GB2124881A - Feed bin - Google Patents

Abstract

A feed bin has a steeply, typically 39 DEG to the horizontal sloping base 4 for directing feed into a deep, wide trough 2 whence it can be removed for use. Since feed is removed from the bottom of the bin it does not become stale there. The steep slope ensures that poorly flowing feeds such as bran will flow without requiring agitation. The deep, wide trough provides depth for internal friction build up in freeflowing feeds such as linseed to prevent spillage thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Feed bin The present invention relates to a feed bin.

Conventional feed bins are constructed in the same manner as dustbins, namely with a top lid giving access to a bin from thetopfor removal of feed from the bin. Indeed dust bins are often used as feed bins.

Afeed bin with a top lid has two distinct disadvantages. Firstly, removal offeedfrom the bin involves bending overand possiblyintothe bin. Secondly, since feed is removed from above and added from above when the level in the bin is low, an accumulation of stale food can build up in the bottom of the bin.

Since feed can deteriorate with agesuchaccumula- tion is clearly undesirable.

Various feed hoppers are known from which birds, in particular, canfeed, by pecking from a trough which is open at the base of the hopper. Feed enters thetroughfromthemain bodyofthehopperviaan outlet under a side wall ofthe body. Normallythe base of such a feed hopper is flat, although feed hopperswithshallowlysloping basesare known. In use with bird feed, which is relatively free running, such as whole grain, feed flows into the relatively narrowshallowtroughwhence birds peck it. When the level has been pecked down, more feed flows in to fill the gap.

The sort of feed which is kept in feed bins varies verywidely in its angle of repose. For instance linseed is extremely slippery and will flowto a shallow slope.

Bran on the other hand isveryreluctanttoflowand will form a much steeper slope.

The present invention results from a programme to develop a feed bin operating on the principle of a hopperfrom which feed can be removed at its bottom and yet is able to on the one hand contain free flowing feeds without spillage and on the other hand permit poor flowing materials to move to the removal trough.

According to the invention,there is provided a feed bin comprising, a steeply sloping base, sides upstanding from the base one ofwhich sides has a lower edge disposed higher than the lower edge of the steeply sloping basetherebydefining a gap between the one side and the base, and a deep and wide trough extending along the said one side at the gap, the trough being wide through at least most of its depth.

Thesteeplysloping base permits poorlyflowing feeds to be stored in and removed from the bin; whilstthe deep trough allows free-flowing feeds to create sufficient internal friction to prevent spillage of them. Atthe same time the depth permits scooping of sufficient poorly flowing feed for itto be undermined and flow without the needforagitation.

Whilst it is believed that if the slope of the base varied between 36 and 45 to the horizontal, the feed hopper could still be used as described,the slope of the base is preferably between 38 and 40". The preferred embodiment has a slope of 39" to the horizontal. Too shallow a slope will cause poorly flowing feeds not to flow at all. Too steep a slope, whilst possiblyworking,will unduly restrict the volume ofthe bin.

Whilst it is believed that a trough as small as 15cm deep and 15cm wide at the top would allow sufficient internal friction to build up to prevent spillage of free-flowing feeds, the dimensions of the preferred troughs are i) cm wide (atthe front) by 19 cm deep and ii) cm wide (at the front) by 24 cm.

Although the base of the trough may be curved, it is preferablyflat. Thefront ofthetrough may be upright but is preferably angled slightly to increase the width ofthetopofthetrough.

The feed bin conveniently has a main lid. The trough also conveniently has a lid. Preferably, the trough'slid is hinged at an axis spaced forwardly from the said one, i.e. the front, side to enable the trough lid to be stably lent againstthe front side when open. The main lid is preferably similarly hinged at an axis spaced forwardly from the back side ofthefeed bin.

The feed bin may be divided internally into a pluralityof compartments, with thetrough being similarly divided; one or more unitary dividing panels dividing both the main storage space ofthe feed bin and the trough simultaneously.

To help understanding of the invention a specific embodimentthereofwill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a front view of a feed bin of the invention, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line ll-ll of Figure 1.

The feed bin has a main store part 1, with a feed removal trough 2, of seamed, galvanized steel sheet supported on a steel stand 3. The main store part has a steeply sloping base 4, arranged at 390 to the horizontal when the stand is stood on level ground.

Two end sides 5 and a backside 6 upstand directly from the base 4, whilst a front side 7 is spaced from the lower edge ofthe steeply sloping base by a gap 8.

In front of the gap 8, the trough is arranged. It has a flat base 9 and a front 10, which is angled slightly forwards. Ends ofthetrough are formed by continuations of the end sides 5. The lower edge 11 ofthefront side is turned out forwards and connected by a piano hinge 12to a lid 13forthetrough.The lid has a handle 14attached to a aflangeatitsforward edge. The lid 13 may be lifted and laid back againstthe front side 7 withoutthe lid falling forward due to the spacing of hinge 12 infrontoffrontside7.

Opening ofthe lid gives access to feed 15which has flowed into the trough 2 from the main store part 1.

The feed can be removed with a scoop, which is preferably flat bottomed to suittheflat base 9 of the trough.

The main store part 1 has a lid 16 similartothe lid 13. It also is hinged to lean back when open, possibly against a wall (not shown) against which the feed bin could be stood, with its hinge 17 being spaced forward ofthe back side 6. The lid slopes forwards to facilitate filling with and inspection of the contents of the main store part 1.

The main store part is divided internally by partitions 18, shown dotted in Figure 1.The partitions are fixed by fittings 19. The partitions extend into the trough 2. They allow a variety offeeds to be kept in one feed bin. The following is a list offeeds which have all been found to flow from the main store part to the trough satisfactorily without hang up or spillage: Bran Dog meal Flake Grain Feed Nuts Granite Grit Whole Grain Linseed.

These feeds are arranged in appropriate order of ease of flow, those at the bottom flowing freest.

At present I sell two sizes of bin in accordance with the invention. They have the following dimensions: Large Small Angle of slope 39 39 DepthofTrough 24cm 19cm Width of trough at top 28 cm 25 cm Height to Top of bin from Trough Lid 66 cm 48cm Width of Main Store fromfronttoback 62 cm 39 cm.

The above described feed bins, both large and small havehave the advantage that both poorly and free flowing feeds can be kept in the same coonfiguration of bin, indeed the same actual bin where partitions are provided, without for instance bran hanging up on the slope or linseed overflowing.

Removal ofthe feed from the bottom of the main store part avoids accumulation therein of stale feed.

The galvanized steel construction makes the feed bin proofagainstvermin.

Claims (9)

1. Afeed bin comprising a steeply sloping base, sides upstanding from the base, one ofwhich sides hasa lower edge disposed higherthanthe loweredge ofthe steeply sloping base thereby defining a gap between the one side and the base, and a deep and wide trough extending along the said one side at the gap, the trough being wide through at least most of its depth.

2. Afeed bin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steeply sloping base has an angle of at least 36" to the horizontal.

3. Afeed bin as claimed in claim 2 wherein the steeplysloping base has an angle of between 380and 40 to the horizontal.

4. Afeed bin as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the trough is at least 15cm deep and is at least 15 cm wide at its top.

5. Afeed bin as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base of the trough is flat.

6. Afeed bin as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the trough has a lid hinged at an axis spaced forwards from the said one side, to enable the trough lid to be stably lent againstthe said one side when open.

7. Afeed bin as claimed in any preceding claim whereinthefeed bin including the trough is internally divided by one or more partitions.

8. Afeed bin as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bin is of galvanized steel sheet and is supported on a steel frame.

9. Afeed bin substantially as hereinbefore de scribed with reference to the accompanying drawing.