Method and apparatus for administering micro-ingredient feed additives to animal feed rations

• US 20050263541A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Animal Health International Incorporated (Patterson Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lextron, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoff, Charles H., Moore, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 7,240,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0283 by weight
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 7/02 Automatic devices ; Medication dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/026 by mechanical conveying means, e.g. belt or vibratory conveyor

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for administering micro-ingredient feed additives to animal feed rations. The apparatus may be referred to as a system which includes a number of discrete components which cooperate together to ultimately deliver micro-ingredients to a desired location, such as a feed mixer containing a feed ration. Structure is provided for storing, measuring, dispensing, and conveying the micro-ingredients. Measuring of the micro-ingredients may be achieved by loss in weight, gain in weight, or volumetric metering methods. Transport by a liquid carrier such as water may be achieved by providing one or a plurality of conveyance pumps connected to a transport line. The system is operated by a control unit which controls components of the system to achieve delivery of specified amounts and types of micro-ingredients to the feed ration.

Claims

1. A system for measuring, dispensing and delivering micro-ingredients to a feed ration comprising:

a weigh hopper;

a storage bin including an auger mounted thereto, said auger for metering a desired amount of a micro-ingredient into said weigh hopper;

A scale mounted to said weigh hopper for determining the weight of the micro-ingredient metered into said weigh hopper from said auger, said auger being activated to meter the desired amount of the micro-ingredient based upon weight indicated by said scale;

a product collection tank for receiving the micro-ingredient from the weigh hopper, said product collection tank comprising a flush chamber;

a flush ring interconnected to said product collection tank for providing flush water to said product collection tank;

at least one conveyance pump interconnected to an outlet located near a bottom of said flush chamber; and

a transport line for delivering the micro-ingredient to the feed ration from the conveyance pump.

2. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a flush chamber bottom surface of said flush chamber slopes downward toward said outlet.

3. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outlet comprises a side outlet that is situated in substantially at horizontal orientation.

4. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flush chamber comprises about 10% of a width of said production collection tank.

5. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flush ring comprises a front flush ring and a rear flush ring, said front and rear flush rings having a plurality of first perforations, said front flush ring further comprising a plurality of second perforations, wherein said second perforations provide water to a sidewall of said flush chamber.

6. A method of measuring, dispensing, and delivering micro-ingredients to a feed ration, said method comprising:

providing a bin for storing a quantity of a micro-ingredient;

metering the micro-ingredient from the bin to a weigh hopper;

weighing the micro-ingredient in the weigh hopper;

transferring the micro-ingredient from the weigh hopper to a product collection tank, the product collection tank comprising a funnel-like portion having a flush chamber and an outlet interconnected to the flush chamber;

activating a flush ring pump to provide a flush ring water to a flush ring interconnected to the product collection tank; and

activating a conveyance pump to convey a backfill water, the flush ring water and the micro-ingredient from the product collection tank to the feed ration.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said flush chamber comprises about 10% of a width of said production collection tank.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein a flush chamber bottom surface of said flush chamber slopes downward toward said outlet.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said flush ring comprises a front flush ring and a rear flush ring, said front and rear flush rings having a plurality of first perforations, said front flush ring further comprising a plurality of second perforations, wherein said second perforations provide at least a portion of the flush ring water to a sidewall of said flush chamber.

10. A product collection tank for receiving a micro-ingredient from a weigh hopper of a system for measuring, dispensing and delivering micro-ingredients to a feed ration, the product collection tank comprising:

a funnel-like portion having a flush chamber and an outlet interconnected to the flush chamber, said flush chamber having a width less than a width of said funnel-like portion.

11. A product collection tank as claimed in claim 10 wherein said flush chamber further comprises a sloping bottom surface.

12. A product collection tank as claimed in claim 11 wherein said sloping bottom surface comprises a bottom angle between about 1-10 degrees from horizontal.

13. A product collection tank as claimed in claim 10 wherein said outlet is substantially horizontal.

14. A product collection tank as claimed in claim 10 further comprising an extension portion connected to said funnel-like portion.

15. A product collection tank as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a flush ring interconnected to said extension portion, said flushing ring including a front flush ring and a rear flush ring, said front and rear flush rings having a plurality of first perforations, said front flush ring further comprising a plurality of second perforations, wherein said second perforations provide at least a portion of a flush ring water to a sidewall of said flush chamber.

16. A product collection tank as claimed in claim 10 wherein said width of said flush chamber comprises about 10% of the width of said funnel-like portion.

17. A product collection tank as claimed in claim 10 wherein a sidewall of said flush chamber is substantially vertical.

18. A product collection tank as claimed in claim 10 wherein an endwall of said flush chamber is substantially vertical.

19. A product collection tank as claimed in claim 10 wherein said funnel-like portion has a width of about 15 inches and a length of about 20 inches.

20. A product collection tank as claimed in claim 19 wherein said flush chamber has a width of about 1.5 inches.