GB1126481A - Animal feeding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,126,481. Animal feeding apparatus. NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORP. 17 Sept., 1965 [19 June, 1964], No. 25482/64. Heading A1M. Apparatus for dispensing liquid feed to a number of feeding stations comprises a main reservoir 1 holding a bulk supply of liquid feed which is pumped from the reservoir by pump 10 along a main duct 12 having a branch pipe 16 corresponding to each feeding station, a valve 17 being located in each branch pipe and adjustable to deliver feed at a constant rate, means being provided whereby each valve can be held open for a predetermined time so that a predetermined amount of feed is delivered at the corresponding feeding station. The main duct 12 slopes upwardly to an overflow reservoir 14 provided with a return duct 15, the valves 17 being opened sequentially under the control of a selector device 18 when a funnel 13 in the reservoir 14 is full as indicated by a level sensing device. The selector 18 includes an adjustable controller for each valve 17 which in conjuction with a common timer 19 controls the length of timer for which each valve 17 is open. A manual valve selector 20 and manual timer 21 may be included. At the end of the feeding period pump 10 is reversed and feed remaining in the apparaus is returned to reservoir 1 from which it is drained through valve 25. The pump 10 is then used to circulate washing liquid through the apparatus, the pipes 16 being removed from the feeding stations and directed into gutters in the animal pens and the valves 17 being opened under the control of devices 23, 24 and 29. The liquid feed is maintained at the required temperature by passing either steam or cold water into the jacket 2 surrounding reservoir 1 under the control of thermostat 7.