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US 11,284,601 B2Granted
Pig feeder with extended hopper
OwnerJonathan Kleinsasserinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A feeder unit for pigs has an elongate trough with a hopper mounted over the trough for depositing feed downwardly and a feed dispensing control system at a bottom of the hopper so as to supply feed downwardly to make up feed taken by the pigs. The hopper includes four upstanding side walls forming an elongate rectangular open top edge with an open upper guide mouth located centrally above the top edge for locating a downspout of a feed supply system. The open top is covered by two inclined walls each extending upwardly from a long top edge of a respective one of the side walls and inwardly of the side wall of the hopper toward the open upper guide mouth and by two hinged dust covers extending from the short edges to the mouth.
Claims24
A feeder unit for pigs comprising
- an elongate trough having a base and a sidewall for receiving and containing feed and arranged such that the head of the animal can reach over an upper front edge of the sidewall to the base for eating the feed,
- a hopper mounted over the trough for depositing feed downwardly;
- a feed dispensing control system at a bottom of the hopper so as to supply feed downwardly to make up feed taken by the pigs;
- said hopper including four upstanding side walls connected side edge to side edge to form a container for the feed material;
- an open upper guide mouth for locating a downspout of a feed supply system through which feed is supplied to the hopper;
- wherein the hopper is elongate with two long top edges and two short top edges;
- said hopper including two opposed inclined walls each extending along a respective one of the two long top edges and extending upwardly and inwardly of the side wall of the hopper to a position at the open upper guide mouth;
- and wherein an area between each of the two short top edges and the open upper guide mouth is open or openable to define an opening therein.
5 more elements
A feeder unit for pigs comprising
- an elongate trough having a base and a sidewall for receiving and containing feed and arranged such that the head of the animal can reach over an upper front edge of the sidewall to the base for eating the feed,
- a hopper mounted over the trough for depositing feed downwardly;
- a feed dispensing control system at a bottom of the hopper so as to supply feed downwardly to make up feed taken by the pigs;
- said hopper including four upstanding side walls connected side edge to side edge to form a container for the feed material;
- an open upper guide mouth for locating a downspout of a feed supply system through which feed is supplied to the hopper;
- wherein the hopper is elongate with two long top edges and two short top edges;
- said hopper including two opposed inclined walls each extending along a respective one of the two long top edges and extending upwardly and inwardly of the side wall of the hopper to a position at the open upper guide mouth;
- wherein an area between each of the two short top edges and the open upper guide mouth includes an opening therein;
- and wherein there are provided two openable cover plates each of which extends from a respective one of the short top edges upwardly toward the open upper guide mouth and is openable to expose an opening in the respective one of the short top edges.
6 more elements
A feeder unit for pigs comprising
- an elongate trough having a base and a sidewall for receiving and containing feed and arranged such that the head of the animal can reach over an upper front edge of the sidewall to the base for eating the feed,
- a hopper mounted over the trough for depositing feed downwardly;
- a feed dispensing control system at a bottom of the hopper so as to supply feed downwardly to make up feed taken by the pigs;
- said hopper including four upstanding side walls connected side edge to side edge to form a container for the feed material;
- an open upper guide mouth for locating a downspout of a feed supply system through which feed is supplied to the hopper;
- wherein the hopper is elongate with two long top edges and two short top edges;
- said hopper including two opposed inclined walls each extending along a respective one of the two long top edges and extending upwardly and inwardly of the side wall of the hopper to a position at the open upper guide mouth;
- wherein an area between each of the two short top edges and the open upper guide mouth includes an opening therein;
- and wherein there are provided two openable cover plates each of which extends from a respective one of the short top edges upwardly toward the open upper guide mouth and is openable to expose an opening in the respective one of the short top edges;
- wherein the openable cover plates are hinged across a transverse line at or adjacent the open upper guide mouth;
- and wherein the openable cover plates are hinged across a line parallel to said transverse line so as to fold inwardly and allow movement of a bottom edge of each of the openable cover plate upwardly and inwardly.
8 more elements
A feeder unit for pigs comprising
- an elongate trough having a base and a sidewall for receiving and containing feed and arranged such that the head of the animal can reach over an upper front edge of the sidewall to the base for eating the feed,
- a hopper mounted over the trough for depositing feed downwardly;
- a feed dispensing control system at a bottom of the hopper so as to supply feed downwardly to make up feed taken by the pigs;
- said hopper including four upstanding side walls connected side edge to side edge to form a container for the feed material;
- an open upper guide mouth for locating a downspout of a feed supply system through which feed is supplied to the hopper;
- wherein the hopper is elongate with two long top edges and two short top edges;
- said hopper including two opposed inclined walls each extending along a respective one of the two long top edges and extending upwardly and inwardly of the side wall of the hopper to a position at the open upper guide mouth;
- wherein an area between each of the two short top edges and the open upper guide mouth includes an opening therein;
- and wherein a height of the open upper guide mouth from the short top edges edge is arranged such that, when filled to the open upper guide mouth, the feed has a natural repose angle which prevents escape of the feed through the opening.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.