Poultry feeder with automatic cutoff

An apparatus for distributing animal feed along the length of an elongate feed trough, comprising in combination:

• a container for containing a supply of feed, said container provided with a discharge outlet at one end thereof and a spout communicating with said outlet and extending downwardly from said outlet for delivering the feed into the trough,
• agitation means extending between opposite ends of said container and supported therefrom for rotation, for urging feed in said container through said discharge outlet whereby the feed flows downwardly through the spout to the feed trough;
• power means releasably connected to said agitation means for rotating said agitation means;
• a paddle member suspended in the path of the feed as the feed moves from said container and through said spout and movable into mechanical locking engagement with said agitation means in response to an accumulation of feed in said spout;
• whereby the agitation means is held by the paddle member and prevented from being rotated by the power means until the accumulation of feed is removed from the spout.

In an animal feed hopper for dispensing animal feed into an elongate feeding trough comprising:

• a bulk feed container for holding a quantity of feed,
• a discharge outlet in the bottom of said container for delivering feed from said container into said trough;
• helical agitator means rotatably suspended within said container for urging feed into said discharge outlet and thence into said trough as said hopper travels the length of said trough;
• helical agitator drive means for rotating said helical agitator means to urge feed into said discharge outlet;
• an axle coaxial with said helical agitator means for supporting said helical agitator means within said container;
• detent engaging means coaxial with said axle;
• slip clutch means affixed to said helical agitator means, for transmitting rotary motion from said helical agitator drive means to said helical agitator means when said helical agitator means is free to rotate;
• a dependent counterweighted pivoting paddle having a lower edge suspended at a predetermined level over said discharge outlet where said discharge outlet joins said container with the lower portion of said paddle capable of displacement towards and away from said detent-engaging means, and said paddle having detent means affixed to said paddle positionable adjacent said detent-engaging means for engaging with said detent-engaging means when said paddle is displaced towards said detent-engaging means,
• whereby when feed accumulates in said discharge outlet above said predetermined level, said helical agitator means urges feed against said paddle, said paddle is displaced towards said detent-engaging means, said detent means of said paddle engages said detent-engaging means, thereby retarding the rotation of said helical agitator means and causing said slip clutch means to slip until the accumulation of feed has fallen below said predetermined level, whereupon said paddle pivots under the influence of its counterweight away from said bushing and said detent-engaging means, said detent disengages from engagement with said detent-engaging means and allows said helical agitator means to rotate, and said slip clutch means transmits rotary motion from said helical agitator drive means to said helical agitator means.

An apparatus for distributing animal feed along the length of an elongate feeding trough comprising in combination:

• a feed hopper for containing a supply of feed;
• a discharge outlet affixed to said hopper for delivering feed to said trough;
• elongate helical wire auger means suspended within said hopper for urging feed in said hopper towards said discharge outlet, said auger means having an axle affixed at one end and terminating in a coiled end at the other end;
• a wheel firmly affixed to said axle of said auger means including at least one tab extending radially outwardly;
• a rotatable spool coaxial to said auger means having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said auger means and rotatably contained by said auger means, said spool including at least one protruding ear adjacent said coiled end of said auger means for engaging said coiled end of said auger means when said spool is rotated;
• spool drive means for rotating said spool and said auger means when said protruding ear of said spool engages said coiled end of said auger means;
• a pendulous counterweighted paddle suspended over said discharge outlet swingingly positionable adjacent said tab on said wheel, said paddle comprising at least one detent adapted to engage said tab of said wheel when said paddle swings adjacent said tab,
• whereby when feed accumulates in said discharge outlet due to the presence of feed in said trough, said auger means urges feed against said paddle and swings said paddle towards said wheel, said detent of said paddle engages said tab of said wheel and retards the rotation of said wheel and said auger means, and said coiled end of said auger means disengages from said protruding ear of said spool, thereby retarding the urging of feed by said auger means towards said discharge outlet until the accumulation of feed has diminished.