US 2003/0140870 A1Published application

Squeeze chute apparatus

AssigneeStep 5, Inc.

InventorsDuane D. Daniels, Donald Schmitz

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Abstract

An improved portable squeeze chute apparatus includes a chute having an entrance end, an exit end, opposing sidewalls, a base and a frame. Each of the sidewalls has a plurality of openable and removable upper panels and openable lower panels for accessing upper portions and lower portions of an animal positioned in the chute. Each of the sidewalls is selectively positionable along a generally horizontal axis in order to immobilize lateral movement of an animal positioned in the chute. An exit gate is positioned at the exit end of the chute to prevent the animal from exiting forwardly from the chute. An entrance gate has interconnected entrance gate side portions for selectively preventing the animal from exiting rearwardly from the chute. Various portions of the apparatus are each controllable by a respective hydraulic chain drive assembly. One such portion includes a pair of arcably pivoting neck stretchers for selectively immobilizing the animal's head and neck while the animal is being worked. The controls for the hydraulically powered portions of the chute are disposed at the end of a pivotally mounted boom for easy control of the chute from any side of the chute. A removable and adjustable sternum support is also provided to safely support the animal while it is worked.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A device for working livestock, comprising:

an elongated frame having upper and lower ends and entrance and exit ends;
an elongated generally horizontal base;
said base being operatively secured to said frame adjacent the lower end thereof;
an entrance gate operatively secured to said frame at said entrance end thereof;
said entrance gate being adapted to move between open and closed positions generally transversely with respect to said frame;
an exit gate operatively secured to said frame at said exit end thereof;
said exit gate being adapted to move between open and closed positions generally transversely with respect to said frame;
opposing sidewalls operatively movably secured to said frame between the entrance and exit ends thereof;
said opposing sidewalls being movable in a generally transverse direction with respect to said frame between open and closed positions;
said opposing sidewalls remaining generally parallel to one another as they move between their said open and closed positions;
a first motive means for selectively moving said entrance gate and said exit gate between open and closed positions for selectively immobilizing the fore and aft movement of the livestock;
and
a second motive means for selectively moving said opposing sidewalls between open and closed positions for selectively immobilizing the lateral movement of the livestock.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.