Weighing scales – Structural installation
Patent
1981-06-15
1984-01-24
Hartary, Joseph W.
Weighing scales
Structural installation
G01G 1708
Patent
active
044270836
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to improved apparatus for weighing livestock. Accurate and periodic weighing of livestock is important in good livestock control and a range of animal weighing apparatus for such use is available.
BACKGROUND ART
Conventionally such apparatus comprises a frame pendantly supporting a cattle crush or a sheep, pig or calf crate. The difference between the loads exerted on the frame when the livestock is, or is not, located in the crush or crate being measured to give the weight of the animal. It has been proposed to measure this load electrically using an electrical load cell.
A major disadvantage of such known equipment is the need to have the animal hanging from a supporting frame. The frame increases the cost and weight of the apparatus making it more difficult to move the apparatus from one location to another and the pendant support of the crush or crate means that movements of the animal within the crush or crate perturb the accurate assessment of the weight, making such assessment difficult and time-consuming.
A further disadvantage of the known equipment is the need to level it prior to a weighing operation to ensure that the pendantly-supported crush or crate does not bear against the supporting frame.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved livestock weighing apparatus which supports the crush or crate from below by means incorporating a plurality of electrical loadsensing means, the electrical output from the load-sensing means being summed and displayed directly on a read-out device.
According to one aspect of the invention, livestock weighing apparatus comprising an animal supporting platform, means to restrain an animal standing on the platform from leaving the same and weight-sensing means to determine the weight of an animal standing on the platform, is characterised in that the platform is entirely supported from below by means including a plurality of electrical load-sensing means, the electrical outputs from the load-sensing means being summed in an electronic circuit, the output of which is fed to a read-out device.
Conveniently the electronic circuit can be operated from the mains supply (e.g. at 240 or 120 volts A.C.) or from rechargeable batteries and the read-out device provides a digital display. Suitably the load-sensing means are strain gauges combined in groups in a load beam and two such load beams are used to support a rectangular platform one adjacent the opposite ends thereof, which platform either forms the base of the animal-restraining means or defines a platform on which the animal-restraining means (e.g. a conventional crush or crate) can be placed.
A particular advantage of a livestock weighing apparatus in accordance with the invention is that a completely rigid construction results having no suspension system, no mechanical levers and no bearings or knife edges, thus providing a system for averaging the weight of the animal in the animal-restraining means within a few seconds of the animal being placed therein and in that way eliminating many of the fluctuations seen when a conventional livestock weighing apparatus is used. The load beams can be bolted or welded to the underside of a cattle crush or weighcrate or can form an integral part of the base of such a crate or crush. Such beams can be provided with adjustable feet to permit the beams to stand rigidly on non-level ground. Suitably the electronic equipment is housed in a weather-proof enclosure which can be free-standing or secured to the crush or crate.
Wheels of adjustable height may be provided in place of, or in addition to, the adjustable feet on one or both beams, to permit the apparatus to be moved easily by one man.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
One embodiment of fully electronic digital livestock weighing apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the complete apparatus,
FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram
REFERENCES:
patent: 2899191 (1959-08-01), Hunt
patent: 3063635 (1962-11-01), Gordon
patent: 4170268 (1979-10-01), Nordstra
patent: 4258814 (1981-03-01), Dillon
patent: 4286679 (1981-09-01), Schneider
Hartary Joseph W.
Poldenvale Ltd.
Striker Michael J.
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