US3566843A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Poultry feeder pan for auger-type feeders
Assignee: US Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1968-04-16
•
Granted: 1971-03-02
•
Expires: 1988-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A poultry feeder pan and supply conveyor arrangement, of the type wherein the supply conveyor has an opening in its bottom through which feed is dropped into the feeder pan, wherein the feeder pan includes a baffle plate and a platelike feeler arm spaced from the latter and positioned parallel thereto, to thereby define a channel which confines the feed dropped into the feeder pan for better sensitivity and increased reliability of a switching means controlled by such feeler arm. Where the supply conveyor is an auger operating within a tubular housing, the structure of the invention includes an arbor shaft rotatably mounted within such housing, along the axis of the auger, and having a circular pluglike member mounted on the shaft immediately downstream of the aforementioned feed-drop opening in the tubular auger housing, to which the downstream end of the auger is secured and which provides an anchor therefor. This pluglike member positively impedes the passage of feed along the conveyor tube beyond the opening in the latter through which feed drops into the feeder pan, such that all feed is, in effect, blocked within the auger tube and thrust downward into the feeder pan. Further, a circular disclike bearing is secured to the arbor shaft immediately downstream of the aforementioned pluglike member to support the arbor shaft at such point and, at the same time, to positively block any feed from working its way downstream beyond that point. This bearing rotates upon the arbor shaft and against the inside of the auger housing, and it preferably has an outer or circumferential periphery of lubricous plastic or the like to reduce the frictional contact between it and the auger housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Van Huis
- 👤 Dee Dexter Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
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: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
The combination of a feeder pan means for poultry, livestock and the like and an auger-type feed conveyor which comprises: a vertically disposed laterally enclosed feed-drop member; feeddispenser means in feed flow communication with the bottom extremity of said drop member; an open-center helical-type auger conveyor means having a tubular housing extending diametrically across said drop member above said dispEnser means; said tubular housing having an opening therein located in vertical alignment with the interior of said feed-drop member, such that feed moved along said tubular housing by the auger therewithin will fall downward through said opening and into said drop member; and feed-blocking barrier means located within said tubular housing in proximity with the said opening therein, for obstructing the passage of feed along said housing to points beyond the barrier means, said barrier means including a pluglike member of generally circular cross section having means defining an opening spaced radially from the center thereof for removably receiving portions of said helical auger.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
The combination of a feeder pan means for poultry, livestock and the like and an auger-type feed conveyor which comprises: a vertically disposed laterally enclosed feed-drop member; feeddispenser means in feed flow communication with the bottom extremity of said drop member; an open-center helical-type auger conveyor means having a tubular housing extending diametrically across said drop member above said dispEnser means; said tubular housing having an opening therein located in vertical alignment with the interior of said feed-drop member, such that feed moved along said tubular housing by the auger therewithin will fall downward through said opening and into said drop member; and feed-blocking barrier means located within said tubular housing in proximity with the said opening therein, for obstructing the passage of feed along said housing to points beyond the barrier means, said barrier means including a pluglike member of generally circular cross section having means defining an opening spaced radially from the center thereof for removably receiving portions of said helical auger.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination recited in claim 1, including means for releasably attaching said pluglike member to said auger, such that said member is rotated within said housing by rotary movement of said auger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination recited in claim 2, wherein said conveyor means further includes an arbor shaft located within said auger housing and a bearing means journaling said shaft within such housing, said pluglike member being mounted upon said shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination recited in claim 3, wherein said auger ends at said pluglike member and such member is secured to said shaft to form an anchor for said auger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination recited in claim 3, wherein said barrier means further includes at least one circular disclike element mounted on said shaft and fitting within said housing, said element having a diameter closely approaching the inside diameter of said housing and acting both as a bearing for said shaft and as a barrier to prevent the passage of feed therebeyond.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination recited in claim 5, wherein said disclike element is secured onto said shaft for rotation within said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination recited in claim 6, wherein said element has peripheral portions of lubricous material for smooth sliding rotational contact with the interior of said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
The combination recited in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means further includes an arbor shaft located within said auger housing and a bearing means journaling said shaft within such housing, wherein said barrier means includes at least one circular disclike element mounted on said shaft and fitting within said housing, said element having a diameter closely approaching the inside diameter of said housing and acting both as a bearing for said shaft and as a barrier to prevent the passage of feed therebeyond, and said element having peripheral portions of lubricous material for smooth sliding rotational contact with the interior of said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
243 words
The combination of a feeder pan means for poultry, livestock and the like and an auger-type feed conveyor which comprises: a vertically disposed laterally enclosed feed-drop member; feed-dispenser means in feed flow communication with the bottom extremity of said drop member; an auger-type conveyor means having a tubular housing extending diametrically across said drop member above said dispenser means; said tubular housing having an opening therein located in vertical alignment with the interior of said feed-drop member, such that feed moved along said tubular housing by the auger therewithin will fall downward through said opening and into said drop member; feed blocking barrier means located within said tubular housing in proximity with the said opening therein, for obstructing the passage of feed along said housing to points beyond the barrier means; said conveyor means including an electric drive motor for said auger and said feed-drop member incorporating sensor means for deenergizing such motor when a predetermined amount of feed is present within said drop member; said sensor means including a paddlelike feeler arm means mounted for movement in response to rising levels of feed within said drop member and switching means actuable upon a predetermined extent of movement of said arm means; and said feed-drop member including internal baffle meAns extending downwardly of said auger housing opening to at least partially confine feed dropping downwardly through such opening into a stream, said feeler arm means being positioned along a side of such stream.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
243 words
The combination of a feeder pan means for poultry, livestock and the like and an auger-type feed conveyor which comprises: a vertically disposed laterally enclosed feed-drop member; feed-dispenser means in feed flow communication with the bottom extremity of said drop member; an auger-type conveyor means having a tubular housing extending diametrically across said drop member above said dispenser means; said tubular housing having an opening therein located in vertical alignment with the interior of said feed-drop member, such that feed moved along said tubular housing by the auger therewithin will fall downward through said opening and into said drop member; feed blocking barrier means located within said tubular housing in proximity with the said opening therein, for obstructing the passage of feed along said housing to points beyond the barrier means; said conveyor means including an electric drive motor for said auger and said feed-drop member incorporating sensor means for deenergizing such motor when a predetermined amount of feed is present within said drop member; said sensor means including a paddlelike feeler arm means mounted for movement in response to rising levels of feed within said drop member and switching means actuable upon a predetermined extent of movement of said arm means; and said feed-drop member including internal baffle meAns extending downwardly of said auger housing opening to at least partially confine feed dropping downwardly through such opening into a stream, said feeler arm means being positioned along a side of such stream.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination recited in claim 9, wherein said baffle means includes a flat baffle member positioned in a plane located at one side of said auger housing opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination recited in claim 10, wherein said feeler arm means is positioned generally parallel to said flat baffle member and is spaced laterally therefrom, said stream passing between said baffle and said feeler arm means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination recited in claim 9, wherein said barrier means includes a pluglike member of generally circular cross section, said member being attached to said auger and rotated within said housing by rotary movement of said auger.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination recited in claim 12, wherein said conveyor means further includes an arbor shaft located within said auger housing and a bearing means journaling said shaft within such housing, said pluglike member being mounted upon said shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination recited in claim 13, wherein said barrier means includes at least one circular disclike element mounted on said shaft and fitting within said housing, said element having a diameter closely approaching the inside diameter of said housing and acting both as a bearing for said shaft and as a barrier to prevent the passage of feed therebeyond.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination recited in claim 14, wherein said disclike element is secured onto said shaft for rotation within said housing, and wherein said element has peripheral portions of lubricous material for smooth sliding rotational contact with the interior of said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-01 | 1974-08-31 | 1975-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-01 | 1978-08-31 | 1979-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-01 | 1982-08-31 | 1983-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |