1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gate opener for a livestock chute. In particular, the present invention relates to a mechanical gate opener having a delay mechanism fir dropping a weight on an actuator to trigger an opening mechanism for an exit gate of a livestock chute.
2. Description of the Related Art
Rodeo contests have become popular in recent years, particularly in the western states of the United States, and many cowboys and other western riders have become highly skilled in the performance of certain cattle handling feats, such as bulldogging, steer-roping, and calf-roping. Roping, for example, is increasingly popular as a family sport and today there are more than 100,000 members in the United States Team Roping Association. Ropers often exhibit their skills in competitions where they actively compete with each other for prize money before large audiences during rodeo performances.
Generally these events requires that a steer or a calf be brought into a holding chute having a gate which can be selectably opened and closed for the entrance, retention, and release of the animal. Holding chutes provided with entry and exit gates are also traditionally used by rodeo performers to temporarily hold and release cattle for mounted roping practice.
A roping chute typically consists of a narrow, short pen having both an entry and an exit gate. The earliest roping chutes were manually operated. After a bovine, typically a calf, was induced to enter a roping chute which had its exit gate initially latched, a person latched the entry gate. Then, when the roper was ready, the exit gate was manually unlatched so that the calf could exit into the larger roping pen.
Recently, electrically powered roping pens operated by a handheld remote control have been developed. However, that type of chute was expensive and required a power source such as a charged battery. In addition, the remote control was subject to being dropped or mislaid by the roper.
A need exists for an improved roping chute which uses minimal or no electrical or other externally provided power to control its operation. A further need exists for an improved roping chute that can be operated solely by a horseman who can remain mounted for the passage of a bovine through the chute.
The present invention relates to a mechanical gate opener used to activate an opening mechanism for a livestock chute. The gate opener includes a weight, an elevating mechanism for lifting the weight to a set height, and a delay mechanism for extending the time from when the weight is released from the set height to when the weight strikes an actuator for the gate opening mechanism. One embodiment of the gate opener includes a diverter for diverting the released weight to prevent the weight from striking the actuator and initiating the gate opening.
One embodiment of the present invention is a gate opener for opening a gate including: a weight; a gate opening mechanism; an actuator for the gate opening mechanism, wherein the weight striking the actuator initiates the opening of the exit gate; an elevating mechanism for lifting the weight a set height; a release mechanism for releasing the weight at the set height; and a delay mechanism for extending a time from when the weight is released from the set height to when the weight strikes the actuator.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a gate opener for opening an exit gate of a livestock chute including: a) a gate opening mechanism including a rotating linkage, wherein when the rotating linkage is in a first stable position the opening mechanism resists opening the exit gate to an opening force and when the rotating linkage is in a second unstable position the exit gate opens in response to the opening force; b) an actuator for the gate opening mechanism having a flipper bar rotatable between a resting position and a striking position, the flipper bar having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is positioned under one end of the rotating linkage when the flipper bar is in the resting position; and c) an actuator control having (i) a weight, (ii) an elevating mechanism for lifting the weight a set height, (iii) a release mechanism for releasing the weight at the set height; and (iv) a delay mechanism for extending a time from when the weight is released from the set height to when the weight strikes the first end of the flipper bar in the resting position to rotate the flipper bar to the striking position wherein the second end of the flipper bar impacts the one end of the rotating linkage causing the linkage to rotate to the unstable position.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a gate opener for opening an exit gate of a livestock chute including: a) a gate opening mechanism including a rotating linkage, wherein when the rotating linkage is in a first stable position the opening mechanism resists opening the exit gate to an opening force and when the rotating linkage is in a second unstable position the exit gate opens in response to the opening force; b) an actuator for the gate opening mechanism having a flipper bar rotatable between a resting position and a striking position, the flipper bar having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is positioned under one end of the rotating linkage when the flipper bar is in the resting position; and c) an actuator control having a housing that encloses (i) a ball, (ii) a lift tray for an elevating the ball a set height, (iii) a release mechanism for releasing the weight at the set height, and (iv) a series of inclined ramps, wherein the series of ramps are positioned such that the hall rolls downward from a first ramp onto a second ramp and then onto a third ramp before striking the first end of the flipper bar in the resting position to rotate the flipper bar to the striking position thereby impacting one end of the rotating linkage to rotate it to the second unstable position.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly several aspects of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed might be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or redesigning the structures for carrying out the same purposes as the invention. It should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a mechanical gate opener used to activate an opening mechanism for a livestock chute. The gate opener includes a weight, an elevating mechanism for lifting the weight to a set height, and a delay mechanism for extending the time from when the weight is released front the set height to when the weight strikes an actuator for the gate opening mechanism. One embodiment of the gate opener includes a diverter for diverting the released weight to prevent the weight from striking the actuator and initiating the gate opening.
The roping chute used with the gate opener can vary in size and construction. Certain aspects of the gate opener were designed to work with a livestock chute used for roping. However, the gate opener can be used with a variety of different chute designs, for example the gate opener can also be used with chutes used for livestock weighing and veterinary care.
The preferred roping chute is a relatively short, narrow pen having both an automatically closing normally open entry gate and a selectively opening exit gate. The preferred roping chute is illustrated in
There are two mechanisms of operation for the gate opener. One mechanism releases a weight, such as a trigger ball, to hit the actuator of the gate opening mechanism to open the exit gate. The second mechanism selectively diverts the weight to miss hitting the latch release and does not open the exit gate. The second mechanism is used to train a horse not to move forward at the sound of the falling weight, but to wait for its rider command.
When the exit gate is opened the animal enclosed in the chute departs through the exit gate. Removal of the weight of the animal from the pivoting floor permits the pivoting floor to rise by action of a counterweight, thereby energizing springs which urge the exit to close and the entry gate to open ready for the next animal to enter the chute. In addition, the latch release is returned to its original, untriggered position so that the chute operating cycle can be repeated.
The materials of the present invention are typically steel. The gate structure is fabricated primarily of tubing and plate, with some rolled sections such as angles also being used. The structural connections are made by arc welding or other fastening means. Commercially available hardware fittings are also utilized.
Basic Structure of the Chute
The gate opener can work with a variety of different chute designs. For example, the gate opener can be used with chutes designed for livestock weighing and veterinary care as well as chutes used in calf roping.
One embodiment of a livestock chute suitable for use with the gate opener is described below. Referring to
The roping chute 100 is placed on the ground 11. The chute primary structure consists of mirror image side frames 120 connected at the lower entry end by a pair of horizontal tubes constituting an entry cross connection structure.
The side frames 120 of the chute are also connected at the lower exit end by an exit cross tube. At its top, the chute 100 has its side frames 120 connected by a top frame 150. Each side frame 120 consists of two parallel spaced apart rectangular vertical tubular end posts 125 joined by multiple horizontal round tubes 130.
The entry cross connection structure consists of two vertically spaced apart horizontal rectangular tubes, with the lower tube at the bottom ends of the side frames 120. The upper tube of the cross connection structure mounts a pair of inwardly extending symmetrically spaced apart vertical axis floor hinge plates having transverse holes for mounting of the movable floor assembly. The exit cross tube is also located at the bottom ends of the side frames 120.
Press-broken plates serve as mirror image guide plates 140. The guide plates 140 extend horizontally between the entry side of the side frame 120 to the end post 125 at the exit end of the side frame. The guide plates 140 generally have a short first vertical section, a horizontal inward bend at approximately 45° from vertical, a second flat segment extending inwardly, a second horizontal outward bend to produce a vertical third section, and a short horizontally outwardly extending stiffening edge.
The top frame 150, seen in
The movable floor assembly is a narrow elongated flat floor plate 180 having longitudinal stiffeners on the upper side of the plate on its sides. The floor 180 is slightly longer than the primary structure of the chute 100, and its width is such that it has a slip fit between the vertical third sections of the opposed lower guide plates 140. At its entry end, a transverse hinge tube is mounted under the floor plate 180 to serve as a pivot axis engaged in the holes of the vertical floor mount plates which project from the upper tube of the entry cross connection structure. The movable floor assembly thus has its entry end pivoted, while the exit end is able to displace vertically generally about 6 to 12 inches.
In addition, a transverse cylindrical bar is mounted under the floor plate 180. Each outer end of the transverse bar, or a projection 185 thereof is engaged with the lower end of a floor link 225.
The Gate Operator Linkage Assembly
A gate operator linkage assembly 200 is mounted on the outside of the vertical third section of each of the lower guide plates 140 as shown in
The gate operator bar 210 has a toe shape with a short transverse arm projecting upwardly from the main part of the operator bar. The rotational shaft mounting hole is located close to the intersection of the tee arms. All three ends of the gate operator bar 210 have transverse holes.
The hole of the longest branch of the operator bar pivotably mounts a counterweight 220. For the gate operator bar 210 shown in
The hole at the opposed end of the operator bar 210 is attached to a floor link 225 connecting the operator bar 210 to the pivoting floor 180. The floor link 225 is a turnbuckle having a circular eye on a first end and a hook on a second end. The circular eye is coaxially engaged with the transverse bar of the movable floor 180 and the hook is engaged with an arm of the operator bar 210.
A pair of holes is located at the end of the upwardly projecting arm of the operator bar 210. One hole provides an attachment point for an entry gate operating link 230 attached to an entry gate 160. The other hole provides an attachment point for an exit gate operating link 240 attached to an exit gate 170.
Each gate operating link typically consists of a swivelable jaw end fitting with a pin mounted on a rod extending from a spring housing. The spring housing houses a compression spring which acts against a transverse head of the rod to urge the rod outwardly relative to the spring housing. The end of the spring housing opposed to the rod end mounts a second swivelable jaw end fitting with a pin. The spring housing of a gate rod assembly optionally can be fluid filled and the piston relatively closely fitted to the bore of the spring housing in order to provide either unidirectional or bidirectional hydraulic damping to axial dimensional change for the gate rod assemblies.
Gate Latching and Release Mechanism
One embodiment of a gate latching and release mechanism 300 is shown in
The slider tube 304 has a symmetrical transversely extending horizontal plate 312 mounted on its upper surface towards the end of the slider tube 304 facing the exit gate 170. This plate 312 overhangs the sides of the slider tube 304 and has a vertical through hole penetrating each end of the transverse plate 312. These holes are each pivotably engaged to an exit gate linkage 314. The opposed ends of the two exit gate linkages 314 are each attached either a righthand or a lefthand exit gate 170. Thus, if the slider tube 304 slides forward towards the exit gate 170, the rods of the exit gate linkages 314 will also move forward and allow the exit gate to open.
The first end of the slider tube 304, facing the entry gate 160 has an upwardly extending slider pivot mount 306 which pivotably mounts a horizontally extending slider pivot pin 308. A pair of laterally spaced apart driver bars 320 is pivotably attached at their first ends to the slider pivot pin 308. At the second ends of the driver bars 320, a transverse link pivot pin 326 connects the driver bars 320 to a first end of a somewhat shorter swing bar 324 located in the vertical midplane between the two driver bars 320. The second end of the swing bar 324 is pivotably mounted by a transverse swing bar pivot pin 328 to an upwardly projecting bar pivot mount 330 positioned on the upper side of the guide tube 302 on the entry gate side of the slider tube 304.
As seen in
A flipper bar 350 provides an actuator for the release of the latching mechanism. The flipper bar 350 generally has an “L” like shape. The flipper bar 350 has a transverse pivot pin hole at approximately the midpoint of its long leg, and its short leg extends upwardly. A rectangular flipper plate 354 is mounted on a first end of the long leg of the “L” and a flat target surface 360 is mounted on the upper end of the short leg of the “L”.
The flipper bar 350 is installed by inserting a pivot axis pin 352 through both the pin hole in the flipper bar 350 and the flipper mounting plates 362 on the upper side of the guide tube 302 on the entry gate side of the slider tube 304. The installed flipper bar 350 has its flipper plate adjacent the travel stop 32. At its entry gate end, the flipper bar 350 mounts a target surface 360, such as a box or a plate. The opposed end of the flipper bar 350 mounts a transverse flipper plate 354. The location of the pivot axis of the flipper bar 350 is selected so that the flipper plate 354 at the exit gate end of the flipper bar 350 is positioned under the link pin 326 joining the driver and swing bars. Normally, the flipper plate 354 is bearing against the upper side of the guide tube 302 and the target surface 360 is elevated.
When the drive bars 320 and the swing bar 324 are in the position shown in
When a weight hits the target surface 360, the weight causes the target surface 360 to move toward the guide tube 302 and the flipper plate 354 to move upward and hit the cojoined drive and swing bars where they are pivotably connected by the link pin 326. The impact of the flipper plate 354 on the cojoined ends of the driver bars and swing bar causes the cojoined bars to rotate upwardly (clockwise from the position shown in
A first embodiment of an actuator control mechanism 400 is shown mounted on the guide tube 302 of the chute 100 in
The actuator control assembly 400, best seen in
On the lower corner of the housing on the chute exit side, a flipper cutout 406 permits the target surface 360 and a portion of the flipper bar 350 to be located within the interior of the housing. The flipper cutout 406 includes a substantially rectangular section cut from the bottom side of the housing 402 and an adjoining relatively narrow slot cut from the first vertical side of the housing facing the exit gate when the control mechanism is mounted on the chute 100.
The flipper cutout 406 is large enough to allow a portion of the flipper bar 350 located within the housing 402 to move through the lower corner of the housing when a weight hits the target surface 360 and rotates the target surface downward as illustrated in
On the side of the housing 402 opposed to the cutout 406, a vertical transverse partition 410 is installed adjacent a second vertical housing wall. At its lower end, the partition 410 has an approximately square opening 412 large enough for a ball 430 to pass through. The opening is spaced above the horizontal lower side of the housing to be in alignment with a lower guide ramp 450. At the upper end of the partition 410, the partition has a small horizontal lip 414 projecting toward the second vertical wall of the housing.
A series of inclined guide ramps 450 are attached to the largest side of the interior of the housing 402. The guide ramps 450 are channel sections, wherein the legs of the channels are short vertical segments which have a close fit between the largest side of the interior of the housing and the installed cover plate 404.
The number and length of the guide ramps as well as the angle of inclination of the ramps is selected to determine the travel time for a ball 430 to pass from the partition end of a topmost guide ramp to the bottommost guide ramp. For example as shown in
The uppermost guide ramp 450 is attached to the upper end of the vertical partition 410 so that the upper surface of the ramp channel matches the upper surface of the installed vertical partition. The ramp is inclined such that the other end of the ramp is slightly lower than the end attached to the partition 410. For example, the lower end of the guide ramp may be 0.5 to 1.0 inch lower than the end attached to the partition. The length of the guide ramps 450 is less than the span between the partition 410 and the first vertical wall on the flipper cutout side of the housing 402.
The second guide ramp 450 is attached to the first vertical wall of the housing 402. The second guide ramp generally has about the same slope as the first guide ramp, but slopes in the opposite direction. The third guide ramp 450 is typically parallel to the first guide ramp and is attached at its higher end to the partition 410. The fourth guide ramp 450 is generally parallel to the second guide ramp. The lower end of the fourth guide ramp 450 is mounted to the partition 410 such that the upper surface of the channel is flush with the bottom horizontal edge of the opening 412 cut through the vertical partition 410.
As seen in
The lift line 436 is a string or cord that may have a ring attached to its upper end. The lift line 436 passes from the top of the lift tray up through the top of the housing 402. As seen in
When an animal is penned within the chute 100, an operator or rider can open the exit gate 170 by quickly pulling the lift line 436 until the lift tray 432 abuts the horizontal partition lip 412 at the upper end of the vertical partition of the housing 402 causing the lift tray to release the ball 430 onto the uppermost guide ramp as shown in
As the ball 430 rolls off the lift tray 432, it begins to roll down the upper guide ramp 450 and then falls off the lower end of that ramp. The angle of incline of the ramps 450 is such that the ball rolls relatively slowly. While the ball is traveling down the guide ramps 450, the weight of the lift tray 432 causes the lift tray to return to its original position on the bottom of the housing 402.
The falling ball 430 reaches the end of the first ramp and falls onto and rolls down the second ramp 450 until it rolls off onto the third ramp. The path taken by the ball 430 is indicated by the dashed line 438 in
As the flipper bar 350 rotates, the flipper plate 354 moves upwardly and impacts the linkage consisting of the cojoined drive bars 320 and the swing bar 324. The impact of the flipper plate destabilizes and rotates the linkage in a clockwise direction from that shown in
After the animal departs the chute, the eccentric counterweight 220 urges the exit gate 170 to close and the entry gates 160 to open as the movable floor assembly rises. This is due to the moment exerted on the gate operator bar 210 due to the weight of the counterweight 220.
Referring to
As seen in
With the continual use of the chute and the actuator control assembly 400 using a ball to activate the opening mechanism, the mount of the rider using the chute, as well as the animal penned within the chute, can become accustomed to hearing the ball 430 dropping through the actuator control housing and attempt to move prematurely. This situation is avoided by training the animals not to move until the exit gates 170 actually open. This training is accomplished using a diverter mechanism. The diverter mechanism prevents the ball from dropping on the target surface 360, even though the ball rolls down the guide ramps and makes the noise associated with the gate opening when the diverter is not used.
One embodiment of a diverter mechanism, shown in
An actuator control mechanism 400 with the diverter mechanism installed has a hole in the first vertical side of the housing 402. The bottom edge of the hole is slightly above and adjacent to the target surface 360 of the flipper bar 350 when positioned in its at rest position. Thus, when the flap 460 is closed and abuts the first vertical wall of the housing, the flap 460 does not interfere with the falling of the ball 430 onto the target surface 360 from the bottom of the third guide ramp 450 as shown in
The flap 460 can be selectably engaged to interfere with the falling of the ball 430 onto the target surface 360 from the bottom of the third guide ramp 450 by a number of different means. For example, a diverter bar 470 can be used to selectably engage the flap 460 to move the flap into the path of the falling ball 430 as shown in
The diverter bar 470 is an elongated bar having a short leg extending at a right degree angle from each end of the bar, where the two short legged extensions extend away from the bar in the same direction. The diverter bar 470 is rotatably mounted on the exterior of the first vertical wall of the housing 402 with an upper short legged extension positioned above the top side of the housing 402 and the lower short legged extension positioned just below the hinge attached to the upper edge of the flap 460. The diverter bar 470 is not engaged when it is turned with its two short legged extensions facing away from the housing 402.
The diverter bar 470 is easily rotated to an engagement position. For example, when the diverter bar 470 is rotated about 180 degrees to point its short legged extensions toward the housing, the upper extension is positioned over the top surface of the housing and the lower extension enters the hole in the first vertical side of the housing and pushes the hinged flap 460 inward towards the partition 410 such that the flap 460 is angled over with the target surface 360 to prevent the ball from striking the target surface. Thus, in the engagement position of the diverter bar, the flap 460 is held open by the lower extension of the diverter bar at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from vertical, as seen in
The path taken by the diverted ball 430 is indicated by the dotted line 439 shown in
A second embodiment of an actuator control mechanism 500 is shown mounted on the top frame 150 of the chute 100 in
The actuator control assembly 500, best seen in
Opening of the exit gate causes the calf to depart. Removal of the weight of the calf from the pivoting floor 180 permits the pivoting floor to rise, thereby energizing springs which urge the exit to close and the entry gate to open. In addition, the flipper bar 350 and the linkage of the cojoined driver bars 320 and the swing bar 324 are returned to their original, untriggered positions so that the chute operating cycle can be repeated. The gate latching and release mechanism 300 may be returned to its original position either through solely mechanical means (such as a biasing means for the flipper bar) or by using a resetting solenoid 525. Whenever, a resetting solenoid is used to return the flipper bar 350 to its original position, the upper side of the roping chute will preferably mount a battery to power the solenoid. The battery is used to provide operative power to a downwardly acting resetting solenoid.
The reason for having a roping chute is to provide practice in roping a running calf. To initiate operation, a calf is herded into the open entry gate of the chute. When the calf stands on the pivoting floor, the weight of the calf causes the floor to depress. The link between the pivoting floor 180 and the gate operator bar 210 pulls the exit end of the gate operator bar 210 downward as the floor lowers. This action compresses a spring on in the cylinder of the exit gate operating link 240 so that it urges the exit gate 170 to open. At the same time, a compression spring on the rod end of the entry gate operating link 230 urges the entry gate 160 closed.
At the same time, while the exit gate is urged to open by the compression spring in the exit gate operating link 240, the stability of the cojoined linkage bars of the gate latching and release mechanism 300 does not permit the exit gate to open, even though it is strongly urged to do so by the bias of the exit gate operating link.
At this point, the exit gate 170 can be selectively caused to open by the dropping of the trigger ball 530 in the upper entrance end of the spiraled tube 512. The elevated position of the spiraled tube is conveniently located for access by a rider (not shown), who can take the ball from a storage area (not shown) on top of the chute 100.
The ball 530 requires a few seconds (usually about 12 to 20 seconds) to travel the length of the tube 512 and then drop onto the target surface 360. This elapsed time permits the rider to ready the loop of his rope and his horse. The impact of the ball on the target surface causes the flipper bar 350 to rotate so that its end under the cojoined ends of the driver bars and the swing bar impacts those links, causing the linkage to rotate upwardly (clockwise from the position shown in
If the rider decides to delay the opening of the exit gate, a diverting mechanism (not shown) for directly sending the trigger ball from the outlet of the spiral tube to the ball receptacle instead of allowing it to hit the ball target surface can be selectably engaged by the rider. This alternative diverting mechanism is useful in training a calf to be calm in the chute and to be prepared for a precise exit.
After the calf departs the chute, the counterweights of the gate operator bars 210 and the compressed springs of the gate operating links urge the exit gate to close and the entry gate to open. Gate operation cannot occur instantly because of the damper cylinders and the need to lower the exit end of the flipper bar 350. The flipper bar is lowered either by a purely mechanical means, such as a spring loaded biasing means or by a resetting solenoid.
The roping chute of the present invention may be totally operated without electronics as described above, or may be operated with only a resetting solenoid used to reset the flipper bar.
A variety of modifications to the actuator control mechanism and the gate latching and release mechanism can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
The present application, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 111(b), claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of provisional application Ser. No. 61/689,751 filed Jun. 6, 2012, and entitled “Roping Chute.”
Number | Date | Country | |
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61689751 | Jun 2012 | US |