US3799116A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for installing feeding system conveyor tubes
Assignee: CTB Inc
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Filing: 1972-05-22
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1992-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is disclosed for installing a feeding system conveyor tube to cause the conveyor to generally equally and simultaneously deliver feed to a plurality of feeding stations. An alignment gage is successively attached to preliminarily installed conveyor tube sections and the tube sections are angularly rotated to position feed outlets at a desired predetermined position. This desired position is indicated by the coincidence of a plumb pointer and a hack mark on a gage scale. After rotation into the desired position, each tube section is permanently clamped in place, and the gage is moved to a succeeding tube section.
Inventors
- 👤 E Hostetler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:41
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K5/00; A01K5/02; A01K5/0258
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
Gage means for use in assembling a feeder system of the type having a dispensing bin, a plurality of feeder stations and at least one conveyor tube connecting the feeder stations and the dispensing bin, the conveyor tube including a plurality of tube sections connected end to end, each tube section having at least one feed-dispensing outlet in the tube wall to permit the flow of feed from the tube to a feeder station, said gage means including attachment means for attaching the gage means to a tube section to position the gage means in a pre-determined angular position relative to the feed-dispensing outlet, and means on said gage means for indicating the actual angular positions of said tube section outlets, and means on said gage means for indicating the desired angular position of said tube outlets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
Gage means for use in assembling a feeder system of the type having a dispensing bin, a plurality of feeder stations and at least one conveyor tube connecting the feeder stations and the dispensing bin, the conveyor tube including a plurality of tube sections connected end to end, each tube section having at least one feed-dispensing outlet in the tube wall to permit the flow of feed from the tube to a feeder station, said gage means including attachment means for attaching the gage means to a tube section to position the gage means in a pre-determined angular position relative to the feed-dispensing outlet, and means on said gage means for indicating the actual angular positions of said tube section outlets, and means on said gage means for indicating the desired angular position of said tube outlets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
Gage means according to claim 1 wherein said means for indicating the actual angular position of the tube outlets includes a pointer needle mounted for plumb disposition when said gage means is attached to said tube section, and said means for indicating the desired angular position of the tube outlet includes a scale disposed for coincident viewing with said pointer needle and calibrated in successive desired angular tube section positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Gage means according to claim 2 wherein said scale means includes a plurality of scales for indicating the desired successive angular tube section positions for a plurality of possible conveyor tube section arrays having differing numbers of tube sections, tube section lengths, and feed dispensing outlet locations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
Gage means according to claim 2 for use with tube sections including a gage alignment slot, wherein said attachment means including pin means mounted on the gage in fixed relation to said scale means, the pin being adapted for engagement with the gage alignment slot in the tube section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Gage means according to claim 4 wherein said attachment means includes over-center clamp means for temporarily securing the gage means to said tube section in said predetermined position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
Gage means according to claim 4 for use with a tube section having a slot formed to a predetermined axial depth on the tube section, said gage having a width less than said depth for enabling the slot to simultaneously accommodate both said gage attachment means and a permanent clamp on the tube section.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of assembling a feeder system conveyor tube for encouraging simultaneous and equal distribution of feed from a distribution bin through a plurality of spaced conveyor tube outlets to feeding stations, each tube including a plurality of tube sections adapted for end to end assembly, the method comprising the steps of temporarily installing the conveyor tube sections in end to end relation, attaching an alignment gage to a first conveyor tube section in a pre-determined position relative to the outlets, angularly rotating said first tube section to position the tube section and its feed outlets in a desired first predetermined angular position, permanently securing the first tuBe section in said desired first pre-determined angular position, attaching said alignment gage to a succeeding tube section, angularly positioning the succeeding tube section in another desired pre-determined angular position, permanently securing the succeeding tube section in its desired pre-determined angular position, and successively angularly positioning and permanently securing all the remaining tube sections of said conveyor tube.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of assembling a feeder system conveyor tube for encouraging simultaneous and equal distribution of feed from a distribution bin through a plurality of spaced conveyor tube outlets to feeding stations, each tube including a plurality of tube sections adapted for end to end assembly, the method comprising the steps of temporarily installing the conveyor tube sections in end to end relation, attaching an alignment gage to a first conveyor tube section in a pre-determined position relative to the outlets, angularly rotating said first tube section to position the tube section and its feed outlets in a desired first predetermined angular position, permanently securing the first tuBe section in said desired first pre-determined angular position, attaching said alignment gage to a succeeding tube section, angularly positioning the succeeding tube section in another desired pre-determined angular position, permanently securing the succeeding tube section in its desired pre-determined angular position, and successively angularly positioning and permanently securing all the remaining tube sections of said conveyor tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of installing a feeder system conveyor tube according to claim 7 wherein the said first tube section to be aligned is that tube section closest to the distribution bin, and successive tube sections are angularly positioned in seriatim order progressing away from the bin and first tube section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method of installing a feeder system conveyor tube according to claim 7 including the steps of inserting a pin mounted upon said tube section alignment gage in a slot formed upon the tube section, clamping the gage to said tube section, twisting said tube length into the desired angular position, permanently securing the tube section in said desired angular position, and removing the gage from the tube section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of installing a feeder system conveyor tube according to claim 8 including the step of noting the coincidence of the actual angular position of the tube section as indicated by a gage pointer with the desired angular position of the tube section as indicated upon a gage scale.
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) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |