Introduction

Stockyard frames are the posts and overhead cap rails around a stockyard gate. The overhead cap rail ties the two posts together and stabilizes them for hinging and slam latching yard gates. Posts alone can move due to heat expansion in stockyard fence panels and unstable soil types.

Stockyard Frame Design

The nominal length of a Stockyard frame is the center distance between the two vertical posts. This nominal length corresponds with the gate that fits into it, except in cases where two gates are used; these are referred to as double stockyard frames.

Stockyard Frame Installation

There are two types of stockyard frames to suit installation on concrete or in the ground. A concrete installation utilizes an adjustable leg which is bolted to the top of the concrete and an in-ground frame which has post holes drilled into the ground and is concreted in place. An in-ground yard frame is installed prior to any other stockyard products whereas an adjustable leg yard frame is installed as required. The Thompson Longhorn hot-dip-galvanized adjustable leg technology has excellent anti corrosion properties, relocation ability and quick installation with height adjustability.

Stockyard Frame Cap Height

The height of the overhead cap rail is determined by what is going to be passing through it. At Thompson Longhorn we support four different cap heights 2.1m, 2.4m 3.0m and 4.0m. This is a general dimension from the underside of the cap to ground.
2.1m cap height yard frames suit personnel access gates and are also used as bracing in bugles or narrow lanes. This height allows most skid steer loaders access for cleaning, maintenance etc.
2.4m cap height stockyard frames are the default and suit air driven gates as well.
3.0m cap height stockyard frames are used in places where horse rider and small machinery access is required. These also suit air powered gates.
4.0m cap height stockyard frames are used where large machinery access is required.

Stockyard Frame Configurations

There are 5 configurations, bow, adjacent, cap, normal post and exhausted. Each of these configurations are available in both installation types as well as each cap height, except that the exhausted yard frames are limited to 2.4m and 3.0m cap rail heights.
A stockyard frame bow consists of two posts and an overhead cap rail
An adjoining stockyard frame consists of a single post and cap rail, typically connecting to a yard frame bow.
Stockyard frame cap rail only, for connecting between two bows.
A stockyard frame normal post is just a single post used in special situations. A typical example is a frame requiring one post on concrete and the other in-ground and can be made by a combination of different frame configurations.
An exhausted stockyard frame can be either a bow or adjacent configuration with additional provisions for the mounting of an air/pneumatically driven gate.