Feeder for hogs and like animals
AssigneeCTB, Inc.
InventorDonald R. Hoover
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hog feeder comprises a generally overhead horizontal conveyor for transporting feed to a series of drop tubes which contain centerless augers for delivering feed downwardly through the tubes to feed pans therebelow. Attached to the auger at its lower end are elements for engagement by the hogs during feeding to drive the centerless auger and thereby positively deliver feed to the feed pans. The system further includes a limit switch in the down tube of a control feeder unit located above the pan and below the horizontal conveyor for ensuring that there is always feed in the various other feeder units attached to the overhead conveyor.
Claims12
A feeder for hogs and like animals comprising:
- a feeding pan;
- an overhead generally horizontal conveyor above the pan for transporting feed toward said pan;
- a feed delivery structure extending substantially from said pan toward said conveyor and including drop tube means and means for mounting said drop tube means in communication with said horizontal conveyor and with said pan for providing a downward feed flow path between said conveyor and said pan, an auger rotatably mounted within said drop tube means for controlling delivery of the feed downwardly therethrough, and auger-operating means attached to said auger at its lower end and proximate to said pan for engagement by the animals being fed for turning said auger and thereby delivering feed to said pan.
In a feeding apparatus for animals such as hogs and the like having an overhead feed conveyor means and a drop tube coupled with and extending downwardly from said conveyor, the combination comprising a feed pan connected with a lower end of the drop tube, an elongate auger, means for rotatably mounting said auger to said feed pan for extending upwardly into said drop tube for controlling delivery of feed from the conveyor to the associated feed pan, and animal operable means connected with said auger and extending over said pan beneath the drop tube for rotating the auger and thereby controlling advancement of feed from the drop tube into the pan when said animal operable means is engaged and operated by an animal during feeding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.