US2733427A - chandler - Google Patents

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US2733427A
US2733427A US2733427DA US2733427A US 2733427 A US2733427 A US 2733427A US 2733427D A US2733427D A US 2733427DA US 2733427 A US2733427 A US 2733427A
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doors
latch
spring
rotated
door
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    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05FDEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05F17/00Special devices for shifting a plurality of wings operated simultaneously
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01KANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K31/00Housing birds
    • A01K31/14Nest-boxes, e.g. for singing birds or the like
    • A01K31/16Laying nests for poultry; Egg collecting
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T292/00Closure fasteners
    • Y10T292/08Bolts
    • Y10T292/1043Swinging
    • Y10T292/1075Operating means
    • Y10T292/1082Motor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally .to hens nests and'it relates more particularly to mechanism for locking and unlocking the doors for such hens nests.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hens nest equipped with an automatic door opener constituting one embodiment of the present invention, the doors being shown in open position.
  • Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the doors in closed position.
  • Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the catch and releasing mechanism of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. r
  • Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the door-open position being shown .in solid lines and the door-closed position in dash-dot lines.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic view showing one wiring diagram which can be used with the door-releasing mechanism of Figs. 1-4.
  • Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, generally likethat of Fig.2, but showing a different form of door catch and release constituting another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 7 is auenlarged cross-sectional view through the timer and latch-release unit of Fig. 6, showing the toggle mechanism and related parts in extended, latchclosing position.
  • Figure 8 is a view generally'like that of Fig. 7, but showing the parts in retracted, latch-opening position.
  • Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view through the timer and latch-release unit of Fig. 6, but taken slightly forward of the view of Fig. 7, showing the brake and toggle actuating mechanism.
  • Figs. 1-5 I have shown one embodiment of the novel catch and release of the present invention, installed on a hens nest .10, having lowermost, center and uppermost rows 11, 12 and 13, respectively, of individual, openfront cubicles or coops, the rows being provided with elongated doors or gates 14, 15 and 16, respectively, which are bottom-hinged as at 17, 18 and 19 upon mounting plates 20, 21 and 22, secured to the side walls 23 of the nest 10.
  • arms 24, 25 and 26 disposed generally half-way between the ends of the doors and pivotally connected to brackets 27, 28 and 29, secured to the front of the nest slightly below the open rows of coops; the arms 24, 25 and 26 being provided with handles 30, 31 and 32, respectively, whereby the doors can be shifted manually from the lowered, generally horizontal, open position of Fig. 1 to the raised, generally vertical, closed position of Fig. 2, wherein they cover enough of the open-front coops to prevent hens from entering.
  • the doors 14, 15 and 16 are interconnected, so that they move together, by linkage, indicated generally by the reference character 33 and including a generally vertical bar 34, spaced somewhat away from one of the side walls 23, to which lower, center and upper arms 35, 36 and 37, respectively, are pivotally connected, as at 38, 39 and 40, at points slightly inward of the rearmost ends of said arms.
  • the forward portions 41, 42 and 43 of the arms 35, 36 and 37 are screwed to the side edges of the doors 14, 15 and 16, respectively, and are separated from the rear portions 44, 45 and 46 of said arms by central, offset portions 47, 48 and 49, which extend I generally laterally to provide the necessary clearance for the bar 34.
  • the rear and forward portions of the arms 35, 36 and 37 form obtuse angles, when viewed in side elevation, so that the rear portions extend generally upwardly and rearwardly when the forward portions are horizontal as in Fig. 1.
  • a hole 50 is provided at the extreme end of the portion 45, rearward of the pivot 39, while a hole 51 is provided adjacent the front end of the portion-46, forward of the pivot 40; the hole 50 being closer to its-pivot than is the case with the hole 51.
  • the upper end of an elongated cylinder 52 is pivotally connected to the portion 46 at the hole 51.
  • the cylinder is provided with a slidable piston 53 having a rod 54 extending downward therefrom and protruding from the cylinder, with the end of the rod pivotally connected within the hole 50.
  • a coil spring 55 is disposed about the rod 54 within the lower portion of the cylinder and bears against the piston, urging the piston and piston rod to uppermost retracted position, as shown in Fig. 1. That is, the piston and cylinder extend between the portions 45 and 46 diagonally of and beneath (i. e., inside of) the bar 34.
  • alocking ptn 56 is mounted on an extension-piece 57 secured toihe side" edg'e""of thedoor 14 adjacent the upper endthereo'f'andte'ittending rearwardly therefrom when the door isin raised; closed position;-
  • the lockingpin rnay take the form of arollerg c "1 "'Secured -tothe sidewall 23 is a mounting-plate 58, which-is disposed inside the bar 3 i and whichds provided with an uppermost, 'ou'twardly dire'cted'flange59.
  • An engaging latch 60 is pivotally connected to the mounting plate 58 by a horizontal pin 61, at the forward end of the mounting-plate.
  • Thelatch 60 has the form of'a bellcr'ank with a forwardly-directed, generally'horizontal arm 62 having an engaging jaw 63 adapted to'receive the locking-pin 56, and with a generally downwardlydirected arnr64- having a hole 65- for'med therein;
  • a link 66 connects the hole65 with the forward, protruding, a'perturedend 67' of the slidable, horizontallydisposed armature 68 of a solenoid 69, also mounted on themounting-plate 58.
  • the solenoid 69 is provided witha-spring 70 which normally urges the armature to outermost extended position, wherein the latch 66) is maintained in clockwise-rotated positionlwith the'arm 64 hearing against anadjustable stop 71 mounted at the front end of the mounting-plate 58) and is so positioned that the jaw 63'will engage and hold the locking-pin 56 when the door 14 is closed inthe'manner described above.
  • solenoids.- 69 rarranged ingroups of two, are 'showniin' Fig.':'5'; each. group being intended to represent a plurality:ofisolenoids'leach solenoid controlling the doors ef asinglenestas described above) located in geographicproximity, for example within onechicken housex-
  • the individual solenoids are'ico'nnested in parallel, but each group is provided WifhLfl singieindicating circuit to show (at aremote central point) whetheror not-all of the solenoids of that-group haveoperated in the intended manner'to openthe doors ofthenests.
  • Y WifhLfl singieindicating circuit to show (at aremote central point) whetheror not-all of the solenoids of that-group haveoperated in the intended manner'to openthe doors ofthenests.
  • the two indicating circuits shown include sig'nalilamps '78 and 79," respectively, drawing current from the trans former'75 at reduced voltage (for-examplefi or 12'yolts). and push-buttons '80 and 81'.
  • a fuse 82 protects the 'twc'i circuits against overload.
  • each solenoid 69 Mounted above each solenoid 69 are two pairs'of leaf spring contacts, disposed one above the other. Each uppermost pair of contacts 83 is normally open, the pairs of each group being connected in series within the indicating circuit to the lamp 78 or 79. Each lowermost pair of contacts 84 is normallyopen and is connected in series with its adjoining solenoid 69.
  • each'pair' 84 is provided, at its free 'end, .withan extension 85twhich overlies the upper horizontal portion 86 of a.rod-like finger 87.
  • The'finger 87 is pivotally mounted, as 'at 88, above and slightly forward. of. the'solenoid69, and includes a downwardly-extending portion 89 and a lower horizontal portion 90 disposed adjacent the vertical bar 34 of the linkage 33.
  • the tension of the spring leaf contact 84 normally maintains the finger 87 in the clockwise-rotated position shown inFigs. 2, 3' and 5 and also shown in 'solidlines in Fig.4. r l
  • a door catch and release constituting another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the parts -57 are the same as described hereinabove in connection with the em bodiment of Figs. 1-5.
  • the mounting plate 58 is omitted and the pin 61 of the engaging latch 60 is mounted directly on the side wall 23.
  • An expansion spring 94. is connected to the lower end of the arm 64 and is secured, at its other end; to the side wall 23, so as to urge the latch to counterclockwise-rotated disengaging position relative to the locking-pin 56.
  • a link 95 has its forward end pivotally connected within the hole 65 in the arm 64 and extends rearwardly therefrom, with its rear end connected, in a manner to be hereinafter described, to mechanism which moves it forward to rotate the latch clockwise (against the pull of the spring 94) to engaging position and which thereafter retracts the link to enable the spring 94 to return the latch to counterclockwise-rotated disengaging position.
  • a timer mounted on the side wall 23 is a timer, indicated generally by the reference character 96, having a general- 1y cylindrical, enclosed case 97 provided with a dial face 98 and a setting knob 99, which, when manually rotated (clockwise in Fig. 6) to any desired degree, loads and starts conventional clockwork mechanism (not shown) which, as it runs, gradually returns the knob 99 to its original position.
  • the rear end of the link 95 is operatively connected to the timer mechanism, in a manner to be hereinafter de scribed, so that manual setting rotation of the knob 99 produces forward movement of the link, resulting in clockwise rotation of the latch 60 to engaging position, and so that, at the end of the predetermined timing period, the link is automatically retracted, resulting in counterclockwise rotation of the latch 60 to disengaging position.
  • the timer 96 is of conventional construction and consists essentially of toggle-switch mechanism which is shifted to link-extending position and locked in such position upon manual setting rotation of the knob 99, and which is released and springs back automatically to link-retracting position at the end of the timing period.
  • the toggle-switch mechanism also includes electrical contacts which are open when the mechanism is in linkextending latch-closing position and which are closed when the mechanism is in link-retracting latch-opening position so as to complete an indicating circuit having a signal lamp and a push-button, as described hereinabove.
  • the timer 96 includes a member 100, pivotally mounted as at 101 and urged to clockwiserotated position by a spring 102; the member having an uppermost bent-over shoulder 103 disposed above the pivot 101 and a curved extension 104 disposed below the pivot and provided with a downwardly-directed lug 105'.
  • a toggle member 106 is mounted, at its upper end, on a pivot 107 which is directly below, and generally in vertical alignment with, the pivot 101.
  • the toggle member is bifurcated at its upper end, the curved extension 104 passing therethrough and bearing against the pivot 107 when the member 100 is in its clockwiserotated position, as shown in Figure 8.
  • a compression spring 108 is disposed within the bifurcated portion of the toggle member 106 with its upper end seated on the lug 105 and its lower end seated on an upwardly-directed lug 109 provided at the bottom of said bifurcated portion.
  • the rear end of the link 95 is connected within a hole 110 formed at the lower end of the toggle member 106.
  • the lug 105 In the clockwise-rotated position of the upper member 100, the lug 105 is disposed to the left of the pivot 107, so that the spring 108 creates a right-hand moment of force against the lower end of the toggle member 106 and urges the toggle member to the counterclockwiserotated position illustrated in the view of Fig. 8, wherein the link 95 is in retracted latch-disengaging position.
  • the lowermost end of the toggle member 106 extends within a notch 111 formed in a pivoted switch-element 112 having contacts 113.
  • the switch-element 112 When, on the other hand, the toggle member 106 is in clockwise-rotated, link-extended position, the switch-element 112 is oppositely tilted thereby, so that its contacts 113 are disengaged from the contacts 114 to open the indicating circuit.
  • Mounted at the inner end of the main shaft 119 (which is rotated clockwise by the knob 99 and subsequentlyslowly rotated back, counterclockwise, to its orig? inal position by conventional clockwork mechanism, including a main spring, a hairspring-driven escapement, and a train of gears; none of which is shown, since such mechanism is well known in the art) is a radiallyextending tooth 120,- shownin' Fig.
  • a pawl 122 Disposed above the shaft119 is a pawl 122, which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, as at 123, and which is normally urged to counterclockwise-rotated positionby a spring 124.
  • the upper end 125' of the pawl 122 bearsagainstthe shoulder 1030f the member 100, while the'lower end 126 of the pawl is in the path of clockwise rotation: of the tooth 120.
  • the tooth 120 also rotates clockwise so as first to free the catch 115 and thereafter to contact the lower end 126 ofthe pawl and to: rotatethe pawl counterclockwise, which causes the upper end 125 of the pawl to rotate the member 100 counterclockwise, resulting in counterclockwise rotation of the toggle member 106, as described above.
  • the toggle member 106. ismaintained in the. last-men tioned clockwise-rotated positionuntil, at the end of the pre-set timing period, the tooth 120 returns to its starting position and, in so doing, contacts the projection 121 and shifts the catch 115 to releasing position, thereby permitting the toggle member 106 tosnap back to its counterclockwise-rotated, link-retracted position and freeing the latch-60 to permit it to. swing to position opening the nest 'doors, in the manner described above.
  • the farmer manuallycloses the nest doors and turns the timer knob 99 to the desired setting in order to maintain.
  • the latch 60 in'closed position fora time sufiicient for it to become dark but prior to his bed time.
  • the timer operates in the manner describedabove, to disengage the latch, open the nest doors and close the indicating circuit, so that the farmer can tell, by a signal lamp or. the lik'e, that the mechanism has operated and, if necessary, make the necessary adjustments before retiring.
  • said spring means comprising amtelescopically extensible member normally spring-loadedv to retracted position, said extensible mem her being pivotally connected at one end tothe inwardly extending portion: of theaforesaid arm and being pivotally-connected at the other end to the outer portion of the next higher arm at a .pointadjacent thedoor pivot whereby closing of the doors cause extension of said member, a movablelatch for releasably holding the doors in closed position. and remotelyoperable means for releasing thelatch so as .to enable said extensible member to retract and to shift. the linkage to door-opening position.

Description

Jan. 31', 1956 CHANDLER 2,733,427
RELEASABLE DOOR FASTENER Filed Aug. 8, 1952 Fig] 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 II 23 I.
lNVENTOR MAURICE D. CHANDLER ATTORN Y Jan. 31, 1956 M. D. CHANDLER RELEASABLE DOOR FASTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1952 Fig, 2
INVENTOR MAURICE D. CHANDLER ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1956 M. D. CHANDLER RELEASABLEE DOOR FASTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1952 g m on N lNVENTOR R m f Y N%M A R w m a m E W m M 9- 1956 M. D. CHANDLER RELEASABLE DOOR FASTENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 8, 1952 IN V EN TOR. MAURICE D. CHANDLER ATTORNEY United States Patent I O RELEASABLE DOOR FASTENER Maurice D. Chandler, Philadelphia, Pa. Application August 8, 1952, Serial No. 303,245
2 Claims. (Cl. 340-275) The present invention relates generally .to hens nests and'it relates more particularly to mechanism for locking and unlocking the doors for such hens nests.
It is customary to provide laying hens with nests containing a plurality of vertically arranged rows of individual cubicles or coops, with a single, elongated, pivoted door for each row. These doors are kept open during the daily laying period (which extends from an artificial dawn created by turning on the lights in the chicken house at about 3 a. m. to the late afternoon or early evening) but are closed after the last collection of eggs, in order to prevent the hens from roosting in the nests overnight. This routine has heretofore required the farmer to make a tour of his chicken houses each night before the lights are turned onv (usually by an electric timer), and individually to open every door of each nest in all of the chicken houses, which may be scattered over a considerable area. Such a procedure is not only time-consuming and dangerous but also tends to disturb the roosting hens and cuts down egg production.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel means for automatically opening such nest doors at the proper time and without requiring the farmer to visit the chicken houses for that purpose.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there at shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, and that the several partsand elements can be variously arranged and organized Without departing from the spirit or essential attributes of this invention.
Referringto the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hens nest equipped with an automatic door opener constituting one embodiment of the present invention, the doors being shown in open position.
Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the doors in closed position.
Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the catch and releasing mechanism of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. r
Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the door-open position being shown .in solid lines and the door-closed position in dash-dot lines. I I
Figure 5 is a schematic view showing one wiring diagram which can be used with the door-releasing mechanism of Figs. 1-4.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, generally likethat of Fig.2, but showing a different form of door catch and release constituting another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is auenlarged cross-sectional view through the timer and latch-release unit of Fig. 6, showing the toggle mechanism and related parts in extended, latchclosing position.
Figure 8 is a view generally'like that of Fig. 7, but showing the parts in retracted, latch-opening position.
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view through the timer and latch-release unit of Fig. 6, but taken slightly forward of the view of Fig. 7, showing the brake and toggle actuating mechanism.
In Figs. 1-5 I have shown one embodiment of the novel catch and release of the present invention, installed on a hens nest .10, having lowermost, center and uppermost rows 11, 12 and 13, respectively, of individual, openfront cubicles or coops, the rows being provided with elongated doors or gates 14, 15 and 16, respectively, which are bottom-hinged as at 17, 18 and 19 upon mounting plates 20, 21 and 22, secured to the side walls 23 of the nest 10. Additional support for the doors 14, 15 and 16 is provided by arms 24, 25 and 26, disposed generally half-way between the ends of the doors and pivotally connected to brackets 27, 28 and 29, secured to the front of the nest slightly below the open rows of coops; the arms 24, 25 and 26 being provided with handles 30, 31 and 32, respectively, whereby the doors can be shifted manually from the lowered, generally horizontal, open position of Fig. 1 to the raised, generally vertical, closed position of Fig. 2, wherein they cover enough of the open-front coops to prevent hens from entering.
The doors 14, 15 and 16 are interconnected, so that they move together, by linkage, indicated generally by the reference character 33 and including a generally vertical bar 34, spaced somewhat away from one of the side walls 23, to which lower, center and upper arms 35, 36 and 37, respectively, are pivotally connected, as at 38, 39 and 40, at points slightly inward of the rearmost ends of said arms. The forward portions 41, 42 and 43 of the arms 35, 36 and 37 are screwed to the side edges of the doors 14, 15 and 16, respectively, and are separated from the rear portions 44, 45 and 46 of said arms by central, offset portions 47, 48 and 49, which extend I generally laterally to provide the necessary clearance for the bar 34. The rear and forward portions of the arms 35, 36 and 37 form obtuse angles, when viewed in side elevation, so that the rear portions extend generally upwardly and rearwardly when the forward portions are horizontal as in Fig. 1.
A hole 50 is provided at the extreme end of the portion 45, rearward of the pivot 39, while a hole 51 is provided adjacent the front end of the portion-46, forward of the pivot 40; the hole 50 being closer to its-pivot than is the case with the hole 51.
The upper end of an elongated cylinder 52 is pivotally connected to the portion 46 at the hole 51. The cylinder is provided with a slidable piston 53 having a rod 54 extending downward therefrom and protruding from the cylinder, with the end of the rod pivotally connected within the hole 50. A coil spring 55 is disposed about the rod 54 within the lower portion of the cylinder and bears against the piston, urging the piston and piston rod to uppermost retracted position, as shown in Fig. 1. That is, the piston and cylinder extend between the portions 45 and 46 diagonally of and beneath (i. e., inside of) the bar 34.
When the doors 14, 15 and 16 are shifted from the open position of Fig. 1 to the closed position of Fig. 2, the bar 34, though remaining vertical, is shifted downwardly and rearwardly, as also indicated in Fig. 4, the portions 44, 45 and 46 tilting about -.the door pivots 17, 18 and Q19,.which coincide generally. with the rear ends of the front portions 41, 42 and 43. Since the hole 50 is located considerably further away from the pivots 17,
18 and 19 than the hole 51, it is apparent that, during such closing movement of the doors, thepiston rod is pulled outward to extended'position 'against'the'pressure of""'the*spring55. "When'the doors are rele'asedgrthe spring 55 acts to retract thepistonrod 54 and; inso'doing, shiftsthelinkage 33 back to its' originalposition er Fig; 1, thereby re-opening the doors 14, 15 'and" 1 6.:jl n"other words, the cylinder "and piston" arrangement tensions. the linkage 33 tddobr-opening position.
' As bestillustrated in Fig. 3, alocking ptn 56 is mounted on an extension-piece 57 secured toihe side" edg'e""of thedoor 14 adjacent the upper endthereo'f'andte'ittending rearwardly therefrom when the door isin raised; closed position;- For' greater ease 'of operation, the lockingpin rnay take the form of arollerg c "1 "'Secured -tothe sidewall 23 is a mounting-plate 58, which-is disposed inside the bar 3 i and whichds provided with an uppermost, 'ou'twardly dire'cted'flange59. An engaging latch 60 is pivotally connected to the mounting plate 58 by a horizontal pin 61, at the forward end of the mounting-plate. 'Thelatch 60 has the form of'a bellcr'ank with a forwardly-directed, generally'horizontal arm 62 having an engaging jaw 63 adapted to'receive the locking-pin 56, and with a generally downwardlydirected arnr64- having a hole 65- for'med therein;
' A link 66 connects the hole65 with the forward, protruding, a'perturedend 67' of the slidable, horizontallydisposed armature 68 of a solenoid 69, also mounted on themounting-plate 58. As indicated 'in Fig. 5, the solenoid 69 is provided witha-spring 70 which normally urges the armature to outermost extended position, wherein the latch 66) is maintained in clockwise-rotated positionlwith the'arm 64 hearing against anadjustable stop 71 mounted at the front end of the mounting-plate 58) and is so positioned that the jaw 63'will engage and hold the locking-pin 56 when the door 14 is closed inthe'manner described above. However, when the solenoid 69 is electrically'energized in a manner to be hereinafter described, the induced magnetic field will retract the armature, against the pressure of the spring 7%, so as to rotate the latch 60-count'er-' clockwise, thereby lowering the jaw 63 's'ufficientl-y to free the locking-pin 56- and permitting spring'55 to swing the linkage 33 to door-opening position, in "the manner described above. 1 3 ln Fig. 5,- there is shown, schematically, a wiring' diagram for energizing a number of solenoids 69soasto causeopening of the 1 nest doors; The system is --'intended to be plugged into a conventional 110' volt "A56. circuit and is provided-with a single-pole"double=throw switch-72, so as to permiteither'autornatic operation, by 'rneans of-a conventional electric timer 73 (which may be the same timer which turns on the lightsof -the chicken houses to create the artificial da wn mentioned above) or manual operation, by means "of an On-Otf switch 74.. A step-down-transformer '75,- which is pro videdwitha series-connected f-use 76 and a 'parallel-con nected signaLlamp 77-, supplies current-of'suitable Volt age (for example 60volts) to the solenoids" 69.
By way ofsillustration only, four solenoids.- 69, rarranged ingroups of two, are 'showniin' Fig.':'5'; each. group being intended to represent a plurality:ofisolenoids'leach solenoid controlling the doors ef asinglenestas described above) located in geographicproximity, for example within onechicken housex- The individual solenoids are'ico'nnested in parallel, but each group is provided WifhLfl singieindicating circuit to show (at aremote central point) whetheror not-all of the solenoids of that-group haveoperated in the intended manner'to openthe doors ofthenests. Y
The two indicating circuits shown include sig'nalilamps '78 and 79," respectively, drawing current from the trans former'75 at reduced voltage (for-examplefi or 12'yolts). and push-buttons '80 and 81'. A fuse 82 protects the 'twc'i circuits against overload.
Mounted above each solenoid 69 are two pairs'of leaf spring contacts, disposed one above the other. Each uppermost pair of contacts 83 is normally open, the pairs of each group being connected in series within the indicating circuit to the lamp 78 or 79. Each lowermost pair of contacts 84 is normallyopen and is connected in series with its adjoining solenoid 69.
The upper of the two contacts of each'pair' 84 is provided, at its free 'end, .withan extension 85twhich overlies the upper horizontal portion 86 of a.rod-like finger 87. The'finger 87 is pivotally mounted, as 'at 88, above and slightly forward. of. the'solenoid69, and includes a downwardly-extending portion 89 and a lower horizontal portion 90 disposed adjacent the vertical bar 34 of the linkage 33. The tension of the spring leaf contact 84 normally maintains the finger 87 in the clockwise-rotated position shown inFigs. 2, 3' and 5 and also shown in 'solidlines in Fig.4. r l
Howeven'when the'nest' doors open (i. e., when the solenoid is energized and the armature retracted to release the latch 60)'the downward and inward movement of the bar 34 rotates the finger 87 counterclockwise to the position shown'in dash-dot lines in Fig. 4, wherein the upper horizontal 'portion'86 risesto lift the'extension 85 and the upper of the two'contacts 84 from'its original normally closed position, thereby breaking the circuit to the'solenoid and'preventing it from burning out.
At the same time, lifting of the upper contact of .the pair 84 causes it to lift the lower of thepair'of contacts 83' (from which it-is electrically insulated by a spacerblock 91) so as to close. the normally open contacts 83.
Whenboth pairs of contacts 83 connected'in the circuit tothe lamp 78 are closedyrnanualclosing of the push-button 80 causes :the lamp to light, indicating that the doors'of both nests have opened; I On the other hand, if either nest remains closed, the circuit to the lamp 78 is still broken and the lamp '78 does not light, in which case the farmer goes tothat'particular chicken house to investigate and make the necessary repairs or adjust- When the nest doors are manually re-closed, the bar 34 moves'back to'its original-position, permitting the finger 87 to swing back to its clockwise-rotated position, reclosing the contacts 83 and re-opening the contacts 84, to complete the'operating cycle. 'i
The switches-72 and 74, the timer ,73, the: transformer 75,-the fuses 76- and 82, the signal lamps ,77, 78 and 79,- the push-buttons 80 and 81, as Well as a fuse' 92,
protecting the solenoids, may all be located in a single control-box, indicated schematically at 9,3,1Which may be mounted at some convenient central point, sothat the' farmer canoperate and check the door-opening mechanisms of all thenests'in all the chicken houses, however scattered they may be. r
tObviously, there could be any number of groups of solenoids, each having'its own indicating circuit and signal lamp, and any number of individual solenoids ineach-group; I H
Instead,ie'achindividual solenoid could ,be provided with its ownindicating. circuitandsignal lamp in an o bvious manner, so that the farmer could tell at a glance which particular solenoid, if any, has not operated to open the doors ofitsnestm '7 1' 1 2::
From the foregoing description; .it is apparent that, after the doors of the nests have been closed (following the lastcollectionof eggs);th'e doors-can be conveniently re op'ened either-by meansof the timer 73 or by manualoperation of the switch 74. It is nohnecessary to-wait until the-lights are turnedfion; before-opening the-nest doors? Insteadj-this'can' be-"done 'justbefore the. farmers bed ti'rne,- since"the=hens cannotseethe open doors in the dark and do not enter theopennests 'untilithe lights are turned on. This "affords the" farmer" an opportunity to check the condition of the solenoid indicating systems and to make sure all the nests have been opened, before retiring. I
In order toeliminate the need for running separate wires from the central control-box to the solenoids located in various scattered chicken houses, it is possible to employ a conventional so-called wired wireless system wherein a small radio transmitter sends signals over the standard two-wire power circuit leading to the several chicken houses; the signals being picked up by receiver units located in the individual chicken houses and plugged into the power circuit and serving to open or close relay switches which, in turn, control the solenoids (which are plugged into the receiver units). It is possible to tune the individual receiver units to different frequencies and to provide the'transmitter with a separate condenser and switch for each receiver unit thereby giving different frequencies needed to actuate the receiver units selectively.
Since this remote control system is not part of the present invention, it is not illustrated in the drawings of this application. For one form of remote control system which may be employed, reference is made to the article by Howard G. McEntee entitled Robot messenger saves steps, at pages 227-230 of the periodical Popular Science, for February 1952.
In Figs. 6 to 9, there is shown a door catch and release constituting another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the parts -57 are the same as described hereinabove in connection with the em bodiment of Figs. 1-5. However, the mounting plate 58 is omitted and the pin 61 of the engaging latch 60 is mounted directly on the side wall 23. An expansion spring 94.is connected to the lower end of the arm 64 and is secured, at its other end; to the side wall 23, so as to urge the latch to counterclockwise-rotated disengaging position relative to the locking-pin 56. A link 95 has its forward end pivotally connected within the hole 65 in the arm 64 and extends rearwardly therefrom, with its rear end connected, in a manner to be hereinafter described, to mechanism which moves it forward to rotate the latch clockwise (against the pull of the spring 94) to engaging position and which thereafter retracts the link to enable the spring 94 to return the latch to counterclockwise-rotated disengaging position.
Mounted on the side wall 23 is a timer, indicated generally by the reference character 96, having a general- 1y cylindrical, enclosed case 97 provided with a dial face 98 and a setting knob 99, which, when manually rotated (clockwise in Fig. 6) to any desired degree, loads and starts conventional clockwork mechanism (not shown) which, as it runs, gradually returns the knob 99 to its original position.
The rear end of the link 95 is operatively connected to the timer mechanism, in a manner to be hereinafter de scribed, so that manual setting rotation of the knob 99 produces forward movement of the link, resulting in clockwise rotation of the latch 60 to engaging position, and so that, at the end of the predetermined timing period, the link is automatically retracted, resulting in counterclockwise rotation of the latch 60 to disengaging position.
The timer 96 is of conventional construction and consists essentially of toggle-switch mechanism which is shifted to link-extending position and locked in such position upon manual setting rotation of the knob 99, and which is released and springs back automatically to link-retracting position at the end of the timing period. The toggle-switch mechanism also includes electrical contacts which are open when the mechanism is in linkextending latch-closing position and which are closed when the mechanism is in link-retracting latch-opening position so as to complete an indicating circuit having a signal lamp and a push-button, as described hereinabove.
cially available and is sold by M. H. Rhodes under the trademark Mark Time; the structure being more fully disclosed in various United States patents, including Nos. 1,956,998, 1,959,645, 1,969,034, 1,995,363, 1,996,173, 2,001,266 and others. It is to be understood, however, that other conventional mechanism, capable of operating in the manner described in the preceding paragraph, can be employed in lieu of that illustrated.
Referring now particularly to Fig. 7, which is a section through the case 97 behind the conventional clockwork mechanism, the timer 96 includes a member 100, pivotally mounted as at 101 and urged to clockwiserotated position by a spring 102; the member having an uppermost bent-over shoulder 103 disposed above the pivot 101 and a curved extension 104 disposed below the pivot and provided with a downwardly-directed lug 105'. A toggle member 106 is mounted, at its upper end, on a pivot 107 which is directly below, and generally in vertical alignment with, the pivot 101. The toggle member is bifurcated at its upper end, the curved extension 104 passing therethrough and bearing against the pivot 107 when the member 100 is in its clockwiserotated position, as shown in Figure 8.
A compression spring 108 is disposed within the bifurcated portion of the toggle member 106 with its upper end seated on the lug 105 and its lower end seated on an upwardly-directed lug 109 provided at the bottom of said bifurcated portion.
The rear end of the link 95 is connected within a hole 110 formed at the lower end of the toggle member 106.
In the clockwise-rotated position of the upper member 100, the lug 105 is disposed to the left of the pivot 107, so that the spring 108 creates a right-hand moment of force against the lower end of the toggle member 106 and urges the toggle member to the counterclockwiserotated position illustrated in the view of Fig. 8, wherein the link 95 is in retracted latch-disengaging position.
However, when the upper member 100 is rotated counterclockwise (in a manner to be'hereinafter described), the lug 105 is shifted to a position to the right of the pivot'107 and the spring 108 creates a left-hand moment of force against the lower end of the toggle member, causing the toggle member to snap abruptly to the clockwise-rotated, link-extended, latch-closed posi tion shown in the view of Fig. 7. When the member 100 is thereafter released, the spring 102 snaps it back to clockwise-rotated position, the lug shifts back to the left of pivot 107 and the spring 108 snaps the toggle member 106 abruptly back to counterclockwise-rotated, link-retracted position, in a manner conventional in toggle switches.
The lowermost end of the toggle member 106 extends within a notch 111 formed in a pivoted switch-element 112 having contacts 113. When the toggle member 106 is in counterclockwise-rotated, link-retracted position,
in its contacts 113 engage a to show that the latch 60 has been disengaged and the nest doors have been opened in the manner described above.
When, on the other hand, the toggle member 106 is in clockwise-rotated, link-extended position, the switch-element 112 is oppositely tilted thereby, so that its contacts 113 are disengaged from the contacts 114 to open the indicating circuit.
A catch 115 having an engaging notch 116 adapted to receive and hold the lowermost edge of the toggle member 106, when the latter is in its clockwise-rotated, linkextended position, is pivotally mounted, as at 117 and is provided with a spring 118, urging it to engaging position. Mounted at the inner end of the main shaft 119 (which is rotated clockwise by the knob 99 and subsequentlyslowly rotated back, counterclockwise, to its orig? inal position by conventional clockwork mechanism, including a main spring, a hairspring-driven escapement, and a train of gears; none of which is shown, since such mechanism is well known in the art) is a radiallyextending tooth 120,- shownin' Fig. 9, which, in counterclockwise-rotated position, bears against a projection 121 formed on the catch 115 and maintains the catch in nonengaging position relative to the toggle member 106. However, the initial clockwise'rotation of the tooth 120 freesthe catch 115 and permits it to swing into engagingv position'under the-action of its spring 118.
. Disposed above the shaft119 is a pawl 122, which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, as at 123, and which is normally urged to counterclockwise-rotated positionby a spring 124. The upper end 125' of the pawl 122 bearsagainstthe shoulder 1030f the member 100, while the'lower end 126 of the pawl is in the path of clockwise rotation: of the tooth 120. Thus, as the shaft 119 is rotated. clockwise. by the knob 99, the tooth 120 also rotates clockwise so as first to free the catch 115 and thereafter to contact the lower end 126 ofthe pawl and to: rotatethe pawl counterclockwise, which causes the upper end 125 of the pawl to rotate the member 100 counterclockwise, resulting in counterclockwise rotation of the toggle member 106, as described above.
The lowermost edge of the toggle member 106 is caught and held in. the notch 116. of the catch 115, so that the toggle member is maintained in clockwise-rotated linkextended position, despite the fact that, upon further rotation of the shaft 119, the tooth 120' moves beyond the lower end 126 and: releases the-pawl.
. The toggle member 106. ismaintained in the. last-men tioned clockwise-rotated positionuntil, at the end of the pre-set timing period, the tooth 120 returns to its starting position and, in so doing, contacts the projection 121 and shifts the catch 115 to releasing position, thereby permitting the toggle member 106 tosnap back to its counterclockwise-rotated, link-retracted position and freeing the latch-60 to permit it to. swing to position opening the nest 'doors, in the manner described above.
Upongmaking the last collection of eggs from the nests, the farmer manuallycloses the nest doors and turns the timer knob 99 to the desired setting in order to maintain. the latch 60 in'closed position fora time sufiicient for it to become dark but prior to his bed time. Atthe predeterminedv hour, the timer operates in the manner describedabove, to disengage the latch, open the nest doors and close the indicating circuit, so that the farmer can tell, by a signal lamp or. the lik'e, that the mechanism has operated and, if necessary, make the necessary adjustments before retiring.
It is, apparentthat, .-in.place of theclockwork timer mechanism described above, it ispossible to employ conventional electrical timing -mechanism, utilizing a synchronous A. C. motor, to actuate the pawl 122 and: the catch 115, in a manner analogous to that described hereinabove.
Itis also possible to connect the switch-elements of two or more geographically-grouped timers in a single series-connectedindicating circuit having a single'signal lamp, in the manner described above inconnection with the embodiment of Figs. 15. r r
The present invention may be embodied in other forms and,- accordingly, the foregoing-embodiments areto be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims, rather than to the above description, as indicating the scope of the invention. w
Having thus described my invention,- 1 claim as new and desire-to protectvbyLettets Patent thefollowing: 1. For use on a. hens nest-or the like havinga plurality of vertically spaced ,doors pivotally mounted to open downwardly and outwardly, the door-pivot points being disposed in vertical alignment; linkage interconnecting said doors so that they move'in unison, said link age. including-a generally vertical bar disposed inward of the door pivot points,-an. arm extending inwardly from each of said doors and pivotally-connected to'said vertical' bar, one of said arms extending inward somewhat beyond its pivotal connection tothevertical bar, said vertical bar remaining vertically disposed but being displaced downwardly andrinwardly when the doors are closed; spring means'operatively connected to said linkage and tensi-oning the. vertical-bar to downwardly-displaced door-opening position; said spring means comprising amtelescopically extensible member normally spring-loadedv to retracted position, said extensible mem her being pivotally connected at one end tothe inwardly extending portion: of theaforesaid arm and being pivotally-connected at the other end to the outer portion of the next higher arm at a .pointadjacent thedoor pivot whereby closing of the doors cause extension of said member, a movablelatch for releasably holding the doors in closed position. and remotelyoperable means for releasing thelatch so as .to enable said extensible member to retract and to shift. the linkage to door-opening position.-
v2. A construction according .to claim 1, wherein the latch is linked to the slidable.armature of a solenoid, and wherein means are provided for energizing the solenoid so as -to movethe armature and thereby to shift the latch to disengaging position.
References; Cited the file of patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 813,119 Smith Feb. 20, 1906 1,086,072 Morrison "Feb. 3, .1914 1,604,209 "Wenzel Oct. 26, 1926 1,610,220 Olson .Dec. .7, 1926 1,673,647 Strang June 12, 1928 2,149,695 Wilhelm Mar. 7, 1939 2,321,591 Gardner June 15, 1943 2,467;944 Munson .Aprv 19, 1949 2,535,607 Smith Dec, 26, 1950
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Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2876738A (en) * 1956-10-16 1959-03-10 Joseph A Wettendorf Intruder-free bird house
US2892447A (en) * 1956-06-05 1959-06-30 Keen Mfg Corp Multiple nest structure for poultry
US3063412A (en) * 1960-12-12 1962-11-13 James W Colsher Bird release device
US3066647A (en) * 1959-10-30 1962-12-04 Moller Bernhard Mobile pigeon starting apparatus and loft
US3164129A (en) * 1960-02-15 1965-01-05 Automatic Poultry Feeder Compa Automatic nest guard
US3244359A (en) * 1964-10-16 1966-04-05 Clarence A Holland Crate supporting and door operating structure
US3272935A (en) * 1964-01-10 1966-09-13 Controls Co Of America Remotely operated latch mechanism for laundry machines
US3279432A (en) * 1965-05-10 1966-10-18 Forstmaier John Bird cage door releasing frame support structure
US3580340A (en) * 1968-10-25 1971-05-25 David N Brown Electronic marker actuator
US4513686A (en) * 1983-09-08 1985-04-30 Demko David J Pigeon cage assembly
GB2433963A (en) * 2006-01-04 2007-07-11 Nicholas Sanderson Young Automated door opening and closing system for a chicken or pigeon house
US20190261589A1 (en) * 2017-12-20 2019-08-29 Treant Protector Pte. Ltd. Smart cabinet for home gardening

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US813119A (en) * 1905-01-04 1906-02-20 J S Hopkins Electric lock-strike.
US1086072A (en) * 1912-04-16 1914-02-03 Nathan H Morrison System and apparatus for electrically selecting and controlling a number of elements from a distant point.
US1604209A (en) * 1924-07-19 1926-10-26 John M Wenzel Signaling device
US1610220A (en) * 1923-05-14 1926-12-07 John B Olson Collapsible perch for poultry nests
US1673647A (en) * 1928-06-12 svenson
US2149695A (en) * 1935-09-03 1939-03-07 James M Wilhelm Electrically controlled lock
US2321591A (en) * 1940-08-31 1943-06-15 Clair C Gardner Automatic release mechanism for window sashes or the like
US2467944A (en) * 1949-04-19 Control fob water heaters
US2535607A (en) * 1946-04-10 1950-12-26 Norman R Smith Mailbox switch

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1673647A (en) * 1928-06-12 svenson
US2467944A (en) * 1949-04-19 Control fob water heaters
US813119A (en) * 1905-01-04 1906-02-20 J S Hopkins Electric lock-strike.
US1086072A (en) * 1912-04-16 1914-02-03 Nathan H Morrison System and apparatus for electrically selecting and controlling a number of elements from a distant point.
US1610220A (en) * 1923-05-14 1926-12-07 John B Olson Collapsible perch for poultry nests
US1604209A (en) * 1924-07-19 1926-10-26 John M Wenzel Signaling device
US2149695A (en) * 1935-09-03 1939-03-07 James M Wilhelm Electrically controlled lock
US2321591A (en) * 1940-08-31 1943-06-15 Clair C Gardner Automatic release mechanism for window sashes or the like
US2535607A (en) * 1946-04-10 1950-12-26 Norman R Smith Mailbox switch

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2892447A (en) * 1956-06-05 1959-06-30 Keen Mfg Corp Multiple nest structure for poultry
US2876738A (en) * 1956-10-16 1959-03-10 Joseph A Wettendorf Intruder-free bird house
US3066647A (en) * 1959-10-30 1962-12-04 Moller Bernhard Mobile pigeon starting apparatus and loft
US3164129A (en) * 1960-02-15 1965-01-05 Automatic Poultry Feeder Compa Automatic nest guard
US3063412A (en) * 1960-12-12 1962-11-13 James W Colsher Bird release device
US3272935A (en) * 1964-01-10 1966-09-13 Controls Co Of America Remotely operated latch mechanism for laundry machines
US3244359A (en) * 1964-10-16 1966-04-05 Clarence A Holland Crate supporting and door operating structure
US3279432A (en) * 1965-05-10 1966-10-18 Forstmaier John Bird cage door releasing frame support structure
US3580340A (en) * 1968-10-25 1971-05-25 David N Brown Electronic marker actuator
US4513686A (en) * 1983-09-08 1985-04-30 Demko David J Pigeon cage assembly
WO1986006249A1 (en) * 1983-09-08 1986-11-06 David Demko Pigeon cage assembly
GB2433963A (en) * 2006-01-04 2007-07-11 Nicholas Sanderson Young Automated door opening and closing system for a chicken or pigeon house
US20190261589A1 (en) * 2017-12-20 2019-08-29 Treant Protector Pte. Ltd. Smart cabinet for home gardening
US10709076B2 (en) * 2017-12-20 2020-07-14 Treant Protector Pte. Ltd. Smart cabinet for home gardening

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