US3785345A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated systems for raising and transporting broilers
Assignee: Cumberland Corp
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Filing: 1972-02-02
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1992-02-02
Abstract
Abstract An animal raising system, particularly for fowl such as chickens, which includes a plurality of cages disposed on a frame in a plurality of rows, one row above the other. Each cage preferably has two members attached to opposing cage walls at the top thereof and movable from a first position in which the members provide a vertical extension of the walls to which they are attached, thus permitting proper grow-out and leaving the cage top open, to a second position closing the cage top for transportation at an appropriate cage height. Further, drop tubes for food and water extend into each cage through the open top and are pivotable out of the cage about a trough and water line to which they are respectively attached. The cage tops in at least one row are closed by a dropping collecting board which also collects droppings from the row of cages above. A scraper blade is movable along the board for periodically removing droppings and for pushing, with an attachment, the cages along the rails on which they rest for transportation.
Inventors
- 👤 V Rhinehart
- 👤 J Coffelt
- 👤 F Yother
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:18
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K31/00; A01K31/002; A01K31/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An animal raising system comprising: frame means, a plurality of cages disposed on said frame means, each having an opening at the top thereof, feed means for supplying food to the animals in said cages, and means for mounting said feed means adjacent said cages so that said feed means can be shifted from a first position in which portions of said feed means extend into each of said cages through said openings to supply food to a second position in which said portions do not extend into said cages through said openings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
An animal raising system comprising: frame means, a plurality of cages disposed on said frame means, each having an opening at the top thereof, feed means for supplying food to the animals in said cages, and means for mounting said feed means adjacent said cages so that said feed means can be shifted from a first position in which portions of said feed means extend into each of said cages through said openings to supply food to a second position in which said portions do not extend into said cages through said openings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said feed means includes means for providing solid food and means for providing water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein each said cage includes: a first member defining the cage floor, a plurality of members attached to said first member defining the cage walls, second and third members each pivotably attached to one of said plurality of member and each movable from a first position providing a vertical extension of the member to which it is attached and an opening at the top of said cage to a second position closing the top of said cage for transporting the animals therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as in claim 3 further including means connected between said second and third members and adjoining wall defining meMbers for maintaining said second and third members in said second closed position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
155 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein said second and third members each include a plurality of parallel extending bars and wherein said maintaining means each includes first and second clip members attached to opposing wall defining members and having a first U-shaped portion with a substantially horizontal channel for receiving at least one of said parrallel bars of one of said second and third members for holding that member in said second closed position and a second portion defining with the wall member a substantially vertical channel for receiving at least one of said parallel bars for holding that member in said first open position, said channels being in communication so that the bars be slid from one channel to the other to move said second and third members from said first to said second position and vice versa, and spring means connecting said second and third members to said opposing wall defining members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as in claim 5 wherein said first cage floor defining member is plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said frame includes at least first and second parallel extending rails with said cages resting on said rails so as to permit movement of said cages along the lengths of said rails.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said cages are arranged in a plurality of rows of cages with the rows disposed one above the other and further including at least one member having animal dropping collecting surface disposed below at least one of said rows and closing the tops of the cages in the row below said member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 8 further including means for removing droppings from said collecting surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as in claim 9 wherein said removing means includes a scraping blade and means for moving said blade along said collecting surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as in claim 10 wherein said frame includes first and second extending rails on which said cages rest and includes a member to said moving means for engaging said cages in the row above said collecting surface and moving said cages along said rails.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A system as in claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes a trough and wherein said feed means includes means disposed within said trough for moving solid food along said trough and a plurality of drop tubes each pivotably attached to said trough so as to extend through a cage opening into that cage and supply said solid food and so as to be pivotable about said trough out of that cage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 12 further including an agitator wire in each of said drop tubes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as in claim 12 further including a water line, a plurality of water drop tubes pivotably attached to said line so as to extend through a cage opening into that cage and supply water and so as to be pivotable about said line out of that cage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 12 further including means for adjusting the vertical position of said trough and hence the vertical positions of said drop tubes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as in claim 12 including at least first and second adjacent rows of cages with said trough disposed between said rows.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 12 wherein said moving means includes an auger and motor means for rotating said auger.
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) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |