WO2000040077A2 - Recipient doseur pour systeme de distribution d'aliments - Google Patents

Recipient doseur pour systeme de distribution d'aliments Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000040077A2
WO2000040077A2 PCT/IB2000/000003 IB0000003W WO0040077A2 WO 2000040077 A2 WO2000040077 A2 WO 2000040077A2 IB 0000003 W IB0000003 W IB 0000003W WO 0040077 A2 WO0040077 A2 WO 0040077A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
metering
feed
wall
chamber
metering vessel
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2000/000003
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2000040077A3 (fr
Inventor
Christophe Roger Antoon Debonne
Original Assignee
Roxell N.V.
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 Roxell N.V. filed Critical Roxell N.V.
Publication of WO2000040077A2 publication Critical patent/WO2000040077A2/fr
Publication of WO2000040077A3 publication Critical patent/WO2000040077A3/fr

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Classifications

    • 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
    • A01K5/0275—Automatic devices with mechanisms for delivery of measured doses
    • 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
    • A01K5/0216—Automatic devices for the distribution of liquid fodder

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to the field of feeding animals, in particular, although not exclusively, pigs, the said animals being situated in individual sites in a shed.
  • the shed is provided with a feed-distribution system which comprises a pipe system through which feed is conveyed from one or more storage silos to troughs arranged in the sites.
  • a metering vessel is associated with each trough, which vessel, at its top, has an inlet opening which is connected to a conveyor pipe of the pipe system, and at its bottom side has an outlet opening which opens out into a trough.
  • the inlet opening is provided with an actuable valve which can open or close the inlet opening as desired, which valve will be referred to in the following by the term "inlet valve”.
  • the metering vessel is also provided, on its bottom side, with a valve which will be referred to in the following by the term "outlet valve”.
  • an installation of this nature is used as follows. Feed of a predetermined composition is conveyed through the pipe system. The inlet valves of selected metering vessels which are to receive the said feed are opened; the inlet valves of the other metering vessels are left closed. In this way, the selected metering vessels are filled with the desired feed, after which the inlet valves of these metering vessels are closed again. It is then possible to convey food of a different composition through the pipe system, in order to fill other selected metering vessels, the inlet valves of these other selected metering vessels being opened while the inlet valves of the remaining metering vessels remain closed.
  • the feed which is distributed to the feeding points using such a feed-distribution system is conventionally dry feed, i.e. feed of a consistency of meal, powder or granules.
  • a feed of this nature has a good flow behaviour which causes few problems.
  • feed which contains fresh corn such as the so-called "Corn Cop Mix” (CCM)
  • CCM Core Cop Mix
  • feed which is made from waste from food intended for humans for example food which has passed its best- before date, such as for example vegetables, dairy products and the like.
  • a feed mix which is based on such ingredients will in general behave stickier than the conventional dry feed and will therefore flow more difficult.
  • feed which has the abovementioned "moist” composition, based on living material, is susceptible to rot.
  • This rotting process may cause the volume of the feed portion in the metering vessel to increase, with the result that the feed portion in question will become jammed inside the metering vessel.
  • Such a state of affairs can generally only be remedied by human intervention.
  • an important object of the present invention is to avoid or at least reduce this problem. More particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved metering vessel which is more suitable for metering moist feed which is based on living material and in which the risk of blockage is substantially reduced, and preferably eliminated altogether.
  • the metering vessel has such a shape that a metering chamber within the metering vessel has a horizontal cross section which is larger at the bottom of the metering vessel, i.e. in the vicinity of the outlet opening, than at the top, i.e. in the vicinity of the inlet opening.
  • the horizontal cross section of the metering chamber increases continuously, as seen in a direction from the inlet opening towards the outlet opening.
  • the metering chamber has a side wall with a contour which substantially corresponds to a section of a conical wall.
  • a feed portion can leave the metering chamber relatively easily, even if the volume of this portion has increased as a result of decay.
  • Metering vessels often have a metering chamber of adjustable volume.
  • the position of the outlet valve can be vertically adjusted: when the outlet valve is in a high position, the distance between the inlet valve and the outlet valve is relatively short, and therefore the volume of the metering chamber is relatively small. Conversely, when the outlet valve is in a low position, the volume of the metering chamber is relatively large.
  • a drawback of this structure is that the outlet valve has to be vertically displaceable. This constitutes a drawback, in particular, if the metering chamber of the metering vessel has a contour with a horizontal cross section which is not the same at all heights.
  • an important object of the present invention is to provide a structure for a metering vessel with a variable metering chamber, in which the vertical position of the outlet valve of the metering vessel is fixed, and which structure can also be used if the metering chamber of the metering vessel has a diverging contour. It is an important characteristic of this aspect of the present invention that the metering vessel has a metering chamber with movable side walls.
  • the metering chamber of the metering vessel for this purpose has a substantially rotationally symmetrical side wall and two partition walls arranged substantially vertically, which are hingedly coupled to one another along the vertical axis of the metering chamber.
  • the vertical dimension of the said partition walls substantially corresponds to the distance between the top wall and the bottom wall of the metering chamber.
  • the top wall and the bottom wall of the metering chamber have a contour which is likewise rotationally symmetrical, and the said walls are preferably substantially planar.
  • Each partition wall has an outer edge, the contour of which substantially corresponds to the contour of the side wall of the metering chamber.
  • the two partition walls together divide the metering chamber into an active part and an inactive part.
  • the inlet opening of the metering vessel is located above the active part of the metering chamber.
  • the outlet valve preferably extends over the entire area of the bottom wall of the metering chamber. More particularly, the bottom wall of the metering chamber is preferably defined by the metering valve itself, in its closed position.
  • at least one of the said partition walls is hinged with respect to the centre axis of the metering chamber, and means are provided for allowing this partition wall to execute a hinged movement of this nature and to fix it in a selected position.
  • both partition walls are arranged in a hinged manner.
  • the side wall is in the form of a cylinder, and the side-wall sections of the metering vessels are generally made from an extruded plastic tube.
  • the side wall is rather difficult to clean. This problem is particularly significant if the metering vessel is used for the abovementioned moisture-containing feed, such as for example "Corn Cop Mix", particularly since this feed may be susceptible to decay and it is therefore desirable that the metering chamber can be relatively easily cleaned and disinfected.
  • the side wall of a metering vessel comprises, two side-wall halves which are releasably connected to one another.
  • the two side-wall halves are identical to one another.
  • the two halves are preferably hingedly connected to one another.
  • a metering vessel More particularly on the inlet valve of a metering vessel, is that all the inlet valves of the metering vessels which are connected to a single conveyor pipe of the pipe system can be remotely operated and can be opened and closed by means of a single action.
  • the inlet valve is designed as an elongate slide which is provided with an opening, the contour of which corresponds to the contour of the inlet opening in the top wall of the metering vessel.
  • This slide member is mounted slidably with respect to the top wall, at a position which is such that the said opening in the slide member can be brought into alignment with the inlet opening in the top wall; in such a position, the inlet opening is opened by the said slide member.
  • the inlet opening can be closed by pushing the slide member in the horizontal direction until the opening in the slide member and the inlet opening in the top wall have been brought completely out of alignment.
  • the slide member will then be capable of being pushed even further, but this changes nothing with regard to the closed position of the inlet opening.
  • the metering vessels are mounted in such a manner, with respect to the said conveyor pipe, that the slide valves of the metering vessels are all arranged parallel to the said conveyor pipe.
  • Mechanical actuation by means of a wire or the like which is guided along the said conveyor pipe is then relatively easy.
  • a drawback is that these slide valves require relatively large amounts of space and therefore form a limitation for the minimum permissible distance between the metering vessels.
  • an inlet valve is to this end mounted rotatably with respect to the top wall of a metering vessel.
  • figure 1 shows a diagrammatic plan view of an animal shed
  • figure 2 shows a diagrammatic side view of a metering vessel according to the present invention
  • figure 3 shows a perspective view of the metering vessel from figure 2, with the side wall and part of the outlet funnel omitted, in order to illustrate the adjustable partition walls and the outlet valve, the outlet valve being shown in its closed position
  • figure 4 shows a perspective view similar to figure 3, wherein the outlet valve is shown in its open position
  • figure 5A diagrammatically depicts a horizontal cross section through the partition walls, according to the line V-V in figure 3
  • figure 5B diagrammatically depicts a section through part of a partition wall according to the line B-B in figure 5A
  • figure 5C diagrammatically illustrates a possible actuation of the partition walls;
  • FIG 1 shows a diagrammatic plan view of an animal shed 1 with a number of sites 2 for pigs, for example. Each sty is provided with a feeding trough 3, which is connected to a conveyor pipe 4 of a pipe system generally indicated by the reference numeral 5.
  • the said pipe system forms part of a feed- distribution system generally indicated by the reference numeral 6, which comprises, inter alia, a storage silo 7 and means for conveying feed from the storage silo 7 through the pipe system 5, which means are not shown, for the sake of simplicity.
  • Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic side view of a preferred embodiment of a metering vessel 10 according to the present invention for the said feed-distribution system 6.
  • the metering vessel 10 has a metering chamber 11 with a top plate 12 defining a top wall, a base 13, and a side wall 14. As will be explained in more detail below, there is a passage opening arranged in the top plate 12, which opening functions as an inlet opening for the metering chamber 11 and can be closed off by means of an inlet valve 80.
  • an inlet valve 80 For this valve, it is possible, in principle, to use a conventional inlet valve which is known per se, but the preferred embodiment of the metering vessel 10 has an inlet valve with a preferred structure which will be described in more detail below.
  • the said inlet opening communicates, via a drop tube 15 whose length is preferably as short as possible and in practice is only a few centimetres, with a substantially horizontal conveyor pipe 4.
  • the metering vessel 10 is provided with a closable outlet opening 24 which is provided with an outlet valve 23, the structure of which will be described in more detail below.
  • a funnel 20 is mounted which, at its top side, has an entry opening, the size of which is at least as great as that of the outlet opening 24 of the metering vessel 10, while the funnel 20 tapers and, at its bottom end, has an exit opening which is smaller than its entry opening.
  • the funnel 20 On its underside, the funnel 20 is provided with an exit pipe section 21 which opens out, either directly or via an extension pipe, which is not shown for the sake of simplicity, into a feeding trough, which in figure 2 is also not shown for the sake of simplicity.
  • Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the metering vessel 10, in which the side wall 14 of the metering chamber 11 has been removed. It can be seen from figure 3 that the top plate 12 of the metering vessel 10 is substantially in the form of a circular disc which is provided, on its top surface, with attachment clips 16 for attaching the metering vessel 10 to the horizontal conveyor pipe 4, which is not shown in figure 3 for the sake of simplicity.
  • the outlet valve 23 of the metering chamber 11 is formed by two semicircular valve leaves 23a and 23b, which are hinged, by means of hinge pins 17, with respect to the side wall 14 (not shown in figure 3) of the metering chamber 11.
  • the two valve leaves 23a and 23b of the outlet valve 23 are in a horizontal position, as illustrated in figure 3, they close off the outlet opening 24 of the metering vessel 10.
  • the two valve leaves 23a and 23b of the outlet valve 23 are rotated downwards through approximately 90°, as illustrated in figure 4, they open the outlet opening 24 of the metering chamber 11.
  • the hinged valve leaves 23a and 23b of the outlet valve 23, in their closed position, define the base 13 of the metering vessel 10. It will, incidentally, be clear to a person skilled in the art that it is preferable that the complete base 13 can be pivoted away from the metering chamber 11, in order to provide an exit opening 24 which is as large as possible, indeed, but, also structures are feasible in which only a part of the base functions as an outlet valve.
  • the hinged valve leaves 23a and 23b are in the form of semicircles, the straight sides of which are arranged next to one another, so that the outlet valve 23, in its closed, horizontal condition, defines a substantially circular base 13, while the side wall 14 of the metering chamber 11, at its bottom end, has a substantially circular contour which corresponds to the circular shape of the base 13. At its top end, the side wall 14 has a circular contour, too, corresponding to the circular shape of the top plate 12.
  • the side wall 14 is circular-cylindrical, with an identical circular contour over its entire height. More particularly, in a conventional metering vessel the side wall 14 is normally produced as a section of an extruded tube.
  • the metering chamber 11 of the metering vessel 10 has a horizontal cross section, indicated in figure 2 by the reference D, which increases continuously, as seen in a direction from the inlet opening towards the outlet opening, i.e. from the top downwards. More particularly, the side wall 14 has a contour which substantially corresponds to that of a truncated cone.
  • the side wall 14 includes an angle with a vertical line which is in the range from 1-5°, and is preferably approximately 2°.
  • a vertical actuating rod 31 which is directed along the centre axis 9 of the conical side wall 14 of the metering vessel 10, and which can best be seen in the perspective view of figure 4.
  • the actuating rod 31 projects through the circular top plate 12 of the metering chamber 11, so that an actuating tool can act on it in order to rotate the actuating rod 31.
  • the actuating rod 31 passes the outlet valve 23, and is rotatably accommodated in a vertical tubular section 32 which is attached to or forms an integral part of the funnel 20.
  • the actuating rod 31 is provided with two horizontal projections which lie in line with one another and the length of which is slightly less than the radius of the semicircular valve leaves 23a, 23b. As stated above, these valve leaves 23a and 23b are mounted freely hingeable in relation to the side wall 14 of the metering vessel.
  • valve leaves 23a and 23b are pulled downwards by the force of gravity in order to adopt the open position illustrated in figure 4. If the actuating rod 31 is rotated through 90°, the valve leaves 23a and 23b are lifted by the said projecting parts of the actuating rod 31, so as to adopt the closed position illustrated in figure 3, in which the said valve leaves 23a and 23b are supported on the said projecting parts.
  • a design of an outlet valve in a metering vessel is known per se, and is also referred to by the term "butterfly valve".
  • the outlet valve 23 is moved into the closed position illustrated in figure 3, and feed of a predetermined composition is conveyed through the conveyor pipe 4. If the inlet valve in the top plate 12 of the metering vessel 10 is open, feed can flow out of the conveyor pipe 4, through the downpipe section 15, into the metering chamber 11. When the metering chamber 11 is full, the inlet valve can be closed and, either immediately afterwards or some time afterwards, the outlet valve 23 can be opened in order to deposit the portion of feed which is present in the metering chamber 11 into the associated feeding trough.
  • the size of the feed portion will always be equal to the volume of the metering chamber 11.
  • the metering chamber 11 is divided by at least one movable, substantially vertical partition wall into an active metering- chamber part 51 and an inactive metering-chamber part 52.
  • These metering-chamber parts form segments of the metering chamber, with a height which is equal to the height of the metering chamber.
  • the feed will only fill the active metering-chamber part 51 of the metering chamber 11, and the inactive metering- chamber part of the metering chamber 11 will remain empty. Since at least one partition wall is displaceable, the volume of the active metering-chamber part 51 can be changed and thus the size of the feed portion can be changed.
  • the movable partition walls are also illustrated in figures 3 and 4, indicated by the reference numerals 41 and 42.
  • the partition walls 41 and 42 may be of different shapes, they are preferably mirror-symmetrical with respect to one another, as in the example illustrated. It is also noted that, in principle, it is possible to make one of the partition walls fixed and the other movable, but that in the preferred exemplary embodiment shown both partition walls are arranged movably.
  • Figure 5A shows a cross section of the movable partition walls 41 and 42, according to line V-V in figure 3, seen from the bottom upwards.
  • the partition wall 41 is substantially vertically oriented and has a height that is substantially equal to the vertical distance between the top wall 12 and the bottom wall 13 of the metering chamber 11.
  • the partition wall 41 has an inner vertical side edge 43, which is arranged close to and parallel to the said actuating rod 31.
  • the partition wall 41 is hingedly attached to the said actuating rod 31.
  • the partition walls 41 and 42 are provided with hinge eyelet sections which are alternately connected to one partition wall and the other partition wall, so that these partition walls and the said actuating rod 31 together have a structure which is also known in the art of hinges by the name "piano hinge" .
  • hinge eyelet sections which are alternately connected to one partition wall and the other partition wall, so that these partition walls and the said actuating rod 31 together have a structure which is also known in the art of hinges by the name "piano hinge" .
  • other structures for the hinged positioning of the partition walls also fall within the scope of the present invention.
  • the partition wall 41 has a top edge 44 which, in each hinge position of the partition wall 41, at least substantially adjoins the bottom surface of the top plate 12 of the metering chamber 11.
  • the contour of the top edge 44 of the partition wall 41 is matched to the contour of the said top plate 12. Since the top plate 12 preferably has a planar bottom surface, the top edge 44 of the partition wall 41 is therefore preferably located in a horizontal plane, i.e. a plane perpendicular to the actuating pin 31.
  • the partition wall 41 has a bottom edge 45 which corresponds to the contour of the top surface of the base 13 of the metering chamber 11, i.e. the closed position of the outlet valve 23.
  • the valve leaves 23a and 23b of the outlet valve 23 are preferably designed as a planar plate. Therefore, the bottom edge 45 of the partition wall 41 is preferably located in a horizontal plane.
  • the partition wall 41 further has an outer vertical side edge 46, which in each hinge position of the partition wall 41 substantially adjoins the side wall 14 of the metering chamber 11. Therefore, the outer vertical side edge 46 of the partition wall 41 is located substantially in a plane of a cone.
  • the passage opening in the top plate 12 is indicated by the reference numeral 53.
  • the partition walls 41 and 42 divide the metering chamber 11 into an active metering-chamber part 51 and an inactive metering-chamber part 52.
  • the active metering-chamber part 51 is that part of the metering chamber 11 which is in communication with the said passage opening 53.
  • the partition walls 41 and 42 may be designed as a planar plate. However, the partition walls 41 and 42 must not cross the passage opening 53, since the passage opening 53 would then be in communication with the inactive metering-chamber part 52.
  • partition walls 41 and 42 have a first extreme hinge position in which they touch the contour of the passage opening 53.
  • This first extreme hinge position which is indicated in Figure 5A by dashed lines, defines the smallest possible volume of the active metering-chamber part 51 and thus the smallest possible feed portion which can be dispensed using the metering vessel 10. Since it is desirable that the minimum feed-portion size is as small as possible, the partition walls 41 and 42 are preferably curved in the horizontal direction, with their concave side faces directed towards the active metering-chamber part 51, as clearly shown in Figure 5A.
  • partition walls 41 and 42 have a second extreme hinge position in which their convex surfaces are in contact with one another. This second extreme hinge position defines the maximum volume of the active metering-chamber part 51 and thus the maximum feed-portion size.
  • This maximum feed- portion size of the adjustment range of the metering vessel 10 would be as great as possible if the partition walls 41 and 42 were substantially completely planar, in which case the maximum feed-portion size would be substantially approximately equal to the complete volume of the metering chamber 11. Since the partition walls 41 and 42, as stated, are curved, the maximum feed-portion size is smaller than the volume of the metering chamber 11, but the percentage discrepancy is rather small in relation to the percentage gain provided by the curved contour with regard to the minimum feed-portion size.
  • Each partition wall may have a curved contour over its entire horizontal dimension.
  • the partition wall 41 as illustrated in Figure 5A, has a substantially planar inner wall section 47 which adjoins the inner vertical side edge 43, and a substantially planar outer wall section 48, which adjoins the outer vertical side edge 46 and forms an angle with the inner wall section 47 and preferably, and as shown, merges into the inner wall section 47 via a curved intermediate wall section 49.
  • the substantially planar inner wall section 47 may be vertically oriented. Preferably, however, the wall section 47 is arranged slightly inclined with respect to a vertical, the angle of inclination only having to be a few degrees, for example about 2°. This is illustrated in the partial cross section of Figure 5B. In that figure is shown in an exaggerated way that the substantially planar inner wall section 47 forms an angle ⁇ with the vertical centre axis 9 of the metering chamber 11. As seen in the longitudinal direction, i.e. according to the vertical section shown in Figure 5B, the inner wall section 47 may define a straight line, but the inner wall section 47 may also be oriented according to a curved helix-shaped line. Similarly, also the substantially straight outer wall section 48 is preferably arranged inclined with respect to the vertical .
  • the metering vessel 10 With its diverging side wall 14 and its diverging partition walls 41 and 42, is particularly suitable for sticky feed and/or feed which is susceptible to decay, such as for example the so-called "Corn Cop Mix” (CCM) , since the risk of any blockages occurring is substantially reduced.
  • CCM Corn Cop Mix
  • FIG. 5C illustrates a possible embodiment of actuating means for adjusting the position of the partition walls 41 and 42.
  • a substantially U-shaped bracket 55 is connected, with the free ends of its legs, to the convex side of the partition walls 41 and 42 respectively.
  • the transverse connecting part of the U- shaped bracket 55 is connected to a rod 56 which is provided with a screw thread and extends outwards, through the side wall 14 of the metering chamber 11.
  • a wheel 58 which is provided with an internal screw thread and is enclosed in a support 57 attached to the outside of the side wall 14, is screwed onto the said threaded rod 56. When the wheel 58 is rotated, for example manually, the threaded rod 56 is forced to move axially, whereby the partition walls 41 and 42 are forced to hinge.
  • Figures 6A-C illustrate an important aspect of the present invention with which it is possible to clean and disinfect the metering vessel 10 quickly and easily.
  • the side wall 14 of the metering vessel 10 is divided into two side-wall halves 61 and 62, which are each in the shape of a semicircle in cross section. It will, incidentally, be clear that it is also possible to divide the side wall 14 into more parts.
  • the two side-wall halves 61 and 62 which are preferably mutually identical, are releasably coupled to one another by means of their vertical side edges. Any suitable coupling means can be used for this purpose.
  • the two side-wall halves 61 and 62 are hingedly coupled to one another at a first side edge by means of hinge means 63 , and at their other side edge they are provided with closure means 64, 65.
  • the hinge means 63 may be any suitable hinge means
  • the closure means 64, 65 may be any suitable closure means.
  • Figure 6A is a horizontal cross section through the side wall 14 of the metering vessel 10, in its closed position
  • Figure 6B is a similar cross section in the position in which the side wall 14 has partly pivoted open; the internals of the metering chamber 11 are omitted in each case.
  • the funnel 20 is also divided into two funnel parts, wherein Figures 2 to 4 in each case show only one of these funnel parts 66, for the sake of clarity.
  • the hinge tube 32 for accommodating the hinge pin 31 is connected to this one funnel half 66; otherwise, the two funnel halves may be mirror-symmetrical .
  • Each funnel half 66 may be formed as an integral unit with a side-wall half 61, 62.
  • the funnel halves and the side-wall halves are separate from one another, as in the preferred exemplary embodiment illustrated.
  • the two funnel halves 66 may be hingedly coupled to one another, in a similar way as described above in relation to the side-wall halves 61, 62.
  • the funnel halves 66 are provided, along their vertical side edges, with coupling flanges 67 with coupling holes 68, so that the two funnel halves can be attached to one another by means of screws and nuts.
  • the funnel 20 is formed as a unit .
  • Figure 6C is a diagrammatic, vertical cross section of part of the metering vessel 10, in order to illustrate the connection between the side wall 14 and the top plate 12. Figure 6C further illustrates how the funnel 20 can connect to the side wall 14.
  • FIG. 6C shows that the circular top plate 12 is provided along its outer circumference with a circumferential groove 71.
  • each half 61, 62 of the side wall 14 is provided with an inwardly directed, projecting rim 72 which fits into the said groove 71 of the top plate 12.
  • the said top rims 72 are placed in the circumferential groove 71 of the top plate 12, whereby a secure coupling between top plate 12 and side wall 14 is produced in a simple manner.
  • the side-wall halves 61 and 62 are pivoted open, no additional operations are required in order to remove the side wall 14 from the top plate 12.
  • the side-wall halves 61, 62 of the side wall 14 are provided with a radially outwardly directed coupling rim 73.
  • the funnel halves 66 of the funnel 20 are provided at their top edge with an inwardly directed circumferential groove 74 with a contour which matches the contour of the coupling rim 73 of the side wall 14.
  • the funnel halves 66 are coupled to the side wall 14, the coupling groove 74 of the funnel halves 66 being positioned around the coupling rim 73 of the side wall 14.
  • a secure coupling between the funnel 20 and the side wall 14 is achieved.
  • no additional operations are required to disengage the funnel halves from the side wall 14.
  • the exit opening 21 of the funnel 20 is arranged eccentrically with respect to the centre axis of the metering vessel 10. In practice, there is a need for the possibility to be able to vary the orientation of the outlet opening, in particular with respect to the conveyor pipe 4 of the pipe system 5.
  • the device according to the present invention has the important characteristic that the funnel 20 can rotate with respect to the metering vessel 10, about the centre axis 9 of the metering vessel 10.
  • This advantage is provided by simple means, in that the coupling rim 73 of the side wall 14 of the metering vessel 10 and the coupling groove 74 of the funnel 20 are rotationally symmetrical with respect to the said centre axis, i.e. have a circular contour, while the coupling groove 74 of the funnel 20 engages with play on the coupling rim 73 of the metering vessel 10, all this in such a manner that, in the assembled state, the funnel 20 can be rotated with respect to the side wall 14.
  • Figure 7A shows a diagrammatic plan view of a preferred embodiment of the circular top plate 12 of a metering vessel 10 according to the present invention.
  • Figures 7B and 7C respectively show cross sections according to lines B-B and C-C.
  • the top plate 12 is provided with a central hole 82 through which the said actuating rod 31 extends.
  • the inlet valve 80 for opening and closing the passage opening 53 of the top plate 12 as desired is designed as a disc which is arranged rotatably in the top wall 12 and is expediently substantially circular. In the following, this inlet valve 80 will also be referred to by the term "closing disc".
  • the closing disc 80 is arranged in a disc chamber 83 in the top plate 12, and has a central hole 84 through which the abovementioned actuating rod 31 extends.
  • the disc 80 is accommodated with a certain play in the disc chamber 83, while there is also a certain play between the said central hole 84 and the actuating rod 31, so that in principle the valve disc 80 can rotate freely.
  • the valve disc 80 is provided with an eccentric opening 85, the contour of which corresponds to the contour of the passage opening 53 and the distance of which from the axis of rotation of the valve disc 80 is equal to the distance of the passage opening 81 from the centre axis of the top plate 12.
  • the disc can be brought into a first rotational position, as illustrated in Figure 7B, in which the opening 85 of the valve disc 80 is aligned with the passage opening 53 in the top plate 12, so that in this position the passage opening is opened by the inlet valve.
  • This is referred to as the "open" position of the inlet valve 80.
  • the inlet opening 53 can be closed by rotation of the valve disc 80 rotating through a sufficiently large angle; this is not separately illustrated in the figures.
  • valve disc 80 does not have any components which project horizontally beyond the disc-like top plate 12, so that this rotatable disc-like inlet valve 80 does not form any obstacle to placing metering vessels very close together.
  • valve i actuation of the valve ican be achieved in an easy way.
  • an electric motor may be associated with the top wall 12, which motor acts, via a suitable transmission system, on the valve disc 80.
  • the valve disc 20 is for this purpose provided, along its circumference, with teeth on which an output gear of such a transmission system can engage.
  • the present invention provides a relatively simple mechanical actuating mechanism which satisfies all these requirements.
  • the disc-like top plate 12 is partly cut away from its top surface, as shown at 86, through to the bottom of the disc chamber 83.
  • the circular valve disc 80 is therefore exposed.
  • the size of the recess in the shape of a segment of a circle is such that the circular valve disc 80 can be moved into or out of the disc chamber 83 by means of a horizontal sliding movement. During operation, this movement is counteracted by the presence of the actuating rod 31. This actuating rod limits the freedom of movement of the valve disc 80 to a rotational freedom.
  • an actuating wire or actuating rod 87 is provided, which extends parallel to a conveyor pipe 4, although the latter is not shown in Figures 7A-C, for the sake of simplicity.
  • the way in which this actuating wire 87 is guided and supported in relation to the conveyor pipe 4 may be in any manner which is known per se, as will be clear to a person skilled in the art, and is also not shown, for the sake of simplicity.
  • the actuating rod 87 is provided with a plurality of engagement members 88, for each metering vessel 10 which is to be actuated.
  • Each engagement member 88 may be in the form of a projection which is directed at right angles to the actuating rod 87, and in the example illustrated is a vertically downwardly directed projection.
  • the horizontal perpendicular distance between the actuating wire 87 and the centre axis of the metering vessel 10 is less than the radius of the valve disc 80.
  • the vertical distance between the actuating wire 87 and the valve disc 80 is shorter than the length of the actuating projection 88.
  • valve disc 80 When the valve disc 80 reaches a second limit rotational position, denoted in Figure 7A by an actuating recess 89 shown in dotted lines, the actuating projection 88, in the event of further displacement of the actuating rod 87, will leave the actuating recess 89, so that further displacement of the actuating rod 87 does not cause any further rotation of the inlet valve 80.
  • valve disc 80 open, position of the valve disc 80 (illustrated in Figure 7A) and the second, i.e. closed, position of the closure valve 82 is always the same, irrespective of any strain or other variations to the actuating rod 87, since the said positions are defined by the moment at which the actuating projection 88 of the actuating rod 87 leaves the actuating recess 89 of the valve disc 80. Since further displacement of the projection 88 does not cause any further rotation of the valve disc 80, a variation in such further displacement of the projection 88 will not cause any change in the rotational position of the valve disc 80.
  • the actuating rod 87 and the projection 88 it is possible to further increase the operational reliability of the actuating rod 87 and the projection 88 by providing the top plate 12, in its top surface at the location of the cut-away part 86, with a guide groove 90 which is parallel to the actuating rod 87, in which case the length of the projection 88 is sufficiently great for its end to extend into the said groove 90. During rotation of the valve disc 80, the actuating projection 88 is then laterally supported by the said groove 90.
  • valve disc 80 may also be provided on its top surface with a projection of suitable contour for the actuating projection 88 to act on.
  • a projection on the valve disc 80 of this nature can then also serve as a stop against an edge 91 of the top plate 12, in order to limit the rotational freedom of the valve disc 80 to a specific angular range.
  • the valve disc 80 may be provided on its top surface with such a projection functioning as a stop, although this is not illustrated for the sake of simplicity.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un récipient doseur (10) destiné à un système de distribution d'aliments (6) pour animaux, en particulier des porcs. En l'occurrence, les aliments sont entraînés par un système de tuyaux (4) desservant une pluralité de points de débit. Le récipient doseur (10) comporte une chambre de dosage (11) définissant un plafond (12), un plancher (13) et une paroi latérale (14). Le plafond (12) est pourvu d'au moins un orifice de remplissage (53) à fermeture. Le plancher (13) est pourvu d'au moins un orifice de débit (24) à fermeture. La paroi latérale (14) présente un contour divergent. La chambre de dosage (11) est pourvue de deux cloisons articulées (41; 42) qui définissent dans la chambre de dosage une partie active (51) de volume réglable. La paroi latérale (14) comprend deux éléments de paroi latérale (61; 62) qui s'articulent l'un par rapport à l'autre. Une trémie de distribution (20) est montée rotative en dessous de la chambre de dosage (11). L'ouverture et la fermeture de l'orifice de remplissage (53) de la chambre de dosage (11) sont contrôlées par un disque de soupape rotatif (80).
PCT/IB2000/000003 1999-01-06 2000-01-04 Recipient doseur pour systeme de distribution d'aliments WO2000040077A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1010970 1999-01-06
NL1010970A NL1010970C2 (nl) 1999-01-06 1999-01-06 Doseervat voor een voerdistributiesysteem.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000040077A2 true WO2000040077A2 (fr) 2000-07-13
WO2000040077A3 WO2000040077A3 (fr) 2000-11-30

Family

ID=19768426

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2000/000003 WO2000040077A2 (fr) 1999-01-06 2000-01-04 Recipient doseur pour systeme de distribution d'aliments

Country Status (2)

Country Link
NL (1) NL1010970C2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2000040077A2 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006097103A1 (fr) * 2005-03-14 2006-09-21 Knud Christensen Systeme d'alimentation pour animaux
DK201670774A1 (en) * 2016-09-29 2018-01-29 Ikadan System As An automatic dry feeder

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3225742A (en) * 1964-03-02 1965-12-28 Kenneth W Hagans Animal feeder
US4031857A (en) * 1976-03-15 1977-06-28 Intraco, Inc. Volumetric accumulating device
GB2031748B (en) * 1978-10-09 1983-04-27 British Res Agricult Eng Continuous mixing
ES1030520Y (es) * 1995-03-16 1996-02-16 Prieto Jesus Ballestin Silo regulador de alimentacion de ganado.

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006097103A1 (fr) * 2005-03-14 2006-09-21 Knud Christensen Systeme d'alimentation pour animaux
DK201670774A1 (en) * 2016-09-29 2018-01-29 Ikadan System As An automatic dry feeder
DK179201B1 (en) * 2016-09-29 2018-01-29 Ikadan System As An automatic dry feeder
WO2018059634A1 (fr) * 2016-09-29 2018-04-05 Ikadan System A/S Dispositif d'alimentation sèche automatique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2000040077A3 (fr) 2000-11-30
NL1010970C2 (nl) 2000-07-07

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