Stunning tool

Claim 2

A stunning tool for use in immobilizing livestock comprising a housing defining a chamber for receiving air under pressure from a source thereof, piston guide means joined to the housing and communicating with the chamber defined by the housing, a pressurized air-actuated piston adapted for reciprocal movement in the piston guide means, valve means for normally preventing air under pressure in the chamber defined by the housing from actuating the piston, said valve means including a normally closed main valve and a normally closed pilot valve, finger actuated trigger means for momentarily moving the pilot valve from its normally closed position to an open position, said trigger means being self-resetting upon release by the finger of an operator, passageway means communicating with the chamber defined by the housing for enabling air under pressure from the chamber to open the main valve when the pilot valve is momentarily moved to an open position by the trigger means for actuating the piston, stunning means actuated by the piston for delivering an immobilizing blow, and valve reseating means associated with said valve means for automatically returning the main valve and the pilot valve to their normally closed position.

Claim 3

A tool according to claim 1 wherein the valve means includes a valve housing having passageways therethrough which communicate with the pressurized air receiving chamber, and a pressurized air actuated valve piston in the valve housing for moving the main valve to an open position.

Claim 4

A tool according to claim 2 wherein the valve housing comprises a main valve chamber and a pilot valve chamber separated by a valve piston guide partition, the valve piston in the valve housing having a body portion which carries the main valve and a head portion which is adapted for reciprocal movement in the pilot valve chamber.

Claim 5

A tool according to claim 3 wherein the head portion of the valve assembly has a restricted passageway therethrough which is in communication with the pressurized air receiving chamber and the pilot valve chamber of the valve housing.

Claim 6

A tool according to claim 1 wherein the valve reseating means comprises spring means in the valve housing for returning the main valve and the pilot valve to their normally closed position.

Claim 7

A tool according to claim 1 wherein the trigger means comprises a pivotal lever, one end of which is adapted to engage pilot valve unseating means, and the other end of which is adapted to engage lever pivoting means.

Claim 8

A tool according to claim 6 wherein the pilot valve unseating means comprises a valve stem in contact with the pilot valve.

Claim 9

A tool according to claim 6 wherein the lever pivoting means comprises a pivotally mounted catch connected to a finger actuated trigger.

Claim 10

A tool according to claim 8 wherein the pivotally mounted catch and the finger actuated trigger are associated with spring means to enable the catch to re-engage the pivotal lever after the trigger has been released by an operator of the tool following each successive operation thereof.

Claim 11

A tool according to claim 6 wherein adjustable stop means is provided to control the extent of the pivotal movement of the pivotal lever.

Claim 12

A tool according to claim 1 wherein hand manipulated piston reset means is provided for returning the piston to an operative piston after each power stroke.

Claim 13

A tool according to claim 11 wherein the piston reset means comprises a movable sleeve having a handle joined thereto, said sleeve being positioned in the piston guide means of the tool.

Claim 14

A tool according to claim 12 wherein the handle extends outwardly from a longitudinal slot in the piston guide means.

Claim 15

A tool according to claim 1 wherein a return spring is positioned in the piston guide means for automatically resetting the piston after each power stroke.

Claim 16

A tool according to claim 1 wherein the pressurized air-actuated piston is free-moving, and releasable piston retaining means is provided in the piston guide means for supporting the piston in an operative position.

Claim 17

A tool according to claim 1 wherein the stunning means comprises an elongated rod connected to the piston, said rod having a concave-shaped impact end.

Claim 18

A tool according to claim 1 wherein the stunning means comprises an elongated chisel-like blade having a concave edge portion at the leading or impact end thereof.

Claim 19

A tool according to claim 1 wherein a pistol grip handle is provided for the tool, in proximity to the finger actuated trigger means thereof, to enable an operator to grasp and aim the tool at a target with one hand.

Claim 20

A tool according to claim 1 wherein two handles are provided for the tool to enable an operator to support and aim the tool with the aid of both of his hands.

Claim 21

A stunning tool for use in immobilizing livestock comprising a main housing defining a chamber for receiving air under pressure from a source thereof, a cylinder joined to the main housing and extending into the chamber defined by the main housing, a pressurized air-actuated piston adapted for reciprocal movement in the cylinder, a valve assembly in the main housing for normally preventing air under pressure in the chamber defined by the main housing from actuating the piston, said valve assembly including a normally closed main valve and a normally closed pilot valve, a pressurized air-actuated valve piston for opening the main valve, finger actuated trigger means for momentarily moving the pilot valve from its normally closed position to an open position, said trigger means being self-resetting upon release by the finger of an operator, passageway means communicating with the valve assembly and the chamber defined by the main housing for enabling air under pressure from the chamber to actuate the valve piston and open the main valve when the pilot valve is momentarily moved to an open position by the trigger means for actuating the piston, stunning means actuated by the piston for delivering an immobilizing blow, valve reseating means associated with the valve assembly for automatically returning the main valve and the pilot valve to their normally closed position, and a handle for the tool to enable an operator to support, aim and operate the tool with one hand.

Claim 22

A stunning tool for use in immobilizing livestock comprising a main housing defining a chamber for receiving air under pressure from a source thereof, a cylinder joined to the main housing and extending into the chamber defined by the main housing, a pressurized air-actuated piston adapted for reciprocal movement in the cylinder, a valve assembly in the main housing for normally preventing air under pressure in the chamber defined by the main housing from actuating the piston, said valve assembly including a normally closed main valve and a normally closed pilot valve, a pressurized air-actuated valve piston for opening the main valve, finger actuated trigger means for momentarily moving the pilot valve from its normally closed position to an open position, said trigger means being self-resetting upon release by the finger of an operator, passageway means communicating with the valve assembly and the chamber defined by the main housing for enabling air under pressure from the chamber to actuate the valve piston and open the main valve when the pilot valve is momentarily moved to an open position by the trigger means for actuating the piston, stunning means actuated by the piston for delivering an immobilizing blow, valve reseating means associated with the valve assembly for automatically returning the main valve and the pilot valve to their normally closed position, and a handle for the tool to enable an operator to support, aim and operate the tool with one hand.

Claim 23

A stunning tool for use in immobilizing livestock comprising a main housing defining a chamber for receiving air under pressure from a source thereof, a cylinder joined to the main housing and extending into the chamber defined by the housing, a pressurized air-actuated piston adapted for reciprocal movement in the cylinder, a valve assembly in the main housing for normally preventing air under pressurE in the chamber defined by the housing from actuating the piston, said valve assembly including a normally closed main valve and a normally closed pilot valve, a pressurized air-actuated valve piston for opening the main valve, finger actuated trigger means for momentarily moving the pilot valve from its normally closed position to an open position, said trigger means being self-resetting upon release by the finger of operator, passageway means communicating with the valve assembly and the chamber defined by the main housing for enabling air under pressure from the chamber to actuate the valve piston and open the main valve when the pilot valve is momentarily moved to an open position by the trigger means for actuating the piston, stunning means actuated by the piston for delivering an immobilizing blow, piston return means for automatically resetting the piston after each successive power stroke, valve reseating means associated with the valve assembly for automatically returning the main valve and the pilot valve to their normally closed position, and handle means positioned on the main housing to enable the tool to be supported, aimed and operated while being held by both hands of an operator.

Claim 24

A stunning tool for use in immobilizing livestock comprising a main housing defining a chamber for receiving air under pressure from a source thereof, a cylinder joined to the main housing and extending into the chamber defined by the housing, a pressurized air-actuated piston adapted for reciprocal movement in the cylinder, a valve assembly in the main housing for normally preventing air under pressurE in the chamber defined by the housing from actuating the piston, said valve assembly including a normally closed main valve and a normally closed pilot valve, a pressurized air-actuated valve piston for opening the main valve, finger actuated trigger means for momentarily moving the pilot valve from its normally closed position to an open position, said trigger means being self-resetting upon release by the finger of operator, passageway means communicating with the valve assembly and the chamber defined by the main housing for enabling air under pressure from the chamber to actuate the valve piston and open the main valve when the pilot valve is momentarily moved to an open position by the trigger means for actuating the piston, stunning means actuated by the piston for delivering an immobilizing blow, piston return means for automatically resetting the piston after each successive power stroke, valve reseating means associated with the valve assembly for automatically returning the main valve and the pilot valve to their normally closed position, and handle means positioned on the main housing to enable the tool to be supported, aimed and operated while being held by both hands of an operator.

Claim 25

A tool according to claim 22 wherein the stunning means includes a chisel-like blade member having a concave leading edge capable of performing a severing operation.