An Improved Apparatus for Unchaining Cattle.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1896-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1896
COMIDELE DI ECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Unchaining Cattle.
I, JOACHIM VIETHEER, of Kollmar, near Elmshorn (Holstein) in the Empire.
of Germany, Master Carpenter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by-the following statement :-
My invention relates to an apparatus for letting cattle loose by simultaneously
uncoupling their respective chains in such cases for instance as when a fire breaks
out in the stable and it is no longer possible to individually unchain the frightened
animals.
In the accompanying drawing the apparatus constructed according to my said
invention is represented.
Figure 1 shows the general arrangement of such an uncoupling apparatus, on the
left in the coupled state and on the right in the uncoupled state.
Figure 2 shows a section on the line of Figure 1 to a larger scale.
Along the wall of the crib or manger I arrange several iron plates a corresponding
to the cattle stall and possessing each an aperture b. I provide on each plate a
the clamping jaws c c', one of which c¹ is fixed, and the other c is movable. Above
these jaws a catch d is pivoted upon a bolt, this catch bearing upon the clamping
jaws c and c and holding them together by means of its nose d'. Immediately in
front of this device a shaft e extends along the wall of the stable and is supported
by brackets f. This shaft is in firm connection with tappets g at points corre-
sponding to the plates a and the catch d; such tappets serving for the purpose
hereinafter set forth. At one end of the shaft e is keyed a ratchet wheel / with
which a pawl i engages, and the shaft e is furnished with a hand wheel k for
operating the same.
The chains I designed to uncouple the animals as a rule take up in pairs, by
means of their rings m, a bolt n terminating in a ball o. Each ball is inserted into
a spherical recess p in the wall r and held therein with the aid of the clamping
jaws c c and the catch d.
In moments of danger, or whenever all the animals are to be uncoupled at the
same time, the pawl is first disengaged from the ratchet wheel h, then the shaft e
is turned by means of the hand wheel k in the direction of the movement of the
hands of a clock whereupon the tappets g will lift the catches d from their position
of repose, thereby loosening the clamping jaws c c¹ and causing the bolts n to be
drawn from their recesses p.
For enabling the animals already let loose to move about more freely one ring m
fixed to the chain is made of such a large size that it can easily be drawn over
the ball o of the bolt n, whilst the other ring is directly fastened to the bolt n so
that the first ring will slip off when two animals pull on being let loose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is ;-
1. An apparatus for unchaining cattle which comprises clamping jaws c c¹ adapted
to hold bolts no attached to the coupling chains and to release the said bolt after
the disengagement of catches d d holding the jaws together, by means of a shaft e
furnished with tannete a

page_text: 2. An apparatus for unchaining cattle such as claimed in the first claim in which
the rings m fastened to the chains are of such a size that they may be easily
drawn over the ball o of the bolt n during the uncoupling of the same, so as to
enable the animals to be completely set free.
3. An apparatus for unchaining cattle substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.