Abstract 1,077,287. Livestock feeding apparatus. BIG DUTCHMAN Inc. Nov. 2, 1965 [Jan. 18, 1965], No. 46384/65. Heading A1M. A reedstuff distribution system in which an endless conveyer 20 passes through the bottom of a supply hopper 12 and throughout the length of a trough to move feed through the trough and return excess feed to the hopper, has at the return feed inlet of the hopper a rotary device 28 comprising a cylindrical element 30 which overlies the conveyer and carries radially extending projections 40 which engage the conveyer to rotate the device 28 and lift feedstuff compacted by the element 30 into the hopper, a shield 44 preventing feed in the hopper from passing back over element 30 into the trough. The projections 40 comprise the teeth of a sprocket wheel 38 attached to element 30 which also has at each end a circular plate 32, 34. A blade 50 is provided to dislodge compacted feed from the device 28.
APPARATUS FOR RETURNING FEED BACK INTO THE INLET OF A BULK FEED HOPPER FROM A TROUGH IN WHICH A CONVEYOR MEMBER TRAVELS TO TRANSFER FEED FROM THE HOPPER THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE TROUGH, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A CYLINDRICAL COMPACTING ELEMENT; MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID ELEMENT WITHIN SAID HOPPER AT ITS SAID INLET; SAID MEANS MOUNTING SAID ELEMENT FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS AT A PREDETERMINED HEIGHT ABOVE SAID CONVEYOR MEMBER; MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE SURFACE OF SAID COMPACTING ELEMENT FOR ENGAGING SAID TRAVELING CONVEYOR MEMBER AND DRIVING SAID ELEMENT IN A ROTARY MANNER; SAID ELEMENT ROLLING AGAINST AND COMPACTING FEED ABOVE SAID PREDETERMINED HEIGHT WHICH IS BEING RETURNED TO SAID HOPPER IN SAID TROUGH; SAID EXTENDING MEANS MOVING THE COMPACTED FEED UPWARD INTO SAID HOPPER AS IT ROTATES; AND MEANS EFFECTIVELY SHIELDING THE UPPER AND REAR PORTIONS OF SAID COMPACTING ELEMENT AND EXTENDING MEANS TO PREVENT FEED IN THE HOPPER FROM RETURNING TO THE SAID TROUGH UPSTREAM OF SAID HOPPER INLET.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
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APPARATUS FOR RETURNING FEED BACK INTO THE INLET OF A BULK FEED HOPPER FROM A TROUGH IN WHICH A CONVEYOR MEMBER TRAVELS TO TRANSFER FEED FROM THE HOPPER THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE TROUGH, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A CYLINDRICAL COMPACTING ELEMENT; MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID ELEMENT WITHIN SAID HOPPER AT ITS SAID INLET; SAID MEANS MOUNTING SAID ELEMENT FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS AT A PREDETERMINED HEIGHT ABOVE SAID CONVEYOR MEMBER; MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE SURFACE OF SAID COMPACTING ELEMENT FOR ENGAGING SAID TRAVELING CONVEYOR MEMBER AND DRIVING SAID ELEMENT IN A ROTARY MANNER; SAID ELEMENT ROLLING AGAINST AND COMPACTING FEED ABOVE SAID PREDETERMINED HEIGHT WHICH IS BEING RETURNED TO SAID HOPPER IN SAID TROUGH; SAID EXTENDING MEANS MOVING THE COMPACTED FEED UPWARD INTO SAID HOPPER AS IT ROTATES; AND MEANS EFFECTIVELY SHIELDING THE UPPER AND REAR PORTIONS OF SAID COMPACTING ELEMENT AND EXTENDING MEANS TO PREVENT FEED IN THE HOPPER FROM RETURNING TO THE SAID TROUGH UPSTREAM OF SAID HOPPER INLET.