Material or article handling – Static receptacle and means for charging or discharging – or... – Charging or charge-distributing means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-06
2002-08-27
Bratlie, Steven A. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Static receptacle and means for charging or discharging, or...
Charging or charge-distributing means
C200S08500R, C200S061210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06439821
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for automatically dispensing granular material, and more particularly to a hopper feed regulating device for controlling the supply of feed to livestock via a feed hopper.
BACKGROUND
In order for certain domesticated animals to efficiently gain weight, it is essential to provide them with adequate feed at all times. Accordingly, the amount of feed made available to the animals must be repeatedly and accurately adjusted depending on the growth of the animals.
One prior art attempt at maintaining the optimum level of feed to poultry comprises using a feed cart supported on an overhead rail to transport feed through a chicken house. The cart is manually rolled along the rail to feed stations throughout the house while feed is shoveled from the cart onto the floor level.
With the advent of automated chicken houses, feed may be automatically conveyed from a central hopper outside the house to feed receptacles distributed throughout the house without manual labor. In order to provide feed on an “as needed” basis, a multiplicity of feed pans or stations, which are typically hung from a ceiling or upper support, are arranged in rows along the length of the chicken coop and provided with feed when empty.
The feed pans are each connected to a conduit that, using an auger arrangement, delivers feed to the pans when an empty condition is sensed at the feed pans. The conduit is supplied from an intermediate hopper, positioned at one end of the chicken coop. When the level of feed in the intermediate hopper drops to a predetermined level, it is then re-supplied with feed from a main feed hopper, positioned outside of the chicken coop.
Contact switches are generally used both to sense the level of feed in the feed pans and to signal for the supply of feed to the feed pans from the intermediate hopper as needed. Additionally, a contact switching arrangement is provided to sense when feed to the intermediate hopper is needed from the primary feed hopper or silo.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a known contact switch arrangement or flap switch for use in the intermediate hopper is generally illustrated at
11
and comprises a hinged flap
13
which pivots back and forth along the directions of arrow A so as to make a depressible contact switch
15
turn on and off. In this arrangement, the contact switch
15
is off when depressed and is on when released. In the on position, the contact switch
15
signals a feed motor to supply feed to the hopper.
Typically, the switch arrangement
11
is positioned in the hopper at a height that equals the desired level of feed when the hopper is full. Positioned adjacent the hinge flap
13
is a feed supply conduit
17
which pours feed B at the hinge flap
13
. When the supply of feed to the hopper reaches the desired level in the hopper, the feed piles up in front of the flap
13
so that the weight of the pile pivots the hinge flap
13
back against the contact switch
15
, thereby pushing the switch
15
to the off position and cutting off the supply of feed. As the level of feed falls, the weight of the pile of feed at the hinge flap
13
is reduced causing the flap
13
to spring forward and release contact switch
15
to the on position, as shown in
FIG. 1
, so as to signal for additional feed.
While operationally quite efficient when used at the feed pans, the flap switch
11
tends to hang-up when used in the intermediate hopper. Constant exposure to feed causes grease to build up on the hinge flap
13
, making it difficult to spring back and release the contact switch
15
to the on position. As a result, when the flap switch
11
fails, the intermediate hopper is not supplied with feed from the main hopper and the plurality of feed pans become depleted of feed.
If, for example, the flap switch
11
hangs up in the middle of the night, the chickens may go without feed until the next morning. By then, the chickens are so hungry that when they are finally fed, they eat so quickly that the feed travels right through the animals without being fully digested. This results in an unacceptable conversion of feed to body weight.
A further deficiency of the known flap switch arrangement is its tendency to switch on and off or “bounce” at the cut off rather than letting the motor run uninterrupted until the level of feed in the hopper reaches the desired level.
A prior attempt at alleviating the deficiencies of the flap switch include Harkins, U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,753, which discloses a feed control switch for controlling the supply of feed to a hopper without the need to contact the feed.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, the Harkins feed control switch for supplying feed to an intermediate hopper is generally illustrated at
21
. The apparatus comprises a first tubular member
23
having a hanger
25
from which the Harkins feed control switch is suspended and a second tubular member
29
slidably moveable relative to the first member
23
, the second member
29
having a suspender
31
from which an intermediate feed hopper is suspended. A spring biasing arrangement
37
, such as a helical coil compression spring, is provided for pulling the first and second members
23
and
29
together at a predetermined spring bias strength and a switch contact surface
28
is provided at the first member
23
. An on/off switch
34
is positioned adjacent to the switch contact surface
28
and at the second member
29
so as to move with the second member, the switch
34
being in an off position when the switch
34
is at an extended position and being in an on position when the switch
34
is at a depressed position.
When the weight of feed in the hopper exceeds the predetermined spring bias strength of the spring biasing arrangement, the second member
29
, which carries the switch
34
, pulls away from the first member
23
causing the switch
34
to move away from and disengage the switch contact surface
28
at the first member
23
. As a result, the switch
34
moves to the extended and off position, which signals a feed motor to terminate the supply of feed to be conveyed to the intermediate feed hopper. However, as feed is removed from the feed hopper to feed the chickens, at some point the predetermined spring bias strength overcomes the weight of the feed in the hopper and the second member
29
is pulled towards the first member
23
causing the switch to engage the contact surface
28
so that the switch
34
moves to the depressed and on position, which signals for the supply of feed to the feed hopper.
While the Harkins feed control switch attempts to resolve the deficiencies of the flap switch, it still suffers from similar deficiencies. For example, the Harkins switch comprises an open tubular design that exposes both the spring biasing arrangement as well as the tubular members to dust and other airborne particles. Accordingly, constant exposure may cause a build up of grime that interferes with operation of the control switch apparatus.
A further deficiency of the Harkins feed control switch is its tendency to switch on and off rapidly causing unnecessary wear on the feed motor. The rapid switching is caused by the relatively small weight differential required in the intermediate feed hopper to trigger and untrigger the switch. The on and off repetition may result in failure of the motor, which not only results in inefficient feed conversion but also may require a costly replacement of the feed motor.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an apparatus for controlling the supply of feed to a feed hopper that is not easily exposed to dust and other airborne particles. There is also a need for such an apparatus that may be implemented without causing unnecessary wear on a feed supply motor. There is still an additional need for an apparatus that is easily adjustable for different types of feed and feed hoppers having different weights and densities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention satisfies the above described needs by providing an apparatus for automatically regulating the s
Bratlie Steven A.
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
LandOfFree
Hopper feed regulating apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Hopper feed regulating apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hopper feed regulating apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2969155