NZ240967A - Controlling livestock in pen: crowding gate has laterally movable curtain of goading members - Google Patents

Description

240967 j Patents Form No 5 THE PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional Number: 240967 Dated: 13 December 1991 SUBSTITUTION OF APPLICANT UNDER SECTION 24 A V ^ ^ <Acu-x KTZ, UVo LIVESTOCK MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR HOLDING PENS OR YARDS 1, &ERVYN LANCE KICKS, a New Zealand citizen of 145 *Fyes Pa Road, Tauranga, New Zealand, hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement -2- 240S67 LIVESTOCK MOVEMENT CONTROL FOR HOLDING PENS OR YARDS This invention relates to livestock control and the movement of animals held in a holding pen or yard and required to be directed towards and through 5 an exit from the pen or yard; for example (but not necessarily confined to) as may be applicable in dairy operations in the movement of cows into a milking shed from an adjacent holding pen or yard.

An object of the present invention is to 10 provide apparatus for selectively controlling the movement of a complete mob or part of a mob of animals confined in a holding pen or yard, in a relatively simple but effective manner.

Other and more particular objects and 15 advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided livestock movement control apparatus for an animal holding pen or yard, said apparatus 20 comprising an overhead beam structure mounted to extend transversely over the holding pen or yard and for power operated or assisted movement relative thereto from a selected first position to the rear of animals located in the pen or yard towards an exit from the pen or 25 yard, and return to said first position or a selected other position relative to the pen or yard; said beam structure being provided with or defining a substantially horizontal support rail from which a plurality of elongate contact members are arranged 30 to depend, said contact members having upper end parts linked and mounted for movement longitudinally of said support rail transversely of said pen or yard and lower end parts terminating at or below the upper body height of animals located or locatable in said pen or yard, 35 and there being operating means for moving said depending contact members towards and from one or both ends of the beam structure and rail so as to be positionable in laterally grouped relationship clear 24Q567 of an animal contacting position or in an animal contacting position extending in spaced relationship across the pen or yard.

In a second aspect of the invention the 5 apparatus according to the preceding paragraph is applied to a circular or part circular (in plan view) holding pen or yard, and said beam structure is mounted to extend radially from a pivot mounting co-axial with the pen or yard axis and be movable in an arcuate sweep 10 over the prescribed and/or selected areas(s) of the pen or yard.

In another aspect of the invention, the said apparatus is alternatively applied to a substantially rectangular (in plan view) pen or yard, and said beam 15 structure is mounted to extend transversely thereof and be reciprocally movable between the prescribed and/or selected positions relative to the pen or yard.

The invention further includes a livestock holding pen or yard incorporating the apparatus 20 according to any one of the three preceding paragraphs.

Some preferred aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view 25 illustrating the invention applied to a typical substantially circular livestock holding pen or yard for such as a milking shed or dairy installation; FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the invention applied to a rectangular 30 holding pen or yard for such as a milking shed or dairy installation; FIGURE 3 is an elevational view illustrating the apparatus in the figure 1 example, as viewed in the direction of arrows III-III; and 35 FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic elevational view more particularly illustrating one arrangement of operating movement of the contact members relative to the support rail of the apparatus.

*? U-o 107 *r~ Referring firstly to figures 1,3 and 4 of the drawings, for a circular or part circular holding pen or yard (generally indicated by the arrow 1) the apparatus includes a substantially horizontal overhead 5 beam structure 2 (which can be formed as exampled with upper and lower horizontal metal tube members 2a, 2b conjoined by suitable bracing 2c providing adequate strength for the span involved) having an inner end part mounted on an upright post 3 located co-axially 10 of the pen or yard 1 for horizontal pivoting arcuate movement of the beam structure 2 about a central vertical axis defined by the post 3.

The outer end part of the beam structure 2 is provided at its underside with a carriage assembly 15 4 mounting at least one support and tracking wheel 5 which is rotatable about a horizontal radial axis, and has a grooved periphery enabling such wheel(s) 5 to track and run on the circular (or part circular) upper rail 6a (which is typically of strong tubular 20 metal construction of the outer fence 6) of the pen or yard 1. Other tracking arrangements are envisaged.

Whilst other drive means can be employed for effecting controlled slow and positive movement of the beam structure 2 as required, preferably the 25 outer support and tracking wheel (s) 5 is or are arranged to be driven such as by an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic (oil or water) motor or like drive means 7 mounted on the carriage assembly 4 - the drive means 7 providing for reversible rotation of the wheel(s) 30 5 for movement of the beam structure 2 in opposite directions as required. Appropriate manually actuable and/or automatic switching mechanism can be provided to determine and limit the extent of pivotal travel of the beam structure 2 relative to the pen or yard 35 1.

The lower member 2b of the beam strucTiJre supports (or is arranged to define) a horizontal trick 8 extending for substantially the full length thereof, 240367 and a plurality of similar elongate contact members 9 are arranged to be supported by and depend from the track 8; there being sufficient of the contact members to be locatable in substantially equal spaced 5 relationship from say 250-600 centimetres apart along the length of the track when in the operative animal contact positions as hereinafter described. The contact members 9 may be such as thin rod members, link chain members or other weighty/weighted flexible members 10 of a length sufficient to have the lower end parts thereof terminate at or slightly below the upper body height of animals locatable in the pen or yard 1, so as to be capable of contact with such animals when required and with the contact members 9 in the operative 15 position, and have their upper end parts mounted for sliding or rolling engagement with the track 8 longitudinally thereof into and out of the operative position. The upper end parts of the contact members 9 may either be all linked in their desired spaced 20 relationship by such as a flexible cord or thin wire/cable connection for location of all contact members 9 in collected or grouped non-operative relationship at one end of the track 8, and extension to the operative position mentioned with the contact 25 members 9 in the prescribed spaced relationship extending fully along the track from the centre post 3 to the pen or yard outer fence 6; or alternatively, and generally preferably because of the number of contact members 9 likely to be employed in a lengthy 30 span, and to speed movement between the operative and non-operative positions, the contact members 9 can be similarly linked but in two sections so that one linked section of contact members 9 can be grouped in the non-operative position at one end of the track 35 8, and the other linked section of contact members similarly grouped in the non-operative position at the opposite end of the track - when extended to the operative position the two sections meeting or 2-10367 terminating in close relationship medially of the track 8.

An example of the latter arrangement is diagrammatically illustrated in figure 4 and shows 5 the depending contact members 9 in full line supported by the track 8 in the extended operative position, and in broken line in the opposite end grouped and non-operative position; the contact members 9 being movably from the operative position to the non-operative 10 position by such as a crossed endless loop pull cord, wire or cable, 10 extending longitudinally over the track 8 about a pulley wheel 11 at one end (eg the inner end) of the track 8 and a pair of pulley wheels 12 at the opposite outer end, to be coupled to a drive 15 pulley 13 at such outer end and by which the pull cord, wire or cable 10 can be moved in either direction. The drive pulley 13 can be operable such as by an independant electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor (not shown) which can again be mounted on the carriage 20 assembly 4, or by the previously mentioned drive means 7 via appropriate switching mechanism and/or with the arrangement permitting the cord, wire or cable 10 to slip on the drive pulley 13 when the contact members 9 reach the end of their travel in either direction 25 on the track 8.

The medial adjacent (in the extended operable position) pair of contact members 9' and 9'' have their upper ends each linked by link members 9' a and 9' ' a to opposing runs of the loop pull cord, wire or cable 30 10, so that when the drive pulley 13 is rotated to move the cord, wire or cable, 10 in the direction indicated by the arrows A, the two sections of contact members will part at the medial contact members 91,911 to be moved in the direction of arrows B and become 35 spaced in the non-operative position with the respective contact members 9 grouped each end of the track 8 (as indicated in broken outline in figure 4). Reverse rotation of the drive pulley 13 will return contact 240367 members 9',9'' to their adjacent medial position drawing the remainder of the contact members 9 inwardly to the fully extended operative position by the linking of the contact members 9 of each section. As an 5 alternative to the provision of the two pulley wheels 12 and drive pulley 13, the loop pull cord, wire or cable, 10 can be an endless figure eight loop with the outer end part located about a single drive pulley.

Thus, the arrangement provides that, with 10 animals located in the holding pen or yard 1, the beam structure 2 (with the depending contact members 9 positioned in the laterally grouped non-operative position) can be pivotally moved about its central axis (by the drive means 7 and tracking wheel 5) to 15 any selected position of its permitted sweep spaced from the yard exit la and to the rear of all or any selected group of the animals; the drive pulley 13 being then actuated to move the depending contact members 9 to the operative position extending the full 20 length of the track 8 across the yard 1, and the drive means 7 again actuated to drive the support and tracking wheel 5 along the fence rail 6a in slowly continuously or intermittently moving the beam structure towards the exit end of the yard 1; with the contact members 25 9 contacting the selected group of animals and urging them towards and through the exit la into the milking shed installation 14 (or to any other desired area/installation) . Where the mob of animals in the pen or yard 1 is to be separated into groups for 30 movement towards and through the exit la, the operation will be repeated after the first selected group has been exited and dealt with - the contact members 9 being again moved to the non-operative position whilst the beam structure 2 is moved back over the remaining 35 animals to the next selected position.

As an alternative to the application of the invention to a circular or part circular holding pen or yard 1 as so far described, the beam structure 2 240367 and contact member 9/track 8 assembly can be mounted for reciprocal movement over a rectangular or substantially rectangular pen or yard 1' as exampled in figure 2 of the drawings (or similarly over any 5 race, pen or yard having parallel opposite side fence rail parts 6a1) with both ends of the beam structure provided with wheeled supporting carriage assemblies 4' (similar to the carriage 4 described with reference to figures 1 and 2) and one or both carriages having 10. at least one driven tracking wheel or roller.

Whilst power operation of the apparatus is preferred, particularly for larger installations and where the beam structure 2 as a whole and/or the contact members 9 may be heavy and harder to move, the apparatus 15 as a whole can be additionally arranged for manual movement and positioning relative to the animal pen or yard with direct push/pull movement, and/or the contact members or assembly of members can be movable on their support rail by manual winch or other mechanism 20 where appropriate.

In one preferred form of the invention the contact members are of metal, or have lower end parts of metal, to enable the supply of an intermittent or continuous electric current therethrough and slight 25 spurring electric shock to the animals contacted by the contact members 9.

In another modification it is envisaged that the lower ends of the contact members 9 can be joined such as by a flexible cable or chain link, or a hinged 30 link rod arrangement, (not shown) which can collapse for lateral grouping in the non-operative position or form a more positive linked gate or barrier when in the operable extended position, to replace the commonly provided rigid and non-collapsible 'backing 35 gate' in holding pens or yards.

Where the invention is to be applied to existing pens or yards and for example the existing upper fence rail of a circular yard may not be truly 24QB67 circular or otherwise suitable as a tracking rail 6a as described, or as otherwise required, a supplementary correctly arcuate upper or lower tracking rail 6a can be mounted on the fence 6, or the carriage 4 mounted lower for its wheel(s) to run on a concrete footing track or the existing concrete yard base. Similarly where an existing rectangular or other shape yard does not have truly parallel or otherwise suitable upper fence rails supplementary upper or lower tracking rails 6'a can be provided on/or adjacent the fence, or one or both carriages 41 can be arranged to run on ground level concrete or other tracks or a concrete yard base.

Some preferred aspects of the invention have been described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it will be appreciated that other variations of modifications to, and applications of the invention can take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (24)

7-boUi -10- WHAT I CLAIM IS;

1. Livestock movement control apparatus for an animal holding pen or yard, said apparatus comprising muse an overhead beam structure mounted to extend transversely over the holding pen or yard and for power operated or assisted movement relative thereto from a selected first position to the rear of animals located in the pen or yard towards an exit from the pen or yard, and return to said first position or a selected other position relative to the pen or yard; said beam structure being provided with or defining a substantially horizontal support rail from which a plurality of elongate contact members are arranged to depend, said contact members having upper end parts linked and mounted for movement longitudinally of said support rail transversely of said pen or yard and lower end parts terminating at or below the upper body height of animals located or locatable in said pen or yard, and there being operating means for moving said depending contact members towards and from one or both ends of the beam structure and rail so as to be positionable in laterally grouped relationship clear of an animal contacting position, or in an animal contacting position extending in spaced relationship across the pen or yard.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pen or yard to which the apparatus applied is a substantially circular or part circular (in plan view) pen or yard, and said beam structure is arranged to be mounted so as to extend radially from a pivot mounting co-axial with the pen or yard axis and be movable in an arcuate sweep over the prescribed and/or selected area(s) of the pen or yard.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer end part of the beam structure is provided with a carriage assembly mounting at least one tracking wheel which is rotatable about a horizontal radial axis and is arranged for rolling engagement with a -11- circular or part circular horizontally disposed rail provided on or defined by an upper part of an outer fence of the pen or yard.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer end part of the beam structure is arranged to be supported by a low carriage assembly mounting at least one tracking wheel which is rotatable about a horizontal radial axis, and is arranged for rolling engagement with a circular or part circular track provided on or near the base of said pen or yard at or near the outer periphery thereof and concentrically about the pen or yard axis.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4,wherein said tracking wheel is arranged to be driven and rotated in either direction by an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor or like drive means mounted on said carriage assembly or said beam structure, for effecting radial pivotal movement of said beam structure in the desired direction and between said prescribed and/or selected positions.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pen or yard to which the apparatus is to be applied is a substantially rectangular (in plan view) pen or yard, and said beam structure is arranged to be mounted to extend transversely thereover to span the pen or yard and be reciprocally movable between the prescribed and/or selected positions relative to the pen or yard.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pen or yard to which the apparatus is to be applied is of elongate form, and said beam structure is arranged to be mounted to transversely span at least a major part of said pen or yard and be reciprocally movable longtiudinally thereof between the prescribed and/or selected positions relative to the pen or yard.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said beam structure is provided at opposite ends thereof with wheeled support carriage assemblies for reciprocally supporting said beam structure on parallel opposite side track parts; and at least one % <4-0^(^7 * e -12- tracking wheel of at least one of said carriage assemblies is arranged to be driven and rotated in either direction by an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor or like device means mounted on the respective carriage assembly or said beam structure.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim—?—©j=— claim 8, wherein one of said track parts is a tracking rail provided or defined by an upper rail of a permanent outer fence of said pen or yard.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the other of said track parts for the wheeled support carriage at the end part of said beam structure opposite said permanent outer fence, is provided on or defined by a concrete base strip at or near the base of the pen or yard.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein manually actuable and/or automatic switching mechanism is provided to determine and limit the extent of travel or movement of said beam structure relative to said pen or yard.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the majority of said contact members of said beam structure are arranged to be locatable in substantially equal spaced relationship of 250-600 centimetres apart along the length of the support rail from which they depend, when in the operative animal contact position.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said contact members are thin rod members.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 inclusive, wherein said contact members are link chain members.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 inclusive, wherein said contact members are weighty or weighted flexible members.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact members are of -13- 24GS67 metal, or have lower end parts of metal, and are arranged for connection to a source of supply of an intermittent or continuous electric current therethrough to enable the transmittance of a slight spurring shock to animals contacted by the contact members.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower end parts of the, or groups of the, contact members are conjoined by flexible or hinged link means enabling collapsing of said link means when the contact members are moved to the non-operative laterally grouped position, or to form a positive linked gate or barrier when in the operable extended position.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein movement of the beam structure between said first and second or selected positions and movement of said contact members along the length of the beam structure to and from the operative and non-operative positions is arranged to be effected by a common connected power drive means.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact members are divided into two substantially equal sets which are arranged to be grouped with one set at or near one end of the beam structure and the other set at or near the opposite end of the beam structure when in the non-operative position, and the two sets are arranged to be moved inwardly of the beam structure to have their innermost contact members located in depending juxtaposition medially of the beam structure when in the operative position.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said two sets of contact members are arranged to be reciprocally movable along the length of said beam structure by means of an endless loop pull member such as a cord, wire or cable disposed in a substantially figure eight configuration to have outer end parts passed over pulley wheels mounted at opposite ends _14_ 2'10067 of the beam structure and medial parts crossing, to provide upper and lower runs of the loop pull member to one side of the medial parts movable in the opposite direction to the upper and lower runs of the loop pull member to the other side of the medial parts on movement of the loop pull member as a whole in either direction through a connected power source; the innermost ones of each set of contact members being linked to lower opposing runs of said loop pull member either side of the crossed medial parts and the contact members in each set being linked at their upper ends and arranged in sliding or rolling engagement with said beam structure support rail.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 and wherein the beam structure and supported contact members are arranged, constructed and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

22. Livestock movement control apparatus for an animal holding pen or yard, arranged, constructed and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1,3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

23. Livestock movement control apparatus for an animal holding pen or yard, arranged, constructed and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 2,3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

24. An animal holding pen or yard incorporating or provided with the livestock movement control apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. "MERVYN LANCE HICKS By His Authorised Attorneys JOHN A REMMINGTON & ASSOCIATES / —;/' // ■<-<;