System for metering feed in feed lines
AssigneeFeedlogic Corporation
InventorsDrew Ryder, Neal Tovsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to an embodiment of a method for measuring feed flow, feed is moved through a flexible pipe using a flexible auger operably positioned within the pipe. Feed flow through a metered section (309) of the flexible pipe is metered using a feed meter (304) attached to the flexible pipe. The feed meter includes load cell (312) configured to detect strain induced by feed mass within the metered section (309). Metering feed includes providing a measure of mass flow of the feed, using the load cell (312), when the feed moves through the metered section (309).
Claims45
A method, comprising:
- moving feed through a flexible pipe using a flexible auger operably positioned within the pipe;
- and
- metering feed flow through a metered section of the flexible pipe using a feed meter attached to the flexible pipe, wherein the feed meter includes a load cell configured to detect strain induced by feed mass within the metered section, and wherein metering feed includes providing a measure of mass flow of the feed, using the load cell, when the feed moves through the metered section.
A system, comprising:
- a flexible auger system, including a flexible pipe and a flexible auger operably positioned within the pipe to move feed through the pipe, wherein the flexible pipe includes a metered section used to provide a measure of feed flow through the pipe;
- and
- a feed meter attached to the flexible pipe, wherein the feed meter includes a load cell configured to detect strain induced by feed mass within the metered section and use the detected strain to provide a measure of mass flow of feed as feed flows through the metered section.
A method for mixing feed ingredients, comprising:
- moving a feed ingredient through a flexible pipe to a mixing element using a flexible auger operably positioned within the pipe, and metering feed flow through a metered section of the flexible pipe using a feed meter attached to the flexible pipe, wherein the feed meter includes a load cell configured to detect strain induced by feed mass within the metered section, and wherein metering feed includes providing a measure of mass flow of the feed, using the load cell, when the feed moves through the metered section;
- moving another feed ingredient to the mixing element;
- controlling an inclusion rate of the other feed ingredient to the mixing element using the measure of mass flow of feed provided by the feed meter,
- mixing, at the mixing element, the feed ingredient and the other feed ingredient to provide mixed ingredients, and
- moving the mixed ingredients away from the mixing element,
- wherein moving the feed ingredient, moving the other feed ingredient, mixing, and moving the mixed ingredients are simultaneously performed.
A method for adding micro-ingredients into flowing feed, comprising:
- flowing feed through a feed transport system;
- determining a feed flow rate as the feed flows through the feed transport system;
- determining an inclusion rate for one or more micro-ingredients using the determined feed flow rate;
- and
- adding the one or more micro-ingredients into the flowing feed in the feed transport system according to the determined inclusion rate.
A system for adding micro-ingredients into flowing feed, comprising:
- a feed bin configured to store a base feed;
- a feed transport system configured to deliver feed from the feed bin to a plurality of livestock feeding stations;
- and
- an in-line micro-ingredient applicator, wherein the in-line micro-ingredient applicator includes:
- a feed flow rate detector configured to determine a feed flow rate of base feed flowing in the feed transport system;
- an inclusion rate calculator configured to determine a desired micro-ingredient inclusion rate for the determined feed flow rate of base feed;
- a micro-ingredient container for storing one or more micro-ingredients;
- a micro-ingredient injector configured to add the one or more micro-ingredients from the container into the feed transport system as the base feed is flowing through the feed transport system, wherein the micro-ingredient injector is configured to provide a desired inclusion rate for the one-or-more micro-ingredients for the determined fed flow rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.