Patent attributes
A pneumatic animal stunner employing a stunning rod includes a catch mounted within the housing for alternately holding and releasing the stunning rod. A catch piston is disposed adjacent the catch on a side away from the longitudinal axis, and is in sliding contact adjacent the catch end portion and out of contact with the catch body portion. The catch piston slides between a first position urging the catch end portion toward the stunning rod longitudinal axis in the hold position, thereby holding and preventing the stunning rod from being driven forward, and a second position permitting the catch end portion to move to the release position away from the stunning rod longitudinal axis releasing and permitting the stunning rod to be driven forward. Valves control air flow to cause the catch piston to move between the first and second positions.
