WO2018050199A1

WO2018050199A1 - Feed dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2018050199A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/001558
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernd BRÖRING
Original assignee: H. Bröring Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2016-09-16
Filing date: 2016-09-16
Publication date: 2018-03-22

Abstract

The invention relates to a feed dispenser (2) for animals, in particular pigs, having an upwardly open feed bowl (4) which is delimited by a side wall (6) and a base (8) and the maximum filling height (H) of which is predetermined by the height of the edge of the side wall (6). The base (8) has a material cutout designed for supplying liquid feed into the feed bowl (4). In the material cutout there is arranged a valve arrangement (10) for a supply of liquid feed that is triggered by animals, comprising a valve body (18) with a continuous aperture (29) in which a sealing seat (20) is formed, a sealing element (22) arranged on the sealing seat (20), an operating bar (24) which is partially arranged in the continuous aperture (29), which bar has, at one end, a blocking body (26) which is designed to close the aperture (29) by means of the sealing element (22) on the sealing seat (20), and which bar projects, at the other end, from the valve body (18), and a return element (28) which is designed to exert a force on the operating bar (24) and, via the latter, on the sealing element (22) opposite the sealing seat (20). The feed dispenser additionally comprises a guide element (30) which deflects the liquid feed emerging from the valve arrangement (10) and which is arranged above the valve body (18) on the operating bar (24). The operating bar (24) terminates below the maximum filling height (H) of the feed bowl (4). The feed dispenser (2) has a training and locking element (32) which can be releasably secured to the operating bar (24) both in a training position and in a locking position, wherein the training and locking element (32) has at least one extension which is oriented during use substantially in the direction of the extent of the operating bar (24), which extension, in the training position, is directed away from the base (8) of the feed bowl (4) and extends the actuable region of the valve arrangement (10) beyond the maximum filling height (H) and, in the locking position, is oriented in the direction of the base (8), with the result that the extension can be brought into contact with the valve body (18) in such a way that the operating bar (24) can be fixed with respect to the valve body (18) via the training and locking element (32).

Description

Feeder

The invention relates to a feed dispenser for animals, especially pigs. The food dispenser comprises an upwardly open food bowl, which is bounded by a side wall and a bottom and whose maximum filling height is determined by the height of the edge of the side wall. The bottom of the feed bowl has a material recess, which is designed to supply liquid feed into the feed bowl. In the material recess, a valve arrangement is arranged, which can be actuated by the animals, wherein a supply of liquid feed to the food dispenser takes place. The valve arrangement comprises a valve body with a continuous recess in which a sealing seat is formed. Furthermore, the valve arrangement comprises a control bar, which has at one end a blocking body, which is designed to close the recess, and at the other end projects out of the valve body. Between the sealing seat of the valve body and the locking body of the operating staff, a sealing element is arranged. The valve arrangement further comprises a restoring element, which for exerting a force on the control bar with the

Locking body and is formed on the sealing element. Locking body and sealing element are thus biased against the sealing seat of the valve body. Furthermore, the valve arrangement comprises a guide element which deflects the liquid feed leaving the valve arrangement and which is arranged above the valve body on the control panel.

CONFIRMATION COPY Such an automatic liquid dispenser is known from US 3,868,926. The US patent shows an automatic water dispenser for animals with a drinking bowl, in which a valve assembly of the aforementioned embodiment is arranged. By the valve assembly water is fed into the drinking bowl when the operating panel is pivoted by animals relative to the valve body. The animals can also convert the valve assembly into an open position by pivoting the operating staff when the food bowl is already completely filled. This leads to a violation of the supplied liquid, and as a result to a waste of the supplied liquid and a contamination of the environment of the feeding place as well as the liquid leaked out of the drinking bowl.

The invention has for its object to provide a feed dispenser for animals, in which the aforementioned problems are reduced.

This object is achieved by a feed dispenser of the type mentioned, in which the control panel ends below the maximum level of the food bowl. The animals can actuate the valve assembly so that the feed enters the food bowl from the valve assembly. At some point, the level of feed in the food bowl rises beyond the extension of the staff so that it is completely surrounded by liquid food. The control panel is thus deprived of the eyes of the animals. Instead, they will deal with the intake of the feed that is in the food bowl. If, due to the food intake, the level of the feed in the feeding bowl has dropped to the point that the Control panel is visible again, the animals can operate this again and thus cause a refilling of the feeding bowl. Furthermore, the feed dispenser according to the invention has a teach-in and locking element. This learning and locking element can be releasably fixed to the control panel both in a teach-in and in a locking position. The learning and locking element has at least one in use in the direction of extension of the operating staff aligned extension, which is directed away in the learning position from the bottom of the food bowl and extends the operable portion of the valve assembly beyond the maximum level. In the locking position, the extension is aligned in the direction of the bottom of the feed bowl, wherein it is in contact with the valve body of the valve assembly in such a way that the operating rod is fixed via the teach-in and locking member relative to the valve body.

When used in a stable as an automatic feed dispenser for piglets, the feed dispenser is initially used with the teach-in and locking element in the teach-in position. In particular, newborn piglets so facilitates the operation of the feed dispenser. The animals recognize the position of the operating staff in the food dispenser even when the food bowl is completely filled and can open the valve arrangement via the extended operating element. After the cubs have learned the use of the food dispenser according to the invention, the learning and locking element can be removed for normal operation. When the food bowl is completely filled, the control panel is now below the food level and is thus deprived of the eyes of the animals. This prevents in normal distribution that the animals overfill the food bowl.

The feed dispenser is connected to a feed supply line in the house. Often there are several such feed dispensers on a supply line, which are arranged, for example, in different farrowing boxes. If a food dispenser is not needed in one of the boxes or should not be operated by the animals located there, the learning and locking aid can be set in a locking position on the control panel of the valve assembly. In this case, the extension of the teach-in and locking element in the direction of the cup base and is in contact with the valve body. Thus, a connection between the valve body and control panel is made via the teach-in and locking element that prevents pivoting or other actuation of the control panel. As a result, individual automatic feed dispensers can be taken out of service without the entire feed supply line and thus all arranged automatic feed dispensers must be taken out of service.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the learning and locking element is non-positively fixed to the control panel. It is attached here without the use of tools or screws on the control panel and removed if necessary. A change between a normal, a learning and a locking position is thus possible without much effort. The normal position here describes an automatic feed dispenser, in which the teach-in and locking element is not fixed to the control panel. In a preferred embodiment, the learning and locking element is configured cup-shaped and has a lateral transformation and a bottom element. In the bottom element, a material recess with the same cross section as the cross section of the operating staff is arranged. As a result, the learning and locking element in a learning and in the locking position in each case can be fixed in a force-locking manner relative to the operating staff. By using a cup-shaped learning and locking element, the animals have a surface extension as an operating aid in a learning position available. Furthermore, this is arranged symmetrically around the valve assembly, so that the operation can be done equally from all positions around the feed dispenser. In the locking position, the valve assembly is encompassed by the learning and locking element in the cup-shaped configuration on all sides. This results in a reliable contact between the learning and locking element and the valve body. The control panel is thereby reliably secured to the valve body against actuation from any lateral direction by the animals. Further, a cup-shaped configuration is advantageous because the learning and locking element is designed to be more stable against breaking or Abkauen the extension by the animals.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the learning and locking element on the bottom element opposite opening which faces away from the bottom of the feed bowl in the teach-in position and facing the bottom of the feed bowl in the locking position. To switch between the In the locking and locking position, the cup is rotated by 180 ° about the plane of the bottom element.

Advantageously, the guide element of the food dispenser on the valve body side facing a circumferential bead. This bead is used to deflect the rising in the valve liquid feed in the direction of the bottom of the feeding bowl. By such a bead on the deflecting the ascending liquid feed undergoes another steering, so that it injects in the direction of the ground. Thus, a spraying of the feed is prevented via the guide element to the side wall of the feed bowl and from there into the environment of the automatic feed dispenser. The operating safety of the automatic feed dispenser by the animals is increased and the environment of the food dispenser remains longer free of liquid feed.

In a preferred embodiment, the feed dispenser has a feed bowl with a passage for liquid feed which is in fluid-conducting connection with the material cutout. The feed dispenser according to the invention can thus be connected to a liquid feed line. In normal operation, the passage has an inlet and an outlet for liquid feed to which the liquid feed line can be attached. Thus, the arrangement of several automatic feed dispensers on a liquid feed line as described above is facilitated.

As a result, a feed line can be used in the house, which is laid through different sections of the house, in each of which one or more automatic feed dispensers are arranged on or in the feed line. At least one thread for the connection of a liquid feed line is particularly advantageously arranged on the feed dispenser. The connection of a feed line to the feed dispenser is thus made possible and greatly facilitated by a simple screw connection. A bonding of fasteners or the feed line can be omitted. Threads are preferably arranged on both sides of the passage for the liquid feed, so that feed lines can be easily attached to both sides of the feed dispenser.

In a preferred embodiment, the food dispenser on the food bowl on a neck with a groove. The groove is designed for attachment of the feed dispenser by means of cable ties on a slatted floor of the house. The automatic feed dispenser can be easily fixed in the barn at its place of construction. Particularly preferably, the groove is arranged on a connecting piece with a thread for the connection of a liquid feed line. By using a nozzle with a thread in particular an external thread can be provided for the connection of the feed line. This further facilitates the assembly. The use of a groove for the cable tie on the nozzle with the thread for the connection of a liquid feed line allows in addition to the fixation of the feed dispenser also a certain fixation of the feed line itself.

Advantageously, the extension of the learning and control element in the locking position contacted the bottom of the food bowl. As a result, the operating rod of the valve arrangement is not only secured against pivoting, by means of which the valve seat is released, but also against a depression against the return valve. adjusting force of the return element. This is the case in particular when the end of the operating staff in the locking position does not protrude, or only very slightly, from the bottom element of the operating and locking element.

Advantageously, the valve arrangement has a non-return valve. Such a backflow preventer prevents contaminated liquid feed from the feed bowl from getting back into the liquid feed line. In a preferred variant, this non-return valve is formed by a closure body, which is arranged in the valve arrangement and, when actuated by gravity, closes the passage in the valve body, or releases it against inflowing liquid feed. Such a closure body is advantageously designed as a ball.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the valve body is designed on the outside at least partially as a hexagon. Thus, the assembly of the valve assembly is facilitated in the recess of the food bowl, especially if this is done by screwing. For this purpose, both the recess in the bottom of the food bowl and the outside of the valve body are provided with corresponding threads.

In a preferred embodiment, the valve body is designed in two parts.

Due to the two-part design of the valve body, the assembly of the seal, the operating staff, the return element and optionally the backflow barrier in the valve body is facilitated. Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the schematic embodiment described below. Show it:

1 an automatic feed dispenser in the normal position,

2 shows the automatic feed dispenser of Figure 1 in the normal position in a sectional view,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the food dispenser according to the invention with the teach-in and control in the operating position and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the feed dispenser according to the invention with the teach-in and locking element in the locking position.

Individual technical features of the embodiment described below, in conjunction with the features of an independent claim in other combinations as illustrated in the embodiment of the invention. If appropriate, functionally equivalent elements are provided with identical reference numbers.

Fig. 1 shows a feed dispenser 2 according to the invention with a feeding bowl 4, which is bounded by a side wall 6 and a bottom 8. The maximum filling level, represented by the line H of the feed bowl 4, is predetermined by the height of the edge of the side wall 6. Central in the feed bowl 4 is a valve assembly 10 for arranged by animals triggered supply of liquid feed. Furthermore, the feed dispenser 2 has two nozzles 12 which are each provided with a thread 14 and a groove 16 for fastening the feed dispenser 2 to a stable floor by means of cable ties.

FIG. 2 shows the feed dispenser 2 according to the invention from FIG. 1 in cross section. In the middle, the valve arrangement 10 is arranged. In the valve assembly 10, a valve body 18 with a sealing seat 20 and a control panel 24 is arranged. The control panel 24 ends below the maximum filling height H. At the control panel 24, a blocking body 26 is arranged at one end. Between the sealing seat 20 and the blocking body 26 of the operating staff 24, a sealing element 22 is positioned. The control panel 24 is acted upon by a return element 28, which is configured here as a helical spring, in the direction of the sealing seat 20 with force. By pivoting the operating staff 24 blocking body 26 and sealing element 22 are lifted in places from the sealing seat 20 and thus give a recess 29 in the valve body 18 free. Acts on the end of the locking body 26 opposite end of the operating staff 24 no force, the locking body 26 is moved by the return element 28 in a sealing position.

Above the valve body 18, a guide element 30 is arranged on the control panel 24. The guide element 30 has on the valve body 18 side facing a circumferential bead 38. In the feed dispenser 2, a passage 40 for liquid feed is arranged. The passage 40 is extended on both sides by nozzles 12, which are provided with a thread 14 for connection of the liquid feed line and have a groove 16 through which the feed dispenser 2 can be fixed by means of cable ties to a stable floor.

Fig. 3 shows the feed dispenser 2 according to the invention with the teach-in and locking element 32 in the teach-in position in cross-section. The learning and locking element 32 is cup-shaped in the embodiment with a lateral wall 34 and a bottom member 36 is formed. In the bottom member 36, a material recess having the same cross section as the cross section of the operating rod 24 is arranged, through which the learning and locking element 32 in the taught position shown in Fig. 3 and also in the locking position shown in FIG. 4 respectively frictionally against the control panel 24th is fixed. The learning and locking element 32 is simply plugged with the material recess on the control panel 24 for this purpose. The learning and locking element 32 has an opening 37 opposite the bottom element 36, which faces away from the bottom 8 of the feed bowl 4 in the learning position shown in FIG. 3 and faces the bottom 8 of the feed bowl 4 in the locking position shown in FIG. In the teach-in position shown in FIG. 3, the wall 34 extends the operating rod 24 as an extension element beyond the edge of the side wall 6 and thus beyond the maximum fill level H of the feed bowl. As a result, animals, especially young animals, the operation of the feed dispenser 2 is facilitated.

Fig. 4 shows the feed dispenser 2 with the teach-in and locking element 32 in the locking position in a sectional view. In the locking position, the learning and locking element 32 is opposite the learning position by 180 ° C. Turned around the plane of the bottom member 36 around, so that the opening 37 is aligned in the direction of the bottom 8 of the feed bowl 4. The wall 34 of the teach-in and locking element 32 is in contact with the outer regions of the valve body 18 and in positive connection with the control panel 24. By contact with the valve body 18 is a displacement or tilting of the teach-in and locking element 32 is not possible. Characterized in that the operating rod 24 is positively fixed in a recess of the bottom element 36 of the teach-in and locking element 32, the position of the control panel 24 is fixed relative to the valve body 18. The valve assembly 10 is secured in such a locking position against accidental or undesired actuation by animals.

Claims

claims

A food dispenser (2) for animals, in particular pigs, having an upwardly open food bowl (4) bounded by a side wall (6) and a bottom (8) whose maximum filling height (H) is defined by the height of the edge of the side wall ( 6), the bottom (8) having a material recess formed for feeding liquid feed into the feed bowl (4), in which a valve arrangement (10) for an animal-induced supply of liquid feed is arranged, comprising a valve body (18). with a continuous recess (29), in which a sealing seat (20) is formed, a sealing element (22) arranged on the sealing seat (20), a control rod (24) partially arranged in the through-hole (29), which at one end forms a blocking body (22). 26), which is designed to close the recess (29) by means of the sealing element (22) on the sealing seat (20), and the other end of the valve body (18) protrudes, a return element (28), which for exercising a r is formed on the operating rod (24) and on the sealing element (22) opposite the sealing seat (20), and a guide element (30) which diverts the liquid feed emerging from the valve arrangement (10) and which is located above the valve body (18) on the Operating staff (24) is arranged, characterized in that the operating rod (24) below the maximum filling level (H) of the feeding bowl (4) ends and the feed dispenser (2) has a learning and locking element (32) on the control panel (24 ) is releasably fixed both in a learning position and in a locking position, wherein the learning and locking element (32) at least one in use substantially in the direction of extension the extension (24) aligned extension directed away from the bottom (8) of the food bowl (4) and the actuatable portion of the valve assembly (10) extends beyond the maximum filling level (H) and extended in the locking position in the direction the bottom (8) is aligned, so that the extension with the valve body (18) can be brought into contact, that the operating rod (24) via the teach-in and locking element (32) relative to the valve body (18) is fixable.

2. Feed dispenser (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the teach-in and locking element (32) non-positively on the control panel (24) can be fixed.

3. Feed dispenser (2) one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teach-in and locking element (32) cup-shaped with a lateral wall (34) and a bottom element (36) is formed in the bottom element (36) has a material recess with the the same cross section as the cross section of the control bar (24) is arranged, by means of which the teach-in and locking element (32) in the learning position and in the locking position is fixed in each case non-positively relative to the control bar (24).

4. Feed dispenser (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the learning and locking element (32) has a bottom element (36) opposite opening (37) in the learning position the bottom (8) of the feed bowl (4 ) facing away and in the locking position the bottom (8) of the feed bowl (4) faces.

5. Feed dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide element (30) on the valve body (18) facing side has a circumferential bead (38) for deflecting the rising in the valve assembly (10) liquid feed in the direction of the bottom (8) of the feed bowl (4) is formed.

6. Feed dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed bowl (4) having a standing with the material recess in liquid-conducting connection passage (40) for liquid feed.

7. Feed dispenser (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed dispenser (2) at least one thread (14) is arranged for the connection of a liquid feed line.

8. feed dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed bowl (4) has a nozzle (12), in particular a Stutzten (12) with a thread (14) for connecting a liquid feed line, with a groove (16 ), which is designed to fasten the food dispenser (2) by means of cable ties on a slatted floor.

9. feed dispenser (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extension of the teach-in and locking element (32) in the locking position, the bottom (8) of the feeding bowl (4) contacted.