A limiting fence

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of livestock breeding equipment, in particular to a limiting fence which comprises a fixed side fence, a movable side fence and guide columns. The movable side fence and the fixed side fence jointly form a limiting surface on one side to limit the side body of a pig. The fixed side fence is fixedly connected with the bottom surface of a feeding fence. Two guide columns are respectively arranged on the two sides of the length direction of the movable side fence and are fixedly connected with the bottom surface of the feeding fence to form a vertical guide stroke. The movable side fence can slide along the guide stroke to a height through which the pig can pass. The limiting fence can be freely switched between a full limiting mode and a half limiting mode, so that a user is saved from the work task of replacing the fence according to different growth stages of the pig. In combination with the adapter structure, the movable side fence can be laid on the ground, so that the movable side fence in the releasing limiting mode does not occupy extra breeding space and does not interfere with the activities of the pig and the staff.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of livestock breeding equipment technology, and in particular to a restraining cage. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, in large-scale pig farms, the management of gestation crates for pregnant sows is mainly divided into two stages: fully gestation crates in the early stages and semi-gestation crates in the later stages. Fully gestation crates effectively reduce sow activity by fixing their position, avoiding agitation caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy. They also facilitate backfat testing and ultrasound examinations by farm staff, significantly improving the efficiency of vaccination and disease treatment, and reducing stress from handling the sows. However, in the mid-to-late stages of pregnancy, to ensure the sows' health, it is usually necessary to switch to a semi-gestation crate system to provide more space for movement and use separate feed troughs to prevent sows from competing for feed. Therefore, current technology involves moving sows in early pregnancy to fully gestation crates and then moving them to semi-gestation crates in late pregnancy to achieve the aforementioned objectives.

[0003] However, there are obvious drawbacks to the practice of moving pigs to different pens: 1. Low pen utilization: Semi-restricted pens require space for transfer and cleaning, which leads to increased vacancy rates and higher breeding costs; 2. Risk of stress from pen relocation: Frequent relocation of sows can easily trigger stress responses, affecting pregnancy stability and fetal development; 3. Increased labor costs: The transfer operation and cleaning of the enclosures increase the labor intensity of workers and reduce the overall management efficiency.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a dynamically adjustable gestation crate system that can flexibly switch between fully gestated and semi-gestated modes according to the needs of sows at different physiological stages. This would optimize crate utilization and reduce human intervention while ensuring animal welfare. This innovative design will effectively resolve the contradictions of traditional pen management and provide a more efficient and cost-effective solution for modern pig farms. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, the present invention provides a limiting rail, comprising a fixed side rail, a movable side rail, and a guide post; The movable side rail and the fixed side rail together form a limiting surface on one side, which limits the side movement of the pig. The fixed side rail is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the feeding enclosure; The two guide columns are located on both sides of the length of the movable side rail and are fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the feeding enclosure to form a vertical guide stroke. The movable side rail can slide along the guide stroke to a height that pigs can pass through.

[0006] Furthermore, it also includes a transition structure; One side of the adapter structure is rotatably connected to the movable side rail, and the axis of rotation is parallel to the length direction of the fixed side rail. The other side of the transition structure is slidably connected to the guide column, and the movable side rail slides along the guide stroke.

[0007] Furthermore, the adapter structure has a connecting shaft formed towards the movable side rail, and the axis of the connecting shaft is parallel to the length direction of the fixed side rail; The movable side panel is provided with a connecting part, which has a connecting hole, and the connecting shaft is coaxially connected to the connecting hole.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes a limiting structure that limits the movable side rail when the movable side rail is located at the bottom of the guide stroke; The limiting structure has at least two limiting surfaces, located on both sides of the movable side rail, to restrict the rotation of the movable side rail.

[0009] Furthermore, the limiting structure is slidably connected to the guide column, and the sliding direction is parallel to the length direction of the fixed side rail; The limiting structure moves away from the movable side rail along the sliding direction to release the limiting effect on the movable side rail.

[0010] Furthermore, the movable side rail is a rectangular structure, with four sides composed of metal tubes and a center composed of a metal plate; The metal plate is attached to one side of the rectangular thickness enclosed by the metal tube.

[0011] Furthermore, the connecting part is fixedly disposed on the opposite side of the metal plate in the thickness direction of the movable side rail.

[0012] Furthermore, the metal plate comprises multiple pieces, which are arranged at intervals.

[0013] Furthermore, the guide post is at least one meter higher than the movable side railing in the vertical direction.

[0014] Furthermore, the guide column is equipped with a locking mechanism to lock the movable side rail at the position of the guide stroke.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are that the restraining pen can freely switch between full restraining mode and semi-restraining mode, saving users the task of changing pens for pigs at different growth stages. Furthermore, the connecting structure allows the movable side pen to be laid flat on the ground, ensuring that the movable side pen in restraining mode does not occupy any additional breeding space and does not interfere with the activities of pigs or staff. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the limiting fence in the fully limited state of Embodiment 1 provided by the present invention, located in the feeding enclosure; Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the limiting fence in a semi-limited state in the feeding enclosure provided by Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 3 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the limiting fence in the fully limited state of Embodiment 2 provided by the present invention, located in the feeding enclosure; Figure 4 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the limiting fence in the semi-limited state of Embodiment 3 provided by the present invention, located in the feeding enclosure; Figure 5 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the limiting rail according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Figure 6 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the adapter structure provided by the present invention; Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the internal structure of the limiting structure provided by the present invention; Figure 8 This is a 3D structural diagram of the active side panel rotated to a horizontal position.

[0017] Reference numerals: 1. Fixed side rail; 2. Movable side rail; 21. Connecting part; 211. Connecting hole; 22. Metal pipe; 23. Metal plate; 3. Guide column; 31. Locking mechanism; 4. Adapter structure; 41. Connecting shaft; 5. Limiting structure; 51. Limiting surface; 6. Feeding enclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] Example 1 Reference Figures 1-8 As shown.

[0020] A limiting barrier includes a fixed side rail 1, a movable side rail 2, and a guide post 3; The movable side rail 2 and the fixed side rail 1 together form a limiting surface on one side, which limits the side movement of the pig. The fixed side rail 1 is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the feeding enclosure 6; The two guide posts 3 are located on both sides of the length of the movable side rail 2 and are fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the feeding fence 6 to form a vertical guide stroke; The movable side rail 2 slides along the guide stroke to a height that pigs can pass through.

[0021] Currently, pig farms often use a large enclosure (6) to house multiple pigs. While this method saves space, it leads to competition for food, resulting in stronger pigs eating more and becoming stronger, while weaker pigs eat less and become thinner. Therefore, semi-confined stalls are needed within the large enclosure (6) to separate the feeding troughs and prevent pigs from competing for food. Besides semi-confined stalls, there are also fully confined stalls. These confined stalls restrict pigs to a small space, creating multiple small, enclosed areas within the enclosure (6). These are primarily used during sow gestation to effectively control movement. However, long-term use of fully confined stalls is detrimental to growth. Modern farming trends advocate for reducing confinement; the EU has phased out gestation stalls, and China is also promoting animal welfare improvements. Therefore, pigs need to be raised in different feeding pens 6 at different growth stages, which requires manual pen-driving operations to move the pigs into different feeding pens 6. However, the pigs will not obediently be driven away. When faced with very stubborn pigs, it is necessary to whip, push and move them, which will not only harm the pigs, but the pigs will also injure the operators in the process of resisting. Therefore, the pen-driving task is very laborious and time-consuming.

[0022] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a restraining fence capable of switching between full restraining and semi-restraining modes. This eliminates the need for personnel to herd pigs; they can simply operate the restraining fence itself. Controlling the mechanical device is much simpler than controlling the animal, and if operated correctly, it will not cause injury.

[0023] Specifically, the gestation pen of this application includes a fixed side bar 1, a movable side bar 2, and guide posts 3. The fixed side bar 1 directly functions as a semi-gestation pen in the prior art, being directly fixed within the feeding enclosure 6 to separate the pigs' feeding areas. Two guide posts 3 are arranged along the length of the fixed side bar 1, forming a vertical guide stroke. The movable side bar 2 is located between the two guide posts 3 and slides along the guide stroke. Correspondingly, when the movable side bar 2 slides to the same height as the fixed side bar 1, the fixed side bar 1 and the movable side bar 2 form a full gestation pen. After the movable side bar 2 is raised to a certain height, pigs can pass through, at which point the movable side bar 2 loses its gestation function, and the fixed side bar 1 alone forms a semi-gestation pen. Correspondingly, when the movable side rail 2 is raised, it will fall due to gravity. Therefore, a locking mechanism 31 needs to be installed in the guide column 3. The locking structure is simply a pin. Pin holes are provided in the guide column 3 and the movable side rail 2. After the pin holes of the guide column 3 and the movable side rail 2 are aligned, the pin is inserted to prevent the movable side rail 2 from falling. Alternatively, a ratchet and pawl can be provided between the two as the locking mechanism 31, with the pawl locking the ratchet in the falling direction.

[0024] Furthermore, a drive motor can be installed to control the raising and lowering of the movable side rail 2. The height of the movable side rail 2 can be locked by the self-locking function of the drive motor, and the drive motor can also lift the movable side rail 2 in place of human labor.

[0025] The movable side rail 2 can not only be raised to allow pigs to move freely, but it can also be lowered to release its restraints. However, a suitable space needs to be provided on the ground to accommodate the downward movement of the movable side rail 2. Nevertheless, the downward movement of the movable side rail 2 to allow pigs to move freely should fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0026] Example 2 Reference Figures 3-8 As shown.

[0027] One type of limit bar also includes a transition structure 4; One side of the adapter structure 4 is rotatably connected to the movable side rail 2, and the axis of rotation is parallel to the length direction of the fixed side rail 1. The other side of the transition structure 4 is slidably connected to the guide column 3, and drives the movable side rail 2 to slide along the guide stroke.

[0028] In this embodiment, the guide post 3 and the movable side rail 2 are connected by a transition structure 4. The transition structure 4 allows the movable side rail 2 to slide along the guide stroke and rotate relative to the guide post 3. The restraining rails are placed vertically, and they need a certain height to function as restrainers. The transition structure 4 allows the movable side rail 2 to rotate from a vertical to a horizontal position. As mentioned in Embodiment 1, to release the restraint of the movable side rail 2, it can be raised or lowered, but lowering requires ground clearance. However, with the restraining rail using the transition structure 4, no ground modification is needed. The user can directly rotate the movable side rail 2 to a horizontal position and then lower it to be flush with the ground. At this point, the movable side rail 2 has no height and therefore loses its restraining function for the pig.

[0029] In this embodiment, placing the movable side fence 2 at the bottom is a more preferred technical solution. Placing the movable side fence 2 at a high position would cause the pigs to constantly collide with the guide posts 3 during movement, resulting in swaying and a risk of the movable side fence 2 falling. In the event of an accident, it could cause injury or death to the pigs, or even to human beings. Furthermore, raising a large number of movable side fences 2 during the breeding season is quite tiring.

[0030] Another crucial point is that raising the movable side fence 2 doesn't truly free up space in the feeding enclosure 6. It's difficult for personnel to pass under the movable side fence 2. To allow pigs to move freely under it, the fence only needs to be raised about one meter. In this case, the guide posts 3 would need to be at least two meters high. While the strength requirement for the guide posts 3 is relatively easy to meet, raising the fence 2 by at least two meters for personnel to pass freely places higher demands on the strength of the guide posts 3, and significantly increases the effort required. Why is it necessary to raise the movable side fence 2 to a height sufficient for personnel to pass through? Because at one meter, personnel cannot herd the pigs inside the feeding enclosure 6. They can only use sticks to drive them from the outside. Pigs have thick skin, and being hit on the back with a stick doesn't hurt them much. Therefore, even with stubborn pigs, personnel need to actively push and pull them to allow them to enter and exit smoothly. This situation mainly occurs during pig sales and when new pigs are transferred to the enclosure.

[0031] Therefore, this embodiment provides a transition structure 4, which allows the movable side rail 2 to be released from its limit by descending.

[0032] Furthermore, the adapter structure 4 has a connecting shaft 41 formed facing the movable side rail 2, and the axis of the connecting shaft 41 is parallel to the length direction of the fixed side rail 1. The movable side rail 2 is provided with a connecting part 21, and the connecting part 21 has a connecting hole 211. The connecting shaft 41 is coaxially connected to the connecting hole 211.

[0033] The reversing structure can be understood as a slider with a connecting shaft 41. The side with the groove is slidably connected to the guide column 3. The connecting column faces the movable side rail 2. Connecting parts 21 are provided on both sides of the movable side rail 2. Connecting holes 211 are opened in the connecting parts 21. The connecting shaft 41 is rotatably connected to the connecting shaft 41 (it can be directly inserted or a bearing can be set). This allows the movable side rail 2 to slide along the guide stroke and rotate freely to the horizontal direction.

[0034] Furthermore, it also includes a limiting structure 5, which limits the movable side rail 2 when the movable side rail 2 is located at the bottom of the guide stroke; The limiting structure 5 has at least two limiting surfaces 51, which are located on both sides of the movable side rail 2, respectively, to restrict the rotation of the movable side rail 2.

[0035] Understandably, the movable side rail 2 is rotatably connected in the transition structure 4, which makes it difficult to maintain a vertical position, causing the movable side rail 2 to easily tip over.

[0036] In this embodiment, a limiting structure 5 is further provided to limit the rotation of the movable side rail 2. The limiting structure 5 can be: a groove is opened in the ground, the movable side rail 2 is vertically inserted into the groove, and the walls of the groove on both sides in the thickness direction of the limiting side rail are limiting surfaces 51. One end of the movable side rail 2 is stuck in the groove and cannot rotate. When rotation is required, the movable side rail 2 only needs to be lifted to get out of the groove.

[0037] The above is a limiting structure 5 that requires modification of the original breeding site. This embodiment provides a limiting structure 5 that does not require modification of the breeding site.

[0038] The limiting structure 5 is still configured as a groove, but it is an independent component and is slidably connected to the guide column 3. The sliding direction is parallel to the length direction of the fixed side rail 1. The limiting structure 5 moves away from the movable side rail 2 along the sliding direction to release its restriction on the movable side rail 2. When the limiting structure 5 slides along the sliding direction, the movable side rail 2 enters the groove of the limiting structure 5. The wall surface of the groove in the thickness direction of the movable side rail 2 still acts as the limiting surface 51 to prevent the movable side rail 2 from rotating. When it is necessary to rotate the movable side rail 2, the limiting structure 5 is moved away from the limiting side rail along the sliding direction.

[0039] The second type of limiting structure 5 does not require any modification to the site. Furthermore, this limiting structure 5 is coupled along the length of the movable side rail 2, which is parallel to the axis of rotation. Therefore, when the movable side rail 2 is subjected to a force in the direction of rotation, it will not generate a component force in this direction, and there will be no force to push the limiting structure 5 away. Thus, the limiting effect is more reliable.

[0040] Both limiting structures 5 have their own advantages and disadvantages. The first type is easier to unlock but requires site modification, while the second type is more stable but requires the limiting structure 5 to be moved separately. Users can choose the more suitable limiting structure 5 according to the site conditions.

[0041] Furthermore, the movable side rail 2 has a rectangular structure, with the four sides composed of metal tubes 22 and the center composed of a metal plate 23; The metal plate 23 is attached to one side of the rectangular thickness enclosed by the metal tube 22.

[0042] In this embodiment, the movable side fence 2, which releases the limiting function, is placed horizontally on the ground via the connecting structure 4. This inevitably causes the pigs to be trapped inside the movable side fence 2. As is well known, existing fences are formed by welding steel pipes, possessing high strength and unlikely to break. However, the pigs' hooves cannot directly step into the steel pipes, inevitably slipping and easily causing injury. Furthermore, the movable side fence 2 occupies a large area of ​​ground, with the steel pipes protruding from the ground and pressing against the pigs, making it difficult for them to lie down. To address these issues, this embodiment improves upon the existing side fence structure. The movable side fence 2 is a rectangular structure, with four sides composed of metal pipes 22 and a center composed of a metal plate 23. The surface of the metal plate 23 is attached to one side of the rectangular thickness enclosed by the metal tube 22.

[0043] The vertical connector in the middle of the movable side fence 2 is no longer made of steel pipes but is replaced by a metal plate 23, which is attached to one side of the movable side fence 2 in the thickness direction. The rectangular area enclosed by four metal pipes 22 is sufficient to accommodate pigs lying down (similar to the bottom area of ​​the restraining space). When using existing steel pipe side fences, the rectangular area still contains many metal pipes 22, which would affect the pigs' lying position. In this embodiment, these metal pipes 22 are replaced with metal plates 23, and the surface of the metal plates 23 is attached to the side wall of the restraining side fence in the thickness direction. This allows the metal plates 23 to be completely flush with the ground in the horizontally placed restraining side fence, thus eliminating any protruding structures in the longitudinal area and preventing discomfort to the pigs. To reduce weight, multiple small metal plates 23 can be arranged at intervals.

[0044] Furthermore, the connecting part 21 in the movable side rail 2 is located on the opposite side of the metal plate 23, so that after the movable side rail 2 is rotated to the horizontal position, the metal plate 23 faces the ground, the connecting part 21 and the transition structure 4 are located above the metal plate 23, thus preventing the connecting part 21 and the transition structure 4 from blocking the metal plate 23 from contacting the ground.

[0045] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "center," "top," "bottom," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "inner side," and "outer side," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. "Inner side" refers to the interior or enclosed area or space. "Outer perimeter" refers to the area surrounding a specific component or specific area.

[0046] In the description of embodiments of the present invention, the terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first," "second," "third," or "fourth" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0047] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "assembly" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0048] In the description of embodiments of the present invention, specific features, structures, materials or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0049] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that "-" and "~" represent a range of two numerical values, and this range includes the endpoints. For example, "AB" represents a range greater than or equal to A and less than or equal to B. "A~B" represents a range greater than or equal to A and less than or equal to B.

[0050] In the description of embodiments of the present invention, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0051] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A limit bar, characterized in that, This includes fixed side railings, movable side railings, and guide posts; The movable side rail and the fixed side rail together form a limiting surface on one side, which limits the side movement of the pig. The fixed side rail is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the feeding fence of the pigpen; The two guide columns are located on both sides of the length of the movable side rail and are fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the feeding enclosure to form a vertical guide stroke. The movable side rail can slide along the guide stroke to a height that pigs can pass through; It also includes a transition structure; One side of the adapter structure is rotatably connected to the movable side rail, and the axis of rotation is parallel to the length direction of the fixed side rail. The other side of the transition structure is slidably connected to the guide column, and the movable side rail slides along the guide stroke.

2. A limiting bar according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adapter structure has a connecting shaft facing the movable side rail, and the axis of the connecting shaft is parallel to the length direction of the fixed side rail. The movable side panel is provided with a connecting part, which has a connecting hole, and the connecting shaft is coaxially connected to the connecting hole.

3. A limiting bar according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a limiting structure that limits the active side rail when the active side rail is at the bottom of the guide stroke; The limiting structure has at least two limiting surfaces, located on both sides of the movable side rail, to restrict the rotation of the movable side rail.

4. A limiting bar according to claim 3, characterized in that, The limiting structure is slidably connected to the guide column, and the sliding direction is parallel to the length direction of the fixed side rail; The limiting structure moves away from the movable side rail along the sliding direction to release the limiting effect on the movable side rail.

5. A limiting bar according to claim 3, characterized in that, The movable side rail is a rectangular structure, with four sides made of metal tubes and a center made of metal plate; The metal plate is attached to one side of the rectangular thickness enclosed by the metal tube.

6. A limiting bar according to claim 5, characterized in that, The connecting part is fixedly disposed on the opposite side of the metal plate in the thickness direction of the movable side rail.

7. A limiting bar according to claim 6, characterized in that, The metal plate consists of multiple pieces, which are arranged at intervals.

8. A limiting bar according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide post is at least one meter higher than the movable side railing in the vertical direction.

9. A limiting bar according to claim 8, characterized in that, The guide column is equipped with a locking mechanism to lock the movable side rail at the position of the guide stroke.

Images