GB2172786A

GB2172786A - Restraining device for cattle

Info

Publication number: GB2172786A
Application number: GB08606866A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fred Dixon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-03-21
Filing date: 1986-03-20
Publication date: 1986-10-01
Also published as: GB8507336D0; GB2172786B; GB8606866D0

Abstract

A restraining device for cattle and similar animals in milking parlours and like situations where it is required to restrain a standing animal against untoward movement comprises a yoke 13 adapted to be disposed above the animal and lowered with pressure on to the animals' back. Pressure equal to a man's weight exerted by a ram arrangement positionable by means of an overhead track member is effective to restrain a frisky cow to facilitate milking. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Animal restraint This invention relates to restraining devices for cattle and similar animals.

In milking parlours and like situations, cattle may sometimes getfrisky and difficult to control. A substantial risk of injurvarises in such situations.

The present invention provides an effective means of restraint ofcaftle and similar animals in milking parlours and like situations.

The invention comprises a restraining device for cattle and similar animals in milking parlours and like situations where it is required to restrain a standing animal against untoward movement, comprising a yoke adaptedto be disposed abovethe animal and lowered with pressure on to the animal's back.

Said yoke may be adapted to be lowered with a predetermined pressure on to the animal's back.

Experience has shown that such a device is especially effective in restraining a cow during milking. It is not proposed that cows be restrained as a matterofcourseduring milking, ratherthatmilking parlours be provided with at least one device according to the invention for restraining a particularlytroublesomeanimal. Largermilking parlours could beneficially have two or even three such devices depending upon the number of cattle accommodated.

The said yoke may be mounted on a vertically displaceable ram member, which may be partofa fluid pressure operated ram arrangement.

Said yoke may be mounted for movement about a milking parlouror like establishment whereby to be positionable over selected cattle or similar animals in need of restraint. The yoke may be movable along a track member by a control device, which may comprise an electric motorforpositioningtheyokeoverananimal.The control device may comprise push buttons for moving the yoke member backwards and forwards along a track member, and may include push buttons for moving the track member laterally to either side thereof or in any other desired direction, and further push buttons for raising and lowering the yoke on the ram member-muchafterthefashionofacontrol for an industrial overhead crane or hoist.

The control means may also control the predetermined pressure with which the yoke is lowered on to the animal's back, which may be effected by a control forthefluid -airorhydraulic pressure in the system actuating the ram.

One embodiment of a restraining device according to the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which the single Figure is a partdiagrammatic general view.

The drawing illustrates a restraining device 11 for cattle 12and similaranimals in milking parloursand like situations where it is required to restrain a standing animal 12 against untoward movement particularly kicking -comprising a yoke 13 adapted to be disposed above the animal 12 and lowered with pressure on to the animal's back.

The yoke 13 is mounted on a ram 15 of a pneumatic (but could be hydraulic) ram arrangement 14 powered by a compressor 16so as to be raisable and lowerable thereby and in particularto be lowerable under a predetermined pneumatic pressure so asto be sufficient from experience, about equivalent to a man's weight, to restrain the animal, but also not so much asto damagethe animal physically or hurt it, which would be counter productive. A reliefvalve 17 is provided, adjustable to predetermine the pressure.

The ram arrangement i4 is mounted on a rail 19 along which it is moved by being fastened to a wire 21 driven over pulleys 22, 23 by an electric motor 24 controlled by a depending switch arrangement 25 which moves it one way or the other depending on which oftwo push buttons 26, is depressed. Further buttons 27 are provided for lowering and elevating the yoke 13 on the ram 15 by controlling valve arrangement. An air hose 31 goes from the compressor 16 to the ram arrangement 14.

The rail 19 may be likewise movable laterally of itself on furthertransversely extending rails by a like motor and pulley arrangement, none ofwhich is shown but which will be readily understood, so as to be capable of positioning the yoke over the area of or a pa partofthe or the miling i ng parlour.

The yoke 13 itself comprises an inverted Y-shaped mem ber of which the laterally depending arms a re flexible, for instance of a solid rubber material.

In practice, an animal known to be frisky can be stationed at a feed trough 34 prior to milking being attempted and the yoke moved over it and lowered under pressure so as to hold it restrained when milking is commenced.

1. A restraining device for cattle and similar animals in milking parloursand like situations where it is required to restrain a standing animal against untoward movement comprising a yoke adapted to be disposed above the animal and lowered with pressure on to the animal's back.

2. A restraining device according to claim 1, said yoke being adapted to be lowered with a predetermined pressure on to the animal's back.

3. A restraining device according to claim 1 and claim 2, the said yoke being mounted on a vertically or substantially vertically displaceable ram member.

4. A restraining device according to claim 3, said ram member being part of a fluid pressure operated ram arrangement.

5. A restraining device according to any of the claims 1 to 4, said yoke being mounted for movement abouta milking parlour or like establishment whereby to be positionable over selected cattle or similar animals in need of restraint.

6. A restraining device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said yoke is movable along a track member by a control device.

7. A restraining device according to claim 6, in which said control device comprises an electronic motor four positioning the yoke over an animal.

8. A restraining device according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said control device comprises means controlling the movement of said yoke over a milking parlourorthe like so asto position it over a selected animal.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Animal restraint This invention relates to restraining devices for cattle and similar animals. In milking parlours and like situations, cattle may sometimes getfrisky and difficult to control. A substantial risk of injurvarises in such situations. The present invention provides an effective means of restraint ofcaftle and similar animals in milking parlours and like situations. The invention comprises a restraining device for cattle and similar animals in milking parlours and like situations where it is required to restrain a standing animal against untoward movement, comprising a yoke adaptedto be disposed abovethe animal and lowered with pressure on to the animal's back. Said yoke may be adapted to be lowered with a predetermined pressure on to the animal's back. Experience has shown that such a device is especially effective in restraining a cow during milking. It is not proposed that cows be restrained as a matterofcourseduring milking, ratherthatmilking parlours be provided with at least one device according to the invention for restraining a particularlytroublesomeanimal. Largermilking parlours could beneficially have two or even three such devices depending upon the number of cattle accommodated. The said yoke may be mounted on a vertically displaceable ram member, which may be partofa fluid pressure operated ram arrangement. Said yoke may be mounted for movement about a milking parlouror like establishment whereby to be positionable over selected cattle or similar animals in need of restraint. The yoke may be movable along a track member by a control device, which may comprise an electric motorforpositioningtheyokeoverananimal.The control device may comprise push buttons for moving the yoke member backwards and forwards along a track member, and may include push buttons for moving the track member laterally to either side thereof or in any other desired direction, and further push buttons for raising and lowering the yoke on the ram member-muchafterthefashionofacontrol for an industrial overhead crane or hoist. The control means may also control the predetermined pressure with which the yoke is lowered on to the animal's back, which may be effected by a control forthefluid -airorhydraulic pressure in the system actuating the ram. One embodiment of a restraining device according to the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which the single Figure is a partdiagrammatic general view. The drawing illustrates a restraining device 11 for cattle 12and similaranimals in milking parloursand like situations where it is required to restrain a standing animal 12 against untoward movement particularly kicking -comprising a yoke 13 adapted to be disposed above the animal 12 and lowered with pressure on to the animal's back. The yoke 13 is mounted on a ram 15 of a pneumatic (but could be hydraulic) ram arrangement 14 powered by a compressor 16so as to be raisable and lowerable thereby and in particularto be lowerable under a predetermined pneumatic pressure so asto be sufficient from experience, about equivalent to a man's weight, to restrain the animal, but also not so much asto damagethe animal physically or hurt it, which would be counter productive. A reliefvalve 17 is provided, adjustable to predetermine the pressure. The ram arrangement i4 is mounted on a rail 19 along which it is moved by being fastened to a wire 21 driven over pulleys 22, 23 by an electric motor 24 controlled by a depending switch arrangement 25 which moves it one way or the other depending on which oftwo push buttons 26, is depressed. Further buttons 27 are provided for lowering and elevating the yoke 13 on the ram 15 by controlling valve arrangement. An air hose 31 goes from the compressor 16 to the ram arrangement 14. The rail 19 may be likewise movable laterally of itself on furthertransversely extending rails by a like motor and pulley arrangement, none ofwhich is shown but which will be readily understood, so as to be capable of positioning the yoke over the area of or a pa partofthe or the miling i ng parlour. The yoke 13 itself comprises an inverted Y-shaped mem ber of which the laterally depending arms a re flexible, for instance of a solid rubber material. In practice, an animal known to be frisky can be stationed at a feed trough 34 prior to milking being attempted and the yoke moved over it and lowered under pressure so as to hold it restrained when milking is commenced. CLAIMS

9. A restraining device according to claim 8, including control means for lowering the yoke with predetermined pressure on to an animal's back.

10. A restraining device according to claim 8 or claim 9 comprising means for raising the yoke from an animal's back when it is desired to release the animal.

11. A restraining device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, said yoke being mounted on a fluid pressure operated ram, the pressure of the yoke being determined by an adjustable fluid pressure.

12. A restraining device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.