Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to an animal feeding apparatus,
and in particular to an automatic calf feeding apparatus.
In general, calves are separated from cows shortly after
birth and fed unheated milk from an unsterilized container.
This method of feeding calves leads to serious problems.
During the period when calves are very young, cows' milk
is usually at a temperature of 112F. If the milk fed to calves
is not heated, ~he calv~s often contract diarrhea and die. In
t~e province of Quebec, it is believed that the mortality rate
amongst calves during the first two months after birth is as high
as 25%. This is believed to be due mainly to the use of unheated
milk for feeding the calves. Moreover, using a single dispenser
for all of the calves has the unfortunate result of rapidly
spreading disease. Obviously, if one calf becomes diseased, it
it likely that all calves being fed from the same source will
~ecome diseased.
The object of the present invention is to overcome the
above problems by providing a relatively simple animal feeding
apparatus which dispenses a predetermined quant~ty of heated
feed at regular intervals, and which ensures that different
animals do not eat from a single, possibly contaminated source.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to an
animal feeding apparatus comprising tank means for receiving
liquid feed, ~irst heater means for heating the liquid feed
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in said tank means -to a predetermined temperature; metering
means for receiving said feed from said tank means and dispensing a
predetermined quantity o~ feed; container means for receiving
the food from said metering means, said container means being
accessible to the animal to be fed; and second heater means for
maintaininy the liquid feed in said container means a-t approximately
said prede-termined temperature.
The invention will now be described in greater detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a
preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:
Figure l is a schematic, block diagram of a calf feeding
apparatu~ in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective, partly sectioned view of a
metering device used in the apparatus of Fig. l;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a bowl used in the apparatus
of Figs. 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is a cross section taken generally along line
IV-IV of Fig. 3;
Figure 5 is a schematic, rear elevation view of an
animal feeding stall and portions of the apparatus of Figs. l
to 4;
Figure 6 is a schematic, partly sectioned side elevation
view of the feeding stall and portions of the apparatus of Fig; 5;
and
Figure 7 is a schematic, block diagram of a cleaning
system for use with the apparatus of Figs. l to 6.
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APPARATUS
Wi-th reference to the drawings, the feeding system of
the present invention is intended for use with a bulk milk
reservoir 1 of the type found on virtually all dairy farms.
Such bulk milk reservoirs maintain the milk at a temperature
slightly above freezing. Of course, the liquid feed can come
from another source. The bulk reservoir 1 is connected to a
heating tank 2 by a pump 3 and a line 4.
The tank 2 is a double jacketed container. Water is
provided in the space between the inner and outer shell of the
tank 2 and a 3,000 watt heater (not shown) extends into the water,
so that the heater does not directly contact either the inner
container or the milk. This arrangement prevents lo~alized
heating and curdling of the milk. The tank 2 contains a stirrer
6 and a float 7 for operating a switch 8, which is connected to the
float 7 and to the pump 3. Thus, when the milk in the tank
reaches a predetermined level, the switch 8 is closed by the
float 7 to stop the pump 3.
An outlet duct 10 is provided in the bottom of the tank
2 for discharging milk through a valve 11 to a manifold 13.
The valve 11 is solenoid actuated for opening after the milk has
reached the predetermined temperature of 110F. The signal for
turning off the heater in the tank 2, for stopping the stirrer 6
and for opening the valve 11 is generated by a thermostat (not
shown) in the tank 2. From the manifold 13, the milk passes
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through lines 1~ to metering devices 16.
Re~erring to Fig. 2, the metering device 16 is defined
b~ a cylinder 18, which is closed at one end 19 and open at the
other end 20. A disc-shaped plate 22 defining a movable wall
is mounted in the cylinder 18 for determining the volume of the
metering device, i.e. the spacing between the wal] 19 and the
plate 22. An annular seal 23 is provided in the periphery of the
plate 22. The position of the plate 22 in the cylinder 18 is
adjusted by means of a bolt 24, which extends outwardly through
the open end 20 of the cylinder 18 and a U-shaped yoke 26.
Nuts 27 are attached to each side of the centre of the yoke 26
for receiving the bolt 24, and retaining the bolt 24 and the
plate 22 in a fixed position. The arms 29 of -the yolk 26 are
welded to the open end of the cylinder 18.
From the metering devices 16 the milk passes through
lines 31 and valves 32 to feed bowls 34. The valves 32 (Figs.
5 and 6) are actually spring loaded clamps 35 (Fig. 5) for
squeezing the flexible tubing 31 extending from the metering
devices 16 to the bowls 34. The clamps 35 are actuated by vacuum
valves 37, which are connected to a source of vacuum by lines
38 and 39, and a valve 40 (Fig. 1). Each clamp 35 is biased
to the open position by a spring 42. When a vacuum is applied to
the valve 32, the clamp 35 is closed against the bias of the spring
42. The clamp 35 alternately squeezes the tube 31 to prevent
the flow of fluid therethrough, or opens the tube 31 permitting
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the flow of fluid from the metering cylinder 18 to the bowl 34.
With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, each bowl 34 is
defined by inner and outer hemisphericalshells 44 and 45,
respectively. A 1ange 47 extends outwardly from the top of
the inner shell 44, and is connected to the top of the outer
shell 45. Milk from -the tube 31 is introduced into the bowl
through an inlet duct 48. Water is introduced into and discharged
from the chamber 50 between the shells 44 and 45 via an inlet
duct 51 and an outlet duct 52, which are connected to a heater
54 and a pump 55 by a line 56 (Fig. 1). The water maintains the
bowls at the predetermined temperature of 110F. Cleaning fluid
is discharged from the bowls 34 via outlet ducts 58, line 59 and
a valve 60. The milk is accurately metered using the devices
16.
As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the basic elements of the
invention, including the manifold 13, the metering devices 16,
the valves 32 and the bowls 34 are mounted on the inner end or
rear end 62 of a feeding stall 63. Actually, there is a row of
stalls 63, with a metering device 16 and a feeding bowl 34 for
each stall. An individual stall 63 is provided for each calf
and the calf is kept in such stall. An opening is provided
in the inner end of the stall 63. A skeletal, rectangular frame
65 extends outwardly from the end 62 for supporting the bowl 34.
A V-shaped arm 66 (Figs. 3, 4 and 6) extends forwardly from a
bar 69 around each bowl 34 beneath the flange 47 for supporting
the bowl. The bar 69, which is defined by a length of pipe,
is rotatable in a sleeve 70 mounted on the frame 65. The
pipe 69 is rotated by means of a cylinder 72, the bottom end
of which is pivotally connected -to the end 62 of the stall by a
clevis 73. A piston rod 75 extends out of the top of the
cylinder, and is connected to a lever defined by a second clevis
77 mounted on the bar 69. Thus, extension of the cylinder 75
rotates the bowl 34 to the horizontal feeding position shown in
solid lines in Fig. 5 and retraction of the piston rod 75
rotates the bowl 34 to the vertical, non-use position shown in
phantom outline in Fig. 5.
Each bowl 34 is cleaned in the vertical position. For
such purpose, a back plate 78 is provided on the frame 65. An
annular rubber gasket 80 is mounted on the plate 78 for sealing
with the flange 47 on the bowl 34. Water or another cleaning
agent introduced into the bowl 34 through the line 31 is discharged
through an opening 81 in the plate 78 and the duct 58 to the line
59.
For cleaning purposes, the apparatus is joined to the
lines of a conventional milking system. The conventional
system (Fig. 7) includes a vacuum line 84, which is usually
mounted in a barn for circulating milk or cleaning agent. The
line 84 is connected to a vacuum bottle 85 and a pump 86. Milking
heads 88 are normally plugged into the line 84 at the locations of
milking stalls and the pump 86 is started to pump milk from the
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heads 88 in-to a storage tank or reservoir (not shown). In order
to clean the system, the heads 88 are removed from the cows,
placed in a sink 89, and connected to the line 84 using their
tubes 90. The line 91 from the pump 86 to the reservoir is also
diverted to the sink 89. Thus, with the taps (no-t shown) turned
on and the sink ~9 filled with water, the pump 86 causes water
to ~low through the tubes 90 to the line 9]. The water and
detergent or other cleaning agent added at the sink 89 flows
through the line 84 in the direction of arrows 93, returning to
the sink 89 via the vacuum bottle 85 and the pump 86.
In the present case, metal tubing 94 is connected to
the lines 90 so that water and liquid, i~e. or cleaning agents
flow from the sink 89 through the tubing 94 to the manifold
13 of the feeding apparatus 95. The liquid circulates through
the metering devices 16, the valve 32, which is open during
cleaning, the containers 34, the discharge ducts 58 and line
59 for return to the basic milking system. The liquid enters
the line 84 from the line 59 and flows in both directions as
indicated by arrows 96 back to the vacuum bottle 85. Thus,
both the conventional milking system, and the feeding apparatus
are cleaned simultaneously.
OPERATION
During normal operation, a timer ~not shown) is used
to close the normally open valve 11 and to actuate the pump 3.
Thus, milk is fed into the tank 2 ~rom the reservoir 1. At the
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.same time, -the heater and the stirrer 6 in the tank 2 are started
to warm the milk to 110F. When the milk reaches the required
level, i.e. sufficient to fill the metering cylinders 18, the
float 7 actuates the switch 8 to stop the pump 3. When the
temperature of the milk reaches 110F, a thermostat (not sho~m)
stops the heater and the s-tirrer 6, and opens the valve 11 to
permit the milk to flow to the metering devices 16.
During heating of the milk in the tank 2, a second timer
(not ~hown) opens the valve 40 to connect the valves 37 to the
source of vacuum to close the clamps 35 which squeeze the tubing
31. Following heating, the second timer closes the valve 40
to disconnect the line 39 from the source of vacuum, venting
the valves 37 to the atmosphere which causes opening of the
valves 32. The valves 32 must be opened shortly after the milk
enters the metering cylinders 18 to avoid cooling. From the
metering devices 16, the milk flows into the bowls 34, which,
o course, are in the horizontal position. Because the bowls
34 are continuously heated by the heater 54, the milk is maintained
at the desired temperature during feeding. This cycle is
repeated every four hours.
Every twelve hours and between feeding periods, the system
is cleaned. In order to clean the system, the milking heads 88
are placed in the sink 89, as is the line from the pump 86 to the
r~servoir. The milk head tubes 90 are connected to a metal vacuum
feed line 94, which feeds water to the manifold 13 (Fig. l); and
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thus to the metering d~vices 16. The pump 3 is also connected
to the sink 89, to pump water through the tank 2. With the
stirrer 6 operatingl the tank 2, line 4 and duct 10 are cleaned.
The valve 11 ia open, so that water flows through the tank 2
into the manifold 13 to mix with the water from line 94. The
water passes through the bowls 34, which are in the vertical
position, the ducts 5~ and the line 59 to the line 84 of -the
conventional milking system, and thus to the sink 89. A normally
closed valve (not shown) is provided in each of the ducts 58. The
valve is opened during cleaning only.
The cleaning cycle includes a first water rinse of
10 minutes duration, a 10 minute wash with soap and Javex (trade-
mark) or a similar agent containing a hypochlorite and a second
water rinse of 10 minutes duration. Twice a week the cleaning
cycle includes the additional step of washing with a mild acid
for 25 minutes duration.
It will be appreciated that individual calves are kept
in individual stalls 63. Thus, each calf receives more milk
from one container 34 only. Thus, the likelihood of disease
being transmitted from one calf to the other calves is sub-
stantially less than when the calves are all fed from a single
source.
