US 4,185,592 AGranted

Cattle stanchion apparatus

OwnerTeo Albers, Sr.inventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Cattle stanchion apparatus in which a plurality of fixed and release stanchions are located adjacent one another to define a row of head openings for the animals. The release stanchions are simultaneously pivotable between open and closed positions by a reciprocable release rod. Decouplers are operative upon movement of the release stanchions to their open positions to permit the release rod to be moved back to its previous position independently of the now open release stanchions. Each release stanchion is pivotable to its closed position by the animal as it dips its head to feed. In their closed positions the release stanchions reengage the release rod and, depending upon the position of the release rod, thereby automatically lock the cattle in place. When desired, the apparatus can be arranged so that the cattle cannot lock themselves in the apparatus until the release rod is moved by the operator.

In cattle stanchion apparatus including a fixed stanchion;

a release stanchion located adjacent and spaced from said fixed stanchion to define a head opening for an animal;
and mounting means mounting said release stanchion for pivotal movement between open positions, in which the upper part of said head opening is enlarged to enable an animal to place its head through said head opening, and a closed position in which said head opening is narrowed to hold the animal's head in said head opening, the improvement comprising:
a generally horizontally elongated rail means overlying said release stanchion;
a bracket means carried at the upper extremity of said release stanchion;
release means including a generally horizontally elongated release member and handle means operative to move said release member between a locking position, a first release position, and a second release position, and having a detent;
and
a coupling element pivotally carried by said bracket means, movable along said release member upon pivotal movement of said release stanchion, and having a coupling portion releasably coupleable with said detent for movement with said release member to said first release position to thereby locate said release stanchion in an open position, and whereby said coupling element is movable with said release member upon movement of said release member from said first release position to said locking position, said coupling element further having a decoupling portion engageable with said rail means in said second release position of said release member, whereby said coupling portion can be decoupled from said detent of said release member when said release member is in said second release position to thereby enable movement of said release member to said locking position independently of said coupling element, and whereby subsequent movement of said release stanchion to its closed position by an animal is operative to move said coupling element and recouple said coupling portion and said detent to lock the animal in position.

4 more elements

Abstract

Claims15