Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
85~
67518-~S
BACKG~OUND OF THE INVENTION
This inventi~n relates to a feed mixing apparatus for use
wherever livestoc~ is cared for and fed. A farmer or rancher
has an obligation every day of the year to mix and deliver feed
for animal consumption. There are also many other daily chores
to which to attend. The "feed time" chore must be handled in
the shortest possible time at the lowest possible cost, using
inexpensive and easily maintained equipment and wasting little
of the feed constituents or the mixed feed.
The mixing apparatus for livestock feed constituents, the
subject matter o:E Canadian Pa-tent No. 1,171,080, embodies cer-
tain compon~nts wh.ich wer~ o.ld .in the art: a :Erame, a cyl:indri-
cal drum with :Eront and rear walls and internal spiral mixing
and conveying blades rotatably mounted on the frame, the front
wall of the drum having a axial opening and a funnel-shaped
hopper unit supported on the front of said frame for receiving
unmixed feed constituents and having an opening for moving said
feed constituents toward the interior of the drum for mixing
therein.
~0 In Claim 1 of Canadian Patent No. 1,171 ,080, the broadest
sub~ect matter of improvements to the art are: that feed consti-
tuents move from the opening in the hopper unit into an upwardly
opening semi-cylindrical front segment of a feed pipe extending
into the drum through the axial openiny in the drum front wall
as a fully cylindrical medial sleeve segment and having within
the drum an
~2S~85~3
upwardly opening semi-cylindrical rear segmentt the feed pipe rear
segment directing feed constituents toward the drum rear wall and
being open to receive mixed feed for discharge from the drum, the
hopper unit further having an opening adjacent the front feed pipe
segment for discharging mixed feed toward a delivery point; that a
rotatable feeder screw auger shaft extends from the front feed pipe
segment and through the medial feed pipe seg~ent and through the drum
axially of the spiral mixing and conveying blades; and, that a drive
means is mounted on the frame for selective rotation of the drum and
the feeder screw auger shaft, the drive means having components to
provide a unidirectional rotational movement ~or the drum so that
either feed cons~ituents or mixed Eeed will always be mov:lng toward
the rear ~eed pipe ~eym~nt, the drive means also having components
to provide a biclirectional rotational movement for the feeder screw
auger shaft so that feed constituents will be moving from the hopper
unit and into the rotating drum, or, so that mixed feed will be moving
from the rear pipe segment and a rotating drum into the front feed
pipe segment and through the opening in the hopper unit for dis-
charging mixed feed toward a delivery point.
Commercial embodiments of the feed mixing apparatus of
Canadian Patent No. 1,171,080 have been well accepted by farmer cus-
tomers, particularly for use in permanent or semi-permanent farm or
barnyard installations. On the other hand, ranchers or other users
require the transport of mixed feed over long distances, from the
feed constituent storage point to the mixed feed delivery pointO
Accordingly, this invention utilizes subject matter from Canadian
Patent NoO 1,171,080 and incorporates additional improvements to
provide a readily movable feed mixing apparatus which may be loaded
with large quantitîes of feed constituents and then moved, while
mixing feed in transit, for delivery to the animals needing the mixed
feed~
35~3
SUMMAR~ OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide ~ readily
movable, efficient, inexpensive to acquire and to operate, and easy
to maintain, feed mixing apparatus; an apparatus comprising a
combination of elements which may be loaded with large quantities
of feed constituents and then moved, while mixing feed in transit,
for delivery to the animals needing the mixed feed.
These and other objects of the invention, as well as the
operating advantages thereof, will be apparent in view of the
following drawings and specification.
General.ly described, a mixing apparatuæ for livestock
feed constituents embodying the invention has a frame. A cylin-
drical drum with front and rear walls and internal spiralmixing and
conveying blades is mounted for unidirectional rotation, by a drive
mean~, on the frame. The front wall of the drum has an axial
opening. A hopper assembly is supported on the frame in front of
the drum. The hopper assembly receives unmixed feed constituents
for movement toward the interior of the drum for mixing therein. A
feed pipe extends from the hopper assemhly and into the dru~ through
the axial opening in the drum front wall and axially of the spiral
mixing and conveying blades for directing feed constituents toward
the drum rear wall and to receive mixed ~eed for discharge from the
drum. A feeder screw auger shaft is mounted for bidirectional
rotation, by a drive means, within the feed pipe so that feed
constituents will be moving from the hopper assembly and into the
rotating drum, or, so that mixed feed will be ~oving from the
rotating drum toward said hopper assembly.
According to the invention, the drum carries a circular
shroud ring projecking in front of the drum fronk wall and ter-
minating adjacent the hopper assembly. The outer face of the drum
front wall has attached thereto, within the shroud ring, a series
of radial paddles. The hopper assembly has front, side and rear
~X~6~3S~3
walls forminy an open box for receiving the feed constituents. The
rear wall of the hopper assembly, below the box, terminates at a
substantially circular opening having a diameter slightly less than
the diameter of the drum shroud ring and substantially greater than
the diameter of the axial opening in the drum front wall. The front
and rear walls of the hopper assembly, below the box, extend
downwardly below the feed pipe forming a cha}nber for holding ~eed
constituents before movement thereof by the feeder screw auger
shaft into the rotating drum. The feed pipe has a front segment
projecting in front of the hopper asse~bly and a semi-cylindrîcal
upwardly opening medial segment extending from the hopper assembly
and through the larger circular opening in the hopper a~sembly rear
wall and the smaller axlal opening in ~he clrum ;Eront wall. ~rhe
projecting feed pipe front segment has an opening for discharglng
mixed feed from the rotating drum toward a delivery point.
THE DRAWINGS
FIG. l is an isometric view of the front end of a feed
mixing apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the rear end of the feed
mixer;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the feed mixer;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation, in section, of the feed mixer;
FIG. 5 is a front end view, partially broken away, taken
substantially as indicated on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. S is a cross-section, taken substantially as in~i-
cated on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a cross-section, taken substantially as indi-
cated on line 7-7 of FIG. 4; and,
FIGS. 8A-C are schematic sequential views showing the
cooperative relationship of the components of the feed mixer.
5~
DETAILED D~SCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A feed mixing apparatus according to the invention is
referred to generally by the numeral 20. The function and purpose
of an apparatus 20, as shown in FIGS. 8A-C, is to mix and discharge
various feed constituents 21 for animal consumption. The feed
constituents 21 are selectively delivered to the apparatus 20 as by
a bulk loader 22. After mixing by the apparatus 20, the mixed eed
23 is distributed as by a delivery conveyor 24.
A feed mixer 20 has six primary or basic components. A
vehicular mounted generally rectan~ular and readily movable
frame 25 i~ positioned by the us~r, ag requlred, for loaaling of ~eed
constituents 21 or for deliv~ry o~ mixed feed ~3. The front o the
frame 25 supports a hopper assembly 26 for receiving the feed
constituents 21 from the bulk loader 22. The medial portion of the
frame 25 rotatably mounts a cylindricaldrum 27 with internal spiral
mixing and conveying blades. A cylindrical feed pipe 28 extends
from the front of the mixer 20 through the hopper assembly 26 and
axially into the clrum 27. A feeder screw auger shaft 29 is inside
the ~eed pipe 28 extends from the front of the mixer 20 through the
medial portion of the hopper assembly 26 and into the drum 27. The
rear of the frame 25 mounts a drive means 30 for unidirectional
rotation of the drum 27 and bidirectional rotation of the feeder
screw auger shaft 29.
T1~e frame ?s
The rectangular frame 25 is fabricated as a weldment and
may comprise a front cross beam 31 connected by two side channels
3~ 32 to rear cross beams 33 and 34. Attached to the inside face of
each channel 32 is a bracket mounted roller 35 for SuppDrting the
front portion of the rotatable drum 27. The front end ~f each
-- 5 --
~ ~ S~ ~8
channel 32 may have attached thereto two support channels 36 for
mounting of an optional delivery conveyor 24. The front end of each
channel 32 has attached thereto two upwardly directed brackets 37
for attachment to and support of the hopper assembly 26. The rear
cross beam 33 carries a pedestal 38 for bearing block mounting of
the rear portion of the rotating drum 27. The pedestal 38 may carry
a lateral bracket 39 ~or mounting of the feelder screw auger shaft
drive motor component of the drive means 30.
The hopper assembly 26
The hopper assembl.y 26 supported on the rame 25 in front
of the drum 27 is ~abricated as a weldm~nt. The hopper ~sembly 26
has an open box formed by a Eront wall40 connected by two side walls
41 to a rear wall 42, for receiving feed constituents 21.
Below the receiving box, the hopper rear wall 42 has
opposed edges 43 terminating at a substantially circular opening
indicated at 44 for communication with the interior of the drum 27.
Adjacent the opening 44, the rear face of the rear wall 42 carries
a substantially circular ring 45. ~ resilient L-shaped annular
element 46 may be attached to the ring 45 to partialIy baffle or
close out the area between the stationary hopper assembly 26 and the
rotating drum 27.
Below the receiving box, the hopper front wall40 and side
walls 41 are generally funnel-shaped, extending downwardly around
the feed pipe 280 Below the feed pipe 28, the walls 40 and 41 merge
to form a generally clam-shell shaped lower hopper portion indi-
cated at 47. The lower hopper wall portion 47 forms a chamber for
holding feed constituents 21 before movement thereof ~y the ~eeder
screw auger shaft 29 rotating within the feed pipe 28 into the
interior of the rotating drum 27. The hopper assembly 26 is mounted
on the frame 25 by connection of the frame brackets 37 to ~he lower
hopper wall portion 47.
-- 6 --
~S~58
171e dr~n 27
The drum 27 is fabricated as a weldment and may comprise
a front wall 48 connected by a cylindrical side wall 49 to a rear
wall 50O The drum 27 also has two continuous flights of spiral
mixing and conveying blades 51 for moving feed constituents 21 or
mixed feed 23 toward the drum front wall 48~ The drum front wall
48 has an axial opening 52 to receive the feed pipe 28. The diameter
of the hopper assembly rear wallopening 44 is substantially greater
than the diameter of the drum front wall opening 52.
The rear wall 50 of the drum 27 has an axial sleeve sha.~t
53, '~he outer end o~ sh~E~ 53 i~ rot~tably moun~ed in ~ bearing
block 5~ carried by the frame pedestal 38. A feeder screw drive
shaft 29A extends coaxially through the sleeve shaft 53 and has an
inner end connected to the rear end of the rotatable feeder screw
auger shaft 29 by a coupling 55.
The inner end of the drum sleeve shaft 53 provides the
axial component ~or a series of radial ribs 56. A drum 27 may have
four equally spaced rib elements 56 with radially inner ends
connectedt as at 57, to the shaft 53. The rearwardly direc~ed edge
of each rib element 56 conforms to the inner face of the rear drum
wall 50 and is connected thereto, as at 58. Together, the ribs 56
provide a structure which strengthens the shaft 53 and strengthens
the rear of the drum 27. TW3 opposed ribs 56 also are connected,
as at 59, to the rear ends of the spiral mixing and conveying blades
51 which are also connected to the inner surface of the drum side
wall 49, as at 60,
The inner face of the dru~ front wall 48 carries a series
of radial paddles 61 positioned around the drum opening 52. The
paddles 61 function to sequentially and continuously di:rect feed
constituents 21 or mixed feed 23, conveyed by the spiral blades 51,
onto a semi-cylindrical upwardly opening medial segment (76~ as
~5685~3
hereinafter descxibed) of a feed pipe 28 for movement by a rotating
feeder screw auger shat 23 into or from the interior of a rotating
drum 27.
As shown (see FIGS. 4 and 7), four lequally spaced paddle
elements 61 have radially inner ends connected to a flange ring 62
positioned around the drum opening 52. The forward].y directed edge
of each paddle element 61 conforms to the inner face of the drum
front wall48 and is connected thereto, as at 63. Also, the radially
outer end of each paddle element 61 may be connected to the drum side
1~ wall 49, as at 64. Two opposed paddles 61 also are connected, as
at 65, to the orward ends of the spiral mixing and conveyinclblades
51.
The drLIm 27 carries a circular ~hroud ring 66 projecti.n~
beyond the drum front wall 48. The diameter of the hopper assembly
rear wall opening 44 is slightly less than the diameter of the r.ing
66. The outer face of the drum front wall 48 carries a series of
radial paddles 67 positioned around the drum opening 52. The
paddles 67 function to sequentially and continuously direct feed
constituents 21 from within the hopper assembly 26, particularly
from below the feed pipe 28 and within the holding chamber provided
by the lower hopper wall portion 47 on to the semi-cylindrical
upwardly opening medialpipe segment (76, as hereinafter described)
of a feed pipe 28 for movement by a rotating feeder screw auger shaft
29 into the interior of the rotating drum 27.
As shown (see FIGS. 4 and 6), four equal.ly spaced paddle
elements 67 are positioned around the drum opening 52~ The
rearwardly directed edge of each paddle element 67 conforms to the
outer face of the drum front wall 48 and is connected thereto~ as
at 68. Also, the radially outer end of each paddle element 67 may
be connected to the drum shroud ring 66, as at 69.
In the embodiment of a feed mixing apparatus 20 herein
disclosed, the generally inward conveying action of the larger
S~
paddle elements 67 is augmented by shorter interposed radial
paddles 70. As shown ~see FIGS. 5 and 6), four equally spaced paddle
elements 70 are positioned around the drum opening 52. The
rearwardly directed edge of each paddle element 70 conforms to the
outer face of the drum front wall 48, and is connected thereto, as
at 71. Also, the radially outer end of each~paddle element 70 may
be connected to the drum shroud ring, as at 72.
The feed pipe 28
The feed pipe 2~ is fabrlcated from a cylinder of tubing
or pipe. A feed pipe 28 ha~ a front segment 73 project.ing through
the front wall 40 of the hopper assembly 26. l'he open end of the
feed pipe 28 is closed, as by a removable inspection plate 74. The
projecting front segment 73 has an opening indicated at 75, ex-
teriorly of the hopper assembly 26. As shown, the opening 75discharges mixed feed 23 from the rotating drum 27 onto a delivery
conveyor 24.
The eed pipe 2B has a semi-cylindrical upwardly opening
medial segment 76 which extends from the medial portion of the
hopper assembly 26 and through the rear wall opening 44 and axially
of the radial paddles 67 and 70 and through the drum opening 52 and
axially of the radial paddles 61 and the spiralmixing and conveying
blades 51.
As shown, the feed pipe 28 terminates within the drum 27
in a fully cylindrical rear segment 77. The terminal segment 77
extends beyond the medial segment 76 to coaxially enclose the feeder
screw auger shaft 29 so that feed Gonstituents 21 are moved into the
rear portion of the drum 27.
As shown in FIGo 4, within the hopper assembly 26 a
rotatable ring collar 78 is positioned around the rear end of the
feed pipe front segment 73 and adjacent the front end of the semi-
~L~56858
cylindrical segment 76. The ring collar 78 is carried by a series
of diverging strut rods 79 extending through the hopper assembly
rear wall opening 44 and into the drum shroud ring 66. The base end
of the strut ~od~79 may be connected, as at 80, to the exterior drum
paddles 67. The strut rods 79 function to reduce compaction or
"bridging" of feed constituents 21 within the hopper assembly 26
before movemen~ thereof into the drum 27.
The drive means 30
The drive means 30 is a combination of various components
which will provide ~or variable speed rotational movement o~ the
drum 27 and the ~e~der screw au~er shaEt 29. Certa:in of these
components are intended to provide a unidirectional rotational
movement for the drum 27 so that the exterior drum paddles 67 and
70 will always be movin~ feed constituents 21 toward the upwardly
opening feed pipe segment 76 and the drum opening 52, and, so that
the spiral mixing and conveying blades 51 within the drum will
always be moving feed constituents 21 or mixed feed 23 toward the
drum opening 52, the interior drum paddles 61 and the upward.ly
opening feed pipe segment 76. Others of these components are
intended to provide a bidirectional movement or the feeder screw
auger shaft 29 so that the feed constituents 21 will be moving from
the hopper assembly 26 into the interior of the rotating drum, or,
so that the mixed feed 23 wil]. be moving from the interior of the
rotating drum and through the hopper assembly 26 Eor movement toward
the feed pipe front segment opening 75 at the f ront o~ the feed
mixing apparatus 20.
As shown, a drum drive motor 81 may be mounted on a base
82 secured to a frame rear cross beam 33. The drive shaft of motor
81 carries a sprocket 83 engaging an endless drive chain 84. ~ drive
ring 85, secured to the rear drum wall 50, is engaged by the drive
-- 10 --
58
chain 84 for variable speed unidirectional rotation of the drum 27.
A feeder screw auger shaft drive motor 86 may be mounted on the frame
lateral bracket 39. The drive shaft of motor 86 carries a sprocket
87 engaging an endless drive chain 88. A dxive sprocket 83 on the
outer end of the feeder screw drive shaft 29A is engaged ~y the drive
chain 88 for variable speed bidirectional rotation of the feeder
screw auger shaft 29 through the coupling 55.
The deli~e~ conveyor 24
The use o a deli.very conveyor 24 as an integralcomponent
of a ~eed mixer 20 is a preEerred, but optional wi.th the u~er,
Eeature. ~8 shown, the lateral di~char~e delivery conveyor 24 is
carried on the frame support channels 36 below the delivery opening
75 for mixed feed 23 in the pro]ecting front end of the feed pipe
28.
The delivery conveyor 24 has an endless belt 90 revolving
around belt rollers 91. The belt rollers 91 are rotatably carried
by opposed side channels 92 having an outwardly directed upper
flange for mounting of side plates 93 overlying the belt 90. ~ne
bel~ roller 91 is connected to a belt drive motor 94 mounted on the
inner side channel 92. The belt drive motor 94 is reversible for
bidirectional movement of the conveyor belt 90.
Also as shown (see FIG. 5), the side channels 92 may be
mounted on the frame support channels 36 by clip brackets 95 so that
the delivery conveyor 24 may be shifted laterally (as shown by the
chain lines) to either side of the feed mixing apparatus 20 for
convenient discharqe of mixed feed 23 at the animal feeding point.
The delivery conveyor 24 may be laterally shifted as by a cylinder
96. ~he cylinder 96 may be base mounted on a bracket 97 carried on
a frame side channel 320 The piston rod 98 of the shifting cylinder
96 is connected to a bracket on an actuator bar 99 connected to the
underside of the convey~r side channels 920
