Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
  • F16C29/00—Bearings for parts moving only linearly
  • F16C29/04—Ball or roller bearings
  • F16C29/045—Ball or roller bearings having rolling elements journaled in one of the moving parts
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
  • F16B7/00—Connections of rods or tubes, e.g. of non-circular section, mutually, including resilient connections
  • F16B7/10—Telescoping systems
  • F16B7/14—Telescoping systems locking in intermediate non-discrete positions
  • F16B7/1409—Telescoping systems locking in intermediate non-discrete positions with balls or rollers urged by an axial displacement of a wedge or a conical member
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K1/00—Housing animals; Equipment therefor
  • A01K1/06—Devices for fastening animals, e.g. halters, toggles, neck-bars or chain fastenings
  • A01K1/0613—Devices for immobilisation or restraint of animals, e.g. chutes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K15/00—Devices for taming animals, e.g. nose-rings or hobbles; Devices for overturning animals in general; Training or exercising equipment; Covering boxes
  • A01K15/006—Devices for impeding passage of animals under fences, preventing butting or the like
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
  • F16C29/00—Bearings for parts moving only linearly
  • F16C29/10—Arrangements for locking the bearings
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
  • F16C41/00—Other accessories, e.g. devices integrated in the bearing not relating to the bearing function as such
  • F16C41/001—Integrated brakes or clutches for stopping or coupling the relatively movable parts

Definitions

• This invention relates to a locking mechanism, particularly a locking mechanism to selectively permit relative movement between two members, and more especially an automatically engageable locking mechanism to automatically prevent relative movement between two members except when the mechanism is disengaged.
• Automatic locking mechanisms are required in a number of applications to automatically prevent relative movement between two members except when the mechanism is positively disengaged.
• One such application includes animal handling apparatus where it may be required for the apparatus to be closed to a required position relative to the size and/or location of an animal, and then to automatically lock such that the apparatus cannot be opened by movement of the animal.
• a yoke In animal containment apparatus such as a cattle or sheep crush, a yoke is often closed either side of an animal’s neck. This requires to be closed to a required position by an operator and then to automatically lock in that position until it is required to release the animal.
• a locking mechanism to permit relative linear movement between first and second members when the locking mechanism is disengaged, and to prevent relative linear movement between the first and second members when the locking member is engaged
• the locking mechanism including a locking arrangement including a linear passage with respective end sections and a mid-section, the mid-section being of reduced width relative to the end sections, the mid-section and at least part of the end sections of the passage being defined on opposite sides by the first and second members, a respective locking member being movably located in each end section, the locking member being of a size such that it cannot pass through the mid-section but can freely pass along the end sections, so that if the locking member is urged into the mid-section, it will jam between the first and second members to engage the locking mechanism, thereby preventing relative linear movement therebetween, an engagement member being provided beatable in the mid-section and selectively movable along the mid-section to urge a respective one of the locking members out of the mid-section towards the respective end section, to disengage the locking mechanism and permit
• the locking mechanism may be configured to be automatically urged to an engaged condition.
• the locking members may be resiliently urged towards the mid-section so as to cause automatic engagement of the locking mechanism.
• a respective spring may be located at the closed end of each end section to urge the respective locking member to the mid-section.
• the engagement member may be connected to a control member which is slidably movable to a limited degree relative to the first member.
• a handle arrangement may be connected to the control member to permit movement thereof by an operator.
• the control member may be in the form of a sleeve slidably mounted on the first member.
• the locking members and/or engagement member may be in the form of cylindrical members slidably movable along the linear passage, with their axes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the passage.
• the second member may be slidably extendible through an opening extending through the first member.
• the first member may be in the form of a carriage slidably movable along the second member.
• the second member may be in the form of an elongate bar.
• the locking mechanism may comprise a plurality of locking arrangements, and two locking arrangements may be provided on opposite sides to each other of the second member.
• four locking arrangements are provided, with two on each side of the second member opposite a respective locking arrangement on the other side of the second member.
• animal containment apparatus comprising a yoke with a pair of yoke members selectively movable towards or away from each other, with a locking mechanism according to any of the preceding ten paragraphs, to permit the yoke members to be moved to required positions by an operator, and to automatically lock in the required positions.
• the apparatus may be configured such that the yoke members are interconnected so as to simultaneously each move towards or away from the other.
• a handle may be provided connected to the locking mechanism and extending to the side of the apparatus to be usable by an operator.
• Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a locking mechanism according to the invention
• Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in an engaged condition illustrating components of the mechanism;
• Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 but in a disengaged condition
• Fig. 4 is a similar view to Figs. 2 and 3 illustrating both the engaged and disengaged condition
• Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic end view of the mechanism of Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 is a detailed view of part of the engagement shown in Fig. 6.
• Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively similar view to Figs. 6 and 7 but with the mechanism in a disengaged condition;
• Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a cattle crush in use with a yoke incorporating a locking mechanism according to the invention
• Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively diagrammatic perspective and end views of part of the cattle crush of Fig. 10 in a closed condition;
• Figs. 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views of an upper part of the cattle crush yoke of Fig. 10 in respectively closed and open positions;
• Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an upper part of the cattle crush yoke of Fig. 10 in a closed condition;
• Fig. 16 is a further end view of an upper part of the cattle crush yoke of Fig. 10 in a closed condition
• Figs. 17 and 18 are respectively plan views of part of the cattle crush yoke of Fig. 10 in closed and open positions
• Fig. 19 is a perspective view of an upper part of the cattle crush yoke in a closed condition.
• FIG. 10 show a locking mechanism 10 including four locking arrangements 12, and Figs. 10 - 19 show such a locking mechanism 10 mounted on a cattle crush containment apparatus 14 controlling opening and closed of two yoke members 16.
• the mechanism 10 includes a first member in the form of a carriage 18 slidably mounted on a second member in the form of an elongate bar 20.
• a control arrangement in the form of a sleeve 22 is slidably mounted over the carriage 18 and permitted a limited amount of longitudinal movement relative to the carriage 18.
• Each locking arrangement 12 includes a linear passage 24 formed by a recess 26 in the carriage 18 facing the elongate bar 20, the recess 26 is profiled such that the passage 24 defined between the recess 26 and the bar 20 has closed ends 28 extending through end sections 20 leading to a mid-section 32, with the closed ends 28 of the recess 26 gently bowed towards the elongate bar 20 to thereby define end sections 30, leading to the mid-section 32 defined against the elongate bar 20, which mid-section 32 is narrower than the end sections 30 on either side.
• a compression spring 34 is located in each end section 30.
• Each spring 34 engages against a respective locking member 36 in the form of a cylindrical member which is a sliding fit in the linear passage, but is too large to fully enter the mid-section 32, and as a one of the locking members 36 enters the mid- section 32 it will jam between the carriage 18 and elongate bar 20 to prevent relative movement therebetween.
• an engagement member 38 is provided which extends across the control member sleeve 22 through a slot 40 in the carriage 18 wall so as to define the limited longitudinal movement possible between the sleeve 22 and the carriage 18.
• the engagement member 38 is of smaller diameter than the locking members 36 and can therefore locate in the narrowest part, the mid-section 32, of the linear passage 24.
• Figs. 2, 6 and 7 show the locking mechanism 10 and hence each locking arrangement 12 in a relaxed condition which will automatically be engaged. If it is attempted to move the carriage 18 in either direction, the forward locking member 36 relative to the direction the carriage 18 is being urged would engage further between the carriage 18 and the elongate bar 20 to jam therebetween and thereby prevent relative movement therebetween.
• the sleeve 22 will first be moved to the right to the maximum possible amount as shown in Figs. 3, 8 and 9. This will cause the engagement members 38 to be moved to the right as shown in the drawings thereby urging the right hand, forwards relative to the desired movement, locking members 36 against the respective springs 34, such that the right hand and hence forwards locking members 36 will not jam between the carriage 18 and elongate bar 20.
• the left-hand rearwards locking members 34 will tend to roll between the moving carriage 18 and elongate bar 20 and not jam therebetween.
• Fig. 4 shows the two positions of the sleeve 22 and hence engagement members 34. Once the sleeve 22 is no longer urged to the right, by virtue of the respective pairs of springs 34, the mechanism will return to the relaxed engaged condition as shown for instance in Fig. 2.
• Figs. 10 to 19 show a cattle crush 14 with such a locking mechanism 10 controlling opening and closing of the yoke members 16.
• the elongate bar 20 extends above the yoke members 16, and the carriage 18 is slidably mounted thereon.
• a cranked handle 42 is pivotally connected to the top of the sleeve 22 mounted on the carriage 18, and extends to one side of the cattle crush 14.
• Figs. 1 1 and 12 show possible different positions of the handle 42.
• the yoke members 16 are interconnected so as to simultaneously each move together or apart. This arrangement is provided by a pair of gear racks 44 each connected to a respective one of the yoke members 16. As can be seen a gear 46 with a vertical axis engages between the two gear racks 44, such that when a one of the gear racks 44 moves in one direction, the other gear rack 44 will move in an opposite direction.
• the locking mechanism 10 would only be connected to a one of the yoke members 16, but with the above arrangement movement of this one yoke member will cause the other yoke member 16 to move.
• Fig. 16, 17 and 19 show the yoke members 16 closed, whilst Fig. 18 shows the yoke members 16 open, in which instance the handle 42 would have been pulled outwardly.
• the gear 46 is now engaging with opposite ends of the gear racks 44 relative to when the yoke members 16 are closed together.
• the locking mechanism provides for automatic engagement when no pressure is applied to a control handle in either direction, and automatic disengagement when the handle is moved in either direction.
• the apparatus is of a relatively straightforward mechanical construction and can therefore operate long term in potentially relatively harsh conditions without requiring any substantial maintenance. Providing a number of locking arrangements opposite each other provides a significant locking force.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Animal Husbandry (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Housing For Livestock And Birds (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=61783831

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2018
  • 2018-02-20 GB GB1802709.4A patent/GB2572939A/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2019
  • 2019-02-20 EP EP19708630.9A patent/EP3751995A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2019-02-20 WO PCT/GB2019/050473 patent/WO2019162671A1/en not_active Ceased

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