Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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48530-2
FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD
This invention relates to a feeding apparatus and
method for livestock, and more particularly, relates to a
fish feeding apparatus and method that uses a pressurized
air system to control broadcasting of predetermined
amounts of fish feed pellets at regular intervals.
- There are numerous examples of automatic feeding
apparatus that have been-developed for unattended feeding
of livestock such as poultry, cattle or fish. Examples
of previous feeding equipment is disclosed in the
following Patents:
Swedish Patent 309,338
United States Patent 3,528,588 to Moore
United States Patent 4,372,252 to Lowry, Jr.
United States Patent 4,984,536 to Powell et al.
United States Patent 5,076,215 to Yang; and
United States Patent 5,150,666 to Momont et al.
These prior art feeders generally rely on an
electric fan or blower which is operating continuously to
discharge feed from an essentially horizontal discharge
tube over a feeding area. A separate computer control or
electrical timer system is used to time and co-ordinate
delivery of feed into the discharge tube for immediate
dispersal by the wind force of the fan or blower.
In the marine environment of a fish farm, feeders
that rely on electrical power for their operation are at
a disadvantage. Fish farms generally comprise a series
of floating pens housing fish that are connected by a
walkway for workers to access each of the pens. Each pen
is provided with its own feeding apparatus and safety
considerations make it dangerous to string 120 volt
electrical wires to each feeding apparatus in the wet,
corrosive saltwater environment. Many fish farms rely on
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a 12 volt battery system to operate feeding apparatus but
such an arrangement is often unreliable.
Prior art feeders that use a source of compressed
air to discharge feed are also known. Systems employing
5 such feeders generally use an airline from a central ~-
compressor to distribute compressed air to each feeder.
These feeders still rely on a separate control system,
either pneumatic or electrical, for co-ordinating the
time of food distribution and the quantity of food
distribution.
The present invention provides a feeding apparatus
that addresses the problems of the prior art.
The pre~ent invention provides a feeding apparatus
for delivering feed at timed intervals comprising:
bin means for storing feed having an outlet;
a discharge conduit in communication with the outlet
for storing a pre-determined amount of feed;
expulsion means in communication with the discharge
conduit for discharging feed from the conduit at timed
intervals; and
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tim;ng means for controlling the interval between
successive discharges of the feed, the time between
discharges being used to deliver feed to the discharge
conduit through the bin outlet.
The pre~ent invention also provides a method of
delivering feed at timed intervals to livestock
comprising the steps of~
1) storing feed in a bin;
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2) delivering feed continuously from the bin to a
diæcharge conduit for storing a pre-determined amount of
feed;
3) di~charging the feed stored in the di~charge conduit
for dispersal to livestock at timed intervals sufficient
for the pre-determined amount of feed to be delivered to
the discharge conduit between discharges.
The apparatus and method of the present invention
delivers pre-measured batches of feed at regular
intervals. The discharge and timing operations of the
apparatus are integrated in a single system thereby
avoiding the dual timing and power systems of the prior
art.
The apparatus of the present invention can also
incorporate an automatic shutoff system for stopping
operation of the feeding apparatus after a pre-determined
amount of feed has been delivered.
The apparatus of the present invention provides a
compact, sturdy and reliable feeding apparatus that
provides unattended feeding of livestock pre-selected
quantities of feed at pre-selected intervals.
Aspects of the present invention are illustrated,
merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Figure 1 i~ a rear elevation view of a preferred
embodiment of the feeding apparatus of the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the feeding
apparatus;
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Figure 3 i9 a detail section view of the discharge
conduit including a movable receptacle; ~ :
Figure 4 is a detail section view of an alternative
movable receptacle; ~ :
Figure 5 is a detail section view of the timing -:-
piston and chamber;
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Figure 6 is a detail view of the scale system for
automatically stopping operation of the feeding apparatus
after a pre-determined amount of feed has been delivered;
Figure 7 is a section view through the scale system
taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6;
Figure 8 i8 an exploded view of a mounting bracket
for connecting the feed bin to a support framework;
Figure 9 is a plan view of a typical fish farm
layout using the feeding apparatus of the present
invention;
Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the control
system for the feeding apparatus of the present invention
showing the interrelationship of the scale system, the
compressed air supply system and the air supply flow
meter.
Figure 11 is an elevation view of an alternative
embodiment of the feeding apparatu~ that u0es a removable
feed storage bln;
Figure 12 is a side elevation view of a removable
bin showing hinged flaps in the open position; and
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Figure 13 i8 a detail view of a removable bin with
broken away section to show hinged flaps in the closed
position.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there i8 ~hown a
preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus 2 of the
present invention for delivering feed at timed intervals.
The apparatu~ includes bin means in the form of bin 4 for
storing feed to be distributed. Feed is preferably in
pellet form. Bin 4 has a lower outlet 6 in communication
with a discharge conduit 8 for storing a pre-determined
amount of feed. Expulsion means in the form of
eompressed air reservoir 10 communieates with diseharge
conduit 8 for discharging feed from the conduit at timed
intervals.
Bin 4 preferably comprises an aluminium enclosure
having a hinged eover 5 for access to the bin interior,
side walls 7 and a funnel-shaped base 9 to direct feed to
diseharge eonduit 8 via bin outlet 6. A rigid tubular
support frame 11 supports bin 4 and attaehed diseharge
eonduit 8 above the ground 13. Bin 4 iB attaehed to
support frame 11 via mounting bracket~ 15.
As best shown in Figure 3 and 4, di~charge conduit 8
eomprises a substantially eylindrieal tube having a lower
closed end 12 and an upper open end 14. The tube is
conneeted to outlet 6 of bin 4 at an angle with respect
to the horizontal to define a reservoir for receiving
feed from bin 4. Bin outlet 6 communicates with
diseharge eonduit 8 at a point intermediate the ends of
the eonduit and the compressed alr reservoir 10
eommunieates with the conduit ad~acent closed end 12
through passage 16. Feed 18 within bin 4 is free to move
by gravity through outlet 6 for temporary storage within
diseharge eonduit 8.
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The feed stored in conduit 8 represents the amount
of feed that will be discharged by the feeding apparatus
at each interval. Discharge conduit 8 is provided with a
movable insert 20 that permits the amount of feed that
the discharge conduit can hold to be adjusted. Movable
insert 20 comprises a cylinder section that is open
toward inlet 6 and upper open end 14 of the conduit.
There i9 a stop surface 22 adjacent the lower end of the
discharge conduit to prevent passage of feed 18. In
Figure 3, stop surface 22 comprises at least one
perforated surface. As illustrated in Figure 4, stop
surface 22 can also be formed with a one way valve.
Slot 23 is formed in the underside of conduit 8 to
accommodate threaded shaft 25 extending downwardly from
insert 20. A wing nut 26 is tightenable onto shaft 25
protruding from slot 23 to permit positioning of the
insert within conduit 8 to vary the amount of feed
storable in the conduit. As shown in Figure 3, feed
pellets 18 fill conduit 8 by gravity to an extent lim;ted
by the position of insert 20 and the flow of pellets
stops automatically once the conduit is filled to the
pre-selected amount. In prototype testing, insert 20
could be positioned to store a maximum of 4-5 pounds of
feed for dispersal at one time.
At timed intervals, compressed air is released from
reservoir 10 to expel the feed stored in conduit 8. The
compressed air travels through the perforated surface or
the one way valve of stop surface 22 to blow the stored
feed out of conduit 8 through open end 14. Dispersing
means in the form of angled plate 28 are provided at open
end 14 for creating an even dispersal pattern of
discharged feed pellets. When compressed air is
discharged through conduit 8 any excess air over that
necessary to expel the feed in the conduit will tend
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bubble upwardly through outlet 6 and feed pellets 18 in
bin 4 to create an automatic ~afety valve.
Compressed air reservoir 10 ~erves as a source of
compressed air to expel feed from conduit 8 and also
plays a role in establishing the time interval between
successive discharges of feed pellet~ 18. The time
between discharges is used to deliver feed to the
discharge conduit through the bin outlet 6. As best
shown in Figures 1 and 5, reservoir 10 iB mounted to
valve unit 29 which in turn is mounted below bin 4 by
bracket 30. Reservoir 10 and valve unit 29 together act
as the timing means for controlling the interval between
feed discharges. Reservoir 10 collects and stores air
under pressure supplied by remote compressor 34 (Figure
9) via gas line 32. Vslve unit 29 controls the flow of
compreased air between reservoir 10 and discharge conduit
8. Valve unit 29 is shown in section in Figure 5 and is
intended to ~tore gas under pressure in reservoir 10
until a pre-determined pressure is reached. The time it
takes for the pre-determined pressure to be reached
establishes the time interval between feed discharges.
Once the pre-determined pressure is reached, valve unit
29 releases the pressurized air to discharge conduit 8.
Valve unit 29 comprises a sealed chamber 35
communicating reservoir 10 with the discharge conduit 8
and a pi~ton 36 movable within the chamber between a
sealed position, shown in solid lines in Figure 5, in
which the piston seals the reservoir and an open
position, ~hown in dashed lines, in which the piston is
dl~plaoed within tho ahamber to permit gas under pressure
to enter the discharqe conduit from the reservoir.
Discharged conduit is connected to the valve unit via
passage 16. Adjustable biasing means in the form of
spring 37 are provided for biasing piston 36 toward the
sealed position against the force of the pressurized gas
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in reservoir 10. Spring 37 is compressed between the end
of chamber 35 and piston 36. The compression of spring
37 is adjustable, via threaded screw 38 extending from
the end of chamber 35, to select a pre-determined
pressure at which piston 36 will move from the sealed
position to the open position. If compressed air is fed
to re~ervoir 10 at a fixed rate, adjusting the
compression of spring 37 permits adjustment of the time
between feed discharges. In addition, adjusting the
compression of spring 37 permits adjustment of the
distance the feed pellets are discharged. In general,
the greater the release pressure within reservoir 10 as
set by valve unit 29, the greater the distance the feed
pellets will be thrown. The dimensions of the feed
spread pattern also depend on the the pellet size, the
foed type and the amount of feed per discharge.
Preferably, piston 36 and chamber 35 are shaped with
- a tapered end adjacent reservoir 10. This ensures that
piston 36 retreats rapidly from the sealed position to
the open position when the pre-determined pressure is
reached in re~ervoir 10 for a smooth and consistent flow
of compressed air through discharge conduit 8.
Figure 9 illustrates a typical layout for a fish
farm using the feeding apparatus of the present
invention. A series of fish pens 40 are formed by
underwater nets suspended beneath a system of walkways
42. A feeding apparatus 2 is positioned beside each fish
pen 40 along a central aisle. Alternative feeder
location~ are shown at 43 in dashed lines. A sound
ln~ulated compres~or room 45 i~ remotely located on a
barge 46. A ga~/propane driven air compressor 34
provides air under pressure to gas line 32 via a surge
tank 47. A secondary surge tank 48 is located at the end
of gas line 32. Each feeding apparatus 2 is connected to
gas line 32. The fish pen in the lower right hand corner
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of Figure 9 shows a typical spread pattern 50 for feed
pellets that have been expelled from discharge conduit 8.
Figures 6-8 illustrate means for automatically
stopping operation of the feeding apparatus after a pre-
determined amount of feed has been delivered that can beused with the feeding apparatus of the present invention.
As best shown in Figure 6, the means for automatically
stopping operation of the feeding apparatus comprises a
scale system 55 associated with support framework 11 for
monitoring the weight of bin 4 and a control switch 56
for shutting off the flow of compressed air to the
feeding apparatus. Control switch 56 is operated by
elongate scale member 57 of the scale system. Scale
member 57 is rigidly attached to an end of flexion shaft
58. Shaft 58 is lo¢ated by mutually perpendicular arms
60 and 62 extending from support framework 11. The
weight of bin 4 is transmitted to one side of flexion
shaft 58 by arm 59 extending from the rear side wall of
bin 4. A bolt 63 extends horizontally through arm 60,
shaft 58 and arm 59 to secure the various parts together.
A bolt 64 extends vertically through arm 62 and shaft 58
to secure the two parts together.
Mass 65 is movable along elongate scale member 57.
Therefore, the weight of bin 4 and mass 65 are supported
on opposite sides of flexion shaft 58 such that the
weight of bin 4 exerts a torque in a clockwise direction
about the flexion shaft as viewed in Figure 6. Mass 65
exerts an opposite counterclockwise torgue about the
flexion shaft. Movement of mass 65 along scale member 57
to a eet poeition eetabliehee a torque about the flexion
shaft. Initially, bin 4 ie suffiaiently heavy to
overcome the torque of mass 65 and exert a clockwise
torque on shaft 58 causing scale member 57 to move
upwardly to toggle switch 56 into a position that
delivers compressed air to the feeding apparatus. A8
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feed is discharged during normal operation bin 4 will get
lighter. When bin 4 reaches a weight that is
insufficient to offset the torque of mass 65, the scale
member 57 will flex about the flexion shaft in the
direction of the counterclockwise torgue exerted by the
mass to cause the elongate scale member to engage and
toggle switch 56 into a position that shuts off
compressed air.
Scale member 57 can be calibrated with markings that ;
indicate various amounts of feed. ~y moving mass 65 to a
balance position to establish a starting weight and then
moving the mass to a mark indicating a lower stop weight,
an operator can set the feeding apparatus of the present
invention to ~hut off automatically once an amount of
feed equal to the difference between the start and end
weights ha~ been delivered.
As best shown in Figure 8, bin 4 can be partially
supported by flexible mounting brackets 69 extending
between the bin and support framework 11. As long as
brackets 69 are sufficiently flexible to permit movement
of bin 4 about flexion shaft 58 and scale member 57 has
been calibrated appropriately to account for the bin
weight ~upported by the brackets, the automatic shut off
~y~tem of the pre~ent invention will function. In
prototype te~ting, the automatic shutoff system was
capable of delivering feed quantities between 5-200 kg.
Figure 10 i~ a schematic diagram indicating the
operation of the automatic ~hutoff ~y~tem. Scale ~ystem
55 compare~ the opposite torque~ exerted by bin 4 and
mas~ 65 about flexion ~haft 58. Compres~ed air fed
through line 32 by compressor 34 is cut off at switch 56
when the torque exerted by mass 65 overcomes the torque
exerted by the weight of bin 4.
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A flow meter 67 and valve 68 are provided in line 32
to control the flow of compres~ed air to a feeding
apparatu~ ~ufficient to accommodate a minimum de~ired
time interval between di~charges of feed. Fine
adjustment of the time interval can be made at valve unit
29 using spring adjustment screw 38 (Figure 5). Flow
meter 67 can be calibrated in terms of minimum time
intervals between di6charges - the greater the flow of
compressed air, the smaller the time interval possible
between successive discharges of feed. Valve 68 can also
be used to adjust the time between feed discharges when
i8 necessary to adjust the distance of feed spread by
manipulating valve unit 29.
Figures 11-13 illustrate an alternative embodiment
of the present invention that employs a removable bin
unlt 70. Bin unit 70 can be filled with feed pellets at
a remote location and transported to the feeding
apparatus. In order to accommodate bin unit 70, the
feeding apparatus of the previous embodiment is modified
to provide a funnel-shaped base 9 and a backing plate 72
adapted to receive bin unit 70. Releasable attachme~t
means in the form of hooks 73, for example, are used to
lock bin unit 70 to base 9.
Removable bin unit 70 is formed with triangular
hinged flaps 75 ~Figure 12) that permit the base of the
bin unit to be opened to communicate the bin contents
with base 9 when the bin is in place on the base. In the
illustrated embodiment, the four triangular flaps are
plvotable between a closed overlapping position to seal
bln 70 (Figure 13) and an open position to release the
contents of the bin. Locking means in the form of chain
76 extending between the flaps and a brace member 77 can
be used to hold the flaps in the closed position.
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Although the present invention has been described in
some detail by way of example for purposes of clarity and
understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes
and modifications may be practised within the scope of
the appended claims.
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