GB2220552A

GB2220552A - Animal feed dispensing

Info

Publication number: GB2220552A
Application number: GB8816959A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William George Ellis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-07-15
Filing date: 1988-07-15
Publication date: 1990-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2008-07-15
Also published as: GB2220552B; GB8816959D0

Abstract

A mobile hopper 1. has a drop-tube 2. closed by a slide 3. which may be withdrawn by an electric solenoid 5. This solenoid is controllably timed for the open and closed period so that precise quantities of animal feed may be deposited on the ground at precise intervals for the accurate feeding of animals. The machine may be mounted on its own wheels or on another carrying vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

ANIMAL FEED DISPENSING This invention relates to a machine for dispensing animal feed.

There are several methods of feeding farm animals such as sheep,pigs and deer with concentrated feeds in the +orm of pellets or nuts and also with various cereals and cereal products.These feeds can be dispensed indoors but when fed outdoors possibly as an additional feed for grazing animals, they may be placed in toughs or on the ground by scattering or dribbling in a line straight +rom the bag.

If a large number of animals are to be fed at one time, for instance a flock of sheep, then a large number of troughs are needed and a crush of hungry sheep will make it impossible to fill the troughs evenly and ensure that each animal gets a fair share.There is also a degree of bullying with the stronger animal getting the ratio, of others. During bad weather,the area around the troughs becomes severely poached,the grass is destroyed ad takes many months to recover thereby wasting a valuable grazing area.

If the normal concentrate nuts are scattered5many are lost and trampoed inte the ground. Very large unts have been produced to overcome this problem but this solution has introduced other problems.They are easily stolen in large ge numbers by carrion crows and some animals +ind them di++icult to eat ad unpalatable thereby upsetting the requirement for an exact quantity for each animal.

If the normal nuts are dribbled in a 1 ine on the ground, the pushing and milling of the animals will result in much of the feed being trampled into the ground and lost.

If neat piles of nuts sufficient for one or two animals, can be placed very quickly over the ground at a distance of at least two animal lengths apart, then each animal has a chance to consume it's exact ration in peace as the flock will spread itself along the entire line of feed, no trampling takes place and there is no waste.There is a great reduction in stress at feeding time resulting in better productivity.Poaching of the ground does not take place as the piles of feed can be placed in a different line on each occasion.One more very great advantage of this method of feeding is that the stockman can travel slowly back down the line of animals to make a visual check on their wellbeing and to make a headcount with ease.

According to the present invention there is provided a hopper whose outlet feeds into a drop-tube.The lower end of this tube is controllably opened or closed by a shutter or slide or other means.The hopper is mounted on a chassis or stand which may be fitted with wheels and a tow-hitch or skids or flat bottom for mounting in or on a vehicle.The shutter or slide can be operated by hydraulic5air5mechanical or electrical power.The time opening can govern the quantity of food dropped and the time between openings will determine the distance between drops as the machine moves over the ground.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in whiich-- Figure 1 shows in perspective the machine fitted with wheels and tow-hitch.

Figure 2 shows the machine in section but without the wheels and hitch.

Referring to the drawing, the machine comprises a hopper 1 which can discharge it's contents into a drop-tube 2 The contents of the drop-tube are prevented from dropping out of the blotto of the tube by slide R which is connected by rod 4 to an electric solenoid 5.This solenoid is controlled by a relay and standard electronic timing circuit 6.Power for the system is supplied by a twelve volt accumulator or battery 7.This battery can be kept charged by a connection to the vehicle changing system (not shown).This connection can also incorporate a switch so that the machine can be operated remotely from the vehicle or a separate lead with a switch may be used +or control purposes.A digital readout can be included in the electronic unit together with a circuit to give a settable number of operations if required.The unit is supported by chassis 10 and wheel nay be fitted at 8 and a vehicle hitch at 9 or left without wheels and hitch +or use inside or on the back of a vehicle such as a Land Rover.

When the machine is switched on,the timing unit will supply sufficient power through the relay and solenoid to withdraw the slide 3 and allow the animal feed contained in the drop-tube to descend under gravity until the timing unit switches off the solenoid and the slide returns to the closed position by means of a spring (not shown).The timing unit will now pause for a settable period before again supplying power to the solenoid to repeat the operation.The time that the slide is open for will govern the ammount of animal feed released and the timed pause will govern the distance between drops as te vehicle moves forward. The number of drops can be recorded by the electronic unit or be set to stop the drops at any particular number so that any preset quantity may be distributed.The wheels and hitch may be mounted on a separate frame or chassis so that the machine may be quickly trans+ormed from one mode to the other. lid or cover (not shown) would normally be used +or weather protection of the hopper contents.An extension to the drop-tube (not shown) may be used to stop the spread of the feed when dropped from a greater height than normal such as when the machine is used from the deck of a high vehicle.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. An animal +eed dispenser consisting of a mobile hopper which may be fitted with wheels and tow-hitch or skids or flat bottom for mounting in or on a vehicle,with a bottom opening and drop-tube controlled by a slide actuated by an electric solenoid.The slide opening and closed times controlled electronically.

2. An animal feed dispenser as in Claim l.wherein a drop-tube is provided to control the flow of feed.

3. An animal feed dispenser as in Claim 1.and Claim 2.wherein the flow of feed in the drop-tube may be started or stopped by means of a slide at the lower end.

4. An animal feed dispenser as claimed in Claim 1.Claim 2. and Claim 3.wherein the the slide is withdrawn from the bottom of the drop-tube by means of an electric solenoid worked b a battery or from the electrics of the vehicle.

5. An animal feed dispenser as claimed in Claim 4.Wherein the time of opening of the slide and the time interval between openings is controlled electronically so that the times may be varied as required.The control unit may be attached to the machine or carried forward into the cab of the towing vehicle by means of a connecting cable.

6.An animal feed dispenser as claimed in Claim 5.wherein the number of drops may be recorded on a counter or the number of drops required may be preset.

7. An animal feed dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hopper is provided with at least one hinged lid.

8. An animal feed dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim,wherein an extension to the drop-tube may be provided.

9. An animal feed dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim,wherein the machine may be mounted on a separate frame or chassis.

10. An animal feed dispenser substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.