GB405657A - An improved ration mixer for livestock - Google Patents

Abstract

405,657. Delivering measured quantities. HICKS, G. A., Shurburne House, Chichester, Sussex. Aug. 2, 1932, No. 21585. [Class 106 (v).] Moving - chamber apparatus for granular materials.-Feeding-devices for ration mixers of the kind having a plurality of hoppers containing different materials which are delivered to a mixing trough by means of pocketted rotatable measuring drums the number of pockets in which are suitably masked to control the amount of material that each drum delivers in one revolution to the mixing trough, comprise adjustable means for regulating the number of revolutions of the drums necessary to deliver a desired total quantity of food for feeding cattle or the like. As shown in Fig. 1, the measuring drums 9 are all mounted on a hand-operated rotatable shaft 11, each drum being formed with pockets 10, one or more of which may be covered by a curved shield 5 to control the amount of material delivered. A pinion 19 on the shaft 11 meshes with a spur wheel 20 on the axle 21, on which axle. are also mounted a rotatable and slidable drum 28, a pulley 23 carrying a weight 24, and clutch members 36, 37, a hook 25 on the pulley 23 being adapted to engage with an eye 26 on the drum 28, and a locking bar 29 being adapted to engage with any pair of diametrically opposite hooks 31a mounted on the casing 18. When the number of receiving pockets in each drum 9 has been suitably adjusted, the drum 28 is turned until the arms of the locking bar 29 are adjacent the number, on the face of the casing 18, which indicates the number of deliveries from the drums 9, whereupon the drum 28 is pushed inwardly until the arms of the bar 29 engage the hooks 31a adjacent the required number on the casing 18. The movement of the drum 28 causes the clutch member 36 to engage the member 37, and the handle 32 is then turned to discharge the contents of the drums, the pulley 23 at the same time winding up the weight 24 until the hook 25 engages the eye 26. The drum 28 is then turned to release the locking bar 29 from the hooks 31a, the weight 24 returning to its initial position for another action. The pulley 23 may be locked to the spur wheel 20, so that when the pulley 23 is freed from the drum 28, the weight 24 functions to turn the pocketted drums back to their normal charging position. In a modification, the pinion on the drum shaft instead of engaging a spur wheel, engages a toothed rack slidably mounted on the side of the hopper, the travel of the rack being limited by contacting with an adjustable stop element.