US 4,369,927 A · Self-loading feed mixer and transport apparatus with improved grinding and loading mechanism

Abstract

A self-loading feed mixer and transport wagon is provided which is capable of grinding and loading a stack of livestock feed material into the wagon, thoroughly mixing the feed material together, and transporting the feed material to a desired location where it is dispensed from the wagon. The wagon includes a feed grinding and loading mechanism which is vertically adjustable to engage the stack of feed material at different levels. The feed grinding and loading mechanism comprises an open-faced housing which contains a rotatable shaft provided with a plurality of hammer units and a concave screen spaced from the shaft and cooperable with the hammer units to grind the feed material. The grinding and loading mechanism includes a grapple fork pivotally mounted on the housing and adapted to urge the feed material through the open-faced housing into engagement with the pulverizing hammers. The grapple fork is provided with a shield which serves as a protective cover to close the open-faced housing. The ground feed material is fed via a blower unit and flexible spout into the feed compartment of the wagon. Preferably, an auger mechanism is provided at the top of the feed compartment which uniformly distributes the ground feed material along the compartment.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A feed transport apparatus adapted to be transported on the ground and positioned adjacent to a stack of feed material, said feed transport apparatus having a feed compartment adapted to receive a load of feed material and a loader mechanism for grinding and loading the stack of feed material into the compartment, said loader mechanism comprising:

an open-faced loader housing mounted outside of said feed compartment;
feed pulverizing means mounted within said open-faced loader housing and exposed via said open-faced housing for engagement with the stack of feed material;
a screen mounted within said housing and cooperable with said pulverizing means for grinding the feed material therebetween;
means for conveying the ground feed material from said housing into said feed compartment;
grappling means pivotally mounted on top of said open-faced loader housing and adapted to pivot downward for urging the feed material from the stack into said housing and engagement with said pulverizing means;
means for pivoting said grappling means downward relative to said housing into the stack of feed material to draw the feed material into said housing;
and
said loader housing being vertically adjustable in position relative to said feed compartment to permit said loader mechanism to operate on the stack of feed material at different levels.

5 more elements

A feed mixer and transport apparatus adapted to be transported on the ground and positioned adjacent to a stack of feed material, said feed transport apparatus having a feed compartment adapted to receive and mix a load of feed material and a feed loader mechanism for grinding and loading the stack of feed material into the compartment, said feed loader mechanism comprising:

a loader housing mounted outside of said feed compartment and provided with an open face for receiving feed material from the stack;
a shaft rotatably mounted within said housing and exposed via said open face to the stack of feed material;
a plurality of pulverizing hammers mounted on said shaft for thrashing the stack of feed material upon rotation of said shaft;
a screen mounted within said housing at a position spaced from said rotatable shaft and cooperable with said pulverizing hammers for grinding the feed material therebetween;
means for conveying the ground feed material from said housing into said feed compartment;
grapple means pivotally mounted on said loader housing above its open face and adapted to pivot downward to urge the feed material from the stack through said open face of said housing into engagement with said pulverizing hammers;
means for pivoting said grapple means downward toward said open face of said housing and into the stack of feed material to draw the feed material into said housing;
and
said loader housing being vertically adjustable in position relative to said feed compartment to permit said loader mechanism to operate on the stack of feed material at different levels.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self-loading feed mixer and transport apparatus with improved grinding and loading mechanism

Life of this patent

Self-loading feed mixer and transport apparatus with improved grinding and loading mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24