WO2010011172A1

WO2010011172A1 - Animal headlock

Info

Publication number: WO2010011172A1
Application number: PCT/SE2009/050895
Authority: WO
Inventors: Göran Larsson
Original assignee: Delaval Holding Ab
Priority date: 2008-07-22
Filing date: 2009-07-13
Publication date: 2010-01-28

Abstract

The invention relates to a headlock arrangement 12 for use in an animal fencing arrangement 11 comprising at least one frame pipe 2, 3. The headlock arrangement 12 comprises: a pivoting pipe 5 connected to the at least one frame pipe 2, 3 so as to pivot between a first end position (A, B) and second end position (C, D); and an adjacent pipe 6 connected to the at least one frame pipe 2, 3and adjacent to the pivoting pipe 5. The headlock arrangement 12 is characterized in that the pivoting pipe 5 comprises a first magnet 13 and in that the adjacent pipe 6 comprises a second magnet 14, wherein the first and second magnet devices 13, 14 have repelling polarities.

Description

ANIMAL HEADLOCK

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of animal fencing, and in particular to an animal headlock arrangement for use in an animal fencing arrangement.

Background of the invention

Modern dairy farms having a large number of milking animals require an efficient management of the herd. The management of the dairy herds can be rendered effective in different ways and this is increasingly important the more milking animals there are in the herd. Self-locking manger stalls comprising headlocks for restraining the milking animal is one means for increasing the management efficiency. The milking animal can thereby be restrained and then identified, and she may easily be examined and treated, if such need exists. Such self- locking systems are used in different kinds of milking systems, for example in voluntary milking systems wherein the milking animals move around freely within a barn comprising milking areas and manger areas.

In such a self-locking manger stall, or fence-line feeding, a feed fence, also termed feeder fence, is used for separating the milking animals from fodder placed in mangers. The milking animal locks herself in place when arriving at a manger stall for eating. The self-locking feature can be activated once she puts her head through the feed fence and lowers it to eat.

Several milking animals may be locked along the length of the mangers in respective several headlocks of the feed fence. Such feed fences often also comprise means for simultaneously locking in all the milking animals present at the feed fence, thereby preventing the milking animals from leaving the manger area . It is important to keep the headlock in an unlocked position when there is no milking animal present, so that the stall is available for the milking animals. It is also important for the farmer to be certain that all milking animals are locked in when the means for simultaneously locking all animals are used.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a headlock arrangement for use in an animal fencing arrangement, comprising means for keeping the headlock in an unlocked position when needed.

It is another object of the invention to provide an animal fencing arrangement comprising several headlock arrangements, in which it is assured that all animals present at the animal fencing arrangement are truly locked in when locking means for simultaneously locking all animals are utilized.

These objects, among others, are achieved by a headlock arrangement and an animal fencing arrangement as defined in the appended claims.

In accordance with the invention, a headlock arrangement for use in an animal fencing arrangement comprising at least one frame pipe is provided. The headlock arrangement comprises: a pivoting pipe connected to the at least one frame pipe so as to pivot between a first end position and second end position; and an adjacent pipe connected to the at least one frame pipe and being arranged adjacent to the pivoting pipe. The headlock arrangement is characterized in that the pivoting pipe comprises a first magnet and in that the adjacent pipe comprises a second magnet, wherein the first and second magnet devices have repelling polarities. By means of the invention, a simple yet reliable means is provided for keeping the headlock arrangement open when no animal is present at the feed fence. In particular, the pivoting pipe is reliably kept in the non-vertical position when not in use, while still allowing a correct locking of the headlock arrangements when required. A farmer is also assured that all animals present at the feed fence are indeed locked in when all headlock arrangements are locked centrally.

Further features of the invention and advantages thereof will be clear from the following detailed description.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a prior art feed fence.

Figure 2 illustrates a feed fence in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

Figure 1 illustrates a known feed fence 1 comprising an upper frame pipe 2 and a lower frame pipe 3 arranged in parallel and constituting a frame, or enclosure means, of the feed fence 1. It is noted that the term "pipe", or bar, may have any suitable cross-section shape, for example circular, rectangular, or quadratic, and the pipe may be hollow or solid. The feed fence 1 further comprises several headlock arrangements 4.

The headlock arrangement 4 comprises a pivoting pipe 5 that is arranged to move between an unlocked state and a locked state as will be described. The headlock arrangement 4 is illustrated as being in its unlocked state, while headlock arrangement 4' is illustrated in its locked state.

The headlock arrangement 4 comprises a locking device 8 for accomplishing the locking and preventing the pivoting pipe 5 from pivoting. The locking device 8 may be of any suitable kind, for example the locking device used in DeLaval feed fence HL40.

The pivoting pipe 5 is connected to the upper and lower frame pipes 3, 2 in a way so that it can be moved between the locked and unlocked states. In the locked state, the ends of the pivoting pipe 5 are at positions A and B, i.e. the upper end of pivoting pipe 5 is at position A and the lower end of the pivoting pipe 5 is at position B. In this position the locking device 8 is locked. In the unlocked state, the ends of the pivoting pipe 5 are at positions C and D, i.e. the upper end of pivoting pipe 5 is at position C and the lower end of the pivoting pipe 5 is at position D. Position (A, B) is thus the locked state and position (C, D) is the unlocked position, position (A, B) and (C, D) being the end positions of the pivoting pipe 5. For accomplishing the movement between the different states, the pivoting pipe 5 may for example be attached in grooves arranged in the upper 2 and lower 3 pipes in a slidable manner.

Further, the pivoting pipe 5 is fastened to an adjacent pipe 6 by a suitable fitting 9 and at a suitable location along the pivoting pipe 5, allowing it to move between the two end positions (A, B) and (C, D) . The adjacent pipe 6 is fixedly fastened at its respective ends to the upper and lower frame pipes 2, 3, respectively, or, as illustrated in the figures, one end fastened to a supporting pipe 10 and the other end to the lower frame pipe 3.

In particular, the adjacent pipe 6 comprises a first pipe section 6a and a second pipe section 6b, between which an angle v° is formed. The first pipe section 6a is essentially vertical and the second pipe section 6b is inclined forming the angle v° to the first pipe section 6a. One end of the first pipe section 6a is attached to the lower frame pipe 3, while one end of the second pipe section 6b is fastened to the mentioned supporting pipe 10 or directly to the upper frame pipe 2. The pivoting pipe 5 is essentially parallel to one of the pipe sections 6a, 6b when being in its end positions (A, B) and (C, D) . It is noted that the lengths of the pipe sections 6a and 6b are different, pipe section 6b being the longer section.

The spacing between the pipes of the headlock arrangements 4, and between two adjacent headlock arrangements 4, respectively, is chosen so as to prevent the milking animals from entering their head through other openings than the intended opening of the headlock arrangement 4. The feed fence 1 may comprise additional pipes arranged between the upper and lower frame pipes 2, 3. For example, it may comprise supporting pipes at the ends of the feed fence 1, 11, connecting the upper and lower frame pipes 2, 3 to each other and completing the frame structure.

The feed fence 1 further comprises a bumper device 7 for keeping the pivoting pipe 5 in a non-vertical position when the headlock is in the unlocked state, and in order to keep it in this unlocked state when there is no animal present. The bumper device 7 is dimensioned and located on the pivoting pipe 5 so as to accomplish this. In particular, as the pivoting pipe 5 is released from the locked state it is in an almost vertical position, in the figure illustrated as position (A' , B' ) . The bumper device 7 prevents the pivoting pipe 5 from resuming the locked state (A, B) by keeping the pipe 5 in the non-vertical position and causing the pivoting pipe 5 to slide to the end position (C, D) by means of gravitational force. This is accomplished as long as the pivoting pipe is non-vertical, and the bumper device 7 is dimensioned for this end. The fitting 9 is located so that the part of the pivoting pipe 5 being parallel to the second pipe section 6b of the adjacent pipe is longer than the part being parallel to the first pipe section 6b. Thereby the upper part of the pivoting pipe 5 weighs more and falls to position (C, D) when it is non-vertical.

The inventor of the present invention has identified a possible shortcoming of this prior art solution. The bumper device 7, provided for keeping the headlock arrangement 4 in its unlocked state (i.e. between position (A', B') and (C, D)) when no animal is present at that particular headlock arrangement 4, may disturb the function of the locking device 8. In particular, the bumper device 7 may prevent the pivoting pipe 5 from assuming the vertical position even when there is a milking animal present pressing down her head towards the manger and thereby moving the ends of the pivoting pipe 5 towards positions A and B. The locking is thus not correctly performed.

The present invention provides an alternative means for keeping the pivoting pipe 5 in the non-vertical position when not in use, while still allowing a correct locking of the headlock arrangements 4.

Figure 2 illustrates a feed fence 11 in accordance with the invention having one or more headlock arrangements 12. The same reference numerals as used in figure 1 are used in figure 2 for same parts. The bumper device 7 has been replaced by magnet devices 13, 14 arranged in the pivoting pipe 5 and the adjacent pipe 6, respectively. When the pivoting pipe 5 is in the vertical position, the magnet devices 13, 14 are located opposite each other.

The magnet devices 13, 14 are of the same polarities, repelling each other, and thereby making the pivoting pipe 5 move from the vertical position to the position wherein its ends are at positions C and D, respectively. When the pivoting pipe 5 is released from the locked state, i.e. is in position

(A', B'), it therefore swiftly moves to the unlocked state. In particular, when the pivoting pipe 5 is unlocked and is substantially vertical, the ends of the pivoting pipe 5 are pushed towards the positions C and D, respectively, by the magnetic force between the magnet devices 13, 14.

When a milking animal enters her head into the headlock arrangement 12, the locking is reliably effectuated as there is no protruding bumper device disturbing the locking function .

The magnet devices 13, 14 can have a lesser width than the bumper devices 7 of the prior art solution, or even be arranged recessed into the pivoting pipe 5 and the adjacent pipe 6, respectively. There is thus no protruding part that may disturb the locking function of the locking device 8. Even if the magnet devices 13, 14 are protruding somewhat, there does not need to be any physical contact between the pivoting pipe 5 and the adjacent pipe 6 in order for the pivoting pipe 5 to be pushed towards position (C, D) .

The feed fence 11 may further comprise a locking means 15 for simultaneously locking and releasing all headlock arrangements 12 of the feed fence 11. With such locking means 15, a farmer is able to manually or automatically lock the headlock arrangements so that the milking animals cannot themselves unlock the headlock arrangement. Such locking means 15 are known per se, and by means of the invention it is ensured that all headlock arrangements 12 are locked when using the locking means 15. In particular, the farmer is assured that all animals present at the feed fence 11 are indeed locked in. Thereby the animals may be examined, inseminated or otherwise treated. There are further situations where it is important to hinder the milking animal from lying down, for example when she has just been milked. Preventing her from lying down minimizes the risk of dirt or bacteria entering the teat canals, which may be open some time after milking has been completed.

In the described prior art feed fence 1 it can possibly happen that one or a few headlock arrangements 4 remain in the unlocked position. For example, if a milking animal having a rather slender neck enters her head through the headlock arrangement 4, the bumper device 7 of the pivoting pipe 5 could possibly hinder the locking device 8 from being locked, as the smaller milking animal does not press against the pivoting pipe 5 as much as a larger one. The pivoting pipe 5 thus fails to reach the locked state due to the bumper device 7. This shortcoming is prevented by the present invention, since there is space between the magnet devices 13, 14 even when the pivoting pipe 5 is in the vertical position. The possible locking obstruction posed by the bumper device 7 is thus removed.

The described headlock arrangement can be used in any kind of animal fencing arrangement where the head of the animal needs to be locked in so that the animal cannot leave. Besides in a feed fence, the headlock arrangement could thus also be used for example in another kind of feeding arrangement, in a treatment box or on a rotary platform.

Claims

1. A headlock arrangement (12) for use in an animal fencing arrangement (11) comprising at least one frame pipe (2, 3), said headlock arrangement (12) comprising:

- a pivoting pipe (5) connected to said at least one frame pipe (2, 3) so as to pivot between a first end position (A, B) and second end position (C, D) and

- an adjacent pipe (6) connected to said at least one frame pipe (2, 3) and adjacent to said pivoting pipe (5),

characterized in that said pivoting pipe (5) comprises a first magnet (13) and in that said adjacent pipe (6) comprises a second magnet (14), said first and second magnet devices (13, 14) having repelling polarities.

2. The headlock arrangement (12) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second magnet devices (13, 14) are recessed into said pivoting pipe (5) and into said adjacent pipe (6), respectively.

3. The headlock arrangement (12) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said adjacent pipe (6) comprises a first pipe section (6a) and a second pipe section (6b), and wherein said first magnet device (13) and said second magnet device (14) are opposite each other when said pivoting pipe (5) is in said first end position (A, B) .

4. The headlock arrangement (12) as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said pivoting pipe (5) is kept in said second position (C, D) by a magnetic force between said first and said second magnet devices (13, 14) unless said pivoting pipe (5) is properly arranged in said first position (A, B) .

5. The headlock arrangement (12) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said headlock arrangement (12) is arranged to be locked when said pivoting pipe (5) is in said first position (A, B), and said headlock arrangement (12) is arranged to be unlocked when said pivoting pipe (5) is in said second position (C, D) .

6. An animal fencing arrangement (11) comprising at least one headlock arrangement (12) as claimed in any one of claims 1-5.

7. An animal fencing arrangement (11) comprising several headlock arrangements (12) as claimed in any one of claims 1-

5, further comprising means (15) for simultaneously locking all of said headlock arrangements (12) .

8. An animal fencing arrangement (11) as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said animal fencing arrangement (11) is a feed fence.