AU595957B2

AU595957B2 - Livestock loading race

Info

Publication number: AU595957B2
Application number: AU81801/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Geoffrey Guy Shannon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-25
Filing date: 1987-11-25
Publication date: 1990-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-25
Also published as: AU8180187A

Description

S F Ref: 19796 FORM CMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFIrATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: PH9146 25 November 1986 PATENI Accepted: Published: LODGED AT SUB-OFFICE 2 5 NOV 1987 Sy'dn This document contains the amendments made under Section 49 and is correctoi i printing.

o Class Int. Class Application Number: "o Lodged: '.o PrioriTEN DOLty:RS TWENTY DOLLAR Related Art: TEN DOL ARS TWENTY DOLLARS UNE1 0 C, C C C Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Geoffrey Guy Shannon "Quondong" Cudal New South Wales 2864

AUSTRALIA

Geoffrey Guy Shannon, AL bMCHdn M~lh OPF4"tR Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys, Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: LIVESTOCK LOADING RACE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us 5815/2 -7 ILli~ -2- The present invention relates to a livestock loading race and more particularly but not exclusively to a transportable livestock loading race which is adjustable to suite a wide variety of situations.

In the livestock industry, the station owner is confronted with the problem of loading his stock (le cattle, sheep etc) onto a variety of transporting vehicles, and from, or to, a number of different locations on his property. The stock owner therefor requires use of a loading race at each of the loading locations, which is capable of loading stock onto vehicles with low tray heights such as utilities, and onto vehicles such as semi trailers with three or four decker stock floats.

When loading livestock onto a transporting vehicle, it is necessary for the loading race to provide a secure and sturdy passageway. Also the side of this passageway should provide a safe means of ingress for the livestock onto the transporting vehicle.

Known livestock loading races have suffered from the disadvantage of r1*r I merely providing a ramp (ie having no sides) between the ground and the deck of the loading race and/or not providing sides to a gap between the

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leading edges of the sides of the loading race, and the trailing edges of the sides of the transporting vehicle.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome at least one of the above disadvantages of the prior art.

There is disclosed herein a-livestock race for loading/unloading livestock between transporting vehicle and a predetermined location, and 4:t: comprising: 25 a main frame; a generally elongate race frame defining a race for directing livestock and having a deck for supporting the livestock as they move along the race and sides being generally co-extensive with the deck; said race frame being pivotably mounted proximate one end thereof to said main frame whereby the other end of said race is vertically moveable between a lowered position generally level with said one end, and a raised position wherein the deck is inclined upwards from said one end to said other end; a ramp frame pivotably mounted to said one end of the race frame to co-operate therewith and being moveable between an extended position to provide a continuous deck and sides between said race frame and said location, and a retracted position.

n 2a Preferably, the livestock race further comprises a side-extension frame pivotably supported proximate the other end of said race frame to co-operate with the sides of the race frame, the side-extension frame being moveable between an extended configuration to provide continuous sides between said race frame and a trailing edge of Lit r t# t t ti 1 ?1*1 -to- i _Uli__ I*I_~L II *il ro **0I said vehicle, and a retracted configuration.

Preferably the main frame is supported by wheels and provided with coupling means to define a trailer capable of being towed by a motor vehicle.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a portable livestock loading race; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the race of Figure 1 attached to a vehicle to be towed thereby; Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation of the race of Figure 1 in a further configuration; and Figure 4 is a schematic side elevation of the race of Figure 1 in a further configuration.

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a livestock loading race 10 consisting of a trailer chassis 11 provided with sprung bogie wheels 12 and a towing A-frame 13. The A-frame 13 is provided S at its forward end with a coupling 14 enabling the race 10 to be towed by a vehicle.

Pivotally mounted on the trailer chassis 11 is a race frame consisting of a floor 16 and sides 17 which co-operate to provide a race along which cattle, or sheep, etc are directed to be loaded onto, or unloaded from, a motor lorry 18. The rear end of the race frame 15 is S pivotally mounted on the chassis 11 by means of eyelets 19 through which pins pass to engage the race frame Pivotally mounted adjacent the rear end of the race frame 15 is a

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ramp frame 20 consisting of a floor 21 and sides 22 which co-operate to o: provide an extension of the race provided by the race frame It should be appreciated that the ramp frame 20 has its sides 22 received within the race frame 15 so that the sides 22 co-operate with the sides 17 to provide a continuous race from ground level to the motor lorry 18. The ramp frame 20 is manually pivoted to a raised position wherein it is retained by a pin or catch.

The race frame 15 has its forward end vertically moved (ie pivoted about the pivot axis proximate the rear end of the race frame) by means of a hydraulic ram 23 engaging an intermediate portion of the upper link 26 which is pivotally connected to the lower link 25. The two links 25 and 26 extend between the chassis 11 and race frame 15. The link 25 has its lower end pivotally attached to the chassis 11 while the other link 26 has its

SCC

C I DG:0567b 3 upper end pivotally attached to the race frame 15 underneath the deck floor 16.

The forward end of the race frame 15 is provided with L-shaped tongues 27 adapted to engage the rear end of the load receiving surfaces of the motor lorry 18. The rear end of the chassis 11 is provided with vertically adjustable leg supports 28.

The A-frame 13 is detachably connected to the race frame 15 by means of two removable pins which are removable to facilitate coupling of the race frame 15 to the motor lorry 18.

In operation of the above described loading race 10, the loading race is positioned adjacent the motor lorry 18 with the A-frame 13 disconnected and moved out of the way. The forward end of the race frame 15 has the tongues 27 engaged either at the upper deck 29 or loder deck to thereby provide a secure mounting for the forward end of the race frame 15. The rear supports 18 are extended to engage the ground and the ramp frame 20 is positioned so as to extend between the ground surface and the race frame 15. As discussed previously, the race frame 15 is vertically moved at its forward end by operation of the hydraulic lifting means 23.

To prov'4e a continuous race between the motor lorry 18 and the race frame 15, a forward side-extension frame 31 is provided. This forward 2! side-extension frame 31 is pivotally attached to the race frame 15, and has E sides 32 which extend between the rear of the motor lorry 18 and the race frame f t I C C I I I I ,t

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c r The loading race can also be provided with a demountable S33.

25 hydraulically driven wheel, S4- When the loading race 10 is being tilted to co-operate with the deck (29 or 30) of the motor lorry 18, a power drivable t33 wheel4 is mounted proximate the forward end of the chassis 11 and is "I provided with an hydraulic motor, thus enabling the loading race 10 to be moved into the desired position without the aid of a prime mover, and without the operator needing to "man-handle" the loading race 10. The hydraulic motor can be driven by the hydraulic pump 32 which also operates the hydraulic ram 23 used to tilt the race frame When the race frame 15 is in a configuration suitable for trailing behind a motor vehicle, that is, with the race frame substantially horizontal, the side-extension and ramp frames in the retracted configurations and the A-frame 13 connected to the race frame, the wheel will be disconnected from the chasses 11 and conveniently located on the race frame 15 for transporting purposes.

A marked advantage of the livestock loading race of the above 4 i i described embodiment is that it provides a safe passageway for livestock from ground level up to the deck of the transporting vehicle by virtue of the sides of the frames 17, 22 and 32 being continuous between these points.

Also, the frame 15 is securely supported at both ends providing a rigid structure which is essential for the livestock to feel secure and therefore move freely in the loading race. This rigidity allows the sides of the race to be made in an "open" rail construction (preferably with panels alternately therebetween) also allowing the stock to load more freely.

The loading race has a fully adjustable delivery height to suit all types of commonly used transporting vehicles, can be towed by the transporting vehicle or any reasonably sized utility or sedan, and is easily man-handled (if necessary) on most sides.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes the livestock loading race being demounted from the trailer assembly, and operated from a fixed site.

4 0 a 0 a a 0 o a" au DG:0567b 5

Claims

2. A livestock race as defined in claim 1 further comprising a side-extension frame pivotably supported proximate the other end of said race frame to co-operate with the sides of the race frame, said side extension frame being moveable between an extended position for providing continuous sides between said race frame and a trailing edge of said vehicle, and a retracted position.
3. A livestock race as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein said main frame is rollably supported by at least ore wheel set, and provided with coupling means to allow said livestock race to be towed by a prime mover.
4. The livestock race of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said race frame is pivotably moved with respect to said main frame by a power lifting means mounted on said main frame and acting on said race frame.
5. The livestock race as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said main race further comprises a demountable power driven wheel adapted to drive said livestock race. 639b ~u j -7
6. A livestock rate as hereinbefore described with reference to the acconmpanyi ng drawlings. DATED this TWENTY-NINTH day of JANUARY 1990 Geoffrey Guy Shannon Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON 0 0 0000 0 0090 0 00 f4 t r t t t t 4 It -KLN/l 639b