GB2259652A

GB2259652A - Animal feeding system

Info

Publication number: GB2259652A
Application number: GB9120277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Joseph O'gorman
Original assignee: DANMOUNT Ltd
Current assignee: DANMOUNT Ltd
Priority date: 1991-09-23
Filing date: 1991-09-23
Publication date: 1993-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2011-09-23
Also published as: GB2259652B; GB9120277D0; BE1003321A6

Abstract

An animal, eg pig, feeding system (1) includes storage silos (2) connected by augers to a mixing tank (4) having an agitator (15) comprising a pair of rotary blades (18) each having an inclined inner blade portion (20) and an oppositely inclined outer blade portion (21) for efficient re-circulation of wet mix (including grain) so that an homogenous mixture is obtained. The inclination of the outer blade portion (21) solves problems of friction at the inner surface of the mixing tank (4). An annular water inlet duct (25 Fig 5 not shown) is fixed at the upper portion of the mixing tank (4) and includes spray holes (26 Fig 5) for both delivery of water to the tank and for cleaning of the tank. This avoids problems in clogging of moving parts of presently available sprinklers. A feeding circuit (10 (a), (Fig 6 not shown), connected to the tank outlet (5), includes a bypass portion (32 Fig 6) having an infinitely adjustable manual valve (33, Fig 6) and a transparent pipe section (34 Fig 6) for delivery of small quantities to a pen while an automatic valve (31, Fig 6) is closed. The system includes a computerized controller. <IMAGE>

Description

"An animal feeding system" The invention relates to an animal feeding system and more particularly to a wet feed system in which animals such as pigs are automatically fed grain and other ingredients mixed with water. In such systems, a computerised controller controls delivery of the wet mix to the feeding pens according to a pre-set relationship between the energy value of the feed and the animal's size.

Important characteristics of such an animal feeding system include the control of the quantity of feed delivered to ensure that animals are fed the correct amount so-that they may be reared as efficiently as possible. Other important characteristics are the effectiveness with which the feed is mixed as it is important that a completely homogenous mixture is achieved. Finally, cleanliness of the feeding system is important as good hygiene helps to maintain animal health.

Presently available animal feeding systems such as that described in French Patent Specification No. FR2378459 (SECEMIA) include a mixing hopper or tank having an agitator which rotates to mix the solid particulate feed ingredients with water to obtain a wet mix. It has been found that presently available agitators suffer from the disadvantage that there is insufficient circulation of the mixture in the tank to avoid settling of the ingredients. This leads to lack of consistency in the feed and in some cases may render the feeding system useless because although quantity of delivery is being controlled, the energy value of the quantity being delivered is not controlled because it is not directly related to the quantity.

Another problem with presently available feeding systems is lack of effectiveness of washing sprinklers for the mixing tank. It has been found that feed quite often clogs the moving parts of the sprinkler and renders them ineffective.

Another problem with the presently available animal feed systems is that of delivering small quantities of feed, such as that which would be required for an individual sow in a pen. U.S. Patent Specification No. 4541361 (LOHMAN) describes an apparatus which is directed towards solving this problem.

In this apparatus, a discrete feeding strand is delivered through the pipeline of a feeding circuit to an individual pen. A filling liquid is used to assist in conveying the strand to the pen. It appears that this system would be difficult to implement as it involves interrupting operation of the mixing tank and additional equipment is required for injection of the conveying liquid and for control of the various pumps involved.

The invention is directed towards providing an animal feeding system which is effective at homogenising a wet mix, is versatile in delivering different quantities and in which the mixing tank may be efficiently and effectively washed.

According to the invention there is provided an animal feeding system comprising: a plurality of storage silos, each for storage of a feed ingredient; an auger connected to each storage silo; a mixing tank having a cylindrical side wall and being connected to the augers for reception of feed from the storage silos and comprising a water inlet, an agitator for mixing of feed ingredients and water and an animal feed outlet, wherein the agitator comprises a pair of blades mounted for rotation about a central vertical axis, each blade having an inner portion inclined with the horizontal for urging feed in one vertical direction, and an outer portion inclined in an opposing manner for urging feed in the other vertical direction; a distribution manifold connected to the animal feed outlet;; at least one animal feed circuit connected to the manifold for delivery of feed to animal pens; and an electronic controller connected to moving parts of the system and being programmed for automatic control of said moving parts.

Ideally, the inner and outer portions of each blade are inclined at approximately 450 to the horizontal on opposite sides of a vertical plane.

Preferably, the inner blade portion is at least 80% of the length of the blade.

In one embodiment, the mixing tank water inlet is mounted adjacent the top of the tank and comprises a fixed duct having a plurality of spray holes.

In this latter embodiment, the duct is preferably of annular shape.

In another embodiment, an animal feed circuit includes a parallel bypass feed pipe having an infinitely adjustable manually-controllable valve.

Preferably, portion of the bypass feed pipe is of transparent material.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of portion of an animal feeding system of the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the feeding system; Fig. 3 is a perspective view from above of an agitator for a mixing tank; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic sketch showing operation of the agitator; Fig. 5 is a plan view from underneath of a water inlet duct of the mixing tank; and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of portion of a feeding circuit of the system.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a pair of animal feeding systems of the invention, each indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. Each system 1 comprises three storage silos 2 for storage of feed ingredients and each storage silo 2 is connected by an auger 3 to a mixing tank 4 having an outlet duct 5. In general, the number of silos can vary between one and ten.

The system 1 also includes a computerised controller 6 which is connected to various moving parts such as the augers 3 and pumps for the outlet duct 5 and other parts which are described in detail below. The controller 6 is programmed with the relationship between energy value of food (wet mix) and the size of pig to determine the energy value requirement.

Further, the controller 6 is programmed with the desired quantities of each ingredient from the different storage silos to make up particular wet mixes. These wet mixes are automatically made up by use of load cells (not shown) mounted at the bottom of the mixing tank 4 to determine the quantities delivered from each storage silo 3 and from the water inlet, described below. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the system 1 further comprises a wet mix pump 7 which is connected to a manifold 8 having four branches, each with a valve 9. The branches are connected to four pig feeding circuits 10(a), 10(b), 10(c) and 10(d). These circuits include pipes and delivery troughs mounted around farm buildings for delivery of feed to the required pens. In this embodiment there are twenty-two pig pens fed by each system 1. The pump 7 and the valves 9 are controlled by the controller 6.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, an agitator 15 for the mixing tank 4 is illustrated in detail. The agitator 15 comprises a drive shaft 16 driven by a motor li. The motor 17 is mounted at the top of the mixing tank 4 and the drive shaft 16 is mounted vertically and centrally in the mixing tank 4. A blade 18 is mounted on each side of the drive shaft 16 by a bracket 19 in a symmetrical manner. Each blade 18 comprises an inner blade portion 20 the length of which is 600mm and which is inclined at 450 to the horizontal so that wet mix is urged downwardly on impingement against the blade for rotation of the blade in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3.

Each blade 18, however, further comprises an outer blade portion 21 llOmm long and which is substantially shorter than the inner blade portion 20 and which is also inclined at 450 to the horizontal, but on the opposite side of a vertical plane through the blade. Thus, the outer blade portion 21 is mounted to urge the wet mix upwardly for rotation of the blade 18 in the same, clockwise direction.

Referring specifically to Fig. 4, operation of the agitator 15 is illustrated. As the blades 18 rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, wet mix is urged downwardly at the centre of the mixing tank 4. This naturally tends to cause circulation of the wet mix by movement of the mix upwardly around the periphery of the mixing tank 4. We have found that friction of the internal surface of the tank impedes this re-circulation of the wet mix, especially if it is of a relatively high viscosity. However, the outer blade portion 21 solves this problem by urging the wet mix upwardly around the periphery of the mixing tank to assist in re circulation as indicated by the arrows A.Accordingly, it has been found that this arrangement is a considerable improvement over the prior art for obtaining a homogenous mixture so that an even consistency and energy value of feed per quantity delivered is achieved. This is an extremely important aspect of the invention as it ensures that the correct energy value is delivered to each animal so that the controller 6 may operate in a meaningful manner.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is illustrated a water inlet duct 25 for delivery of water to the mixing tank 4.

Heretofore, water has been delivered directly from the open end of a pipe and the mixing tank has been washed by a rotary sprinkler. In this embodiment, however, the water inlet duct 25 is of annular construction and includes several hundred spray holes 26 which have been drilled into the duct. Water is delivered to the duct 25 through an opening 27 on the upper side of it. In use, water is delivered under normal mains pressure, or augmented with a pump as required, and sprays out from the holes 26 for cleaning of the tank. Because of the annular shape of the duct 25, there is effective distribution of water around the sides of the tank and in all directions generally. It must be emphasised that this arrangement solves the considerably awkward problem of presently available animal feed systems in which a sprinkler is used having rotating parts which are often clogged by the wet mix.Accordingly this is an entirely non-obvious feature. There are no moving parts in this arrangement and the inlet duct 25 serves as both an inlet for water when the tank is closed and for washing of the tank beforehand. Thus, it is less expensive than presently available water inlet ducts and sprinkler systems and is considerably more effective. It will also be appreciated that while water is being delivered, the cleaning of the tank continues to a lesser extent.

Referring now to Fig. 6, portion of one of the animal feed circuits, namely, the feed circuit 10(a) is illustrated. The circuit 10(a) is for delivery of feed to pig pens which include one or more having an individual sow so that the pen would require considerably less feed than the other pens.

Because of the amount of feed which is contained within the circuit 10(a), and the fact that the pump (7) is designed for delivery of higher quantities, delivery of a small quantity such as a few kilograms to a pen is particularly difficult to achieve accurately. To solve this problem, the circuit 10(a) includes a pipe section 30 having an automatically controlled valve 31 which is bypassed by a bypass section 32. The bypass section 32 includes an infinitely variable manual control valve 33 and a transparent pipe section 34. In use, when normal quantities are being delivered the valve 9 for the circuit 10(a) is open and the other valves 9 are closed and feed is delivered in the direction of the arrows B and through the open valve 31. Under these circumstances, the manual valve 33 is in the normally closed position.However, when a small quantity is desired, the controller 6 closes the automatic valve 31 and a user manually opens the valve 33 to the desired level. Because it may be infinitely adjusted, a range of different throughputs may be achieved depending on the extent to which the valve is open. Thereafter, feed is delivered through the valve 33 and the transparent pipe section 34 and onto the required pig pen. Because the pipe section 34 is transparent, the user may immediately see the quantity being delivered and may judge the required opening of the valve 33 on this basis. It will thus be appreciated that the invention allows for the delivery of very small quantities of feed when required and allows infinite adjustment of this quantity in a simple and convenient manner and without the need for expensive equipment. What has been achieved is the ideal combination of automatic and manual control to achieve the optimum delivery of feed.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a system which is a considerable improvement over the prior art as it provides for the complete mixture of the various ingredients into an homogenous state, allows for efficient and reliable washing of the mixing tank and for delivery of small quantities when required. These advantages have been achieved in a simple manner without the need for more complex equipment which would not only be expensive but would be more difficult to maintain than the simple equipment used.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described, but may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims

1. An animal feeding system comprising: a plurality of storage silos, each for storage of a feed ingredient; an auger connected to each storage silo; a mixing tank having a cylindrical side wall and being connected to the augers for reception of feed from the storage silos and comprising a water inlet, an agitator for mixing of feed ingredients and water and an animal feed outlet, wherein the agitator comprises a pair of blades mounted for rotation about a central vertical axis, each blade having an inner portion inclined with the horizontal for urging feed in one vertical direction, and an outer portion inclined in an opposing manner for urging feed in the other vertical direction; a distribution manifold connected to the animal feed outlet; at least one animal feed circuit connected to the manifold for delivery of feed to animal pens; and an electronic controller connected to moving parts of the system and being programmed for automatic control of said moving parts.

2. An animal feeding system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the inner and outer portions of each blade are inclined at approximately 45" to the horizontal on opposite sides of a vertical plane.

3. An animal feeding system as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, wherein the inner blade portion is at least 80% of the length of the blade.

4. An animal feeding system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mixing tank water inlet is mounted adjacent the top of the tank and comprises a fixed duct having a plurality of spray holes.

5. An animal feeding system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the duct is of annular shape.

6. An animal feeding system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an animal feed circuit includes a parallel bypass feed pipe having an infinitely adjustable manually-controllable valve.

7. An animal feeding system as claimed in Claim 6, wherein portion of the bypass feed pipe is of transparent material.

8. An animal feeding system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to an as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.