WO1999021783A1 - Desileuse reglable permettant de determiner la quantite d'aliments transportee dans un convoyeur repartiteur - Google Patents

Desileuse reglable permettant de determiner la quantite d'aliments transportee dans un convoyeur repartiteur Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999021783A1
WO1999021783A1 PCT/US1998/022840 US9822840W WO9921783A1 WO 1999021783 A1 WO1999021783 A1 WO 1999021783A1 US 9822840 W US9822840 W US 9822840W WO 9921783 A1 WO9921783 A1 WO 9921783A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
unloader
conveyor
tube
regulator
feed
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1998/022840
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Eugene B. Pollock
Original Assignee
The Gsi Group, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by The Gsi Group, Inc. filed Critical The Gsi Group, Inc.
Priority to AU12037/99A priority Critical patent/AU1203799A/en
Publication of WO1999021783A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999021783A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G33/00—Screw or rotary spiral conveyors
    • B65G33/08—Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for fluent solid materials
    • B65G33/14—Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for fluent solid materials comprising a screw or screws enclosed in a tubular housing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K5/00—Feeding devices for stock or game ; Feeding wagons; Feeding stacks
    • A01K5/02—Automatic devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K5/00—Feeding devices for stock or game ; Feeding wagons; Feeding stacks
    • A01K5/02—Automatic devices
    • A01K5/0258—Automatic devices with endless screws

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an unloader for unloading a flowable material, such as animal or poultry feed, from a bulk source of the feed into a conveyor in such manner that the amount of feed carried by the conveyor can be accurately regulated.
  • a flowable (fluent) feed mixture is typically delivered to the farm via trucks and is stored in a bulk feed tank or the like.
  • a feed conveyor is actuated to unload feed from the bulk feed tank and to deliver it via an automated feed conveying system to a series of feeding stations (feeders) where it is dispensed for consumption by the animals or poultry.
  • a feed intake cup also referred to as an unloader
  • the amount of feed carried by the conveyor can be regulated (i.e., fully closed or block, partially opened, or fully opened) so that the conveyor will carry only a desired amount of feed.
  • This is particularly important where the feed conveyor is supplying feed to an open trough feeder or the like in which a constant depth of feed in the trough feeder is desired. Disclosure of Invention
  • an unloader in which the amount of feed carried by a feed conveyor may be regulated between a minimum and a maximum amount such that the conveyor only carries a predetermined amount of feed;
  • the provision of such an unloader which prevents undue compaction of the feed within the conveyor tube which could lead to jamming of the auger within the conveyor tube.
  • Such an unloader which positively displaces excess feed carried by the conveyor element (auger) as the auger passes through the unloader;
  • the provision of such an unloader which may be used in conjunction with two feed hoppers in line with the feed conveyor (for example, the feed discharge hoppers of two bulk feed tanks or two feed supply hoppers) so as to allow regulation of the flow of feed from each of the hoppers without overloading of the feed conveyor;
  • an unloader of the present invention receives a fluent material (e.g., animal fluent material) from a source (e.g., one or more bulk feed tanks or feed supply hoppers) and delivers the fluent material into a conveyor which is in fluent material receiving relation with the unloader.
  • the unloader comprises an unloader body adapted to receive the fluent material from the source of the fluent material.
  • the body has an inlet and an outlet for receiving a conveyor.
  • the conveyor enters the unloader via the inlet, picks up the fluent material within the unloader, and conveys it therefrom via the conveyor outlet.
  • a regulator tube at least in part surrounds the conveyor as the latter passes through the unloader body.
  • the regulator tube has a regulator opening therein.
  • the regulating tube is rotatable with respect to the unloader body between a closed position in which the regulator opening is closed block the flow of fluent material from within the unloader body through the regulator opening to the conveyor and an open position in which the regulator opening receives the fluent material from within the unloader body and permits the fluent material to be delivered to the conveyor.
  • Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a feed conveying system within a poultry house or the like for supplying feed from a bulk feed tank located outside of the poultry house (not shown in Fig. 1, but similar to the bulk feed tank shown in Fig. 4) to a multiplicity of poultry feeders (either trough feeders as shown in Fig. 3 or drop feeders as shown in U. S. Patent 5,462,017) spaced along a conveyor tube arranged in an endless loop in which a flexible auger (or other conveyor element) is axially driven within the conveyor tube to convey feed from an unloader of the present invention to a number of feeders supplied by the unloader;
  • Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the feed conveying system shown in Fig. 1 taken along line 2 - 2 of Fig. 1 showing a drive motor for axially driving the flexible auger around the endless loop of the feed conveyor, and hopper downstream from the drive for allowing feed to be loaded into the conveyor with the hopper having a feed regulator of the present invention incorporated therein for regulating the amount of feed fed into the conveyor tube so as to prevent overloading of the conveyor and to prevent jamming of the conveyor, and portions of trough poultry feeders upstream and downstream from the drive and hopper;
  • Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the portion of the conveyor system shown in Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of a poultry house having a bulk feed tank located on the outside of the house for supplying poultry feed therefrom so as to supply the feed via an overhead supply conveyor system to one or more of the hoppers shown in Figs. 2 and 3:
  • Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross section on an enlarged scale of a portion of the unloader or regulatory of the present invention taken along line 5 - 5 of Fig. 2 showing the regulator or unloader of the present invention;
  • Figs. 6A - 6C are cross sectional views taken along line 6 - 6 of Fig. 5 illustrating an operating member coupled to the above-noted regulator member for adjusting the amount of feed discharged from the unloader hopper into the auger conveyor therebelow;
  • Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross section of an unloader of the present invention similar to Fig. 5 illustrating that the feed conveyor is a chain-type conveyor which is driven axially through the feeder;
  • Fig. 8 is a longitudinal cross section similar to Fig. 5 of a somewhat different embodiment of the unloader of this invention in which the regulating tube may be adjusted in any desired position between its closed and its fully open positions;
  • Figs. 9A - 9C are end views similar to Figs. 6A - 6C of the unloader shown in Fig. 8 illustrating the infinite adjustment of the regulating tube of the unloader in its fully closed position (Fig. 9A), in and intermediate position (Fig. 9B), and in a fully open position (Fig. 9C);
  • Figs. 10A - IOC illustrate the infinite feed regulator or unloader of Figs. 7 - 9 in its fully open position and with the corresponding feed level an open trough feeder (as shown in Fig. 10A), in an intermediate position with the corresponding feed level in an open trough feeder (see Fig. 10B), and with the feed adjustment in a nearly closed position with a corresponding minimal feed level in a trough feeder (Fig. IOC);
  • Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the unloader of the present invention having the infinite feed adjustment shown in Figs. 6, and 8 - 10 having an agitator driven by movement of the auger conveyor differing in shape from the agitator shown in Figs. 2 and 5;
  • Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the unloader shown in Fig. 11 showing a lower portion of the agitator in driven engagement with the flights of the auger conveyor with a portion of the agitator rod in a lower position between adjacent flights of the auger and being cammingly engaged by the auger flights;
  • Figs. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views of the unloader of Fig. 12 showing the range of movement of the agitator when the latter is driven by the moving auger with the agitator breaking up feed above the unloader so as to insure a uniform flow of feed to the unloader;
  • Figs. 14A - 14C illustrate another embodiment of the unloader of the present invention in which the unloader opening is opened and closed by an axially movable tube rather than by a rotatably movable tube as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 8 - 13;
  • Fig. 15 is an end cross sectional view of another embodiment of the unloader of the present invention in which the flow of feed from the unloader into the conveyor is regulated by means of a slide plate adjustably movable along a slope sheet within the unloader so as to open and close the flow of feed into the conveyor, with the slide plate being adjustable for the exterior of the unloader;
  • Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of the unloader shown in Fig. 15 illustrating the movement of the slide plate from the exterior of the unloader;
  • Fig. 17 is an end elevational view of still another embodiment of the unloader of the present invention in which the flow of feed from the unloader into the conveyor is regulated by means of an axially adjustable tube movable in axial direction with respect to the unloader tube so as to permit the opening to the conveyor to be selectively open or closed and to thereby regulate the flow of feed from the unloader body into the conveyor;
  • Fig. 18 is a side elevational cross sectional view of the unloader of Fig.
  • Fig. 19 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of another embodiment of the unloader of the present invention which has a main or outer tube within which is located an regulator tube movable axially within the outer tube between a closed or off position and a fully open position;
  • Figs. 20A - 20C illustrate the embodiment of Fig. 19 in its fully closed or off position, an intermediate position, and its fully open position, respectively, so as to control the flow of feed from the unloader hopper into the feed conveyor;
  • Fig. 21 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along line 21 - 21 of Fig.
  • Fig. 22 is a top plan view of the outer or main tube as shown in Fig. 19 having an elongate slot therein through which an adjustment rod coupled to the inner or regulator tube may pass so as to allow axial adjustment of the inner tube with respect to the main tube;
  • Fig. 23 is a top plan view of the inner or regulator tube;
  • Fig. 24 is a top plan view of a somewhat different embodiment of the inner or regulator tube shown in Fig. 23 which is preferably used to regulate the flow of fluent material from two hoppers installed in line with one another on a conveyor, as illustrated in Fig. 26;
  • Fig. 25 is a top plan view of a somewhat different embodiment of the outer tube as shown in Fig. 22; and
  • Fig. 26 is a side elevational view of two hoppers installed on a feed conveyor in line with one another for supplying feed from a source to the feed conveyor with the feed conveyor at each of the hoppers being provided with an unloader or feed supply regulator of the present invention so as to regulate the flow of feed from the supply hoppers to the feed conveyor
  • a feed conveyor is indicated in its entirety by reference character 1.
  • This feed conveyor is shown to have a conveyor tube 3 arranged in an endless loop within a poultry house H (see Fig. 4) in which a flock of birds (chickens) is housed.
  • the conveyor has a plurality of feeders F spaced at intervals along the length of conveyor 1.
  • feeders F are open trough feeders which may be used to feed chickens housed in cages in an egg laying operation or the like.
  • An endless auger A (as shown best in Fig. 5) is disposed within conveyor tube 3.
  • Auger A is a co-called "centerless" auger in that it has no center shaft.
  • the auger is similar to a stretched coil spring and has a plurality of substantially equally spaced auger helical flights AF.
  • auger flights AF are of substantially rectangular cross section and are spaced from one another at regular intervals referred to as pitch P.
  • augers of any diameter and pitch may be used.
  • conveyors of different construction e.g., chain conveyors, as illustrated in Fig. 7 may be used with the regulator of this invention.
  • Auger A is axially driven or propelled around the endless loop of feed conveyor 1 by one or more auger drives, as generally indicated at 5.
  • This drive may be a rotary driven gear in mesh with the flights of the auger, as described in U. S. Patent 4,460,230 or by a drive such as described in the co-assigned U. S. Patent Application No. 08/708,408 filed September 5, 1996, herein incorporated by reference.
  • feed is supplied to hoppers 7 from one or more bulk feed tanks BFT (see Fig. 4) located outside poultry house H. Feed from hopper 7 is delivered to an unloader 9 of the present invention from overhead drop tubes (as shown in Fig.
  • unloader 9 of the present invention which in turn unloads the feed into the feed conveyor which passes through the unloader so as to insure that the feed conveyor carries a predetermined amount of feed for delivery to a plurality of feeders F located downstream from unloader 9, as will be described in detail hereinafter.
  • hundreds of feeders F may be coupled to feed conveyor 1 and that the endless loop of feed conveyor 1 may be more that 400 feet (120 meters).
  • Bulk feed tank BFT has hopper 10 which leads downwardly to a boot 11 at its lower end which receives the feed from within the tank.
  • An unloading conveyor 13 conveys feed from the bulk feed tank by means of a rotary driven centerless auger 15.
  • the rotary auger 15 is disposed within an auger tube 17 and is rotatably driven by a drive motor 19.
  • the rotary auger 15 thus serves as a screw conveyor and conveys feed from the bulk feed tank and up the inclined feed conveyor tube to drop tubes 21 located within poultry house H. As the feed encounters a drop tube 21, the feed from conveyor 13 drops downwardly and is received in a hopper 7 for supplying unloader 9 of the present invention with feed.
  • any conventional feed conveying systems may be used in place of auger 15 to convey feed (or other fluent material) from the bulk supply to the unloader 9 of the present invention.
  • the feed conveyor 1, as shown in Fig. 1, is preferably an axial conveyor in which the auger A is propelled axially within its conveyor tube 3 around the endless loop. In this manner, the auger A picks up feed from unloader 9 and drags it axially through the conveyor tube 3. As the feed conveyed by the auger enters a trough feeder F, the feed will form a level within the trough (as shown in Figs. 10A - IOC).
  • the axially propelled conveyor auger A will convey feed from the first trough feeder and re-enter the feed into a length of conveyor tube 3 connected to another trough feeder in line with the conveyor and will continue in this manner until all of the trough feeders F are filled to a desired level and until feed is returned around the loop to unloader 9 which removes excess feed and which refills the conveyor auger A to a desired level which in turn fills the trough feeder to a desired level.
  • the unloader 9 of the present invention is particularly well suited for use with trough feeders F, it is also suited for use with drop feeders, such as shown in the co-assigned U. S. Patent 5,462,017.
  • the total amount of feed carried by the auger exiting unloader 9 is limited to an amount less than will fill conveyor tube 3 thereby to insure that the amount of feed carried by the auger does not exceed a predetermined amount of feed.
  • unloader 9 of the present invention limits the amount of feed to a quantity less than will fully fill the interior or conveyor tube 3 thus insuring that a partial void, as indicated at VI, V2, or V3 in Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C, respectively, is formed within conveyor tube 3.
  • a partial void as indicated at VI, V2, or V3 in Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C, respectively, is formed within conveyor tube 3.
  • the feed conveyor may be operated continuously even after all of the feeders F have been filled with feed. Even when operation of the conveyor fully filled with feed is stopped, the conveyor may be readily re-started.
  • the preferred feed conveyor 1 is the above described auger A which is axially propelled around the endless loop of conveyor tube 3, as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the unloader 9 of the present invention may be used with other types of conveyors to regulate the amount of feed dispensed into these other conveyors.
  • unloader 9 may be used with a so-called rotary auger conveyor 23, as shown in Fig. 3.
  • Rotary auger conveyor 23 comprises a rotary auger 25 housed within a conveyor tube 27. The auger is rotatably driven by a drive motor 29 at one end of the conveyor tube.
  • auger 25 is rotated within conveyor tube 27 and serves as a screw conveyor to screw convey feed axially within the conveyor tube.
  • a series of poultry feeders F is carried by conveyor tube 27 and these feeders are supplied with feed from unloader 9 and by conveyor 23. It will be understood that feeders F are also installed on the endless loop feed conveyor tube 3, as shown in Fig. 1. For example, such feeders may be those shown in the co-assigned U. S. Patent 5,311,839. Feed is supplied to a hopper 33 (similar to hopper 7) from a bulk feed tank BFT or the like by means of the conveying system, as illustrated in Fig. 2.
  • the rotary auger 25 does not move axially with respect to its conveyor tube 23. While such rotary auger conveyors do not move their auger in an endless loop and return excess feed to the unloader (as previously described in regard to the endless loop conveyor as shown in Fig. 1), unloader 9 of the present invention may nevertheless be used in conjunction with such rotary auger conveyors so as to regulate the amount of feed dispensed to the rotary auger conveyor feeder while it is in operation.
  • the unloader 9 of the present invention comprises an unloader housing as generally indicated at 35 having end walls 37a, 37b which are generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of conveyor auger A through the unloader.
  • Housing 35 further has a pair of spaced side walls 39 joining the end walls with the side walls sloping inwardly and downwardly toward the conveyor auger within the housing.
  • Flanges 41 are provided on the upper ends of the end walls and the side walls so that the housing 35 may be secured (bolted) to the bottom of hopper 7. In this manner, housing 35 may receive feed from its hopper 7 thereabove.
  • a slope sheet angling downwardly from trailing end wall 37b is provided within housing 35 so as to divide the interior of the housing into a feed receiving chamber 45 and an overflow chamber 47.
  • Feed receiving chamber 45 receives feed from hopper 9 and directs this feed downwardly for unloading of the feed into the spaces between the flights AF of auger A as the latter is axially propelled through the unloader housing 35.
  • Housing 35 further includes an inner end wall 49 which separates end wall 37a from feed receiving chamber 45 and for creating a space 51 between end wall 37a and inner end wall 49 for purposes as will appear.
  • an auger inlet is provided in end wall 37b and an auger outlet 55 is provided in end wall 37a.
  • Auger A thus enters unloader housing 37 via the auger inlet 53 passes through the housing, and exits the housing via the auger outlet 55 from whence it re-enters conveyor tube 3 which is sealably joined (coupled) to the end of an outlet 56.
  • An inlet tube 57 is provided on wall 37b and forms part on inlet 53. Inlet tube 57 is coupled to conveyor tube 3 and thus axially receives auger A.
  • An outlet tube 58 is in line with outlet 57. This outlet tube receives auger A as it exits the unloader and the outlet tube is connected to conveyor tube 3 such that the auger re-enters the conveyor tube 3 downstream from unloader 9.
  • Unloader 9 further has a regulator member or tube 59 located within housing 35. As shown in Fig. 4, auger A passes through this regulating tube for purposes as will appear. Regulating tube 59 is rotatably mounted within housing 35 for rotation about its longitudinal axis which is generally coaxial with the longitudinal axis of auger A. A stop S is secured to the inside face of outlet tube 57 proximate the downstream end of tube 59 such that the end of tube 59 engages the stop and thus the stop prevents movement of the regulating tube with the axially movable conveyor auger. Regulating tube 59 has a regulating opening 61 therein.
  • regulating opening 61 When this regulating opening 61 is in communication with feed in feed receiving chamber 45, the feed from within chamber 45 is free to flow through opening 61 and to be loaded into the spaces between auger flights AF as auger A is axially moved through the regulating tube. More specifically, regulating tube 59 is rotatably movable between a closed position (as shown in Fig. 5 A, in which opening 61 is out of register with feed receiving chamber 45) thereby to block the flow of feed from within chamber 45 to auger A as the latter moves axially through the regulating tube, to one of a plurality of intermediate positions (as shown in Fig.
  • regulating opening 61 in regulating tube 59 is of an irregular shape (i.e., nearly trapezoidal) having a lower edge 63, a leading end 65 facing toward inlet 53, a trailing end 67 toward outlet 55, and a tapered upper wall 69 opening upwardly from the leading to the tailing end of the opening.
  • a curved stationary plate 73 cradles and supports regulating tube 59 within housing 35.
  • This stationary plate 73 has an upper edge 75 which cooperates with opening 61 in tube 59 to form a progressively larger or smaller opening through which feed from within chamber 45 may flow for being unloaded into auger A.
  • opening 61 was described above as being or irregular (nearly trapezoidal) in shape, it will be understood that openings of other shape (e.g., rectangular or even circular) in regulating tube 59 are contemplated within the broader aspects of this invention.
  • opening 61 faces generally downwardly and the wall of tube 59 blocks the flow of feed from chamber 45 to the auger within the regulating tube.
  • another slope sheet as hereinafter described and as hereinafter indicated by reference character 103, prevents feed from chamber 45 from flowing over the top of regulator tube 59 and entering opening 61 when the opening is rotated past the lower edge of the slope sheet 103 which is substantially slidably sealed with respect to the upper surface of the regulator tube 59.
  • An operating arm or member 77 is affixed to regulating tube 59 and extends radially therefrom within space 51 between end wall 37a and inner end plate 49.
  • an arcuate slot 79 is provided in end wall 37a.
  • a tab 81 extends axially from operating arm 77 and is received within slot 79.
  • a plurality of radially extending spaced slots are provided in end wall 37a thus defining a plurality of fixed adjustment positions for receiving tab 81 thereby to fix or lock regulating tube 59 in either its closed position (as shown in Fig. 6A), its fully open position (as shown Fig.
  • regulating tube 59 is loosely received within unloader housing 35 and is held in its desired position by being cradled on stationary member 73.
  • the regulating tube may be shifted axially with respect to housing 35 a short distance (e.g., less than an inch) by manually grasping tab 81 and pushing tab 81 inwardly toward wall 37a. This will allow a shoulder 85 on tab 81 to move axially into space 51 such that the shoulder 85 is clear of the slots 83 in end wall 37a thereby enabling rotation of regulating tube relative to housing 35 between its above stated open and closed positions (or to any intermediate partially open position).
  • regulating tube With the regulating tube positioned in a desired rotary position with respect to housing 35 thus exposing a desired amount of regulating opening 61, regulating tube may be shifted axially relative to housing 35 such that shoulder 85 enters a selected slot 81 thus fixing the regulating tube in a desired rotary position with respect to housing 35 and thus exposing a predetermined amount of progressive regulating opening 61 to feed within feed chamber 45 of unloader housing 35.
  • a washer 87 having an elongate slot 89 therein is installed on tab 81 and a keeper pin (not shown) is installed through a hole 91 in tab 81 thereby to prevent washer 87 from becoming dislodged from tab 81.
  • an agitator as generally indicated at 93, is mounted within housing 35 for being driven by movement of auger A to agitate the feed within chamber 45 above regulating opening 61 in regulating tube 59 thereby to insure the free flow of feed from hopper 7 into the upper end of housing 35 and to further insure the free flow of feed to auger A via regulator opening 61.
  • agitator 93 is shown to be a one-piece bent rod having a horizontal portion 95 extending generally parallel to auger A and being rotatably mounted to side sheet 39 by means of clips 97.
  • Agitator 93 further has a drive section 99 which extends radially inwardly above auger A within overflow chamber 47. This drive section 99 is engageable by the upper surfaces of auger flights AF as the auger moves axially into housing 35 via inlet 53. Since agitator is freely journalled by clips 97, it is gravity biased such that drive section is contacted by each auger flight as the auger flights move past the drive section thus causing the drive section to move upwardly relative to the auger.
  • slope sheet 43 not only separates overflow chamber 47 and main chamber 45, but slope sheet 43 directs the flow of feed within chamber 45 forwardly toward regulator opening 61 in regulator tube 59.
  • another slope sheet as indicated at 103, is provided within chamber 45 for directing the flow of feed within chamber 45 to the side of the regulating tube having regulating opening 61 therein when the opening is fully open. More specifically, slope sheet 103 is affixed to the flange 41 on the upper edge of the left-hand side sheet (as shown in Figs.
  • auger A has an outer diameter Di..
  • the outer diameter of auger A may be about 1.438 inches (3.65 cm.).
  • the end of conveyor tube 3 which is coupled to inlet tube 57 has an enlarged bell end which fits over the outside of inlet tube 57.
  • conveyor tube 3 and inlet tube 57 may have substantially the same inner diameter D 2 .
  • this inner diameter D 2 may be about 1.68 inches (4.26 cm.).
  • Regulator tube 59 may, in this example, have an inner diameter D 3 only slightly larger than the outside diameter Di of auger A so that if auger A carries any excess feed on the exterior of the auger (i.e., out beyond outer diameter Di), such excess feed will be stripped from the outside of the auger as it enters the inlet end of the regulating tube. Such excess feed stripped from the auger is thus allowed to accumulate within overflow chamber 47 within housing 35.
  • the inside diameter D 3 of regulating tube may be about 1.51 inches (3.83 cm.).
  • the inside diameter Di. of conveyor tube 3 is about 1.68 inches (4.27 cm.).
  • the inner diameter D 3 of regulator tube 59 limit the quantity of feed conveyed by the auger to an amount less than will fill conveyor tube 3 downstream from unloader 9. As described in the above-noted co-assigned U. S.
  • Patent 5,513,597 that by insuring that the inner diameter of the regulating tube to be less than in inner diameter Di of the conveyor tube 3 insures that the conveyor tube will not be overfilled with feed which can lead to jamming of the auger within the conveyor tube. Specifically, as the feed carried by auger A enters conveyor tube 3 downstream from unloader 9, the larger diameter of the conveyor tube will result in the formation of a partial void within the conveyor tube which in turn prevents overfilling of the conveyor tube. Thus, once all of the feeders F supplied feed by feed conveyor 1 (as shown in Fig.
  • the auger will return to the inlet end on unloader 9 substantially with its full amount of feed.
  • the conveyor system 1 may be operated for a considerable period (continuously) after all of the feeders have been fully filled with feed without causing jamming of the auger within conveyor tube 3, as may be caused by overfilling the conveyor tube and compacting the feed therein.
  • the unloader of the present invention has been described primarily in conjunction with a poultry feeding system.
  • the unloader of this invention may be readily used with automated feeding systems for swine, or in conveying any other type of fluent material (i.e., a dry, flowable material) through a conveyor in which it is desired to regulate the amount of feed carried by the conveyor.
  • a conveyor in which it is desired to regulate the amount of feed carried by the conveyor.
  • the conveyor described herein was an auger type conveyor, other types of conveyors including chain conveyors, cable conveyors and the like may also be used with unloader 9 of the present invention.
  • regulating member 59 is shown to be a tube which is rotatable with respect to the unloader body or housing to selectively open or close regulating opening 61.
  • the regulating member may be a slide gate positioned with respect to opening 61 to move axially thereto to open and close the opening.
  • the regulating member could be a slide gate disposed to move radially with respect to the regulating opening to open and close the latter.
  • the advantage of having a slide gate that moves radially relative to the opening is that the manner in which the opening is opened or closed is similar to that described above when regulating tube 59 is rotated relative to the auger.
  • the opening is opened from front to rear of the opening and the auger may not sufficiently fill with feed when the opening is only partially opened. However, this will depend on the diameter of the auger and the axial speed at which the auger is driven through the conveyor tube.
  • the unloader shown therein is similar in construction and operation to the unloader 9 described above.
  • the primary differences between the unloader shown in Fig. 7 and the unloader 9 shown in Figs. 1 - 5 are that the feed conveyor in the feeder of Fig. 7 is a chain conveyor, as generally indicated at 101, instead of an flexible auger A, as shown in Figs. 1 - 5.
  • the unloader of Fig. 7 differs in that it has a control opening 61' of rectangular shape rather than the generally trapezoidal shape as shown in Fig. 5.
  • chain conveyor 101 this is shown to comprise a plurality of links CL joined together in a typical chain construction.
  • Alternating links have a molded-in-place conveying disk 105 thereon with the diameter of these disks being as indicated by diameter Dj . .
  • the axial spacing between disks 103 is referred to as the pitch P' of the conveyor chain.
  • the diameter Di of disk 101 may, for example, be the same as the diameter Di described above for auger flights AF.
  • the diameters D and D 3 of the intake tube 57 and the regulating tube 59 are similar to the diameters D 2 and D 3 described above in regard to the embodiment of the unloader shown in Figs. 1 - 6.
  • a variation of the unloader of this invention is indicated 9'.
  • the unloader 9' is similar to unloader 9 shown in Fig. 5 except for the manner in which regulating tube 59 is adjusted between its open position and its closed position.
  • Similar reference characters are used in Figs. 8 - 11 to indicate parts having a similar construction and operation and a description of these parts will not be presented in regard to the unloader 9' shown in Figs. 8 - 11.
  • Parts having a similar function, but a somewhat different construction are "primed” and a detailed description of these "primed” components will not be herein described in detail.
  • regulating tube 59 is rotated about its centerline axis between a fully closed position (as shown in Fig. 6A), to a plurality of fixed intermediate positions (as determined by the location of notches 83 along arcuate slot 79 in end sheet 37a, one intermediate position being shown in Fig. 6B), to a fully closed positions (as shown in Fig. 6C).
  • this arrangement in unloader 9 establishes of plurality of fixed or discrete intermediate positions of the regulating tube between its open and closed positions. As shown in Figs.
  • a wingnut 203 is threaded on stud 201 so as to grip the sheet metal defining the edges of slot 79' arm 77' and a suitable washer 205 carried on the stud so as to clamp the surrounding sheet metal therebetween thereby to hold the arm in any desired adjusted position along the length of arcuate slot 77'.
  • regulating tube may be adjusted to any position along the arcuate slot and the adjustment need not correspond to the position of notches 83.
  • the above-described construction of the regulating tube adjustment may be preferred over the adjustment shown in Figs.
  • agitator 93' is of a generally similar shape to agitator 93 shown in Fig. 5 except that the vertical reach 101' of agitator 93' extends upwardly into the feed a considerable distance above the unloader so as to better insure that feed blockages above the unloader will be mechanically broken up thereby to better facilitate the flow of feed to the unloader.
  • agitator drive section 99' extends downwardly within the auger between adjacent auger flights and the leading end of the drive section 99' is cammingly engaged by each auger flight AF as the auger moves axially through the unloader. This, in turn, causes the drive section 99' to be forcefully driven upwardly from the position shown in Figs. 12 and 13B to the raised position shown in Fig. 13 A. In turn, this oscillatory movement of the drive section 99 causes agitator section 101 ' to oscillate between the positions shown in Figs. 13 A and 13B thereby to break up bridging feed above the unloader.
  • Figs. 14A - 14C still another embodiment of the unloader of the present invention is indicated in its entirety at 401.
  • unloader 401 has the same construction and operation of the other embodiments of the unloader of this invention heretofore described unless otherwise herein noted.
  • the opening to the feed conveyor from the unloader body is controlled by a regulating tube 403 mounted on the exterior of a stationary tube 405 with the regulating tube 403 being axially movable relative to the stationary tube 405 between an open position (as shown in Fig. 14A) to an intermediate position (as shown in Fig. 14B), to a fully closed position (as shown in Fig.
  • actuating rod 411 is connected to axially movable regulating tube 403 with the actuating rod extending axially through an end wall 413 of the unloader such that a user may manually grasp the rod and effect axial movement of the regulating tube relative to the stationary tube 405 thereby to effect adjustment of the regulating opening between its open and closed position.
  • the actuating rod 411 is provided with a threaded end which allows the actuating rod to be threadably locked in a desired adjusted position thereby to prevent movement of the regulating tube from a desired adjusted position.
  • unloader 501 Still another embodiment of the unloader of the present invention, as generally indicated at 501, is illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16. Unless otherwise noted, the construction and operation of unloader 501 is similar to the construction and operation of the other embodiments of the unloader heretofore described.
  • unloader 501 the flow of feed from within the unloader body to the conveyor is regulated by means of an plate 503 movable along a slope sheet 505 to open or close the flow of feed downwardly within the unloader body to the conveyor opening 63 within tube 57.
  • Plate 503 may be selectively secured to slope sheet 505 by means of a clamping bolt or the like 507 carried by plate 503 which extends exteriorily of the unloader.
  • a nut on the exterior of the unloader may be loosened thus allowing the operator to slide plate 503 up or down on slope sheet 505 so as to selectively open or close the flow of feed into opening 63.
  • sheet 503 is movable in a planar direction (i.e., in the plane of slope sheet 505) direction to open or to block the flow of feed from within said unloader to said regulator opening 63 in a plane generally toward or away from said regulator tube.
  • Unloader 601 has a regulating sheet 603 slidably mounted on a slope sheet 605 with the regulating sheet 603 being axially slidable on slope sheet 605 to open or close opening 63 in tube 57.
  • a control rod 607 extends axially through one end of the unloader and this control rod is secured to regulating sheet 603.
  • the regulating sheet 603 has a bolt 607 secured thereto which extends through slope sheet 605 and carries a nut 609 on the outside of the unloader body such that when the nut is tightened, the regulating sheet is clamped (secured) to the slope sheet in a desired adjusted position with a desired amount of the regulating opening 63 uncovered.
  • a bolt 607 secured thereto which extends through slope sheet 605 and carries a nut 609 on the outside of the unloader body such that when the nut is tightened, the regulating sheet is clamped (secured) to the slope sheet in a desired adjusted position with a desired amount of the regulating opening 63 uncovered.
  • an operator may readily move the regulating tube in axial direction by grasping the control rod 611 and sliding regulating sheet 603 on slope sheet 605.
  • the nut may be re-tightened thus locking the regulating sheet in its newly adjusted position.
  • sheet 603 is movable in a planar direction (i.e., in the plane of slope sheet 605) direction to open or to block the flow of feed from within said unloader to said regulator opening 63 in a plane generally toward or away from said regulator tube.
  • a slot (not shown) may be provided that will accommodate agitator bar 93.
  • the regulator and unloader of the present invention has been herein shown installed on a closed loop conveyor system in which an endless conveyor, it will be understood that the unloader of this invention is also operable on rotary auger conveyors. It is preferred that the unloaders of the present invention be constructed of suitable galvanized sheet metal in accordance with convention sheet metal fabrication methods and techniques. However, within the broader scope of this invention, the unloaders may be constructed of other materials, depending on the application. It will be understood that the rotary tube 59, as shown in Fig.
  • the axially movable tube 403 shown in Figs 14A - 14C, the slidable plate 503 shown in Figs. 15 and 16, and the axially slidable plate 605 shown in Figs. 17 and 18 constitute means for selectively opening and closing their respective regulator opening thereby to selectively open communication between said fluent material in the unloader body and the conveyor and to block the flow of said fluent material from within the unloader body through the regulator opening to the conveyor so that a predetermined amount of feed (i.e., fluent material) is conveyed by the conveyor within the conveyor downstream from the unloader.
  • a predetermined amount of feed i.e., fluent material
  • the regulator tube 705 is movable axially within the outer tube 703 between a closed position (as shown in Fig. 20A) and a fully open position (as shown in Fig. 20C). As shown, inlet openings 707 are provided in both sides of the regulator tube. Part numbers having a similar construction or function as parts heretofore described are indicated by reference characters 701 - 711 and the unloader operates in a similar fashion.
  • Figs. 24 - 26 still another embodiment of the regulator of the present invention is shown.
  • This embodiment is particularly well suited to regulating the flow of a fluent material such as poultry feed from two hoppers 7 installed in line with one another on a single conveyor 3 for supplying the fluent material to the conveyor in such manner as to regulate the amount (rate) of flow of the material into the conveyor so as fill the conveyor tube with a desired quantity of the material but to prevent overfilling (with possible consequent jamming of the conveyor).
  • one of the regulators 401a, 401b is installed on each of the hoppers such that the regulators face in opposite directions with respect to the direction of travel of the conveyor.
  • Each of the regulators 401a, 401b has an inner regulator tube 405 having a regulator opening 407 therein.
  • An outer regulator tube 403 receives its respective regulator tube 405 and may be slid axially with respect to the regulator tube by means of an actuating rod 411 to selectively open and close the regulator opening.
  • the actuating rods 411 of each of the regulators are interconnected with one another such that adjustment of one of the regulators by moving its operating rod in one direction results in movement of the other regulating tube in the opposite direction.
  • the regulating opening 407b of the other regulator will be correspondingly closed a similar amount thus insuring that the fluent material discharged into the conveyor from the two hoppers 7 does not overfill the conveyor.
  • the regulating opening 407a of regulator 401a fully closed, the regulating opening 407b of regulator 401b will be fully open.
  • outer tube 407a has an axial slot S in its end proximate the regulating opening 407a which is sized to receive the end 99' of agitator 93', as shown in Fig. 12, such that upon axial movement of the outer tube toward its nearly fully closed position in which flow is substantially blocked to the regulator outlet, the base of slot S is engaged by the end 99' of the agitator thereby to lift the portion of the agitator in driving relation with auger A clear of the auger thereby to de-activate the agitator when the flow of the fluent material is substantially blocked.
  • Figs. 24 and 25 illustrate the primary components of regulators 401a

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Birds (AREA)
  • Animal Husbandry (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Feeding And Watering For Cattle Raising And Animal Husbandry (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une désileuse (1) recevant des aliments coulants (par exemple des aliments pour les animaux) depuis une source (BFT) et les déverse dans un convoyeur (1) qui coopère avec la désileuse à cet effet. La désileuse est constituée par un corps ou un logement (35) conçu pour recevoir ces aliments depuis une source d'alimentation. Ce corps est pourvu d'un orifice d'entrée (53) et d'un orifice de sortie (55) pour recevoir un convoyeur. Ce convoyeur pénètre dans la désileuse par l'orifice d'entrée, charge les aliments s'y trouvant, puis les transporte par son orifice de sortie. Un tuyau régulateur (59) entoure au moins une partie du convoyeur lorsque ce dernier passe à travers le corps de la désileuse. Ce tuyau (59) est pourvu d'une ouverture de régulation (61) et il peut tourner par rapport au (corps) de la désileuse entre une position fermée (comme montré dans la Fig 5A) dans laquelle l'ouverture du régulateur est fermée, bloquant le flux d'aliments dans le corps de la désileuse depuis l'ouverture de régulation jusqu'au convoyeur, et une position ouverte (comme montré dans les Figs. 5B et 5C) dans laquelle l'ouverture de régulation reçoit les aliments depuis l'intérieur du corps de la désileuse, permettant leur distribution au convoyeur.
PCT/US1998/022840 1997-10-29 1998-10-28 Desileuse reglable permettant de determiner la quantite d'aliments transportee dans un convoyeur repartiteur WO1999021783A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU12037/99A AU1203799A (en) 1997-10-29 1998-10-28 Adjustable unloader for regulating the amount of feed carried by a feed conveyor

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6344797P 1997-10-29 1997-10-29
US60/063,447 1997-10-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999021783A1 true WO1999021783A1 (fr) 1999-05-06

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Country Link
AU (1) AU1203799A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999021783A1 (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103155875A (zh) * 2013-03-03 2013-06-19 中南林业科技大学 智能式饲养系统及方法
WO2013171265A1 (fr) * 2012-05-15 2013-11-21 BüHLER GMBH Dispositif de transport, entraîneur et dispositif d'amenée destiné à transporter un produit en vrac
EP2845474A2 (fr) * 2013-09-10 2015-03-11 Pet Mate Limited Système d'alimentation
EP2923566A3 (fr) * 2014-03-25 2015-12-02 Mink Papir A/S Véhicule d'alimentation motorisé et procédé de fonctionnement d'un système d'élevage d'animaux
CN110946086A (zh) * 2019-12-04 2020-04-03 北京猫猫狗狗科技有限公司 一种下料装置以及下料控制方法
US11680379B2 (en) 2019-02-15 2023-06-20 Douglas Dynamics, L.L.C. Spreader with shaftless auger
WO2024076229A1 (fr) * 2022-10-06 2024-04-11 A.H. Jansen Beheer B.V. Système d'alimentation, utilisation d'un système d'alimentation et de poulailler pourvu d'un tel système d'alimentation

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3134478A (en) * 1960-03-22 1964-05-26 Badger Northland Inc Tube feeder
US4130223A (en) * 1976-10-08 1978-12-19 Intraco, Inc. Feed level monitor and control apparatus
US4207838A (en) * 1977-08-31 1980-06-17 Camillo Pirovano Feeding trough, for animal raising installation, particularly for fowl feeding
US4850515A (en) * 1988-07-27 1989-07-25 Cleland Robert K Particulate material storing and dispensing hopper structure

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3134478A (en) * 1960-03-22 1964-05-26 Badger Northland Inc Tube feeder
US4130223A (en) * 1976-10-08 1978-12-19 Intraco, Inc. Feed level monitor and control apparatus
US4207838A (en) * 1977-08-31 1980-06-17 Camillo Pirovano Feeding trough, for animal raising installation, particularly for fowl feeding
US4850515A (en) * 1988-07-27 1989-07-25 Cleland Robert K Particulate material storing and dispensing hopper structure

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013171265A1 (fr) * 2012-05-15 2013-11-21 BüHLER GMBH Dispositif de transport, entraîneur et dispositif d'amenée destiné à transporter un produit en vrac
US9365351B2 (en) 2012-05-15 2016-06-14 Buehler Gmbh Conveying device, carrier, and feeding device for conveying bulk goods
CN103155875A (zh) * 2013-03-03 2013-06-19 中南林业科技大学 智能式饲养系统及方法
EP2845474A2 (fr) * 2013-09-10 2015-03-11 Pet Mate Limited Système d'alimentation
EP2845474A3 (fr) * 2013-09-10 2015-03-25 Pet Mate Limited Système d'alimentation
US9521828B2 (en) 2013-09-10 2016-12-20 Pet Mate Ltd. Feeder for animals selected from domestic pets, cage birds, chickens, fish and wild birds
EP2923566A3 (fr) * 2014-03-25 2015-12-02 Mink Papir A/S Véhicule d'alimentation motorisé et procédé de fonctionnement d'un système d'élevage d'animaux
US11680379B2 (en) 2019-02-15 2023-06-20 Douglas Dynamics, L.L.C. Spreader with shaftless auger
CN110946086A (zh) * 2019-12-04 2020-04-03 北京猫猫狗狗科技有限公司 一种下料装置以及下料控制方法
WO2024076229A1 (fr) * 2022-10-06 2024-04-11 A.H. Jansen Beheer B.V. Système d'alimentation, utilisation d'un système d'alimentation et de poulailler pourvu d'un tel système d'alimentation
NL2033246B1 (nl) * 2022-10-06 2024-04-19 A H Jansen Beheer B V Voedersysteem, gebruik van een voedersysteem en pluimveestal voorzien van een dergelijk voedersysteem

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