Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FORAGE DISTRIBUTOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a forage distributor for repetitive
delivering of
feeds to cattle or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cattle and other farm animals are generally confined in indoor or outdoor
stalls
positioned according to a specific layout depending substantially on the
available
space and the required accessibility. One usual layout is to have the animals
side-
by-side in rows separated by passages for feeding and cleaning purposes. At
feeding time, the farmer generally deposits individual rations of fodder on
the
ground or in mangers in front of each animal. This repetitive duty is tedious
and
time consuming, especially if there are numerous animals to feed.
To solve the above problem, feeding systems were invented for the automation
of
feed distribution. Among those feeding systems, some comprise an overhead rail
with a suspended device passing in front of each animal and which prepares and
delivers individual feed rations. Known in the art, there is for example U.S.
Patent
No. 5,069,165 (ROUSSEAU) which discloses a livestock feeder system that mixes
and prepares a feed mixture for livestock. The system has a main ensilage
compartment with a pair of rotary shredders extending one above the other for
cutting the ensilage and an endless chain conveyor at its bottom for conveying
the
ensilage toward a discharge conveyor screw. The system also has a separate
secondary compartment section forming a set of secondary compartments, with
each being provided with one or two conveyor screws to dispense a substance of
its compartment into the discharge screw. However, such system is costly,
bulky,
often too sophisticated for the needs of average farmers and is not well
adapted
for distributing forage.
Also known in the art, there is U.S. Patent No. 5,505,160 (PELLERIN) which
discloses a simpler, yet efficient, feed distributing apparatus. This
apparatus
allows for livestock to eat the fodder directly inside the apparatus and uses
gravity
to deliver the feed. Although this apparatus accomplishes the object for which
it
was designed for, it is somewhat difficult to achieve a constant and
continuous
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distribution of forage because it is dependent upon the feeding mood or rate
of
each animal. Therefore, the forage output debit may vary. Also, it is
difficult to
ascertain exactly what quantity of forage each animal has ingested.
There is therefore a need for a forage distributor that could be able to
provide a
more constant and continuous distribution of forage, while at the same time
would
have a relatively simple design as compared to the known feeder systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a forage distributor for
delivering of forage to livestock at a controlled rate, comprising:
a hopper for receiving forage, the hopper having at least one lateral
opening in a side wall of the hopper and adjacent to a bottom of the hopper
for
allowing the forage to exit therefrom;
at least one rotary mixer extending inside of the hopper for guiding the
forage towards the at least one lateral opening;
forage conveyor means for carrying the forage towards the at least one
lateral opening, the forage conveyor means being positioned below the at least
one rotary mixer and adjacent to the bottom of the hopper;
driving means operationally connected to the at least one rotary mixer and
the forage conveyor means for rotating the at least one rotary mixer and
moving
the forage conveyor means towards the at least one lateral opening;
control means for controlling power provided to the driving means to
regulate speeds of the at least one rotary mixer and the forage conveyor
means;
and
moving means operatively connected to the hopper for moving the hopper
along a path extending in front of the livestock.
The invention as well as its numerous advantages will be better understood by
reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments
made in reference to the appending drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a forage distributor according to a
preferred
embodiment or the present invention, with a side wall being removed to show
internal components thereof.
Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the forage distributor shown in Figure
1, with
certain gears being removed and showing an anti-clockwise rotation of the
gears.
Figure 3 is another front elevation view of the forage distributor shown in
Figure 1,
and showing a clockwise rotation of the gears.
Figure 4 is back elevation view of the forage distributor shown in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the forage distributor shown in Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a back perspective view of the forage distributor shown in Figure
1,
with a back wall being removed to show internal components thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Figures 1 to 6, there is shown a forage distributor 10 for
delivering of
forage to livestock at a controlled rate, according a preferred embodiment of
the
present invention. The forage distributor 10 has a hopper 12 for receiving
forage.
The hopper 12, as shown for example in Figure 2, has at least one lateral
opening
14 in a side wall of the hopper 12 and adjacent to a bottom of the hopper 12
for
allowing the forage to exit therefrom. The forage distributor 10 also has at
least
one rotary mixer 16 extending inside of the hopper 12 for guiding the forage
towards the at least one lateral opening. The forage distributor 10 also has a
forage conveyor mechanism, such as for example an endless chain conveyor or a
conveyor belt bridge 18, for carrying the forage towards the lateral opening
14.
The chain conveyor or conveyor belt bridge 18 may take the form of two spaced
chains with transverse bars. The forage conveyor is positioned below the
rotary
mixer 16 and adjacent to the bottom of the hopper 12. The forage distributor
10
also has a driving mechanism, which is operationally connected to the rotary
mixer 16 and the forage conveyor for rotating the rotary mixer 16 and moving
the
forage conveyor towards the lateral opening 14. The forage distributor also
has
control system for controlling power provided to the driving mechanism to
regulate
speeds of the rotary mixer 16 and the forage conveyor. The forage distributor
10
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also has a moving mechanism, which is operatively connected to the hopper 12
for moving the hopper along a path extending in front of the livestock.
The forage distributor 10 is preferably hung under an overhead electric rail
22 by
means of a carriage 24 and uses an electric motor 26 for automatically moving
the
forage distributor 10 along the path under which animals are fed with forage.
Typically, the forage distributor 10 can reach speeds of up to 50 ft/min and
the
speed can be automatically adjusted.
It should be noted that the forage distributor can also be put on a trailer
and pulled
by a tractor vehicle. Alternatively, it could have an internal traction motor
and
ground engaging wheels so as to be driven by a user. As will be apparent to
those
skilled in the art, many other ways of moving the forage distributor along the
path
may be used according to different needs to achieve the same result.
The hopper 12 preferably has an open top for easily loading the forage
therein.
The forage may have been previously mixed in another machine so as to achieve
an appropriate mix of feed substances that are distributed to the animal. The
hopper 12 has preferably four solid side walls forming a rectangle. Of course,
the
hopper 12 may take other shapes and forms, which would be readily apparent to
those skilled in the art. The lateral opening 14 is adjacent to the bottom of
the
hopper 12 and extends longitudinally on a side allowing livestock to eat the
forage
that falls through the opening 14 when the forage distributor 10 is
functioning.
Preferably, inside the hopper 12, there are several internal deflectors 36 for
diminishing the pressure weight of the forage on the mixers 16. The deflectors
36
also prevent the forage from falling down through any openings of the forage
distributor 10 when the mixers 16 and conveyor mechanism are not in operation
or standstill. The deflectors 36 are longitudinal plates positioned at an
angle with
respect to the inner side walls 28 of the hopper 12. The deflectors 36 have
roughly the same length as the hopper 12.
Preferably, the hopper 12 has two opposite lateral openings 14 for dumping
forage on two sides thus allowing distribution of the forage to livestock on
two
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opposite sides of the forage distributor 10. The hopper 12 may also have two
opposite lateral banging doors 30 positioned to cover the corresponding two
lateral openings 14. The banging doors 30 may have the same longitudinal
measurement as the hopper 12 so that the forage is dumped on the entire length
5 of the hopper 12. In operation, each banging door 30 is forced to open when
the
forage comes out through the opening 14. Also, the banging doors 30 prevent
the
animals from reaching the forage inside the hopper 12. In this way the
quantity of
forage distributed to each animal may be more easily dosed.
Preferably, the forage distributor 10 has two rotary mixers 16 extending
inside of
the hopper 12. Each rotary mixer 16 is vertically adjustable within a channel
32 in
the hopper 12. The mixers 16 are located adjacent to the opposite side walls
where the corresponding openings 14 are located. The mixers 16 are rotatably
mounted onto the other two opposite side walls 28. The axis of rotation of the
mixers 16 is parallel to the path of travel of the forage distributor 10. The
axis of
rotation of the conveyor mechanism is also parallel to the path of the travel
of the
forage distributor 10. Both the mixers 16 and conveyor mechanism rotate in the
same direction so that forage comes out from one lateral opening 14 at a time.
Therefore, the discharge of the forage is effected to either to the left or to
the right
of the forage distributor 10, depending on the direction of rotation of the
mixers
and conveyor mechanism.
Advantageously, the mixers 16 avoid the compaction of the forage by providing
an
adequate pressure on the forage and ensure that a constant output rate of
forage
distribution is achieved.
Preferably, referring to Figures 1 to 3, the driving mechanism of the forage
distributor 10 includes an electrical motor 20 connected to a gear box set 21
via a
chain drive belt 23, which is trained about several gears that are operatively
connected to the mixers 16 and conveyor mechanism or conveyor belt bridge 18.
In this way the rotational speed of the mixers 16 can be adjusted
independently of
the moving speed of the conveyor mechanism or belt bridge 18.
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Preferably, the chain drive belt 23 is trained about two conveyor gears 25
operatively connected to the conveyor belt bridge 18 and to two mixer gears 27
operatively connected the corresponding rotary mixers 16, and to a vertically
adjustable gear 29 that allows to further adjust relative rotation speed
between the
two mixers 16 and the conveyor belt bridge 18.
Preferably, the control system of the forage distributor 10 for controlling
the power
provided to the driving mechanism to regulate the speeds of the rotary mixers
16
and the forage conveyor includes a command box 34, which is mounted on the
side of the forage distributor 12. Of course, the command box 34 can also
control
the moving mechanism for adjusting the speed of the forage distributor 10
along
the path.
In use, the mixers 16 regulate the dumping debit by preventing compaction of
the
forage and also by controlling the debit thereof. The mixers 16 typically turn
on
themselves twice as fast as the conveyor mechanism or belt bridge 18.
Preferably, the conveyor bridge 18 runs from 0 to 45 ft/min, while the mixer
16
runs from 0 to 40 turns/min. Obviously, as those skilled in the art will
understand,
different speeds may be selected depending on particular needs. Power
requirements may change depending on the size of the hopper 12. Typically, the
power of the electrical motors range from 1 hp to 3hp.
For example, referring to figure 2, the drive belt 23 is rotated in an anti-
clockwise
direction as depicted by the arrow and the forage is forced to come out of the
left
side of the forage distributor 10, through the opening 14 as the banging door
30 is
forced to open. Referring to Figure 3, the drive belt 23 is rotated in a
clockwise
direction as shown by the arrow and this will force the forage to come out of
the
right side of the forage distributor 10 through the opening 14 as the banging
door
is forced to open.
The forage distributor of the present invention allows for the dumping debit
or rate
to be continuous from the beginning to the end of the distribution and can be
more
precisely controlled, which is very important for the distributor automation.
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Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in
detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be
understood
that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that
various
changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the
scope or spirit of the present invention.
