WO1988002215A1

WO1988002215A1 - Animal feeder

Info

Publication number: WO1988002215A1
Application number: PCT/US1987/002509
Authority: WO
Inventors: Terry D. Johnson
Original assignee: Johnson Terry D
Priority date: 1986-09-30
Filing date: 1987-09-30
Publication date: 1988-04-07
Also published as: AU8107887A

Abstract

An animal feeder having a hopper, a trough, and a valve mechanism controlling movement of feed from the hopper to the trough. The feed flow channel is shaped to interrupt gravity flow of feed and requires mechanical movement by a valve assembly to move discrete amounts of feed to the trough. The valve assembly is operable by an animal and, thus, eliminates feed waste.

Description

ANIMAL FEEDER

Field of the Invention The invention is directed to feeders for anima wherein the animal must operate something to.get feed stor in a hopper to be released to an eating area.

Bac α —round of. t.h.._e -I. nvention

Animal feeders are well known. Most anima feeders, however, depend on gravity to move feed from a bi or hopper to the eating area. Some of these gravity-typ feeders include an agitator which, when touched by an animal causes more rapid delivery of feed or which functions t reduce the likelihood of "feed darning". All feeders whic rely exclusively on gravity require the adjustment of th size of the opening through which the feed passes from th hopper to the eating area, since the weight of the feed i reduced as the hopper empties. Failure to provide fo adjustment leads to too much feed being allowed to empty a some times, leading, therefore, to feed waste.

U. S. Patent 4,462,338 shows a rotary livestoc feeder which relies somewhat on the force of gravity an somewhat on mechanical movement of feed in moving it from hopper to a trough. The hopper includes a drop hole at th center of the bottom. A cone deflects feed away from th drop hole. A feed wheel moved by the animals moves in rota tion and sweeps feed from the base of the cone toward th drop hole. After feed is dropped through the hole, a secon sweep mechanism moves the feed outwardly toward an eatin area. In essence, the force of gravity in conjunction wit the first and second sweep mechanisms squeezes feed firs inwardly, then through the drop hole and then outwardly Some problems with the indicated feeder include the necessit for animals to eat feed all around the trough so that accumu lation on one side does not inhibit rotary movement. I addition, periodic adjustment of the height of the cone is necessary since the force of gravity is used to some extent to squeeze feed.

The present invention uses the force of gravity only incidentally and introduces a mechanical element which eliminates the problems of the art, including hopper opening adjustments, and provides distinct advantages thereover.

Summary of the Invention The present invention is directed to an animal feeder including a hopper for holding the feed, a trough, and a mechanism for dispensing the feed from the hopper to the trough. The dispensing mechanism includes a feed flow chan¬ nel from the hopper to the trough and mechanism for moving a discrete quantity of feed through the feed flow channel. In this way_r feed flow is metered according to the repeated movement by the moving mechanism of the discrete quantities of feed.

In a preferred embodiment, the feeder is rec¬ tangular and can be made for a single feeding stall or for a plurality of feeding stalls on one side or both sides of the hopper. The hopper has a feed drop opening. Spaced below the feed drop opening is a feed table. Forwardly of the feed drop opening, there is formed a channel leading to the trough from which the animal may eat the feed. A valve mechanism includes an elongated member projecting toward the trough. The elongated member is attached to a slide member which functions both to open and close the feed drop opening and to sweep feed along the feed table into the channel. The animal learns to move the elongated member so as to open the feed drop opening. In a subsequent movement, the slide member pushes the feed along the feed table into the channel. At the same time, the feed drop opening is again closed.

The present invention is particularly advantageous since the flow of feed from the hopper to the trough is interrupted, and only a discrete amount may be caused to drop into the trough without further action by the animal. Su feature minimizes the likelihood that the animal will pl and fill the trough with feed, thereby leading to spilla and waste. The greater likelihood is that the animal wi function the feeder only to the degree that the animal wan food. In this way, feed is- used efficiently and is ke fresh.

A number of other features of the various elemen of the feeder lead to additional advantages which will beco apparent on reference to the drawings, briefly describ hereinafter, and the detailed description followi thereafter.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of apparatus accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the apparatus of FIGU

1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along li

3-3 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view similar

FIGURE 3 of an alternate embodiment;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the embodiment of FIGU 4;

FIGURE 6 is a first alternate embodiment of t valve assembly; and

FIGURE 7 is a second alternate embodiment of t valve assembly.

Detailed Description of the

Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawings wherein li reference numerals designate identical or corresponding par throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIGU 1, an animal feeder in accordance with the present inventi is designated generally by the numeral 10. Feeder 10 incl des a hopper 12 and a trough 14 extending to one side of hopper 12_* A valve assembly 16 for operation by the animal, preferably a pig for the preferred embodiment, controls the amount of feed which moves from hopper 12 through a feed flow channel 18 to trough 14.

Feeder 10 is constructed to include a housing 20. Housing 20 is formed to include essentially a rectangular tube having a front 22, a back 24 and sides 26. For a reason which will become clear, front 22 does not extend to the ground or floor, while sides 26 and back 24 do, although back 24 does not necessarily have to. Sides 24 extend forwardly from front 22 to include portions forming side walls 34 for trough 14. A front wall 22 for trough 14 is attached bet¬ ween side walls 34 and includes downwardly and rearwardly to bottom 28. Preferably front wall 22 also includes a lip along its upper edge to help retain feed within trough 14. Bottom 28 extends between side walls 34 and extends rear¬ wardly to back wall 40. Back wall 40 extends between side walls 34 upwardly from bottom 40 in a region forwardly of front 22.

As shown in FIGURE 3, hopper 12 has a bottom por¬ tion with an ever-decreasing cross-section leading to feed drop opening 36 at the lowermost area of hopper 12. Front 22 forms one side of the converging bottom portion, while an inclined wall 3^*8 forms another side. Inclined wall - 38 extends between opposite sides 26 and is fastened to back 24 and sides 26 and is spaced from front 22 at a bottom edge to form with front 22 an elongated slot of a desired width to become feed drop opening 36. As indicated, trough 14 is formed by bottom 28, front wail 30 and side walls 34, as well as a back wall 40. Table member 42 is attached to the upper edge of back wall 40 and extends rearwardly, preferably at an upward incline, to back 24. In addition, table member 42 extends from one side 26 to the other. Feed drop opening 36 is spaced upward from table member 42. Also, the forward edge of feed dr opening 36 is spaced forwardly from a planar extension front 22 so that feed does not flow directly through fe drop opening 36 into trough 14, but rather piles up on tab member 42.

Feed flow channel 18 includes feed drop opening and a channel leading to trough 14 having table member 42 a back wall 40 as one side thereof. The other side is form by a fixed member 44 and a movable member 46. Fixed memb 44 has first and second leg portions 48 and 50. First l portion 48 is attached to front 22 and extends forwardly in direction parallel to table member 42 to form an inlet po tion therebetween. First leg portion 48 extends forward for a short distance beyond taole member 42. Second leg po tion 50 extends downwardly toward bottom 28 from first l portion 48 and is spaced outwardly from back wall 40 to fo an outlet portion therebetween. Second leg portion 50 i inclined so that feed flow channel 18 is ever increasing it proceeds from entry opening 52 to a final opening 54 whi leads to the eating area in trough 14. Fixed wall member 4 extends from one trough side wall 34 to the other. Moveabl wall 46 is preferably ^'a flat sheet which is held with a pai of nut and bolt combinations 56 to second leg portion 50 o fixed wall 44. Either fixed wall 44 or moveable wall 46 i slotted so that moveable wall 46 may be moved up and down t enlarge or decrease the size of final opening 54 as desired.

Entry opening 52 is formed between table member 4 and an upper barrier, which in the embodiment shown is th lower edge of front 22. As indicated, final opening 54 i formed between moveable wall 46 and bottom 28. Although fee flow channel 18 begins at feed drop opening 36, it continue with the channel formed between entry opening 52 and fina opening 54. It is pointed out that one or more braces 5 between back wall 40 and fixed wall 44 may be desirable to provide appropriate strength for walls 44 and 46.

Valve assembly 16 includes a slide member 60 with an elongated member 62 attached thereto. Elongated member 62 includes a pad 72 at its unattached end for contact by an animal. Slide member 60 is supported on table member 42 and includes a gate member 64 which moves in close proximity to feed drop opening 36 and functions to open or close opening 36. Slide member 60 also includes sweep member 66 which is preferably attached to and extends downwardly from the front edge of gate member 64. Sweep member 66 functions to push feed which drops onto table member 42 into entry opening 52 of feed flow channel 18. Preferably, both gate member 64 and sweep member 48 are sides of a solid bar or walls of a rec- tangular tube as shown in FIGURE 3. The thickness of slide member 60 should be just slightly less than the distance bet¬ ween the lower edges of feed drop opening 36 and the upper surface of table member 42 so that gate member 64 may effec¬ tively close feed drop opening 36 when slide member 60 slides beneath feed drop opening 36.

Elongated member 62 is a tube or rod preferably attached to sweep member 66 and extending perpendicularly forwardly therefrom through an opening 68 in second leg por- tion 50 of fixed member 44 and, if necessary, an aligned opening 70 in moveable member 46. Opening 68 functions as a guide for elongated member 62 as it slides fore or aft.

Aligned opening 70 in moveable member 46 is formed as a slot.

A guide assembly 74 is fastened to the back wall 76 of slide member 60. Guide assembly 74 includes a circular tube 78 at a location rearwardly from guide member 60 and above table member 42. Tube 78 functions to retain one end of spring 80. A guide member 82 extends downwardly from tube 78 through a slot 82 in table member 42. Guide member 82 functions to guide slide member 60 as it is pushed fore aft. Also, engagement of guide member 82 against one end the other of slot 84 provides a stop for fore or aft moveme of slide member 60. A tab 86 in back 24 is cut on three sides and be inwardly to be approximately perpendicular to table memb 42. Tab 86 includes a threaded opening for receiving a bo 88 which serves as a holder and guide for a second end spring 80. The axis of tube 78 and bolt 88 are aligne Spring 80 biases slide member 60 so that when an animal mov slide member 60 rearwardly, spring 80 returns it forwardly.

An alternate embodiment for valve mechanism 16 shown in FIGURE 6. Similar numerals are used to descri similar elements, although the numerals are primed in ord to distinguish from the preferred embodiment. Valve mech nism 16' is intended to pivot from side to side rather th fore and aft as with assembly 16. Valve assembly 16' incl des slide member 60' with elongated member 62' attached the sweep member 66' of slide member 60'. Pads 90 a fastened on opposite sides of the free end of elongat member 62' so that the animal may easily contact member 62' Slide member 60' is pivotally attached with pin 92 to t table member (not shown in FIGURE 6). Slide member 60' has length in the fore/aft direction several times the width i that direction of feed drop opening 36'. Also, since slid member 60' is rotated in substantially a horizontal plane its side walls 94 are shaped arcuately so as not to interfer with sides 26' of feeder 10'. So that feed does not fall t the side of slide member 60', it is preferable to shorten th length of feed drop opening 36' at each side with a member 9 attached to side 26'. Since elongated member 62' moves fro side to side, a transverse slot is formed in each of fixe wall 44' and moveable wall 46'. A spring 98 is attached bet ween each back corner of slide member 60' and back 24' o feeder 10'. The pair of springs tend to center slide member 60' and elongated member 62' regardless of which direction the animal moves the assembly. Thus, if the animal moves elongated member 62' in rotation, feed drops from the hopper through feed drop opening 36' into a triangular shaped space (not shown) on the table member in front of the rotated slide member 60'. One spring 98 would be stretched in tension during the rotation, and after the animal released elongated member 62', the spring would rotate slide member 60' back to its original position and during such rotation would push the feed which had fallen under the table member into the channel where it would drop into trough 14'.

Another alternate embodiment 10'' is shown in FIGURE 7. In embodiment 10' ' , valve mechanism 16'' is designed for the animal to move a bellcrank 100 up and down. Bellcrank 100 is pivotally attached with a pin 102 to bracket 104 attached to inclined plate 38' '. The contact end of bellcrank 100 includes pads 90"' attached to the top and bot¬ tom. The other end of bellcrank 100 is pivotally attached at pin 106 to link 108. Link 108 is pivotally attached at pin 110 to a member 112 extending rearwardly from slide member 60''. Bellcrank 100 is located above slide member 60" . To accommodate the movement of bellcrank 100, a hollow, elongated housing 114 is installed between front 22' ' and inclined wall 38''. Housing 114 preferably has elongated rectangular, vertical cross-sectional shape. In this way, housing 114 does not shield feed drop opening 36'' signifi¬ cantly. Guide 82'' is attached to and extends beneath member 112 and slides in slot 84'' in the fashion described herein- before. A spring 116 extends between guide 82'' and a bracket 118 attached to rear wall 40'' of trough 14''. A retainer wall 120 is installed parallel to table member 42' ' and rearwardly from feed drop opening 36' ' but at the same level as feed drop opening 36 ^{, l} in order to retain slide member 60'' between table member 42'' and retainer wall 12 as slide member 60'' is moved by bellcrank 100 and link 108 Thus, when an animal pushes downwardly on a pad 90'', slid member 60'' is moved rearwardly and spring 116 extends. Whe the animal releases bellcrank 100, spring 116 returns slid member 60'' to its original position and pushes feed whic had dropped through feed drop opening 36' ' onto table membe 42'' into entry opening 52''. It is noted that the present feeder 10 may be constructed as a back to back unit with a common hopper 122 as shown in FIGURE 4. In such embodiment, all elements ma be the same as previously described except, it is advan¬ tageous to eliminate backs 24 and to include member 124 extending between sides 26. Member 124 is located just above the intersection of table members 60 and is needed to hold a stud 126 for guiding the ends of springs 80.

The embodiment of FIGURE 4 may include a plurality of side by side units as shown in FIGURE 5. Also, although not shown, a substantially circular unit may be created by placing a plurality of feeders such that side by side feeders are at an angle with respect to one another.

In use, feed is placed in hopper 12. The feed rests on slide member 60 which closes feed drop opening 36 and piles thereabove to a desired fill level. hen an animal pushes pad 72, elongated member 62 and slide 60 move ^• rear¬ wardly to compress spring 80. Guide 82 moves in slot 84 to prevent any interference of slide 60 with sides 26. Guide 82 also functions to engage the ends of slot 84 so as to limit the fore and aft stroke of slide member 60. When the animal, such as a pig, releases pad 72, spring 80 extends and forces slide member 60 back to its original position wherein guide 82 engages the front end of slot 84. As this occurs, feed which has dropped through feed drop opening 36 onto table member 42 when slide member 60 was pushed rearwardly, is pushed into inlet opening 52 until it drops off table member 42 and flows along back wall 40 to outlet opening 54. On repeated operation, feed may be forced along bottom 28 of trough 14. In any case, any feed which is near outlet opening 54 may be obtained by the animal with, its tongue.

Embodiments 10' and 10' ' function similarly although the movements of slide members 60' and 60'' in con¬ junction with elongated member 62' or bellcrank 100 and link 108 differ as described hereinbefore.

The present feeder includes a number of features which make the feeder particularly advantageous and ver¬ satile. As indicated, the feeder is preferably rectangular in shape and, thus, fits most pens without wasting space. On the other hand, it may be made to include a plurality of sta¬ tions in either an elongated rectangular form or a substan¬ tially circular form.

The feeder may be constructed using any of a num¬ ber of designs for the valve assembly 16. Some of the designs may be found to be more appropriate to certain ani¬ mals than others. For example, it may be found that a chicken can peck and move bellcrank 100 of embodiment 10"'. In this regard, it is noted that the force needed to activate the valve assembly can be governed by the particular spring constant of the spring used for returning the slide member to its original position. In addition, it is noted that it may be possible to even eliminate the spring in certain cir¬ cumstances, especially considering the preferred embodiment wherein table member 42 is sloped. Although not shown, it is understood that a lid may be used to cover hopper 12 thereby keeping feed fresh.

As discussed hereinbefore-, the concept of the pre¬ sent feeder is to open the feed drop opening to allow feed to drop onto a flat surface and not flow any further until a sweep member pushes the feed to a location where it dro into a trough. It is pointed out that the feed drop openi is located at the lowermost location of hopper 12. Ga member 64 fits closely with respect to feed drop opening 3 and completely closes it when located beneath it. The sli member 60 may slide, pivot or otherwise move on table membe

42 to open and close feed drop opening 36. When the swee member 66 of slide member 60 pushes feed to the edge of tabl member 42, not only must the feed drop off table member 4 into trough 14, but also the feed drop opening will b closed. As indicated hereinbefore, table member 42 is pre ferably sloped, primarily to keep feed from working rear wardly to get behind slide member 60. The portion of th feed flow channel beginning at entry opening 52 should b parallel to the movement of slide member 60. Slide member 6 must extend through entry opening 52 in order to completel push feed off the portion of table member 42 which is for wardly of the forward edge of feed drop opening 36.

With respect to the feed flow channel, feed dro opening 36 should be wide ^■ enough to allow all feed to pas through. Also, it is preferable for fixed wall 44 an moveable wall 46 to angle forwardly from back wall 40 so tha the feed flow channel is wider near bottom 28 to allow an compressed or bunched feed to drop. Backwall 40 should b sloped sufficiently that feed is directed through outle opening 54 toward a convenient eating area in trough 14. Th moveable plate 46 provides for adjustment of final openin 54. This is important since depending on the type of feed even if an animal plays with valve assembly 16 , outle opening 54 will limit the amount of feed which could possibl build up in trough 14 and feed flow channel 18. In this cir cumstance, it is noted that spring 80 would determine an control any compaction.

Thus, the preferred embodiment and alternate embo dimens of the present invention have been disclosed in detai and numerous advantages and features of structure and func¬ tion pointed out. It is understood, however, that the embo¬ diments disclosed are exemplary and that many other equivalents may be possible. Consequently, changes made, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement to the full extent extended by the general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed, are within the prin¬ ciple of the present invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An animal feeder, comprising: a hopper for. holding feed; a trough; means for dispensing the feed from said hopper t said trough, said dispensing means including a feed flo channel from said hopper to said trough and means for movin a discrete quantity of said feed through said feed flow chan nel; whereby flow of said feed is metered according t repeated movement of discrete quantities by said movin means .

2. The feeder in accordance with claim 1 wherein sai hopper includes a feed drop opening, wherein said dispensin means includes a table surface beneath said feed dro opening, and wherein said moving means includes a gate membe for openably closing said feed drop opening and means fo operating said gate member by said animal, whereby feed ma drop onto said table surface when^' said operating means cause said gate member to open said feed drop opening.

3. The feeder in accordance with claim 2 wherein sai operating means" includes an elongated member having one . en connected to said gate member and a second end projectin toward said trough for contact by said animal in order t move said gate member from a first position closing said fee drop opening to a second position opening said feed dro opening.

4. The feeder in accordance with claim 3 wherein said operating means further includes bias means for returning said gate member to said first position after it has been moved to said second position.

5. The feeder in accordance with claim 4 wherein said dispensing means further includes a sweep member attached to said gate member so that when said bias means moves said gate member from said second position to said first position, said sweep member pushes feed from said table surface to a portion of said feed flow channel where said feed falls toward said trough.

•^;

6. The feeder in accordance with claim 2 wherein said feed flow channel includes entry and outlet portions, said entry portion having a bottom wall in common with said table surface.

7. The feeder in accordance with claim 6 wherein said outlet portion of said feed flow channel and said trough include a common wall, said outlet portion also including a front wall, said front wail being spaced from said common wall so that said outlet portion is ever increasing in cross section as it proceeds from said inlet portion toward said trough.

8. The feeder in accordance with claim 7 wherein said trough includes a bottom and wherein said front wall of the outlet portion of said feed flow channel includes a bottom edge spaced from said trough bottom to form a final opening to an eating area in said trough, said feeder including means for adjusting said front wall so as to adjust the size of said final opening.

9. An animal feeder, comprising: a hopper for holding feed, said hopper having a feed drop opening; a trough attached to said hopper, said trough including a bottom and front and back walls; a table member attached to said back wall of sai trough and located beneath said feed drop opening; a barrier member forming with said table member a entry opening from said table member to said trough; means for valving said feed drop opening, sai valving means including means for activating by an animal, said valving means having a first stroke during which sai feed drop opening is opened to allow feed to drop onto said table member, said valving means aving a second stroke, said valving means having a sweep member so that during said second stroke said sweep member pushes said feed on said feed table into said entry opening for^' movement to said trough; and means for supporting said valving means with respect to said table member, said feed drop opening and said entry opening.-

10. The feeder in accordance with claim 9 wherein said valving means includes means for controlling compaction of said feed as said sweep member pushes said feed into said entry opening.

11. The feeder in accordance with claim 9 wherein said hopper includes an edge member which forms a front edge for said feed drop opening and wherein said table member includes a ledge portion extending toward said trough beyond any ver¬ tical line extending downwardly from said front edge, said ledge portion preventing said feed from flowing from said hopper to said trough without stopping.

12. The feeder in accordance with claim 9 wherein said valving means further includes a gate member attached to said sweep member, said gate member openably closing said feed drop opening, said valving means also including an elongated member attached to one of said gate member and said sweep me ber, said elongated member projecting toward said trough for movement by said animal.

13. The feeder in accordance with claim 12 wherein said valving means also includes means for biasing said gate member closed with respect to said feed drop opening.

14. The feeder in accordance with claim 12 wherein said valving means also includes means for pivoting said gate and sweep members with respect to said table member.

15. The feeder in accordance with claim 14 wherein said valving means also includes means for biasing said gate member closed with respect to said feed drop opening.

16. The feeder in accordance with claim 12 wherein said elongated member is . a crankarm having opposite ends and wherein said valving means also includes means for pivoting said crankarm with respect .to said gate and sweep members.

17. The feeder in acocrdance with claim 16 wherein said valving means also includes means for biasing said gate member closed with respect to said feed drop opening.