WO1983000981A1

WO1983000981A1 - Yoke with automatic closure for cattle

Info

Publication number: WO1983000981A1
Application number: PCT/DE1981/000144
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gmbh Agutec
Original assignee: Schierenbeck, Reinhard; Vandevelde, Noel; Schumacher, Martin
Priority date: 1981-09-18
Filing date: 1981-09-18
Publication date: 1983-03-31
Also published as: EP0090803A1

Abstract

The yoke with automatic closure for cattle, the yoke being provided with branches (7, 10) which are allowed to pass from an open position having a 0 shape to a capture position when they are extended, under the action of an animal wanting food, comprises a reaction element (37) which applies in the branch opening direction a torque opposed to the closure torque generated by the weight of the yoke.

Description

Self-catching neck frame for large cattle.

STATE OF THE ART

Conventional neck frames according to the preamble of claim 1 are designed so that the frame can be opened and closed by a spreading mechanism acting on the upper ends of its two legs. It has also been designed the spreading mechanism of the frame so that it performs its closing movement under the pressure of the animal searching for food and is secured in the closed position by an automatic lock that can be unlocked individually or in groups and can be returned to the open position. The neck frame is at a distance. Suspension points lying apart from one another can be rotated, so that there is more or less severe narrowing of the neck frame during lateral movements, which can only be avoided by an excess of the frame width in the symmetry position which affects the catch quota. These known neck frames have structural and operational disadvantages and are often subject to malfunctions due to the wear of their components. Your congress is tied to a certain height of the feeding post or the Holmes attached to the head of the post, so that the use regularly requires a new installation of the damming or an assembly with adapters. With this, the erection and closing position of the frame can only be brought about with high shoulder pressure of the animal, which easily gives rise to overloads with health damage. EDITION

The invention has for its object to provide a neck frame that ensures a wide open position at head height, a high and safe rate of entry with as little shoulder pressure as possible and the undisturbed freedom of movement of the animals when pressing with little structural effort.

SOLUTION TO THE TASK

In solving this problem, the invention is based on the consideration that the most important thing for bringing about the open position is to widen the frame in the head-height region of the animal. However, this area lies far below the frame suspension, so that the expansion of the frame by pulling apart its upper leg ends requires an undesirably large expansion stroke and often does not lead to the desired opening width in the head height area even when the entire available feeding stand width is used.

Based on this consideration, the frame is designed according to the invention in such a way that an upper, downward-pointing spreading pair is assigned to the lower, upward-pointing expansion leg pair, by means of which the frame can be adjusted between an O-leg-shaped open position and an extended closed position. This makes it possible to achieve an optimally large width in the head height area and to make the suspension of the frame largely independent of the movement for opening and closing. The freedom of movement of the animal can be granted without reducing the catch quota and without the risk of constrictions below the specified frame size in the closed position, which must be observed for a high catch quota, in that at least one of the expansion legs consists of ball joints.

The O-leg-shaped open position also offers the advantageous possibility of arranging the two upper leg ends as close to one another as desired. In this way, there is extensive freedom in the design of the frame suspension and the mechanism for closing and opening the frame. It is thus possible to secure the frame members in the closed position by means of a compact lock in which the upper spreading legs are pivotably suspended in an upper frame web. Furthermore, there is the essential advantage that the frame can be hung with its two legs rotatable about a single vertical axis. As a result of the close juxtaposition of the upper leg ends, the angular adjustment of the upper spreading legs can be symmetrized in a simple manner by means of a coupling, and undesired movements of the frame legs can be excluded from one another as a result of movements of the animal. The open and closed positions are expediently brought about by a snap lock with a dead center transition of switching springs or switching weights, preferably by a switching spring acting on the switching arms of the upper spreading arms, which switches between the closed position and the open position by the movement of the upper spreading arms beyond the dead center division.

Due to the joint suspension of the two frame legs, it is easy to hang the frame so that it can be adjusted in height and, as a result, can be easily adapted to the given sizes of the scaffold posts and Eolm heights by attaching the frame to its holder, which is to be connected to the spar, in a height-adjustable manner. Furthermore, the suspension can also be easily set up so that the frame automatically returns to the normal position when rotated about its vertical axis as a result of the head movements of the animal, for example by being subjected to feedback forces while tensioning a return spring or lifting a return weight.

The transition from the open position to the extended closed position results in a more or less strong lowering of the lower end of the frame against the floor anchoring when the frame is suspended at a constant height. As a result, in the closed position - as in the case of known frame constructions - a looseness of the anchoring chain which favors transverse mobility is achieved, but this is in a geometric dependence on the opening width; however, this can conflict with a desirable increase in the opening width. Such a functional dependency which affects freedom of design can be freed up by providing the frame with a height adjustment derived from the closing and opening movement. If a gearbox coupled to the frame legs is provided, it is possible to lower it despite the large opening width. of the lower end of the frame when closing completely or to limit the lowering to a level adapted to the optimal freedom of movement.

With the lifting of frame or gear parts, storage of potential energy can also be connected, which can be used to return or support the return to the open position. For the same purpose, return elements in the form of springs or weights acting on the frame and acting in the opening direction can also be provided. This allows the return to the open position to be automated or, if it is to be carried out manually individually or in groups, to be made easier. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the drawing, the invention is illustrated by several execution examples. It shows

1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the neck frame with a lock in the open position,

2 shows the frame according to FIG. 1 in the closed position,

3 shows an embodiment of the neck frame suspension which differs from FIGS. 1 and 2, in a partial section, in the normal rest position,

Fig. 4 shows a partial section through the suspension

3 in a position rotated against the normal position,

5 partial view of an Ealsrahmen with height shift by a gear between frame legs and frame suspension,

6 and 7 other embodiments of the gear for height adjustment,

8 shows another embodiment of the neck frame, with counterweight, in the closed position,

9 the hair frame according to FIG. 8 in the open position,

Fig. 10 partial view of a frame with another

Embodiment of the lock in the closed position,

11 shows the frame according to FIG. 10 in the open position,

Fig. 12 u.13 a frame with feedback in three positions and

14-17 show another embodiment of the arrangement according to FIGS. 12 and 13. Neck frames of this type are used to tie up cattle in stables with rows of feeding stands. Each of these feeding stands (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2) is limited in front of the feeding trough T by posts P with a distance determining the standing distance a of the feeding stand. Access to the feed is either released (Fig. 1) or blocked (Fig. 2) by a neck frame 1 which is suspended by a holder 3 with a bearing 3a and a spar H and is anchored to the floor B of the feeding stand. This frame consists essentially of two legs 2.2, which in the closed position run parallel to each other at least above head height of the animal at a distance which is adapted to the animal's neck size so that it is disturbed as little as possible when eating, but its head cannot be released from the frame before it is guided by the stable staff or an automatic system from the closed position with catch width w into the open position according to FIG. 1 with spread width W. The opening takes place in that the distance between the legs in the head height region is set to a good head width by spreading the legs with a spreading width W.

The frame can be opened individually by hand or in groups, for example by attaching an opening mechanism to the upper ends of the legs. Conventional versions with single and group operation can be used for its design. During the transition from the open to the closed position, the neck frame is stretched h. In general, the stretching movement in conventional neck frames is absorbed at the lower end of the neck frame between this end and the floor anchorage, namely by a chain 4 connected to the floor B by an anchor 5, which chain 6 is connected to the lower web 6 rigidly connecting the frame legs 2 the frame is fastened. The width-adjustable frame part adjoins the lower, U-shaped, rigid frame part with unchangeable width w. This part consists of a lower, upward-pointing spreading leg pair 7.7 and an upper, downward-pointing spreading leg pair 10.10 with lower joints 8.8 and middle joints 9.9. The legs of the upper pair of expansion legs are mounted in the illustrated embodiments in an upper web 11 with pivot axes 12, 12. The web 11 in turn is connected to the spar H via a rod-shaped hanger 13. A bearing 14 for the hanger 13 is provided in the holder 3 on the spar H.

In the suspension shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hanger 13 is connected in a bearing with bearing block 14a and pan 14b in a bearing so as to be variable in height by means of a plug pin 13a. The bearing block, like the associated pan, is rounded in the fixed bearing 14 connected to the spar H according to radii of different sizes and lies only in the normal position of the frame parallel to the vertical plane through the spar, deep and deep in the pan. When twisted to the right or left, however, he sits higher (see Fig. 4), so that he, left to his own devices, automatically returns to its normal position due to its weight and the weight of the frame attached to it from torsion actuators. The spreading legs 10, 10 are coupled by means of a link 15 and link block 16. A lock 17 is provided to secure the frame in its closed position. This consists in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 of extensions 18, 18 of the expansion legs 10, 10, a pawl 19 with a locking lug 20 and a pawl stop 21. By lifting the pawl 19 and pulling in the direction of the arrow, the frame can be spread out of the locking division Fig. 2 are transferred to the open position of FIG. 1. To support these movements, a switching spring 22 is provided which engages the switching arms 23, 23 of the spreading legs 10, 10 and both for opening and closing the Framework takes effect by going through the transition

Dead center position to the pivot axes 12, 12 acts alternately in one sense or another on the expansion legs 10, 10.

The change from the open position to the closed position is brought about by the animal searching for food himself, by pressing his shoulders against the frame legs with his shoulders after the head has passed through the Ö-shaped opening between the pairs of spreading legs, so that the frame curves backwards and dodges down towards the ground. It is deflected against the feeding trough T and stretched until the switching spring 22 exceeds the dead center position and switches the frame like a snap switch into the correct closed position, in which it is secured by the pawl 19. In the reverse switching process, after releasing the pawl 19, the lower, U-shaped end of the frame carries out a stroke h in the upward direction. This movement cannot be carried out by the animal, but only by actuating the pawl 19 - either individually on the feeding end or in groups. Here, too, the switching movement into the end position is carried out by the switching spring 22.

A lock could also be provided in the open position if the self-catching mechanism is to be put out of operation.

1 and 2, the height-fixed suspension of the frame on the upper web 11, the stroke of the lower end of the frame between the open position and the closed position depends on the spread W in the open position. In order to avoid this dependency, the suspension can be designed so that it can be shifted in height and in fact can be shifted in height automatically. FIGS. 6 and 7 show different embodiments for such a high displaceability, in which a gear 24 (FIG. 5), 25 (FIG. 6) or 25 (FIG. 6) or with the spreading legs 10, 10 or 26 (Fig. 7) is provided for shifting the height of the frame.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the upper spreading legs 10, 10 in the upper web 11 can be adjusted in height by means of a gear 24 connected between them and the web. As in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper expansion legs 10, 10 are pivotally mounted in the web 11 about axes 12, 12 that are parallel to one another and are longitudinally displaceable in slide rails 27, 27 rotatably connected to the axes 12. In their storage area they are provided with a toothing 28, in which a gearwheel of a gear transmission 29,30,31 driven by the axis 12 engages. The translation of this gear is adjusted to the desired height shift.

Fig. 6 shows a gear 25, in which the height adjustment takes place in that the web 11 is moved up and down on a toothing 35 of the suspension 13 by a gear mechanism 32, 33, 34 actuated by the pivot axes 12 of the levers 10. In this embodiment, the weight of the web 11 together with the transmission supports the transition from the open position to the closed position.

FIG. 7 finally shows a height adjustment with a combination of gears according to FIGS. 5 and 6. Analog parts of the gear are provided with corresponding reference numerals from FIGS. 5 and 6.

5, 6 and 7, switching springs can also be provided, which act there at a suitable point on the transmission. The same applies to the actuation to open and the lock to the closed position.

8 and 9 show an embodiment in which a complete or partial balance of the frame weight is brought about by loading return arms 36, 36 by means of a weight 37 with a constant height of the web 11 in order to achieve a smooth movement in both working positions. The upper spreading levers 10, 10 are included the return arms 36 carrying the weight 37 are connected. The symmetry of the spreading movements is given by the degree of the weight 37.

In order to prevent a highly asymmetrical stretching of the frame by exerting forces on the part of the animal, it can be advantageous to form the lower pair of joints with axes which are inclined firmly against the plane of the frame, on opposite sides.

Instead of a tension spring, a compression spring can also be provided as a switching spring 22a, which acts on a switching arm 23a, as is provided in FIGS. 10 and 11. The device for opening works with a rope 38, which runs through the hollow hanger 13 and bearing block 14a and engages a toggle lever 39, 39 which can be pulled up from the closed position according to FIG. 10. After its dead center division has been exceeded, the switching spring 22a then takes over the movement into the open position according to FIG. 11. The suspension is provided with slots for reaching through the lever arms 39.

Various modifications and other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. By changing the guides accordingly, e.g. it is possible to distribute the spreading stroke or stretching stroke over both frame ends. The joints can be provided with limits on their swivel stroke range. Instead of springs, weights can act on switching arms, e.g. after initiation of the closing and catching movement by the animal, automatically transfer the frame into the locked closing and catching position, e.g. in FIGS. 8 and 9 by switching weights 40.40.

Fig. 12, 13 and 14-17 show a different construction with balancing or opening force. A return weight 37 acts on extensions 18, 18 of the upper expansion legs 10, 10, which runs laterally on or in the hollow post P and via a rope 41 or a chain, rollers 42, 43 and arms 44, 44 with the extensions 18, 18 connected is. The cable pull could also be designed like a block and tackle with a smaller balancing or opening force. The lock 17 engages in the horizontal region of the cable, specifically on a cable collar 45 which interacts with stops 46, 47 on the Hdm H in order to limit the movement.

The opening could also be facilitated in that the stroke of the switching spring or switching weights until the dead center position is exceeded is smaller than the stroke of the switching spring to be overcome by the animal searching for food to the dead center position.

The opening can be further facilitated by the fact that the inhibitory effect of the switching weights 40, which after the initiation of the closing movement by the animal from the open position according to FIG. 17 into or until just above the dead center position according to FIG. 16 into the locked closed position 14, is lifted by being pivoted back, for example, by a shift cable 49 connected to the pawl 19 to or up to the dead center position according to FIG. 15. For this purpose, the switching arms 23, 23 are connected by joints 50 to the extensions 18, 18 of the spreading arms 10. The pivot stroke of the arms 23 is limited by spring buffers 51. The shift cable 49 engages on an arm 52 of the right shift arm 23. The shift arms are synchronized by handlebars or gears (not shown in the drawing for clarity). The switching movement of the switching arms 23, 23 relative to the extensions 18, 18 is limited between the positions according to FIGS. 14 and 15 by the buffers 51 and in the opposite direction by pivot stops (not shown). After the pawl 19 of the locking device 17 has been lifted out, the closing force of the switching weights 40 is thus canceled or even reversed into a force that supports the opening. The return weight 37 (not shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, but see FIGS. 12, 13) automatically returns the neck frame to the open position after the lock has been released. The weight balance makes the hair frame a rocker-like system. 1 and 2 must be dimensioned so strongly that they overcome the weight of the frame to be raised by the stroke h when opening, the switching weights 4o or corresponding switching springs come in the embodiments according to FIG. 8, 9 and 12 to 17 with small return forces. This results in smooth operation with advantages for the animal when closing and for operation when opening.

The suspension on the spar H could with appropriate rotation limitation, e.g. by means of returning pull lines between spar H and web 11, also from a rope, a rotatable rod or chain, in order to achieve smooth rotation without a vertical stroke.

The joints 8 and 9 allow, e.g. as ball joints, swiveling movements of the frame parts to each other in different planes. If desired, this freedom of movement can be restricted by swiveling stroke limitations in the joints. In general, symmetrization by coupling elements of the type 15.16 will suffice.

The pivot axes 12, 12 of the upper pair of expansion legs 10, 10 are mounted in the examples shown at a fixed distance in the upper web 11. Within the scope of the invention, they could also be displaceable relative to one another, although the fixed arrangement is preferred.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

1 neck frame

2.2 legs of 1

3 holders (—Holm)

3a warehouse

4 chain

5 anchors (floor)

6 lower web of 1 7.7 lower spreading leg pair 8.8 lower articulated pair of 7.7 9.9 upper articulated pair 10.10 upper expanding leg pair 1 upper web of 1 2.12 swivel axes of 10.10 3 rod-shaped hanger 3a pin 4 bearings for 13 in 3 4a bearing block 4b pan 5 setting 6 setting block 7 locking

18.18 extensions of 10.10

19 pawl

20 locking nose

21 pawl stop 2.22a switching springs 3.23 switching arms of 10.10 3a switching arm 4 gear in Fig. 5 5 gear in Fig. 6 6 gear in Fig. 7 7 slide rails for 10.108 toothing 29.30, 31 transmission gear

32,33,34 gear transmission

35 interlocking of 13

36.36 feedback arms

37 weight

38 rope

39.39 toggle

40.40 switching weights

41 rope

42.43 rolls

44.44 arms

45 waistband

46.47 strokes

48 supports

49 shift cable

50 joints

51 spring buffers

52 arm a reach

B bottom h extension

H spar

L stock

P post

T feed trough w catch distance

W spread

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

1. Self-catching neck frame for large cattle with an upward spreading thigh pair, which is deflected by the foraging animal from the spread open position to the extended closed position and actuates a lock to lock the neck frame in the closed position by its stretching movement, characterized in that the lower is directed upward An upper, downward-pointing pair of spreading legs is assigned, by means of which the frame can be adjusted between an open-leg-shaped open position and an extended closed position.

2. Neck frame according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the two expanding leg joint pairs (8,8) and / or (9,9) consists of ball joints.

3. Neck frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper spreading legs (10,10) are pivotally suspended in an upper web (11).

4. Neck frame according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is suspended rotatably about a vertical axis.

5. Neck frame according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lock is designed as a snap lock with dead center transition between the open and closed positions.

6. Halcrahmen according to claim 5, characterized by an on switching arms (23) of the upper spreading angle (1o, 1o) engaging switching spring (22), which by the movement of the upper spreading legs changes over the dead center position between the closed position and the open position.

7. Neck frame according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the angular adjustment of the upper spreading legs (10,10) is symtiietrized by a coupling (15,16).

S. neck frame according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the frame is suspended adjustable in height (Fig. 3 to 9).

9. Neck frame according to one of claims 4 to S, characterized in that the frame can be rotated from its normal position (parallel position to the post level) under tension - a spring return spring or lifting a spring return weight, so that, left to its own accord, it returns to the normal position ( 3, 4).

10. Neck frame according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by a height shift derived from the closing and opening movement with the aid of a gear (28, 29, 30) coupled to the upper spreading legs (10, 10) (FIGS. 3, 6, 7).

11. Neck frame according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the inner. Joints (12, 12) of the upper pair of Spreis kelp (10, 10) are arranged approximately at the distance (W) of the neck frame.

12. Neck frame according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the price leg system (7,7; 10,10) is connected to Huckstellmom ente restoring elements (37).

13. Neck frame according to claim 12, characterized by peders and / or weights (37) as return adjusting elements.

14. Neck frame according to claim 13, characterized by a the return elements (37) with the expanding leg system connecting cable or chain hoist (41,44).

15. Neck frame according to claim 14, characterized in that the restoring element (37) runs laterally on or in the post (P) of the press stand.

16. Neck frame according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the lock (17) on the cable or chain hoist (41-44) engages.

17. Neck frame according to one of claims 5 to 16, characterized in that the sheep spring or switching weight (40, 40) can be displaced in the opening direction with an unchangeable closed position of the neck frame by means of a switching handle (49).