GB1558667A

GB1558667A - Feed distributor

Info

Publication number: GB1558667A
Application number: GB4876875A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Gunn A B
Current assignee: Gunn A B
Priority date: 1976-11-26
Filing date: 1976-11-26
Publication date: 1980-01-09

Description

(54) A FEED DISTRIBUTOR (71) I, ALEXANDER BARNETSON GUNN, a British subject of Gerston, Halkirk, Caithness, Scotland, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following Statement: - This invention relates to a feed distributor which in particularly, but not exclusively, is intended for the distribution of animal feed material.

According to the invention a feed distributor having at least one land wheel and which is adapted to be propelled by a pedestrian operator, comprises a screw conveyor including a feed screw, the screw conveyor extending transversely to the intended direction(s) of travel of the feed distributor, a feed container adapted to supply feed material to the screw conveyor at least partly along its length, a discharge opening communicating with, and arranged adjacent one end of, the screw conveyor, through which all feed material is adapted to be discharged on rotation of the feed screw in a given direction, and drive means including clutch means manually operable to selectively establish or break an operative driving connection between the land wheel, or at least one of the land wheels, and the feed screw.

Suitably the drive means comprises a first pulley operatively connected to the, or one of the land wheels, a second pulley operatively connected to the feed screw, and an endless flexible belt coupling the first and second pulleys, said clutch means being operable to selectively tighten or slacken the tension of the endless belt around the first and second pulleys to establish or break, respectively, said operative driving connection. The clutch means may comprise a cylindrical member movable, for example in an arcuate path, into or out of contact with the endless belt by means of a manually operated linkage.

A hinged flap may be provided over the discharge opening, the flap being movable, for example by means of a manually operable chain, between open and closed positions.

The discharge opening may be provided at the end of a chute communicating with the screw conveyor.

A further discharge opening may be provided which communicates with, and is adjacent to the other end of, the screw conveyor, and through which all feed material is adapted to be discharged on rotation of the feed screw in a direction opposite to said given direction.

Suitably the feed distributor is provided with a pair of land wheels at its front end and a pair of legs at its rear end.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example and with particular reference to the drawings filed with the provisional specification in which: Figure 1 is a plan of one embodiment or a feed distributor according to the invention, Figures 2 and 3 are side views of the feed distributor shown in Figure 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows A and B, respectively, in Figure 1, and Figure 4 is an end view of the feed distributor shown in Figure 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow C in Figure 1, and the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure .5 is a side view of another embodiment of a feed distributor according to the invention, and Figures 6 and 7 are a partial end view and a partial plan, respectively, of the feed distributor shown in Figure 5.

The drawings show a feed distributor, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprising a tubular metal frame 2 which supports a feed container 3 and an axle 4 carrying a pair of land wheels 5 and 6. The frame 2 is formed so as to define a pair of handles 7 and 8 and a pair of legs 9 and 10.

The feed container 3 communicates directly with a screw conveyor, generally designated by the reference numeral 11, comprising a rotatable feed screw 12 positioned within a trough 13. The feed screw 12 includes an axle 14 which is mounted in bushings 15 and 16 in opposite end wails 17 and 18, respectively, of the trough 13. The axle 14 projects completely through the end wall 18 and has a pulley 19 mounted adjacent to projecting end 20. A chute 21 communicates with the trough 13 adjacent its end wall 17. The free end of the chute defines a discharge opening 22 at one side of the distributor 1, which opening 22 is openable and closable by means of a flap 23 connected to the chute by a hinge 24.

One end of a chain 25 is connected to a part 26 of the flap 23 which is remote from the hinge 24. The chain 25 passes through guide rings 27 and 28 and is connected at its other end to a plurality of linked rings 29. The linked rings 29 pass through a guide ring 30 provided on the upper edge of the feed container 3 substantially vertically above the handle 7. The flap 23 is normally biased by its own weight into an open position (see Figure 2 and 4) but may be moved into a closed position (not shown) by manually pulling the linked rings 29 through the guide ring 30. The flap 23 is held in its closed position (or an intermediate position between its open and closed positions) by positioning a chosen, adjacent pair of linked rings 29 on opposite sides of the guide ring 30.

Another pulley 31 is arranged coaxially with the axle 4 so as to rotate therewith, for example the pulley 31 in attached (e.g.

bolted) to the hub of the wheel 6. An endless flexible belt 32 loosely passes around and couples the pulleys 19 and 31, which are arranged in substantially the same circumferential plane. Driving connection between the land wheel 6 and the feed screw 12 is established by operating a clutch, generally designated by the reference numeral 33, to tension the belt. The clutch 33 comprises a cylindrical member 34 rotatably mounted on a bracket 35 which is itself turnably mounted on the axle 4. A rigid link, generally designated by the reference numeral 36, is pivotally connected at one end to the bracket 35, adjacent its mounting with the cylindrical member 34, and at its other end to one arm 37 of a bell-crank lever 38. The bell-crank lever 38 is pivoted at 39 to the frame 2 and has a lever 40 constituting its other arm. A catch 41, for example a spring-loaded catch, is provided on the lever 40 for engagement with the teeth of a toothed sector 42, mounted on the frame 2, to hold the lever 40 in any desired position. Manual operation of the lever 40 causes the cylindrical member 34 to be moved in an arcuate path into or out of engagement with the endless flexible belt 32. The belt 32 is therefore tensioned to tighten the belt 32 around the pulleys 19 and 31 or slacken to loosen the tension of the belt 32 around the pulleys 19 and 31 to establish or break, respectively, an operative driving connection between the land wheel 6 and the feed screw 12. The rigid link 36 comprises a first bar 43 connected to a second bar 44 via an adjusting member 45, which allows the length of the link 36 to be adjusted. This may be desirable if the pulley 19 is changed for another pulley of different diameter to enable the driving ratio between the land wheel 6 and the feled screw 12 to be altered.

The feed distributor 1 is particularly suited for feeding of animals, for example cows housed in a byre or barn (not shown).

In operation the container 3 is loaded with animal feed material, for example crushed oats, barley etc.. With the lever 40 positioned so that there is no driving connection between the land wheel 6 and the feed screw 12, and the flap 23 in its closed position, the feed distributor 1 is pushed or pulled to the start of a feeding walkway (not shown). When the feeding walkway is reached the lever 40 is manually operated to tighten the belt 32 around the pulleys 19 and 31 and thereby establish driving connection between the land wheel 6 and the feed screw 12. The flap 23 is moved to its open position and the feed distributor 1 is pulled backwards along the feeding walkway. The feed screw 12 is there by caused to rotate and the feed material in the container 3 is thus fed to the screw conveyor 11. The feed material is conveyed along, and mixed within, the screw conveyor 11, and is finally discharged through the discharge opening 22 at the end of the chute 21 and on to the feeding walkway in a narrow strip compared with the width of the feed distributor 1. Since the speed of rotation of the feed screw 12 is directly proportional to the speed of rotation of the land wheel 6, the amount of feed material discharged on to the feeding walkway is not dependent on the velocity of travel of the distributor along the walkway. When the container 3 is empty, or the feeding has been completed, the lever 40 is operated to break the driving connection between the land wheel 6 and the feed screw 12 and the flap 23 is moved to its closed position.

The narrow strip of feed material discharged on to the feeding walkway is aligned with the course taken by the wheel 5. However this is not essential and the chute 21 may be positioned so that the feeding material is discharged through the discharge opening 22 in a narrow strip which is outside the line taken by the wheel 5.

A so-called de-tensioning bar 46 may be mounted on the frame 2 to prevent or deter the belt 32 from establishing a driving connection between the land wheel 6 and the feed screw 12 when the belt is not tensioned by the cylindrical member 34.

It should be realised that an additional discharge opening may be provided adjacent the end of the screw conveyor 11 remote from the discharge opening 22.

Such an additional discharge opening is intended for discharging feed material from the distributor when the feed screw is rotated so as to convey the feed material towards the additional opening, for example by pushing (instead of pulling) the distributor 1 or by exchanging the feed screw 12 for a feed screw having an opposite helical thread.

Two or more pulleys 19 of different diameter may be mounted on the axle 14 to enable the driving ratio between the land wheel 6 and the feed screw 12 to be altered.

Suitably the pulleys 19 are adjustably positionable along the axle 14 to enable whichever pulley 19 is in use to be positioned vertically above the pulley 31.

Figures 5 to 7 show another embodiment of a feed distributor according to the invention which is generally designated by the reference numeral 50. The feed distributor 50 is similar in most respects to the feed distributor 1 shown in Figures 1 to 4 and hence for convenience similar parts of the two feed distributors have been identified by the same reference numerals.

The feed distributor 50 differs from the feed distributor 1 in that the former has no chute 21 and is provided with a comparatively long feed screw 12 having an end portion 51 which extends through the sidewall of the feed container 3.

This end portion 51 is encased in a cylindrical housing 52 having an end face 53 provided with a discharge opening 54 in its lower portion.

No flap is provided to close the discharge opening 54, and hence the parts 25-30 of the feed distributor 1 are not provided in the feed distributor 50.

The feed distributor 50 operates in a similar manner to the feed distributor 1, except that the feed material is discharged through the opening 54 in the axial direction of the feed screw 12 and forms a strip which is outside the line taken by the wheel 5.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: - 1. A feed distributor having at least one land wheel and which is adapted to be propelled by a pedestrian operator, comprising a screw conveyor including a feed screw, the screw conveyor extending transversely to the intended direction(s) of travel of the feed distributor, a feed container adapted to supply feed material to the screw conveyor at least partly along its length, a discharge opening communicating with, and arranged adjacent one end of, the screw conveyor, through which all feed material is adapted to be discharged on rotation of the feed screw in a given direction, and drive means including clutch means manually operable to selectively establish or break an operative driving connection between the land wheel, or at least one of the land wheels, and the feed screw.

2. A feed distributor according to claim 1, in which the drive means comprises a first pulley operatively connected to the, or one of the land wheels, a second pulley operatively connected to the feed screw, and an endless flexible belt coupling the first and second pulleys, said clutch means being operable to selectively tighten or slacken the tension of the endless belt around the first and second pulleys to establish or break, respectively, said operative driving connection.

3. A feed distributor according to claim 2, in which the clutch means comprises a cylindrical member movable into or out of contact with the endless belt by means of a manually operated linkage.

4. A feed distributor according to claim 3, in which the cylindrical member is movable by said manually operated linkage in an arcuate path.

5. A feed distributor according to claim 3 or 4, in which at least one further pulley of different diameter or diameters to said second pulley is operatively con nected to the feed screw, the said at least one further pulley and the second pulley being adjustably positionable to enable the belt to selectively couple any one of these pulleys to said first pulley to alter the driving ratio between the feed screw and the land wheel.

6. A feed distributor according to any of the preceding claims, in which a hinged flap is provided over the discharge opening.

7. A feed distributor according to any of the preceding claims, in which the dis charge opening is provided at the end of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the feed screw 12 and the flap 23 is moved to its closed position. The narrow strip of feed material discharged on to the feeding walkway is aligned with the course taken by the wheel 5. However this is not essential and the chute 21 may be positioned so that the feeding material is discharged through the discharge opening 22 in a narrow strip which is outside the line taken by the wheel 5. A so-called de-tensioning bar 46 may be mounted on the frame 2 to prevent or deter the belt 32 from establishing a driving connection between the land wheel 6 and the feed screw 12 when the belt is not tensioned by the cylindrical member 34. It should be realised that an additional discharge opening may be provided adjacent the end of the screw conveyor 11 remote from the discharge opening 22. Such an additional discharge opening is intended for discharging feed material from the distributor when the feed screw is rotated so as to convey the feed material towards the additional opening, for example by pushing (instead of pulling) the distributor 1 or by exchanging the feed screw 12 for a feed screw having an opposite helical thread. Two or more pulleys 19 of different diameter may be mounted on the axle 14 to enable the driving ratio between the land wheel 6 and the feed screw 12 to be altered. Suitably the pulleys 19 are adjustably positionable along the axle 14 to enable whichever pulley 19 is in use to be positioned vertically above the pulley 31. Figures 5 to 7 show another embodiment of a feed distributor according to the invention which is generally designated by the reference numeral 50. The feed distributor 50 is similar in most respects to the feed distributor 1 shown in Figures 1 to 4 and hence for convenience similar parts of the two feed distributors have been identified by the same reference numerals. The feed distributor 50 differs from the feed distributor 1 in that the former has no chute 21 and is provided with a comparatively long feed screw 12 having an end portion 51 which extends through the sidewall of the feed container 3. This end portion 51 is encased in a cylindrical housing 52 having an end face 53 provided with a discharge opening 54 in its lower portion. No flap is provided to close the discharge opening 54, and hence the parts 25-30 of the feed distributor 1 are not provided in the feed distributor 50. The feed distributor 50 operates in a similar manner to the feed distributor 1, except that the feed material is discharged through the opening 54 in the axial direction of the feed screw 12 and forms a strip which is outside the line taken by the wheel 5. WHAT I CLAIM IS: -

1. A feed distributor having at least one land wheel and which is adapted to be propelled by a pedestrian operator, comprising a screw conveyor including a feed screw, the screw conveyor extending transversely to the intended direction(s) of travel of the feed distributor, a feed container adapted to supply feed material to the screw conveyor at least partly along its length, a discharge opening communicating with, and arranged adjacent one end of, the screw conveyor, through which all feed material is adapted to be discharged on rotation of the feed screw in a given direction, and drive means including clutch means manually operable to selectively establish or break an operative driving connection between the land wheel, or at least one of the land wheels, and the feed screw.

a chute communicating with the screw conveyor.

8. A feed distributor according to any of claims 1 to 6, in which the discharge opening is positioned so that feed material may be discharged therethrough axially with respect to the feed screw.

9. A feed distributor according to any of the preceding claims, in which a further discharge opening is provided which communicates with, and is adjacent to the other end of, the screw conveyor, and through which all feed material is adapted to be discharged on rotation of the feed screw in a direction opposite to said given direction.

10. A feed distributor according to any of the preceding claims, in which the feed distributor is provided with a pair of land wheels at its front end and a pair of legs at its rear end..

11. A feed distributor constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings filed with the provisional specification or Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.