WO1995019104A1

WO1995019104A1 - Feeding device

Info

Publication number: WO1995019104A1
Application number: PCT/DK1995/000018
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Frydkjaer
Original assignee: A/S Dansk Staldindustri
Priority date: 1994-01-14
Filing date: 1995-01-11
Publication date: 1995-07-20
Also published as: DK105194A; AU1413695A

Abstract

The invention relates to a feeding device for selective feeding of animals. The device is activated by the animal when it wants feed, and a dosing device ensures that overfeeding does not occur. Consequently, the risk is minimized of disease germs forming or developing in possible feed remnants, which will be left over if overfeeding occurs. Furthermore, the surface which the animals are in contact with by activating the dosing device is very small so that the risk of disease germs developing on this surface is also minimized.

Description

FEEDING DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus in the form of a feeding device for feeding animals, and where the feeding takes place by the apparatus being activated by animals wanting feed.

DK 43827, EP 0.428.910 and WO 93/13652 all describe feeding appara¬ tuses, where the feeding is activated by animals wanting feed. More- over, other apparatuses are known, which comprise a dosing device for regulation of the amount of feed provided.

DK 43827 and EP 0.428.910 describe feeding troughs, which comprise a feeding reservoir for temporary storage of feed. The feeding reservoir is funnel-shaped and arranged above the trough with a downwardly facing opening, which leads to the trough. The downwardly facing opening of the feeding reservoir is closed by a plate, which in a resiliently way may be actuated by animals wanting feed, by which activation the opening of the feeding reservoir opens, and feed is discharged into the trough.

WO 93/13652 describes an apparatus for feeding animals, where the feed is discharged into the trough by way of a vertical, flexible hose. The length of the hose is adapted in such a way that when the hose is located in a state unaffected by animals, and therefore extends precisely vertical under the influence of the centre of gravity, the orifice of the hose just exactly abuts the surface of the trough. Thus, the feed in the hose is prevented from being discharged from the hose. By actuating the hose, said hose is lead to an oblique state, and feed from the hose is discharged into the trough.

The drawback of the above mentioned known apparatuses for feeding animals is that it is not possible to regulate how great an amount of feed is discharged from the apparatus, each time animals wanting feed activate the apparatus. This risk of overfeeding simultaneously in¬ creases the risk of disease germs being developed in the feed, which is in the trough, and which due to overfeeding, cannot be eaten by the animals right away. The risk of disease germs is already high as the part of the apparatus, which is activated by the animals, constitutes a large surface, where saliva and other impurities from animals are accumulated and form grounds for further disease germs.

Thus, it is the object of the present invention to provide an appara- tus for feeding animals, where it is possible to regulate the amount of feed discharged to the animals each time said animals activate the apparatus, and where the part of the apparatus, which is activated by direct contact with the animal, constitutes a very little surface. Both of these initiatives to minimize the risk of disease germs, and simultaneously said apparatus prevents overfeeding.

This is obtained with an apparatus, characterized in that the lowest part consists of an outer and an inner funnel, that the inner funnel joins the outer funnel, that a dosing chamber is formed between the inner and outer funnel, that an orifice of the outer funnel forms a mouth for the apparatus, that the dosing device comprises a body, which is positioned in the orifice of the outer funnel, and which is intended to be activated by animals wanting feed, and which may be shifted between a first and second position, in which first position of the body, a surface of the body abuts the outer funnel, and in which the second position of the body, the surface of the body abuts a surface of a part of the apparatus oppositely facing in relation to the orifice of the outer funnel, which part forms an outlet for the reservoir through the inner funnel.

In a preferred embodiment the apparatus is characterized in that said part is made up of a throttle, which extends between the orifice of the inner funnel and the body, and that the throttle between a first and second position is shifting in its extension toward the body, in which first position of the throttle, the surface of the throttle extends to the orifice of the inner funnel, and in which second posi¬ tion of the throttle, a surface of the throttle extends to the surface of the body.

With an apparatus according to the invention the risk is highly avoided of disease germs forming and developing. This is partly owing to the fact that the amount of feed, which is discharged through the apparatus by the activating of said apparatus by the animals, may be regulated. The animals have to activate the apparatus at least once in order to obtain the amount of feed they want at that particular time. This means that overfeeding is avoided. Consequently, excess feed will not accumulate outside the reservoir, and which would usually form genial soil for disease germs. In addition to that, the dosing device in the apparatus is positioned in such a way that the area the animals are in contact with by activating the apparatus, is as small as possible. Consequently, the part of the apparatus which is activated by direct contact with the animals, constitutes a very little surface and correspondingly, constitutes little tendency for developing disease germs.

As mentioned the apparatus consists of a feeding reservoir, which joins a lower funnel-shaped part. The funnel-shaped part is divided in two, an inner and an outer funnel with each its orifice. The orifice of the outer funnel forms a mouth for the apparatus, and in this orifice a body is provided, which closes the orifice. Between the orifice of the inner funnel and the orifice of the outer funnel a dosing chamber is formed. Feed from the reservoir is discharged towards the inner funnel and further out through the orifice of the inner funnel and out into the dosing chamber. Here the further dis¬ charge of the feed is stopped in such a way that the feed cannot be discharged from the orifice of the inner funnel and out of the appara¬ tus.

When the body is activated by the animals wanting feed, the body is displaced up into the dosing chamber. Consequently, access from the dosing chamber to the orifice is gained, simultaneously with the orifice of the inner funnel being closed by the body. Therefore, the only amount of feed which is discharged to the animals, is the amount which was in the dosing chamber before the body was activated. When this amount of feed is discharged from the apparatus the animals stop activating the body, after which this falls into place in the orifice of the outer funnel. Consequently, this orifice is closed simul¬ taneously with the orifice on the inner funnel opening, and new feed from the reservoir is discharged into the dosing chamber.

In the preferred embodiment the amount discharged from the apparatus each time the body is activated, is regulated by means of a throttle, which may be shifted between the orifice of the inner funnel and the surface of the body. The shifting of the throttle gives rise to a changed amount of feed, which is discharged into the dosing chamber between the inner and the outer funnel.

In a first position of the throttle, said throttle extends to the orifice of the inner funnel. The throttle may be formed in such a way that the dosing chamber, in relation to the discharge of feed from the apparatus, either is below the throttle or above the throttle. In the first position of the throttle, depending on the form of the throttle, there is either unhindered passage or complete blockage of feed through the orifice of the inner funnel and further to the dosing chamber. Therefore, maximum amount of feed, respectively no feed is accumulated in the dosing chamber.

If the throttle is formed so that the dosing chamber is below the throttle, whereby maximum amount of feed is accumulated in the dosing chamber in the first position of the throttle, the feed will subse¬ quently be ready to be discharged from the orifice of the outer funnel and from the apparatus the next time the body is activated by animals.

However, if the throttle is formed so that the dosing chamber is above the throttle, whereby no feed is discharged from the dosing chamber in the first position of the throttle, thus the dosing chamber will be empty, and no discharge of feed will occur even if the body is activated by animals.

In a second position of the throttle, said throttle extends to the surface of the body. Also, there is either a complete blockage or an unhindered passage of feed to the dosing chamber in the second posi- tion of the throttle, depending on the form of the throttle. In the second position of the throttle, said throttle abuts the body, and will be shifted together with this when the body is activated by animals.

If the throttle is formed in such a way that the dosing chamber is below the throttle, whereby no amount is discharged into the dosing chamber in the second position of the throttle, thus the dosing chamber will be empty, and no discharge of feed will occur even if the body is activated by animals. However, if the throttle is formed in such a way that the dosing chamber is above the throttle, whereby maximum amount is discharged into the dosing chamber in the second position of the throttle, sub¬ sequently the feed will be ready to be discharged out from the orifice of the outer funnel and out from the apparatus, next time the body is activated.

The throttle may be regulated to an arbitrary position between the two outer positions mentioned above for regulating the amount of feed dis- charged into the dosing chamber, each time the body has been acti¬ vated.

The apparatus according to the invention may be formed in many dif¬ ferent ways. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a rectangular reservoir, where the body as an example is made up of a cylinder. In a second and preferred embodiment the apparatus comprises a circular reservoir, where the body as an example is made up of a ball.

The body in the dosing device may also be formed in many different ways. The preferred embodiments for the body to a rectangular reser¬ voir and circular reservoir, respectively, are the above-mentioned, a cylinder and a ball, respectively. However, the body may also be more or less conical or pear-shaped. In the interest of minimizing the risk of developing disease germs, it is desired that it is always the same part of the surface of the body, which faces outwardly towards the animals, and the same part of the surface of the body, which faces inwardly towards the dosing chamber. Thus, it is ensured that no transmitting of possible impurities and disease germs occur from the part of the surface, which faces outwardly towards the animals, and to the amount of feed, which is in the dosing chamber. This may be obtained by the centre of gravity of the body being in an outer part of the body, which consequently by means of the gravitation will always face the outer part downwards, where the centre of gravity is placed.

In a specific embodiment the apparatus is provided with a brace which is arranged to be activated by animals wanting feed instead of their activating the body. The brace is rotatably suspended and extends beyond the body in a level below the orifice. This embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention is particularly suitable for small pigs who have just been weanedoff. These small pigs still have difficulties in operating the feeding apparatus by activating the body whereas it is easier for them to activate the apparatus when it is provided with a brace extending around the body and being able to actuate the body when the brace is activated. The apparatus may be provided with one or more braces for activating the apparatus from one side or from several sides.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein

Fig. 1 shows a section of a simplified sketch of an apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows an apparatus in a first situation during use,

Fig. 3 shows an apparatus in a second situation during use,

Fig. 4 shows a section through a first embodiment for an apparatus according to the invention, F Fiigg.. 5 5 shows a first section through a second embodiment for an apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 6 shows a second section through the second embodiment for an apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 7 shows a section through a third embodimen t for an apparatus according to the invention, and

Fig . 8 shows different embodiments for the forming of a body to a dosing device. Fig. 9A and fig. 9B shows a brace to be used in a preferred embodiment of the invention

Fig. 1 illustrates the principle of building up the apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus comprises a feeding reser¬ voir 1 with side walls 2 and diameter d_R, which has an upper end 3 for filling up of feed and a lower end 4, through which the feed is intended for being discharged from the apparatus. The lower end 4 of the apparatus 1 is funnel-shaped and constitutes an outer funnel 5 with an angle α, and which has an orifice 6 with an internal diameter dg. Above the outer funnel 5, inside the reservoir 1, the apparatus is provided with an inner funnel 7 with an angle 7, and which has an orifice extending above a certain longitudinal part 9, and with an internal diameter d_j.

Inside the reservoir 1 the apparatus is also provided with a distri- butor plate 10, which is suspended in a stay 11, and which distributes feed (see fig. 2 and 3), which is filled up in the reservoir 1, out towards the side walls 2 of the reservoir, and which reduces the pressure in the feed and reduces the risk of bridging. The distributor plate 10 may be adjusted for different levels in the reservoir 1.

The spacing between the outer funnel 5 and the inner funnel 7 forms a dosing chamber 12. In the embodiment shown the orifice 8 of the inner funnel 7 is provided with a throttle 13, which may be shifted up and down in the orifice 8, and which has a surface in form of a bottom edge area 14. It is not illustrated how the throttle is shifted, as this may be done in different ways. The shifting of the throttle may occur e.g. with rod drive 13' to the upper end 3 of the reservoir 1. The rod drive 13' may run parallel to and outside the stay 11 to the distributor plate or inside, if the stay is hollow, as illustrated in the figure. In an alternative embodiment the apparatus is not provided with a throttle 13.

The orifice 6 of the outer funnel 5 is provided with a body 15, which may be shifted up and down, and thereby extend more or less inside the dosing chamber 12 towards the throttle 13 and the orifice 8 of the inner funnel 7. The body 15 has a surface 16 and a diameter d_β, which is greater than the diameter d_Q of the orifice 6 on the outer funnel 5. The dosing chamber 12, the throttle 13, and the body 15 all con¬ stitute parts of the dosing device.

If the apparatus is not provided with a throttle 13, it is either possible to leave out the possibility of regulating the amount of feed, which is discharged into the dosing chamber 12, or to carry out the regulation by shifting the inner funnel 7 up or down.

Fig. 2 illustrates a first situation, where the reservoir is filled up with feed 17, which is discharged past the throttle 13 in the orifice 8 of the inner funnel 7, and further into the dosing chamber 12. How¬ ever, the body 15 prevents the feed 17 from being discharged through the orifice 6 of the outer funnel 5. The amount of feed 17, which is discharged into the dosing chamber 12, depends in the embodiment shown on the position of the throttle 13.

When the throttle 13 is in a first, upper postion, at which the edge area 14 of the throttle is in line with a lower edge 18 on the orifice 8 of the inner funnel 7, the dosing chamber 12 is filled at a maximum. In this situation it is not the throttle 13, but the lower edge 18 of the orifice 8 of the inner funnel 7, which sets the limits of the admission of feed 17 to the dosing chamber 12.

When the throttle 13 is in a second, lower position, at which the edge area 14 of the throttle is in contact with the surface 16 of the body 15, the dosing chamber 12 will not be filled at all. In this situation the throttle 13 will completely prevent admission of feed 17 to the dosing chamber 12, as an upper edge 19 of the throttle 13 is above the lower edge 18 of the orifice 8 of the inner funnel, and the edge area 14 of the throttle abuts the surface of the body.

Fig. 3 illustrates a second situation, where the body 15 is activated by animals wanting feed, e.g. activated by the snout of a pig (not shown). By activating, the body 15 is shifted upwardly towards the edge area 14 of the throttle 13, and the surface 16 on the body 15 abuts the edge area of the throttle. Consequently, admission of feed 17 from the reservoir 1 to the dosing chamber 12 is interrupted, but at the same time opportunity is created for the feed, which was already in the dosing chamber before the body was activated, to be discharged from the orifice 6 of the outer funnel 5, and out to the animal .

When the feed in the dosing chamber 12 is discharged, the admission of feed ends, and the animal will stop the activating of the body 15. Subsequently the body is shifted downwards to its starting position as illustrated in Figure 2. Access from the reservoir 1 to the dosing chamber 12 is gained again, and the dosing chamber is filled up with feed 17 from the reservoir. If the animal by a first activation of the body 15 does get its hunger satisfied, a new activation will thus repeat the above course. Fig. 4 illustrates a first embodiment for an apparatus according to the invention. The reservoir 1 is a circular tube, and the outer and inner funnels 5,7 are formed like a truncated cone. The body 15 is a ball and the throttle 13 is also a circular tube. A preferred choise of material for making the apparatus in the embodiment shown is plastics, alternatively the reservoir and the inner and outer funnels may be made from e.g. stainless steel.

Fig. 5 illustrates a second embodiment for an apparatus according to the invention. The reservoir 1, the outer funnel 5, and the body 15 are identical with the corresponding parts illustrated in Figure 4.

However, the throttle 13 in the embodiment shown is a plate with circular circumference mounted between the outer and the inner funnels

5,7. In the embodiment shown the plate is substantially plane with a slight reduction of the thickness of the plate at an edge area 20 of the plate. Other plates e.g. concave or convex plates could also be used as throttle in the shown embodiment.

The function of a plate and a cylindrical tube, respectively, as throttle 13, is substantially identical. By the activation by animals the body 15 will abut one point towards a downwardly facing surface 21 (not shown) on the plate, which faces the body, instead of abutting a surface in form of an edge area 14 of a cylindrical tube. Thus, the specification made for Figures 1-3 is also applicable at the descrip- tion of the function of a throttle, which is formed like a plate only with the exception that abutment between the body 15 and the throttle 13 occurs on the surface 21 of the plate, and not on a surface in form of an edge area 14 of a cylindrical tube.

Fig. 6 illustrates a preferred construction of the second embodiment for an apparatus according to the invention, and with regard to function, differs from the function of the throttle in Figure 4 and Figure 5. The construction comprises the outer and inner funnel 5,7. The reservoir 1 is not illustrated. The throttle 13 in form of a sub- stantially plane plate is suspended in the stay 11. However, the stay 11 is hollow and an axle 22 for the throttle 13 extends from an up¬ wardly facing top side 23 of the plate up through the stay. The axle 22 is provided with a shoulder 24 and the stay 11 is provided with a projection 25, which extends inwards in the shoulder of the axle. Consequently, a limitation is made of the travel of the throttle 13 between an upper and a lower position, which is limited by abutment between the projection 25, and an upper and lower end 26,27 of the shoulder 24, respectively.

When the body is activated by animals wanting feed, said body 15 will be shifted upwardly towards the throttle 13. The body 15 will abut the downwardly facing surface 21 of the throttle 13, and because of the possibility of the throttle being shifted axially along with the axle 22, the body and the throttle will be further shifted upwardly towards the orifice 8 of the inner funnel 7. The body 15 and the throttle 13 are shifted till the upwardly facing surface 23 of the throttle abuts the orifice 8 of the inner funnel 7. Feed, which before activation was present in the dosing chamber 12 above the throttle 13, is shaken and shifted by activation beyond the edge area 23 of the throttle and further down towards the orifice 6 for the outer funnel 5 and out through the orifice and out of the apparatus.

When the animals no longer activate the body 15, said body 15 and the throttle 13 will fall back to their starting positions as illustrated in the figure. Preferably, all the feed which before the activating was in the dosing chamber 12 above the throttle 13, will during activation be discharged from the apparatus. When the activation ends, and the body 15 and the throttle 13 fall back to their starting positions, new feed from the reservoir will be discharged into the dosing chamber 12 above the throttle 13.

A diameter d_τ of the throttle 13 is determined so that the diameter dγ in relation to the diameter dr of the orifice 8 of the inner funnel 7 ensures that feed, which is discharged from the reservoir 3 out into the dosing chamber 12 above the throttle, will not be discharged beyond the edge area 20 of the throttle, when it is in its starting position. Not until the throttle 13 is activated the feed in the dosing chamber 12 above the throttle 13 will be discharged beyond the edge area 20 as described above.

Fig. 7 illustrates a third embodiment for an apparatus according to the invention. The reservoir 1 is a rectangular case, and the outer and inner funnels 5,7 have a trapezoid cross section. The body 15 is a circular cylinder, which in the embodiment shown is divided into sub^¬ sidiary bodies 15',15",15"', and the throttle 13 has at least two parallel planes along each side of the orifice 8 on the inner funnel 7, alternatively a rectangular case. In the embodiment shown the part of the apparatus, which constitutes the reservoir 3, and the outer and inner funnels 5,7, are made from e.g. stainless steel, while other parts of the apparatus are made from plastics.

Just as the throttle 13 in a circular cylindrical reservoir either may be a circular, cylindrical tube or a circular plate (see Figure 4 and Figure 5), the throttle in the embodiment shown in Figure 7 may also be made up of a rectangular plate instead of two parallel planes or a rectangular case.

The apparatus according to the present invention may have many different embodiments, and therefore, the two mentioned above may be seen as examples of these only.

Fig. 8 illustrates different embodiments for the body 15 to the dosing device. The body is shown with simple geometrical basic forms for use in a circular cylindrical apparatus and a rectangular apparatus, respectively. The shown basic forms are a circle, an ellipsis, a cone, and a pear-shape in spherical and cylindrical forms, respectively.

The body is solid or hollow, and may be made with a homogeneous mate¬ rial distribution or with the centre of gravity being lower than in a homogeneous subject. This may e.g. be obtained in a hollow body by containing a liquid or a solid body, and in a solid subject also by containing a liquid or a solid body, or by making the solid body in different materials with a material with higher density in the lowest part of the body. By making the body with a particularly low centre of gravity, greater reassurance is obtained for it always being the same part of the surface of the body, which faces outwardly towards the animals, and the same part, which faces inwardly towards the feed in the dosing chamber.

The embodiments illustrated in fig. 8 are to be seen only as examples of the forming of the body, as many other forms will comply with the object and use of the body in the apparatus according to the invention.

Fig. 9A and fig. 9B illustrates a specific embodiment of the feeding apparatus according to the invention. At the orifice 6 the feeding apparatus is provided with a brace 28 extending in a curve from a first fitting 29 on one side of the reservoir 2 to a second fitting 30 on the other side of the reservoir. The brace 28 is rotatably suspended in the fittings 29,30 so that the brace is able to be dis¬ placed sideways towards the body 15. The brace 28 comprises two sections 31 for activating the brace and one section 32 for actuating the body 15. The sections 31 for activating the brace 28 are arranged to be activated by animals wanting feed, the animals causing a side¬ ways displacement of the brace towards the body 15. The section 32 for actuating the body 15 will then contact the surface 16 of the body and during continued activation of the brace, the body will be displaced upward, and feed will be discharged from the apparatus. This embodi¬ ment is particularly suitable for small pigs having a weight of between 8 and 20 kg.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Apparatus in the form of a feeding device for feeding animals, which apparatus comprises a reservoir (1) for receiving and temporary storage of feed (17), and a dosing device, which is intended to be activated by animals wanting feed, which apparatus at a lowest part (4) is substantially funnel-shaped, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lowest part consists of an outer and an inner funnel (5,7), that the inner funnel joins the outer funnel, that a dosing chamber (12) is formed between the inner and outer funnel, that an orifice (6) of the outer funnel (5) forms a mouth for the apparatus, that the dosing device comprises a body (15), which is positioned in the orifice of the outer funnel, and which is intended to be activated by animals wanting feed, and which may be shifted between a first and second position, in which first position of the body, a surface (16) of the body abuts the outer funnel, and in which the second position of the body, the surface (16) of the body abuts a surface (14,18,20) of a part of the apparatus oppositely facing in relation to the orifice of the outer funnel, which part forms an outlet for the reservoir through the inner funnel .

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said part is made up of a throttle (13), which extends between the orifice (8) of the inner funnel (7) and the body (15), and that the throttle between a first and second position is shifting in its exten¬ sion toward the body, in which first position of the throttle, the surface (14,20) of the throttle (13) extends to the orifice (8) of the inner funnel (7), and in which second position of the throttle, a sur¬ face (14,24) of the throttle (13) extends to the surface (16) of the body (15).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the reservoir (1) is made up of a tube with circular, cylindrical cross sections, that the inner and outer funnels (5,7) are made up of truncated cones, that the body (15) is made up of a ball, and that the throttle (13) is made up of a tube with circular, cylindrical cross sections.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the reservoir (1) is made up of a tube with circular, cylindrical cross sections, that the inner and outer funnels (5,7) are made up of truncated cones, that the body (15) is made up of a ball, and that the throttle (13) is made up of a plate with circular cicumference.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the reservoir (1) is made up of a reservoir with substantially rectangular cross sections, that the inner and outer funnels (5,7) have a trapezoid cross section, that the body (15) is made up of a circular cylinder, and that the throttle (13) is made up of at least two parallel planes, preferably of a substantially rectangular frame.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the reservoir (1) is made up of a reservoir with substantially rectangular cross sections, that the inner and outer funnels (5,7) have a trapezoid cross section, that the body (15) is made up of a circular cylinder, and that the throttle (13) is made up of a substan¬ tially rectangular plate.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the body (15) is made up of several subsidiary bodies (15',15",15'").

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a - r a c t e r i z e d in that the angle (α,7) on the inner and the outer funnel is of between 10° and 170°, preferably of between 30° and 120°, most preferably 60° for the inner funnel and 90^β for the outer funnel.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a ¬ r a c t e r ] z e d in that the body (15) has an inho ogeneous mass distribution, and that the centre of gravity of the body in relation to a body with homogeneous mass distribution is shifted towards the part of the surface of the body, which is intended to outwardly face the animals.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the outer and inner funnels (5,7) con¬ stitute separate parts, which are mounted on a reservoir (1).