yoke
Enable an agent to recognise a bodily load-bearing yoke, assess its fit and condition, and determine whether and how it may connect a bearer to a carried load or drawn implement.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
Researched by: Codex + Grok
Purpose and description
Enable an agent to recognise a bodily load-bearing yoke, assess its fit and condition, and determine whether and how it may connect a bearer to a carried load or drawn implement.
A yoke is a rigid coupling member - typically a transverse beam with two attachments or a forked fitting - that constrains two animals, two machine elements, or two limbs of a magnetic circuit so they share traction, torque, lift, or flux across a working opening between the arms.
It can be Classify the yoke's intended use and bearer arrangement from observable features and records.; Measure bearing geometry and compare it with a specified bearer.; Inspect contact surfaces, retaining parts and load connections before proposed use.; Configure documented adjustments and compatible attachments.; Assess load alignment and balance for a specified carrying or traction arrangement.; Withdraw the yoke from use, arrange repair or seek a fit assessment when relevant evidence is inadequate..
Distinguishing features
Identify a shaped frame or crosspiece that transfers a carried or drawn load through contact with a bearer's neck or shoulders; a strap alone does not establish a yoke.
Trace the working load through the proposed yoke: an animal collar, harness component or restraint should not be classified as a yoke solely because it surrounds the neck.
For a proposed paired-animal yoke, identify two bearer positions connected by the same load-transmitting frame; pairing alone is insufficient.
For a proposed human carrying yoke, identify a shoulder-bearing surface and intended suspension points rather than treating every carried pole as a yoke.
Check whether 'yoke' names a bodily load-bearing object or a component in a machine, garment or control system before applying this provisional model.
Scope
+ Single-animal and paired-animal traction yokes
+ Human shoulder yokes for carrying suspended loads
+ The frame, body-contact surfaces and associated retaining parts
+ Connections through which carried or drawn loads act on the yoke
+ Fit, load balance, condition and readiness for a specified use
- The anatomy, health and training of the animal or human bearer
- Complete harness systems whose primary load path does not use a yoke
- Carts, ploughs, containers and other connected loads
- Mechanical coupling yokes, magnetic yokes and aircraft control yokes pending registry clarification
- Garment yokes and figurative uses of the word
Characteristics
- Yoke use class
- animal traction | human carrying | unresolved Determines which fit, attachment and operating questions apply.
- Bearer arrangement
- single bearer | paired bearers | other documented arrangement | unknown Distinguishes independent bearing from shared movement and load transfer.
- Intended bearer compatibility
- identified bearer or documented bearer class, with supporting evidence A yoke's apparent size does not establish that it fits a particular bearer.
- Bearing geometry
- span, contact width, contour and applicable opening dimensions in mm Supports assessment of contact, clearance and alignment.
- Yoke mass
- kg The yoke itself adds to the burden supported by its bearer.
- Load connection arrangement
- identified attachment points linked to suspended loads or a draught connection Reveals the intended load path and possible imbalance.
- Documented working limits
- carried mass in kg or draught force in N, with applicable configuration and evidence; unknown if unestablished Prevents an agent from inferring allowable use from dimensions or appearance alone.
- Bearing and structural condition
- recorded defects and their locations, inspection date, and use decision or unresolved status Damage at a contact surface and damage in the load path require different responses.
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.yoke-group
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 5 bundles · 9 layers · 16 findings · 29 questions.
Yoke identity Establishes which physical sense of yoke is present and which use the object supports.
The name alone cannot distinguish bodily load-bearing yokes from unrelated objects or establish a suitable operating arrangement.
Use and bearers
Identifies carrying or traction use and the arrangement of bearers.
Intended yoke arrangement
Record the evidenced use class, bearer count and features supporting that interpretation.
- Is this yoke intended for animal traction, human carrying or an unresolved use? definition
- What features or records establish its intended bearer arrangement? provenance
Object boundary
Separates the yoke assembly from its bearer, harness and attached equipment.
Included yoke parts
Identify which frame, bearing, retaining and connection parts belong to this yoke and which are separate equipment.
- Which bows, pads, straps, hooks or other fitted parts are included in this yoke assembly? boundary
- Where does the yoke end and the harness, draught linkage or suspended load begin? boundary
Bearer fit Records how the yoke bears against and stays positioned on its intended bearer.
A structurally intact yoke may still be unsuitable because its contact geometry, clearance or retention does not fit the bearer.
Bearing surfaces
Captures the geometry and condition of surfaces intended to contact the neck or shoulders.
Contact fit
Record intended contact regions, relevant dimensions and observed fit for an identified bearer.
- Which neck or shoulder regions are intended to bear the load, and what evidence establishes this? provenance
- What are the contact width, contour and clearances at each bearer position? measurement
- What observed mismatch would require adjustment or rejection for this bearer? action
Retention and movement
Describes how the yoke stays seated while allowing the movements needed for its intended use.
Seating and clearance
Record retaining mechanisms, available adjustments and restrictions observed during a suitable fit assessment.
- What keeps this yoke seated, and which settings are documented for the intended bearer? definition
- Does the fitted arrangement shift, pinch or obstruct required movement during assessment? measurement
- How can the bearer be released from this specific arrangement? action
Load transfer Makes the route from the attached load through the yoke to its bearer explicit.
Connection position, pull direction and unequal loading can change whether a particular yoke configuration is usable.
Attachments and forces
Identifies the intended load connections and the directions in which they act.
Working load path
Record each working connection, its mating equipment and the resulting load path through the frame.
- Where do the draught linkage or carrying suspensions attach, and which parts transfer those forces to the bearer? definition
- What evidence establishes compatibility between each yoke attachment and its proposed connector? provenance
- What pull direction or suspension position is intended for this configuration? measurement
Balance and limits
Records loading asymmetry and the evidence supporting proposed working limits.
Configuration load assessment
Assess the proposed load distribution without assuming equal sharing or inferring capacity from appearance.
- What carried masses or draught forces are expected at each connection in the proposed use? measurement
- What evidence supports the working limits for this yoke and configuration? provenance
- What change to load placement or connection geometry is needed if the arrangement twists or loads one bearer disproportionately? action
Fitness for use Connects yoke-specific defects, repairs and fit observations to an operating decision.
An agent must distinguish a complete-looking yoke from one whose frame, bearing surfaces and connections support the intended task.
Frame and contact condition
Inspects damage where the yoke carries force or touches its bearer.
Consequential yoke defects
Locate cracks, deformation, looseness, wear and harmful surface irregularities relative to the load path and bearing regions.
- What defects occur at bearing contours, retaining-part seats and working attachment points? measurement
- Which recorded defects prevent fitting, loading or continued use under the applicable assessment criteria? action
Repair and use decision
Tracks changes affecting fit or strength and records the resulting readiness decision.
Qualified use status
Record the proposed bearer and task, relevant repairs, assessment evidence and unresolved conditions on use.
- Have repairs or replacement parts changed the bearing contour, bearer spacing or attachment geometry? provenance
- What inspection or fit assessment supports using the yoke with this bearer and load? provenance
- Should this configuration proceed, be adjusted, await assessment or be withdrawn from use? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Neck or bow yoke for a pair of draft cattle
- Head or horn yoke for draft cattle
- Human carrying or shoulder yoke (porter's pole)
- Driveshaft or universal-joint yoke (including slip yokes)
- Aircraft control yoke (control wheel)
- Below-the-hook lifting yoke or rigid spreader
- Electromagnetic magnetic-particle inspection yoke
- Magnetic-circuit yoke of a transformer or electrical machine
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of yoke this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Wikidata - Q174989 - Draft-animal yoke; other senses (control yoke, magnetic yoke) are separate items and must not be collapsed onto this Q-id.
- Spicer / SAE U-joint series - series codes such as 1310, 1330, 1350, 1410 - North American automotive and light-truck driveline yoke interchange, not a global product code.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of yoke this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- ASTM E1444/E1444M and ASTM E709 - magnetic-particle testing, including AC/DC electromagnetic yokes (ASTM International)
- ISO 9934-1 - non-destructive testing, magnetic particle testing (ISO)
- ASME B30.20 and ASME BTH-1 - below-the-hook lifting devices, including lifting yokes (ASME)
- 14 CFR Parts 23 and 25 - airworthiness standards for flight-control inceptors (FAA); parallel EASA CS-23 / CS-25
- IEC 60076 series - power transformers, core and yoke construction (IEC)
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of yoke this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Paired oxen or cattle still draw ploughs and carts with wooden neck or head yokes in parts of Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.
- Transport-category and general-aviation cockpits use a control yoke (or control wheel) for pitch and roll; many Airbus types use a sidestick instead.
- Automotive and industrial drivelines transmit torque through flange, weld, and slip yokes at each end of a propeller shaft.
- Inspectors place AC or DC electromagnetic yokes on welds and steel parts to find surface cracks by magnetic-particle testing.
- Cranes pick up containers, coils, or fabricated assemblies on rigid lifting yokes rated as below-the-hook devices.
- Stacked transformer cores close the magnetic circuit through upper and lower yokes.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of yoke this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Draft-animal yoke beam length (pair) - 1.0-1.8 - m
- Wooden ox-yoke mass - 5-25 - kg
- MPI yoke lifting force (leg span as tested) - ≥4.5 AC; ≥18 DC or permanent-magnet - kg
- MPI yoke pole spacing in use - 50-200 - mm
- Driveline continuous operating angle at a U-joint yoke - 0-8 - degree
- Transformer yoke flux density (power cores) - 1.4-1.8 - T
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of yoke this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Ill-fitting animal yokes cause neck galls, restricted breathing, and cervical injury; a broken bow or beam dumps the load onto the animals or the driver.
- Slip-yoke spline wear, seizure, or pull-out throws a driveline and can puncture a floorpan or disable a vehicle.
- Fatigue cracks at U-joint fork ears lead to joint separation under torque.
- Control-yoke jam, cable stretch, or disconnect can take away pitch or roll.
- Lifting-yoke overload, missing pins, or an unstable hitch can drop the load.
- An inspection yoke below required lifting power leaves cracks undetected; coils overheat and can burn the operator.
- Gaps or saturation in a transformer yoke cause local heating, noise, and efficiency loss.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of yoke this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Head (horn) yokes are historically common in Iberia and Latin America; bow or neck yokes dominate much of northern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia.
- Aviation English uses yoke or control wheel in North America; Airbus-family aircraft are flown with a sidestick, which is not a yoke.
- UK usage often says propshaft yoke where US usage says driveshaft or slip yoke.
- East Asian carrying poles (e.g. biǎndan, tenbin) are the local form of the human shoulder yoke; European milkmaid yokes are the museum form.
- In Irish English, yoke is also a generic word for an object and does not name this device.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of yoke this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Horse collar (with hames) - A collar pads one animal's shoulders and does not couple a pair; a draft yoke is a bar or frame across one or two necks or horns.
- Doubletree / evener - The evener sits behind the animals and equalizes pull in the traces; it hitches to the yoke or harness but is not the neck coupling.
- Clevis - A clevis is a small U-shaped pin joint on a single rod end; a mechanical yoke is a load-bearing fork on a shaft, lift, or pair of bodies.
- Control stick / sidestick - A stick is a single grip moved in two axes; a control yoke is a dual-horn wheel that is rotated for roll and pushed or pulled for pitch.
- Spreader beam - A spreader is designed mainly in compression with slings at the ends; a lifting yoke usually has rigid attachment points and takes bending as well as compression - check the ASME B30.20 / BTH-1 classification, not the shop name.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of yoke this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Sources
- Yoke - Wikipedia - Canonical physical-object senses (draft-animal, carrying, mechanical forked fittings) and the shared coupling morphology.
- Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge - Federal Aviation Administration - Aircraft control yoke as a dual-horn pitch-and-roll inceptor, as distinct from a stick.
- Standard Practice for Magnetic Particle Testing, ASTM E1444/E1444M - ASTM International - Electromagnetic inspection yokes, pole application, and minimum lifting-power requirements.
- Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices, ASME B30.20 - American Society of Mechanical Engineers - Lifting yokes and related below-the-hook hardware as regulated load-handling equipment.
What the second pass must settle
- Does vr.tr.yoke own both animal traction and human carrying yokes, or does its intended scope include mechanical and other physical senses?
- Which existing Vercy models already cover any of these senses or their harness and coupling boundaries?
- Which documented yoke traditions and constructions require additional distinctions in bearing location, retention or bearer arrangement?
- Which authoritative sources establish fit criteria, working limits and rejection criteria for each included yoke type?
- How should locally made, modified or historical yokes be assessed when their intended bearer, original configuration and working limits are undocumented?