Milking barn

Claim 2

In a stall at least one pair of adjacent cow stations comprising, a tail assembly for receiving the rear portions of at least two adjacent cows, a vertical feedbowl framework rotatably mounted on a fixed axis at the head portion of each adjacent cow station for rotation between ingress, milk, and egress positions, each of said feedbowl frameworks cooperating with a respective one of said adjacent rear portions to form an individual cow stall, the space between the line of said feedbowl frameworks and said rear portions defining an ingress aisle and direction for cows, the space on the opposite side of said line of feedbowl frameworks from said rear portions defining an egress aisle and direction, gate means associated with each of two adjacent feedbowl frameworks for opening and closing the passageways between said ingress and egress aisles for each particular station, and means forming part of each of said feed bowl frameworks for increasing the width of said ingress aisle in the ingress positions of said feedbowl frameworks and decreasing the width of said ingress aisle in the milk positions of said feedbowl frameworks.

Claim 3

The stall according to claim 1 wherein the stall comprises a herringbone stall, and the tail assembly comprises a zig-zag stationary structure for receiving the rear and side portions of at least two adjacent cows.

Claim 4

In a herringbone stall at least one pair of adjacent cow stations comprising, a tail assembly for receiving the rear portions of at least two adjacent cows, a vertical feedbowl framework rotatably mounted on a fixed axis at the head portion of each adjacent cow station for rotation between ingress, milk, and egress positions, each of said feedbowl frameworks cooperating with a respective one of said adjacent rear portions to form an individual cow stall, the space between the line of said feedbowl frameworks and said rear portions defining an ingress aisle and direction for cows, the space on the opposite side of said line of feedbowl frameworks from said rear portions defining an egress aisle and direction, gate means associated with each of two adjacent feedbowl frameworks for opening and closing the passageways between said ingress and egress aisles for each particular station, means forming part of each of said feed bowl frameworks for increasing the width of said ingress aisle in the ingress positions of said feedbowl frameworks and decreasing the width of said ingress aisle in the milk positions of said feedbowl frameworks, said tail assembly comprises a zig-zag stationary structure for receiving the rear and side portions of at least two adjacent cows, and each of the feedbowl frameworks comprises three vertical members disposed essentially at the corners of a triangle, a pair of bracing members holding said vertical members together at each end thereof and bearing members attached to said bracing members disposed interiorly of said corners of said triangle.

Claim 5

In a herringbone stall at least one pair of adjacent cow stations comprising, a tail assembly for receiving the rear portions of at least two adjacent cows, a vertical feedbowl framework rotatably mounted on a fixed axis at the head portion of each adjacent cow station for rotation between ingress, milk, and egress positions, each of said feedbowl frameworks cooperating with a respective one of said adjacent rear portions to form an individual cow stall, the space between the line of said feedbowl frameworks and said rear portions defining an ingress aisle and direction for cows, the space on the opposite side of said line of feedbowl frameworks from said rear portions defining an egress aisle and direction, gate means associated with each of two adjacent feedbowl frameworks for opening and closing the passageways between said ingress and egress aisles for each particular station, means forming part of each of said feed bowl frameworks for increasing the width of said ingress aisle in the ingress positions of said feedbowl frameworks and decreasing the width of said ingress aisle in the milk positions of said feedbowl frameworks, said tail assembly comprises a zig-zag stationary structure for receiving the rear and side portions of at least two adjacent cows, and each of the feedbowl frameworks comprises three vertical members disposed essentially at the corners of a triangle, a pair of bracing members holding said vertical members together at each end thereof and bearing members attached to said bracing members disposed interiorly of said corners of said triangle.

Claim 6

The stall according to claim 3 wherein in the ingress position of said feedbowl framework a first one and a second one of said vertical members comprise a line parallel to the ingress direction and define the first and the second of said corners, said second one and a third one of said vertical members comprise a line perpendicular to said ingress direction and define a second and third of said corners, and said third one and said second one of said vertical members comprise a feedbowl entrance line and define the third and first of said corners.

Claim 7

The stall according to claim 4 wherein the line of said first and second corners in the ingress positions defines the greatest width opening of said ingress aisle, and rotation of said feedbowl frameworks effects movement of said first corner to decrease the width of the ingress aisle and engages the side of a cow occupying the stall.

Claim 8

The stall according to claim 4 wherein said gate means comprises an elongated member pivotally attached at one side to said third corner of the one of said feedbowl frameworks of a certain stall, a decreased length member pivotally attached to said second corner of the one of said feedbowl frameworks of the immediately adjacent stall, and means for actuating said gate means between said opening and closing positions.

Claim 9

The stall according to claim 6 wherein said gate means includes a first guide member receiving the other end of said elongated member, a second guide member, a pivot member attached to said decreased length member received in said second guide member, and said gate actuating means comprises a linearly movable member adapted for manual or pneumatic operation, and a series of links from connecting said movable member to said other ends of each of the elongated members of said gates.

Claim 10

The stall according to claim 7 wherein said first guide member comprises a track having a bend therein whereby said elongate member is held essentially parallel to the ingress direction in the ingress position of the feedbowls, is held proximately parallel to the side of a cow in the milk position and forming part of the stall thereat, and is held in a remote location in the egress position of the feedbowls, and said second guide member comprises a track having a bend therein, whereby said decreased length member is held with its free end adjacent the other of said elongate member in the ingress position, is held in a remote position in the milk position and is held alongside and parallel to said line parallel to said ingress direction.

Claim 11

The stall according to claim 8 including a feedbowl attached to the feedbowl side of the feedbowl frame.

Claim 12

The stall according to claim 9 including a feedbowl cover attached to the elongate member.