AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): Robin Christopher Feltrim FAGAN Invention Title: LIVESTOCK DRAFTING SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -2 LIVESTOCK DRAFTING SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to livestock drafting systems which are used to draft or sort stock, typically so that animals having similar characteristics can receive special handling. 5 BACKGROUND ART Conventional drafting systems include an entrance chute, a main exit and at least one sort exit. A two-way drafting system of this simplest form includes a manually-actuated gate positioned in the chute for movement between a sorting position, in which the gate blocks the main exit and opens the sort exit, and a non-sorting position, where the gate 10 blocks the sort exit and opens the main exit. A further sort exit can be added to this simple system to provide a three-way drafting system with two sort exits provided on opposing sides of the chute. A pair of gates close the opposing sort exits with either gate blocking the main exit when it its respective sort position. Similarly a five-way drafting system is provided by two pairs of gates, each pair 15 closing opposing sort exits with one pair "downstream" of the other so as to effectively provide two three-way drafting systems in series. Opening and closing the gates in such systems is typically controlled by electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators and although gate operation can be automatically controlled, it is advantageous if the drafting system is compact and the gates are 20 relatively close together so that the operator can monitor their operation. It will be appreciated that there is a need for a relatively compact four-way and six-way drafting system. It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problem or at least to provide the public with a useful choice. H:\Linda\Keep\spec\P58000 FAGAN Griffith 2005-08-18 - spec (2).doc 18/08/05 -3 Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only. Any publication cited in this specification is hereby incorporated by reference, however this does not constitute an admission that the document forms part of the common 5 general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country. The applicant reserves the right to challenge the pertinency of any publication cited herein, or to challenge the accuracy of any assertion made in a cited publication. As used herein, the word "comprises" means "includes, but is not limited to" and its derivatives have a corresponding meaning. 10 All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications 15 are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country. It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, 20 and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process. 25 It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice. H:\Linda\Keep\spec\P58000 FAGAN Griffith 2005-08-18 - spec (2).doc 18/08/05 -4 Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 5 According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a livestock drafting system including: a chute forming a path for receiving and guiding animals to be drafted; a first pair of substantially opposing sort exits having respective gates, the sort exits being positioned laterally of the path formed by the chute; characterised by 10 an intermediate gate between the first pair of gates, the intermediate gate dividing the section of the chute between the first pair of sort exits into two first channels each having a respective first channel exit, whereby the first pair of gates and the intermediate gate cooperate such that: when in a sort position each gate of the first pair opens its respective sort exit and 15 closes both channel exits and when both gates of the first pair close their respective sort exits, the intermediate gate is operable for selectively closing either one of the first channel exits while opening the other. 20 In this manner the invention provides a 4-way drafting system employing three gates in a compact arrangement. Animals may enter the drafting system through either of the two H:\Linda\Keep\spec\P58000 FAGAN Griffith 2005-08-18 - spec (2).doc 18/08/05 -5 channels and by selective operation of the gates the animals may pass through one of the four exits. The gates may be moved by power actuators such as electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic motors and the system preferably includes a controller, switching or valving to control 5 cooperation between the movement of the first pair of gates and the intermediate gate. Preferably the movement of the gates is controlled such that each movement of one of the first pair of gates is accompanied by a corresponding movement of the intermediate gate. Preferably the system further includes: 10 a second pair of substantially opposing sort exits having respective gates, the second pair of sort exits being positioned laterally of the path formed by the chute, an intermediate barrier dividing the section of the chute between the second pair of sort exits into two second channels each having a respective second channel exit, whereby the second pair of gates and the intermediate barrier are positioned such that the animals 15 pass from each of the first channels into a respective one of the second channels and each gate of the second pair is operable between a sort position where each gate closes the respective second channel exit and opens the respective sort exit, and a closed position wherein each gate closes the respective sort exit and opens the respective second channel exit. 20 Each of the gates is preferably hinged about a substantially upright hinge axis and the hinge axes of the first pair of gates and the intermediate gate are substantially coplanar. The hinge axes of the second pair of gates are also preferably substantially coplanar, and the hinge axis of the intermediate gate lies substantially in the plane of the intermediate barrier. H:\Linda\Keep\spec\P58000 FAGAN Griffith 2005-08-18 - spec (2).doc 18/08/05 - 6 With the inclusion of the additional pair of gates and the intermediate barrier the present invention provides a compact 6-way drafting system which is effective and efficient in operational use. The system may be economically constructed and has an overall simple design which minimizes manufacturing costs. 5 In another aspect the invention provides a method of automatically drafting animals using the above-described drafting system wherein the control means receives a signal relating to each animal to be drafted and in response to each signal the control means selectively operates the actuators to position the gates for controlling the passage of each animal through the system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 15 Fiqure 1 is a schematic plan view of a preferred embodiment of a livestock drafting system according to the present invention. BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to Fig. 1, the 6-way livestock drafting system 100 of the preferred embodiment 20 of the present invention incorporates within it a 4-way drafting system 101. Animals 10, through the selective operation of gates 12-16 of the system 100, are drafted along six paths 30 through exits 1-6 into respective pens, or the like, bounded e.g. by fences 31 37. H:\Linda\Keep\spec\P58000 FAGAN Griffith 2005-08-18 - spec (2).doc 18/08/05 - 7 The 4-way drafting system 101 includes a chute 16 divided into two first channels 17, 18 and defined by three gates 12-14. The animals 10 enter the system 101 through an entrance 11 down channel 18. It will be understood that the animals 10 may alternatively enter through the channel 17. A first pair of sort exits 1, 6 are positioned laterally of the 5 path formed by the chute 16, the sort exits 1, 6 having respective gates 12, 14. The intermediate gate 13 is positioned between the first pair of gates 1, 6 and thereby divides the section of the chute 16 between the first pair of sort exits 1, 6 into the two first channels 17, 18. Each of the first channels 17, 18 has a first channel exit 19, 20 respectively through which the animals 10 pass e.g. if they are to leave through any of the 10 exits 2-5. The gates 12-14 are pivotally fixed about upright hinges 21 at their ends generally opposing the entrance 11. The intermediate gate 13 may be swung to either side of its central position (as shown) to positions represented by the dashed lines 13a, 13b for selectively closing first channel exit 20 while opening first channel exit 19 and vice versa. 15 The gates 12 and 14 of the first pair cooperate with the intermediate gate 13 such that with gate 13 in position 13a, for example, gate 14 is swung into its sort position 14a to direct the animals 10 out through sort exit 6. With the intermediate gate 13 in position 13b gate 12 is swung to its sort position 12a to direct the animal out through sort exit 1. Thus when in a sort position 12a, 14a each gate 12, 14 of the first pair opens its 20 respective sort exit 1, 6 and closes both channel exits 19, 20 and with both gates 12, 14 of the first pair closing their respective sort exits 1, 6 the intermediate gate 13 is operable for selectively closing either one of the first channel exits 19, 20 while opening the other. While with animals only entering through channel 18 is it unnecessary to swing the intermediate gate 13 to position 13b to direct the animals through the sort exits 1, the 25 above-described mode of controlling the cooperating movement of the gates 12-13, allows for like operation if animals alternatively enter through channel 17. H:\Linda\Keep\spec\P58000 FAGAN Griffith 2005-08-18 - spec (2).doc 18/08/05 -8 The 4-way drafting system 101 includes four exits comprising the opposing sort exits 1 and 6 and the channel exits 19 and 20 which it will be understood, in a stand-alone system 101 could direct the animals into two respective pens (not shown). However, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the system 100 includes the system 5 101 and further includes the second pair of opposing gates 15, 16 and an intermediate barrier 25 to provide for 6-way drafting. The second pair of sort exits 2, 5 are also positioned laterally of the path formed by the chute 16 and together with the intermediate barrier 25 form second channels 23 and 24 aligned with the first channels 17 and 18 respectively for the animals 10 to pass directly therebetwen. The second channels 23 10 and 24 have respective second channel exits 3, 4. Each gate 15 and 16 of the second pair may be swung from the closed position (as shown - wherein each gate 15, 16 closes the respective sort exit 2, 5) to respective sort positions 15a and 16a (illustrated by dashed lines) to open the sort exits 2, 5 and close the second channel exits 3, 4. 15 The upright hinge axes of the first pair of gates 12, 14 and the intermediate gate 13 are substantially coplanar, lying in the transversely extending plane of the fences 32 and 36. The hinge axes the second pair of gates 15, 16 are also substantially coplanar, lying in the transversely extending plane 40, with the axis of the intermediate gate 13 lying substantially in the plane of the intermediate barrier 25. 20 The gates 12-14 are each moved by respective actuators (not shown) and their operation may be controlled by a microprocessor controller (not shown), or the like. For example, the operation of the system 100 may be controlled based upon a unique animal identifier or a measurement relating to each animal, such as its weight. The controller would receive a signal relating to each animal to be drafted, or a weight-indicating signal from 25 an automated scale, and in response to each signal the controller selectively operates the H:\Linda\Keep\spec\P58000 FAGAN Griffith 2005-08-18 - spec (2).doc 18/08/05 - 9 actuators to position the gates for controlling the passage of each animal through the system. Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without 5 departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence 10 or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. H:\Linda\Keep\spec\P58000 FAGAN Griffith 2005-08-18 - spec (2).doc 18/08/05