GB2259437A - Animal feeding barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A movable animal feeding barrier comprises a barrier 4 and a linkage 11-13 connecting the barrier to at least one support 3, the barrier being movable towards and away from the post(s). A weight 19 acts through cable 17 on the linkage to urge the barrier towards the posts. Means (figures 7-9) may be provided to secure the barrier at a number of set positions relative to the posts. A ram may be associated with the linkage and operable to move the barrier. <IMAGE>

Description

"A Feeding Barrier" The present invention relates to an animal barrier and in particular to a movable animal feeding barrier.

In feeding operations for cows, horses and other animals there is often a need to move the feeding barrier towards and away from feed contained behind the barrier. This is particularly the case where large quantities of feed are stored behind such a barrier, for example, silage.

Generally speaking, silage is stored in relatively large quantities in feeding areas because of the way in which it is delivered and distributed in the feeding area. So called silage ploughs are often used to distribute silage behind feeding barriers. In such situations the passageway available for storage of the silage is relatively large to accommodate the feed handling equipment used and thus all the feed is not available to the feeding animals if the barrier is fixed. Either the feed has to be distributed from time to time towards the feeding barrier or the feeding barrier has to be movable relative to the feed. Generally speaking, a movable feeding barrier is advantageous. It is known to provide such a movable feeding barrier which is hinged to a fixed supporting structure so as to swing on the supporting structure and provide a measure of control.

Unfortunately, such a feeding barrier has to be operated by the farmer or person feeding the animals. Further the range of operation is relatively restricted.

Ideally, the movable feeding barrier should operate on demand so that as the animals feed there is always some feed available to them but not sufficient feed available to them to allow them walk on and destroy or generally contaminate the feed. It is for the latter reason that feeding barriers, as is well known, are provided.

There is thus a need for an improved construction of movable animal feeding barrier which will allow the animals to control their own access to the feed. The invention is directed towards providing such a feeding barrier.

Statements of Invention According to the invention there is provided a movable animal feeding barrier comprising a barrier and a linkage connecting the barrier to a support, the barrier being movable towards and away from the support. In one embodiment of the invention, the barrier is movable back and forth to lie on opposite sides of the support.

In one embodiment of the invention biasing means is provided for the barrier.

In another embodiment the biasing means urges the barrier towards the support.

In a further embodiment two or more linkages are provided, each linkage connecting the barrier to an associated support.

In a further embodiment the linkages are interconnected for synchronous operation.

In another embodiment the means interconnecting the linkages includes means for controlled synchronous movement of the linkages.

In another embodiment the barrier includes means to allow movement of an animal's head across or through the barrier to feed, the barrier being engagable by the animal in the region of its shoulders in a feeding position to move the barrier.

In a further embodiment the barrier has one or more feeding openings for through passage of an animal's head, portion of the barrier surrounding the opening engagable by the animal to move the barrier.

In another embodiment drive means is provided for movement of the barrier.

In another embodiment drive means is provided by ram means.

In another embodiment the ram means is operable to move the linkages for movement of the barrier relative to the support.

In another embodiment each linkage comprises a mounting arm extending between the fixed support and the barrier, the mounting arm being pivotally mounted on one of the support and the barrier and slidably mounted on the other of the support and the barrier.

In a further embodiment the mounting arm is pivotally mounted on the support and slidably engages an associated guide on the barrier.

In another embodiment the arm is vertically slidable on the barrier.

In another embodiment the arm has a laterally extending spud slidably engagable with a complementary substantially vertical slot on the barrier which forms the guide.

In a further embodiment the linkage further includes a barrier arm pivotally joined to the mounting arm immediate the ends of the mounting arm and extending to pivotally engage the barrier remote from the mounting arm.

In another embodiment biasing means is provided to urge the mounting arm towards a retracted upright position in which the barrier is adjacent the support.

In another embodiment the biasing means is a counterweight hung on the barrier by a cable which extends upwardly from the arm over a pulley on a barrier above the arm.

In another embodiment the counterweight is housed within a hollow upright at an end of the barrier.

In a further embodiment ram means is provided for movement of the mounting arm.

In another embodiment locking means is provided to lock the barrier relative to the fixed support.

In another embodiment the locking means is operable to lock the barrier in one of a number of set positions relative to the fixed support.

In another embodiment the locking means comprises a locking plate hingedly mounted adjacent the spud guide slot on the barrier, the spud projecting through the slot for releasable engagement with one or more associated holes in the plate to lock the spud in the slot.

In a further embodiment biasing means is provided to urge the plate into engagement with the spud.

In another embodiment the biasing means is a spring mounted on the barrier and engagable with the plate.

In another embodiment the means interconnecting the linkages is a torsion bar rotatably mounted on the barrier and fixed between the linkages.

In a further embodiment the torsion bar is fixed between the barrier arms, the torsion bar pivotally connecting the barrier arms to the barrier.

In another embodiment the barrier is supported on a number of spaced-apart ground engaging wheels, a guard plate being mounted on the barrier and extending forwardly and downwardly across the wheels adjacent the bottom of the wheels to push feed ahead of the barrier in use.

In a further embodiment the barrier comprises a pair of end uprights bridged by a top bar and an intermediate bar spaced below the top bar, a plurality of spaced divider bars bridging the top bar and intermediate bar to form animal feeding positions, and a guard plate extending downwardly of the intermediate bar to a position adjacent the ground.

In a further embodiment the divider bars are inclined between the top bar and intermediate bar.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an animal feeding barrier according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the barrier; Fig. 3 is an end view of the barrier; Fig. 4 is a front view of another barrier; Fig. 5 is an end view of the barrier shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an end view of the barrier of Fig. 4, showing the barrier in both the retracted and extended positions of use; Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of portion of another barrier showing a barrier locking mechanism; Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the barrier portion shown in Fig. 7 with the locking mechanism shown in an engaged position; ; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the locking mechanism in a disengaged position; Fig. 10 is an end view of another barrier; Fig. 11 is an end view of a further barrier; Fig. 12 is an end view of a still further barrier; Fig. 13 is a detail elevational view showing a linkage mechanism used in the barrier of Fig. 12; and Fig. 14 is an end view of the barrier of Fig. 12 showing the barrier in a number of working positions.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a movable animal feeding barrier, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, mounted on a conventional slatted floor 2 of a feeding house. The movable animal feeding barrier 1 is illustrated mounted between a pair of fixed support posts 3. The feeding barrier 1 comprises a barrier 4 connected by a pair of interconnected linkages each indicated generally by the reference numeral 5 to a fixed support formed by the support posts 3. The barrier 4 comprises a pair of hollow uprights 6 bridged by a top bar 7, an intermediate bar 8 and a guard plate 9. A plurality of inclined divider bars 10 bridging the top bar 7 and intermediate bar 8 form animal feeding positions.

Each linkage 5 comprises a mounting arm 11 and a barrier arm 12 joined together by a pivotal connector 13. The mounting arm 11 is pivotally mounted by means of a bearing 14 on one of the posts 3 and its other end is provided with a laterally extending spud 15 which engages a retaining guide 16. The spud 15 is suspended by a cable 17 within the retaining guide 16. The cable 17 is led over a pulley 18 on the hollow upright 6 and down through the upright 6 to a counterweight 19 illustrated by interrupted lines in the drawings. The barrier arm 12 is mounted by means of a fixed axle 20 connected to the hollow upright 6. The fixed axle 20 has a ground engaging wheel 21 for each barrier arm 12 and interconnects the linkages 5.Each ground engaging wheel 21 is protected by a depending guard plate 22 which extends from the hollow uprights 6 down across the wheel 21 adjacent the bottom of the wheel. Chains 25 interconnect the animal feeding barrier 1 and the support posts 3.

In use, silage is placed in the area indicated by the reference numeral 26 and the animals approach the feed from the opposite side of the feeding barrier 1. As the feed is used up the animals can push the feeding barrier 1 forward in the direction of the arrow A, against the feed thus making more feed available. When it is desired to replenish the feed the movable barrier 1 can be pushed back in the opposite direction and even beyond the support posts 3 thus allowing access to the feed for feed handling equipment.

The guard plate 22 pushes against the feed and thus protects the ground engaging wheel 21 from being fouled by the feed such as slurry contained on the side of the barrier 1.

It will be appreciated that as the feeding barrier 1 is moved back and forth that the spud 15 is retained against the hollow upright 6 and thus slides up and down against it being biassed upwards by the counterweight 19. Because the two ground engaging wheels 21 are interconnected by the fixed axle 20, the whole movable animal feeding barrier 1 will move as one unit.

Referring now in particular to Figs. 4 to 6 there is illustrated another feeding barrier 30 according to the invention which is similar to the feeding barrier of Figs.

1 to 3. The feeding barrier 30 is mounted between a pair of spaced-apart fixed support posts 33 which are upstanding from the floor of a feeding house. The feeding barrier 30 comprises a barrier 34 connecting by a pair of interconnected linkages, each indicated generally by the reference numeral 35, to a fixed support formed by the support posts 33. The barrier 34 has a pair of hollow uprights 36 at each end interconnected by a top bar 37, an intermediate bar 38 and a guard plate 39 which extends downwardly of the intermediate bar 38. A plurality of inclined dovetail divider bars 40 bridge the top bar 37 and intermediate bar 38 to form animal feeding positions.

Each linkage 35 has a mounting arm 41 and a barrier arm 42 joined together by a pivotal connector 43 intermediate the ends of the mounting arm 41. A lower end 44 of the mounting arm 41 is pivotally mounted by means of a bearing 45 at a lower end of one of the posts 33. An upper end 46 of the mounting arm 41 has a laterally extending spud 47 which engages a retaining guide 48 on the associated upright 36 of the barrier 34. In this case the guide 48 is formed by a vertical elongate slot 49 within which the spud 47 is free to slide vertically. A cable 50 attached to the spud 47 is led over a pulley 51 at an upper end of the upright 36 and down through the upright 36 to a counterweight 52 housed within the upright 36 and illustrated by interrupted lines in the drawings.The barrier arm 42 is at its lower end 55 fixed to a tubular torsion bar 60 which is rotatably mounted between the lower ends of the uprights 36. Ground engaging wheels 61 are mounted on stub axles at a lower end of each upright 36. Each ground engaging wheel 61 is protected by a depending guard plate 62 which extends from the hollow uprights 36 down across the wheel 61 adjacent the bottom of the wheel 61.

Fig. 6, on the left hand side, shows the barrier 34 in a retracted position adjacent the support posts 33. The barrier 34 is shown in an extended position on the right hand side of Fig. 6.

In use, silage or other feed is placed in the area indicated by the reference numeral 66 (Fig. 6) and the animals approach the feed from the opposite side of the feeding barrier 30. As the feed is used up the animals can push the feeding barrier 30 forward in the direction of arrow X against the feed thus making more feed available. When it is desired to replenish the feed the movable barrier 30 can be pushed back in the opposite direction to the retracted position alongside the posts 33.

The guard plate 62 pushes against the feed and thus protects the ground engaging wheels 61 from being fouled by the feed contained behind the barrier 30.

As the feeding barrier 30 is moved back and forth relative to the posts 33 the spud 47 on the mounting arm 41 slides up and down within the slot 49 being biased upwards by the counterweight 52. As the two barrier arms 42 are interconnected by the torsion bar 60 the whole movable animal feeding barrier 30 will move as one unit.

Advantageously the torsion bar will flex to absorb any sudden loadings.

It will be appreciated that the linkages 35 maintain the barrier 34 in an upright position as it moves back and forth.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 9 there is illustrated portion of another feeding barrier which is largely similar to the feeding barrier of Figs. 4 to 6 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. The drawings illustrate a locking mechanism which can be incorporated with the barrier to lock the barrier in a number of set positions relative to the support posts. In this case a spud 70 at the upper end 46 of the mounting arm 41 projects laterally through the slot 49 on the upright 36.

A washer 71 and split pin 72 retain the spud 70 within the slot 40 with an inner end 73 of the spud 70 projecting inwardly of the slot 49. A locking flap 75 is mounted by a hinge 76 at one side of the slot 49 and extends across the slot 49. A number of vertically spaced spud engagement holes 77 are provided in the plate 75. An actuating arm 78 projects outwardly of the plate 75 at an upper end of the plate 75. A rotatable crossbar 79 is mounted between the uprights 36 such that the arm 78 passes across the crossbar 79 adjacent an end of the crossbar 79. A spring 80 mounted on the crossbar 79 engages the arm 78 and urges the arm in the direction Y (Fig. 7) to hold the flap 75 in a spud engaging position adjacent the slot 49.An operating handle 82 on the crossbar 79 may be used to rotate the crossbar 79 and engage the plate 78 to push the plate to the left in the drawings to compress the spring 80 and move the arm 78 and flap 75 to a disengaged position away from the slot 49 and spud 70 as shown in Fig. 9.

In use, with the flap 75 in the disengaged position as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, the spud 70 is free to move vertically within the guide slot 49 allowing the barrier to move forward and back relative to the support posts as previously described. With the plate 75 in the engaged position as shown in Fig. 8 the flap 75 bears against the inner end 73 of the spud 70. As the spud 70 moves along the slot 49 when the inner end 73 of the spud 70 aligns with a hole 77 the hole 77 engages with the inner end 73 of the spud 70 to lock the spud 70 within the slot 49.

This prevents further movement of the barrier until the plate 75 is released. Thus, the amount of silage made accessible to the animals at any given time can be controlled.

Referring now to Fig. 10 there is illustrated another movable animal feeding barrier 90 which is largely similar to the feeding barrier of Figs. 4 and 6 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the barrier arm 42 has an upper end 91 which extends across the mounting arm 41. A ram 92 extends between the upper end 91 to which it is pivotally attached at 93 and a pivot mounting 94 on the mounting arm 41 adjacent the upper end 46 of the mounting arm 41.

In use, the ram 92 can be operated to mobe the barrier 90 relative to the support posts 33. This allows a farmer to easily move the barrier if desired.

Referring now to Fig. 11 there is illustrated another movable feeding barrier 100 which again is similar to the feeding barrier shown in Figs. 4 to 6 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case a ram 101 is housed within the hollow upright 36 extending between a mounting point 102 at a lower end of the upright 36 and the spud 47 on the mounting arm 41. The ram 101 is operable to slide the spud 47 within the guide slot 49 thus operating the linkage 35 to move the barrier 34 back and forth relative to the support posts 33.

Referring now to Figs. 12 to 14 there is illustrated another animal feeding barrier 110. Parts similar to those on the barrier of Figs. 4 to 6 are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the barrier arm 42 is extended, having a spigot 112 at its upper end which slidably engages an elongate vertical slot 113 in the support post 33. A ram 114 may optionally be fitted between a lower end of the support post 33 and the spigot 112 for sliding the spigot 112 within the slot 113 to move the barrier 34 relative to the support post 33. As illustrated in the drawing the mounting arm 41 and the barrier arm 42 form a scissors linkage which allows movement of the barrier 34 to either side of the post 33.

The mounting arm 41 is of rectangular hollow section material. The barrier arm is cranked having an upper arm 120 and lower arm 121 fixed to a pivot pin 123 rotatably mounted on and passing through the mounting arm 41 as shown.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims (32)

1. A movable animal feeding barrier comprising a barrier and a linkage connecting the barrier to a support, the barrier being movable towards and away from the support.

2. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the barrier is movable back and forth to lie on opposite sides of the support.

3. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein biasing means is provided for the barrier.

4. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 3 wherein the biasing means urges the barrier towards the support.

5. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein two or more linkages are provided, each linkage connecting the barrier to an associated support.

6. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 5 wherein the linkages are interconnected for synchronous operation.

7. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the means interconnecting the linkages includes means for controlled synchronous movement of the linkages.

8. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the barrier includes means to allow movement of an animal's head across or through the barrier to feed, the barrier being engagable by the animal in the region of its shoulders in a feeding position to move the barrier.

9. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 8 wherein the barrier has one -or more feeding openings for through passage of an animal's head, portion of the barrier surrounding the opening engagable by the animal to move the barrier.

10. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein drive means is provided for movement of the barrier.

11. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 10 wherein the drive means is provided by ram means.

12. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 11 wherein the ram means is operable to move the linkages for movement of the barrier relative to the support.

13. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each linkage comprises a mounting arm extending between the fixed support and the barrier, the mounting arm being pivotally mounted on one of the support and the barrier and slidably mounted on the other of the support and the barrier.

14. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein the mounting arm is pivotally mounted on the support and slidably engages an associated guide on the barrier.

15. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 14 wherein the arm is vertically slidable on the barrier.

16. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 15 wherein the arm has a laterally extending spud slidably engagable with a complementary substantially vertical slot on the barrier which forms the guide.

17. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16 wherein the linkage further includes a barrier arm pivotally joined to the mounting arm immediate the ends of the mounting arm and extending to pivotally engage the barrier remote from the mounting arm.

18. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in any of claims 13 to 17 wherein the biasing means is provided to urge the mounting arm towards a retracted upright position in which the barrier is adjacent the support.

19. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 18 wherein the biasing means is a counterweight hung on the barrier by a cable which extends upwardly from the arm over a pulley on a barrier above the arm.

20. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 19 wherein the counterweight is housed within a hollow upright at an end of the barrier.

21. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in any of claims 13 to 20 wherein ram means is provided for movement of the mounting arm.

22. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein locking means is provided to lock the barrier relative to the fixed support.

23. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 22 wherein the locking means is operable to lock the barrier in one of a number of set positions relative to the fixed support.

24. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 23 wherein the locking means comprises a locking plate hingedly mounted adjacent the spud guide slot on the barrier, the spud projecting through the slot for releasable engagement with one or more associated holes in the plate to lock the spud in the slot.

25. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 24 wherein biasing means is provided to urge the plate into engagement with the spud.

26. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 25 wherein the biasing means is a spring mounted on the barrier and engagable with the plate.

27. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means interconnecting the linkages is a torsion bar rotatably mounted on the barrier and fixed between the linkages.

28. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 27 wherein the torsion bar is fixed between the barrier arms, the torsion bar pivotally connecting the barrier arms to the barrier.

29. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the barrier is supported on a number of spaced-apart ground engaging wheels, a guard plate being mounted on the barrier and extending forwardly and downwardly across the wheels adjacent the bottom of the wheels to push feed ahead of the barrier in use.

30. An animal feeding barrier as - claimed in any preceding claim wherein the barrier comprises a pair of end uprights bridged by a top bar and an intermediate bar spaced below the top bar, a plurality of spaced divider bars bridging the top bar and intermediate bar to form animal feeding positions, and a guard plate extending downwardly of the intermediate bar to a position adjacent the ground.

31. An animal feeding barrier as claimed in claim 30 wherein the divider bars are inclined between the top bar and intermediate bar.

32. An animal feeding barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.