| 摘要 |
An expanding gambrel apparatus and method for supporting a slaughtered animal. The gambrel apparatus includes a pair of support arms each having an arcuate end forming a hook. The pair of support arms are pivotally connected to each other. A pair of braces are pivotally connected to each other and to the support arms. A center post is connected to the braces and a bracket is connected to the support arms. The center post abuts the bracket and maintains the support arm hooks at a certain spacing when supporting the animal. A rope is attached to the center post and has a free end which extends through a hole in the bracket. The gambrel apparatus has a collapsed position and an expanded position. In the collapsed position, the hooks are closely situated to one another and the center post is separated from the bracket. The hook of a first support arm is first inserted through the animal's hind leg. The other hook of the second support arm is then extended to the appropriate location and inserted into the animal's other hind leg. The rope free end extends from the gambrel apparatus and may be connected to a hoisting apparatus for raising and suspending the animal from the gambrel apparatus. As the free end is pulled to raise the animal, the raising of the gambrel apparatus is resisted by the weight of the animal. This results in the rope being tensioned and causing the center post to be forcibly drawn closer to the bracket. As this happens, the pair of braces force the hooks away from one another to expand the gambrel apparatus. With continued tensioning of the rope, the center post will finally abut a lower shoe of the bracket to fully expand the gambrel apparatus. Continued tensioning on the rope results in the raising of the gambrel apparatus and the slaughtered animal.
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