Apparatus for detecting animal estrus

An animal estrus detection apparatus adapted to be secured to the rump portion of a first animal, and actuated by a second animal mounting the first and thereby applying a predetermined amount of pressure thereon a depressible pin. The pin's motion is transferred by a linkage mechanism to a release mechanism, which then disengages an outer cover causing it to fall away and deploy an estrus indicating streamer. The release mechanism may include either a pneumatic or an escapement type release timer which is powered by said linkage and which prevents said linkage from powering said release mechanism until a predetermined period of time has elapsed. The release mechanism may also include a counting mechanism which actuates the release arm only after a predetermined number of successive mountings of said first animal. A second, hydraulic timer, actuated when the outer cover is released, measures the time elapsed since the outer cover's release.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to apparatus used to detect animal estrus, and more 
particularly to such apparatus which is adapted to be worn externally by a 
first animal and is pressure actuated by a second animal mounting the 
first animal. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In the field of animal husbandry, mankind is continually seeking to improve 
his livestock by the selective breeding thereof. However, such breeding 
entails determination of when estrus is occurring in the livestock so 
that, to the greatest extent possible, the livestock can be impregnated 
through the selective utilization of the preferred source of natural or 
artificial insemination. 
As is known, estrus is characterized by an increase in the mucus present in 
the vaginal canal of an animal. Thus, prior art patents such as U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,297,020 granted Jan. 10, 1967, to Mathiesen, and U.S. Pat. No. 
3,844,276 granted Oct. 29, 1974, to McDougall, disclose apparatus which 
includes a probe insertable into the vaginal canal for detecting either an 
increase in current flow through the mucus or a decrease in the resistance 
of the mucus, respectively, which indicates the animal is in estrus. 
As is also known, when estrus occurs in livestock, such as a cow for 
example, the cow will show an increased tendency to stand and permit 
itself to be mounted by other animals. When the mounted animal allows the 
mounting animal to remain for about five seconds, a "standing mount" has 
occurred. The most frequent mountings occur, of course, by bulls, but 
mountings are also made by other cows. Accordingly, the repeated mounting 
of a cow by any other such animal is a good indication that it is in 
estrus. The occurrence of a number of "standing mounts" indicates true 
estrus and the optimum time for artificial insemination is immediately 
following occurrence of the fifth standing mount, according to experts in 
the field. The time elapsed since the fifth standing mount is grossly 
indicative of the number of artificial insemination ampules required to 
ensure fertilization of the cow. 
Although throughout this application a cow is used as an example, it is to 
be understood that the present invention may be easily adapted to be used 
to detect estrus in other animals such as horses, sheep, goats, swine, 
etc. 
Some of the prior art patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,802, granted 
Oct. 22, 1974, to Lang et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,989, granted July 
23, 1974. to Horner et al., take advantage of the aforesaid behavior by 
attaching to the bull's head or neck a harness which carries a marking 
device arranged to mark the cow when the bull mounts the cow, thereby 
indicating the presence of estrus in that cow. However, such devices 
suffer from the drawbacks that they are relatively expensive and 
complicated. In addition, it would appear that they are not too useful for 
selective breeding purposes since the marking animal, the bull, has likely 
already inseminated the cow in the process of marking it unless the bull 
has been surgically rendered incapable of inseminating the cow. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,273, granted Oct. 29, 1974, to Polson discloses an 
apparatus which includes a battery operated radio transmitter worn by each 
cow. The transmitter is turned on when the cow is mounted by another 
animal, thereby indicating the presence of estrus to the animal breeder 
who may then locate the cow by utilizing a radio direction finder. Polson 
also discloses electrical means to measure the amount of time elapsed 
since the radio transmitter is turned on. However, the Polson apparatus 
suffers from the drawbacks of being relatively expensive, hard to repair, 
and having a relatively limited range. In addition, it would seem that the 
Polson apparatus would be subject to being unable to perform its intended 
function relatively frequently in the event that batteries become old and 
fail or in the event the batteries become discharged after the transmitter 
has been activated for a period of time before the animal breeder can 
locate that particular cow. Further, it indicates only that at least one 
mount has occurred and does not indicate the number of mounts or the 
length of any. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,076,431, granted Feb. 5, 1963, to Rule et al., and Canadian 
counterpart application Ser. No. 682,861, granted Mar. 24, 1964, disclose 
a pressure activated, hydraulic type of estrus detection device which is 
secured to the rump of a cow. This device is in the form of a long tube 
divided into two interconnected compartments, one compartment being soft 
walled and partially filled with a colored fluid, while the other 
compartment has collapse resistant walls and includes an aperture leading 
to an absorbent material which surrounds the tube. Pressure on the device 
caused by another animal forces the colored fluid into the collapse 
resistant compartment and thence into the absorbent material, thereby 
indicating the presence of estrus. The time taken to fill the collapse 
resistant compartment with fluid is alleged in the Rule patent to act as a 
mechanism whereby short applications of pressure on the tube will not give 
an observable indication of colored fluid on the absorbent material, 
although applicant doubts the consistant operability of this aspect of the 
Rule disclosure. However, as will be seen, the Rule device utilizes a 
construction and operating principle quite different from that disclosed 
by applicant. Further, it does not count the mounts and does require close 
observation of the animal's rump area. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
As has been mentioned, the apparatus of the present invention is adapted to 
be secured to the rump portion of the first animal. In basic form, it 
includes a pressure responsive means connected to an indicating means to 
thereby indicate the presence of estrus in the first animal. By thus 
providing that at least a predetermined pressure must be exerted on the 
pressure responsive means prior to the release of the release means, the 
applicant is able to achieve one of the objects of the present invention, 
which is to prevent spurious releases of the indicating means caused by 
pressures on the pressure responsive means which are less than those 
occurring during an actual mounting, such as those caused by a second 
animal resting its head on the apparatus of the present invention. 
In some aspects of the present invention, said predetermined pressure is 
determined by specifying the pressure responsive means to include a 
pressure regulatory means. The regulatory means may be specified to simply 
be a spring which prevents depression of said pressure responsive means 
until it is subjected to said predetermined pressure. Alternatively, the 
pressure responsive means may include a depressible member, and the 
pressure regulatory means may include a housing which receives one end of 
a length of relatively soft material as well as one end of the depressible 
member. The housing is so arranged that the depressible member must sever 
a piece of said material before the member can be substantially depressed, 
thereby preventing substantial movement of said depressible member until 
it is subjected to at least said predetermined pressure. 
Another aspect of the present invention specifies the release means to 
include a release timing means for preventing said movable release member 
from releasing the indicating means until said release timing means has 
been powered by said linkage means for at least a predetermined period of 
time. This construction helps applicant to achieve another objective of 
the present invention which is to prevent spurious releases of the 
indicating means caused by pressure on the pressure responsive means which 
is not of a sufficient duration to reliably indicate that an effective 
mounting of the first animal by the second animal has occurred. 
In other aspects of the present invention, the release timing means may 
comprise either an escapement mechanism or a timing piston and an 
associated timing cylinder. The latter apparatus determines the aforesaid 
predetermined period of time by the length of time it takes the timing 
piston to move a predetermined distance under the urging of the linkage 
means. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an animal estrus 
detection apparatus which releases the indicating means only after a 
predetermined number of mountings of the first animal have taken place. 
This is desirable information because the stock breeder may want to 
artificially inseminate the cow only after a predetermined number of 
mountings, felt sufficient to indicate the cow is in estrus, have occured. 
If said predetermined number of mountings is set at greater than one, the 
foregoing object of the present invention also serves to reduce the 
occurrence of spurious releases of the visual indicator caused by the 
isolated happenchance mounting of a cow by another animal, which may occur 
even though the cow is not in estrus. Thus, the present invention avoids 
some of the drawbacks of the prior art which indicate that the animal is 
in estrus after only one mounting of the cow wearing the detection 
apparatus. 
The present invention achieves the foregoing object by providing a counting 
mechanism which actuates the movable release member, thereby releasing the 
indicating means, only when the counting mechanism is advanced a 
predetermined number of times. Of course, the counting mechanism is 
advanced one count each time the pressure responsive means is subjected to 
at least said predetermined pressure caused by the mounting of said first 
animal, and, if a release timing means is utilized, the counting mechanism 
will not be advanced until said predetermined pressure is exerted for at 
least a predetermined period of time. 
Other aspects of the present invention specify the counting mechanism to 
include a ratchet wheel means which defines a circular slot having a 
release slot. One end of said movable release member rides in the circular 
slot and is released through the release slot only after the ratchet wheel 
means has been advanced said predetermineed number of counts. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for 
indicating the amount of time that has elapsed since the indicating means 
has been released. This is important since, as is known, the duration of 
estrus in a cow is for a relatively short period of time. Thus, if release 
of the indicating means is taken to approximate the start of estrus, then 
an apparatus for indicating the elapsed time since release helps the stock 
breeder to determine whether or not the most favorable time for 
inseminating that cow has passed. 
The foregoing object is achieved by some aspects of the present invention 
which specify the indicating means to include an elapsed time timing means 
which indicates the amount of time that has elapsed since the indicating 
means has been released. The elapsed time timing means may be specified to 
comprise a chamber enclosing a quantity of fluid wherein, after the 
indicating means is released, the fluid is allowed to escape from the 
chamber through a small aperture at a predetermined rate. As the fluid is 
released, an elapsed time exhibiting means is exposed in an amount 
proportional to the amount of fluid released through the small aperture. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which 
achieves the foregoing objectives while still being simple, durable, 
reliable, and so inexpensive that it can be thrown away after one use. 
These and further objects, features, advantages and characteristics of the 
animal estrus detection apparatus of the present invention will be 
apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred 
embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Assembly and construction of the embodiment of the animal estrus indicating 
apparatus 20 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-6 will be 
considered first. Referring now to FIG. 1, the apparatus 20 is shown in an 
exploded view for clarity to aid in understanding the construction of the 
present invention. The apparatus includes a broad, circular attachment 
device 22 which is used to secure the apparatus to the tail of the cow, by 
inserting the tail therethrough or wrapping around the base of the tail a 
strap incorporating a suitably shaped enlargement molded to fit the pocket 
beneath the base of the tail and above the anus. This pocket is often 
referred to as the caudal fold. To the top of the attachment ring is 
secured, as by gluing or molding in one piece, a base housing 24 which 
includes a peripheral upstanding base wall 26 having a pair of latching 
ears 28 as shown. First, second and third upstanding posts 30, 32, 34 are 
secured to the base housing, as by gluing or molding in one piece with the 
housing. 
Additionally referring to FIG. 1A, next a release timing mechanism 35, is 
assembled by first snapping the thickened rim 36 of a thin rubber cup seal 
38 over the peripheral groove 40 in a timing piston 42. The center pin 66 
extends through the hole 58 in the thin rubber check valve disc 44, which 
is secured to the end face 46 of the piston by a retaining washer 48. 
Washer 48 has a periphery 50 and a central cross bar 52, and is secured to 
said end face 46 by friction of the center pin 66 in the hole 55. The 
rubber disc 44 is sized so as to cover the check valve holes 56 in the 
piston 42, while holes 54 in the retaining washer are sized to permit 
flexing of said upper and lower portions of the rubber disc 44 
therethrough. The center pin 66 prevents lateral movement of the disc. 
Next, the assembled timing piston 42 is placed in the lower timing cylinder 
half 60, which is secured to the base housing 24, as by gluing or molding 
in one piece. The lower end of the transverse guide pin 62 is placed in 
the oval recess 64 in the base housing and is secured to the piston 42 by 
a lateral arm 66, with elements 42, 62, 66 being secured together, as by 
gluing or molding in one piece. Finally, the upper timing cylinder half 68 
is secured to the lower cylinder half, as by gluing, with the upper end of 
the transverse guide pin 62 riding in the oval hole 70 in the upper 
cylinder half. It is understood that the large rim 72 of the cup seal 38 
makes a snug, sealing, sliding contact with the upper and lower timing 
cylinder halves. 
Next, a no-back pawl 74 is secured to the third post 34, as by a snug 
friction fit. 
Then, a metal depressible pin spring 90 is inserted over the lower portion 
of a pressure responsive, metal depressible pin 92, as shown, and the 
lower end of the depressible pin is inserted into a main cavity 94 in the 
housing 82, with the spring 90 being compressed between the top of the 
housing 82 and a collar 96 on the depressible pin. 
Next, a linkage mechanism 98 is assembled by securing a first link 100 to 
the annular collar 96 with a metal first link fastener 102. Then, the 
first link and a second link 104 are secured together by a metal second 
link fastener 106, while the second link is secured to the housing 82 by a 
metal third link fastener 108. A link spring housing 110 is passed over a 
metal link spring 112 and one end of the link spring is hooked through the 
hole in the top of the second link 104, as shown, while the other end of 
the link spring is hooked into a hole on one end of the link arm 114. A 
pressure regulatory mechanism 76 is then assembled by first inserting a 
length of detent material 78 into a side cavity 80 in pressure regulatory 
housing 82. Then a detent spring 84 is inserted into a tubular detent 
housing 86, which is then urged towards the detent material, thereby 
compressing the spring 84 between the detent material and the detent 
housing. The detent housing is secured, as by a threaded connection, or 
friction fit to the pressure regulatory housing, which is then affixed to 
a recess 88 in the base housing, as by gluing. It is understood that said 
main and side cavities 94, 80 are in communication, and that the detent 
spring 84 urges the detent material 78 into the main cavity beneath the 
bottom of the depressible pin 92 prior to said pin being fully depressed. 
Next, a counting ratchet wheel 116, which forms part of a release mechanism 
118, is inserted between the top and bottom extensions 119, 120 of a link 
arm 114, and the arm is passed down over the second post 32, which passes 
upwardly through a bottom collar 124, the bottom extension, the ratchet 
wheel, the top extension and a top collar 126 on the arm, and acts as a 
pivot for the ratchet wheel 116 and the arm 114. Finally, a cap 128 is 
pressed over the top of the second post with a snug friction fit. 
Then, the bottom loop of a rubber elastic member 132 is passed down over 
the first post 30, the oval hole 130 in the movable release arm 134 is 
passed down over the post, so that the release arm is adjacent the top of 
the collar 136 on the post, and then the top loop of the elastic member is 
passed over the post in a position adjacent the top surface of the release 
arm. The loop in a metal release arm spring 138 is placed over the first 
post 30 adjacent the top loop of the elastic member and one end of release 
arm spring is hooked over the release arm, while the other end presses 
against the base wall 26, as shown in FIG. 2. Finally, a cap 140 is 
pressed with a snug friction fit over the post 30. 
Next, the release arm is cocked by rotating the ratchet wheel 116 on the 
second post 32 so that its release slot 142 is adjacent the upwardly 
projecting pin 144 on one end of the movable release arm 134. The release 
arm is then manually rotated clockwise against the urging of the spring 
138, about the first post 30, so as to pass said pin 144 through the 
release slot into a circular slot 146 in the ratchet wheel, and the 
ratchet wheel is manually rotated clockwise to thereby entrap the pin 
within the circular slot. The ratchet wheel's clockwise rotation is 
continued until the no-back pawl 74 and the advance pawl 148 on the link 
arm engage the first tooth 150 on the ratchet wheel. As seen in FIG. 2, at 
this time the dog 152 on the release arm extends through a release arm 
opening 154 in the base wall, the elastic member 132 urges the release arm 
into the position relative to said first post 30, as shown, and the spring 
138 urges the release arm to rotate counterclockwise about the first post, 
said rotation being prevented by the entrapment of said pin 144 on the 
ratchet wheel's circular slot 146. 
Next, a inner cap 156 is secured, as by gluing, to the base wall 26 and one 
end of the estrus and then indicating streamer 158 and one end of the 
lanyard 160 are connected to the top of the inner cap, as by fasteners 
162. 
The indicating mechanism, in the form of elements 158, 160 and the outer 
cap 164, includes an elapsed time indicating mechanism 166, shown in FIGS. 
3, 5, and 6, which is assembled by first placing a metal spring 168 and a 
spacer 170 over one end of an elapsed time exhibiting shaft 172, said 
shaft 172 being metal or plastic. The head 174 on the shaft is inserted 
through the keyhole 178 in the end cap 180, thereby compressing the spring 
168 between the cap 180 and the collar 182 on the shaft 172. The head is 
then raised upwardly in the keyhold 178 such that it rests in the 
depression 184 in the end cap, seen in FIG. 5, to thereby lock the spring 
168 compressed between the cap 180 and the collar 182. Next a seal 186 is 
placed over the shaft 172 so that its legs 188 are adjacent the collar 
182, and then the assembled shaft, spring 168, spacer 170, end cap 180 and 
seal are inserted into a sleeve 190 in the position shown in FIG. 6. Then 
the end cap 180 is glued to the end of the sleeve 190. 
Then, as seen in FIG. 6, a quantity of viscous fluid 192, such as General 
Electric Company VISCASIL silicone type fluid is injected into the sleeve 
190 through the small end hole 194, as by a hypodermic syringe, the 
quantity being sufficient to fill the cavity 196 between the seal 186 and 
the end hole, and an aluminum foil seal 196 is glued over the end hole. 
Next, the sleeve 190 and its contents are inserted into the transverse 
cavity 198 in the outer cap 164, with the key 200 on the sleeve resting in 
the keyhole recess 202 of said cavity to thereby align the release pin 
hole 204 in the sleeve and the release pin hole 206 in the outer cap. 
The other end of the lanyard 160 is attached, as by gluing, to one end of 
the release pin 208 and the pin is inserted through the release pin holes 
204, 206 in the outer cover and sleeve so that one end thereof protrudes 
into the sleeve 190 adjacent the collar 182. The elapsed time indicating 
mechanism 166 is then armed by releasing the head 174 through the larger 
opening of the keyhole 178 in the end cap so that the spring 168 urges the 
collar 182 on the shaft against the release pin 208. 
Then, the end of the streamer 158 is connected to the outer cap, as by the 
fasteners 210. The lanyard is coiled in the generally square cavity 212 in 
the outer cap 164 and the streamer is tightly folded into said cavity 212. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, the outer cap is then secured to the base wall 26 
by interlocking its first and second shelves 214, 216 with the latching 
ears 28 on the base wall, and the dog 152 on the release arm is manually 
moved through the release arm opening 154, so that the end of the dog 152 
is adjacent the base wall 26. Then, the outer cap is pressed down, with 
the dog 152 springing outwardly, under the urging of the elastic member 
132, over the third shelf 218 on the outer cap, thereby locking the outer 
cap to the base wall, while confining the streamer between the inner and 
outer caps. 
When the animal estrus indicating apparatus 20 is assembled, as shown in 
FIG. 4, the depressible pin 92 extends outwardly through the inner cap 
through the depressible pin hole 220 and abuts against the inner surface 
of the outer cap. As will be appreciated, all the parts of the embodiment 
of the animal estrus indicating apparatus 20, shown in FIGS. 1-6, may be 
formed, as by injection molding, from any strong, durable, rigid plastic 
such as polyallomer except, of course, for the parts whose composition has 
been previously indicated. The detent material is a relatively soft 
plastic such a polyethylene and the streamer is any brightly colored 
material, such as plastic or cloth. 
Now that a description has been given of the construction and assembly of 
the animal estrus indicating apparatus 20 shown in FIGS. 1-6, an 
explanation of the operation of this apparatus will now be set forth. As 
was previously described, the release arm 134 has been cocked and the 
elapsed time timing apparatus 166 has been armed. It will be understood 
that the apparatus 20 is ready for operation when the various components 
thereof have been assembled in the relation shown in FIG. 2, with the 
advance pawl 148 and the no back pawl 74 engaging the first tooth 150 on 
the ratchet wheel 116. 
Now, when the apparatus 20 has been secured to a first animal by attachment 
device 22, as previously described, with the broad end of the base housing 
24 pointed rearwardly on the animal, the apparatus is ready to perform its 
intended function. Referring to FIG. 4, when a second animal mounts the 
first animal, the weight of the second animal on the outer cap 164 causes 
it to pivot on the inner cap 156 on the shoulder 222 of the outer cap. As 
the outer cap pivots, it exerts pressure on the pin 92, thereby depressing 
it and setting into motion the apparatus 20. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, as the depressible pin 92 is forced 
downwardly, the shoulder 224 on the lower end of the pin 92 is prevented 
by the detent material 78 beneath it from moving substantially downwardly 
until a pressure has been exerted on the depressible pin sufficient to 
sever the detent material. It will be appreciated that this provision of 
the detent material prevents inadvertent actuation of the apparatus 20 
caused by pressures on the pin 92 less than those normally encountered by 
a mounting of the first animal by a second animal, such as those caused by 
a second animal resting its head on the apparatus 20. Of course, it is 
also understood that the detent material 78, the detent spring 84, the 
detent housing 86 and the side cavity 80 on the regulatory housing could 
be eliminated by merely making the spring 90 associated with the pin 92 
sufficiently strong so that the pin cannot be urged downwardly through its 
full motion until a pressure is exerted on the pin which is equal to that 
needed to cause the pin to sever a small portion of said detent material. 
As the depressible pin 92 moves downwardly after severing the detent 
material, its downward motion is transferred by the first and second links 
100, 104 to the link spring 112, thereby stretching the spring and causing 
it to exert a tension on the link arm 114, causing the arm to rotate 
counterclockwise about the second post 32. The top and bottom extensions 
119, 120 of the link arm, which engage the transverse guide pin 62 of the 
piston 42, urge the timing guide pin, and thus its associated timing 
piston 42, inwardly towards the end walls 226 of the upper and lower 
cylinder halves, thereby compressing the air trapped between said piston 
and said end walls. As seen, a small bleed hole 228 through which said air 
can escape is provided in the upper cylinder half, and it will be 
appreciated that the time taken for the link arm 114 to rotate enough to 
urge the piston through its full range of travel will depend upon the 
sizing of the bleed hole and the strength of the link spring 112. These 
components are sized so that full travel of the piston under the urging of 
the link arm will take about four seconds, for example, a time deemed 
sufficient to reliabily indicate that a "standing mount" has taken place. 
Of course, the size of the bleed hole and the strength of the spring 112 
could be selected differently to give a time shorter or longer than the 
four seconds mentioned. 
It will be understood that, as the piston moves towards the end walls 226 
under the urging of the link arm, a corresponding rotation of the link arm 
about the second post 32 occurs, so that only when the piston moves its 
full distance towards said end walls has the arm 114 rotated enough so 
that its advance pawl 148 will engage the second tooth 230 on the ratchet 
wheel. The no back pawl 74 prevents counterclockwise rotation of the 
ratchet wheel as the arm 114 and its advance pawl 148 are rotated 
counterclockwise. Of course, it is also to be understood that should the 
depressible pin 92 be subjected to said pressure for a time less than the 
four seconds it takes the link arm to urge the piston to travel its full 
distance towards the end walls, the link arm will not rotate a sufficient 
distance to engage the second tooth on the ratchet wheel, and thus the 
ratchet wheel will not count a mounting. Thus, it is seen that the release 
timing mechanism 35 prevents the advance pawl 148 of the linkage mechanism 
98 from rotating the ratchet wheel 116 of the release mechanism 118 
clockwise, to count a mounting and possibly actuating the release arm, as 
will be described, if the period of pressure on the depressible pin 92 is 
less than four seconds. 
After the mounting has been terminated, the pressure on the outer cap 164 
caused by the second animal is relieved and the depressible pin 92 is 
urged upwardly by its associated spring 90. As the lower end of the 
depressible pin clears the top of the side cavity 80, the detent spring 84 
urges the detent material 78 from the side cavity into the main cavity 94 
beneath the shoulder 224 of depressible pin 92. As the depressible pin 
moves upwardly, its motion is transferred through the first link 100, the 
second link 104 and the link spring housing 110 to the link arm, causing 
the link arm 114 to rotate clockwise about the second post 32. If the 
pressure on the depressible pin lasted four seconds or longer, and the 
advance pawl 148 engaged the second tooth 230 on the ratchet wheel, the 
advance pawl will then rotate the ratchet wheel clockwise, resulting in a 
configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 2, except that the advance 
pawl and the no-back pawl 74 would rest on the second tooth 230 of the 
ratchet wheel, and the ratchet wheel, by its rotation, has counted one 
mounting. Of course, for pressure of less than four seconds' duration on 
said depressible pin, the advance pawl 148 does not engage the second 
tooth of the ratchet wheel, and the advance pawl returns to its original 
position, shown in FIG. 2, on the first tooth 150 of the ratchet wheel. 
As the link arm is rotating clockwise, it will be appreciated that it is 
urging the piston 42 away from the end walls 226 and returning the piston 
to its initial position, shown in FIG. 2. The motion of the piston as it 
returns to its original position is assisted by a check valve in the 
piston 42, comprising the check valve holes 56 and the rubber disc 44, 
which, in the usual fashion permits air to freely enter into the space 
between the piston and said end walls during the piston's return motion. 
Of course, when the piston was compressing the air during its travel 
towards said end walls, the rubber disc was forced tightly over the check 
valve holes preventing any leakage therethrough. 
Subsequent mountings of the first animal result in operation of the 
apparatus 20 as has been heretofore described, except after each mounting 
of the required four seconds has occurred, the advance pawl 148 engages 
the next tooth on the ratchet wheel and advances the ratchet wheel 
clockwise, thereby causing the ratchet wheel to count one mounting, and 
possibly actuating the release arm as will be described. 
It will be appreciated that since the ratchet wheel illustrated has five 
teeth, it will count five mountings in the way previously described, 
before the release slot 142 is rotated to a position adjacent the pin 144 
on the release arm. Of course, it will be readily understood that by 
positioning the release slot in a different position with respect to the 
teeth on the ratchet wheel and/or by increasing and decreasing the number 
of teeth on the ratchet wheel, the apparatus 20 could release the pin 144 
through the release slot upon only one mounting, or upon any number of 
mountings, as predetermined by the user. 
When the pin 144 on the release arm is released through the release slot, 
the spring 138 urges the release arm to rotate counterclockwise about the 
first post 30, thereby disengaging the dog 152 on the release arm from the 
third shelf 218 on the outer cap. When this happens, the compressed 
streamer 158 forces the outer cap upwardly, thereby disengaging the first 
and second shelves 214, 216 thereof from the latching ears 28, causing the 
outer cap to fall free from the inner cap 156, and deploying the streamer 
to indicate that the animal is in estrus. 
As the outer cap falls away from the inner cap, the lanyard 160, which is 
shorter in length than the streamer, pulls the release pin 208 through the 
release pin holes 204, 206, thereby releasing the collar 182 on the shaft 
172. Referring now to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, it will be appreciated that the 
spring 168, which has a length slightly greater than the length of the 
sleeve 190, urges the shaft 172 towards the small hole 194 in the end of 
the sleeve 190, the conical depression 232 within the sleeve guiding the 
shaft to the small hole. The pointed end on the shaft 172 pierces the foil 
seal 196 thereby initinating release of the fluid 192 contained within the 
sleeve. It is to be understood that the small hole 194 in the sleeve is 
sized just slightly larger than the timing shaft so that the fluid within 
the sleeve is released relatively showly between the shaft and the small 
hole, under the urging of the spring 168 on the collar 182 of the shaft. 
Of course, the seal 186 prevents leakage of fluid from the sleeve around 
the collar on the shaft. It will be appreciated that the shaft will 
protrude from the end of the sleeve a distance proportional to the amount 
of fluid released through the small hole 194 around the shaft 172 and thus 
the distance the shaft protrudes is proportional to the time that has 
elapsed since the outer cap has fallen away from the inner cap. By 
suitably selecting the spacing of the graduations 234 on the timing shaft, 
the viscosity of the fluid 192 within the sleeve, the strength of the 
spring 168, and the spacing between the shaft 172 and the small hole 194, 
the shaft can be calibrated to reliably indicate the amount of time that 
has elapsed. It should be understood that the time it has taken the shaft 
172 to protrude any given distance through the small hole 194 will 
determine the number of seminal ampules required to insure that the cow 
which the apparatus 20 has indicated as being in estrus will be 
successfully impregnated. If the release of the outer cover is taken to 
approximate the end of the final standing mount on the first animal, then 
the amount of extension of the shaft 172 through the small hole will 
indicate approximately the time that has elapsed since the final standing 
mount of that animal. 
Applicant turns now to a consideration of the second embodiment of his 
animal estrus indicating apparatus 236 shown in FIGS. 7-10. It is to be 
understood that those elements in the apparatus 236 which correspond to 
those of the apparatus 20, shown in FIGS. 1-6, will be given the same 
reference numeral, except that a prime is appended i.e., base housing 24 
is the same as base housing 24'. The construction and operation of the 
elements with a prime appended are understood to be the same as their 
corresponding elements without a prime. It is also to be understood that 
the outer cap 164' contains an elapsed time indicating mechanism 166', not 
shown. 
Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, it is seen that a fourth post 238 is secured 
to the base housing 24', as by gluing or molding in one piece with the 
housing 24'. The no back pawl 74' is secured to the third post 34' as has 
been previously described. Next, the counting ratchet wheel 116' is 
assembled to the link arm 114' and the link arm is assembled to the second 
post 32', as has been previously described, with the bottom collar 124' of 
the link arm located within the hole through the first gear 240 and spacer 
241, and the first gear advance pawl 262 engaging the first gear 240. The 
lower end of the shaft on the second gear 242 is placed into a first 
recess 244 in the base housing so that the lower gear 246 thereon meshes 
with the first gear. The lower end of the shaft on the star gear 248 is 
placed into a second recess 250 in the base housing such that the lower 
gear 252 thereof meshes with the upper gear 254 on the second gear. The 
lower end of the balance arm 256 is placed in the third recess 258 in the 
base housing with the central portion of balance arm engaging the upper 
gear 260 on the star gear. 
Next, the release arm 134', the release spring 138' and the elastic member 
132' are assembled on the first post 30' as has been previously described. 
Then, the base housing 24', depressible pin 92', spring 90', pressure 
regulatory mechanism 76' and linkage mechanism 98' are assembled as, has 
been previously indicated, with one end of the spring 112' being hooked at 
one end of the link arm 114' as before. 
Next, the top plate 264 is secured by passing the top of the first post 30' 
through both the first post spacer 266 and the first hole 268 in the top 
plate. Similarly, the top of the second post 32' is padded into the second 
hole 270 in the top plate, the top of the shaft of the second gear 242 is 
passed into the third hole 272, the top of the shaft on the star gear 248 
is passed into the fourth hole 274, the top of the balance arm 256 is 
passed into the fifth hole 276, and the top of the fourth post 238 is 
passed through the sixth hole 278. The top plate is secured in place to 
the top of the fourth post, as by gluing. 
Then the release arm is cocked and the various elements moved to the 
positions shown in FIG. 9, in the manner which has been previously 
described. Next, the inner cap 156' is secured to the base wall 26', one 
end of the streamer 158' and one of the lanyard 160' are secured to the 
inner cap, the elements associated with the outer cap 164' are assembled 
thereto, and the outer cap is secured to the base wall latching ears 28' 
and the dog on the release arm 152' as has been previously described. 
The operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-10 is identical to that 
previously described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, except 
that the release timing mechanism 35, with its four second timing 
function, is replaced by an escapement type timer 35', as will be now 
discussed. 
As the weight of the second animal mounting the first animal causes the 
link arm 114' to rotate counterclockwise the first gear advance pawl 262 
on the link arm causes the first gear 240 to rotate about the second post 
32' in a counterclockwise direction. The rotation of the first gear is 
transferred through the second gear 242 to the star gear 248 causing it 
also to rotate counterclockwise, with the upper gear 270 on the star gear 
causing the balance arm 256 to oscilate. It will be appreciated that the 
advance pawl 148' on the link arm will not engage the second tooth 230' on 
the ratchet wheel until a period of, for example, four seconds has 
elapsed, as determined by the tension of the spring 112' and the sizing 
and weight of the balance arm 256. Of course, this period of time can be 
increased or decreased by suitably adjusting the size and weight of 
balance arm 256, and the gear ratio of the first, second, and star gears 
240, 242, 248. 
The manner in which the apparatus 236 shown in FIGS. 7-10 counts each 
mounting, or fails to count a mounting of less than four seconds' 
duration, the actuation of the release arm 134', the release of the outer 
cover 164', the deployment of the streamer 158' and the operation of the 
elapsed time indicating mechanism 166' are as have been previously 
discussed. 
The position of the various elements of the apparatus 236 at the time of 
the release of the pin 144' on the release arm 152', and the release of 
the outer cover 164' by the dog 152' on the release arm is shown in FIG. 
10. 
Of course, it will be readily understood that by positioning the release 
slot 142' in a different position with respect to the teeth on the ratchet 
wheel 116' and/or by increasing and decreasing the number of teeth on the 
ratchet wheel, the apparatus 236 could release the pin 144' through the 
release slot upon only one mounting, or upon any number of mountings, as 
predetermined by the user and as previously discussed with respect to the 
embodiment 20 shown in FIGS. 1-6. 
Of course, it is also to be understood that the release timing mechanisms 
35, 35' or could be eliminated, if so desired by the user. 
From the foregoing, various further applications, modifications, and 
adaptations of the apparatus disclosed and the invention embodied therein 
will now be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention is 
addressed, within the scope of the following claims.