Harness-Based Ungulate Recovery Support for Fall Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Land-based ungulates, such as equids and bovines, often experience uncontrolled falls during recovery from anesthesia or loss of stability, leading to injuries like broken leg bones due to insufficient balance and muscular control.
Innovation Solution
A harness system with a fall control unit mounted in a recovery space, coupled via ropes, applies brake forces to control downward and horizontal movements within preset limits, using a rope management assembly, motor, and brake system to prevent falls and stumbles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the animal is allowed to move freely during recovery, then the animal can recover naturally, but the animal may fall uncontrolled and suffer injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a harness as an intermediary device that connects the animal to the support system. The harness includes attachment points and connection elements that mediate between the animal's body and the external support structure, enabling controlled support without direct mechanical intervention on the animal itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical restraint systems with a simplified rope-and-pulley mechanism combined with electronic sensing and control. The system uses sensors to detect fall conditions and electronically controls brake activation, substituting pure mechanical systems with an integrated sensor-actuator system
2Speed
If a harness system is introduced to control movement, then fall velocity can be limited, but the system complexity increases with additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The harness is designed as a multi-functional device that serves both as a supportive restraint during normal recovery and as a controlled braking system during falls. The same harness structure and connection elements are used for both gentle support and emergency braking, eliminating the need for separate mechanical braking components
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameter from mechanical force application to electronic brake activation based on detected fall parameters. Instead of using complex mechanical linkages to apply braking force, the system detects fall velocity and acceleration parameters and electronically activates brakes, simplifying the mechanical structure while maintaining control capability
3Object-affected harmful factors
If brake force is applied to prevent falls, then injury risk is reduced, but the animal's natural movement is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The brake system operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when sensors detect fall conditions exceeding preset thresholds. During normal recovery movements within safe parameters, the brakes remain disengaged, allowing the animal to move freely. The periodic activation based on detected fall events balances safety with natural movement
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial braking force rather than complete immobilization. The brake force is calibrated to limit fall velocity to preset safe levels rather than completely preventing movement, allowing the animal to maintain some mobility while ensuring falls do not exceed injury-threshold velocities
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 system effectively prevents uncontrolled falls and stumbles by maintaining safe movement velocities and accelerations, reducing the risk of injury during recovery periods.
Implementation Method 1
a brake system with a brake caliper configured to engage a brake disk coupled to the drum to selectively arrest rotation of the drum
Data Source
AI summary
A land-based ungulate recovery support and stabilization system includes at least one fall control unit mounted in a recovery space and coupled to a harness via at least one rope. The at least one fall control unit provides means for applying brake force(s) to a land-based hoofed animal, such as a horse, fitted in the harness to manage motion of the animal. By managing motion, an uncontrolled fall, a stagger, and other jerking motions can be avoided to prevent injury.