Animal loading and unloading apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for facilitating the loading and unloading of animals from wheeled vehicles stopped in a roadway, said apparatus comprising a relatively narrow roadway of a width sufficient to permit large wheeled vehicles, such as cattle trucks, to successively pass forwardly therealong in a common direction for being loaded or unloaded, a pit in said roadway in the path of said vehicles, said pit having inwardly extending horizontal flange portions along the sides thereof recessed from the level of said roadway, a loading platform overlying said pit and being normally horizontally positioned substantially flush with said roadway and supportingly carried by said flange portions for bearing the weight of the heavy wheeled vehicles passing forwardly thereacross, said loading platform comprising a main platform having the end thereof first crossed by the forwardly approaching vehicles being pivotally mounted in said pit for permitting raising the main platform from said normal horizontal position in the roadway after a vehicle has passed forwardly thereacross and stopped on said roadway adjacent the opposite end of said main platform, to an adjustable inclined elevated position adjacent the rear end of the stopped vehicle, said loading platform also comprising an auxiliary platform slideably carried by said opposite end of said main platform and adapted to be adjustably longitudinally extended therefrom to bridge any gap between the main platform and the rear end of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said loading platform for pivotally raising the same a desired amount from a horizontal position in the roadway to an adjustable inclined elevated position corresponding substantially to the height of the cargo bed of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said auxiliary platform for adjustably extending the same longitudinally outwardly beyond the main platform to bridge any gap between the main platform and the stopped vehicle, and fencing provided alongside the roadway both forwardly and rearwardly of said loading platform for guiding the wheeled vehicles forwardly along the roadway and across said loading platform and for guiding the animals onto or away from said loading platform.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein fencing is provided along opposite sides of said main platform to facilitate directing the animals along the platform during the loading and unloading thereof.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a pair of opposing gates is provided adjacent said opposite end of said main platform, said gates being pivotally mounted along opposite sides of said platform and adapted for being pivotally moved toward and away from each other to facilitate loading and unloading animals from a variety of types of vehicles.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein pivotal mounting means are provided interconnecting the respective gates with said fencing for pivotally mounting said gates along opposite sides of said platform.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pivotal mounting means interconnecting said gates and said fencing are slideably carried by said fencing to permit longitudinal sliding movement of said gates with respect to said fencing.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally raising said loading platform and said means for extending said auxiliary platform outwardly beyond said main platform each comprise fluid cylinder means, and wherein control means for operating both of said fluid cylinder means is carried by said main platform adjacent said other end thereof.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of animal pens are located adjacent said loading platform and wherein said fencing is also adapted for directing the animalS moving therebetween.

Claim 9

Apparatus for facilitating the loading and unloading of animals from wheeled vehicles stopped in a roadway, said apparatus comprising a loading platform positioned in the roadway and across which vehicles are adapted to pass, said loading platform comprising a main platform having one end thereof pivotally mounted for permitting raising the platform from a horizontal position in the roadway after a vehicle has passed thereacross and stopped adjacent thereto, to an inclined position adjacent the rear end of the stopped vehicle, said loading platform also comprising an auxiliary platform slideably carried by the other end of said main platform and adapted for being longitudinally extended therefrom to bridge any gap between the main platform and the rear end of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said loading platform for pivotally raising the same a desired amount from a horizontal position in the roadway to an inclined elevated position corresponding substantially to the height of the cargo bed of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said auxiliary platform for extending the same longitudinally outwardly beyond the main platform to bridge any gap between the main platform and the stopped vehicle, fencing provided along opposite sides of said main platform to facilitate directing the animals along the platform during loading or unloading, a pair of opposing gates provided adjacent said other end of said main platform, pivotal mounting means slideably carried by said fencing and interconnecting said gates and said fencing, said pivotal mounting means being adapted for permitting pivotal movement of said gates toward and away from each other to facilitate loading and unloading animals from a variety of types of vehicles and also being adapted for permitting longitudinal sliding movement of said gates with respect to said fencing to permit the gates to be adjustably positioned longitudinally of the loading platform for bridging any gap between the loading platform and the sides of a stopped vehicle, and means provided on said auxiliary platform for engaging said gates for causing longitudinal sliding movement of said gates together with said auxiliary platform when the auxiliary platform is extended from said main platform.

Claim 10

Apparatus for facilitating the loading and unloading of animals from wheeled vehicles stopped in a roadway, said apparatus comprising a loading platform positioned in the roadway and across which vehicles are adapted to pass, said loading platform comprising a main platform having one end thereof pivotally mounted for permitting raising the platform from a horizontal position in the roadway after a vehicle has passed thereacross and stopped adjacent thereto, to an inclined position adjacent the rear end of the stopped vehicle, said loading platform also comprising an auxiliary platform slideably carried by the other end of said main platform and adapted for being longitudinally extended therefrom to bridge any gap between the main platform and the rear end of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said loading platform for pivotally raising the same a desired amount from a horizontal position in the roadway to an inclined elevated position corresponding substantially to the height of the cargo bed of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said auxiliary platform for extending the same longitudinally outwardly beyond the main platform to bridge any gap between the main platform and the stopped vehicle, fencing provided along opposite sides of said main platform to facilitate directing the animals along the platform during loading or unloading, a pair of opposing gates provided adjacent said other end of said main platform, pivotal mounting means slideably carried by said fencing and interconnecting said gates and said fencing, said pivotal mounting means being adapted for permitting pivotal movement of said gates toward and away from each other to facilitate loading and unloading animals from a variety of types of vehicles and also being adapted for permitting longitudinal sliding movement of said gates with respect to said fencing to permit the gates to be adjustably positioned longitudinally of the loading platform for bridging any gap between the loading platform and the sides of a stopped vehicle, and means provided on said auxiliary platform for engaging said gates for causing longitudinal sliding movement of said gates together with said auxiliary platform when the auxiliary platform is extended from said main platform.

Claim 11

Apparatus for facilitating the loading and unloading of animals from wheeled vehicles stopped in a roadway, said apparatus comprising a relatively narrow roadway of a width sufficient to permit large wheeled vehicles, such as cattle trucks, to successively pass forwardly therealong in a common direction for being loaded or unloaded, a pit in said roadway in the path of said vehicles, said pit having inwardly extending horizontal flange portions along the sides thereof recessed from the level of said roadway, a loading platform overlying said pit and being normally horizontally positioned substantially flush with said roadway and supportingly carried by said flange portions for bearing the weight of the heavy wheeled vehicles passing forwardly thereacross, said loading platform comprising a main platform having the end thereof first crossed by the forwardly approaching vehicles being pivotally mounted in said pit for permitting raising the main platform from said normal horizontal position in the roadway after a vehicle has passed forwardly thereacross and stopped on said roadway adjacent the opposite end of said main platform to an adjustable inclined elevated position adjacent the rear end of the stopped vehicle, said loading platform also comprising an auxiliary platform slideably carried by said opposite end of said main platform and adapted for being adjustably longitudinally extending therefrom to bridge any gap between the main platform and the rear end of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said loading platform for pivotally raising the same a desired amount from a horizontal position in the roadway to an adjustable inclined elevated position corresponding substantially To the height of the cargo bed of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said auxiliary platform for adjustably extending the same longitudinally outwardly beyond the main platform to bridge any gap between the main platform and the stopped vehicle, fencing provided along opposite sides of said main platform to facilitate directing the animals along the platform during loading or unloading, fencing provided along opposite sides of said roadway both forwardly and rearwardly of said loading platform for guiding the wheeled vehicles forwardly along the roadway and across said loading platform and for guiding the animals onto or away from said loading platform, a pair of opposing gates provided adjacent said opposite end of said main platform, and pivotal mounting means interconnecting said gates and said fencing and being adapted for permitting pivotal movement of said gates toward and away from each other to facilitate loading and unloading animals from a variety of types of vehicles.

Claim 12

Apparatus for facilitating the loading and unloading of animals from wheeled vehicles stopped in a roadway, said apparatus comprising a relatively narrow roadway of a width sufficient to permit large wheeled vehicles, such as cattle trucks, to successively pass forwardly therealong in a common direction for being loaded or unloaded, a pit in said roadway in the path of said vehicles, said pit having inwardly extending horizontal flange portions along the sides thereof recessed from the level of said roadway, a loading platform overlying said pit and being normally horizontally positioned substantially flush with said roadway and supportingly carried by said flange portions for bearing the weight of the heavy wheeled vehicles passing forwardly thereacross, said loading platform comprising a main platform having the end thereof first crossed by the forwardly approaching vehicles being pivotally mounted in said pit for permitting raising the main platform from said normal horizontal position in the roadway after a vehicle has passed forwardly thereacross and stopped on said roadway adjacent the opposite end of said main platform to an adjustable inclined elevated position adjacent the rear end of the stopped vehicle, said loading platform also comprising an auxiliary platform slideably carried by said opposite end of said main platform and adapted for being adjustably longitudinally extending therefrom to bridge any gap between the main platform and the rear end of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said loading platform for pivotally raising the same a desired amount from a horizontal position in the roadway to an adjustable inclined elevated position corresponding substantially To the height of the cargo bed of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said auxiliary platform for adjustably extending the same longitudinally outwardly beyond the main platform to bridge any gap between the main platform and the stopped vehicle, fencing provided along opposite sides of said main platform to facilitate directing the animals along the platform during loading or unloading, fencing provided along opposite sides of said roadway both forwardly and rearwardly of said loading platform for guiding the wheeled vehicles forwardly along the roadway and across said loading platform and for guiding the animals onto or away from said loading platform, a pair of opposing gates provided adjacent said opposite end of said main platform, and pivotal mounting means interconnecting said gates and said fencing and being adapted for permitting pivotal movement of said gates toward and away from each other to facilitate loading and unloading animals from a variety of types of vehicles.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said pivotal mounting means is slideably carried by said fencing the permit longitudinal sliding movement of said gates with respect to said fencing, said gates being thereby adapted for being adjustably positioned longitudinally of the loading platform for bridging any gap between the loading platform and the sides of a stopped vehicle.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said auxiliary platform includes a plate member defining the upper surface thereof, said plate member being positioned overlying said other end of said main platform and being adapted for longitudinal sliding movement thereover when said auxiliary platform is extended longitudinally outwardly beyond said main platform.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein fencing is provided along opposite sides of said auxiliary platform cooperating with the fencing on said main platform for defining continuous fencing along opposite sides of the loading platform.

Claim 16

Apparatus for facilitating the loading and unloading of animals from wheeled vehicles stopped in a roadway, said apparatus comprising a relatively narrow roadway of a width sufficient to permit large wheeled vehicles, such as cattle trucks, to successively pass forwardly therealong in a common direction for being loaded or unloaded, a pit in said roadway in the path of said vehicles, said pit having inwardly extending horizontal flange portions along the sides thereof recessed from the level of said roadway, a loading platform overlying said pit and being normally horizontally positioned substantially flush with said roadway and supportingly carried by said flange portions for bearing the weight of the heavy wheeled vehicles passing forwardly thereacross, said loading platform comprising a main platform having the end thereof first crossed by the forwardly approaching vehicles being pivotally mounted in said pit for permitting raising the main platform from said normal horizontal position in the roadway after a vehicle has passed forwardly thereacross and stopped on said roadway adjacent the opposite end of said main platform, to an adjustable inclined elevated position adjacent the rear end of the stopped vehicle, said loading platform also comprising an auxiliary platform slideably carried by said opposite end of said main platform and adapted to be adjustably longitudinally extended therefrom to bridge any gap between the main platform and the rear end of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said loading platform for pivotally raising the same a desired amount from a horizontal position in the roadway to an adjustable inclined elevated position corresponding substantially to the height of the cargo bed of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said auxiliary platform for adjustably extending the same longitudinally outwardly beyond the main platform to bridge any gap between the main platform and the stopped vehicle, fencing provided along opposite sides of said Main platform to facilitate directing the animals along the platform during loading or unloading, a plurality of fenced animal pens located adjacent said loading platform, and fencing defining a path between said loading platform and said animal pens and being adapted for directing animals between the loading platform and the animal pens.

Claim 17

Apparatus for facilitating the loading and unloading of animals from wheeled vehicles stopped in a roadway, said apparatus comprising a relatively narrow roadway of a width sufficient to permit large wheeled vehicles, such as cattle trucks, to successively pass forwardly therealong in a common direction for being loaded or unloaded, a pit in said roadway in the path of said vehicles, said pit having inwardly extending horizontal flange portions along the sides thereof recessed from the level of said roadway, a loading platform overlying said pit and being normally horizontally positioned substantially flush with said roadway and supportingly carried by said flange portions for bearing the weight of the heavy wheeled vehicles passing forwardly thereacross, said loading platform comprising a main platform having the end thereof first crossed by the forwardly approaching vehicles being pivotally mounted in said pit for permitting raising the main platform from said normal horizontal position in the roadway after a vehicle has passed forwardly thereacross and stopped on said roadway adjacent the opposite end of said main platform, to an adjustable inclined elevated position adjacent the rear end of the stopped vehicle, said loading platform also comprising an auxiliary platform slideably carried by said opposite end of said main platform and adapted to be adjustably longitudinally extended therefrom to bridge any gap between the main platform and the rear end of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said loading platform for pivotally raising the same a desired amount from a horizontal position in the roadway to an adjustable inclined elevated position corresponding substantially to the height of the cargo bed of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said auxiliary platform for adjustably extending the same longitudinally outwardly beyond the main platform to bridge any gap between the main platform and the stopped vehicle, fencing provided along opposite sides of said Main platform to facilitate directing the animals along the platform during loading or unloading, a plurality of fenced animal pens located adjacent said loading platform, and fencing defining a path between said loading platform and said animal pens and being adapted for directing animals between the loading platform and the animal pens.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein gate means is provided in the fencing between said loading platform and said animal pens, said gate means being located across the roadway approaching said loading platform and being adapted for being opened to permit a vehicle to approach and cross said loading platform and for being closed to block the roadway and direct animals between the loading platform and the animal pens.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein a roof is provided over said animal pens and said loading platform for providing a sheltered area for loading and unloading the animals.

Claim 20

Apparatus for facilitating the loading and unloading of animals from wheeled vehicles stopped in a roadway, said apparatus comprising a loading platform positioned in the roadway and across which vehicles are adapted to pass, said loading platform comprising a main platform having one end thereof pivotally mounted for permitting raising the platform from a horizontal position in the roadway after a vehicle has passed thereacross and stopped adjacent thereto, to an inclined position adjacent the rear end of the stopped vehicle, said loading platform also comprising an auxiliary platform slideably carried by the other end of said main platform and adapted for being longitudinally extended therefrom to bridge any gap between the main platform and the rear end of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said loading platform for pivotally raising the same a desired amount from a horizontal position in the roadway to an inclined elevated position corresponding substantially to the height of the cargo bed of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said auxiliary platform for extending the same longitudinally outwardly beyond the main platform to bridge any gap between the main platform and the stopped vehicle, fencing provided along opposite sides of said main platform to facilitate directing the animals along the platform during loading or unloading, said fencing along said main platform comprising a plurality of spaced apart upstanding post members and a plurality of longitudinally extending hollow tubular rail members interconnecting adjacent post members, fencing provided along opposite sides of said auxiliary platform cooperating with the fencing on said main platform for defining continuous fencing along opposite sides of the loading platform, said fencing along said auxiliary platform including a plurality of longitudinally extending rail members telescopically received in the hollow tubular rail members on said main platform, a pair of opposing gates provided adjacent said other end of said main platform, and pivotal mounting means interconnecting said gates and said fencing along said main platform and being adapted for permitting pivotal movement of said gates toward and away from each other to facilitate loading and unloading animals from a variety of types of vehicles.

Claim 21

Apparatus for facilitating the loading and unloading of animals from wheeled vehicles stopped in a roadway, said apparatus comprising a loading platform positioned in the roadway and across which vehicles are adapted to pass, said loading platform comprising a main platform having one end thereof pivotally mounted for permitting raising the platform from a horizontal position in the roadway after a vehicle has passed thereacross and stopped adjacent thereto, to an inclined position adjacent the rear end of the stopped vehicle, said loading platform also comprising an auxiliary platform slideably carried by the other end of said main platform and adapted for being longitudinally extended therefrom to bridge any gap between the main platform and the rear end of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said loading platform for pivotally raising the same a desired amount from a horizontal position in the roadway to an inclined elevated position corresponding substantially to the height of the cargo bed of the stopped vehicle, means operatively connected to said auxiliary platform for extending the same longitudinally outwardly beyond the main platform to bridge any gap between the main platform and the stopped vehicle, fencing provided along opposite sides of said main platform to facilitate directing the animals along the platform during loading or unloading, said fencing along said main platform comprising a plurality of spaced apart upstanding post members and a plurality of longitudinally extending hollow tubular rail members interconnecting adjacent post members, fencing provided along opposite sides of said auxiliary platform cooperating with the fencing on said main platform for defining continuous fencing along opposite sides of the loading platform, said fencing along said auxiliary platform including a plurality of longitudinally extending rail members telescopically received in the hollow tubular rail members on said main platform, a pair of opposing gates provided adjacent said other end of said main platform, and pivotal mounting means interconnecting said gates and said fencing along said main platform and being adapted for permitting pivotal movement of said gates toward and away from each other to facilitate loading and unloading animals from a variety of types of vehicles.