US2703578A - Calf, lamb, and foal puller - Google Patents

Description

March 8, 1955 J. c. HORST 2,703,578

CALF LAMB, AND FOAL FULLER Filed Sept. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l John C. Horsf INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY March 8, 1955 J. c. HORST CALF, LAMB, AND FOAL FULLER Filed se t. a, 1

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

John C. Horst ATTORNEY March 8, 1955 J. c. HORST 2,703,573

CALF, LAMB, AND FOAL FULLER Filed Sept. 8, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F I g. 8 INVENTOR.

John C. Horst ATTORNEY United States Patent CALF, LAMB, AND FOAL PULLER John C. Horst, Adams County, Colo.

Application September 8, 1953, Serial No. 378,725

10 Claims. (Cl. 128-352) The present invention relates to improvements in lamb, calf and foal pullers. Various types of lamb pullers have appeared on the market but most of them, due to their particular structures, have been unsatisfactory in use because of a jerky and uneven pulling action on the small animal whose birth is being assisted by the puller. These known lamb pullers have often caused injury to the ewe as well as to the progeny. As the result, it is almost always necessary among sheep ranchers to employ the services of veterinarians during the lambing season.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a new and improved lamb puller having none of the objectionable features of the previously known pullers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved lamb puller in which the pulling action is slow, steady, gentle and positive at all times.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved lamb puller of the foregoing character in which the puller may be quickly and easily re-set for a repeat operation on another lamb.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved lamb puller having slow, positive and gentle action and which is of durable and relatively simple construction, possessing relatively few parts, and being easy to handle, operate, and transport.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description and appended claims when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of lamb puller embodying the present invention, being shown in use with the ewe lying on her right side;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the lamb puller shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the quick-adjusting releasable threaded nut in both closed and open positions;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the lower half or bottom portion or section of the quickly-adjustable nut of the preceding views;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of a calf or foal puller embodying the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, being taken substantially along the line 77 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating the quickly-adjustable nut in closed or operative position and also in open or inoperative position; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is to be understood also that the phraseology or terminology Patented Mar. 8, 1955 employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

With particular reference to Figs. 1 through 5 of the drawings, there is shown in these views one form of lamb puller embodying the present invention. In this form, the lamb puller comprises a frame portion, shown as a whole at 10, and consisting of an inner end or head 11 and an outer end or head 12. The outer head member 12 supports or carries an animal-engaging brace plate 13 having offset end portions 13a, 13a, each of which end portions is provided with a pair of spaced slots 14 to receive and support an animal-embracing adjustable belt or strap member 15. The brace plate 13 may be fixedly attached to the outer end frame member or head 112, or it may be removably connected with said mem- The frame unit 10 includes a preferably tubular longitudinally extending guide member 16, the ends of which are fixedly mounted in the inner and outer frame members or heads 11 and 12, respectively.

A longitudinally extending shaft 17 having a crank 18, with a suitable handhold member or grip 19, has its opposite end portions journalled in bearings (not shown) in the heads 11 and 12 of the frame. The portion of the shaft 17 which is disposed between the heads 11 and 12 is in the form of a screw or Worm 20. The shaft 17, 20 extends in substantial parallelism to the frame member or guide tube or rod 16. It is, in effect, the fourth member or portion of the frame assembly 10. The worm or screw shaft 17, 20 is rotated by means of the crank 18 and handhold 19, it being understood, of course, that the portions of the shaft 17 beyond the ends of the screw threaded portion or worm 20 are plain or unthreaded so as to be easily revolvable in the bearings in the head members 11 and 12.

The end frame member or head 11 has secured to it a fixed handle 21. As shown, this handle has a gripping portion 21a and extends outwardly at substantially a right angle to the guide tube or rod 16. The handle 21 provides means for the operator of the lamb puller to support the puller with his left hand while operating the crank 18 with his right hand. This is illustrated, fragmentarily, in Fig. l.

The frame assembly 10, including the guide rod or tube 16 and the worm shaft 17, 20, supports a so-called quick-releasable and quick-adjusting threaded nut or member, shown as a whole at 22. The nut or movable member 22, as shown, see particularly Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, comprises a pair of similar halves or sections 23 and 24 which, as seen in the drawings, are the top or upper half and the bottom or lower half of the nut, respectively. The halves or sections 23 and 24 interfit and co-operate with each other, the upper half 23 having a semicircular plain surface groove or recess 23a and a semicircular threaded groove or recess 23b. The other or lower section 24 is provided with a similar plain surface semi-circular recess 24a and with a similar threaded semi-circular recess 24b. The two semi-circular grooves 23a and 24a, when the nut sections 23 and 24 are in closed or operative position, serve to provide a co-operating passageway permitting the nut 22 to travel on the guide member 16, while preventing rotation of the nut relative to the guide member 16. In the closed position of the parts of the nut, the cooperating threaded semicircular recesses 23b and 24b interfit with the threads 20 on the shaft 17. Thus, when the crank 18 is turned, the threads 20, co-operating with the threaded portions of the threaded grooves 23b and 24b, cause the nut 22 to travel slowly along the threaded portion 20 and the guide tube or rod 16. Location of the crank 18 in a clockwise direction causes the nut to travel toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2 and toward the head member 11. Counterclockwise turning of the crank 18 will cause the nut unit or assembly to travel in the opposite direction, namely toward the head member 12.

The two sections or portions 23 and 24 of the nut are hingedly held together by a pivot pin or member 25 which extends through the interfitting and co-operating projection 26 at one end of the lower nut portion 24 and the adjacent projecting portions 27, 27 of the upper nut section 23, which portions 27 embrace the projection 26. The opposite end of the upper nut portion or section 23 has a centrally disposed projection 28 which fits between a pair of projections 29, 29 on the lower or other nut section or portion 24. When the sections are closed together, as shown in full lines in the drawings, the pair of projections 29 embrace the projection 28. These alined projections are drilled through to provide a bore or socket to receive a removable locking pin 30. When the parts are closed together and the pin in place, the threaded socket portions of the nut members co-operate with the threaded portion 20 of the worm shaft. These parts are precision made so that there will be no lag, or play, or loose movement between the parts when the puller is being used. When so closed upon the worm shaft 17, 20 and the guide rod or tube 16, manipulation of crank 18 causes the block 22 to travel in either direction at a slow, steady, and positive rate of speed toward either of the frame end members or heads 11 and 12, dependent upon which direction of rotation is imparted to the crank 18.

As seen in Fig. 3, when the pin 30 is removed from the co-operating projections 28, 29, 29, the two sections may be separated as indicated in broken lines. This will, of course, release the teeth or threads 23b and 24b from the teeth or threads 20 and will permit the rapid movement of the nut in either direction along the frame 10. The purpose of this is to provide for rapid adjustment between uses of the lamb puller.

As seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a rope, chain, or cable 31 is employed with the lamb puller and is adapted to be wrapped around or looped about the protruding legs 32 of the baby lamb being born.

As shown, both halves or sections of the nut 22 are provided with hook members to receive the end of the rope, chain, or cable 31. The upper section or portion 23 carries a hook or hook-like member 33 and the lower or under sectional portion 24, a similar hook, or the like member 34.

With the parts in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and with the ewe lying on her side, as shown, the lamb puller of the present invention is being used to assist the delivery of the baby lamb. It will be seen that the metal brace plate 13 is in position against the hind quarters of the ewe, with the adjustable strap or band 15 being extended over the hips of the animal and securely fastened. When the parts are so adjusted, with the rope or chain 31 in engagement with the lamb legs 32, turning of the crank 18 in a clockwise direction will cause the worm 20 to move the nut 22 slowly, evenly and positively toward the operator, that is in the direction toward the head member 11 of the puller frame 10. This gradual advancing movement assists the ewe in achieving the delivery of the baby lamb. If the process of birth is slow, the movement of the nut 22 may be synchronized by slowing down the cranking operation. After the delivery has been effected, it is desirable, in most cases, to re-set the puller for another birth-assisting operation. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to return the nut 22 quickly to its original or some similar position along the frame of the puller without having to effect it through the operation of the worm and worm nut, which operational movement is slow. Therefore, by virtue of the present invention, it is possible to return the block-like nut 22 rapidly along the frame. The operator removes the locking pin 30, moves the nut sections 23 and 24 about their pivot pin 25 so as to disengage the teeth or threads 23b and 24b from the threaded shaft portion 20, thus permitting the device to he slid along the frame to the desired position. The halves are then swung about the pivot 25 and the removable locking pin 30 replaced to hold the parts in perative position.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 6, 7, and 8, there is shown in these views a somewhat modified form of puller embodying the present invention. This particular form of puller may be employed to assist in the delivery of a calf or foal in substantially the same manner as is the puller of the preceding views. As in the previous form, the puller may be employed with a cow or mare reclining or lying on its side, or while in standing position. Since the application and use of the present form is generally like that of the preceding form, the description of the operation and use will not be repeated at this point. it

In Fig. 6 the frame of the puller is shown as a whole at 40. This frame consists of longitudinal guide members 41 and 42 which may be tubular or which may be rods, or the like. At the opposite ends of the guides 41 and 42 are an inner head or frame member 43 and an outer head or frame member 44. The outer head member 44 has a socketed lug or projection 44a to receive the stem 46 of an animal-engaging brace plate, shown as a whole at 45. The brace plate is easily removable from the socket portion 44a. As in the preceding form of the present invention, the brace plate has ofiset end portions 45a, 45a which are provided with pairs of slots (not shown) for receiving and supporting an adjustable strap or belt 46. This strap or belt is applied to the animal in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawmgs.

Extending longitudinally between the guides 41 and 42 and having its end portions plain and journalled in bearings (not shown) carried by the end frame members of heads 43 and 44, is a shaft 47 having a crank 48 and a handle member 49. The shaft 47 is provided intermediate the heads 43 and 44 with screw or worm threads, indicated at 50. Thus, the member 47, 50 becomes a worm shaft which is in engagement with worm threads in af movable block-like nut member, to be described hereina ter.

The quick-detachable and quick-adjusting threaded nut of the present form of the invention is shown as a whole at 51, and is similar in many respects to the threaded nut 22 of the preceding form of the invention. It comprises two sections or portions 52 and 53 which are hingedly connected together by a hinge or pivot pin 54. The upper half or section 52 is provided with a plain surface semicircular cavity or groove 52a and the lower section or half 53 with a corresponding plain surface cavity or groove 53a. These grooves are disposed in the sections adjacent the pivot point 54. Similar smooth or plain grooves or cavities 52b and 53b are provided in the upper and lower halves 52 and 53, respectively, adjacent the front end of the members remote from the pivot 54. The purpose of the co-operating smooth surface cavities 52a, 53a and 52b, 53b is to support and provide means for enclosing and holding the guide members 41 and 42.

The central portion of the upper section or half 52 has a somewhat larger cavity or groove 52c formed therein and the lower section or half 53 has a similar cavity or groove 530 formed therein. These grooves or cavities are of semi-circular shape and are threaded or grooved to correspond to the spiral teeth or threads of worm 50 of the worm shaft 47. These co-operating threaded cavities combine to interfit with the thread 50 when the halves or sections 52 and 53 are closed and in operative relationship, as seen in full lines in Fig. 7. Thus, it will be seen that in the present form of the invention, the worm shaft 47, 50 is disposed between and in substantial parallelism with the guide rods or tubes 41 and 42. These guide members 41 and 42 provide means for guiding the nut 51 in its lineal movements and also prevent the nut from turning when the crank 48 is operated. The two halves or portions of the nut 51 interfit and co-operate as in the preceding form. The upper section 52 has a pair of projection portions or cars 55 and 56 which embrace a projecting portion 57 on the lower half 53 of the nut. It is through a drilled hole or bore in these three co-operating parts that the pivot pin 54 ex tends. The forward end of the upper section 52 has similar projecting portions 58 and 59 which straddle or embrace and interfit with a projecting portion 60 of the lower section 53. These three co-operating portions 58, 59 and 60 are drilled to provide a bore to receive a removable locking pin 61 which holds the parts together in operative relationship.

As seen in Fig. 7, when the pin 61 is removed, the upper and lower portions or halves of the nut may be swung about their pivot 54 so as to remove the sockets or cavities 52a, 53a and 52b, 53b from the respective guides 41 and 42, and to disengage the screwthreaded cavities 52c and 530 from the worm threads 50 of the worm shaft 47. As so separated or spread apart, the nut assembly 51 may be moved rapidly lengthwise in either direction along the calf puller frame 40.

As in the preceding form of the invention, a rope, chain, or cable (not shown) but like that shown at 31 in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is employed with the puller. This chain or the like is wrapped or looped around the legs of the calf being born in the same manner as is illustrated in Fig. 1. The other end of the chain, cable, or rope is then connected to either the upper hook 63 or the lower hook 62 carried by the nut sections 52 and 53, respectively. When the parts have thus been adjusted as indicated in Fig. l, clockwise rotation of the crank 48 will cause the nut 51 to tighten the chain or cable while it travels along the frame 40 toward the inner frame member or head 43 to assist in the delivery of the calf.

As in the preceding form, the frame 40 carries a fixed handle 63 with a handgrip 64. As shown in Fig. 6, this handle extends outwardly from one side of the frame 40 at substantially a right angle to the guide 41. This fixed handle provides means for the operator to support or steady the puller with his left hand While his right hand is engaged with the handgrip 49 of the crank to actuate the worm and nut in the pulling operation.

While in the foregoing description I have referred to the use of the two forms of the present invention as lamb and calf pullers, it is to be understood that the form of Figs. 1 through 5 is primarily a lamb puller, whereas the form in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is primarily a calf puller but serves equally well and as efficiently as a foal puller. Therefore, the foregoing description and the following claims are to be given an interpretation which includes this broader use of the pullers, tools or devices of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A puller comprising an elongated frame, a worm shaft extending from end to end of said frame and journalled therein, an animal-engaging brace plate mounted upon one end of the frame, a crank at the other end of said frame connected to the worm shaft for rotating the same, a quick-releasable and quick-adjusting threaded nut operatively mounted on the frame and engaging the worm shaft, said frame providing means for guiding the nut during its travel and preventing turning of said nut when the worm shaft is rotated, and means on the nut for receiving and supporting a chain or cable when the lamb puller is in use.

2. A puller according to claim 1, wherein the guide means comprises a longitudinal member of round cross section.

3. A puller according to claim 1, wherein the guide means comprises a pair of spaced longitudinal parallel members of generally round cross section.

4. A puller according to claim 1, wherein the guide means comprises a longitudinal tubular member paralleling the worm shaft.

5. A puller according to claim 1, wherein the guide means comprises longitudinal tubular members disposed at opposite sides of and parallel with said worm shaft.

6. A puller according to claim 1, wherein the brace plate has means for the reception of an animal-embracing adjustable strap, and wherein the means on the quickdetachable travelling nut is a hook for the attachment of a chain or cable when required.

7. A puller according to claim 1, wherein the brace plate is removably attached to the frame.

8. A puller according to claim 1, wherein the quickdetachable and adjustable threaded nut comprises a pair of generally similar hinged-together halves having cooperable registering cavities in their short dimension for the reception of said frame and worm shaft, and wherein the halves are releasably held together in operative relationship by a removable locking pin.

9. A puller according to claim 1, wherein the nut is formed from two generally similar halves hinged together at one end and having a removable locking pin at the opposite end, and wherein each half carries a hook for the attachment of a chain or cable when the lamb puller 1s in use.

10. A puller according to claim 1, wherein a separate handle is attached to the frame in the vicinity of said cran Miner Mar. 16, 1909 Ragona Feb. 1, 1921

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