IE44150B1 - Clamping device for use with animals - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to animal clamping devices and in particular to a clamping device tor cattle or the like domestic animals, hereinafter referred to collectively as cattle.

The clamping device of the present invention has particular 5 use for holding the hind quarters of a cow immobile while the cow is being milked. The device is also useful for keeping the hind quarters of a cow immobile during veterinary examination or treatment of the udder.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a clamping device for cattle which comprises a pair of clamp bars pivoted to one another and which are shaped so as to form a pair of opposing clamp arms whose separation may be adjusted by relative pivotal movanent between the bars, the ends of the clamp arms being provided with, integral gripper members which in use grip the hind quarters of an animal, the pair of clamp bars being provided with an adjustable locking means whereby ths pair of. opposing clamp arms may be fixed against further separation after the required separation has been selected.

Preferably, the-adjustable locking means comprises a lever attached to one of the clamp bars adjacent to the pivot point, the lever having a pawl pin which in use engages a ratchet which is pivoted to the other clamp bar adjacent to the pivot point of the bars.

The invention will be understood from the following description of embodiments thereof given by way ot example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a clamping device according to the present invention, - 2 44150 FIGURE 2 FiGIIRI i FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a clamping device according to the present invention, is a plan view of a third embodiment of a clamping device according to the present invention, and is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a clamping device according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 there is provided a clamping device indicated generally at 8, which comprises a pair of clamp bars 9 of steel tubing, which are shaped so as to form a pair of opposing clamp arms 10 and 11, the ends 13 and 13a. of the clamp arms 10 and 11 being provided with grippers 14 which in use grip the hind quarters of the animal to iiiimobi 1 ise the hind legs thereof. The clamp bars 9 are pivotally hinged at 12 by means of a hinge 21.

A lever 22 is welded at 23 to one of the clamp bars 9 adjacent the hinge 21. The lever 22 is provided with a pawl pin 24, which in use may engage with any one of the teeth 25 of a ratchet 26 which is pivoted to the other clamp bar 9 at 27 adjacent the hinge 21 by a rivet 28. The ratchet 26 is spring-biassed against the lever 22 by means of a conventional spring 35. The ratchet and pawl arrangement enables the arms 10 and 11 to be fixed against further separation once the required separation has been selected. In use, when clamping device 8 is used to immobilise the hind quarters of an animal, the ends 13 and 13£ of the clamp arms 10 and 11 are separated sufficiently to pass over the hind quarters of the animal by releasing the pawl pin 24 from its engagement with the ratchet 26 and moving the lever in a clockwise direction. When the clamping device 8 is correctly positioned over the hind quarters of the animal, the lever 22 is moved in an anti-clockwise direction, 4415° thereby moving the end 13a of the clamp arm il in an anti-clockwise direction, until the clamp arms 10 and ll and the grippers 14 are in the correct position to immobilise the hind quarters of the animal. The device 8 is held in position on the animal by engaging the pawl pin 24 with the ratchet 26.

Referring to Figure 2 there is provided a clamping device indicated generally at 8, which comprises a pair of clamp bars 9 shaped so as to form a pair of opposing clamp arms 10 and 11, the ends 13 and 13a of which are provided with grippers 14, The arms 1U and 11 are pivotally connected at 12 by means of a hinge 21. A pair of brackets 16 and 17 are rigidly secured to the bars one on each side of the hinge 21 at 16a and 17a respectively. The brackets 16 and 17 are engaged by a rod 18 passing through both brackets. The bracket 16 comprises a crossbar (not shown) rotatably mounted therein, which crossbar is provided with a screw threaded aperture with which the screw threaded end 20 of the rod 18 engages. The rod 18 is held against axial movement relative to the bracket 17 by stops 29 and 29a.. The rod 18 is provided with a handle 19.

In use when it is desired to open the arms 10 and 11 to position the clamping device about the hind quarters of the animal, the handle 19 is turned in a clockwise direction to draw the brackets 16 and 17 together and thereby move the clamp arms 10 and ll away from each other.

The rotatably mounted crossbar permits the rod 18 to remain in a fixed position while the bracket 16 is moved towards or away from the bracket 17. When the clamping device is properly positioned the handle 19 is turned in an anti-clockwise direction whereby the brackets 16 and 17 are driven apart bringing the clamp arms 10 and 11 together to clamp the animal. - 4 44150 Referring to Figure 3, the clamping device 8 comprises a pair of shaped clamp arms 9 which are pivotally connected together intermediate their ends in a scissor-like arrangement by a bolt 30. At one end the clamp bars 9 are shaped so as to form a pair of opposing clamp arms 10 and 11, the ends 13 and 13a of which are provided with grippers 14 which in use grip the hind quarters of the animal to immobilise the hind legs thereof.

At the other end of the clamping device 8, the clamp bars 9 cooperate to form a second pair of opoosing arms 15 and 15a. Each of the arms 15 and 15a carries a respective bracket 16 and 17 at its end, both of the brackets being engaged by a rod 18 passing through them and having a handle 19, said rod 18 having a screw threaded end 20. The bracket 16 comprises a crossbar (not shown) rotatably mounted therein, which crossbar is provided with a screw threaded aperture with which screw threaded end 20 of the rod 18 engages. Stop members (not shown) on the rod 18 prevent axial movement of the rod relative to the bracket 17.

Rotation of the rod 18 in a clockwise direction serves to draw together the ends of the arms 15 and 15a and vice-versa to produce a corresponding movement of the arms 13 and 13a.

In use as a clamping device on a cow during milking, the ends 13 and 13a are separated sufficiently to pass over the hind quarters of the cow by anti-clockwise rotation of the handle 19. When the clamp arms 10 and 11 are positioned around the cow's hind quarters, the handle 19 is rotated in a clockwise direction so as to cause the grippers 14 of the clamp arms 10 and 11 to grip the hind quarters of the cow in a tight but comfortable manner and thereby render the hind quarters of the cow immobile.

The fourth embodiment shown in Figure 4 is similar to that of Figure 1 but has a different adjustable locking means. In this case the locking means comprises a lever 31 welded to one of the bars 9 4&lS° adjacent the hinge 21 and extending alongside the other bar 9, which lever passes with a small clearance through an aperture 34 in a tongue 33 which is fixed to the other bar 9 ;ind slidably mounted on said lever 31. I'he tongie 33 is prevented from falling off the lever 31 by means of a stop pin 32. In use, the clamping device is positioned around the cow's hindquarters, then the end 13a is moved in a direction towards the opposing arm 13 by moving the lever 31 in a direction away from the hinge 21, said lever 31 is normally biassed towards said hinge 21.

When the device has gripped the cow in the desired manner, the tongue 33 is moved along the lever 31 and is secured against the clanp bar 9, to restrain separation of the bars 13 and 13^. thereby, securing the device on the ccw.

The clamping action of the devices described causes the cow no discomfort, on the contrary the cow reacts favourably to the use of the device which appears to give the cow a secure feeling during the milking operation. The device may also be used in similar manner on a cow when a veterinary inspection or treatment of the cow is necessary.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

1. A clamping device for cattle comprising a pair of clamp bars pivoted to one another and which are shaped so as to form a pair of opposing clamp arms whose separation may be adjusted by relative pivotal movement between the bars, the ends of the clanp arms being provided with gripper members which in use grip the hind quarters of an animal, and the pair of clamp bars being provided with an adjustable locking means whereby the pair ot opposing clamp arms may be fixed against further separation after the required separaticn has been selected.

2. A clamping device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the adjustable locking means comprises a lever attached to one of the clamp bars adjacent to the pivot point, the lever having a pawl pin which in use engages a ratchet which is pivoted to the other clamp bar adjacent to the pivot point of the bars.

3. A clamping device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the adjustable locking means comprises respective brackets attached to the bars one on either side of the pivot point, and a screw-threaded rod extending between and engaging the brackets in such manner that the distance between the brackets may be adjusted by rotating the rod thereby adjusting the separation of the clamp arms.

4. A clamping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bars are pivoted intermediate their ends to form a scissor-like arrangement with a second pair of opposing arms on the opposite side of the pivot point to the clamp arms, and wherein the adjustable locking means comprises a respective bracket attached to the end of each of the second pair ot arms, and a screw-threaded rod extending between and engaging the brackets in such manner that the distance between the brackets may be adjusted by rotating the rod thereby adjusting the separation of the clamp arms. - 7 441 5 °

5. A clamping device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the adjustable locking means comprises a lever attached to one of the bars adjacent the pivot point and extending alongside the other bar, ths lever passing through an apertured tongue slidably 5 mounted on said lever and, adapted for adjusting the position of the lever relative to said bars. '

6. A clamping device substantially as described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.