Abstract:
An apparatus for urging livestock animals includes at least one alleyway which is defined by a frame having a stationary portion and a reciprocating portion. The reciprocating portion includes a paddle assembly including spaced pairs of pivtobably mounted paddles. The reciprocating frame swings between a rear position and a forward position. The paddles are mounted to the reciprocating frame such that the paddles may pivot forward but not backward to permit forward motion of a livestock animal and to apply force to the hind quarters of the livestock animal when the reciprocating frame moves forward or to prevent rearward movement of the livestock animal in the alleyway.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/510,388 filed Oct. 10, 2003. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for urging cattle through an alleyway. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Specialized trailers or transportable units having alleyways and a squeeze chute have long been used to conduct livestock through a procedure such as vaccination. A primary objective of such units is to move livestock through alleyways and squeeze chutes as quickly as possible without harming or over-stressing the livestock. Traditional methods for motivating cattle to move through alleyways tend to subject cattle to significant stress. Typically, a veterinarian receiving livestock animals from an alleyway into a squeeze chute for procedures such as vaccinations would much rather work with a relatively calm, unstressed animal. Accordingly, what is needed is an apparatus for gently and efficiently urging livestock through an alleyway while inducing a minimum of stress. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The livestock urging apparatus of the present invention gently and efficiently urges livestock through an alleyway. The livestock urging apparatus includes at least one alleyway which is defined by a frame and includes an entrance portion and an exit portion. A paddle assembly is mounted to the alleyway frame. The paddle assembly includes a generally horizontal reciprocating frame, pivot links connecting the reciprocating frame and the alleyway frame and a pattern of spaced pairs of paddles individually and pivotably mounted to the reciprocating frame. The reciprocating frame swings generally within the alleyway frame between a rear position and a forward position. The reciprocating frame is positioned high enough to provide vertical clearance for the passage of a livestock animal. The paddles have generally vertical, flat leading surfaces for pushing the hind quarters of a livestock animal and angled trailing surfaces for facilitating the forward motion of a livestock animal. The paddles are mounted to the reciprocating frame such that the paddles may pivot from a vertical orientation toward a horizontal orientation in a forward direction as the livestock animal pushes upon the angled trailing surfaces of the paddles from behind so as to allow the forward passage of the livestock animal. Yet, the paddles are also mounted such that the paddles do not pivot in a backward direction from the vertical orientation so that the paddles may be used to push a livestock animal from behind. An actuator connects between the paddle assembly and the alleyway frame for actuating the reciprocating motion of the paddle assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the actuator is a hydraulic cylinder which can be operated manually or even remotely as an operator urges cattle through the alleyway. Two alleyways each having a paddle assembly can be arranged in a side by side manner so that livestock animals such as cattle may be urged in an alternating fashion into a single receiving chute. With this arrangement, cattle may be urged through an area or into a squeeze chute very rapidly. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the livestock urging apparatus of the present invention showing a single alleyway and a single paddle assembly. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the livestock urging apparatus of the present invention showing a single alleyway and a single paddle assembly urging a livestock animal. 
       FIG. 3A  is a side view of a paddle assembly in the rear position. 
       FIG. 3B  is a side view of a paddle assembly in the forward position. 
       FIG. 4A  is a side view of a single paddle hanging in a vertical orientation. 
       FIG. 4B  is a side view of a single paddle rotated toward a horizontal orientation. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a livestock urging apparatus installed within a trailer having two alleyways leading to a single squeeze chute. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view showing two livestock urging apparatuses installed within a trailer in a side by side fashion in adjacent alleyways leading to a single squeeze chute. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates  FIG. 1  illustrates a livestock urging apparatus  10  including an alleyway defined by a frame  12  and a paddle assembly  20 . 
   The alleyway includes an entrance portion  12 A and an exit portion  12 B. The alleyway is defined by alleyway frame  12  and is enclosed on both sides by panels  14 A and  14 B shown in a cut-away fashion in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Paddle assembly  20  includes a reciprocating frame  22  which is mounted to the alleyway frame  12  by a set of generally parallel pivot links  23 A,  23 B,  23 C and  23 D. Pivot links  23 A,  23 B,  23 C and  23 D are arranged so that frame  22  maintains a generally horizontal orientation as it swings back and forth. Reciprocating frame  22  includes left and right longitudinal members  24 A and  24 B and a pattern of transverse members  26  connecting left and right longitudinal members  24 A and  24 B for completing a rigid frame structure. A pattern of pivotably mounted spaced pairs of paddles  28  hang beneath reciprocating frame  22 . Reciprocating frame  22  swings between a rear position and a forward position generally within the alleyway frame  12  as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Reciprocating frame  22  is positioned high enough to provide vertical clearance for the passage of a livestock animal as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Paddles  28  are designed to rotate up and forward (or counter-clockwise as seen in  FIG. 2 ) to permit forward passage of a livestock animal. Further, paddles  28  are mounted to reciprocating frame  22  such that they can not rotate in a backward direction (clockwise as seen in  FIG. 2 ). Paddles  28  are generally flat and are oriented such that their largest flat surfaces are oriented in a longitudinal direction or generally parallel to reciprocating frame  22 . Paddles  28  have generally flat forward surfaces  28 A for pushing the hind quarters of a livestock animal and angled rear surfaces  28 B for facilitating the forward motion of a livestock animal. Paddles  28  are mounted to the reciprocating frame such that paddles  28  may pivot in a forward or clockwise direction from the vertical orientation shown in  FIG. 4A  toward the retracted position shown in  FIG. 4B . This forward pivoting motion allows a livestock animal to push upon the angled rear surfaces  28 B of paddles  28  from behind so as to allow the forward passage of the livestock animal. Yet, paddles  28  are also mounted to reciprocating frame  22  such that paddles  28  can not pivot clockwise as seen from the vantage point of  FIG. 2A . 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate the motion of a single paddle  28  between a vertical orientation and a retracted orientation. A boss  28 C for preventing the counter-clockwise rotation of paddle  28  projects from left longitudinal member  24 A of reciprocating frame  22 . Those skilled in the art will quickly appreciate that any one of a number of mechanical arrangements can be chosen for preventing the counter clockwise rotation of paddle  28 . Paddle  28  is shaped to permit the passage of an animal as it passes beneath a set of rotating paddles. As noted above, paddle  28  includes a flat forward surface  28 A for pushing a livestock animal and an angled rear surface  28 B which facilitates the passage of an animal as it moves from left to right as seen in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a livestock animal  5  being pushed by urging apparatus  10 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , a pair of paddles  28 D 4  contacts the hind quarters of the livestock animal while a second pair of paddles  28 D 5  are retracted (or rather pushed up and out of the way by livestock animal  5 ) in order to provide clearance for livestock animal  5 . As paddle assembly  20  translates forward, paddle pair  28 D 4  pushes livestock animal in the direction indicated by arrow  5 A. After livestock animal  5  moves forward, paddle assembly  20  moves back to the rear position and the paddles of paddle pair  28 D 5  return to the vertical orientation of paddle pair  28 D 4 . When the paddles of paddle pair  28 D 5  are in the vertical orientation, they are then available to push livestock animal  5  as paddle assembly  20  executes a subsequent stroke. The paddles operate in this sequential manner as the animal proceeds under the paddles and is pushed through the alleyway by reciprocating paddle assembly  20 . This provides a relatively gentle and painless method for sequencing cattle in two side by side alleyways which are each equipped with an urging apparatus  10  into a squeeze chute. 
   Urging apparatus  10  shown in  FIG. 2  includes an optional means for retracting paddle assembly into a raised, non-operating position. In  FIG. 2 , paddle assembly  20  is mounted to a translating portion  13  of frame  12  that is slidably mounted to the stationary portion of frame  12 . A hydraulic cylinder  40  connects translating portion  13  and the stationary portion of frame  12 . When hydraulic cylinder  40  retracts, paddle assembly  20  retracts away from livestock animal  5 . This arrangement may also be used to adjust the operating level of paddle assembly  20  in order to accommodate animals of different sizes. 
   As can be best seen in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a hydraulic cylinder  30  connects between a portion of paddle assembly  20  and the alleyway frame  12 . Hydraulic cylinder  30  actuates the reciprocating motion of the paddle assembly  20 . The motion of paddle assembly  20  is shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . In  FIG. 3A , hydraulic cylinder  30  is retracted and paddle assembly  20  is in the rear position. In  FIG. 3B , hydraulic cylinder  30  is extended and paddle assembly  20  is in the forward position. 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate the motion of a single paddle  28  between a vertical orientation and a retracted orientation. Protruding from left longitudinal member  24 A is a boss  28 C for preventing the clockwise rotation of paddle  28 . Those skilled in the art will quickly appreciate that any one of a number of mechanical arrangements can be chosen for preventing the counter clockwise rotation of paddle  28 . As noted above, the shape of paddle  28  is adapted to permit the passage of an animal as it passes beneath a set of rotating paddles. Paddle  28  includes a flat forward surface for pushing a livestock animal and an angled rear surface which facilitates the passage of an animal as it moves from right to left as seen in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  show two side by side animal urging apparatuses  10 A and  10 B installed in a trailer  2 . Trailer  2  includes two alleyways  3 A and  3 B for presenting cattle to a single squeeze chute  4 . Trailer  2  is used to process cattle through a procedure such as vaccination. The general object would be to move cattle through such a process or procedure as rapidly as possible while subjecting each animal to as little stress as possible. The installation of urging apparatuses  10 A and  10 B within alleyways  3 A and  3 B provides a way to move cattle through trailer  2  as rapidly as possible. Typical hydraulic controls can be used to actuate the hydraulic cylinders of apparatuses  10 A and  10 B so that the reciprocation each paddle assembly can be controlled by an operator. A remote control capability can be easily added so that an operator located away from the apparatus may activate the urging of cattle through an alleyway. 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except in so far as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.