. Cattle head gates generally consist of a pair of doors which open and close when activated by the operator, these doors are generally locked in position by a locking device such as a ratchet etc. These locking devices are usually situated on the headgate linkage between the vertical doors and the operators handle. A common problem with this arrangement is that spring back movement exists in the vertical door on account of various linkage movements. In many situations where the beasts neck is almost as thick as its head will spring back even if a small amount will cause the beast to pull back and escape from the catching device, also when the beasts senses that there is movement they try harder to escape the restraint making it difficult for the operator to perform the intended operation on the beast. The head catching device afore mentioned for which protection is sought seek to alleviate these and other problems associated with cattle catching devices.

"Disclosure of the Invention" It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cattle catching system which will go towards obviating or minimising the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet effective manner. The present invention therefore provides a cattle catching and restraining device through which cattle can pass unrestricted yet when activated will close in with a pair of gates closing to a central position forming a complete animal proof gate or alternatively closing against the beasts neck then locking in that position so as to hold firmly the animal. The doors which travel in and out are coupled via a link system to cause then to travel together and uniformly.

The linking system is attached to an operator's handle through which they open and close, these doors are supported at the top by a square or round bar via four rollers per door. The bottom of the door is supported by a saddle which prevents the bottom of the door moving laterally, when the operator closes the cattle catching unit the doors close and lock in that position and will remain locked until the operators handle is pulled back, the action of pulling the handle back has a dual function of releasing the lock and then opening the pair of doors. The lock also offers a great level of safety, as force is applied to the opposing door units; the locking system prevents theoperators handle from being driven into the operator, the moment the operators hand leaves the handle or the operator ceases the opening motion the catching device stops and locks safe guarding the operator. The locking device is not located in the linkage as with many units but in roller units on the top of each gate unit, this has the effect of creating a solid non spring back lock. The handle release system is so tuned so that under extreme load the catching unit opens with much reduced effort for the operator on account of unlocking one side before the other. The cattle catching unit can be operated manually or remotely using electronic over air or hydraulic cylinders, yet still achieving the same non spring back effect.

Brief Description of Drawings Illustration 1. Front on view of said invention with sliding door units closed.

Illustration 2. Roller carriage locking unit as attached to the top of each sliding door unit.

Illustration 3. Roller carriage locking unit three dimensional view.

The mode for carrying out the invention, Using illustrations 1,2 3.

The cattle catching device functions and consists of the following:- Main Frame- Round solid bar roller track, Roller track slips into frame lugs and is prevented from moving by split pins Roller carriages travel along bar via concave rollers each carriage unit has four concave bronze or metal rollers. Attached to the bottom of carriage units are vertical door yoke sections these vertical door yoke sections are supported at the bottom by saddles Handle is attached to toggle plate (10) which in turn pivots. Connector bars (11) (12) are in turn attached to toggle (10) at one end the other end attached to roller carriage unit When handle is moved in an arc, vertical door yokes move apart opening the gate.

The Locking Device Functions as Follows:- Lock plates (13) are situated in roller carriage units lock plates (13) have attached spring plates (140 and release tab (150 lock plate (13) pivots and are retained between pins (16) pins (16) are adjustable vertically. Round roller tack passes through lock plate As the catching unit is closed, the left and right hand carriage units move together freely, lock plate (13) offering no resistance in this direction but locking firmly in the opening direction. The more load that is applied within the vertical yoke doors the more securely lock plate (13) lock onto roller track To open the locked catching device and release the beast, the operator handle is rotated up, the load is transferred back through connecting links (110 These in turn slide via the slotted end on attachment bolts As the connectors come forward in slotted hole-bars (11) Bars (11) (12) contact and apply pressure onto lock plate (13) via (15) releasing their grip on roller bar Connectors (11) (12) are timed so as to rebase the lock plates (13) via pin (15) at a different time on each side so as to reduce the force to open the gate when under extreme load. While ever the opening force is being applied the locks will be released. When the opening force stops or catching yoke doors are forced quicker than the operator opening force, lock plates (13) engage.

By adjusting pins 9160 more or loss locking and releasing force is applied.

Claims (4)

1. A system utilising the roller track shaft as the locking shaft on which the lock plates grip.

2. A locking system connected directly to both vertical catching gates eliminating spring back movement associated with linkage systems.

3. A locking system which releases the catching gates one at a time greatly reducing the force required to open the catching gate when under extreme load.

4. A locking system so direct that when pressure is applied to the beasts neck this pressure being essential in immobilising and restraining the beast that pressure is maintained with no spring back movement or release of grip on the beasts neck. A roller track shaft that can be rotated to a new unworn position and fixed there reducing the cost of service and downtime.