GB2137465A

GB2137465A - Food and water dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2137465A
Application number: GB08307202A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman Roy Price
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-16
Filing date: 1983-03-16
Publication date: 1984-10-10
Also published as: GB2137465B; GB8307202D0

Abstract

Dispensing apparatus comprises a fixed food container, and a pivotal water reservoir. Water is fed to the reservoir until the float/trigger disengages. The resultant pivotal lever-action of the reservoir about a spindle ejects water and food, and simultaneously agitates a shaking grid to obviate log-jams. After completing this operation, the reservoir is returned to the filling mode again by ballast weight, and is locked in place by the float/trigger. Measured amounts of dry foods and water are therefore supplied at pre-determined intervals. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Food & water dispenser Technical field The Food & Water Dispenser relates to, Agricultural livestock feeding appliances, Zoo & Vivarium equipment, Fish-farming & Fish-keeping equipment (commercial & domestic), Poultry keeping (commercial & domestic), Aviary equipment (commercial & BR< domestic), Domestic pet appliances, Bird sanctuary equipment, (if any).

Operating principle Is that of two vertical chambers mounted in parallel. One is a fixed food-container, and the other a pivotal water-chamber. Water is drip-fed by wick, and small bore flexible plastic tubing. Water is supplied either by small water pump pond or resevoir, reduced pipe-lug interception of the pressure supply, or ballcock controlled static-head. The timing is by time-switch, regulated drip-feed, or both used together. The water level on reaching full capacity in the water-chamber, disengages a Floats Trigger: the resultant pivotal lever-action of the water-chamber ejecting food & water, while simultaneously agitating a shaking grid to obviate logjams. After completing this operation, the waterchamber again returns to filling mode by ballastweight return action, and is locked again in place by the Float/Trigger.

Operating times On small models, the optimum operating timelimit range is substantially extended by small electric water-pump and time-switch, using either pond, resevoir, or ballcock controlled static head. On larger models, either a time-switch operated valve, or simple reduced lugged-pipe interception in the pressure water supply is sufficient.

Uses With large scale and/or diversified animal and/or fishfarming with a perfunctory or limited labour force; or where the sole keeper is absent for lengthy periods. it is particularly usefull for smallholders, vivarium owners, small animal reserves, private animal or bird collections, fishfarmers & fishpond owners, for use either as a labour saving device, or in holiday periods.

Specification Consists of two vertically mounted tubes or chambers of uneven length, diameter, and area. One of the tubes or chambers is in a fixed position, the other tube or chamber being pivotal upon it, hereafter described as the Food Container & Pivotal Resevoir respectively, (Figures 1,6,8,9.). Inserted horizontally and centrally from front to rear across the Food Container & Pivotal Resevoir, are two metal tubes or bushes, situated approximately one third in distance upwards in distance from the base of the apparatus, (Figure 1). The Food Container & Pivotal Resevoir are then joined together in parallel, by a shaft or spindle running through the aforementioned bushes: both chambers then being held in place by two press-on composite rubberwashers, with a single spacing washer in between (Figures 1,6,9.).The Food Container is of larger area or diameter than the Pivotal Resevoir, and its base is terminated by a separate funnel or nozzle, hereafter described as the Reduction Nozzle (Figure 1), which is a press-on fit.

Partially enclosing the Reduction Nozzle, a rectangular metal box, open-ended at the front, partially enclosed at the rear, and totally enclosed at the sides, is suspended in free-swinging mode on two fixed pivots which are mounted on the outside of the Food Container (Figures 1,6,8,9.), hereafter described as the Delivery Tray. Fixed to the upper left hand side of the Delivery Tray, a metal cantilever arm extends towards the front, and rests at rightangles when not engaged by the Pivotal Resevoir, hereafter described as the Striking Arm (Figures 1,6,8,9.). Fixed horizontally to the rear base of the Delivery Tray, is a metal counter-balance bar, which compensates for the weight of the cantilever Striking Arm.The base of the Food Container, is vertically slotted at the rear in a central position to provide traverse for the extended arm of a grill or grid, hereafter described as the Shaking Grid, (Figures 1 & BR< 2). The arm of the Shaking Grid (Figure 1), extends centrally towards the rear through the aforementioned slot. The grids, or rods on the Shaking Grid are situate internally in the Food Container and immediately above the Delivery Nozzle (Figure 1), and consists of a straight metal barwith four rods or pins. Three rods are fixed horizontally through the bar in the configuration of three crosses, and their length is determined by the internal plan shape of the Food Container (Figures 1 & 2). The remaining rod is fixed in a vertical position to the bar, and hangs down centrally over, and in, the Delivery Nozzle aperture (Figure 1).The Shaking Grid is then fixed by screw-ring in the front of the Food Container (Figure 2), with the Shaking Grid arm extending to the rear and resting in the traverse slot aforesaid (Figures 1 & 2) The top of the Food Container is surmounted with a press-on lid. Immediately below this lid, a metal tube, hereafter called the Water Feed Tube is inserted horizontally and centrally across the diameter from rear to front; the front end terminating in a drip adjusting screw and wick (Figures 1, 6, 9.), which locates centrally over the top of the Pivotal Resevoir. Partially encircling the Food Container, and immediately below the Water Feed Tube, is a stay clip, hereafter described as the Trigger Stay Clip (Figures 1,2,6,8,9.), which presents a forward pointing cantilever stay-bar or arm, on which the gate catch type trigger mechanism locks (Figures 1,2,3,4.).The Pivotal Resevoir is water-proof on the pivot bush and the base. The base being sealed with a composite rubber plug, into which a lead ballast washer is bolted to provide ballast weight (Figure 5).

The Pivotal Resevoirtop is cut away to provide a rectangular, segmental stop which provides extra location under the drip adjusting screw & wick when in the upright position (Figures 3,6,8,9.). Situated on a line with the base of the segmental stop, the TriggerlFloat mechanism consists of a straight bar or strip of metal; one end being drilled centrally on which to pivot, and the other end terminating in a half-arrowhead, or hooked gate-catch (Figure 3). A tubular wood, cork, or hollow plastic float is fixed in suspension on the trigger bar, in the configuration of a letter 'T', which hangs down centrally in the open top of the Pivotal Resevoir chamber (Figures 1,3,4.).

The TriggerlFloat mechanism is then rested in two traverse slots cut vertically across the Pivotal Re sevoirchamber rim; fixed by a wire-staple pivot at the one end, and retained by an inverted 'U' shaped metal clip at the other (Figures 3 & 4). To counteract the inertia and equapoise presented by still weather conditions, an adjustable weight mounted on a traverse rod, or pin, extends at right-angles from the left of the Pivotal Resevoir chamber (Figures 3,4,8.).

For vertical mounting,there are two fixing clips which partially encircle the Food Container body.

Claims

1. That, as a single comprehensive unit, it is easily transported and installed, and is characterised by its ability to supply at pre-determined intervals, dry food & water to all types of commercial and domestic livestock when they are left un-attended, e.g. Holiday periods, enforced absences, or when operating with a reduced, over-stretched, or with drawn labour force.

2. That it totally exploits and utilises, the transmitted water supply.

3. That the jamming of dry-foods through gravitational settlement is eliminated.

4. That when used with the ancillary equipment of electric pump, time-switch and drip-feed, the variables of time control are almost endless.

5. That it is without intricate mechanical clockwork & moving parts, or dangerously exposed electric wires and circuits at its point of use. It is basic and elementary in construction, with no theoretical limits on the size that it can be built.