GB2162735A

GB2162735A - Feeding apparatus for young animals

Info

Publication number: GB2162735A
Application number: GB08410919A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Francis Nixon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-04-27
Filing date: 1984-04-27
Publication date: 1986-02-12
Also published as: GB8410919D0

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a water tank (1) having an element heater (8), connected to a thermostat (9), and hollow metal coils (2). Milk, which may be waste milk, placed within an external reservoir (6) is sucked by the young animals which draw the milk out of the reservoir through non - return valves (19), into P.V.C. tubes (18) connected to the inlet of the hollow metal coils. The outlets of the coils are connected by tubes (20) to teats (21). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Waste milk dispenser The invention relates to an animal feeding apparatus which takes waste milk from a reservoir and processes it in such a way, as to make it available for young animals to drink from a teat, at the correct temperature.

Waste milk from a reservoir, is drawn through a pvc tube, into a hollow metal coil which is immersed in a heated water tank,continues out of the hollow metal coil via a pvc tube to a teat,which is secured to a pen wherein the young animals are contained.

The heated water tank and all the necessary components are enclosed in a cabinet which allows easy access to components and affords a degree of protection.

More than one teat can be fed from this apparatus, depending on floor size of the heated water tank and number of coils placed within the said heated water tank.

Other animal apparatus for feeding young animals are known but these use powdered milk which they mix with water. The waste milk dispenser is designed to make use of cows milkwhich for on reason or another,cannot be disposed of other than feeding it to calves or other young animals. Primitive means of solving the problem generally consist of feeding milk from containers out of which come a series of tubes connected to teats. The great disadvantage here is that in cold weather,the milk available to the young animals can be well below normal feeding temperatures,causing digestive upsets or total rejection of the milk.

The waste milk dispenser,is designed to heat only the milk that young animals need;thus avoiding the heating of bulk milk which may not be consumed and is very impractical to do. The apparatus is compact and its simple construction lends itself for easy maintenance with the added advantage of being hygenic.

So that the invention may be more clearly understoo,reference will be made to the following drawings in which; Figure 1 illustrates the heated water tank and its components Figure 2 illustrates the fixing of the hollow metal tube to the base of the tank and tank lid.

Figure 3 illustrates the waste milk dispenser in relation to the milk reservoir and teats.

The following text refers to figure 1.

The waste milk dispenser consists of a small heated water tank 1 inside of which there are a number of hollow metal coils 2.Each metal coil 2 has an inlet 3 and an outlet 4. At the base of the heated water tank 1 ,are a number of small locating cylinders 5 over which the hollow metal coils 2 are placed.

This allows each hollow metal coil 2 to be fixed securely thus avoiding any direct contact with the element heater 8.

Water temperature in the heated water tank 1 is controlled by a thermostat 9 to which is linked an element heater 8. A control knob 10 can be turned to increase or decrease the water temperature in the heated water tank 1 ,thus influencing the temperature of the milk passing through the hollow metal coil 2.

A drain-off point 1 1,placed at a level no lower than that of the top of the element heater 8,allows the tank to be drained fortransportation,giving a degree of safety if the drain point 11 is left open while the element heater 8 is energised.

The following text refers to Figure 2.

The heated water tank 1 has a lid 12 through which the outlet 4 and inlet point3 of the hollow metal coil 2,pass, The locating cylinder 5 and the holes in the lid 12 through which the outlet 4 and inlet 3 pass,allow the hollow metal coils 2 to be securely fixed within the heated water tank 1,avoiding direct contact with the element heater 8.

The following text refers to figure 3.

The heated water tank 1 is insulated against heat loss and placed inside a small cabinet 13. The cabinet 13 houses other essential components such as :on/Off switch 14,on/off indication light 1 5,thermo- stat on/off light 16,thermostat 9,thermostat control knob 10,a three core electrical flex 17 and wiring to the relevant components.

The waste milk dispenser is powered by a suitable electrical current.

The milk reservoir 6 is connected to the heated water tank 1 by means of a pre tube 1 8,at the end of which is a non-return valve 19. The other end of the pvc tube 18 is secured to the inlet point 3 of the hollow metal coil 2. At the outlet point 4 of the hollow metal coil 2,there is connected a pvc tube 20 at the end of which is a rubber teat 21.

The rubber teat 21 is secured to the inside of the young animals pen,so that they may take warm milk ad-libitum. Once the milk is drawn to the teat 21 ,the non-return valve 19,will prevent the milk from running back into the milk reservoir.

The waste milk dispenser is connected to a suitable power supply which will activate the element heater 8,warming the water in the tank 1 ,provided the on/off switch in ON. If this is the case,the on/off indication light 15 will illuminate and so will the thermostat on/off light 16. The latter will switch off once the water in the tank 1 has reached the temperature set by the thermostat 9. When a calf sucks at the teat 21 ,milk from the milk reservoir 6 is drawn through the non-return valve 19,up the pvc tube 18,picking up heat as it goes through the hollow metal coil 2 and arriving at the rubber teat 21 via the pvc tube 20 The number of rubberteats 21 to be fed milk, depends on the floor space available in the heated tank 1 and the number of hollow metal coils 2 fitted within.

1. Animal feeding apparatus comprising a cabinet inside of which is a thermostatically controlled water tank sealed by means of a lid. Heating of the water inside this tank is be means of an element heater. One of more hollow metal coils,a thermostat,two neon lights,an on/off switch and appropriate wiring for connecting to mains electricity.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Waste milk dispenser The invention relates to an animal feeding apparatus which takes waste milk from a reservoir and processes it in such a way, as to make it available for young animals to drink from a teat, at the correct temperature. Waste milk from a reservoir, is drawn through a pvc tube, into a hollow metal coil which is immersed in a heated water tank,continues out of the hollow metal coil via a pvc tube to a teat,which is secured to a pen wherein the young animals are contained. The heated water tank and all the necessary components are enclosed in a cabinet which allows easy access to components and affords a degree of protection. More than one teat can be fed from this apparatus, depending on floor size of the heated water tank and number of coils placed within the said heated water tank. Other animal apparatus for feeding young animals are known but these use powdered milk which they mix with water. The waste milk dispenser is designed to make use of cows milkwhich for on reason or another,cannot be disposed of other than feeding it to calves or other young animals. Primitive means of solving the problem generally consist of feeding milk from containers out of which come a series of tubes connected to teats. The great disadvantage here is that in cold weather,the milk available to the young animals can be well below normal feeding temperatures,causing digestive upsets or total rejection of the milk. The waste milk dispenser,is designed to heat only the milk that young animals need;thus avoiding the heating of bulk milk which may not be consumed and is very impractical to do. The apparatus is compact and its simple construction lends itself for easy maintenance with the added advantage of being hygenic. So that the invention may be more clearly understoo,reference will be made to the following drawings in which; Figure 1 illustrates the heated water tank and its components Figure 2 illustrates the fixing of the hollow metal tube to the base of the tank and tank lid. Figure 3 illustrates the waste milk dispenser in relation to the milk reservoir and teats. The following text refers to figure 1. The waste milk dispenser consists of a small heated water tank 1 inside of which there are a number of hollow metal coils 2.Each metal coil 2 has an inlet 3 and an outlet 4. At the base of the heated water tank 1 ,are a number of small locating cylinders 5 over which the hollow metal coils 2 are placed. This allows each hollow metal coil 2 to be fixed securely thus avoiding any direct contact with the element heater 8. Water temperature in the heated water tank 1 is controlled by a thermostat 9 to which is linked an element heater 8. A control knob 10 can be turned to increase or decrease the water temperature in the heated water tank 1 ,thus influencing the temperature of the milk passing through the hollow metal coil 2. A drain-off point 1 1,placed at a level no lower than that of the top of the element heater 8,allows the tank to be drained fortransportation,giving a degree of safety if the drain point 11 is left open while the element heater 8 is energised. The following text refers to Figure 2. The heated water tank 1 has a lid 12 through which the outlet 4 and inlet point3 of the hollow metal coil 2,pass, The locating cylinder 5 and the holes in the lid 12 through which the outlet 4 and inlet 3 pass,allow the hollow metal coils 2 to be securely fixed within the heated water tank 1,avoiding direct contact with the element heater 8. The following text refers to figure 3. The heated water tank 1 is insulated against heat loss and placed inside a small cabinet 13. The cabinet 13 houses other essential components such as :on/Off switch 14,on/off indication light 1 5,thermo- stat on/off light 16,thermostat 9,thermostat control knob 10,a three core electrical flex 17 and wiring to the relevant components. The waste milk dispenser is powered by a suitable electrical current. The milk reservoir 6 is connected to the heated water tank 1 by means of a pre tube 1 8,at the end of which is a non-return valve 19. The other end of the pvc tube 18 is secured to the inlet point 3 of the hollow metal coil 2. At the outlet point 4 of the hollow metal coil 2,there is connected a pvc tube 20 at the end of which is a rubber teat 21. The rubber teat 21 is secured to the inside of the young animals pen,so that they may take warm milk ad-libitum. Once the milk is drawn to the teat 21 ,the non-return valve 19,will prevent the milk from running back into the milk reservoir. The waste milk dispenser is connected to a suitable power supply which will activate the element heater 8,warming the water in the tank 1 ,provided the on/off switch in ON. If this is the case,the on/off indication light 15 will illuminate and so will the thermostat on/off light 16. The latter will switch off once the water in the tank 1 has reached the temperature set by the thermostat 9. When a calf sucks at the teat 21 ,milk from the milk reservoir 6 is drawn through the non-return valve 19,up the pvc tube 18,picking up heat as it goes through the hollow metal coil 2 and arriving at the rubber teat 21 via the pvc tube 20 The number of rubberteats 21 to be fed milk, depends on the floor space available in the heated tank 1 and the number of hollow metal coils 2 fitted within. CLAIMS

2. An animal feeding apparatus as in c[aim 1 wherein one or more hollow metal coils each comprising of an inlet and outlet section which pretrude out of the top of the lid of the heated water tank.

3. An animal feeding apparatus wherein a separate milk reservoir connected to the hollow metal coil/coils inlet section by means of a P.V.C.

hose/hoses.

4. An animal feeding apparatus as in claim 1,2 and 3 wherein a P.V.C. hose/hoses connected to the hollow metal coil/coils outlet section going to a teat/teats fitted in the calf pen,allowing the animal/ animals to suck milk from the milk reservoir,through the hollow metal coil/coils to the teat/teats.

5. An animal feeding apparatus as claim 1 and 2 wherein a heated water tank,insulated,comprising of an element heater controlled by a thermostat to keep the water temperature in the said water tank at a constant feeding temperature,influencing the temperature of the milk passing through the hollow metal coil/coils.

6. An animal feeding apparatus as claim 1,2 and 5 wherein a drain off point placed at a level no lower to that of the element heater allowing the water tank within the cabinet to be drained off for transportation.

7. An animal feeding apparatus as in claim 3 and 4wherein a non - return valve/valves fitted at the end of P.V.C. tube/tubes resting inside the milk reservoir allowing milkto travel only in one direction,so that when the animal stops drawing milk,the liquid remains inside theP.V.C. tube/tubes and coil/ coils.