GB2140266A

GB2140266A - Improvements in partitions for cattle cubicles

Info

Publication number: GB2140266A
Application number: GB08314590A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Henry Webber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-05-26
Filing date: 1983-05-26
Publication date: 1984-11-28
Also published as: GB8314590D0

Abstract

A partition for a cattle cubicle comprises a first member (20) which constitutes the upper cross bar and a rear leg, and a second member (22) which constitutes a lower cross bar. The second member is curved upwards at (23 DEG ) to join the upper cross bar by welding at a position (24) which is approximately three quarters of the distance along the cross bars from the head end at which they are welded to the head leg (26). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in partitions for cattle:cu- bicles The present invention relates to improvements in partitions for cattle cubicles.

One known form of partition for cattle cubicles is shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. It comprises three legs, namely a head leg 10, a rear leg 12, and a middle leg 14 which is located approximately three quarters of the way between the head leg 10 and the rear leg 12; and two horizontal cross bars, namely an upper cross bar 1 6 and a lower cross bar 18.

It has been found in practice that with the partition shown in Figure 1, a cow may be injured if she slips or accidentally falls whilst in the cubicle defined by two such partitions.

In particular, if a hind leg projects through the arch A defined by the legs 1 2 and 14 and the lower cross bar 18, it may be impossible for the cow to raise herself again without causing serious injury to herself.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantage of the known partition for cattle cubicles.

According to the present invention there is provided a partition for a cattle cubicle including: a first portion consisting of an upper cross bar and a leg at the rear end of the cubicle; and a second portion constituting the lower cross bar which is curved upwards to join the upper cross bar at a position which is greater than one half the length of the cubicle from its head end.

The partitions may either have means for fixing the free ends of the cross bars to a wall, or the partition may inciude a second "head" leg to which the free ends are welded or otherwise secured.

In an alternative form, the cross bars may extend through the wall or other dividing means so that one integrally formed partition extends on both of the wall or dividing means to form one wall of oppositely arranged cubicles.

The present invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example with reference to the remaining figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 2 to 7 illustrate a number of different embodiments of a partition for cattle cubicles according to the present invention; and Figures 8A to 8C show how a known wooden type of cattle cubicle can be adapted by utilizing the features of the present invention.

Referring first to Figures 2 to 7, each partition shown therein includes a first member 20 which constitutes the upper horizontal cross bar and the rear leg and a second member 22 which constitutes the lower horizontal cross bar. The second member 22 is curved upwards at 23 to join the upper cross bar and has one end welded or otherwise secured thereto at 24, at a position which is approximately three quarters of the way between the free ends of the horizontal cross bars and the rear leg.

As shown in Figures 2 and 7, the free ends of the horizontal cross bars are welded or otherwise secured to a head leg 26. This makes a movable ' partition which can be used to make a temporary cubicle or to allow for an adjustment in the size of the cubicles where the herd fluctuates in numbers.

The partition shown in Figure 3 has the free horizontally directed ends of the upper and lower cross bars fitted into respective holes 30 and 32 of a wall 34. The ends may either be a push fit into the holes or they may be cemented therein.

The partition shown in Figure 4 has the horizontally directed ends of the upper and lower cross bars 20 and 22 welded to a plate 40. The plate 40 is bolted to the wall 42 by means of bolts 44 and nuts 46.

The partition shown in Figure 5 is a double partition, one side being a mirrow image of the other, and is used in the case where cubicles are provided on both sides of a wall 50. The integrally formed horizontal cross bars 20 and 22 extend through respective holes 52 and 54 in the wall 50.

The partition shown in Figure 6 is also a double partition which is designed for "open plan" cubicles, i.e. where there is no wall or other permanent dividing barrier between the rows of cubicles. A head leg 60 is welded to the horizontal cross bars 20 and 22. In order to form a barrier between opposite cubicles a part of longitudinal head rails 62 and 64 together with a dividing rail 66 run longitudinal along the rows of cubicles formed by the partitions. The rails 62, 64 and 66 may be clipped, bolted or otherwise secured to the upper cross bar 20 and head leg 60 as shown at 68.

The partitions disclosed in Figures 2 to 6 are preferably made from a mild steel tube which has an external diameter of 48.4 mm.

The dimensions of the partitions shown in Figures 2 to 4 and 7 are 1.98 m long and 1.29 m high. In the case of the double partitions shown in Figures 5 and 6 the totai overall length is 4.12 m.

As shown in all the embodiments of Figures 2 to 6 the junction between the upper cross bar and the rear leg of the first member 20 is preferably provided with an inclined portion 28 which curves into the respective upper cross bar and rear leg portions.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, it will be noted that the upper cross bar 20 is slightly inclined with respect to the lower cross bar 22, the height above the ground decreasing from 1.29 m at the head end to about 1.05 m at the rear end. Also there is no inclined portion 28, the upper cross bar merg ing with the rear leg in a curved portion 29 of like dimensions to the curved portion 23 in the lower cross bar 22.

Referring now to Figures 8A to 8C, it will be seen that the basic principles of the present invention can be adapted to known wooden cubicle houses or sheds.

As shown in Figure 8A, the wooden shed comprises a back wall 80 a roof 82, vertical posts 84 and horizontal cross bars 86, the structure being mounted on a floor 88. A second wooden horizontal lower cross bar (not shown) is removed and replaced by a tube 90, shown in greater detail in Figure 88. The tube 90 is shaped in similar manner to the lower cross bar 22 of the previous embodiments and has flat plates 91 and 92 welded at respective ends. These flat plates 91 and 92 are provided with U-shaped fixing means for attachment to the back wall 80 and horizontal cross bar 86 respectively by means of appropriate nuts and bolts.

In the modified form shown in Figure 8C both the wooden horizontal cross bars are removed and replaced by tubes 90 and 94 in accordance with the principles of the present invention, one end of the lower tube 90 being welded to the upper tube 94 at a point approximately three quarters of its length from the back wall 80.

The embodiments described above in relation to Figures 2 to 8 are strong and cheap to manufacture. Moreover, due to the absence of the arch A shown in Figure 1, there is iess likelihood of a cow injuring herself if she slips or otherwise falls when in the cubicle formed by the partitions.

Claims

1. A partition for a cattle cubicle including: a first portion consisting of an upper cross bar and a leg at the rear end of the cubicle; and a second portion constituting a lower cross bar which is curved upwards to join the upper cross bar at a position which is greater than one half the length of the cubicle from its head end.

2. A partition for a cattle cubicle according to claim 1, including means at the free ends of the upper and lower cross bars at the head end thereof, for fixing the partition to a wall.

3. A partition for a cattle cubicle according to claim 1, including a second leg at the head end of the cubicle, the free ends of the upper and lower cross bars at the head end thereof being secured thereto.

4. A partition for a cattle cubicle formed of two partitions according to claim 1, as a double partition, one side being a mirror image of the other, for use in the case where cubicles are provided on both sides of a wall.

5. A partition for a cattle cubicle formed of two partitions according to claim 1, as a double partition, one side being formed as a mirror image of the other, including an additional leg secured to the cross bars at the connmon head end of the two partitions, in the case where the double partition is designed for "open plan" cubicles.

6. A partition for a cattle cubicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second positions of the partition are made from mild steel tube.

7. A partition for a cattle cubicle according to claim 1, wherein the upper cross bar is inclined with respect to the lower cross bar, the height above the ground of the upper cross bar decreasing from the head and to the rear end.

8. A partition for a cattle cubicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two positions are joined at approximately three quarters of the distance between the head and rear ends thereof.

9. A partition for a cattle cubicle constructed substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 2, or Figure 3, or Figure 4, or Figure 5, or Figure 6, or Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

10. The modification of a cattle cubicle wherein the dividing partitions consist of an upper cross bar and a leg at the rear end of the cubicle; the modification including providing a portion constituting a lower cross bar which is curved upwards to join the upper cross bar at a position which is greater than one half the length ofihe cubicle from its head end.

11. The modificaiton of a cattle cubicle according to claim 10, wherein said modifica tion additionally includes replacing the upper cross bar with an integrally formed unit consisting of upper and lower cross bars.

1 2. The modification of a cattle cubicle according to claim 10, wherein said integrally formed unit consists of mild steel tube.

1 3. The modification of a cattle cubicle constructed substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 8A and 8B or Figure 8A as modified by Figure 8C of the accompanying drawings.