Livestock Head Gate Angular Motion for Trauma Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing head gates for livestock squeeze chutes often cause injury to animals due to abrupt stoppage and excessive pressure on the front quarters, as they move transversely or inwardly, leading to trauma and safety concerns in cattle handling.

Innovation Solution

A head gate design for a hydraulic squeeze chute that moves at a 30-degree angle, conforming to the animal's body with a V-shaped configuration, reducing the force per square inch and enhancing safety by extending forwardly and inwardly to match the animal's structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the head gate moves in a transverse 90-degree motion to the animal, then the animal is restrained effectively, but the animal experiences abrupt stoppage causing trauma to the front quarters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimal restraint effectivenessVSAvoidtrauma to front quarters

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The head gate movement angle is changed from the conventional 90-degree transverse motion to a 30-degree angle relative to the animal's body axis. This parameter change allows the gate to move with the natural flow of the animal's motion, reducing abrupt stoppage and trauma while maintaining effective restraint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the head gate moves in an inward back motion, then the animal is caught securely, but excess pressure is applied to the front quarters by pressing against the flow of motion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimal capture securityVSAvoidpressure on front quarters

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the head gate in an inward back motion that presses against the animal's flow of motion, the gate is designed to move forwardly and inwardly at a 30-degree angle, working with rather than against the natural flow of motion. This inversion of the movement direction reduces pressure on the front quarters while maintaining secure capture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the head gate moves transversely to the animal's body, then the animal is restrained, but excessive force is applied causing injury and bruising

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimal restraintVSAvoidforce on front quarters

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The movement angle parameter is changed from 90 degrees (transverse) to 30 degrees relative to the animal's body axis. This angular parameter change reduces the perpendicular force component that causes trauma, while the forwardly and inwardly directed motion maintains effective restraint through proper alignment with the animal's anatomy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8522726B2Head gate for a livestock squeeze chute

Publication Date: 2013.09.03 ULRICH MATTHEW J

AI summary

A livestock squeeze chute having a head gate assembly at the head end thereof with the head gate assembly including first and second head gates which dwell in a plane which is approximately at a 30-degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the squeeze chute. Power cylinders pivotally move the head gates between open and closed positions. Although power cylinders are preferred, the head gates could be manually moved between their open and closed positions.