Indexed feed dispensing mechanism

• US 20020124805A1
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CTB Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CTB Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zimmerman, George S., Zimmerman, Leon S., Bondarenko, Paul J., Martin, Anthony, Shive, Bryan S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,526,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/52.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0225 Gravity replenishment from a reserve, e.g. a hopper for poultry A01K39/012

Abstract

An improved livestock feeder provided with an adjustable feed dispensing mechanism including control levers which are operatively connected to the feed metering gates to control the flow of feed to livestock. The dispensing mechanism features a plurality of adjustable control levers which engage an array of indexing holes formed in the feeder to set the vertical height adjustment of the feed gates. The dispensing mechanism includes a graduated scale corresponding to each of the index holes to provide a standard setting for the feeder which can be utilized by an animal producer to supply of feed flow at a given stage in the animal'"'"'s life cycle to obtain a desired growth rate.

Claims

1. An animal feeder comprising:

a hopper including a wall having a feed discharge formed therein and a feed trough adjacent said feed discharge;

a feed gate positionable relative to said feed discharge; and

an indexing mechanism operably coupled to said feed gate and positionable in a plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions to selectively locate said feed gate in a plurality of discrete feed gate positions while allowing said feed gate to move within a limited range of linear motion about each of said plurality of discrete feed gate positions.

2. The animal feeder of claim 1 wherein said indexing mechanism comprises:

an index member coupled to a surface of said hopper by a pivot and positionable in said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions;

an index pin extending between said index member and said surface and engagable with a set of index holes disposed about said pivot; and

a connecting member having a first end operably coupled to said index member and a second end operably coupled to said feed gate.

3. The animal feeder of claim 2 wherein said surface is provided on said wall of said hopper.

4. The animal feeder of claim 2 wherein said index member is positionable away from said surface such that said index pin disengages one of said set of index holes.

5. The animal feeder of claim 4 wherein said pivot further comprises a pivot bolt extending from said surface, a spacer interposed between said surface and said index member, a nut disposed on an end of said pivot bolt and a spring interposed between said index member and said bolt.

6. The animal feeder of claim 2 further comprising a fastener extending through a slot formed in said connecting member to operably couple said feed gate and said index member such that said limited range of linear motion is in the direction of said connecting member.

7. The animal feeder of claim 2 wherein said second end is inserted through a mounting aperture formed in said feed gate for attaching said linkage to said feed gate.

8. The animal feeder of claim 1 wherein said feed gate has a projection extending outwardly away from said feed discharge.

9. The animal feeder of claim 8 wherein said projection comprises a flange formed on said feed gate.

10. The animal feeder of claim 1 further comprising a scale disposed adjacent said indexing mechanism having a set of indicia indicating the position of said feed gate relative to said feed discharge.

11. The animal feeder of claim 10 wherein said set of indicia is a set of numerical indicia.

12. The animal feeder of claim 1 wherein said indexing mechanism comprises a first index linkage for selectively locating a first end of said feed gate and a second index linkage selectively locating a second end of said feed gate independent of said first end of said feed gate.

14. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions includes a plurality of individual discrete recesses defined by said index array.

15. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 14 wherein said plurality of individual discrete recesses are a plurality of individual discrete holes defined by said index array.

16. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein said engagement member includes an engagement projection operable to engage said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions.

17. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 16 wherein said engagement member is pivotably coupled relative to the animal feeder.

18. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 17 wherein said linkage is in communication with said engagement member.

19. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 13 further comprising an index scale providing a visual indicia operable to identify said feed opening.

20. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein said linkage comprises a control rod movably coupled to said engagement member and said feed gate.

21. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 19 wherein said control rod has an end inserted through a mounting aperture formed in said feed gate for coupling said control rod to said feed gate.

22. The animal feeder of claim 13 wherein said feed gate has a projection extending outwardly away from said feed discharge.

23. The animal feeder of claim 22 wherein said projection comprises a flange formed on said feed gate.

24. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 13 wherein said linkage comprises a first linkage for selectively locating a first end of said feed gate and a second index linkage selectively locating a second end of said feed gate independent of said first end of said feed gate.

26. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 25 wherein said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions includes a plurality of individual discrete recesses defined by said index array.

27. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 26 wherein said plurality of individual discrete recesses are a plurality of individual discrete holes defined by said index member.

28. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 25 wherein said engagement member includes an engagement projection operable to engage said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions.

29. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 28 wherein said engagement member is pivotably coupled relative to the animal feeder.

30. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 25 further comprising an index scale providing a visual indicia operable to identify said feed opening.

31. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 25 wherein said linkage comprises a connecting member interconnected between said engagement member and said adjustable feed gate.

32. The animal feeder of claim 25 wherein said feed gate has a projection extending outwardly away from said feed discharge.

33. The animal feeder of claim 32 wherein said projection comprises a flange formed on said feed gate.

34. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 23 wherein said linkage comprises a first linkage for selectively locating a first end of said feed gate and a second index linkage selectively locating a second end of said feed gate independent of said first end of said feed gate.

36. The animal feeder of claim 35 wherein said projection comprises a flange formed on said feed gate.

37. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 35 further comprising a linkage having a first end operably coupled to said engagement member and a second end operably coupled to said feed gate.

38. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 35 wherein said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions includes a plurality of individual discrete recesses defined by said index array.

39. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 38 wherein said plurality of individual discrete recesses are a plurality of individual discrete holes defined by said index member.

40. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 35 wherein said engagement member includes an engagement projection operable to engage said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions.

41. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 40 wherein said engagement member is pivotably coupled relative to the animal feeder.

42. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 35 further comprising an index scale providing a visual indicia operable to identify said feed opening.

43. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 35 wherein said linkage comprises a connecting member interconnected between said engagement member and said adjustable feed gate.

44. The indexed feed dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 35 wherein said linkage comprises a first linkage for selectively locating a first end of said feed gate and a second index linkage selectively locating a second end of said feed gate independent of said first end of said feed gate.

13. A indexed feed dispensing mechanism comprising:

a hopper including a wall having a feed discharge formed therein and a feed trough disposed adjacent said feed discharge;

a feed gate positionable relative to said feed discharge;

an index array having a plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions;

an engagement member operable to be engaged with said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions, said feed gate being selectively located in a plurality of discrete feed gate positions relative to said feed discharge when said engagement member engages said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions; and

a linkage in communication with the feed gate to allow said feed gate to move within a limited range of linear motion about each of said plurality of discrete feed gate positions.

25. A indexed feed dispensing mechanism comprising:

a hopper including a wall having a feed discharge formed therein and a feed trough disposed adjacent said feed discharge;

a feed gate positionable relative to said feed discharge;

an index array having a plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions;

an engagement member operable to be engaged with said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions, said feed gate being selectively located in a plurality of discrete feed gate positions relative to said feed discharge when said engagement member engages said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions; and

a linkage having a first end operably coupled to said engagement member and a second end inserted through a mounting aperture formed in said feed gate to attach said linkage to said feed gate.

35. A indexed feed dispensing mechanism comprising:

a hopper including a wall having a feed discharge formed therein and a feed trough disposed adjacent said feed discharge;

a feed gate positionable relative to said feed discharge, said feed gate having a projection extending outwardly away from said feed discharge;

an index array having a plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions; and

an engagement member operable to be engaged with said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions, said feed gate being selectively located in a plurality of discrete feed gate positions relative to said feed discharge when said engagement member engages said plurality of individual discrete adjustment positions.