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US 4,640,229 AGranted
Apparatus for feeding livestock
AssigneeChore-Time Equipment, Inc.
InventorsRay E. Swartzendruber, Keith Coffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for feeding livestock comprises a pan accessible to the livestock for feeding therefrom, a container for holding a quantity of feed comprising dry powdered feed material and a mixing chamber. A dispensing mechanism dispenses measured increments of the feed to the mixing chamber and a control valve is coupled with a water supply line for dispensing measured increments of water to the mixing chamber. A mixer is selectively operable for mixing the water with the feed to produce a fluid feed mixture for delivery into the pan.
Claims14
Apparatus for feeding livestock comprising:
- pan means accessible to the livestock for feeding therefrom;
- container means having a bottom and sides for holding a quantity of feed comprising dry powdered feed material;
- mixing means;
- feed dispensing means for dispensing measured increments of said feed to said mixing means;
- control valve means for dispensing measured increments of water to said mixing means;
- said mixing means being selectively operable for mixing said water with said feed to produce a fluid feed mixture;
- wherein said feed dispensing means comprises auger means and auger motor means operatively coupled for rotating said auger means;
- and further including an elongate recess extending below said bottom of said container means for mounting said auger means therein;
- said auger recess having an outlet at one end thereof and extending across said bottom of the container means to said outlet and being generally of semicylindrical cross-section and open-topped for mounting the auger recessed below but in communication with said container means for receiving feed therefrom and carrying said feed outwardly thereof;
- wherein said container is substantially circular in cross-section defining a generally circular bottom and generally cylindrical sidewall portion adjacent thereto and further including scraping means disposed for traversing a bottom portion of said container for agitating said feed and directing said feed generally into said elongate recess to be carried outwardly of said container by said auger;
- and wherein said scraping means comprises a generally cylindrical, open-topped recess extending below said container means bottom and in communication with at least a portion of said elongate recess, a sprocket member configured, and disposed in said circular recess, for rotation by said auger, and a resilient elongate member mounted for rotation with said sprocket member and extending radialy outwardly therefrom, and dimensioned for scraping a substantial portion of the interior bottom surface and an adjacent portion of an interior sidewall surface of said container means.
8 more elements
Apparatus for feeding livestock comprising:
- pan means accessible to the livestock for feeding therefrom;
- container means having a bottom and sides for holding a quantity of feed comprising dry powdered feed material;
- mixing means;
- feed dispensing means for dispensing measured increments of said feed to said mixing means;
- control valve means for dispensing measured increments of water to said mixing means;
- said mixing means being selectively operable for mixing said water with said feed to produce a fluid feed mixture;
- wherein said feed dispensing means comprises auger means and auger motor means operatively coupled for rotating said auger means;
- and further including an elongate recess extending below said bottom of said container means for mounting said auger means therein;
- said auger recess having an outlet at one end thereof and extending across said bottom of the container means to said outlet and being generally of semicylindrical cross-section and open-topped for mounting the auger recessed below but in communication with said container means for receiving feed therefrom and carrying said feed outwardly thereof;
- and further including coupling means for releasably coupling said motor means for rotating said auger means;
- said coupling means being releasable for permitting removal of said container and said feed dispensing means from the apparatus as a unit;
- and wherein said coupling means comprise an open-ended sleeve member coupled with said auger means for rotation in unison therewith and having a plurality of axially running through slots extending to the open end thereof, and a drive ball operatively coupled for rotation by said motor and having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting lugs for interfitting with at least selected ones of said slots.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.