CA1329075C - Animal feeder - Google Patents
Animal feederInfo
- Publication number
- CA1329075C CA1329075C CA 608382 CA608382A CA1329075C CA 1329075 C CA1329075 C CA 1329075C CA 608382 CA608382 CA 608382 CA 608382 A CA608382 A CA 608382A CA 1329075 C CA1329075 C CA 1329075C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- shelf
- animal
- hopper
- feed
- trough
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Landscapes
- Feeding And Watering For Cattle Raising And Animal Husbandry (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure An animal feeder of the type in which a feed hopper discharges feed downwardly onto a shelf which intercepts the feed so that it does not drop directly to a trough under the hopper and shelf but requires action by the animal to brush the feed off the shelf.
In conjunction with the above, a water supply line runs closely beneath the shelf and has at least one fitting or nipple directed laterally outwardly over the trough from which nipple the animal may drink directly. The nipple is of the type minimizing discharge of water directly into the trough. The shelf is so fashioned as to substantially prevent the animal from eating feed directly from the shelf.
In conjunction with the above, a water supply line runs closely beneath the shelf and has at least one fitting or nipple directed laterally outwardly over the trough from which nipple the animal may drink directly. The nipple is of the type minimizing discharge of water directly into the trough. The shelf is so fashioned as to substantially prevent the animal from eating feed directly from the shelf.
Description
~ ~s~d~r~ J ~
't` ' , ~ '~ 32qo75 .' .
. 5 . . .
lQ
r ~NIMAL F~EDER
,.~ ' Background and Summary of the Invention It is well known in the feeding of animals, especially hogs, to provide a feeding hopper having downwardly converging sides tenminating at a feed opening through which feed descends by gravity to a ;~ shelf spaced below the opening and so fashioned that the feed is intercep~ed by the shelf and lies on the shelf at an angle of repose and thus does not fall ~i diréc~ly to a trough beneath the shelf. In some prior i feeders, animal-actuated means is used to move the feed ;~ ~ from the shelf ~o the trough~ In other f~ders, reliance is placed on the animal to sweep the feed off the shelf with its snou~. In still other feeders, the animal is able to eat dry feed directly from the shelf and has the further choice of eating wet feed from the trough by means of animal-actuated watering means that :~; discharge directly into the trough.
There are several schools of thought as t9 how `` hogs should be fed, considering weight gain, elapsed ~; time, etc., with respect to marketing the best animals.
According to the present invention, the feeding system is designed to enable the hogs to eat dry feed and to -~ 35 obtain drinking water from means enabling the animal to ~ drink directly from a nipple or fitting so arranged , . .
.
. .,~
:,-, . .
.
that the water does not discharge directly into the feed in the trough. The arrangement is such that the hogs do not eat directly from the shPlf beneath the hopper but rath~r must brush or sweep the feed off to the trough. This avoids wetting of the feed on the shelf and thus eliminates clogging oE the hopper discharge by caked feed. Further, it can be shown that an a~im 1 will not eat as much if he has to go elsewhere for water, as to a location remote from the feeder. It is important that the animal obtain clean drinking water~ rather than water mixed with feed obtained from the trough. Also, while the animal searches elsewhere for water, he loses feed which drops from his mouth.
,~ ~5 A further feature of the invention to design the shelf 30 as to prevent the animal from closing his jaws on khe shelf, thereby preventing direct feeding from khe shelf. A still further feature i~ ~he provision of means for regulating the size of the feed opening and 2a thus the amount of discharge to th~ shelf. Still ; further, the water fittings are arranged at angles convenient to animals so as to facilitate direct `~ drinking Erom ~he nipples.
: Further features and advantages will appear as a preferred embodiment o the invention is disclosed in ;~; the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.
r, ~ , .
Descripti_n of the Drawing F~gures '~ Fig. 1 is a perspective of a preferred form of 3~ feeder.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of the feeder showing the relationship among the hopper, trough, shelf and water supply means.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged p~rspective of a fitting or nlpple.
J
~.~
~, .
', r 1 32~075 .
Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention The feeder is essentially a box-like structure 10 ~-~ made up of a .hopper 12 disposed over a trough 14 and :~ 5 secured ~o the trough by a pair of end walls 16. The hopper is elongated and, in the present case, provides three feeding areas at each side. The hopper has opposed downwardly converging side walls 18 that . terminate at a bottom feed discharge opening 20 (Fig.2). The side walls are braced to the sides 22 of the trough by a plurality of divider rods 24 which also .. function to keep the hogs' heads concentrated in their ` respective feeding zones or areas so that they do not :: interfere with their neighbors. In a typical arrangement, by way o example and not limitation, the structure may be on the order of 34 inches long, 36 inches high and having a width of 26 inches. The trough has the same length as the hopper and its sides 22 rise to a height of about Eive to six inches, . 20 A platform or shelf 2G is spaced below the bottom .~. of the hopper in such position as to intercept the flow .` of feed via the feed open.ing 20 so tha~ the feed does not run immediately to the trough but accumulates on the shelf, at each side of the longitudinal centerline . ~5 of the structure, at angies oE repose as known in the -~ art so that the feeding from the hopper to the shelf '.i~ becomes automatic as feed is removed from the reposed .~ . accumulations on the shelf. In the present case, removal of such feed is caused by the animal uqing hi~
~ ~ snout to sweep or brush the feed of so tha~ the feed ,.~. drops into the trough, the lateral width of the shelf -!`; , being less than that of the trough. According to the .~ . present invention, the shelf is relatively narrow, its lateral width being such that the hog cannot eat directly from the shelf, a result accentuated by the provision at each terminal or outer end portion of the . ~ .
:,:
,, .~
' 1 32~07~
_ 4 _ shelf of a depending flange 28 of such vertical dimension as to prevent the hog from closing hi~ jaws in chewing fashion. The bottom edge of each flange is rolled as at 30 to prevent injury to the hog' 8 mouth.
~he lateral dimension of the shelf at each side of the feed opening 20 is relatively narrow, for example, about one to one and one-half inches and each flange depends about the same amount. Further, the angle between each ].ateral shelf portion and the adjacent sloping side wall 18 of the hopper is about sixty to seventy-five degrees, providing a "tight corner" that ,~ further limits the hog's activity in this area to `~ brushing the feed off and into the trough.
The shelf oE course runs the length of the hopper and is provided centrally with an upstanding divider 32 so shaped as to direct feed oppositely onto ~he ~helf in symmetrical fashion in those instances when feed control shutters 34 are set equally at opposite sides of the feed opening 20. Each shutter i3 glidable ; 20 upwardly and downwardly along its side wall away from ; and toward the shelf, being carried by suitable guides ~ 36 and operated by vertical rods 38. Each rod ext~nds - threadably through a cross bar 40 spanning ~he top of the hopper and is e~uipped with a handle 42 for enabling easy turnlng of the rod. The shutters may be ~; independently adjusted for varying the opposite feed outlets to opposite sides of the shelf divider -32 and, of course, either shutter may be closed completely.
. This accommodates different feeding habits of the 3~ animal and also enables feeding of different-sized hogs ~ at opposite sides of the trough, especially considering the central divider 43 in the trough. Also, shutter adjustment can compensate for feed of different particulates.
The feeder is provided with means for furnishing drinking water to the ~ogs. In this case, a supply . .
: . , ' .~ .
~ 5 --means or line 44 is fixedly arranged beneath the shelf, preferably being accor~modated by the upwardly divergent shelf divid~r 32. The line is fed by a supply pipe ~6 that may be connected to any water source (not shown).
The line 44 is provided with a plurality of fittings or nipples 48, here six in number, for example. These are arranged in oppositely directed pairs, each nipple projecking laterally outwardly so as to be convenient to the animals~ In a practicable arrangement the angle is in range of about horizontal to thirty-five to forty ..
degrees below the horizontal. Each nipple further has ~ an ou-ter terminal end portion opening at 50 and being i disposed substantially directly below or in vertical ;- alinement with the proximate outer end of the shelf.
The nipple is tubular and the opening 50 is afforded by cutting the nipple off at an angle so that the opening aces upwardly as well as outwardly and the bottom of the nipple serves as a shield preventing direct -~ discharge of water to the trough. Each nipple ha~ an actuator S2 which the hog actuates via his mouth to operate a valve (not shown~ so as to furnish clean drinking water directly to the hog rather than having the water mixed with feed and thereby avoiding the ~swimming pool" effect of water in the trough. At elevated temperatures, the ~rough wat~r becomes hot and ` unpalatable. Another advantage of of d~sired water supply to the animal is that waste (elimination from the animal) is minimized and does not overload the sewage pit.
~ 30 As will be seen from the foregoing, a simple ii; design has been provided to furnish adequate feed and ~; drinking water to the animals with only incidental -~ mixing o~ feed and water, especially on the shelf, since, if the hogs cannot eat directly from the shelf, -they are very much less likely to slaver on the shelf, all of wh i ch substantially avoid caking and clogging at . ` .
.
,~
6 -- .
. the ~eed opening. Features and advantages other than . those pointed out will have become apparent .to those 5,' ' ~ versed in the art, as will many modifications in the preferred embodiment of the invention, all without ~: 5 departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, ,.. ~ .
:''":
:":
., 10 &
:. ~
... . .
,~;,~ .
~ 15 , r,., :'..
. i ,1,, ~ 20 .:~,.~
; r,,;, "
~'j':' . , ~, 25:
~ :J~ .
~ "~ .
. .30 :
, ~ , .$~: :
, .:
.. :, s'~
.,'' ,, , . .
't` ' , ~ '~ 32qo75 .' .
. 5 . . .
lQ
r ~NIMAL F~EDER
,.~ ' Background and Summary of the Invention It is well known in the feeding of animals, especially hogs, to provide a feeding hopper having downwardly converging sides tenminating at a feed opening through which feed descends by gravity to a ;~ shelf spaced below the opening and so fashioned that the feed is intercep~ed by the shelf and lies on the shelf at an angle of repose and thus does not fall ~i diréc~ly to a trough beneath the shelf. In some prior i feeders, animal-actuated means is used to move the feed ;~ ~ from the shelf ~o the trough~ In other f~ders, reliance is placed on the animal to sweep the feed off the shelf with its snou~. In still other feeders, the animal is able to eat dry feed directly from the shelf and has the further choice of eating wet feed from the trough by means of animal-actuated watering means that :~; discharge directly into the trough.
There are several schools of thought as t9 how `` hogs should be fed, considering weight gain, elapsed ~; time, etc., with respect to marketing the best animals.
According to the present invention, the feeding system is designed to enable the hogs to eat dry feed and to -~ 35 obtain drinking water from means enabling the animal to ~ drink directly from a nipple or fitting so arranged , . .
.
. .,~
:,-, . .
.
that the water does not discharge directly into the feed in the trough. The arrangement is such that the hogs do not eat directly from the shPlf beneath the hopper but rath~r must brush or sweep the feed off to the trough. This avoids wetting of the feed on the shelf and thus eliminates clogging oE the hopper discharge by caked feed. Further, it can be shown that an a~im 1 will not eat as much if he has to go elsewhere for water, as to a location remote from the feeder. It is important that the animal obtain clean drinking water~ rather than water mixed with feed obtained from the trough. Also, while the animal searches elsewhere for water, he loses feed which drops from his mouth.
,~ ~5 A further feature of the invention to design the shelf 30 as to prevent the animal from closing his jaws on khe shelf, thereby preventing direct feeding from khe shelf. A still further feature i~ ~he provision of means for regulating the size of the feed opening and 2a thus the amount of discharge to th~ shelf. Still ; further, the water fittings are arranged at angles convenient to animals so as to facilitate direct `~ drinking Erom ~he nipples.
: Further features and advantages will appear as a preferred embodiment o the invention is disclosed in ;~; the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.
r, ~ , .
Descripti_n of the Drawing F~gures '~ Fig. 1 is a perspective of a preferred form of 3~ feeder.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of the feeder showing the relationship among the hopper, trough, shelf and water supply means.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged p~rspective of a fitting or nlpple.
J
~.~
~, .
', r 1 32~075 .
Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention The feeder is essentially a box-like structure 10 ~-~ made up of a .hopper 12 disposed over a trough 14 and :~ 5 secured ~o the trough by a pair of end walls 16. The hopper is elongated and, in the present case, provides three feeding areas at each side. The hopper has opposed downwardly converging side walls 18 that . terminate at a bottom feed discharge opening 20 (Fig.2). The side walls are braced to the sides 22 of the trough by a plurality of divider rods 24 which also .. function to keep the hogs' heads concentrated in their ` respective feeding zones or areas so that they do not :: interfere with their neighbors. In a typical arrangement, by way o example and not limitation, the structure may be on the order of 34 inches long, 36 inches high and having a width of 26 inches. The trough has the same length as the hopper and its sides 22 rise to a height of about Eive to six inches, . 20 A platform or shelf 2G is spaced below the bottom .~. of the hopper in such position as to intercept the flow .` of feed via the feed open.ing 20 so tha~ the feed does not run immediately to the trough but accumulates on the shelf, at each side of the longitudinal centerline . ~5 of the structure, at angies oE repose as known in the -~ art so that the feeding from the hopper to the shelf '.i~ becomes automatic as feed is removed from the reposed .~ . accumulations on the shelf. In the present case, removal of such feed is caused by the animal uqing hi~
~ ~ snout to sweep or brush the feed of so tha~ the feed ,.~. drops into the trough, the lateral width of the shelf -!`; , being less than that of the trough. According to the .~ . present invention, the shelf is relatively narrow, its lateral width being such that the hog cannot eat directly from the shelf, a result accentuated by the provision at each terminal or outer end portion of the . ~ .
:,:
,, .~
' 1 32~07~
_ 4 _ shelf of a depending flange 28 of such vertical dimension as to prevent the hog from closing hi~ jaws in chewing fashion. The bottom edge of each flange is rolled as at 30 to prevent injury to the hog' 8 mouth.
~he lateral dimension of the shelf at each side of the feed opening 20 is relatively narrow, for example, about one to one and one-half inches and each flange depends about the same amount. Further, the angle between each ].ateral shelf portion and the adjacent sloping side wall 18 of the hopper is about sixty to seventy-five degrees, providing a "tight corner" that ,~ further limits the hog's activity in this area to `~ brushing the feed off and into the trough.
The shelf oE course runs the length of the hopper and is provided centrally with an upstanding divider 32 so shaped as to direct feed oppositely onto ~he ~helf in symmetrical fashion in those instances when feed control shutters 34 are set equally at opposite sides of the feed opening 20. Each shutter i3 glidable ; 20 upwardly and downwardly along its side wall away from ; and toward the shelf, being carried by suitable guides ~ 36 and operated by vertical rods 38. Each rod ext~nds - threadably through a cross bar 40 spanning ~he top of the hopper and is e~uipped with a handle 42 for enabling easy turnlng of the rod. The shutters may be ~; independently adjusted for varying the opposite feed outlets to opposite sides of the shelf divider -32 and, of course, either shutter may be closed completely.
. This accommodates different feeding habits of the 3~ animal and also enables feeding of different-sized hogs ~ at opposite sides of the trough, especially considering the central divider 43 in the trough. Also, shutter adjustment can compensate for feed of different particulates.
The feeder is provided with means for furnishing drinking water to the ~ogs. In this case, a supply . .
: . , ' .~ .
~ 5 --means or line 44 is fixedly arranged beneath the shelf, preferably being accor~modated by the upwardly divergent shelf divid~r 32. The line is fed by a supply pipe ~6 that may be connected to any water source (not shown).
The line 44 is provided with a plurality of fittings or nipples 48, here six in number, for example. These are arranged in oppositely directed pairs, each nipple projecking laterally outwardly so as to be convenient to the animals~ In a practicable arrangement the angle is in range of about horizontal to thirty-five to forty ..
degrees below the horizontal. Each nipple further has ~ an ou-ter terminal end portion opening at 50 and being i disposed substantially directly below or in vertical ;- alinement with the proximate outer end of the shelf.
The nipple is tubular and the opening 50 is afforded by cutting the nipple off at an angle so that the opening aces upwardly as well as outwardly and the bottom of the nipple serves as a shield preventing direct -~ discharge of water to the trough. Each nipple ha~ an actuator S2 which the hog actuates via his mouth to operate a valve (not shown~ so as to furnish clean drinking water directly to the hog rather than having the water mixed with feed and thereby avoiding the ~swimming pool" effect of water in the trough. At elevated temperatures, the ~rough wat~r becomes hot and ` unpalatable. Another advantage of of d~sired water supply to the animal is that waste (elimination from the animal) is minimized and does not overload the sewage pit.
~ 30 As will be seen from the foregoing, a simple ii; design has been provided to furnish adequate feed and ~; drinking water to the animals with only incidental -~ mixing o~ feed and water, especially on the shelf, since, if the hogs cannot eat directly from the shelf, -they are very much less likely to slaver on the shelf, all of wh i ch substantially avoid caking and clogging at . ` .
.
,~
6 -- .
. the ~eed opening. Features and advantages other than . those pointed out will have become apparent .to those 5,' ' ~ versed in the art, as will many modifications in the preferred embodiment of the invention, all without ~: 5 departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, ,.. ~ .
:''":
:":
., 10 &
:. ~
... . .
,~;,~ .
~ 15 , r,., :'..
. i ,1,, ~ 20 .:~,.~
; r,,;, "
~'j':' . , ~, 25:
~ :J~ .
~ "~ .
. .30 :
, ~ , .$~: :
, .:
.. :, s'~
.,'' ,, , . .
Claims (4)
1. An animal feeder comprising:
an elongated trough having a bottom;
an elongated hopper located above the bottom of said trough;
said hopper having an inclined sidewall extending downwardly and inwardly toward a hopper bottom discharge opening;
a shelf spaced below said hopper bottom discharge opening and above the bottom of said trough;
said hopper comprising means for storing feed and for dispensing feed through said hopper bottom discharge opening;
said shelf comprising means for receiving and holding feed dispensed from said hopper through said discharge opening;
said shelf and said inclined hopper side wall comprising means cooperating to permit an animal to sweep feed from said shelf into said trough while substantially preventing the animal from feeding directly from said-shelf;
and means for permitting an animal to feed directly from said trough.
an elongated trough having a bottom;
an elongated hopper located above the bottom of said trough;
said hopper having an inclined sidewall extending downwardly and inwardly toward a hopper bottom discharge opening;
a shelf spaced below said hopper bottom discharge opening and above the bottom of said trough;
said hopper comprising means for storing feed and for dispensing feed through said hopper bottom discharge opening;
said shelf comprising means for receiving and holding feed dispensed from said hopper through said discharge opening;
said shelf and said inclined hopper side wall comprising means cooperating to permit an animal to sweep feed from said shelf into said trough while substantially preventing the animal from feeding directly from said-shelf;
and means for permitting an animal to feed directly from said trough.
2. An animal feeder as recited in claim 1 wherein:
said shelf extends outwardly away from said discharge opening to a shelf terminal edge;
said shelf includes a flange depending from said terminal edge;
and said flange comprises means for preventing the animal from closing its jaws around the shelf.
said shelf extends outwardly away from said discharge opening to a shelf terminal edge;
said shelf includes a flange depending from said terminal edge;
and said flange comprises means for preventing the animal from closing its jaws around the shelf.
3. An animal feeder as recited in claim 1 wherein:
said shelf is fixed against movement;
and said hopper side wall is inclined upwardly and outwardly beginning at said hopper discharge opening.
said shelf is fixed against movement;
and said hopper side wall is inclined upwardly and outwardly beginning at said hopper discharge opening.
4. An animal feeder as recited in claim 1 and comprising:
water supply means located below said shelf and spaced above the bottom of said trough;
said water supply means comprising an animal-mouth-actuated dispenser comprising means from which an animal can drink directly, without dispensing water into the trough.
water supply means located below said shelf and spaced above the bottom of said trough;
said water supply means comprising an animal-mouth-actuated dispenser comprising means from which an animal can drink directly, without dispensing water into the trough.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US330,401 | 1981-12-14 | ||
| US33040189A | 1989-03-29 | 1989-03-29 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1329075C true CA1329075C (en) | 1994-05-03 |
Family
ID=23289606
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 608382 Expired - Fee Related CA1329075C (en) | 1989-03-29 | 1989-08-15 | Animal feeder |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1329075C (en) |
-
1989
- 1989-08-15 CA CA 608382 patent/CA1329075C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4911727A (en) | Animal feeder | |
| US4790266A (en) | Feeder for animals | |
| US5884582A (en) | Pet feeder | |
| US4401057A (en) | Hog feeder | |
| CA1176122A (en) | Animal actuated feed and water dispensing apparatus | |
| US5010849A (en) | Feeder for animals | |
| US4799455A (en) | Farrowing crate creep feeder | |
| US4895109A (en) | Mash-feed trough | |
| US3043267A (en) | Livestock drinking cup | |
| EP1250839B1 (en) | A device for supplying feed to animals | |
| US20040020442A1 (en) | Rotary parlour for milking of animals | |
| RU2145162C1 (en) | Feeder, in particular, for pigs | |
| US3664302A (en) | Lactation period brooder | |
| US4355598A (en) | Animal feeder with automatic dispenser | |
| US5595139A (en) | Hog feeder | |
| CA1329075C (en) | Animal feeder | |
| US4291648A (en) | Livestock feeder | |
| US3536046A (en) | Combination feeder and waterer for hogs | |
| US3144853A (en) | Automatic hog drinking cup | |
| Bratzler | A metabolism crate for use with sheep | |
| US4479456A (en) | Animal actuated feed and water dispensing apparatus | |
| JPH03505277A (en) | animal feeding equipment | |
| US4998506A (en) | Piggy deck | |
| US3043265A (en) | Pen for feeding calves liquid and solid feed | |
| DE19927378A1 (en) | Arrangement for feeding/watering or weighing livestock has dye jet device with dye reservoir, actuator for delivering dye under control of controller or weighing machine |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |