Improvements in Apparatus for Casting Cattle for Slaughtering.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as required by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 16th day of February 1898.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Casting Cattle for Slaughtering.
I, JAMES KING, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Inspector, Abbatoirs, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is designed to provide apparatus which will cast and place cattle
readily and easily in the required position preparatory to being slaughtered by
the cutting of the throat in accordance with the Jewish Law.
My improved apparatus will be found simple in action, effects its objoot quickly
without bodily injury to the animal, and with the minimum of mental suffering,
and can be used with safety to the operator and without difficulty or inconvenience
in any slaughterhouse.
In constructing the apparatus I affix to a wall (or other support) a pulley block
and two rings sheaves or their equivalent at some distance above the floor lever
the pulley being situated above the rings.
Through the pulley and rings 1 pass a rope or chain fitted at the lower ends
with hobbles covered with leather and provided with curved spring hooks and at
the other ends attached to a chain or other rope carrying a hook or to a hook or
other device which can be readily attached to and removed from a ring or hook.
A single rope is preferably used doubled and the ends passed over the pulley
block or sheave and through the rings a chain being attached to the loop.
Below the fixed pulley block and rings I hinge or pivot to the wall or floor
three boards or platforms of varying widths which are hinged or pivoted to each
other so that they can be turned up flat against the wall to be out of the way or
the outer board or platform can be turned up at right angles to the other and
parallel to the wall."
On the outer board is placed a pad or cushion of rubber and a number of rubber
studs or buffers on the under surface and a number of rings and staples are fixed
to the edge to which to affix ropes or to receive hooks to hold it in position against
the wall.
'T'he end of the chain attached to the ropes passing over the pulley block which
have hobbles at the other ends is affixed to the edge of this board which then
serves as a lever as it is turned down on its hinges to draw up the ropes and
hobbles to cast the animal and the weight of the animal resting against the board
assists in drawing it off its feet.
I also provide a clamp for drawing the head back and "tensing" or stretching
the neck previous to cutting. This clamp comprises two arms or levers to pass
beneath the horns or ears shaped to avoid the eyes and a chain or curb to pass

page_text: beneath the lower jaw with levers or handles by which the head can easily be
drawn back without hurting the animal until the skin of the neck is drawn tight.
The beast to be slaughtered is led on to the centre board by a rope which is
passed through the ring affixed thereto. The hobbles are then clasped round the
fetlocks of right fore and hind legs. The outer board is raised and held in posi-
tion by a hook fixed to the wall engaging with a staple affixed to the edge of the
board thus forming a stall. A rope secured to the edge of the board is fixed round
the animal's head and tied to a ring (the original rope being slacked). The chain
at the other end of the rope carrying the hobbles is now attached to a ring in the
side of the board by a hook on its end. The hook in the wall is released from its
staple and by gently pulling another rope or lever on the end of the board the
animal's fore leg is flexed and the head being fixed to the ring in the edge of the
board the animal rolls on its shoulder on to the rubber cushion as the lever board
falls to the floor of the slaughter house resting on the rubber studs. The beast
being thus cast and held in position by its own weight.
The clamp may now be applied if necessary to tense the neck for cutting the
throat.
The apparatus is made so that when not in use it can be placed close against the
slaughterhouse wall being held in position by hooks and staples to allow of
ordinary slaughtering taking place without inconvenience.
Dated this 17th day of November 1896
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Apparatus for Casting Cattle for Slaughtering.
I, JAMES KING, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Inspector, Abbatoirs, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention is designed to provide apparatus which will cast and place cattle
readily and easily in the required position preparatory to being slaughtered by
the cutting of the throat in accordance with the Jewish Law.
My improved apparatus will be found simple in action, effects its object quickly
withont bodily injury to the animal, and with the minimum of mental suffering,
and can be used with safety to the operator and without difficulty or inconvenience
in any slaughterhouse.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1 Front elevation showing animal in position for casting.
Fig. 2. End elevation of same.
Fig. 3. Plan showing position of apparatus and animal after casting.
Fig. 4. End elevation of apparatus showing position when not in use.
Fig. 5. Front and side elevation of appliance for "tensing" the neck of animal
after casting.
To a wall A (or partition or other support) against which the animal can stand,
I fix a pulley block B with two ropes b placed preferably at a level higher than the
height of the animal, also two ring sheaves CC or their equivalent at some dis-
tance above the floor level, the ropes & passing through them.
The ropes b which pass through the pulley blocks B and ring sheaves (C¹are
fitted at their lower ends with hobbles D covered with leather and provided with
curved spring hooks d, and at the other end are attached to a chain E or other

page_text: rope carrying a hook or to a hook or other device which can be readily attached to
und removed from a ring or hook. A single rope is preferably used doubled and
the ends passed over the pulley block or sheave B and through the rings C, the
chain E being attached to the loop.
To the wall A or to the floor in front of the wall, I hinge or pivot the board or
platform F, and to it another board or platform the platform being in width
about equal to the average width of animal to be slaughtered, and the platform G
in width about equal to the height of the animal. The platform G is pivoted or
hinged to the platform F and is capable of being raised at right angles to it,
whilst the latter remains upon or parallel with the ground, (see Fig. 2). To the
side of the platform G and between it and the platform F is pivoted a platform or
door K, capable of being raised to permit of easy access to the legs of the animal for
the adjustment of the hobbles D which are attached to the off hind and fore legs or
those furthest from the wall A when the animal is standing in position against it.
The platform F is preferably hinged or pivoted to the wall A, so that the
appliance may be turned up flat against the wall as shown in Fig. 4 to be out of
the way, but if that is not desired the platform I may be a fixture or may be
dispensed with, the platform G being suitably hinged or pivoted, so that it may
be raised perpendicularly and laid down flat when required.
On the platform G is placed a pad or cushion L of rubber, and a number of
rubber studs or buffers are attached to the under or outer surface for the purpose
of lessening the concussion when it falls upon the floor.
b
In one edge of the platform G is fixed a ring or its equivalent M to receive a
rope m attached to the head of the animal, and in the other edge, a ring or staple N
to receive a hook at the end of the chain E connected to the ropes 6 or other ring
or staple 0 is fixed in the edge or top of the platform G to receive the hook P' to
hold it in position shown in Fig. 2 or the hook to hold it in the position shown
in Fig. 4. And a ring or staple R is fixed at the top to receive a rope S by which
the platform can be drawn down from a perpendicular to a horizontal position.
One end of the chain E is attached to the edge of the platform G, and at its
other end is connected to the ropes 6 passing over the pulley blocks B, and carrying
the hobbles D, thus the platform G, as it is drawn down serves as a lever to draw
up the ropes and hobbles to cast the animal, and the weight of the animal, when
it is overbalanced and rests against the platform, assists in casting it, and fixes it.
I also provide a clamp for drawing the head back and "tensing" or stretching
the neck previous to cutting. The clamp comprises two arms or levers T to pass
beneath the horns or ears shaped to avoid the eyes, and a chain or curb to pass
beneath the lower jaw with projecting handles t by which the head can easily be
drawn back without hurting the animal until the skin of the neck is drawn tight.
The beast to be slaughtered is led on to the platform F by a rope m which is
passed through the ring M. The door K is open and the hobbles D are then
clasped round the fetlocks of right fore and hind legs, whilst the platform G is
in a raised position and held by the hook P fixed to the wall engaging with the
staple O affixed to its edge in the form of a stall. The rope fixed round the
animal's head, is tied to the ring M. The chain E is now attached to the ring N
in the side of the platform by a hook on its end. The hook P in the wall is released
from its staple, and by gently pulling the rope S or a handle the animal's fore leg
is flexed and the head being fixed to the ring M in the front edge of the platform,
the animal rolls on its shoulder on to the rubber cushion as the platform gradually
falls to the floor of the slaughter house resting on the rubber studs, the beast being
thus cast and held in position by its own weight.
The clamp T may now be applied if necessary to tense the neck for cutting
the throat.
The apparatus is preferably made so that when not in use it can be placed close
against the slaughter house wall, being held in position by hooks and staples to
allow of ordinary slaughtering taking place without inconvenience as shown in
Fig. 4.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of tho said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I am aware that it has been
previously proposed to use hinged platforms, raised and lowered by pulley blocks,
for casting cattle and I make no claim to such apparatus per se, but I declare that
what I claim is:-
1. Apparatus for casting cattle for slaughtering constructed with hobbles for
affixing to the legs connected to ropes, which pass over a pulley above the animal,
and are affixed to a hinged platform, whereby when the platforin is lowered, it acts
as a lever to draw the animal off its legs and throw its weight upon the platform,
thus causing the animal to be cast by its own weight, substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for casting cattle for slaughter the combination with a hinged
or pivoted platform capable of being lowered from a vertical to a horizontal
position, of hobbles connected to ropes passing over pulley blocks and connected to
the platform, whereby the platform when lowered, acts as a lever to draw the animal
off its legs, and the weight falling upon the platform finally casts the animal,
substantially as described.
3. Apparatus for casting cattle for slaughter, having the several parts con-
structed and arranged in combination substantially as described and shown.
4. The appliance for teusing the necks of cattle for slaughter, substantially as
described and shown with reference to Fig. 5.
1041
Ad 1807
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool & London, Patent Agents.