AU606507B2 - Poultry and like feeder - Google Patents

Description

P/00/Oi1 PATENTS ACT 1952-1973 Form COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Class: Int. CI: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: This dcumen cntis the mendments m,1de und-r ,Section 49 and is correct for Printing., TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: ii PAUL FREDERICK MORTON of 15 Landscapie Avenue, 3936, Australia.

BERYL JOAN Balnarring,

MORTON,

Victoria Address of Applicerit: 1 Actual Inventor: Address for Serv PAUL FREDERICK~

MORTON

ice:. PATENT &TAT~RAi NY JNE, 3004, AUSTRALIA Mi007278 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: POULTRY AND LIKE FEEDER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to 1 'Note: The description is to be typed in double spacing, pica type face, in an area not exceedinp' 250 mm in depth and 160 mm in width, on tough white paper of good quality and it is to be insenhd inside this form.

11 710O/76-L C.JTuo4:oms. Cammonwcm~ih Government Printer. Canberra

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THIS INVENTION relates to poultry feeding systems, and more particularly relates to feeder pans for poultry and the like.

Automated feeding systems for poultry have proved highly successful in raising poultry and turkeys from young chicks to adult birds. These systems can supply feed mixtures to a large poultry flock with minimum operator effort. Both the amounts of feed delivered and the proportions of feed ingredients can be regulated and this regulation permits the flock to be inrxpensively raised from chicks to mature, commercially valuable broilers, layers, and turkeys in a relatively short time.

Among the important parts of such automated feeding systems are the feeder units or feeder pans. These units receive feed flow from a feed conveyor, on which they are mounted or suspended from, at spaced-apart intervals along the conveyor tube, and are disposed on or near the poultry house floor to afford the birds ready access to the feed.

These prior known feeding systems and feeder pans have been relatively successful but in use have disadvantages. Firstly, it has been necessary, due to the manner in which the feeder pans are suspended from the feed supply tube or conduit, to engage the feeder pans on the supply tube from one end thereof and locate them generally through friction locking means, in spaced-apart locations along the supply tube in alignment with feed outlet apertures in the supply tube. In order to replace a feeder pan located between the ends of the supply tube, it has been necessary to firstly remove the feeder pans on one side of the pan to be replaced. Furthermore, the previously known systems require the introduction of supplementary feed pans in the confined brooding area, and these additional pans have to be removed along the supply tube when normal feeding takes place, in order that the requisite space between feeder pans is provided.

Furthermore, the feeder pans of the prior art, 2 4 whilst being located to some extent against axial movement along the supply tube, can swing or tilt around the supply tube resulting in spillage of the feed from the pans, and also limit access to the full circumference of the pans.

Another disadvantage of the prior art feeder pans is that the pan bases are sprung over their supporting rims and do not allow for ease of removal or disengagement for cleaning purposes.

Yet another disadvantage of the prior art feeder pans is that elaborate moulded locking parts are incorporated in their design to prevent rotation of a pan relative to its feed column at particular feed settings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a poultry feeding system and in particular a feeder pan structure which overcomes the above-stated disadvantages of the prior art and enables substantial closure of the feed supply to individual pans at will, ease of location and removal of the feeder pan structure on the feed supply tube, obviates tilting or swinging of the feeder pans around the supply tube, and enables disengagement of a pan base from its supporting rim in a simple easy manner for cleaning purposes, or 2 for replacement of the pan base.

When a confined brooding area is to be used in the poultry sheds, the feed supply tube is provided with additional feed apertures normally closed by clamping sleeves which can be released and slid along the feed supply tube, and additional feeder pans Of the invention can be quickly and easily located over said additional apertures.

According to one broad form of the invention there is provided a feeder pan assembly for poultry and the like comprising a pan base, a feeder grillwork assembly hingedly attached to and above the pan base, a feeder drop tube within said grillwork assembly and adapted to be removably attached to a feed supply tube and vertically movable skirt means adjustably 3 located on said grillwork assembly and surrounding said feeder drop tube for adjustment relative to the outlet end of said drop tube so as to control the level of feed in said pan base.

The removable attachment of the drop tube to the feed supply tube is preferably achieved by the provisions of a cap member detachably engageable with the inlet end of the drop tube so as to firmly locate the feeder pan on the feed supply tube against axial and radial movement thereon.

In order that the above and other features of the invention and its manner of performance may be more easily understood, reference will now be made to an embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a general perspective view of the feeder pans located on a feed supply tube; Figure 2 is a plan view from above of a feeder pan of the embodiment; Figure 3 is a part-sectional side elevation of a feeder pan of the embodiment located on a feed supply tube; Figure 4 is a part-sectional view of a pan base rr fastener clip taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows; Figure 5 is an exploded view of the fastener rrr clip of Figure 4; Figures 6 and 7 are part-sectional views of the pan base hinge taken along the lines 6-6 and 7-7 of Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows; Figure 8 is a perspective view of part of the pan base-hinge of Figures 6 and 7; Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 3 in the direction of the arrows; and Figure 10 is a part-sectional perspective view of part of the grillwork assembly of the feeder pan illustrating the catch means of Figures 2, 3 and 9.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1, illustrates, -4 iii i; in general form a section of a feed supply tube a feed storage bin 6, and feeder pans 7 located on the supply tube 5 which preferably incorporates a feed auger.

The feeder pans, as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 consist of a pan base 8 having a central cone part 9 forming with side wall 10, a circular trough 11. Side walls 10 terminates at its upper end in an upstanding rim 12.

Detachably and hingedly secured to rim 12 is a radial spoke feeder-grill assembly 13 comprising a plurality of spaced-apart spoke members 14 extending upwardly and inwardly from a rim portion 15, which t I is engageable over rim 12 of pan base 8, and attached j :at their upper and inner ends to a collar member 16.

A feeder drop tube 17 extends through and engages with collar member 16 which abuts against shoulder 18 on drop tube 17.

The upper end of drop tube 17 is provided with two diametrically opposed semi-circular cut-out portions 23 for locating and seating the feed supply tube A removable and lockable cap 27 having semi-circular cut-out portions 28 adapted to mate with cut-out portions 23 is adapted to engage over feed supply tube 25 The inner upper surface of cap 27 is provided with a spigot 35 for engagement in a locating aperture 36 in feed supply tube 5. Feed supply tube 5 is also provided with an aperture 37 diametrically opposite aperture 36 to allow feed to pass into drop tube 17.

30 To engage cap 27 with drop tube 17, so as to positively locate drop tube 17 on feed supply tube against axial and radial movement, drop tube 17 is engaged under feed supply tube 5 and cap 27 is firmly secured to drop tube 17 by screws 29. In this secured position of the feeder pan assembly, feed supply tube 5 engages against the top edge of collar member 16 and holds the collar member in abutment with shoulder 18 of drop tube 17.

A pair of diametrically opposed spoke members L2

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c r 14 of feeder grill assembly 13 are formed at their upper ends with a U-shaped part 19 secured to collar member 16 at the outer ends of the legs of the part.

Protruding inwardly from one leg of part 19 is a hookshaped member 22. The hook member 22 of one part 19 extends from an opposite leg to the hook member of the other part 19 so that circumferentially both hook parts extend in the same direction.

A U-shaped hanger member 30 is engageable through parts 19 and is provided at the outer ends of the legs thereof with hook parts 31 having V-shaped tongues 32 which can be sprung into and secured behind apertures 33 in a truncated skirt member 34 surrounding drop tube 17. Around the lower peripheral rim of member 34 there are provided circumferentially spaced fingers 52 for a purpose as hereinafter described.

The legs of hanger member 30 areprovided with rectangular apertures 53 and shoulder parts 54. Apertures 53 are adapted to engage on hook members 22 in the feeder grill assembly 13 so as to hold the skirt member 34 at a predetermined height above the bottom of pan base 8. Whilst only one pair of apertures 53 have been illustrated in this embodiment, further pairs of apertures 53 may be provided on the hanger legs to allow for finer adjustment of the height of the skirt member 34 above the pan base.

The hanger 30 is engaged on and disengaged from the hooks 22 by a twisting or turning action and accidental displacement of the hanger by feeding poultry pushing against skirt 34 is safeguarded by having the hooks projecting in the opposite sense. Shoulder parts 54 prevent the hanger from being pulled up too far and bring the top rim of the skirt member 34 up against collar member 16 with the possible resultant damage to or dislodgement of the skirt 34 from hanger Referring to Figures 2, 4, 5, 6, '7 and 8 which show in detail the securement of pan base 8 to feeder grill assembly 13, pan base 8 is connected to assembly 13 by hinge means 38 and fastener clips 39.

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The hinge means 38 is constructed to allow the pan base 8 to be swung clear of grill assembly 13 on release of fastener clips 39, whilst also allowing for complete removal of pan base 8, if necessary.

Hinge means 38 comprises a pair of lugs 40 attached to rim 12 of pan base 8 and a tongue member 41 attached to rim 12 and extending outwardly between lugs Lugs 40 are provided with slots 42 extending partway therethrough. The hinge means component of feeder grill assembly 13 comprises a pair of lugs 43 attached to rim portion 15 and stiffening strap 55 extending between a number of spoke members 14 and having a hinge pin 44 secured therebetween and extending outwardly therefrom in the form of pivots 45. The central portion of hinge pin 44 seats on tongue 41 whilst pivots engage in slots 42, and insertion and removal of hinge pin 44 from lugs 40 can be achieved by applying pressure to the flexible extremity of tongue 41.

Fastener clips 39 comprise a down-turned hookshaped lug member 47 extending from rim 12 and the fastener component on feeder grill assembly 13 comprises i a plate member 48 on rim portion 15 having a pair of protrusions comprising head parts 50 and undercut portions 56. A finger engaging part 57 having a pair 2-9 of apertures 58 corresponding in shape to head parts and having tongue members 59 extending inwardly in the apertures from the upper and lower surfaces thereof is snap-fitted on member 48 with tongues 59 Cengaging in undercut portions 56 behind head parts 50 so as to hold finger engaging part 57 securely thereon. Finger part 57 also includes an elongated aperture. 60 having a locking rib 61 located on the lower inner surface thereof.

,o engage fastener clips 39 when rim portions 12 and 15 are in engagement, finger part 57 which has a degree of flexibility is pushed inwardly over lug member 47 so as to engage locking rib 61 behind lug member 47. By providing finger engaging part 57 as a separate removable part, parts 57 can be readily -7replaced when broken or damaged.

In use, the feeder pans 7 are located at the desired intervals along supply tube 5 in the manner as previously described and hanger member 30 is manipulated on drop tube 17 to provide the requisite clearance between skirt 34 and cone part 9 for the desired flow of feed from drop tube 17 into pan base 8 and the level of the feed in the pan base.

For small chicks the hanger 30 and skirt 34 is raised to its maximum spacing from pan base 8 to ensure a high level of feed in pan base 8, so that the chicks can see and have easy access to the feed.

As the chicks grow up and are able to reach into the pan base 8 the hanger 30 and skirt 34 is lowered ,lto decrease the outlet area between skirt 34 and cone Spart 9, and provide a lower level of feed in pan base 8. This obviates raking, tossing, and wasteful spilling of the feed by the older birds. In the lowermost position fingers 52 engage against circular trough 11 and this ensures that there will be feed at all times in the pan base.

As the birds approach:maturity, the feeder pans 7 can, if desired, be lifted above the floor of the poultry house to provide the best feeding height for r 5 the older birds, and again, to prevent feed waste.

The feeder pans 7 can be raised by winching up the supply tube Hanger members 30 can be individually manually i operated or may be interconnected by wire or lifting rod means operable from a remote location.

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3 When it is desired to clean the pan bases 8, the supply tube 5 is winched up well above the floor and the fastener clips 39 are disengaged to allow the pan bases to hang vertically for cleaning. If it is desired to remove and replace a pan base, hinge 38 can be disengaged by flexing tongue member 41 under pressure to allow pivots 45 to be removed from slots 42.

The components of the feeder pans 7 are formed 8 LA of a suitable plastics material which will provide the desired degree of rigidity whilst allowing flexing of various parts such as the hinge means and the fastener ;i clips.

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Claims (9)

1. A feeder pan assembly for poultry and the like comprising a pan base, a feeder grillwork assembly hingedly attached to and above the pan base, a feeder drop tube within said grillwork assembly and adapted to be removably attached to a horizontally extending feed supply tube and vertically movable skirt means adjustably located on said grillwork assembly and d surrounding said feeder drop tube for adjustment relative to the outlet end of said drop tube so as to control the level of feed in said pan base. j; 2. A feeder pan assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the drop tube is removably attached to the feed supply tube by a cap member detachably engageable with the inlet end of the drop tube so as to firmly locate the feeder pan assembly on the feed supply tube against axial and radial movement thereon.

3. A feeder pan assembly according to Claim 2 wherein the inner upper surface of the cap member is provided with a downwardly extending spigot adapted to engage in a locating aperture in the feed supply tube which is also provided with a feed outlet aperture diametrically opposite the locating aperture to allow feed to pass into the drop tube.

4. A feeder pan assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said feeder grillwork assembly comprises a plurality of spaced-apart spoke members extending upwardly and inwardly from a rim portion engageable over an upstanding rim of the pan base, said spoke members being attached at their upper and inner ends to a collar member engageable on said drop tube. A feeder pan assembly according to Claim 4 wherein said drop tube is provided with a circumferentially TO __F extending shoulder adjacent its upper end and said collar member is engaged on said shoulderand adapted to be held thereon by engagement with said supply tube.

6. A feeder pan assembly according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the vertically movable skirt means is supported by a U-shaped hanger member the legs of which are adjustably engageable with a pair of diametrically opposed spoke members.

7. A feeder pan assembly according to Claim 6 wherein said dialmetrically opposed spoke members are formed at their upper ends with a U-shaped part secured to said collar member at the outer ends of the legs of said U-shaped part and said hanger member legs extend through said U-shaped parts and are provided with one or more apertures engageable on hook members formed in opposed legs in said U-shaped parts so that circumferentially both hook parts extend in the same direction.

8. A feeder pan assembly according to Claim 7 wherein said hanger legs are provided with shoulders adjacent a their outer ends, said shoulders being engageable with the base part of said U-shaped parts on the said pair of diametrically opposed spoke members so as O to limit the upward movement of the skirt means and prevent dislodgement of the skirt means from said t hanger legs. occrdln ±o CIcn g

9. A feeder pan assemblyAwherein the skirt means is of truncated configuration and its outer lower edge is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers extending downwardly for engagement with the bottom of the pan base so as to allow passage of feed between the fingers in the lowermost position of the skirt means. 11 A feeder pan assembly according to any one of Claims 4 to 9 wherein the hinge attachment between the pan base and the grillwork assembly comprises a pair of spaced-apart lugs attached to the rim portion of the grillwork assembly and locating a hinge pin severed between and extending outwardly therefrom, said outwardly extending parts of the hinge pin being engageable by a slotted pair of lugs extending from the rim of the pan base, a tongue member capable of flexure extending from the pan base rim and engageable with the underside of the hinge pin between the lugs on the grillwork assembly rim.

11. A feeder pan assembly according to Claim 10 and including one or more fastener clip members located on the assembly in opposed relationship around the pan base from said hinge attachment, each said fastener clip member comprising a down- turned hook-shaped lug member extending from the rim of the pan base and snap fit engageable by an apertured tongue member secured to the rim of the grillwork assembly, said apertured portion of the tongue member including a locking rib engageable behind said hook-shaped lug member.

12. A feeder pan assembly for poultry substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany drawings. DATED this 17th day of October, 1990. SPAUL FREDERICK MORTON and BERYL JOAN MORTON. Il RI 8( IE N I i T, e i 1 Pi L