Tool-Free Cattle Chute Lamp With Pivoting Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cattle chutes often lack adequate lighting, making it difficult for owners to examine and groom animals, especially in low-light environments, and existing lighting solutions require constant repositioning and occupy valuable workspace.
Innovation Solution
A lamp assembly that is selectively attachable to a cattle chute frame, featuring a mounting assembly with a locking mechanism and adjustable support, allowing for directed lighting without the need for tools, enabling the user to illuminate the animal while keeping both hands free.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If free-standing lights are used to illuminate the cattle chute, then the lighting requirement is met, but the lights occupy workspace and require constant repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp assembly is merged with the cattle chute frame structure through a mounting assembly that secures the lamp to the frame. This integration eliminates the need for separate free-standing lights, removes workspace obstruction, and provides stable, hands-free illumination without requiring constant repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting assembly acts as an intermediary between the lamp and the cattle chute frame. It provides a secure attachment mechanism that allows the lamp to be mounted on the frame while enabling easy installation and removal without tools, thus resolving the contradiction between stable mounting and ease of operation.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple free-standing lights are used, then adequate illumination is provided, but the owner cannot use both hands during examination and grooming
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp assembly is integrated with the cattle chute frame structure, providing stable, hands-free illumination. This merging eliminates the need for the owner to hold and reposition multiple free-standing lights, allowing both hands to be freed for examination and grooming tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The lamp assembly is designed to be self-mounted on the cattle chute frame through the mounting assembly, which secures the lamp in place without requiring continuous manual adjustment. This self-service design provides consistent illumination while freeing the owner's hands for their work.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a mounting assembly is designed to secure the lamp to the frame, then the lamp provides stable lighting, but the mounting process requires tools
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly is designed to be self-sufficient, allowing the lamp to be mounted on the cattle chute frame without requiring external tools. The design incorporates features such as friction-fit mechanisms or snap-fit connections that enable tool-free installation while maintaining secure attachment and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting function is extracted as a separate, self-contained assembly that can be independently designed and attached. This extracted mounting assembly can be optimized for tool-free operation while maintaining stability, separating the mounting complexity from the lamp itself and allowing for simpler overall implementation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The lamp assembly provides effective and adjustable lighting within the cattle chute, enhancing the examination and grooming process by allowing for hands-free operation and reducing workspace obstruction.
Implementation Method 1
The lamp includes a plurality of LEDs that are actuated to shine light into the cattle chute
Data Source
AI summary
A lamp assembly selectively engageable with a frame member of a cattle chute without using tools. The frame member is received into a channel of a mounting assembly of the lamp assembly. A locking mechanism is pivoted to lock the mounting assembly around the frame member. The orientation of the lamp is adjusted by pivoting a support assembly connected to the lamp into a desired position relative to the mounting assembly and engaging locking pins to retain the support assembly in the selected orientation. The lamp includes a plurality of LEDs that are actuated to shine light into the cattle chute. The lamp assembly is removed from the chute frame member by pivoting the locking mechanism back to an unlocked position and then moving the mounting assembly in a direction that causes the frame member to exit the channel.