NZ212351A - Head gate for animal: jaw pivoted by rotatable cam - Google Patents

Description

212351 PATENTS FORM NO; 5 Fee No. 4: $115.00 THE PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional No: 212351 Dated: 7th June 1985 TITLE: "HEADGATE" We LEASK CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LIMITED of Main Road, Tatuanui, New Zealand, a New Zealand company hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: •\.Z. PA i 6MT CF+ICfc 1 - JUL 1987 RECEIVED 21 This invention relates to headgates.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a headgate for use primarily with respect to livestock, which has a robust simple construction.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example.

According to the present invention there is provided a headgate comprising a frame, first and second jaw members mounted with respect to said frame with the first jaw member being pivotally mounted thereto, and a cam arranged to bear against the first jaw member, the arrangement being such that when the cam rotates in one direction the first jaw member is caused to close towards the second jaw member and rotation of the cam back again allows the first jaw member to open.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I:is a front view of a headqate in accordance with the present invention wherein the jaws are open, and Figure 2:is a headgate as shown in figure 1 wherein the jaws are closed.

A headgate comprises a frame and a pair of jaws which are adapted to close about the neck of an animal. Headgates are commonly used in the management of livestock such as cattle. In a typical situation a headgate is mounted in or at the jnd of an animal race: cattle moving down the race are directed towards the leadgate until each animal in turn, as it moves down the race, comes to the leadgate and, either by cajoling or of its own accord, the animal places its head through the open jaws in the headgate. The jaws are then closed around the animal's neck so as to prevent it withdrawing its head: the animal's movement is ■"*Sthereby restricted and it can be more readily treated or otherwise dealt with as required. ;212o5i ;Following treatment of the animal, the jaws are released and the headgate, if swing mounted, is swung out of the animal's way so that it can continue down the race. In other arrangements where the headgate is not swing mounted, the animal can leave the race from a concealed exit adjacent the headgate in the side of the race. ;It will be appreciated that headqates should be manufactured from a suitably rigid and strong material, especially when adapted for use with large livestock such as cattle. Non corrodable materials are also an advantage, and therefore material such as galvanised steel for the manufacture of headgates is preferable. ;The jaws are made up of first and second jaw members which are mounted to the frame. Either one or both of the jaw members are pivotally mounted to the frame. The first jaw member is the reciprocating jaw which pivots back and forth with respect to the second jaw member which is fixed in position during operation. ;The jaw members may be made of steel tube section with rounded edqes so that they do not cut into an animal held by same. The jaw members are spaced apart horizontally, and the first jaw member is substantially straight while the second jaw member is curved. The curvature in the second jaw member provides for a gap between the jaws when the jaw members are closed. This gap is widest at the middle of the jaws and thereby encourages an animal to keep its neck in that area, because if it lowers or raises its head the jaws will feel tight around the neck of the animal. ;In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the first jaw member could be curved. ;Where the second jaw member is pivotally mounted to the frame at its lower end this provides for a degree of adjustment so that the gap between the jaws when they are closed can be varied: this adjustment is useful if the same headgate is used on animals of different sizes. ;MZ. PATOJT QPRCI ;"3~ i • 1 JUL 1987 ;i* I HBCBVr Urn i 212b51 The position of the second jaw member is fixable with respect to the frame. There are a variety of methods of fixing the second jaw member as aforesaid. The second jaw member is most readily fixed at its upper distal end and methods of holding same can include a sliding ratchet system, or an aperture in the distal end of the second jaw member which is alignable with one or more apertures in the frame so as to enable the insertion of a bolt or pin to hold the second jaw member in position. Alternatively, said jaw may be prevented from opening simply by placing a pin through apertures in the frame behind the jaw member.

The range of movement of the first jaw member is governed by two stops. A first stop which can be located at the side of the frame against which the reciprocating jaw rests when the jaw members are in their open position and a second stop against which the reciprocating jaw is held when the jaw members are in their closed position.

The first jaw member is reciprocated by means of a cam. The cam may comprise a circular disc with a peripheral flange which provides the contact surface for pushing the moving jaw. The reciprocal movement of the reciprocating jaw is achieved by pivotally mounting the cam off centre. It should be appreciated that an elliptical or substantially eqq shape cam would operate in substantially the same way as an eccentrically mounted circular cam.

A lever for operating the cam is mounted to the cam and extends out therefrom. The lever may travel between two bars which restrict its movement and also serve to hold the cam in a position which holds the jaw members in their closed position. The reciprocating jaw member may return to its open position either by force of gravity or by operation of a counterweight.

With reference to the drawings and by way of example, a preferred embodiment of a headgate generally indicated by arrow 1 comprises a frame generally indicated by arrow 2, first and second jaw members 3, 4 mounted with respect to said frame 2 KX PATENT OFffCt """ - 1 JUL 1987 SECSVED 212c,51 with at least one jaw member being pivotally mounted thereto, and a cam 5 which is arranged to cause the first jaw member 3 to move reciprocally with respect to the second jaw member 4.

The frame 2 has side members 6a and 6b interconnected by cross members at the top 7 and at the bottom 8 of the frame. A transverse member 9 extends between the side members 6a and 6b in parallel spaced apart relationship with the cross members 7, 8.

The transverse member 9 comprises two parallel spaced apart qirders (not clearly shown in the drawinqs) which are fixed at either end to the side members 6a and 6b. The jaw members 3, 4 are pivotally mounted between the girders in said transverse member 9 by means of pivot pins 10 extending between the girders and passing throuqh an aperture at the bottom end of each jaw member.

The cross member 7 at the top of the frame is also made up of two parallel spaced apart girders (not clearly shown) which act as guide rails between which the upper distal ends of the jaw members can move.

The jaw members 3, 4 are made from tube stock and have a blunt rounded holding surface (not clearly shown) so as to avoid injury to an animal held between the jaws.

The first or reciprocating jaw member is substantially straight. The second or fixed jaw member however is curved: the curvature in said fixed jaw member 4 provides a gap between the jaws when the jaw members are closed. This gap is adapted to accomodate the neck of an animal held between the jaws: and the curvature in the fixed jaw is adapted so that the gap between the jaws is widest in the middle of the jaws, which encourages an animal to hold its neck in this middle area of the jaws. patent omaT -1 JUL 1987 JECSVED The second or fixed jaw member 4 is pivotally mounted to the frame so as to provide for a degree of adjustment which permits the gap between the closed jaw members to be adjusted. The fixed jaw member 4 is held in its preferred position by means of a cotter and split pin arrangement (not shown) which is located through aligned apertures 11 in the parallel girders of the top cross member 7, said cotter being inserted behind the fixed jaw member 4 so as to set the maximum distance between the closed jaws. By this method the gap between the closed jaws 3, 4 can be adjusted to cater for livestock of different sizes.

Side member 6a also comprises 2 parallel spaced apart rails. Bar.s 12a and 12b extend between the parallel rails in the top cross member 7 and side member 6a to restrict the reciprocating movement of the first jaw member 3. The first bar 12a serves as a stop against which the reciprocating jaw member rests when the jaw members are in their open position. The second bar 12b serves as a stop against which the reciprocating jaw 3 is held when the jaw members are in their closed position.

The reciprocating jaw is reciprocated by means of a cam 5 which is actuated by a lever 13. The cam comprises a circular disc which is eccentrically mounted to a cam mounting member 14 by means of a bush 15. The cam mounting member 14 comprises two parallel spaced apart rails (not clearly shown in the drawings) which extend between the side member 6a and transverse member 9, between which the cam is pivotally mounted. Around the circular disc which defines the cam, there extends a peripheral flanqe (not shown) which provides a contact surface for pushing the reciprocating jaw. The reciprocating jaw is in its fully closed position when the cam's point of contact with the reciprocating jaw is diametrically opposite the bush 15. The reciprocating jaw is prevented from moving closer to the fixed jaw member 4 by means of bar 12b.

The cam is held in its maximum extended position (that is, the position which holds the reciprocating jaw 3 fully closed) by the co-operation of lever 13 with bar 16, as &JL PATENT OFEtaf -1 JUL 1987 RECSVED « 212 b l>± shown in Figure 2. The bar 16 prevents the lever from pivoting the cam further than is wanted for holding the jaws fully closed. The reciprocating jaw 3 can only be returned to its open position when the lever 13 is raised back to the position shown in Figure lf because the force on the cam (via the reciprocating jaw 3) is diametrically opposite the bush 15 on which the cam is mounted, and therefore the cam cannot be pivoted from its fully extended position (shown in Figure 2). When the lever is raised, the reciprocating jaw returns to its open position by force of qravity.

The frame 2 can be swing mounted to a fixture such as an animal race by means of hinges 17. The headgate is held closed with respect to an animal race by means of a latch 18 (not clearly shown in the drawings).

The bottom cross member 8 serves mainly to prevent an animal avoiding the headgate by passing under the transverse member 9. Another horizontal member (not shown) may be located between the transverse member 9 and bottom cros9 member 8 if it is necessary to plug that gap.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims. 212351

Claims (5)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A headgate comprising a frame, first and second jaw members mounted with respect to said frame with the first jaw member being pivotally mounted thereto, and a cam rotatably mounted on a frame member arranged to bear against the first jaw member, the arrangement being such that when the cam rotates in one direction the first jaw member is caused to close towards the second jaw member and rotation of the cam back again allows the first jaw member to open.

2. A headgate as claimed in claim 1 wherein a lever is mounted to and extends out from the cam such that the cam is actuable therewith.

3. A headgate as claimed in claim 2 wherein when the jaw members are closed the position of the lever holds the cam relative to the first jaw member, preventing the cam from being accidently dislocated, such that the first jaw member cannot retract from the second jaw member until the lever is moved.

4. A headgate as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein when the jaw members are in their closed position, the lever rests against a stop such that it prevents the cam from being dislocated from a position which holds the first jaw member closed with respect to the second jaw member.

5. A headgate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the second jaw member is pivotally mounted with respect to the frame at its lower end and is fixable with respect to the frame at its opposite upper end. -8- HX f5A i £;'• 22JUU9S7 flECBVED A headqate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the second jaw member is fixable at incremental positions along the frame such that the gap between the jaw members when closed can be varied as required. A headgate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. LEASK CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LIMITED by their Attorneys BARRY V. JAMES & ASSOCIATES N~z. PATEfrr OF* ICE 1 -Jl/L 1987 -9-