DK179267B1

DK179267B1 - A feed box with a new and improved drainage control

Info

Publication number: DK179267B1
Application number: DKPA201770312A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Christian Hellesøe Dall
Original assignee: Daltec As
Priority date: 2017-05-05
Filing date: 2017-05-05
Publication date: 2018-03-19
Also published as: DK201770312A1

Abstract

The feed box according to the invention comprises an upper part, a lower part and a slack control. The upper part may have a receiving aperture for receiving feedstuff. The receiving aperture may be connected to an endless conveyor providing the feedstuff. The lower part may have a discharge valve for discharging feedstuff. The slack control may have an entry guide, a control guide and an exit guide forming a pathway suitable for a slave cord operatively connecting a master cord and the discharge valve. The entry guide and exit guide defines a line from which the control guide is displaced.

Description

<¹θ> DANMARK (10)

<¹²> PATENTSKRIFT

Patent- og

Varemærkestyrelsen (51) Int.CI.: A 01 K 5/02 (2006.01) A 01 K 39/012 (2006.01) (21) Ansøgningsnummer: PA 2017 70312 (22) Indleveringsdato: 2017-05-05 (24) Løbedag: 2017-05-05 (41) Aim. tilgængelig: 2018-03-19 (45) Patentets meddelelse bkg. den: 2018-03-19 (73) Patenthaver: Daltec A/S, Tybovej 1,6040 Egtved, Danmark (72) Opfinder: Christian Hellesøe Dall, Mosen 1, Jerlev, 7100 Vejle, Danmark (74) Fuldmægtig: Patrade A/S, Ceresbyen 75, 8000 Århus C, Danmark (54) Benævnelse: En foderkasse med en ny og forbedret tømmekontrol (56) Fremdragne publikationer:

WO 2015/197073 A1 WO 2017/063658 A1 US 4770124 A DK 134625 B (57) Sammendrag:

Fortsættes ...

Fig. 3 i

[A feed box having a new and improved discharge control]

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a feed box having a new and improved mechanism for controlling the operational state of the feed box.

Background of the Invention

Present feed boxes use a variety of different mechanism for controlling the on/off operational state of the feed box. The feed boxes are often positioned at a position high above the stall, which can make it impossible for a person of lesser height to control the operational state of the feed box without the use of a stool or even a ladder. Thus, the usability of the feed boxes is height dependant.

WO2015/197073A1 discloses a feed box, wherein the operational state of feed box is controlled by changing the position of an actuation handle attached to the end of a wire. The actuation handle has two possible positions on the side of the feed box. Thus, a user must be able to reach the feed box in order to change the operational state.

Furthermore, this solution will over time cause wear on the parts of a cord going into and out of the feed box the pulling in the actuation handle causes friction between the cord and feed box.

Furthermore, the wear on the cord also depends on the height of the user and on the position of the user relative to the feed box. The lower a user of feed box is the more acute the angle between the wire and the cord becomes, this causes an increase in friction between the wire and feed box. The increased friction leads to an increased wear of the wire. The height dependence makes it difficult for the manufacturer of the feed box to give a potential buyer a lifetime estimate.

Furthermore, the height dependence makes the feed box less ergonomic for small people as the force needed to change the operational state of the feed box is increased.

Object of the Invention

It is an object of this invention to overcome the short comings of the prior art by a new and improved mechanism for controlling an operational state of a feed box.

Description of the Invention

The skilled person would know the actual positioning of the guides relative to the feed box is not important for the feed box to work as the slack control controls the tension or slack of a slave cord. This may be done far from the feed box or close to the feed box.

The slave cord goes through a slack control. The slack control comprises of three guides. The slave cord can be coupled to the control guide if the slave cord goes around the guide. If the slave cord goes around the control guide, the slave cord has little to no slack. Thus, the operational state of the feed box is ON.

If the slave cord is decoupled from the control guide the slave cord have enough slack, so that a pull exerted on the slave cord is not communicated to the discharge valve. Thus, the operational state of the feed box is OFF.

This enables a user of lesser height to control whether the feed box is operatively connected or operatively disconnected as the slack control may be positioned below the feed box.

In an embodiment the exit guide is positioned at the upper part and the entry guide is displaced relative to the exit guide in a substantially horizontal plane; thereby defining a substantially horizontal line. This is a simple and compact solution. The control guide may in this embodiment be positioned such that the distance to the entry guide and the exit guide is substantially similar.

In another embodiment the exit guide and the entry guide defines a substantially vertical line. Thereby the operational state may be changed by repositioning the control guide along a substantially horizontal plane.

In another embodiment the exit guide and the entry guide defines a line having both horizontal and vertical vector components. This enables a greater freedom, when manufacturing the feed boxes as the functioning of feed box is independent on the direction of the line.

The slave cord is not part of the invention, however the skilled person would be able to select a suitable slave cord and the skilled person would know how to operatively connect the slave cord to the discharge valve and a master cord.

The user may in an embodiment operatively disconnect the feed box by moving the slave cord so that it will not go around the control guide. Thus, when a pull is exerted on the slave cord the force is not communicated to the discharge valve as the slave cord has slack.

The skilled person would know that the amount of slack is determined by the distance between the control guide and the other guides. Furthermore, the skilled person would know how much slack the slave cord would need for preventing an operatively disconnect feed box becoming an operatively connected feed box when a pull is exerted.

The user may in another embodiment operatively disconnect the feed box by removing the control guide, thereby providing the slave cord with slack. In this embodiment the feed box may have a holder for holding the control guide to prevent the control guide from being lost.

The invention may in an embodiment overcome the limitations of the prior art by having a slack control controlling the slack of the slave cord between the feed box and the master cord as the friction between slave cord and the feed box is limited or removed compared to the prior art. When an operational state of the feed box is changed from operatively connected to operatively disconnected, slack is created between the feed box and a master cord. Thus, when a pull is exerted on the slave cord the amount of slack lessens, however the part of the slave cord inside the feed box will not move and thus little to no friction is created between the slave cord and the feed box. This is particular important when pulling a master cord connected to a plurality of slave cords as the user may use less force.

Furthermore when the operational state of the feed box is changed from operatively connected to operatively disconnected, little force is needed as most of the slack is externally to the feed box.

The feed box is suitable for use in a pig house i.e. for discharging feedstuff to pigs.

In another aspect of the invention the slack control may comprise one or more sockets configured to receive the control guide. The slack control and control guide may have mutually complementary male and female sockets.

In an embodiment the slack control may comprise female sockets configured to receive the control guide having a complementary male socket for providing a multiple of possible pathways.

When opening the discharge valve, there is an initial tension due to friction internally in the discharge valve. This initial tension will typically not be a problem when exerting a pull on a single or a few slave cords; however when exerting a pull on a plurality of slave cords, the force may be substantial.

The slack control having female sockets configured to receive the control guide having a complementary male socket enables the user of the plurality of feed boxes to adjust the pathway of each feed box so that the initial tension can be overcome in a number of steps when exerting a pull.

Furthermore, if the user is only able to open ten discharge valves, but the master cord is connected to thirty feed boxes the user may divide the thirty feed boxes into three groups of ten, wherein the first group have little to no slack, the second group have slack and third group have a substantially amount of slack. Then the user may open the discharge valves of each group of feed boxes without opening the other groups. This is done by first pulling the master cord slightly; thereby the ten discharge valves in the first group are opened. Then the user walks by the ten feed boxes and pulls the master cord; thereby the ten discharge valves in the second group are opened, while the discharge valves in the first and third group remains closed. Lastly the user walks by the next ten feed boxes and pulls the master cord; thereby the ten discharge valves in the third group are opened, while the discharge valves in the first and second group remains closed.

In another aspect of the invention the control guide may be a rod having a bend.

If the rod bends away from the line defined by the entry guide and the exit guide the risk of the slave cord slipping away from the control guide is reduced.

However, if the rod bends towards the line defined by the entry guide and the exit guide then the slave cord will slip away from the control guide, which will make the feed box operational disconnected from the master cord.

The operational state of the feed box may in this way easily be change by turning the control guide 180 degrees.

Furthermore, an added effect of the rod having a bend is that it is easy for at a user to see the operational state of a feed box as it just depends on the direction the bend rod.

In another aspect of the invention the slack control may comprise multiple second guides for providing a plurality of possible pathways.

This enables the user to change the pathway of the slave cord by repositioning the slave cord.

In another aspect the feed box may have a slave cord going through the slack control and an aperture in the feed box, the slave cord may be linked to the discharge valve. The slave cord may have an external cord end outside the feed box for connecting with a master cord.

In another aspect of the invention the control guide may be positioned below the line. This enables a user of lesser height to change the operational state of the feed box without a ladder or a stool.

In another aspect of the invention one or more of the guides may be a wheel.

The one or more guides being wheels will further reduce friction between the slave cord and the feed box. Thereby reducing tear of the cord, but it will also make it easier to discharge feedstuff.

In another aspect of the invention the discharge valve may comprise a valve aperture and a valve body having mutually complementary shapes. The valve body may be adapted for connection with a slave cord.

If the slave cord is operatively connected and a pull is exerted on the slave cord, the force from the pull is communicated to valve body. The pull will lift the valve body and feedstuff will be discharged. When the pull on the slave cord is released, the feed box will reset as the valve body will drop down due to gravity and block the valve aperture due to the mutually complementary shapes.

In another aspect of the invention the upper part may have connection means suitable for connecting with an end part of a slave cord.

The connection means must be able to hold the slave cord, so that a pulley is created, such that the force needed for discharging the valve is half.

In another aspect of the invention the exit guide may be a compound gear comprising of a large gear suitable for being driven by a slave cord and a small gear may be linked to the discharge valve.

The compound gear will lessen the force needed for discharging feedstuff. This is particularly important, when pulling a plurality of feed boxes.

In an embodiment the slave cord is wrapped around the large gear a suitable amount of times so that when a pull is exerted on the slave cord, the large gear will begin to turn. The small gear may be linked to the discharge valve through a discharge cord. The turning of the large gear will make the small gear turn in the same direction, so that the discharge cord will wrap around the small gear, thereby the pull exerted on the slave cord is communicated to the discharge valve.

In another aspect of the invention a plurality of feed boxes is connected to a master cord. Thereby a user is able to open all the operational connected feed boxes by pulling the master cord.

Description of the Drawing

The embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a prior art feed box;

Fig. 2 illustrates another prior art feed box;

Fig. 3 illustrates a feed box having a cord member;

Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment feed box having of a cord member;

Fig. 5 illustrates a plurality of feed boxes connected to a master cord; and Fig. 6 illustrates rod and a female socket.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Feed box	10
Upper part	20
Receiving aperture	22
Connection means	24
Lower part	30
Discharge valve	32
Valve aperture	34
Valve body	36
Slave cord	40
External cord end	42
Slack control	50
Line	51
Entry guide	52
Control guide	54
Exit guide	56
Wheel	58
Rod	60
Bend	62
Male socket	64
Female socket	66
Pathway	70
Plurality of feed boxes	80
Master cord	90
Endless conveyor	95

Fig. 1 illustrates a prior art feed box 10 with means for controlling the operational state of the feed box 10. The feed box 10 having an upper part 20 with a receiving aperture (not shown) and a lower part 30 with a discharge valve 32 operatively connected to a slave cord 40. The means is an actuation handle connected to the slave cord at a distal end to the master cord. The actuation handle can be positioned at two positions thereby controlling the slack of the slave cord 40.

Fig. 2 illustrates another prior art feed box 10 with similar means for controlling the operational state of the feed box 10. The feed box 10 having an upper part 20 with a receiving aperture (not shown) and a lower part 30 with a discharge valve 32 operatively connected to a slave cord 40. The means is a wheel connected to the slave cord at a distal end to the master cord. The wheel can be positioned at two positions thereby controlling the slack of the slave cord 40.

Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a feed box 10 comprising an upper part 20, a lower part 30 and a slack control 50. The upper part 20 has a receiving aperture 22 for receiving feedstuff. The receiving aperture 22 is connected an endless conveyer 95, which provides the feedstuff. The lower part 30 has a discharge valve 32 for discharging feedstuff. The discharge valve 32 comprises a valve body 36 and a valve aperture 34 having mutually complementary shapes. The slack control 50 has an entry guide 52, a control guide 54 and an exit guide 56 forming a pathway 70 suitable for a slave cord 40 operatively connecting a master cord and the discharge valve 32. The entry guide 52 and exit guide 56 define a horizontal line 51 from which the control guide 54 is displaced. In this embodiment the control guide 54 is displaced so that the distance to the other guides 52, 56 are substantially similar. The entry guide 52 is an aperture. The control guide 54 is a wheel 58. The exit guide 56 is a wheel 58.

A slave cord 40 has an external cord end 42 connected to the master cord 90 running by the feed box 10. The slave cord 40 is connected to the discharge valve 32 through the slack control 50 and an aperture in the upper part 22. The feed box 10 is operatively connected as the slave cord 40 goes by the control guide 54.

Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a feed box 10 comprising an upper part 20, a lower part 30 and a slack control 50. The upper part 20 has a receiving aperture 22 for receiving feedstuff. The receiving aperture 22 is connected an endless conveyer 95, which provides the feedstuff. The lower part 30 has a discharge valve 32 for discharging feedstuff. The discharge valve 32 comprises a valve body 36 and a valve aperture 34 having mutually complementary shapes. The slack control 50 has an entry guide 52, a control guide 54 and an exit guide 56 forming a pathway 70 suitable for a slave cord 40 operatively connecting a master cord and the discharge valve 32. The entry guide 52 and exit guide 56 define a horizontal line 51 from which the control guide 54 is displaced. In this embodiment the control guide 54 is displaced so that the distance to the other guides 52, 56 are substantially similar. The entry guide 52 is an aperture. The control guide 54 is a rod 60. The exit guide 56 is a wheel 58.

A slave cord 40 has an external cord end 42 connected to the master cord 90 running by the feed box 10 and a distal end connected to upper part 20 by connection means 24. The slave cord 40 is connected to the discharge valve 32 through the slack control 50 and an aperture in the upper part 22. The feed box 10 is operatively connected as the slave cord 40 goes by the control guide 54.

Fig. 5 illustrates a plurality of feed boxes 80, where each feed box 10 is connected to a master cord 90.

Fig. 6 illustrates a rod 60 having a bend 62 and a square shaped male socket 64 to be inserted into a square shaped female socket 66. The female socket 66 being part of the slack control 50 (not shown).

P22663DK00

Overskrift: En foderkasse med en ny og forbedret tømmekontrol

Claims

patent claims

A feed box (10) comprising an upper portion (20) with a receiving opening (22) for receiving feed, characterized in that the feed box (10) further comprises a lower portion (30) with a discharge valve (32) for discharging feed, a veil control (50) with an input guide (52), a control guide (54), and an exit guide (56) forming a path (70) adapted to guide a slave cord (40) to operatively connect a a male cord with the drain valve (32), the input guide (52) and the exit guide (56) defines a line (51) from which the control guide (54) is offset.

The feeding box (10) of claim 1, wherein the blur control (50) comprises one or more holders configured to receive the control guide (54).

Feed box (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control guide (54) is a rod (60) with a bend.

Feed box (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the blur control (50) comprises a plurality of control guides (54) to provide a plurality of possible paths.

Feed box (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the control guide (54) is located below the line (51).

Feed box (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the guides (52, 54, 56) is a wheel (58).

Feed box (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the emptying valve (32) comprises a valve opening (34) and valve body (36) of mutually complementary shapes, wherein the valve body (36) is adapted for connection with a slave cord (50). ).

P22663DK00

Feed box (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the upper part (20) has a connecting means (24) adapted for connection with an end part of a slave cord (40).

5

Feed box (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the exit guide (56) is a composite gear comprising a larger wheel adapted to be driven by a slave cord (40) and a smaller wheel connected to the emptying valve (32). .

A number of feed boxes (80) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein each

10 feed box (10) is connected to a male cord (80).

1.6

Prior art