EP0105571B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable feeder with brood gate
Assignee: CTB Inc
•
Filing: 1983-03-11
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Granted: 1989-06-14
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Expires: 2003-03-11
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray E. Swartzendruber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:18
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K39/00; A01K39/01; A01K39/012; A01K39/0125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A feeder (10) for poultry (P) and the like adapted to receive feed from a conveyor (14) and to present the feed, said feeder including pan means (21) for retaining and presenting delivered feed, drop tube means (31) adapted to extend from the conveyor (14) to a distal end (32) above the pan means (21) said distal end (32) and said pan means (21) being relatively displaceable to define a feed gate (G-1) through which feed can pass to an innerpan means area (23), the feeder being characterized by at least one brood gate opening (40) being defined in the drop tube means (31) above the distal end (32), and means (50) for alternatively masking and exposing the brood gate opening (40) so as to permit feed flow, when. the brood gate opening (40) is exposed, from the conveyor (14) through an upper interior portion of the drop tube means (31), thence out through the brood gate opening (40), and thence down the outside of the drop tube means (31) to an outer pan means area (24) for consumption by relatively immature poultry, and to alternatively permit feed flow, when the brood gate opening (40) is masked, from the conveyor (14) through upper and thence lower interior portions of the drop tube means (31) and past the drop tube means distal end (32), the distal end (32) and pan means (21) together defining said feed gate (G-1) through which feed can pass to said inner pan means area (23) for consumption by relatively mature poultry.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A feeder (10) for poultry (P) and the like adapted to receive feed from a conveyor (14) and to present the feed, said feeder including pan means (21) for retaining and presenting delivered feed, drop tube means (31) adapted to extend from the conveyor (14) to a distal end (32) above the pan means (21) said distal end (32) and said pan means (21) being relatively displaceable to define a feed gate (G-1) through which feed can pass to an innerpan means area (23), the feeder being characterized by at least one brood gate opening (40) being defined in the drop tube means (31) above the distal end (32), and means (50) for alternatively masking and exposing the brood gate opening (40) so as to permit feed flow, when. the brood gate opening (40) is exposed, from the conveyor (14) through an upper interior portion of the drop tube means (31), thence out through the brood gate opening (40), and thence down the outside of the drop tube means (31) to an outer pan means area (24) for consumption by relatively immature poultry, and to alternatively permit feed flow, when the brood gate opening (40) is masked, from the conveyor (14) through upper and thence lower interior portions of the drop tube means (31) and past the drop tube means distal end (32), the distal end (32) and pan means (21) together defining said feed gate (G-1) through which feed can pass to said inner pan means area (23) for consumption by relatively mature poultry.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A feeder according to claim 1 characterized in that said means for alternately masking and exposing said brood gate opening (40) is formed by a collar assembly (50) movably surrounding said drop tube means (31).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
A feeder according to claim 2 characterized in that the collar assembly (50) for alternately masking and exposing the brood gate opening (40) in the drop tube means (31) is directly coupled to the pan means (21) permitting the drop tube means (31) to move with limited axial motion therethrough so as to cause a simultaneous exposition of said opening (40) with a closing of said feed gate (G-1) or a masking of said opening (40) with a freeing of said gate (G-1)
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
A feeder according to claim 2 or 3 characterized in that the collar means (50) comprise screw cam means having a first screw cam element (51) affixed to said collar means (50), and a second screw cam element (52) cooperable with said drop tube means (31), whereby relative motion of the first and second screw cam elements (51, 52) causes adjustment in the size of said first feed gate (G-1), and consequent adjustment of the feed flow through the first feed gate (G-1).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A feeder according to claim 4 characterized by detent means (59, 69) interposed between said first and said second screw cam elements (51, 52) for securing the screw cam elements (51, 52) in any one of a discrete number of pre-selected positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
A feeder according to anyone of the preceding claims characterized by skirt means (33) extending downwardly and outwardly from said drop tube means (31) to a second distal end (34) to define, with the pan means (21), a second feed gate (G-2) downstream of the first feed gate (G-1) through which feed can pass into the pan means (21) for consumption by poultry (P).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A feeder for poultry according to claim 6 characterized in that the skirt means (33) also define a feed-flow-directing shield to direct feed flow from the brood gate opening (40) to an outer portion of the pan means (24) for consumption by relatively immature poultry.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A feeder according to claim 3, characterized in that said drop tube means (31) and skirt means (33) are of such vertical extent that, when the drop tube means (31) is moved relative to the collar means (50) so as to expose the brood gate opening (40), the drop tube means distal end (32) and/or skirt means distal end (34) substantially engages the pan means (21), thereby inhibiting feed flow into the inner portion (23) of the pan means (21).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A feeder according to claim 3, characterized by grill means (60) interconnecting the collar means (50) and pan means (21) so as to couple the collar means (50) at a predetermined location above the pan means (21).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A feeder according to claim 9, characterized in that said grill means (60) is constituted by a plurality of spokes (62, 64, 66) extending outwardly from the collar means (50), and grill rim means (68) interconnecting the spokes (62, 64, 66) at their outer ends and adapted to continuously engage a rim (26) of the pan means (21).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A feeder according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said drop tube means (31) comprises shoulder means (37) adapted to engage said collar means (50), whereby said grill means (60) and said pan means (21) can be dependingly supported from said drop tube means (31).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A feeder according to claim 11, characterized in that said pan means (21) comprises temporary, supplemental attachment means (72) for attaching said pan means (21) to said grill rim means (68) at but a single point, whereby to permit said pan means (21) to be pivoted away from said grill means (68) for feeder cleaning.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A feeder according to any of claims 10-12 characterized in that said grill rim means is provided with inwardly extending anti-rake extension means (70).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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