GB2489776A

GB2489776A - An Animal Feeding System for High Viscosity Feed

Info

Publication number: GB2489776A
Application number: GB201202658A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leo Storey; Patrick Regan; Gerard Killett
Original assignee: IRISH DAIRY SERVICES PORTLAOISE Ltd
Current assignee: IRISH DAIRY SERVICES PORTLAOISE Ltd
Priority date: 2011-02-16
Filing date: 2012-02-16
Publication date: 2012-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-16
Also published as: IE20120081A1; IE86144B1; GB2489776B; GB201202658D0

Abstract

An animal feed system for feeding a foodstuff having a viscous and tacky consistency such as molasses. The system comprises a tank 3 in which molasses are stored with agitation. A pump 4 for pumping the molasses in a pipe circuit 2 having a number of feed stations is provided. Each feed station has a valve 5, in which a diaphragm (20, fig 4) by default is pressed towards a stop (24, fig 4) by compressed air fed from an inlet (22, fig 4). To open the valve a solenoid releases the air pressure and the pressure in the pipe circuit pushes the diaphragm away from the stop, allowing a quantity of molasses to be dispensed out through the outlet (25, fig 4). A controller is provided to regulate the pressure in the pipe circuit and operate the valves according to a preconfigured feeding pattern. The pump is preferably a positive displacement pump such as a mechanical gear pump or a progressive cavity pump.

Description

"An Animal Feeding System for High Viscosity Feed"

Introduction

The invention relates to animal feeding systems, particularly for feeding high viscosity feedstuff such as molasses.

Various feeding systems are known. For example US6892909 describes a pneumatic system for feeding particulate matter including animal feed. GB21 73083 describes a system in which a trough is fed from a large-capacity supply tank. The tank is air-tight so as to form an air lock at a certain level and subsequent inlet of air allows controlled feed.

However, for feeding a highly viscous material such as molasses the approach at present is to do so manually.

The invention is directed towards achieving more efficient dispensing of feed such as molasses.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention there is provided an animal feeding system comprising: a controller, a fodder tank, a feed pipe, a plurality of valves along the feed pipe, a pump for pumping fodder in the pipe, and wherein the valves re adapted to open to allow pump pressure to dispense fodder at each valve.

In one embodiment, the tank, the pump, and the pipe are configured to store and convey molasses or other fodder having a viscous consistency.

Preferably, the tank has an agitator.

In one embodiment, the pump is included in a circuit formed by the pipe.

In one embodiment, the pump is a positive displacement pump and the controller is adapted to regulate pressure in the feed pipe.

Preferably, the positive displacement pump is a mechanical gear pump and the controller is adapted to regulate pressure in the feed pipe.

In one embodiment, the pump is a progressive cavity pump and the controller is adapted to regulate pressure in the feed pipe.

In one embodiment, at least some of the valves comprise a barrier between the pipe and a dispensing outlet, and the controller is adapted to operate the valve to open the barrier.

Preferably, the system comprises a compressed air supply and means to operate the barrier pneumatically.

In one embodiment, the system comprises a pressure switch connected to the controller and the controller is adapted to prevent operation of the system if the air pressure is too low.

Preferably, the barrier is a diaphragm and the controller is adapted to keep the diaphragm closed by application of air pressure on the diaphragm to press it against a stop so that it blocks a passage from the pipe to a dispensing outlet.

Preferably, the system has a default setting of applying compressed air to the diaphragm, thereby keeping the valve closed.

In one embodiment, the compressed air is controlled by an electrical solenoid.

In one embodiment, the pipe is in a circuit and the system comprises a valve on an upstream side of the tank, and the controller is adapted to control said valve to ensure that there is back pressure in the pipe during feeding.

Preferably, the controller is programmed to operate firstly a valve at a distant location.

In one embodiment, the controller is adapted to subsequently operate valves according to a pre-configured feeding pattern.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an animal feed dispensing system of the invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating control of the system; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a dosing valve, and Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional diagrams showing a dosing valve at closed and open positions respectively.

Referring to Fig. 1 an animal feed dispensing system comprises a feed pipe looped in a circuit which encompasses the full length of feed troughs of both sides of a dairy parlour which is laid out in a herringbone format. The system 1 also comprises a fodder tank 3 from which fodder is drawn by a pump 4, which pumps it into the pipe 2 at a preset pressure or flow rate as required.

The pipe 2 includes a dosing valve 5 at each of a series of dosing locations along troughs on each side of the parlour. The system 1 is particularly suited to dispensing of molasses, but is suitable also for use with a wide range of other fodders such as whey or molasses with additives such as liquid supplements, fats, or minerals.

As shown in Fig. 2 the system 1 ftirther comprises a controller 10 linked with a pit control station II and a compressed air supply 12, in addition to being linked with the tank 3, the pump 4, and the dosing valves 5. This diagram illustrates that the air supply 12 is linked with the dosing valves 5.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 5 each dosing valve 5 is an electro-pneumatic valve having an inlet 19 connected to the pipe 2. There is an electro-pneumatic solenoid 21 linked with a compressed air inlet 22. Under control of the computerized controller 10, the solenoid 21 maintains a supply of compressed air onto the reverse side of a diaphragm 20, as shown in Fig. 4. This maintains a compressed air chamber 23 on the reverse side of the diaphragm 20 when the valve is closed. In this position the diaphragm 20 presses against a shoulder 24 which closes off supply of molasses from a valve outlet 25. The air pressure is in the region of 4 to 6 bar. The air pressure is continuously applied to the diaphragm 20 in order to ensure that there are no leakages.

When the valve 5 is to be opened electrical supply is applied to the solenoid 21, causing the solenoid 21 to open and hence to remove air pressure from the diaphragm 20. This allows the pump 4 pressure to push the diaphragm 20 open and thereby dispense the material through the outlet 25 (as shown by the arrows), as shown in Fig. 5. When the electrical supply is removed from the solenoid it returns to its closed state and allows air pressure through to the diaphragm 20, again to close off the outlet as shown in Fig. 3.

The pump 4 is a gear pump which is driven by an electrical motor. Water has a low viscosity and therefore is easily pumped by a variety of different pumping mechanisms. Molasses and similar materials are of a much higher viscosity and are much more difficult to pump efficiently and accurately. The mechanical gear pump 4 works efficiently and accurately. Mechanical gear pumps are a positive displacement pump, and so if an amount of liquid is pumped out through the pump it can not return. This is the primary reason why the gear pump is particularly suited to high viscosity materials.

The pump 4 motor has a frequency controller in order to govern the speed and the flow rate. The end user has control of the speed of the pump 4 in order to adjust the amount of material that is being dosed out at each valve 5.

In operation, the system 1 doses individual compartments in the herringbone layout milking parlour in an automatic and accurate manner. The user starts the pump 4 when they are starting the milking process and the pump 4 then circulates the fodder around in the pipe 2 continuously while particular valves 5 open according to a configured order to allow molasses to be dispensed.

When the milking process is finished then the pump 4 is stopped by the user.

There is a pressure switch installed on the system which is linked to the computerized controllerlO. If the air pressure is low then the controller 10 will not allow the user to start up the electrical pump 4, or if the air pressure drops below a preset level then the system will stop dosing.

The compressed air is supplied to the valves 5 by default, ensuring that they are in the closed position at all times and hence that there is no leakage.

When the user presses a start button, the pump 4 starts up to a preset speed and circulates the molasses in the pipe 2. It flows past all of the dosing valves 5 and returns back to the tank 3 via a pressure control system. There is a mechanical regulation valve at the end of the line 2 that returns to the supply tank 3. It allows the system to be regulated so that there is a back pressure at all times while the system 1 is in recirculation or in feeding mode. If this back pressure was not in place then the diaphragms 20 in the dosing valves 5 would not open as there would be no pressure to push them open. This runs continuously while milking is taking place to ensure that there is an even consistency of molasses in the circuit 2 and an even consistency of the material in the storage tank. Molasses have a tendency to separate when stored for a long period of time and recirculation causes the material being stored to be agitated and to regain an even consistency.

When the user is taking the cows into the parlour he or she presses a button at the pit control station 11, upon which the controller 10 causes a first dosing valve 5 to operate for a preset amount of time, allowing a quantity of molasses to be dispensed to this individual trough. When the valve 5 is electrically operated this removes the air pressure from the rubber diaphragm 30 in the valve 5 and the pressure being generated by the pump 4 causes the molasses to be pumped down into the feed trough. The closing of the valve is achieved by the solenoid 21 directing compressed air against the diaphragm 20 to seal the outlet 25. The purpose of feeding only one valve 5 is that this valve is the fUrthest valve away from the entry point to the parlour by the cows. The smell of the molasses will entice the cows to proceed up along the parlour to the front.

When the first cows have entered the parlour and the user decides the time is correct then he or she presses another button to operate the remainder of the valves 5 in the sequence that the controller 10 is programmed to feed. The controller 10 operates each valve 5 in a pre-programmed sequence to remove the air pressure from the diaphragm 20 and thus the molasses is then dispensed down into the feed trough.

When all of the valves 5 have been operated the system 1 returns to recirculation of the molasses. The user then repeats the above steps for the other side of the parlour.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides for very effective feeding of an awkward type of fodder such as molasses. The fact that the fodder is pumped continuously in the pipe 2 ensures that it is of a uniform consistency. Also, by dispensing at particular locations by removing a barrier, the dispensing is particularly reliable, robust, and effective. While the diaphragm arrangement described above is preferred, it is envisaged that other barrier arrangements may be used. For example, there may be a rigid shutter, a spring-loaded pneumatic valve, a rotary ball valve, a butterfly valve, or a solenoid valve. Also, the pump may be a positive displacement of a different type, such as a progressive cavity pump.

In other embodiment, the computerized controller is in a modular format to allow for further adaptation and implementation of safety and controls, The storage tank may have mechanical agitation or pneumatic agitation. The feed lines may be in a circuit or in stub lines. The pump may be of any suitable type to suit the material being used, with speed controls and safety valves as required, and there may be flow or pressure regulation included on the pump or circuit.

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

Claims

Claims 1. An animal feeding system comprising: a controller, a fodder tank, a feed pipe, a plurality of valves along the feed pipe, a pump for pumping fodder in the pipe, and wherein the valves re adapted to open to allow pump pressure to dispense fodder at each valve.
2. A feeding system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tank, the pump, and the pipe are configured to store and convey molasses or other fodder having a viscous consistency.
3. A feeding system as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the tank has an agitator.
4. A feeding system as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the pump is included in a circuit formed by the pipe.
5. A feeding system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pump is a positive displacement pump and the controller is adapted to regulate pressure in the feed pipe.
6. A feeding system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the positive displacement pump is a mechanical gear pump and the controller is adapted to regulate pressure in the feed pipe.
7. A feeding system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pump is a progressive cavity pump and the controller is adapted to regulate pressure in the feed pipe.
8. A feeding system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the valves comprise a barrier between the pipe and a dispensing outlet, and the controller is adapted to operate the valve to open the barrier.
9. A feeding system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the system comprises a compressed air supply and means to operate the barrier pneumatically.
10. A feeding system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the system comprises a pressure switch connected to the controller and the controller is adapted to prevent operation of the system if the air pressure is too low.
11. A feeding system as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the barrier is a diaphragm and the controller is adapted to keep the diaphragm closed by application of air pressure on the diaphragm to press it against a stop so that it blocks a passage from the pipe to a dispensing outlet.
12. A feeding system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the system has a default setting of applying compressed air to the diaphragm, thereby keeping the valve closed.
13. A feeding system as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the compressed air is controlled by an electrical solenoid.
14. A feeding system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pipe is in a circuit and the system comprises a valve on an upstream side of the tank, and the controller is adapted to control said valve to ensure that there is back pressure in the pipe during feeding.
15. A feeding system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the controller is programmed to operate firstly a valve at a distant location.
16. A feeding system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the controller is adapted to subsequently operate valves according to a pre-configured feeding pattern.
17. A feeding system substantially as described with reference to the drawings.