Method and apparatus for uniform delivery of feed ration along a feedbunk
First Claim
1. A system for uniformly delivering assigned feed rations to feedbunks associated with animal pens in a feedlot, said system comprising:
- a feed delivery vehicle capable of traveling on the ground of said feedlot alongside a feedbunk during a specified feeding cycle, and said feed delivery vehicle having a feed storage compartment for storing a supply of feed for delivery to the feedbunk;
weighing means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for weighing the amount of feed in said feed storage compartment, and producing a first data signal indicative of the measured weight of said feed supply as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle;
data storage means aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for storing feedbunk length data and feed ration delivery data,wherein said feedbunk length data specifies the length of the feedbunk, andwherein said feed ration delivery data specifies an assigned quantity of feed to be dispensed into the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle;
speed measuring means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for measuring the speed of said feed delivery vehicle relative to said ground as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle, and producing a second data signal indicative of the speed of said feed delivery vehicle as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle;
control means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for producing a control signal for the feedbunk, using(i) said feed ration delivery data,(ii) said first and second data signals produced as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle, and(iii) said feedbunk length data specifying the length of the feedbunk along which said feed delivery vehicle travels;
feed dispensing means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for dispensing the assigned amount of feed into and along the length of the feedbunk in response to the production of said control signal such that, for each incremental distance or so traveled by said feed delivery vehicle along the length of the feedbunk, a substantially constant amount of feed is dispensed into the feedbunk as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk; and
feed dispensed data producing means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for processing said first data signal as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle, and producing feed ration dispensed data indicative of the actual amount of feed dispensed into the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for uniformly delivering assigned feed rations to the feedbunks associated with animal pens. The system includes a feed delivery vehicle having a feed storage compartment and a scale. The function of the scale is to weigh the amount of feed in the storage compartment at sampled time intervals, and produce a first data signal indicative of the weight of the feed at these sampled time intervals. The vehicle also has a ground speed radar unit which measures the true ground speed of the vehicle at sampled time intervals as the vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk, and produces a second data signal indicative of the vehicular speed at these sampled time intervals. A computer aboard the vehicle processes the first and second data signals along with information regarding the length of the feedbunk and produces a control signal as the vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk. A feed dispensing mechanism aboard the vehicle, includes an electronically-controlled hydraulic pump that dispenses the assigned amount of feed ration into and along the feedbunk in response to the production of the control signal such that, for each foot travelled by the feed delivery vehicle along the length of the feedbunk, a substantially constant amount of feed is dispensed into the feedbunk as the feed delivery vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system for uniformly delivering assigned feed rations to feedbunks associated with animal pens in a feedlot, said system comprising:
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a feed delivery vehicle capable of traveling on the ground of said feedlot alongside a feedbunk during a specified feeding cycle, and said feed delivery vehicle having a feed storage compartment for storing a supply of feed for delivery to the feedbunk; weighing means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for weighing the amount of feed in said feed storage compartment, and producing a first data signal indicative of the measured weight of said feed supply as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle; data storage means aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for storing feedbunk length data and feed ration delivery data, wherein said feedbunk length data specifies the length of the feedbunk, and wherein said feed ration delivery data specifies an assigned quantity of feed to be dispensed into the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle; speed measuring means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for measuring the speed of said feed delivery vehicle relative to said ground as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle, and producing a second data signal indicative of the speed of said feed delivery vehicle as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle; control means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for producing a control signal for the feedbunk, using (i) said feed ration delivery data, (ii) said first and second data signals produced as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle, and (iii) said feedbunk length data specifying the length of the feedbunk along which said feed delivery vehicle travels; feed dispensing means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for dispensing the assigned amount of feed into and along the length of the feedbunk in response to the production of said control signal such that, for each incremental distance or so traveled by said feed delivery vehicle along the length of the feedbunk, a substantially constant amount of feed is dispensed into the feedbunk as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk; and feed dispensed data producing means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for processing said first data signal as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside of the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle, and producing feed ration dispensed data indicative of the actual amount of feed dispensed into the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of uniformly delivering assigned feed rations to feedbunks associated with animal pens in a feedlot, said method comprising the steps:
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(a) propelling a feed delivery vehicle on the ground of said feedlot alongside a feedbunk during a specified feeding cycle, said feed delivery vehicle having a feed storage compartment for storing a supply of feed for delivery to the feedbunk, and a data storage means disposed aboard said feed delivery vehicle, for storing feedbunk length data and feed ration delivery data, wherein said feedbunk length data specifies the length of the feedbunk and said feed ration delivery data specifies an assigned amount of feed to be dispensed into the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle; (b) measuring the speed of said feed delivery vehicle relative to the ground as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk, and producing a first data signal indicative of the speed of said feed delivery vehicle as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk; (c) weighing the amount of feed in said feed storage compartment as the feed delivery vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk, and producing a second data signal indicative of the measured weight of said feed supply as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk; (d) using said feed ration delivery data, said feedbunk length data and said first and second data signals in order to produce a control signal aboard said feed delivery vehicle as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk, (e) using said produced control signal to control the dispensing of said assigned amount of feed into and along the length of the feedbunk such that, for each incremental distance or so traveled by said feed delivery vehicle along the length of the feedbunk, a substantially constant amount of feed is dispensed into the feedbunk as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk; and (f) processing said first signal as said feed delivery vehicle travels alongside the feedbunk, and producing feed ration dispensed data indicative of the actual amount of feed dispensed into the feedbunk during said specified feeding cycle. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification