BAIL ELEMENT FOR ANIMAL BAIL APPARATUS, AN ANIMAL BAIL APPARATUS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF THE BAIL ELEMEMTS, AND A METHOD FOR PROVIDING ANIMAL BAIL APPARATUS

摘要

Bail apparatus (1) includes an overhead support member (3) which is suspended from an overhead support framework (14) by a linkage mechanism (11) from an operating member (12), so that the bail apparatus is operable in a lower operative state for separating animals and an upper release state for releasing the animals from a milking parlour (2). A plurality of bail elements (8) are mounted at spaced apart locations along the overhead support member (3), and each bail element includes a partition element (22) which extends substantially transversely of the overhead support member (3) at an angle α of approximately 78.5°. A coupling bracket (17) couples each bail element (8) to the overhead support member (3). A mounting plate member (18) extending downwardly from the coupling bracket (17) is bent along a bend axis (50) which defines first and second forward abutment faces (51,52) and first and second rearward abutment faces (55,56) for facilitating engagement of the corresponding partition element (22) in a selected one of first and second selectable orientations with the partition element (22) extending in respective different directions from the overhead support member (3) at the respective angles α, α′ of 78.5°. A forward engagement member (35) of a forward part (20) of each partition element (22) is provided for engaging a selected one of the first and second forward abutment faces (51,52) of the mounting plate member (18), and a rearward engagement member (30) of a rearward part (21) of each partition element (22) is provided for engaging a selected one the first and second rearward abutment faces (55,56) for locating the partition element (22) in the selected one of the first and second orientations.