Animal husbandry – Feeding device – Hopper and trough
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-28
2001-07-03
Price, Thomas (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Feeding device
Hopper and trough
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253705
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to feeders for animals such as hogs, and more particularly to feeders of the type in which feed is dispensed from a bottom opening of an inclined hopper onto a shelf, the flow of feed controlled by means of vertically adjustable gates located at the bottom of the hopper which are actuated by means of a sliding cam member.
Traditional hog feeders comprise a feed trough with a feed hopper located above the trough. The feed hopper includes a pair of vertically aligned end walls and a pair of inclined and inwardly sloping longitudinal sides. A bottom discharge opening is located along each longitudinal side to allow feed contained within the hopper to gravity dispense into the trough. The size of each discharge opening is generally determined by a slideable gate positioned, adjacent the discharge opening and controlled by an adjustment mechanism. A typical adjustment mechanism, such as is shown in
FIGS. 1-2
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,798 to Brent A. King, employs a pair of threaded rods, R
1
-R
2
and R
3
-R
4
, each secured adjacent opposite ends of the slideable gate G, and extending vertically upward through a bushing B disposed in a horizontal cross-member H traversing the upper end of the hopper. The upper end of each rod is threaded to receive a threaded handle T, such that rotation of the threaded handled either raises or lowers the associated rod and the slideable gate G, relative to the horizontal cros-member H. Raising the gate increases the size of the discharge opening
0
through which the feed contained in the hopper may flow, and conversely, lowering the gate permits a reduction or stoppage of the feed flow.
Several drawbacks are apparent in the traditional hog feeder design. First, the adjustment mechanism for operating the slideable gates is disposed within the interior space of the hopper, and hence is continually surrounded by the feed stored within the hopper. This can lead to clogging or difficulty in operating the slideable gates, as the feed may interfere with the adjustment mechanisms. Second, the procedure by which a single slideable gate is adjusted requires the rotational actuation of two separate threaded handles, a time-consuming and tedious process. Without the operator carefully tracking the number of complete revolutions made by each handle, it is difficult to ensure the slideable gates are uniformly adjusted from one end to the other, and in comparison to the gate on the opposite side. Furthermore, the operator is often required to move around to the opposite side of the feeder to determine the actual adjustment of the second gate, often necessitating entering a second hog pen.
Accordingly, it is desirable to produce an adjustment mechanism for a hog feed having slideable gates which is not substantially disposed within the interior space of the feed hopper, and which employs a simple and efficient operating mechanism, allowing simultaneous adjustment of both ends of a gate, and operation of both gates from either side of the hopper.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
The provision of a new and improved hog feeder having a feed trough and a feed hopper, the feed hopper including slideable gates controlled by an cam driven adjustment mechanism;
The provision of the aforementioned hog feeder wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to allow operator actuation of the slideable gates on opposite sides of the hopper from either side;
The provision of the aforementioned hog feeder wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a fully open setting, a fully closed setting, and a number of intermediate settings for each slideable gate;
The provision of the aforementioned hog feeder wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to permit animal agitation of the slideable gates to facilitate the dispersal of feed;
The provision of the aforementioned hog feeder wherein the adjustment mechanism is isolated from any vertical motion of the slideable gates caused by the animal gate agitation;
The provision of the aforementioned hog feeder wherein a portion of said adjustment mechanism is disposed external to said hopper interior space;
The provision of the aforementioned hog feeder wherein said adjustment mechanism is configured to actuate a single gate through manual displacement of a single element;
The provision of the aforementioned hog feeder which eliminates the need for a plurality of threaded handles;
The provision of the aforementioned hog feeder which facilitates accurate adjustment of gates on opposite sides of the feeder from a single location;
The provision of the aforementioned hog feeder which is configured to permit adjustment of the gates from a location remote to the feeder;
The provision of the aforementioned hog feeder wherein said adjustment mechanism is constructed with reversible components to simply installation on opposite sides of the feed hopper; and
The provision of the aforementioned hog feeder wherein said adjustment mechanism is simple to operate, easy to install, and cost efficient.
Briefly stated, the hog feeder with the adjustable gate mechanism of the present invention comprises a feed hopper for receiving and storing a supply of flowable, dry hog feed to be gravity dispensed from discharge openings in the lower longitudinal portions of the hopper for consumption by hogs over a length of time. The flow of hog feed from the discharge openings is controlled by a pair of slideable gates each having a cam actuated adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes receiving notches on each side of the hopper corresponding to a fully open gate setting, a fully closed gate setting, and a plurality of intermediate gate settings. By positioning a selection lever within a desired notch, the corresponding slideable gate is shifted to the selected position by means of a sliding cam arrangement. The sliding cam arrangement transfers lateral motion of the selection lever into vertical motion of the slideable gate, allowing for opening and closing without the need for the rotation of threaded handles.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2494950 (1950-01-01), Lee
patent: 4306518 (1981-12-01), Herring
patent: 4385591 (1983-05-01), Petersen
patent: 4491087 (1985-01-01), Herring
patent: 5010849 (1991-04-01), Kleinsasser
patent: 5036798 (1991-08-01), King
patent: 5222460 (1993-06-01), Evans, III
patent: 5345894 (1994-09-01), Evans, III et al.
patent: 5351649 (1994-10-01), Badia et al.
patent: 5570656 (1996-11-01), Waldner et al.
patent: 5603285 (1997-02-01), Kleinsasser
patent: 5921200 (1999-07-01), Bondarenko et al.
Hopley Hubert Vern
Pollock Eugene B.
Polster Lieder Woodruff & Lucchesi L.C.
Price Thomas
The GSI Group, Inc.
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