Panel mounting arrangement for squeeze chutes

A mounting arrangement for retaining removable side panels on the opposite sides of a livestock squeeze chute. The sides of the squeeze chute have front and back pairs of bracket plates for receiving the front and back edges of the side panels. As the panels are dropped into place, a cam located between the back pair of bracket plates shifts the panels forwardly to position their forward edges between the front pair of bracket plates.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an improvement in livestock squeeze chutes of the 
type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,629. Although squeeze chutes of this 
general construction have functioned well for the most part, they have not 
been wholly without problems. For example, if the animal is to be milked 
or if work is to be performed on its foot or leg area, the side panels 
must be removed and they must be replaced following completion of the 
milking or leg work. In the patented unit, a latch must be manipulated by 
hand to release the side panels and again when the panels are replaced. As 
can easily be appreciated, the need to provide a latch complicates the 
structure of the squeeze chute and adds to the time and difficulty 
involved in working on animals. 
The primary goal of the present invention is to eliminate these problems by 
providing an improved arrangement for retaining the side panels on a 
livestock squeeze chute. 
More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide, in a 
squeeze chute for livestock, an improved panel mounting arrangement which 
retains the side panels in place without the need for latches or other 
moving parts. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a panel mounting arrangement 
of the character described wherein the panels are automatically situated 
properly on the sides of the squeeze chute. 
A still further object of the invention is to provide a panel mounting 
arrangement which permits quick and easy replacement of the side panels. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide a panel mounting 
arrangement which firmly retains the panels in a stable position on the 
sides of the squeeze chute. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a panel mounting 
arrangement which is simple and economical to construct and install and 
which is well suited for use with various types of squeeze chutes. 
Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of 
novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following 
description.

With initial reference to FIG. 1, numeral 10 generally designates a 
livestock squeeze chute of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,629 which 
is incorporated herein by reference. As described in detail in the 
aforementioned patent, the squeeze chute 10 has a base 12 which supports a 
plurality of floor boards 14. A pair of upright posts 16 are mounted on 
base 10 at the inlet end of the squeeze chute, and another pair of upright 
posts 18 are mounted on the base at the opposite end of the chute. A 
horizontal bar 20 extends between each pair of posts 16 and 18 on opposite 
sides of the squeeze chute. 
Animals are squeezed between parallel opposite sides 22 of the squeeze 
chute which are supported for movement toward and away from one another. 
The opposite sides 22 are constructed and mounted on the squeeze chute in 
substantially the same manner. A vertical post 24 extends between base 12 
and the upper bar 20 on each side of the unit at a location forwardly of 
the rear post 16. A tube 26 is sleeved over post 24 and is large enough to 
turn about the vertical axis of the post. Tube 26 rests on base 12 and is 
equipped with a pair of horizontal arms 28 carrying sleeves 30 which are 
in vertical alignment with one another. A similar tube 32 is sleeved on 
the forward post 18 on each side of the unit. Tube 32 rests on base 12 and 
is large enough to turn about the axis of the post. A pair of horizontal 
arms 34 project from the tube 32 in parallel relation to arms 28. A small 
sleeve 36 is carried on the end of each arm 34. 
A removable neckboard 38 is mounted between arms 34. The neckboard 38 is 
held at its upper and lower edges by brackets 40 secured to the upper and 
lower arms 34. The neckboard 38 may be lifted out of the lower bracket 40 
and removed to provide access to the neck area of an animal in the squeeze 
chute. 
Each of the sides 22 is rectangular and includes an upright bar or post 42 
at its front end and another upright bar or post 44 at its back end. Posts 
42 and 44 are rigidly connected at the bottom by a horizontal bar 46 and 
at the top by a horizontal member angle 48. An intermediate bar 50 extends 
horizontally between the posts 42 and 44 slightly below the center of the 
side. The forward post 42 is extended through sleeves 36, and the other 
post 44 is extended through sleeves 30. The sleeves are large enough to 
turn about the axes of the posts. Collars 52 are welded to post 42 and 
rest on top of sleeves 36, while another pair of collars 54 are welded to 
post 44 and rest on top of sleeves 30. Each side 22 is thus mounted on the 
squeeze chute in a vertical orientation and is maintained parallel to the 
opposite side. Movement of the sides 22 in unison toward and away from one 
another is effected by turning a lever 56 which is connected with the 
sides by the type of linkage disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,629. 
A plurality of removable bar sections 58 are mounted to each side 22 
between angle 48 and the intermediate bar 50. Each bar section 58 may be 
pivoted within small sleeves 60 which are mounted to angle 48 and to bar 
50. Latches 62 supported on angle 48 normally retain the bar sections in 
the proper positions on the sides. 
As thus far described, the squeeze chute is constructed in the same manner 
as the squeeze chute disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 
4,027,629. In accordance with the present invention, a pair of side panels 
64 and 66 are mounted to each side 22 in an improved manner. It is to be 
understood that the panel mounting arrangement can be used in other types 
of squeeze chutes as well as in the type illustrated herein. 
Each side panel 64 and 66 is slightly shorter than the distance between 
posts 42 and 44. The lower panel 66 rests on top of bar 46 and is cut away 
at 66a to avoid interfering with movement of arm 28 as sides 22 are moved 
toward and away from one another. The combined width of panels 64 and 66 
is slightly less than the distance between bars 46 and 50. 
A pair of parallel bracket plates 68 and 70 are welded or otherwise secured 
to post 44 to provide a pair of retaining elements which assist in 
mounting panels 64 and 66 on the side of the squeeze chute. The bracket 
plates 68 and 70 extend from the lower collar 54 to connection with the 
intermediate bar 50, and they are spaced apart sufficiently to receive the 
rear edge portions of panels 64 and 66 in the space presented between the 
bracket plates. A second pair of parallel bracket plates 72 and 74 provide 
another pair of retaining elements which cooperate with plates 68 and 70 
to mount the side panels on the squeeze chute. Plates 72 and 74 are welded 
to post 42 and extend from the lower collar 52 to connection with bar 50. 
Plates 72 and 74 are spaced apart far enough to receive the front edge 
portions of panel 64 and 66 in the space presented between the plates. As 
best shown in FIG. 2, the inner bracket plate 74 is wider than the outer 
bracket plate 72 such that plate 74 projects away from post 40 to a 
greater extent than plate 72. 
Panels 64 and 66 are properly positioned within the bracket plates by a cam 
76 which is welded or otherwise secured to post 44 at a location between 
bracket plates 68 and 70 and immediately above collar 54. Cam 76 has an 
inclined cam surface 76a on its upper portion which angles downwardly as 
it extends away from post 44. A vertical surface 76b is formed on cam 76 
at a location below the inclined surface 76a. Surface 76b is spaced from 
post 44, and the distance between post 42 and surface 76b of the cam is 
slightly greater than the length dimension of the side panels 64 and 66. 
Installation of panels 64 and 66 on sides 22 of the squeeze chute is 
carried out by first inserting the back edge portion of the lower panel 66 
between bracket plates 68 and 70 at a location above cam 76. When the back 
edge of panel 66 is fully inserted between bracket plates 68 and 70 and 
against post 44, its front edge can be moved past the edge of bracket 
plate 72 and into alignment with the space presented between plates 72 and 
74. The inner plate 74 is wider than the outer plate 72 and contacts the 
edge portion of the panel such that the panel cannot be moved inwardly 
completely past the front bracket plates. When the front edge of the panel 
is aligned with the space between plates 72 and 74, the panel may be 
released such that its back lower corner portion engages the inclined cam 
surface 76a. The panel then rides downwardly along surface 76a and, by 
camming action, is moved to the left or forwardly until its front edge 
portion is inserted between the front bracket plates 72 and 74. When panel 
66 has moved downwardly far enough to clear the cam surface 76a, its back 
edge comes into contact with the vertical surface 76b which serves to 
assure that the front edge of the panel is maintained between bracket 
plates 72 and 74. When fully installed on side 22, the lower panel 66 
rests on top of bar 46 and its edges are retained between plates 68 and 70 
and plates 72 and 74 to firmly mount the side panel on the squeeze chute. 
The upper panel 64 is installed in substantially the same manner. When the 
back edge portion of panel 64 is fully inserted between plates 68 and 70 
at a location above cam 76 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, its front 
edge can be pushed inwardly past plate 72 until it is aligned with a space 
presented between plates 72 and 74. When panel 64 is then released, it 
contacts surface 76a and is moved forwardly by camming action to the 
position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, wherein its front edge is 
positioned between plates 72 and 74. When fully installed on the squeeze 
chute, panel 64 rests on top of panel 66 in edge to edge contact 
therewith. It is noted that a portion of the vertical surface 76b projects 
above the lower panel 66 so that it can contact the back edge of upper 
panel 64 in order to maintain its front edge between the front bracket 
plates 72 and 74. 
Removal of the side panels is effected by initially raising the upper panel 
64 above cam 76 and then moving it to the rear until its front edge can be 
withdrawn past the edge of bracket plate 72. The upper panel can then 
simply be pulled forwardly to remove its back edge from between bracket 
plates 68 and 70. The lower panel 66 can then be lifted above cam 76 and 
moved to the rear to permit its front edge to clear bracket plate 72. 
Panel 66 can then be pulled forwardly to withdraw its back edge from 
between plates 68 and 70. With panels 64 and 66 removed from the unit, the 
feet, legs and lower body portion of the animal are exposed to permit 
milking and leg work to be carried out. 
It is thus apparent that the mounting arrangement permits the side panels 
64 and 66 to be quickly and easily removed from the squeeze chute and 
replaced thereon even though there is only a limited space presented 
between the upper panel 64 and the intermediate bar 50. Such removal and 
replacement can be accomplished conveniently without the need to 
manipulate latches or any other moving parts. Cam 76 assures that the side 
panels are automatically situated properly and firmly retained in place on 
the squeeze chute. 
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted 
to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with 
other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the 
structure. 
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of 
utility and may be employed without reference to other features and 
subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the 
claims. 
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without 
departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter 
set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as 
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.