GB816570A - An improved cattle crush - Google Patents

Abstract

816,570. Animal holding appliances. W. & G. (CHALLOW) Ltd., and MOSLEY, G. W. Oct. 18, 1957 [Nov. 29, 1956], No. 36586/56. Class 81 (2). A cattle crush comprises a cage with an aperture for the passage of an animal's head and a headstock which is movable about an axis transverse to the crush, by means exterior of the cage, between a lowered aperture position in which it contacts the back of the head or neck of the animal and a raised inoperative position in which it is spaced rearwards of its pivotal axis. The cage comprises ends 4, 5 and tubular steel sides 2, 3, each of which is fitted with lower steel panels 8 and a central upper steel panel 9. A gate 6 across one end 5, is hinged to one side 3 and latched to the other side 2. Each central panel 9 is flanked on one side by a hinged panel 11 and on the other side by cross-bars 10. An aperture 12 above the gate 6 adjoins a recess 13 formed in the upper part of the gate 6 by bent tubes 14, the recess 13 forming a rest for the neck of the animal when its head extends through the aperture 12. Slotted bars 17 in each side 2, 3 receive a pole to restrain the animal at the rear. A pair of rearwardlyextending tubes 21, welded to a sleeve 19 rotatable on a cross-bar 18 above the aperture 12, carry a headstock 22. A pair of forwardlyextending tubes 23 welded to the sleeve 19 carry a counterweight 24. A link 26 extending rearwardly above the headstock 22 is pivotally connected at one end to a lever (not shown) extending from the counterweight 24 and at the other end to a lever 27 attached to a rotatable cross-shaft 28 which extends across the top of the crush. A handle 30 is used to rock the shaft 28 so that, through the link 26, the headstock 22 is moved into inoperative position where it is held by the counterweight 24 and engagement with the link 26 or is moved into operative position where it is locked when the pivotal connection between the link 26 and the lever 27 have passed through a dead centre relative to the axis of the shaft 28. In operative position the headstock 22 bears against the back of the head or the upper side of the neck of the animal. Skids 37 and towing shackles 38 are provided. In an alternative construction, the recess 13 for reception of the animal's neck is provided between an adjustable vertical bar carried by the gate 6 and one end member of a side of the frame.