Animal husbandry – Bed or rest
Patent
1991-03-12
1992-05-12
Weiss, John G.
Animal husbandry
Bed or rest
119 27, A01D 102
Patent
active
051117690
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to farrowing crates for use by pig farmers to confine a sow during and after farrowing so as to lessen the risk of a piglet being accidentally crushed by the sow.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A farrowing crate for this purpose is described in the applicant's British Patent Specification No. 2131268 and is of a type comprising two side members, a front member and a back member. This crate has proved highly satisfactory in use, and is generally acknowledged as being of a design which minimises the number of piglets lost by being accidentally crushed by the sow.
However, some farmers favour a different type of crate which is intended for use when the sow is tethered to a wall and which comprises two side members pivoted at their ends adjacent the wall about respective vertical axes. With this type of crate, a back member need not be provided since the sow is tethered. However, the movements of the sow are rigidly confined by virtue of the fact that the free ends of the side members cannot be moved apart by the sow, and moreover there is still a substantial risk that piglets will be crushed when a sow lies down in such a crate.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved farrowing crate of this general type which is more efficient in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a farrowing crate for confining a sow in such a manner as to allow only limited movement of the sow, the crate having two side members each of which is pivoted at a corresponding end about a respective vertical axis and between which the sow is positioned in use, each of the side members comprising a rigid frame incorporating at least two horizontal rails, and linkage means coupling together the side members such that pivoting of one of the side members in one direction about the associated vertical axis causes corresponding pivoting of the other side member in the opposite direction about the associated vertical axis.
The invention also provides a farrowing crate for confining a sow in such a manner as to allow only limited movement of the sow, the crate having two side members each of which is pivoted at a corresponding end about a respective vertical axis and between which the sow is positioned in use, each of the side members comprising a rigid frame incorporating at least two horizontal rails, and damping means coupled to the side members to control pivotal movement of the side members in such a manner that, when the sow applies her weight to one of the side members on lying down within the crate, the side member gives way gradually under the sow's weight in order to lower the sow controllably to the ground.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention each of the side members has an inwardly projecting part for supporting the sow from below as she lies down within the crate.
Furthermore the linkage means preferably includes biasing means, such as a tension spring, for returning the side members to a rest position when a pivot force causing pivoting of the side members is removed.
The linkage means may include two fixed links each of which is fixedly attached to a respective one of the side members and extends inwardly of the side member, and a pivot link interconnecting the fixed links and being pivotally connected to each fixed link about a respective vertical axis.
The damping means is preferably such as to heavily damp outward movement of the side members under the sow's full weight whilst providing relatively slight resistance to inward movement of the side members.
The damping means may comprise a hydraulic damper having inner and outer sleeves slidable within one another and closed at their free ends, and an apertured piston within the inner sleeve through which hydraulic fluid is forced on relative movement of the inner and outer sleeves.
The damping means preferably includes a valve member movable by hydraulic fluid pressure against the action of a spring to vary the throughflow cross-section through the piston, whereby outw
REFERENCES:
patent: 3941093 (1976-03-01), Sievers et al.
patent: 4351272 (1982-09-01), McDonald
patent: 4502414 (1985-03-01), Paulsen
patent: 4528943 (1985-08-01), Proctor
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