Cattle feeder

Claim 2

An animal feeder comprising in combination: a. a frame assembly including a plurality of vertical bars spaced to receive the head and neck portion of a feeding animal between adjacent bars; b. a plurality of wheels supporting said frame in an upright position and permitting movement of said frame; c. horizontal track means disposed along the top of said frame assembly; and d. an auger assembly movable along said track means, said auger assembly having an auger projecting forwardly of said frame and adapted to remove feed from a feed pile situated in front of said frame.

Claim 3

An animal feeder comprising in combination: a. a frame having a plurality of spaced apart vertical bars adapted to receive the head and neck of a feeding animal between adjacent bars; b. a plurality of wheels supporting said frame in an upright position and permitting movement of said frame; c. a longitudinal track mounted horizontally along the upper portion of said frame; d. an auger assembly movable along said track, said auger assembly being adapted to remove feed from a feed pile situated in front of said frame and comprising a substantially vertically disposed auger rotatable about its longitudinal axis and a motor means adapted to both rotate said auger and move said assembly along said track, the arrangement being such that when the frame is positioned against the feed pile movement of the rotating auger across the upper face of the feed pile disengages the feed and causes it to fall between said frame and the feed pile, whereby it is accessible to the feeding animals.

Claim 4

An animal feeder comprising in combination: a. a frame having a plurality of spaced apart vertical bars adapted to receive the head and neck of a feeding animal between adjacent bars; b. a plurality of wheels supporting said frame in an upright position and permitting movement of said frame; c. a longitudinal track mounted horizontally along the upper portion of said frame; d. an auger assembly movable along said track, said auger assembly being adapted to remove feed from a feed pile situated in front of said frame and comprising a substantially vertically disposed auger rotatable about its longitudinal axis and a motor means adapted to both rotate said auger and move said assembly along said track, the arrangement being such that when the frame is positioned against the feed pile movement of the rotating auger across the upper face of the feed pile disengages the feed and causes it to fall between said frame and the feed pile, whereby it is accessible to the feeding animals.

Claim 5

An animal feeder according to claim 2 wherein the auger is adjustably mounted so as to be movable towards or away from the frame.

Claim 6

An animal feeder comprising in combination: a. a frame having a plurality of spaced apart vertical bars adapted to receive the head and neck of a feeding animal between adjacent bars; b. a plurality of wheels supporting said frame in an upright position and permitting movement of said frame; c. a longitudinal track mounted horizontally along the upper portion of said frame; d. an auger assembly movable along said track, said auger assembly being adapted to remove feed from a feed pile situated in front of said frame and comprising an auger rotatable about its longitudinal axis and hydraulic motor means adapted to both rotate said auger and move said assembly along said track; and e. a motor unit mounted on said frame and Adapted to power said hydraulic motor means, the arrangement being such that when the frame is positioned against the feed pile movement of the rotating auger across the upper face of the feed pile disengages the feed and causes it to fall between said frame and the feed pile, whereby it is accessible to the feeding animals.

Claim 7

An animal feeder comprising in combination: a. a frame having a plurality of spaced apart vertical bars adapted to receive the head and neck of a feeding animal between adjacent bars; b. a plurality of wheels supporting said frame in an upright position and permitting movement of said frame; c. a longitudinal track mounted horizontally along the upper portion of said frame; d. an auger assembly movable along said track, said auger assembly being adapted to remove feed from a feed pile situated in front of said frame and comprising an auger rotatable about its longitudinal axis and hydraulic motor means adapted to both rotate said auger and move said assembly along said track; and e. a motor unit mounted on said frame and Adapted to power said hydraulic motor means, the arrangement being such that when the frame is positioned against the feed pile movement of the rotating auger across the upper face of the feed pile disengages the feed and causes it to fall between said frame and the feed pile, whereby it is accessible to the feeding animals.

Claim 8

An animal feeder according to claim 4 wherein separate hydraulic motor means are provided to move the auger assembly along the track and to rotate said auger.

Claim 9

An animal feeder according to claim 5 which further incorporates: f. drive wheels secured to said frame, said drive wheels incorporating hydraulic motors mounted within the hubs of said drive wheels, said hydraulic motors also being powered by said motor unit, whereby operation of said drive wheels enables an operator to drive said animal feeder up against the feed pile.

Claim 10

An animal feeder according to claim 6 wherein said motor unit incorporates a manually operable control means adapted to control the distribution of power from said unit to the auger assembly hydraulic motor means and to the drive wheel hydraulic motors.

Claim 11

An animal feeder according to claim 7 wherein the auger is adjustably mounted so as to be movable towards or away from the frame.