Animal restraint device with double front door control

Abstract

Animal restraint cage, comprising a double neck gate system (2) mounted on a front portion of the main frame and a double perforated gate system (3), referred to as a 'basket' in the industry, arranged in front of the double neck gate system; a pivoting control bar (4) extending along a bar axis (X4), connected to the two gates of the double neck gate system; a main control lever (5) mounted to slide along the control bar and rigidly rotate with the control bar, configured to operate the double neck gate system by pivoting around the bar axis; a secondary control lever (6) connected via a flexible link to the basket and configured to open the basket from a closed position (P1), the secondary control lever being mounted on the main control lever. Figure 6

Description

Title of the invention: Animal restraint device with double front door control

[0001] The present invention relates to animal restraint devices, in particular for cattle.

[0002] Restraint devices or restraint cages allow an animal to be partially or totally immobilized in order to examine it, provide it with treatment, weigh it, attach an identifier, etc.

[0003] Such restraint devices are intended to ensure the physical safety of human actors (breeders, veterinarians, or other actors) as well as of the animals involved during interactions with animals.

[0004] Restraint cages include at least one rear door to allow the animal to be immobilized to enter the interior space of the cage.

[0005] On the front part of the cage, a double neck gate system is provided, designed to tighten around the animal's neck to prevent it from moving backward or forward. The double neck gate system comprises two opposing gates that move apart to release the animal or, conversely, move closer together to immobilize the animal by the neck.

[0006] In practice, it is preferable that the animal be almost motionless when tightening the double neck gate system.

[0007] Indeed, if the animal is in motion, for example if it is moving forward, the tightening of the double neck gate may cause it injury or even the capture of the animal may fail.

[0008] It should be noted that the animal to be restrained may be a large bovine weighing approximately 1000 kg or more, and which may exhibit considerable strength. The restraint cage must be sized accordingly, at least in particular with regard to static loads, and furthermore, efforts are made to minimize situations where dynamic loads must be absorbed by the restraint cage.

[0009] In order to ensure that the animal is almost motionless when the double neck gate system is tightened, an additional device called a 'basket' in the jargon of the trade is provided.

[0010] The basket is a system of openwork gates, often a double openwork gate, which does not discourage the animal from advancing but still prevents it from going beyond. Thus, the animal will advance until its head is above the double neck gate system, and will stop upon realizing that it cannot pass through the openwork gate system.

[0011] It is at this moment that the closure of the double neck gate system is triggered. After the animal's neck is securely immobilized, the basket serves to limit the animal's head movements, particularly in the case of unhorned animals.

[0012] In known restraint cages with baskets, such as the PM2900 cage from the Maréchalle™ company, the control for opening and closing the neck doors is completely separate from the control for opening and closing the basket.

[0013] Therefore, in order to release the animal after the intended action during restraint has been performed, it is necessary, on the one hand, to open the neck gates, and on the other hand, to open the basket. In practice, in known solutions, this requires two distinct and independent actions.

[0014] It appeared desirable to be able to release the animal by means of a combined action, which is faster and more ergonomic and quicker than two separate gestures.

[0015] For this purpose, an animal restraint cage is proposed, with a longitudinal direction extending from back to front along the normal direction of movement of the animal in the restraint cage, the restraint cage comprising a main frame, a double neck gate system mounted on a portion of the front structure of the main frame and a double perforated gate system (called a 'basket' in the jargon) arranged in front of the double neck gate system, (an animal's head being able to be accommodated between the double neck gate and the basket),

[0016] a control bar extending along a bar axis parallel to the longitudinal direction, mounted pivotally relative to the main frame, and connected to the two gates of the double neck gate system by a connecting rod mechanism,

[0017] a main control lever mounted to slide along the control bar and rigidly rotate with the control bar, configured to maneuver the double neck gate system by pivoting around the bar axis,

[0018] a secondary control lever connected via a flexible link to the double perforated gate system and configured to cause the double perforated gate system to open from a closed position?

[0019] The animal restraint cage according to the invention is remarkable in that the secondary control lever is mounted on the main control lever.

[0020] Thanks to these arrangements, by manipulating the main control lever it is possible to release the animal via two combined gestures or even a single compound gesture, which proves to be more ergonomic and faster than the two distinct and independent gestures known in cages on the market.

[0021] In other words, the proposed solution allows for ease and ergonomic maneuvering to free an animal to be removed from the cage.

[0022] Advantageously, each of the individual controls remains available separately; it is thus possible to open only the neck door system or to open only the double perforated gate system (i.e. the basket).

[0023] The applicant has cleverly solved the difficulty of installing the secondary control lever on the main control lever, given that the main control lever is required to be moved longitudinally while remaining functional over a considerable length, more than one meter in practice. This clever solution is provided by the flexible linkage, which will be described in detail later.

[0024] It should be noted that the proposed configuration requires no compressed air or hydraulic pressure. It is a purely mechanical configuration, without a cylinder, compressor, or hydraulic unit. Due to its simplicity and robustness, this purely mechanical configuration proves to be very reliable.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the flexible link is a sheathed cable (in the jargon referred to as a 'Bowden' cable), comprising a metallic cable received in a sheath, the cable and the sheath being generally inextensible along their longitudinal direction and flexible along directions perpendicular to their longitudinal direction.

[0026] It is noted that the sheathed cable is connected on one side to the double perforated gate system which is a fixed position and on the other side to the secondary control lever which is movable along the bar axis and therefore represents a mobile position.

[0027] The cable slides inside the sheath. In one sliding direction, the cable enters the sheath on one side of a certain stroke and exits the sheath on the other side of the same stroke, and vice versa for the opposite sliding direction.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the double perforated gate system is held in the closed position by a locking bolt configured to be released (i.e. erased) by pulling on the sheathed cable in response to an activation of the secondary control lever.

[0029] Thus, simply pulling the cable is enough to trigger the basket to open. The stroke required to retract the locking bolt is only a few tens of millimeters, which is well compatible with a sheathed cable actuation.

[0030] The locking bolt is returned by a spring to the locking position.

[0031] It is noted that any other solution capable of performing a locking function, configured to be selectively unlocked, may be suitable in the context of the present invention.

[0032] According to one embodiment, an elastic return mechanism is provided to return the double perforated gate system to an open position. Thus, after unlocking by releasing the locking bolt, the movement of the two gates from the closed position to the open position is driven by the return mechanism. The door opens fully shortly after the bolt is released. The way is clear for the animal to escape.

[0033] The elastic return element in question can be a mechanical spring or a gas spring.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the double perforated gate system is closed via an auxiliary pull-cord control. This is a simple, robust, and reliable method. The travel distance can be, for example, between 20 cm and 35 cm. The gate closes against the elastic return mechanism.

[0035] According to an alternative embodiment, the closure against the elastic return member can be carried out "by hand", that is to say by a manually operated movement.

[0036] According to one embodiment, a cam-forming part is provided which provides a ramp effect to reset the locking bolt at the end of the closing stroke.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the sheathed cable comprises a first portion of the path along the main control lever, a second portion of the path in a free-geometry loop and a third portion of the path at the location of an upper base of the double perforated gate system.

[0038] The second portion of the loop path with free geometry allows, notwithstanding a constant total developed length of the sheathed cable, an adaptation with respect to the changing position of the second sheath stop.

[0039] The path of the sheathed cable may also possibly pass through guides and / or elastic connection points on the main frame.

[0040] According to one embodiment, a first cable stop is provided at the location of the secondary control lever and a second cable stop is provided at the location of an upper base of the double perforated gate system.

[0041] The cable enters and exits at the duct stops, the cable is totally protected and surrounded by the duct between the two duct stops.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the double perforated gate system comprises a movable plate along the longitudinal direction, each gate being linked to the movable plate by a respective connecting rod.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the cam-forming part is arranged and fixed on the moving plate.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the secondary control lever is formed as a handle to be squeezed or turned, arranged midway or at the end of the main control lever.

[0045] This results in very good ergonomics, with a combined hand + arm movement.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the double gate system comprises two symmetrical and antagonistic openwork gates, each mounted pivoting about a respective vertical axis.

[0047] According to one embodiment, each gate is made of solid sheet metal in the lower part, and is perforated above, each gate may have a curvature with a concavity directed towards the axis of the cage (in the closed position).

[0048] According to one embodiment, the control bar has a rectangular or even square cross-section. Thanks to this shape, a significant torque can be transmitted in rotation around the axis of the bar.

[0049] The control bar can be received in bearings at both ends. The stroke of the main control lever, along the control bar, can be, for example, at least 100 cm, preferably at least 150 cm, without excluding a greater length.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the main control lever comprises a carriage with at least one roller rolling on the control bar and / or a sliding sleeve surrounding the control bar. Several rollers may be provided above and below, which facilitate the sliding of the main control lever relative to the control bar along the bar axis.

[0051] The sleeve has a rectangular or even square cross-section, with a shape corresponding to the bar cross-section.

[0052] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an elevation view of an example of a cattle restraint cage; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates in top view an example of a cattle restraint cage, with the neck gate closed and the basket closed; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates in top view an example of a cattle restraint cage, with the neck gate in the open position and the basket (i.e. the double perforated gate system) in the open position; - [Fig.4] schematically illustrates in top view an example of the area of ​​the front doors of the restraint cage, according to the present invention; - [Fig.5] schematically illustrates in elevation the example of the area of ​​the front doors of the restraint cage of [Fig.4]; - [Fig.6] schematically illustrates a perspective view of the example of the front door area of ​​the restraint cage of [Fig.4]; - [Fig.7] shows in top view an explanatory diagram of the kinematics of the basket doors according to the invention, the left part illustrating the closed position, the right part illustrating the open position; - [Fig.8] schematically shows an example of a main control lever according to one embodiment; - [Fig.9] shows a detailed view of the locking area of ​​the double perforated gate system, i.e. of the basket; - [Fig. 10] schematically shows a second example of a main control lever according to a second embodiment in front view; - [Fig. 11] schematically shows a second example of a main control lever according to a second embodiment in profile view; - [Fig. 12] shows a detailed view of the cam-forming piece which allows the bolt to be held in the locked position and the bolt to be reset on the double openwork gate system.

[0053] In the various figures, the same reference numerals designate identical or similar elements. For the sake of clarity, some elements are not necessarily shown to scale.

[0054] Figure 1 shows a restraint device 10 for an animal V, also known as a restraint cage. The restraint cage comprises a main frame 1, made up of a welded assembly of metal tubes.

[0055] The main frame is generally parallelepiped in shape, it includes a base IB, a front structure 1F equipped with a door, a rear structure IR equipped with a door, a left side structure IG, a right side structure 1D and a top structure 1S.

[0056] Animal V enters through the rear door and is then confined inside the restraint cage. It can be partially or totally immobilized by various accessories and devices, which will be discussed later. The animal exits through the front door after the planned action or operation has been carried out.

[0057] For positioning in three-dimensional space, the longitudinal direction (direction of travel of the animal) is designated by the X frame, the transverse direction by the Y frame and the vertical direction by the Z frame.

[0058] Neck gates and their control

[0059] The restraint cage includes a double neck gate system generally denoted 2. As known per se, the double neck gate system includes two opposing gates which move apart to release the animal or, conversely, move closer together to immobilize the animal by the neck.

[0060] The double neck gate system includes a left gate 2g, and a right gate 2d.

[0061] As is known per se, this system includes for each door a self-locking function, which prevents the animal from opening the door, i.e., from moving the doors apart, in a manner similar to the system described, for example, in US2018055005. Only a command via the connecting rods discussed later allows the doors to be opened, i.e., moved apart. These mechanisms are assumed to be known per se and are therefore not described in detail here.

[0062] The left door 2g includes a self-locking passive braking system 28g, and the right door 2d includes a self-locking passive braking system 28d.

[0063] A control bar 4 is provided extending along a bar axis X4 parallel to the longitudinal direction.

[0064] The control bar 4 is pivotally mounted relative to the main frame. The control bar 4 is connected to the two gates of the double neck gate system by a connecting rod mechanism. The connecting rods 21 and 22 connect the control bar 4 to the self-locking mechanism 28d of the right gate, and the connecting rod 23 connects the control bar to the self-locking mechanism 28g of the left gate 2g.

[0065] According to the example illustrated in the figures, the kinematics of the neck gates is a sliding motion by rectilinear translation. According to other embodiments not shown, the kinematics of the neck gates could be a non-rectilinear translation or a pivoting motion.

[0066] A main control lever 5 is provided, mounted to slide along the control bar 4.

[0067] The main control lever 5 is rigid in rotation with the control bar, configured to maneuver the double neck gate system (2) by pivoting around the bar axis X4.

[0068] As shown in [Fig.5], when the main control lever 5 is lowered as shown in solid line in the figure, the neck gates are brought closer together, and conversely as shown in dotted lines, when the main control lever has been pivoted upwards by an angular stroke 05, then the neck gates are moved further apart, and incidentally they leave free passage for the animal which was, if necessary, held in the restraint cage.

[0069] The angular stroke 05 can be, for example, in the order of 45° to 60°.

[0070] As can be seen in [Fig. 3], several possible positions for the main control lever 5. The furthest forward position is marked 5a, the furthest rear position is marked 5b and a particular current position is marked 5c.

[0071] The possible travel of the main control lever along X4, denoted L4, is at least 1 meter, often more than 1.5 m, without excluding larger values ​​of 2 m or even more.

[0072] As seen in [Fig.8], the main control lever 5 is fixed to a sleeve 54 which surrounds the control bar 4.

[0073] The length L5 of the main control lever 5 can be between 80 cm and 120 cm. The main control lever 5 is provided at its end opposite the sleeve with a handle 51.

[0074] To facilitate the sliding of the main control lever along the X4 axis, one or more rollers 57 may be provided. These rollers prevent metal-on-metal contact during sliding. As an option, these rollers may be mounted on a flexible support bearing so as not to absorb the force present during the rotation of the main control lever and the bar around the X4 axis.

[0075] Basket

[0076] The restraint cage 10 includes a double-perforated gate system, generally designated 3. This system is referred to as a 'basket' in the industry. The basket is positioned in front of the double neck gate system.

[0077] The basket elements, in particular the two perforated gates 3g, 3d, are cantilevered at the front relative to the main frame of the restraint cage. It should be noted, however, that the basket gates are not designed to withstand significant force from the animal, unlike the doors of the neck restraint system.

[0078] As can be seen in [Fig.2], in the restraint position, the position of the animal V is such that its head is located between the double neck gate system and the basket.

[0079] As shown in figures 4 and 7, the basket can take two stable positions, on the one hand the closed PI position and on the other hand the open P2 position.

[0080] The basket includes a left gate 3g and a right gate 3d.

[0081] Each gate is made of solid sheet metal in its lower part, and is perforated above, each The gate, when closed, may have a curve with a concavity facing the cage axis, or in other words, a convexity facing outwards. This allows for optimal placement of the animal's head.

[0082] To open the basket, a mechanism is provided with a secondary control lever 6 connected via a flexible link to the double perforated gate system 3.

[0083] The secondary control lever is configured to open the double perforated gate system from the closed position P1. In addition, an elastic return element 31 is provided to return the double perforated gate system to the open position P2. The elastic return element may be a gas spring or a helical spring.

[0084] According to the illustrated example, the elastic return member is formed as a helical compression spring received in a hollow tube 96 on which slides a plate 9 which will be discussed later.

[0085] According to one example, the plate 9 is fixed securely to a square tube 99 sliding with the plate in which the fixed hollow tube 96 is received, with the possible interposition of a sheath of synthetic material between the two tubes.

[0086] The double perforated gate system is held in the closed position PI by a locking bolt 82.

[0087] In the first embodiment, the secondary control lever 6 is positioned on the side of the main lever at mid-distance of its length.

[0088] It should be noted that the position of the secondary control lever 6 could be closer to the free end of the main lever, so that a person of modest height could access this control even if the main lever is pivoted upwards to a greater or lesser extent.

[0089] As a reminder, although the present invention facilitates the simultaneous opening of the basket and the neck doors, it remains possible to control separately and individually the opening of the basket and the opening of the neck doors.

[0090] The double perforated gate system can be closed via an auxiliary rope control 17.

[0091] The rope 17 is connected at one of its ends to the movable plate 9 at an attachment point marked 95 (cf. [Fig.7]), and at the other end there is a pull loop 18, which can be operated by one hand of an operator.

[0092] Between the two ends, guides and return pulleys 16 are advantageously provided, so that the traction of the rope can be transmitted efficiently, without risk of jamming the rope.

[0093] The stroke E3 to be traveled to reach the closed position can be, for example, between 20 cm and 35 cm. The closure is operated against the elastic return element, which is then compressed.

[0094] According to another example, the closing of the basket, against the elastic return mechanism, can be carried out "by hand", that is to say by a manually operated movement. In this case there is no need for a rope.

[0095] Sheathed cable

[0096] The secondary control lever 6 is connected to the basket via a flexible link which, in the illustrated example, is a sheathed cable 7. The sheathed cable comprises a metal cable 7c received in a sheath 70. The cable and the sheath are generally inextensible along their longitudinal direction and flexible along directions perpendicular to their longitudinal direction.

[0097] A first cable stop 71 is provided at the location of the secondary control lever and a second cable stop 72 is provided at the location of an upper base of the basket.

[0098] The cable enters and exits at the conduit stops. The cable is completely protected and enclosed by the conduit between the two conduit stops. The cable slides inside the conduit. In one sliding direction, the cable enters the conduit on one side of a certain stroke and exits the conduit on the other side of the same stroke, and vice versa for the opposite sliding direction.

[0099] The sheathed cable 7 is connected on one side to the basket which is a fixed position and on the other side to the secondary control lever which is movable along the axis of the bar X4 and therefore represents a movable position.

[0100] The sheathed cable includes a first portion of the path T1 along the main control lever, a second portion of the path T2 in a free-geometry loop and a third portion of the path T3 at the location of an upper base of the basket.

[0101] The double perforated gate system includes a movable plate 9, movable along the longitudinal direction XI. Each gate is linked to the movable plate by a connecting rod.

[0102] More specifically, the left gate 3g is mounted pivotally relative to the cage frame around the vertical axis Zg. An operating point is provided with a hinge 37 located at the opposite end of the gate, to which a first connecting rod 33 is connected. The first connecting rod 33 is also connected to the given mobile suspension plate at a pivot joint marked 93 (see [Fig.9]).

[0103] Similarly, in a symmetrical manner, the right-hand gate 3d is mounted to pivot relative to the cage frame around the vertical axis Zd. An operating point is provided with a hinge 38 located at the opposite end of the gate, to which a first connecting rod 32 is connected. The first connecting rod 32 is also connected to the given movable suspension plate at a pivot joint designated 94.

[0104] By turning towards [Fig. 12], the cam-forming part 92 is fixed to the movable plate 9. The cam-forming part 92 interacts with the lock 82. In [Fig. 12], the relative movement between the lock and the movable plate 9 has been illustrated.

[0105] The bolt 81 is mounted on the slide 84 which is forced towards the cam-forming part by a return spring 83.

[0106] The bolt 81 is received in the hole 97 provided in the center of the cam-forming piece 92.

[0107] The stroke required to clear the bolt is denoted E4. According to the illustrated example, E4 is a few tens of millimeters.

[0108] By referring to figures 10 and 11, a second embodiment of the control combination for releasing the basket and the double neck door system has been illustrated.

[0109] The secondary control lever is arranged here at the end of the main control lever. According to one option, the sheathed cable 7 can pass inside the hollow body formed by the main control lever 5.

[0110] The cable stop 72 is mounted in a socket 75 mounted at the end of the tubular profile of the main control lever 5 which extends along the axis marked X5.

[0111] The secondary control lever 6' is formed here as a stirrup with a handle 66. To trigger the release of the basket, the operator must squeeze the handle 66 against the end bar 59 of the main lever. When the operator squeezes the handle against the end bar, this causes a pulling movement of the cable 7c and consequently the disengagement of the locking bolt and the opening of the basket.

[0112] The operator can perform this tightening maneuver simultaneously with the lifting / rotation of the main control lever. This results in a combined action that allows both the basket and the neck door system to be opened.

[0113] We also note the presence of two gripping balls 58 on either side of the end bar 59. The main control lever can thus be grasped from either side, in particular to carry out the closing movement of the double neck door.

[0114] It is noted that an additional system for holding / immobilizing the animal's head may be optionally present (e.g., a chain or a neck yoke).

[0115] It is noted that an adjustment of the neck width can be provided in the tightening position.

[0116] The general operative sequence is as follows: closing of the basket, entry of the animal, closing of the neck doors, intervention on the animal, opening of the two doors simultaneously for release of the animal.

[0117] It is noted that the main parts of the restraint cage, the double neck gate system and the double perforated gate system are made of steel, preferably protected against corrosion.

Claims

Demands

1. Animal restraint cage, with a longitudinal direction (X) extending from rear to front along a normal direction of travel of the animal in the restraint cage, the restraint cage comprising a main frame (10), a double neck gate system (2) mounted on a portion of the front structure of the main frame and a double perforated gate system (3) arranged in front of the double neck gate system, a control bar (4) extending along a bar axis (X4) parallel to the longitudinal direction, mounted pivotally with respect to the main frame, and connected to the two gates of the double neck gate system by a connecting rod mechanism, a main control lever (5) mounted to slide along the control bar and rigidly rotational with the control bar, configured to maneuver the double neck gate system (2) by pivoting about the bar axis (X4),a secondary control lever (6) connected via a flexible link to the double perforated gate system (3) and configured to cause the double perforated gate system (3) to open from a closed position (PI), characterized in that the secondary control lever is mounted on the main control lever.

2. Restraint cage according to claim 1, wherein the flexible link is a sheathed cable (7) comprising a metal cable received in a sheath, the cable (7c) and the sheath (70) being generally inextensible along their longitudinal direction and flexible along directions perpendicular to their longitudinal direction.

3. Restraint cage according to claim 2, wherein the double perforated gate system is held in the closed position (PI) by a locking bolt (81) configured to be released by pulling on the sheathed cable in response to activation of the secondary control lever (6).

4. Restraint cage according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein an elastic return member (31) is provided for returning the double perforated gate system to an open position (P2).

5. Restraint cage according to claim 4, wherein the double perforated gate system (3) is closed via an auxiliary pull-rope control (17).

6. Restraint cage according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the sheathed cable comprises a first portion of path (T1) along the main control lever, a second portion of path (T2) in a free-geometry loop and a third portion of path (T3) at the location of an upper base of the double perforated gate system.

7. Restraint cage according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein a first sheath stop (71) is provided at the location of the secondary control lever and a second sheath stop (72) is provided at the location of an upper base of the double perforated gate system.

8. Restraint cage according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the secondary control lever (6,6') is formed as a grip to be squeezed or turned, arranged midway or at the end of the main control lever.

9. Restraint cage according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the control bar (4) has a rectangular or even square cross-section.

10. Restraint cage according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the main control lever comprises a carriage with at least one rolling roller (57) on the control bar and / or a sliding sleeve surrounding the control bar.

Images