Tilt Forward Head Gate for Livestock Chute Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional livestock chutes allow for undesirable head movement of animals, which can be harmful to the animal and pose safety risks to operators, and existing head-restraining devices are cumbersome and dangerous to apply.
Innovation Solution
A shiftable head gate system for livestock chutes that includes a pivotally attached head gate frame with laterally spaced gate panels, which can be shifted between a releasing and a holding condition to restrict animal movement, using a tilt drive mechanism to orient the animal's neck along a longitudinal direction and restrict head movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional head gates are used to hold livestock, then the animal can be quickly caught and released, but the animal is permitted to abruptly throw its head up, down, and to either side which is harmful to the animal and poses safety risks to operators
Solution Approach 1:
The head gate is designed with a movable frame that can dynamically adjust between a first position (allowing passage) and a second position (restricting head movement). This dynamic positioning enables the system to quickly transition between catching and restraining modes, maintaining ease of operation while preventing harmful head movements when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
A nose guide component acts as an intermediary element that works in conjunction with the movable frame. The nose guide provides additional guidance and restriction on head movement while the frame positions itself, creating a coordinated system that enhances safety without compromising the quick catch and release capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If devices are mounted on the head gate to limit head movement, then head movement is restricted, but the devices are cumbersome and dangerous for the operator to apply to the animal
Solution Approach 1:
The head gate system is designed to automatically perform the head restriction function when the frame moves to the second position. The mechanical movement of the frame itself creates the restraining action without requiring separate devices or manual intervention, making the system self-servicing and eliminating the need for operators to apply additional cumbersome equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The head restriction functionality is merged into the primary frame structure of the head gate. Rather than being a separate mounted device, the restriction capability is integrated into the frame's positioning mechanism, simplifying the overall system and improving operator safety by reducing the number of separate components that need to be applied and adjusted.
Data Source
AI summary
Livestock head gate assembly configured to be installed as part of a livestock chute for holding an animal, including a head gate frame and a pair of laterally spaced gate panels laterally shiftable relative to each other between a releasing condition and a holding condition. The gate panels cooperatively define a gate opening, with the gate panels permitting the animal to move through the gate opening in the releasing condition and removably engaging a neck of the animal in the holding condition to restrict animal movement through the gate opening. The head gate frame is configured to be pivotally attached to the chute frame at a pivot joint defining a lateral pivot axis such that the head gate is swingable away from the chute frame toward the holding condition to orient the neck along a longitudinal direction and restrict movement of a head of the animal.