GB2237598A

GB2237598A - Drafting gate for livestock

Info

Publication number: GB2237598A
Application number: GB9023451A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold Robin Samuel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-11-01
Filing date: 1990-10-29
Publication date: 1991-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 2010-10-29
Also published as: GB9023451D0; GB2237598B

Abstract

A drafting gate comprises a pair of pivotal gate members 1, 5 hingedly connected to supports 3, 7 and spaced apart by a hinged frame 9, together with a stopping gate 13 connected hingedly to gate 1. A single handle is used to pivot the stopping gate 13 about its hinge connection 15 and to control hinging of gates 1, 5 to move in a parallelogram fashion to provide two alternative routes for livestock travelling down race 21. The stopping gate 13 allows passage between the two gates 1 and 5 when in an open position, or can be used to stop livestock when closed. The handle is journalled for rotation whilst secured axially and carries at one end a latching member which is engageable with a cooperating abutment on the drafting gate. The latching serves to secure the drafting gate with the stopping gate in a position blocking the end of the race 21. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Drafting gate for livestock DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a drafting gate for livestock, especially for sheep but without limitation thereto, and in particular to a three-way drafting gate.

It is usual to provide a drafting gate at the end of a race or such like in order to direct the livestock into an appropriate area according to desired selection criteria. The livestock progress one after the other and it is advantageous if each one can be directed in a simple and efficient manner. The drafting gate is used for this purpose. The traditional gate simply consists of a basic gate which is hinged for movement so that the movable edge can be aligned with the left or right side of a race thereby directing livestock from the race to the right or left respectively. A modification to this basic two-way design which enables livestock to be stopped in the race and comprises an additional gate pivotally connected to the first gate so that it can be positioned to close off the race when the first gate is positioned aligned to one side of the space.The first type is very simple and its one handle/latch can be operated with one hand. However, the second type has two separate handles/latches involving two separate movements with two hands if the operator is stopping and drafting.

In certain situations it can be advantageous to have the facility to direct to more than two destinations as well as to be able to stop and this requires a three-way gate. A known three-way drafting gate comprises three gates and in effect is simply a combination of one each of the two gates mentioned above but with each of the basic gates positioned spaced apart to form, in one position, a continuation of the race and each is arranged to pivot towards the other so as to direct the livestock to either left or right according to which gate is pivotted. Each gate has a separate handle/latch system. Stopping of the livestock in the race is achieved by having the additional gate pivotted on one of the basic gates and again actuated by a separate handle which has an associated latch.It will be appreciated that attempting to draft three ways or stop the race with the aforementioned three-way gate is particularly difficult in view of the fact that three separate handles/latches are utilised.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide a three-way drafting gate which is simple to operate and so avoids the above-mentioned difficulties.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a three-way drafting gate comprising two spaced gate members mounted for simultaneous hinged movement, said spacing providing one optional through route for livestock and the hinged movement of the gates providing two further optional routes.

More particularly, said through route is provided with an openable and closable gate preferably carried pivotally on one of the two gates. By linking together the two gates to move in a parallelogram fashion and pivotting the stopping gate to one of the gates, the available options for drafting and stopping can be controlled by operation of one handle. It is also preferred to have the handle actuable to provide a desired latching function.

In a preferred construction a support structure is provided comprising upstanding posts or framing to which the two gates are hingedly connected and means is provided for maintaining the gates in spaced relation.

That means conveniently comprises a rod, elongate member or frame member pivotally secured to the respective gates and preferably disposed at or adjacent to the edge of the gate opposite to the hinged edge. Conveniently the handle comprises an elongate member which is movable through an arc pivot the stopping gate with which it is in driving connection, whilst pulling or pushing on the handle, usually when the stopping gate is in its stopped position, causes the two gates to be moved to the left or right thereby enabling the livestock to be drafted to right or left respectively for the preferred configuration of the gate. The handle is preferably attached to the stopping gate. For convenience the stopping gate and handle is adapted to be hung from either of the two spaced gate members as appropriate for right or left handed use.By arranging for the handle to be journalled for rotation whilst secured axially the handle can also carry a latching member for engagement with a cooperating latch receiving part positioned approximately for left and right handed operation.

In the preferred orientation of the gate the respective hinged edges of the two gates are disposed in the downstream direction relative to the direction of travel of the livestock although it is feasible for the hinging to be disposed upstream such that the drafting always takes place through the spaced gates although for practical purposes and especially where stopping is required this is less preferable.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a drafting gate according to the present invention; Figures 2a, 2b and 2c are diagrammatic plan views of a drafting gate showing three basic drafting directions; Figures 3a, 3b and 3c are more detailed Side, plan and front views of the drafting gate; Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are perspective views of the operating handle in different positions; and Figure 5 is a more detailed plan view of the hinging arrangement for the stopping gate and connecting means.

Referring to the drawings, the drafting gate comprises a pair of pivotal gate members 1, 5 which are hingedly connected to respective support posts 3, 7.

Connecting means 9, in the form of a frame like structure, is pivotally connected to each of the gate 1, 5 by way of a respective hinge connection 11, 11'. A stopping gate 13 is hingedly connected to gate 1 by way of hinge connection 15. A handle 17 is carried by the stopping gate 13, actually journalled for rotation about its axis, see Figures 4a, 4b and 4c, in journals 18 and secured axially with respect thereto by collars 19, 20.

Movement of the handle over the arc shown by arrow A gives rise to pivotting of the stopping gate about the hinge axis 15 whilst swinging of the two gates is accomplished by applying a generally axial force to the handle or applying a force direct to the gates themselves.

Figures 2a-c show the various drafting positions in relation to a race 21 along which sheep are moving from right to left. Figure 2a shows the drafting gates 1, 5 hinged to the right relative to the oncoming livestock so that the gate 1 is inclined across the race and the livestock are directed to the left. Figure 2c shows the gates pivotted to the left so that gate 5 is presented across the race and the livestock are directed to the right. Figure 2a shows the two gates disposed substantially in line with the race whereby the position of the stopping gate 13 serves to either stop livestock in the race or allow passage between the two gates when moved into its open position.

Figure 5 shows further detail of the hinge construction circled in Figure 2a with mounting bracket 23 carried by the gate 1 to upper and lower edges to received hinge connections of the connecting means 9 and the stopping gate 13. The drafting gate preferably includes further upstanding spaced posts 25, 27 connected to the hinge post 3,7 by respective runners 29, 31. The post 27 carries an abutment 33 by having V-shaped cut-out to receive the end of a latching member 35 carried by the handle 17. The latching member 35 is engagable with the abutment 33 when the handle is in the position illustrated in Figure 4c and this serves to secure both the stopping gate and the drafting gates in a position blocking the end of the race 21. The collar 20 is provided with an extended limb 20' which serves as an abutment to restrict the pivotal movement of the handle 17 by engagement of the limb with the frame of the stopping gate.. It is preferred to provide a frame or mesh extending between the runners 29, 31 so as to form an integral unit. It will be readily appreciated that the drafting is easily controlled by actuating the handle 17.

Claims

1. A three-way drafting gate comprising two spaced gate members mounted for simultaneous hinged movement, said spacing providing one optional through route for livestock and the hinged movement of the gates providing two further optional routes.

2. A three-way drafting gate as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said through route is provided with an openable and -closable stopping gate.

3. A three-way drafting gate as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the stopping gate is pivoted with respect to one of the two spaced gate members.

4. A three-way drafting gate as claimed in Claims 2 or 3, wherein movement of the two spaced gate members and the stopping gate is controlled by operation of a handle.

5. A three-way drafting gate as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said handle is carried by the stopping gate.

6. A three-way drafting gate as claimed in Claims 4 or 5, wherein said handle is actuable to provide a desired latching function,

7. A three-way drafting gate as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the handle is located axially and journalled for rotation so that a latching member of the handle is movable into and out of cooperating engagement with a latch receiving part.

8. A three-way drafting gate as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein means are provided to link the two spaced gate members together to move in a parallelogram fashion.

9. A three-way drafting gate as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said means comprises an elongate member or frame member pivotally secured to the two spaced gate members.

10. A three-way drafting gate as claimed in claim 9, in which the two spaced gate members are hinged at one edge and wherein the elongate member or frame member is disposed at or adjacent to the opposite edge of the two gate members.

11. A three-way drafting gate as claimed in any one of Claims- 1 to 10, wherein a support structure is provided to which the two gates are hingedly connected.

12. A three-way drafting gate as claimed in Claim 11, in which the support structure comprises two upstanding spaced posts to which a respective one of the two spaced gate members is hingedly connected.

13. A three-way drafting gate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which, the two spaced gates members are hinged along downstream edges relative to direction of travel of livestock.

14. A three-way drafting gate constructed and aranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.