Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1146426
A TAPERED BED FEEDER
Technical Field
The invention relates to feeders for distributing
feed to livestock. The feeder is mounted above an
elongated livestock feed bunk.
In operation, feed is more or less equally dropped
from the feeder along the length of the feed bunk or
at least a portion of the length of the feed bunk.
Livestock line up on either one or both sides of the
feed bunk and get substantially equal portions of the
feed from the feeder.
Background Art
Tapered bed feeders are well-known in the art.
These feeders, with continuous chain and slat conveyors
that convey feed along the upper surface of a bed
which decreases in width so that feed falls off,
have been used comercially for many years. The sides
of these feeders, which form the frame, support ~he
tapered bed and provide support for the upper and
lower runs of the conveyor chain, are normally con-
structed from formed sheet metal with angles, channel
and other pieces welded or bolted to the sheet metal.
Due to the complexity of the construction, sections
of these feeders are normally constructed in a factory.
The relatively bulky sections are shipped to the farm
where they are to be used. The sections are joined
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end to end above the feed bunk to form a feeder of the
desired length.
Disclosure of Invention
The tapered bed feeder conveyor includes a center
section; a tapered bed secured to the center section;
an idler shaft support, idler shaft and a conveyor
sprocket attached to one end of the center section; a
drive shaft support, drive shaft and conveyor drive
sprocket secured to the other end of the center section;
and at least one endless chain trained around the
sprockets on the idler shaft and drive shaft with
conveyor slats extending from the endless chain. The
idler shaft support is fabricated by welding and
bolting various metal parts into a single assembly.
The drive shaf~ support is also fabricated by welding
and bolting various metal parts into a single assembly.
The elongated center section includes at least two
reversible and identical side panel members formed
from sheet metal with integral tapered bed support
ledges and endless chain return support ledges. The
side panel members can be nested together for compact
storage and shipment. Spacer bracket assemblies are
used to connect panel members together in a parallel
spaced spart relationship. The spacer bracket assem-
blies also connect side panel members together in endto end relationship to provide the desired overall
length feeder.
The side panel members also include a flange for
securing a cover on the feeder without the use of
fasteners.
A cover is provided that has lips engageable
with the conveyor cover retaining flanges.
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Antifriction material is secured to the conveyor
slats to reduce friction, wear, and noise and to in-
crease the life of the feeder.
The tapered bed support ledge on each side panel
is below the integral endless chain return support
ledge.
A center section of the tapered bed feeder in-
cludes at least one spacer bracket assembly. The
spacer bracket assembly has generally vertical side
lQ sections. Two side panel members are secured to each
side section of the spacer bracket assembly in an end
to end relationship.
Brief Description of Drawing
Figure l is a side elevation of the tapered bed
feeder supported above a feed bunk;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the tapered bed
feeder taken along lines 2 - 2 of Fig. l;
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the tapered bed
feeder taken along lines 3 - 3 of Fig. l;
Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the
drive shaft support, the drive shaft, and a conveyor
chain drive mounted on one end of the center section;
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the drive shaft
support taken along lines 5 - 5 of Fig. 4;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the drive shaft
support taken along lines 6 - 6 of Fig. 4,
Figure 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view of
the center section of the tapered bed feeder as shown
in Fig. 3;
Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the
endless conveyor chain and one conveyor slat taken
along lines 8 - 8 of Fig. 7; and
Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of the end-
less conveyor chain and one conveyor slat taken along
lines 9 - 9 of Fig. 8.
.
1146426
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
The tapered bed feeder 10 as shown in Figs. 1
and 3 is supported by inverted U-shaped supports 12.
The inverted U-shaped supports 12 have each lower end
secured to sides 14 of the feed bunk 16 by a pair of
plates 18 and 20 and four bolts 22. The plates 18 can
be welded to the inverted U-shaped supports 12 if
desired. Braces 24 are secured to the vertical por-
tions 26 of the inverted U-shaped supports 12. The
braces 24 are generally below the tapered bed feeder
10, above the feed bunk 16 and parallel to the feed
bunk sides 14. These braces 24 keep animals from
climbing into the feed bunk 16, prevent injury to
animals by the tapered bed feeder 10 and retain the
inverted U-shaped supports 12 to limit their ~ove-
ment relative to the feed bunk 16.
The upper portion of each inverted U-shaped
support 12 includes horizontal sections 28 integral
with each vertical portion 26 and an adjusting
member 30 telescopically received in both horizontal
sections 28. The adjusting member 30 allows the
width of the inverted U-shaped support 12 to be
adjusted to fit most feed bunks 16. The adjusting
members 30 are held in position by clamp 32, 34 and
35. These clamps 32, 34 and 35 also connect feeder
hangers 36 to the inverted U-shaped supports 12.
The lower ends of the feeder hangers 36 are attached
to spacer bracket assemblies 38. The spacer bracket
assemblies 38 are described in detail below.
The tapered bed feeder 10 as shown in Figs. 1
and 2 includes an idler shaft support 40, a center
section 42, a drive shaft support 44, a tapered bed
46 and an endless chain 48 with attached conveyor
slats 50. The idler shaft support 40 as shown in
Fig. 2 has an end wall 52 and side walls 54 and 56.
114~426
A top 58 as shown in Fig. 1 would normally be secured
to the top edge of the side walls 54 and 56. searing
flanges 60 and 62 secure bearings to the side walls
54 and 56 of the idler shaft support 40. An idler
shaft 64 is rotatably supported by the bearings
secured by the bearing flanges 60 and 62. A conveyor
sprocket 66 is secured to the idler shaft 64.
The drive shaft support 44 as shown in Figs. 4,
5 and 6 includes side walls 68 and 70 and an integral
end wall 72. A top wall 74 is secured to the side
walls 68 and 70 by bolts 76.
Conveyor adjustment members 78 and 80 are adjusta-
bly secured to the side walls 68 and 70 of the drive
shaft support 44 by clamping plates 82, spacers 83,
and bolts 84.Each conveyor adjustment member 78 and
80 includes a central channel shaped section 86 and
integral laterally extending flanges 88. The clamp-
ing plates 82 clamp the integral laterally extending
flanges 88 to the spacer plates 90 when the bolts 84
are right. The spacer plates 90, which are secured
to the side walls 68 and 70 by the bolts 84, hold the
integral laterally extending flanges 88 out away from
the side walls 68 and 70. Spacers 83 hold the clamp-
ing plates 82 away from the spacer plates 90.
A speed reduction shaft 92 is rotatably journaled
in bearings 94 and 96. The bearings 94 and 96 are
supported by inner and outer bearing holders 98 and
100 that are secured to central channel shaped
sections 86 of the conveyor adjustment members 78 and
80 by bolts 102 as shown in Fig. 5. Slots 104 in the
side walls 68 and 70 allow adjustment of the speed
reduction shaft 92 relative to the integral end wall
72.
A conveyor drive shaft 106 as shown in Fig. 6 is
rotatably journaled in bearings 108 and 110. The
A
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bearings 108 and 110 are supported by inner and
outer bearing holders 112 and 114 that are secured
to central channel shaped sections 86 of the conveyor
adjustment members 78 and 80 by bolts 116. Slots 118
in the side walls 68 and 70 allow adjustment of the
conveyor drive shaft 106 relative to the integral end
wall 72.
A motor support and adjustment assembly 120 is
secured to the ends of the conveyor adjustment
members78 and 80 which extend beyond the side walls
68 and 70 and the integral end wall 72. A motor
122 is secured to the motor support and adjustment
assembly 120.
A drive pulley 124 on the motor 122 drives an
endless belt 125 which is trained around a driven
pulley 126. The driven pulley 126 is rigidly
secured to one end of the speed reduction shaft 92.
A drive sprocket 128 is secured to the other end of
the speed reduction shaft 92. An endless chain 130
is trained around the drive sprocket 128 and the
driven sprocket 132. The driven sprocket 132 is
rigidly secured to the conveyor drive shaft 106. A
conveyor drive sprocket 134 and a conveyor slat
support roller 136 are secured to the conveyor
drive shaft 106 between the side walls 68 and 70.
A cross bar 138 is secured to the integral end
wall 72 to support a pair of conveyor chain adjust-
ment bolts 140. Slots 142 in the central channel
shaped sections 86 of conveyor adjustment members
78 and 80 provide for movement of the adjustment
members 78 and 80. To adjust endless conveyor chain
48, conveyor chain adjustment bolts 140 are turned
to move the conveyor drive shaft 106 to the proper
position.
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The endless chain 130 can be adjusted by an ad-
justment assembly 144 which moves the speed reduction
shaft 92 relative to the conveyor adjustments 78 and
80. The endless belt 125 is adjusted by turning the
adjustment screw 146 shown in Fig. 4. The adjustment
screw 146 pivots the motor 122 about the axis of
pin 148. Since the speed reduction shaft 92, the
conveyor drive shaft 106 and the motor 122 are all
mounted on the conveyor adjustment members 78 and 80
the positlon of the conveyor drive shaft 106 can be
changed without adjusting the endless chain 130 or
the endless belt 125.
The center section 42 of the tapered bed feeder
10 is constructed from side panel members 150 and
152. These side panel members 150 and 152 are all
identical except that they are made in various
lengths so that they can be assembled to make con-
veyors with various overall lengths. Each side
panel member 150 and 152 has a horizontal taper bed
support ledge 154. The horizontal tapered bed
support ledge 154 is integral with a generally
vertical wall section 156. The horizontal endless
conveyor chain return run support ledge 158 has its
inner side connected to the generally vertical wall
section 156 by an integral transition section 160.
The integral transition section 160 slopes upwardly
and inwardly from the generally vertical wall section
156 to an upper portion 162 which is generally
vertical. The generally vertical section 162 ends
at the inner edge of the endless conveyor chain
return run support ledge 158. A conveyor cover
retaining flange 164 extends generally upwardly and
outwardly from the outer edge of the endless conveyor
chain return run support ledge 158.
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The side panels members 150 and 152 are formed
from flat pieces of sheet metal that are bent along lines
running their length to have the shape described above.
The side panel members 150 and 152 can be nested together
when one of them is turned end for end as can be envisioned
by viewing the shape of the panel members in Fig. 7. By
nesting a number of these panels together, a large conveyor
can be shipped in a relatively small space and the possib-
ility of damage in shipment is substantially reduced.
The side panel members 150 and 152 are attached
together by spacer bracket assemblies 166. Each of these
spacer bracket assemblies includes a generally horizontal
bottom section 168 generally vertical side sections 170 ex-
tending upwardly from the ends of the generally horizontal
1 bottom section 168, upwardly and inwardly extending
transition sections 172 and outwardly extending upper
horizontal portions 174. A spacer rod 176 extends from one
transition section 172 to the other and is integral therewith.
The ends of side panel members 150 and 152 are
positioned on the inside of a spacer bracket assembly 166 as
shown in Fig. 7. The inside surfaces of the generally ver-
tical side sections 170 and the upwardly and inwardly extend-
ing transition sections 172 are the same shape as the outer
surfaces of the side panel members 150 and 152. The side
panel members 150 and 152 are secured to the spacer bracket
assemblies 166 by bolts 178 or other suitable fastening
means such as welding. A notch is provided in the end of
each panel section 150 and 152 for a spacer rod 176. The
spacer bracket assemblies 166 also connect the idler shaft
support 40 and the drive shaft support 44 to the panel members
150 and 152.
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g
The tapered bed 46 is secured to the horizontal
tapered bed support ledges 154 The tapered bed 180
can be constructed of wood, metal or other suitable
materials. A small hopper 182 is provided at one end
of the tapered bed feeder 10. Any suitable conveyor
183 is provided to deposit ma-terial such as silage in
the small hopper 182. Under the small hopper 182,
the tapered bed 46 extends from one side panel
member 150 to the other side panel member 152. The
width of the tapered bed 46 decreases from the small
hopper 182 to the end of the tapered bed feeder 10
remote from the small hopper 182.
An endless conveyor chain 48 is trained around
the conveyor sprocket 66 on the idler shaft 64 and
the conveyor drive sprocket 134 on the conveyor
drive shaft 106. Conveyor slat assemblies 186 are
connected to some of links 188 of the endless conveyor
chain 48. The conveyor slat assemblies 186 include
an elongated portion 190 with a generally triangular
cross section. A wear strip 194 is attached to the
conveying side of the elongated portion 190 by
fasteners 196 to form each conveyor slat assembly
186. On the conveying run the wear strips 194 slide
on the tapered bed 46 and push material along the
upper surface of the tapered bed 46. On the return
run, the wear strips 194 slide on the horizontal
endless conveyor chain return run support ledge 158~
A support ledge 198 is welded to side wall 70 of the
drive shaft support 44 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to
support the wear strips 194 after they leave the
conveyor slat support 136.
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A metal cover 200 as shown in Fig. 7 may be em-
ployed to keep rain and snow out of the tapered bed
feeder if desired. The metal cover 200 includes
elongated sections with a center section 202 down-
wardly and outwardly inclined side sections 204 and
a downwardly and inwardly inclined lip 206 on each
edge. The lip 206 engages the outer surfaces of the
conveyor cover retaining flanges 164 to hold the
metal cover 200 in position. The metal cover 200
can be removed and replaced by deforming its various
sections sufficiently to allow the downwardly and
inwardly inclined lips 206 to pass over the outer
edges of the conveyor cover retaining flanges 164.
No tools are required and no fasteners are needed.
The tapered bed feeder 10 is assembled in the
field by inserting side panel members 150 and 152 on
the inside of the spacer bracket assemblies 166 and
inserting bolts 178. Four of the side panels 150
and 152 are bolted to each spacer bracket assembly
166 except for the two ends. The side panels 150
and 152 are normally eight feet long. Some side
panels 150 and 152 that are five feet long may also
be used so that by using a combination of eight foot
and five foot side panel members 150 and 152, the
desired overall length for the tapered bed feeder 10
may be constructed. The tapered bed 46 is secured
to the horizontal tapered bed support ledges 154.
The idler shaft support 40 and the drive shaft
support 44, which are normally shipped assembled,
are bolted to the ends of the center section 42.
The endless conveyor chain 184 with attached con-
veyor slat assemblies 186 is trained around the
conveyor sprocket 66 and the conveyor drive sprocket
134 and the ends are connected. The chains and
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belts are adjusted. The metal cover 200 is snapped
into place and the tapered bed feeder 10 is ready to
operate. Obviously, the entire assembly procedure
is extremely simple and can be carried out successfully
in the field with very simple instructions.
In operation, material such as silage is de-
posited in the small hopper ]82 and on the tapered
bed 46. The conveyor slat assemblies 186 push the
material along the upper surface of the tapered bed
46. Due to the decreasing wldth of the tapered bed
46, the material falls off and into the feed bunk
16 from one end of the tapered bed feeder 10 to the
other end.
