WO2001064028A1

WO2001064028A1 - Feeder with improved teat

Info

Publication number: WO2001064028A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2001/000030
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew Crossland
Original assignee: Milk Flow Peach Teats Limited
Priority date: 2000-03-02
Filing date: 2001-03-01
Publication date: 2001-09-07
Also published as: AU2001236252A1

Abstract

An animal feeder includes a reservoir (1) with at least one screw in teat (8). The reservoir (1) has for each teat (8) a moulded thread (6), the internal profile of which is complementary to a thread (7) on one end of the threaded teat (8). The moulded thread (6) has in association therewith a nipple (10) adapted to seal a rear orifice (11) of the threaded end of the screw in teat (8).

Description

FEEDER WITH IMPROVED TEAT

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an animal feeder with improved means of mounting teats used for feeding out and improved wastage reduction features.

Background to the Invention

At present a number of feeders for calves, lambs and other animals are available. These include the devices described in patent specification numbers NZ243263 and PCT/NZ95/00098 and shown in the representations with New Zealand Design registration No. 251 98.

Although these devices serve particular purposes most suffer from one or more disadvantages. One major disadvantage is the requirement to pull each teat manually through a hole in a feeder to which it is to be fitted as this requires extreme physical force to do so. The reason for this is that the mounting holes have to be designed to provide a leak proof seal. A second disadvantage is that the construction and mounting for existing teats results in residual milk wastage. A third disadvantage is that existing teats cannot easily be removed if blocked, faulty or require cleaning.

In an effort to overcome these disadvantages there is a recent trend toward the use of more effective teats and as a result the applicants have designed a screw in teat the subject of New Zealand Design Registration No. 400305. The screw in teat incorporates a valve and other features described and claimed in patent specification no. PCT/NZ95/00098.

An object of the present invention is to provide an animal feeder utilising one or more screw in teats which enables teats to be installed or removed simply by winding the teats into, or out of position for cleaning and replacement. Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an animal feeder including a reservoir for at least one screw in teat, the reservoir having for each teat a moulded thread the internal profile of which is complementary to a thread on one end of the threaded teat.

The moulded thread can have in association therewith a nipple adapted to seal a rear orifice of the threaded end of the screw in teat.

The reservoir can be rotationally moulded from polyethylene or a similar plastics material suitable for rotational moulding.

The reservoir can include in its base adjacent each moulded thread a corrugation into which milk flows before entering the threaded teat.

Further aspects of the invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a side view of an example of calf feeder reservoir with an example of a screw in teat exploded from its position in the reservoir;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the calf feeder shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows an end view of an alternative construction of a large capacity calf feeder for mounting on a trailer; Figure 4 shows a perspective view from above one side of a calf feeder trailer for the large capacity calf feeder shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a side view of a circular, in plan, calf feeder;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the reservoir for the calf feeder shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a side view of the calf feeder shown in Figures 5 and 6 mounted on a stand;

Figure 8 shows a plan view of a twelve teat calf feeder with separate moulded compartments; and

Figure 9 shows a side view of the calf feeder shown in Figure 8.

Description of the Preferred Examples

In the following descriptions the invention will be described with reference to the drawings and to a calf feeder. It is to be appreciated that with minor modifications the feeders can be adapted to feed lambs, goats, deer or other animals.

The calf feeder shown in Figures 1 and 2 consists of a reservoir generally indicated by arrow 1 which is semi-circular at its base 2 and has the profile shape 3 in plan (Figure 2) at its upper edge. The upper edge 4 can have a strengthening rib or lip as shown. The concave scalloped face (Fιgure2) provides additional strength to the reservoir and enables the feeder to be carried comfortably against the waist.

The base 2 of the reservoir 1 has a corrugated well 5 (Figure 2) in which one or more moulded threads 6 are formed. Each thread is formed in a trough region of a corrugated well 5. In Figure 1 can be seen the position of three moulded threads 6 whereas for convenience only one is shown in Figure 2. The profile of the moulded thread 6 is similar to the thread profile 7 of a screw in teat 8. The example of screw in teat can be the teat the subject of Design Registration No. 400305. The threaded teat is constructed from a natural or synthetic rubber material and incorporates a nipple at the end 9 opposite the thread profile 7 and the teat incorporates the valve mechanism described in patent specification No. PCT/NZ95/00098. The groove 37 adjacent the end of the thread profile 7 adds to flexibility of the outer end of the teat 8 in that the groove acts as a hinge to thereby dissipate the force which normally acts on the threaded section. This prevents inadvertent disengagement.

The moulded threads 6 each have a locating nipple 1 0 which engages the rear orifice 1 1 of the screw in teat 8. The nipple 10 has sealing function in that it is difficult if not impossible for milk to leak from between the teat and the reservoir.

The reservoir 1 can have as its rear 38 mounting means. In the drawings the mounting means are a pair of shaped brackets 39. The brackets can be bolted or fixed by other means to the rear wall of the reservoir and have a hook region 40 used to mount the feeder on a fence and a spacer 41 adapted to maintain the base 42 horizontal when the reservoir is in place on the fence.

In use with a screw in teat in each corrugation a plurality of animals may be fed out when a volume of milk or other liquid feed or supplement is placed in the reservoir. The dimensions of the reservoir may be such that either five, ten or any other number of corrugations are incorporated so that either five, ten or more teats are available.

The corrugations in the well 5 ensure that milk wastage is reduced as milk as the base 2 of the reservoir 1 falls to its lowest point to the bottom of the corrugations and is therefore available directly to each teat 8.

In Figure 3 is shown an example of mobile calf feeder with a large volume, such as an 800 litre reservoir 1 2. In this example the reservoir 1 2 has connections via pipes 1 3 (only one of which can be seen) through ball valves 1 4 to two manifold feeders 1 5 (only one of which is shown) which are fed from the reservoir 1 Each manifold feeder 1 5 is in plan the shape of a semi-circular arc. In use on a trailer 32 (Figure 4) one of the manifolds faces rearward and the other forward of a retractable draw bar 43.

The manifold feeder 1 5 has a well 1 6 in which is formed a plurality of screw threads 1 7. The screw threads 1 7 are for threaded screw in teats 1 8 to be fitted. The manifold feeder 1 5 may be dimensioned to take up to forty screw in teats spaced at regular intervals around the generally semi-circular, in plan, manifold.

Each manifold feeder 1 5 has a drain sump 44 and a breather tube 45 which extends through leak proof seals 46 to the upper surface of the reservoir 1 2. The breather tube can act as a backwash pipe in that at its upper end it can terminate in a hose fitting 47. For cleaning of the manifold feeder 1 5 a cleaning hose is fitted at 47 and the manifold flushed through the drain sump 44 with water as an appropriate cleaning medium.

The reservoir 1 2 can include a clear PVC or the like sight gauge 48 connected from base 49 to the upper surface of the reservoir 1 2. The reservoir 1 2 can also include a drain sump at 50 and a dispensing means 51 with tap 52 for filling portable feeders from the reservoir 1 2.

In Figure 4 is shown a perspective view of a mobile calf feeder trailer 32. In this instance the trailer 32 is provided with a tray 33 which can be used for a variety of purposes and which has fitted thereto when required a tank support frame 34. The tray of the trailer has an area of 800mm by 800mm with a 290mm depth.

The tank support frame 34 is supported in position by locators 35 which fit within the upper edge of the trailer tray 33.

A reservoir 1 2 is fitted to the tank support frame 34. Advantageously the tank is the feeder shown in Figure 3 and the reservoir is attached at its four corners to brackets 36 on the frame 34. The reservoir 1 2 has mounted therebeneath a pair of similar manifolds to the type shown in Figure 3. In use the tank is filled and calves are fed out in the normal way.

In Figures 5, 6 and 7 is shown an eighty litre calf feeder manufactured from polyethylene.

The feeder has a reservoir 1 9 dimensioned to have a capacity of between eighty and one hundred and twenty litres. A base 20 of the reservoir 1 9 has in addition to corrugations 21 four grooved recesses 22 spaced at 90° intervals around the reservoir.

The corrugations 21 can be equally spaced and there can be twenty corrugations spaced at regular intervals. The corrugations each having a moulded thread 23 (only shown in Figures 6 and 7) into each of which is inserted a screw in teat 24.

As is shown in Figure 7 the grooved recesses 22 are adapted to support a four legged base 24 which holds the reservoir 1 9 at a height suitable for animals to feed from the screw in teats 24.

In use the example shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 is mounted in a suitable place in a feeding area and the reservoir is filled with a desired quantity of liquid feed to be fed out to the calves.

In Figures 8 and 9 is shown a twelve teat compartment calf feeder 25 which is generally semi-circular in plan. It is envisaged that in an alternative construction the feeder 25 may only have six compartments. The semi-circular base 26 of the reservoir region 27 is provided with twelve sector shaped compartments 27. In the outer edge of each compartment is provided a moulded thread 28 in a moat region of the reservoir. Only two of the moulded threads 28 are shown Into each moulded thread 28 is inserted a screw in teat 29 as in the other examples. In use milk or other liquid feed is placed in the reservoir and during feeding the level drops along the angled base 30 (Figure 9) so that little or no wastage occurs as eventually each sector shaped corrugation is emptied in succession.

The feeder 25 has a support brackets 31 (only one of which can be seen in the side elevation of Figure 9) formed which are used to assist in holding the reservoir on a stand or on a bracket on a fence post or the like. To maintain the base of the moat region horizontal a spacer means 53 can be fitted across the rear of the feeder 25.

Where in the foregoing description particular integers are described it is envisaged that their mechanical equivalents are contemplated as if they were individually set forth herein.

Particular examples of the invention have been described and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1 . An animal feeder including a reservoir for at least one screw in teat, the reservoir having for each teat a moulded thread the internal profile of which is complementary to a thread on one end of the threaded teat.

2. An animal feeder as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each moulded thread has in association therewith a nipple adapted to seal a rear orifice of the threaded end of the screw in teat.

3. An animal feeder as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 when the internal thread profile matches the external thread of the teat disclosed in New Zealand Design Registration No 400305.

4. An animal feeder as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims wherein the reservoir is rotationally moulded from polyethylene or a similar plastics material suitable for rotational moulding.

5. An animal feeder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the reservoir includes in its base, adjacent each moulded thread, a corrugation into which milk flows before entering the threaded teat.

6. An animal feeder as claimed in Claim 5 where the reservoir is semi-circular in plan at its base and has a profile in plan at its upper edge which includes a scalloped section.

7. An animal feeder as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the base of the reservoir has a corrugated well in which one or more moulded threads are formed.

8. An animal feeder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each moulded thread has a locating nipple which engages the rear orifice of the screw in teat.

9. An animal feeder as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the reservoir has as its rear mounting means, such as a pair of shaped brackets.

10. An animal feeder as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the reservoir is part of mobile calf feeder with a large volume, such as an 800 litre reservoir.

1 1 . An animal feeder as claimed in Claim 1 0 wherein the reservoir has two manifold feeders in which each manifold feeder is, in plan, the shape of a semi-circular arc.

1 2. An animal feeder as claimed in Claim 1 1 wherein each manifold feeder has a well in which is formed a plurality of screw threads.

1 3. An animal feeder as claimed in Claim 1 1 wherein each manifold feeder has a drain sump and a breather tube which extends through leak proof seals to an upper surface of the reservoir, the breather tube can act as a backwash pipe with at its upper end a hose fitting.

1 4. An animal feeder as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the reservoir is a twelve teat compartment calf feeder which is generally semi-circular in plan, the semi-circular base of the reservoir being provided with twelve sector shaped compartments in the outer edge of each compartment of which is provided a moulded thread in a moat region of the reservoir.

1 5. An animal feeder as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.