GB2585630A

GB2585630A - Dosing system

Info

Publication number: GB2585630A
Application number: GB1906594.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hennessy Padraig; Hennessy Thomas
Original assignee: Terra Water Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Terra Water Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2019-05-10
Filing date: 2019-05-10
Publication date: 2021-01-20
Also published as: WO2020229422A1; GB201906594D0; IE20200097A2

Abstract

A dosing system (1, fig 1) for delivering feed supplements to livestock has a water feed line 2 connecting between a water supply, such as a water reservoir tank 15 and a livestock drinking trough 3. A water meter is mounted in the water feed line for measuring the volume of water delivered through the water feed line. A controller 5 is connected to the water meter and is operable to measure the rate of water consumption. A number of livestock feed supplement reservoirs 6 which contain any desired supplements for livestock are connected to the water feed line via dosing pumps, for delivery of desired quantities of each required supplement into the water in the water feed line. Each dosing pump is connected to the controller which regulates operation of the dosing pump, controlling injection of the supplements into the water feed line. An injection manifold in the water feed line has a number of injection valves associated with the dosing pumps to inject and evenly mix the supplements with the water supplied through the water feed line prior to delivery of the water to the livestock drinking trough.

Description

Dosing System'

Introduction

This invention riates to a dosing system for precision automated delivery of feed supplements to livestock, cry of feed supplements, suCh as minerals, to livestock is desirab/e for the oved health and welfare of the animals. in a commonly used dosing system a 0 set amount of a liquid supplement per litre is delivered into the livestocK water simply. However, it is very difficult to ensure the livestock rceS the optimum t...)-1 supplement using this proportional dosing system, This can lead to either over or under supple,mentation result.ing in costly *Waste for the farmer as suCh supplements can be relatively expensive, and incorrect dosing may also have a tdrpental effect on the health of the animals. The system is also time consuming to operate for the farmer, The present n nt n is directed tower& overcoming her probler * 20 Summary of the lnventon According to the en there is provided acl dellvery of upple nts to iivSStOCK, the doe no system prising.

a water feed line for connect!on be e a at4r suppli and aiivestock drinkfri trough; er mounted,he water feed line t d through the water uring the volume the water m sure the rate eing connecte ter consurnptio the controller operable at le at one livetdck iSd upplernAht reeervoir, the livestOck feOd supplement resrvoir being c'annccteo to the water supplement'silvery means

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which is.operatively connected to the controller to control the rate of.delivery of supplement from the livestock feed supplement reServoir into the water feed e; and means for mixing the livestock feed supplement and the water pdor le delivery to the livestock drinking trough In one embodiment of the invention the controller is operable to deliver the livestock feed supplement into the water feed line at a rate which is proportional to the measured livestock dOnking water consumption rate.

In another embodiment of the invention the controller measures the daily livestock water consumption, and the controller is operable to evenly deliver a desired daily livestock stiopiement quantity throughout the daily quantity of water delivered to the 16 livestock drinking trough.

In another embodiment of the invention the controller has an associated timer arid the controller is:operable to deliver the livestock supplement into the water feed line at preset intervals.throughout the day.

In another embodiment the controller the water meter and the supplement delivery means are mounted together on a back plate within a housing.

In another embodiment the supplement delivery means. comprises a dosing pump, Brief Description of the Drawings The invention wit! be more clearly understood by the following. gest:Option of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying dravvings, n whi.oh: Fig. 1 is-a schematic illustration of a dosing system according to the invention; Fig, 2 is a detail elevational View of portion of the dosing system; and -3 -Figi 3 is another schematic tustration of the dosing system in use. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment4.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a dosing system for delivering feed supplements to livestock indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. A water feed line 2 connects between a water supply., which may he a mains water supply, a well or water reservoir tank 15 for example, and a livestock drinking trough 3, In the embodiment shown three water feed lines 2 are provided for delivery of drinking water to different drinking troughs 3.

A i,vater meter 4 is mounted in each water feed line 2 for measuring the volume of water delivered through the water feed tine 2. A controller 5 is connected to each water meter 4 and is operable to measure the rate ef water consumption.

A number of livestock feed supplement reservows 6 which contain any desired supplements for livestock and which in this case contain desired minerals such as magnesium and phosphorus for example, are connected to each water feed line 2 by supplement delivery means, which may coniiprise dosing pumps 7, for delivery of desired quantities of each required supplement into the water In the water feed line 2, Each dosing pump 7 is corinecfeid to the controller 5 which reoulates operation of the dosing pump 7, controlling injection of the supplements into each water feed line 2.

An injection manifold 8 in each water feed line 2 has..a number of injection valve. '9 associated with the dosing pumps 7 to injec.t and evenly mix the supplements with the water supplied through the water feed line 2 prior to delivery of the water to the livestock drinking trough 3.

Each water meter 4 is connected to thetontrolier 5 which monitors water flow to the livestock and alters the concentration of supplements being injected into the associated water feed line 2. The. supplements are injected through 'the injection valves 9 into the water feed line 2 by the dosing pumps: 7 which are also. controlled by -the coetrbiler 5. Depending on water Consumption supplement concentrations are increased or decreased to ensure the lives.tock gets an even and consistently accurate daily dose of the desired supplements.

The controller 5, dosing pumps 1, and injection manifolds 0 with injection valves 9 can conveniently be mounted within a housing 10, assembled on a ilgid back:plate 11 which incorporates Oath nianifoid 8. where the supOlementa are injected and non-return valves 12 which prevent the back flow of supplements. A detachable cover 14 'is.mounted on the. :back plate 11.

In use, the controller 5 measures the daily rate of water consumption through each water feed line 2. The controller 5 will then operate the dosing pumps 7 to deliver a desired daily quantity of one or more of the supplements into the water supply accurately and evenly throughout the daily supply of feed water to the livestock drinking trough a 15* It vvili be appreciated that the system of the invention removes the variability of water consumption. It gives accuracy and flexibility of dosing on a farm: allowing pumps to be controfied via timers, and using;advanced algorithms to ensure accuracy of dosing. This means that animals only receive an exact daily dose metered per animal and irrespective of water consumption. All of the daily water intake information, dosing information and tank levels can be communicated via the cloud using IOT communication, This provides improved control, reduced labour and increased health benefits for the livestock.

Any desired supplements can, be delivered into the thinking water by the system of the invention.

In the-specification the terms 'comprise comprises, comprised and comprising" or any variation thereof and the terms Include, includes, Included and including or any variation thereof are considered to. be totally interchangeable and they should ell be afforded the widestpossible. interpretation and vice versa, The invention is not limited to the errthodimehts hereinbefore described which may be vaned in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended clarm CLA1 1. 2. a

Claims

A dosing system ler delivering feed. supplements to livestock, the dosing system.comprising: a water feed line for connection between a water supply and a vestock drinking trough; a water meter mounted in the water feed line for measuring the volume of wafer delivered through the water feed line; the water meter being connected to a controller, the controller operable to measure.the. rate of water consumption; at least one livestock feed supplement reservoir, the livestock feed supplement reservoir being connected to the water feed line by supplement delivery means which is operatively connected to the controller to control the ate of delivery of supplement from the livestock feed supplement reservoir into the water feed line; and means. for mixing the livestock feed supplement and the water prior to delivery to the livestock drinking trough.
The dosing system as claimed in claim I wherein the invention: the controller operable to deliver the livestock feed supplement into the water feed line at:a rate which iS proportional to the measured livestoOk drirOng water consUmption rate.
The dosing system as claimed in claim I QT claim 2 wherein the controller measures the daily' livestock water consumption. and is operable: lo evenly mix a desired daily livestock supplement quantity-throughout the daily quantity of water delivered to the livestock drinking trough.
4. The dosing system as.claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the 'controller has an associated tinter and the controller s operable to deliver the livestock supplement into the water feed line at preset intervals, 0. The dosing syste.rn as cfenmed in any one of the preceding claims ',4"herein the controller, the water meter and the supplement delivery moans are mounted tegether on a back plate, within a housing.The dosing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the supplement delivery means wmprises, a dosing pump having an inlet for bennettion to a llveStoek feed supplement resentoir and. an: outlet connected through in njectionvalve with the water feed line.