IES60009B2

IES60009B2 - Silage redistribution apparatus

Info

Publication number: IES60009B2
Authority: IE
Inventors: John Kiely
Original assignee: John Kiely
Priority date: 1993-09-28
Filing date: 1993-09-28
Publication date: 1994-05-18
Also published as: IES930723A2

Description

SILAGE REDISTRIBUTION APPARATUS The present invention relates to apparatus for redistributing silage in animal feeding houses.

The feeding bays in animal feeding houses are generally separated by a central aisle, which is generally wide enough to allow the passage of a tractor for distributing fodder such as silage along the aisle. This must then be moved away from the center to each side, so as to be within the animals' reach from each feeding bay. A silage plough, similar to a snow plough, may be used to push and redistribute silage to each side. However, some animal houses are not built with a sufficiently wide aisle to permit the use of a silage plough, i.e. the clearance to each side of the tractor is quite small. /1ty.these circumstances, the silage must be redistributed using tools such as a pitchfork, which is very time-consuming. ' The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a simpler apparatus which may be towed or pushed along the aisle by the tractor for redistributing the silage closer to the feeding bays, even when the tractor may include a fullen laden grab or other device, for transporting the silage. 0892S 860009 - 2 According the present invention, there is provided a silage redistribution apparatus comprising a housing adpated to be towed or be pushed by a tractor, having a pitched surface on top of the housing adapted to throw silage to at least one side thereof. Most preferably, two pitched surfaces are defined by a gable roof construction, defining an angle therebetween of approximately 50°.

Preferred embodiments of a silage redistribution apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to 10 the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the apparatus, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises a housing 1 having two pitched surfaces 2, 3 defining a gable roof. The end walls 4, 5 of the apparatus may be filled in with panels or left open. A base 6 is provided which sits on the ground, or which may be provided with skids, rollers or wheels, if desired.

A hook 7 may be provided at one gable end of apparatus for pulling it. A box-section bar 8 is provided inside the apparatus at the apex of pitched surfaces 2, 3 for strengthening purposes and for providing purchase for pushing or lifting the apparatus.

In use, a tractor fitted with a silage grab at the rear end is used to push or pull the apparatus along an empty feeding aisle to one end thereof. The tractor then returns with a fully laden grab and deposits the clamp of silage on top of the pitched roof of the apparatus, so as to redistribute it to each side of the aisle adjacent to the feeding rails, within easy reach of the animals.

Using the grab, the apparatus is then pulled by means of the hook 7 or pushed along the aisle a small distance. The tractor then returns with a second clamp of silage, and deposits it over the apparatus into a new location, and so on, until the end of the aisle is reached. - 3 The apparatus is preferably made of mild steel plate welded together. Its use does not pose a danger to the animals in the bays as it does not pass near the feeding rails, if maneouvered f correctly. It is of a simple, robust and cheap construction, and only requires a single farmhand to operate. # Figure 2 shows a second embodiment in which additional wings 11, 12 are provided which are spaced from vertical sides 9, 10 by bars 13. The wings 11, 12 are baffles for preventing silage from spilling over into the feeding pens, and are set at a height which is just above and to the inside of the walls or rails which define the boundary between the feeding bays and the feeding aisle where the silage is deposited.

Claims

1. 51. A silage redistribution apparatus suitable for use in animal ’j i feeding bays comprising a housing adapted to be towed or pushed by a tractor, having a pitched surface on top of the housing adapted to throw silage to at least one side thereof. 10

2. A silage redistribution apparatus as claimed in claim 1 having two pitched surfaces defining a gable roof construction.

3. A silage redistribution apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the gable roof construction defines an angle between the said 15 pitched surfaces of approximately 50°.

4. A silage redistribution apparatus as claimed in claim 1, provided with wings spaced from the sides of the apparatus adapted to prevent silage from spilling over into adjacent animal feeding pens, 20 in use.

5. A silage redistribution apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.