Method and apparatus for delivering large quantities of feed and the like

• US 4,003,339 A
• Filed: 11/06/1972
• Issued: 01/18/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CTB Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Chore-Time Equipment, Inc.
• Inventors: Hostetler, Eldon
• Primary Examiner(s): Chamblee, Hugh R.
• Application Number:
  US05/303,977
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 119/52 AF, 119/51.11, 119/53
• US Class Current: 119/57.4
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 39/0125 Panfeeding systems; Feeding pans therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0258 with endless screws

Abstract

A high capacity conveyor for delivering relatively large quantities of poultry feed and the like is disclosed, and a method of operating the conveyor is described. A centerless auger having flights of full radial extent is rapidly rotated to move mixed feed particles down a tube. A rolling action is thus imparted to at least some of the feed particles, thereby reducing the power required to drive the auger. Outlet holes are formed in the tube to dispense the feed to the associated flock feeding station; the holes are formed at least in part in the shape of a V-notch, having one edge oriented substantially parallel to the flight of the auger, so that a slice of feed containing the proper proportion of each feed mix component is dispensed with each rotation of the auger.

Claims

1. A poultry feeder comprising a high capacity conveyor extending from a source of supply of mixed poultry feed to a plurality of spaced apart feeding stations of simultaneously delivering generally uniform quantities and mixtures of said feed to said plurality of feed stations, said conveyor including an elongated generally horizontally disposed hollow tube having a predetermined internal diameter, said tube having a plurality of spaced outlet holes disposed in a helical array therealong and respectively associated with successive feeding stations, said holes being arranged so that the helical array starts adjacent said source of feed supply and at one side of the tube as viewed from an end of the conveyor remote from said source of supply and finishes generally at the bottom of the tube, all of said holes between the start and the finish of said array being substantially at said one side of the tube and means for imparting to the feed mixture a generally helical rolling and mixing motion extending generally circumferentially in a direction extending from said one tube side toward the bottom around and longitudinally of the tube and thereby substantially simultaneously projecting generally uniform quantities of the feed through all of the outlet holes, said means comprising an extended pitch centerless auger rotatably disposed in said tube and having a diameter substantially the same as said internal diameter, and drive means connected with the auger for rotating the auger at a speed for obtaining said rolling and mixing motion of the feed, said tube having a nominal diameter of about one and one-half inches, said centerless auger having a nominal pitch of about two and one quarter inches, and said drive means having an output driving said auger at about 354 r.p.m.

2. A poultry feeder according to claim 1, wherein said holes respectively have a trailing edge oriented substantially parallel to a flight of the auger member adjacent thereto.