GB2203322A - Animal feeders and agricultural trailers - Google Patents

Abstract

An animal feeder for use with loose fodder such as hay or with compacted fodder such as large hay bales. The feeder is transportable on wheels and has an opening each side which is closed by a movable barred frame 26, 27 or gate, a spring system 38 acting to pull the two frames or gates 26, 27 towards each other against the fodder. There is a central support on the floor of the feeder to position a bale and a stop bar each side limits the outward movement of the gates. The feeder has a conversion bracket at the front end to allow it to be coupled either to a normal tow hitch or to a tractor three point linkage. <IMAGE>

Description

"Animal Feeders and Agricultural Trailers" This invention relates to agricultural devices and implements and is primarily though not exclusive applicable to animal feeders.

As is well-known an animal feeder for use with loose or baled fodder must be able to retain the fodder while presenting it in an accessible way to the animals for feeding. There are many existing designs for animal feeders, some designed particularly for use with baled hay or straw of the standard bale size, and others for use with loose chopped fodder such as hay or silage, or with the large cylindrical hay bales now in common use weighing up to 0.5 tons.

Surprisingly it is found that the design of the feeder has a great effect on the rate at which the animals can consume the fodder and hence on their wellbeing and it is an object of the invention to provide an improved feeder which will better satisfy the general requirements and which may also be adaptable to different types of fodder.

Broadly stated the invention consists in an animal feeder for use with loose fibrous fodder, such as hay, straw, silage etc., comprising a frame to receive the fodder, having an opening along one or both sides and a movable gate or barred frame for effectively closing at least part of the opening, and means for resiliently urging the movable frame towards the enclosed fodder.

Preferably the movable frame can be shifted between an external position outside a fixed part of the main frame and an internal position in which it-is directly in contact with the fodder. The movable frame may be attached adjacent its upper end or edge to a generally horizontal tension spring.

In a preferred construction the resilient spring tensioning device acts on the movable frame adjacent its upper edge and exerts a generally horizontal pull tending to urge the frame bodily inwards towards the fodder and also a torsional force tending to twist the bottom edge of the frame inwardly towards the fodder. There may be manual adjustment means for adjusting the position of the movable frame.

Broadly stated from another aspect the invention consists in an agricultural trailer including a towing attachment at the front end for connection to a normal vehicle top hitch, and a conversion bracket having means for attachment to the normal three-point linkage of a tractor and also means for attachment to the trailer.

Preferably the tractor conversion bracket has two spaced bottom pins aligned with each other, for attachment to the outside lower tractor links, and an upright column with two or more apertures, for attachment to the upper link of the tractor linkage.

In a preferred construction the tractor bracket includes a generally vertical rear post spaced from the tractor linkage points and having means for attachment to a fixed towing point on the trailer or trailer bracket. Thus conveniently the normal towing hitch on the trailer includes a tow bar which is hinged to the trailer frame on a horizontal axis and can swing upwards into a vertical attitude, and a bracket attached or attachable to the tow bar in this vertical attitude and providing a towing hitch or attachment at a convenient height above the frame of the trailer for attachment to the tractor linkage.

The invention may be performed in-various ways and two specific embodiments with some possible modifications will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic end view of a trailer designed to act as an animal feeder for use with large bales or other odder, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the feeder, Figure 3 is sectional end view on an enlarged scale illustrating the spring mechanism for the movable gates, Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the feeder trailer with the towbar in its normal horizontal position, Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the front end of the trailer illustrated the towbar pivoted upwards with the towing bracket attached, Figure 6 is a side elevation of the three-point tractor bracket in position below the trailer bracket, Figure 7 is a perspective view of the tractor bracket, Figures 8 and 9 are respectively plan and front views of the tractor bracket.

In the mobile feeder trailer illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 there is a main rigid frame comprising a bottom floor 10 positioned between two bars 11,12 and an upper frame including upper and lower fixed horizontal rails 13,14,15,16 supported from the bottom frame by uprights 18 and provided with vertical spacer bars 19,20 at the ends and sides.

This open framework is suitably dimensioned to receive a large bale 22, which may be placed in position by a tractor using a forklift attachment for which purpose the end frame 25 of the trailer is designed to be removed or hinged downwards to give access. This rigid frame construction provides two side openings extending from end to end of the trailer and at each of these openings is provided a movable frame 26,27 comprising upper and lower parallel rigid bars 28,29 with interconnecting vertical bars 30. The spacing between the bars 30 is carefully selected to allow the particular animals,be they cattle or sheep or the like, to feed easily between the bars.

At each end of the trailer is provided a strong horizontal tension spring 38 located within and shielded by a cover 31 and the opposite ends 32,33 of each spring are connected by links 34 to brackets 35 rigidly attached to the top bar 28 of each movable frame. Another bracket 36 on the opposite side of the bar 28 is attached to a short chain 37 which can be adjustably secured to a hook 38 fixed to part of the main frame 40 of the trailer.It will be seen that the horizontal pull applied by the tension spring 38 acting on the projecting lug 35 tends to pull the frames 26 bodily towards each other and also tends to twist each frame'two bring its lower edge or bar 29 inwards towards the fodder. In the position illustrated in Figure 3 the lower bar 29 of the frame is outside the fixed bar 12 of the trailer frame and this twist simply tends to hold the frame in its closed position. However, by lifting the frame bodily (for which purpose it may be necessary to disconnect the chain 37) its lower bar 29 can be pushed inwards over the fixed bar 12 so that it lies on the bottom wall 10. In this position the two movable frames 26 are then pulled inwards towards each other against whatever quantity of fodder is within the trailer.This is useful for smaller bales or for loose fodder or feedstuff and may also be useful when a big bale is partly consumed.

It has been found that this feeder arrangement is surprisingly effective in allowing animals of all sizes to pull hay or other fodder from the feeder without difficulty and this applies even to small lambs who often experience difficulty in feeding.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 9 the feeder trailer 40 is mounted on a pair of ground wheels 41 and has a front towbar 42 having a pin or other connection 43 to the towing link of a vehicle which may be a landrover, for example.

The towbar 42 may be held fixed vertically by a diagonal strut 44 with detachable pin connections and the towbar is pivoted to the chassis of the trailer on a horizontal axis 45. When it is required to connect the trailer to a tractor three-point linkage this towbar system is non-applicable, but in accordance with the invention can be adapted readily for use with the tractor linkage.

For this purpose the strut 44 is disconnected and the towbar 42 is raised to the vertical position illustrated in Figure 5. A trailer bracket 50 is placed in position over the towbar and adjacent part of the frame of the trailer and secured by a heavy crossbolt 51 passed through holes in the trailer frame. This bracket has a heavy horizontal fixed towpin 52 between a pair of spaced plates 53,54.

In addition, the adaptor or conversion kit includes a tractor bracket 60 designed to be attached to the normal three-point linkage of a tractor and also to the towpin 52 on the trailer. This tractor bracket illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 comprises a transverse horizontal lower box frame bar 61 having pins 62 at opposite ends for connection to the outer tractor links and a vertical frame bar 63 having a -pair of spaced plates 64 at its upper end, provided iith spaced apertures 65 for attachment to the central upper tractor link. The bracket also includes a pair of horizontal rigid bars 66,67 extending rearwards from adjacent the upper and lower ends of the vertical frame 63 and connected at their rear ends to an upright post 68. These frames are strengthened by diagonal frame elements 69,70.At the upper end of the vertical post 68 is a U bracket 71 mounted on a short shaft (not illustrated) which can pivot within the post 68 and the U bracket 71 is designed to fit under and embrace the towpin 52 of the tractor bracket.

Thus in use, to convert the trailer from one tow system to the other, a pair of adjustable ground struts or legs (not illustrated) are lowered to hold the tractor chassis horizontal, the towbar 42 is raised into its vertical position and the bracket 50 rigidly located, the tractor bracket 60 is applied to the three-point tractor linkage, and the tractor is then reversed and its linkage adjusted in the normal way to bring the U bracket 71 into full engagement with the towpin 52. A slight elevation of the tractor linkage then provides full connection and the trailer legs can be raised clear of the ground in the usual way.

To assist in locating and positionina the bale there may be a removable stand 9 having legs 10 which are fitted into short sockets 11 on the floor of the trailer, the stand running the full length of the trailer floor. Also there mav be additional internal open frames 12 one on each side also having short legs 13 at the bottom fitting into sockets 14 on the trailer floor. These frames are constructed from spaced metal tubing providing controlled openings through which the animals can feed and the upper ends of the inclined tubes 12 are secured to horizontal tubes 15 resting against the inside surface of the movable frames 26,27.

In addition the feeder has adjustable control tubes 16, one on each side, located outside the frames 26,27 and adjustable vertically within U slots formed by brackets 17 fixed to the uprights of the main rigid frame.

As mentioned above the feeder of this invention can be used with loose fodder such as hay or straw, but it is particularly applicable to baled fodder especially the large cylindrical bales commonly known as "big bales".

These bales may be stood vertically upright, but it is usually preferable that they should be positioned horizontally with the axis of the bale positioned centrally along the length of the trailer.

It is desirable that the two movable side gates should be capable of being locked in position or released for movement under spring action as already described. This locking effect can be achieved by any form of clamp, latch, lock, or adjusting strap.

In the example described in which the movement of the side gates outwards is limited by the horizontal poles or tubes, the poles are attached to brackets fixed to the frame of the feeder. In a possible modification which may be preferred these poles may be attached to the gates themselves and not to the frame of the feeder, with some form of limit stop for determining the movement of the poles and hence of the gates.

In the example described the stationary stand on the floor of the feeder runs the full length, but it may be preferred for the stand to be of limited length1 this is of particular advantage in reducing the risk of an animal becoming trapped between the bars of the feeder frames.

Claims (13)

1. An animal feeder for use with loose fibrous fodder, such as hay, straw, silage etc., comprising a frame to receive the fodder, having an opening along one or both sides and a movable gate or barred frame for effectively closing at least part of the opening, and means for resiliently urging the movable frame towards the enclosed fodder.

2. An animal feeder according to Claim 1, in which the movable frame can be shifted between an external position outside a fixed part of the main frame and an internal position in which it is directly in contact with the fodder.

3. An animal feeder according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the movable frame is attached adjacent its upper end or edge to a generally horizontal tension spring.

4. An animal feeder according to any of the preceding claims, in which the resilient spring tensioning device acts on the movable frame adjacent its upper edge and exerts a generally horizontal pull tending to urge the frame bodily inwards towards the fodder and also a torsional force tending to twist the bottom'edge of the frame inwardly towards the fodder.

5. An animal feeder according to any of the preceding claims, including manual adjustment means for adjusting the position of the movable frame.

6. An animal feeder substantially as described with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A conversion bracket for a trailer having a conventional tow hitch, the bracket including means for attachment to the normal three-point linkage of a tractor and also means for attachment to the trailer.

8. A conversion bracket according to Claim 7, having two spaced bottom pins aligned with each other, for attachment to the outside lower tractor links, and an upright column with two or more apertures, for attachment to the upper link of the tractor linkage.

9. A conversion bracket according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, including a generally vertical rear post spaced from the tractor linkage points and having means for attachment to a fixed towing point on the trailer or trailer bracket.

10. A conversion bracket according to Claim 9, in which the normal towing hitch on the trailer includes a tow bar which is hinged to the trailer frame on a horizontal axis and can swing upwards into a vertical attitude, and a bracket attached or attachable to the tow bar in this vertical attitude and providing a towing hitch or attachment at a convenient height above the frame of the trailer for attachment to the tractor linkage.

11. A conversion bracket substantially as described with reference to Figures 4-9 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A feeder according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 5, designed to receive a cylindrical "big bale", including a floor provided with a central support or stand for the bale, and a pair of gates, one on each side thereof, movable towards and away from the stand, and spring urged towards each other.

13. A feeder according to any of the preceding Claims 1 to 5, including means for restraining or limiting the movement of the frame outwardly away from the fodder.