US3908601A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system for animal feeder
Assignee: US Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1974-08-23
•
Granted: 1975-09-30
•
Expires: 1994-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A feeder of the type having a supply hopper and an elongated trough communicating with a plurality of spaced feeding pans includes a drive motor for an auger transferring feed from the hopper to the individual pans. An end pan includes a level control switch actuated when the feed reaches a predetermined level. The feeder trough includes a shock wire activated by a high voltage supplied by a control circuit for supplying both feed control signals to the motorized auger and a shock voltage for the shock wire. The level switch is coupled to the shock wire and the control circuit is current sensitive to distinguish between current corresponding to a feed command signal and shocking current to actuate the auger motor only upon detection of a feed demand signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick J Geary
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:34
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K39/00; A01K39/01; A01K39/012; A01K39/0125; A01K15/00; A01K15/02; A01K15/021; A01K15/023; A01K15/029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
In a feed supply system including a hopper and means for transferring feed from the hopper to a remote feeding station which includes a feed level sensor for selectively actuating a drive motor associated with said transfer means, said feed supply system further including a shock wire mounted thereto, a control circuit for actuating said drive motor and said shock wire comprising: a relatively high voltage power supply; means for coupling said high voltage power supply to the shock wire and to the feed level sensor; supply means for supplying operating current to the drive motor, said supply means including a controllable switch; and current sensing means coupled to said high voltage power supply and to said controllable switch and responsive to the actuation of said feed sensor for actuating said controllable switch to apply operating current to said drive motor when said feed sensor detects a feed supply below a predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
In a feed supply system including a hopper and means for transferring feed from the hopper to a remote feeding station which includes a feed level sensor for selectively actuating a drive motor associated with said transfer means, said feed supply system further including a shock wire mounted thereto, a control circuit for actuating said drive motor and said shock wire comprising: a relatively high voltage power supply; means for coupling said high voltage power supply to the shock wire and to the feed level sensor; supply means for supplying operating current to the drive motor, said supply means including a controllable switch; and current sensing means coupled to said high voltage power supply and to said controllable switch and responsive to the actuation of said feed sensor for actuating said controllable switch to apply operating current to said drive motor when said feed sensor detects a feed supply below a predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes a resistor of predetermined value for establishing a current flow through said high voltage power supply different than that effected by shorting of the shock wire by an animal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system as defined in claim 2 wherein said current sensing means includes a current dividing network coupled to said high voltage power supply and first triggerable switching means having a control terminal coupled to one leg of said current dividing network for actuation of said first triggerable switching means in response to current supplied to said one leg through said resistor when said feed sensor detects a feed supply below a predetermined level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system as defined in claim 3 and further including relay means coupled to said first triggerable switching means and to said controllable switch and responsive to the actuation of said first triggerable switching means to actuate said controllable switch for supplying operating current to said drive motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
The system as defined in claim 4 and further including a second triggerable switching means including a control terminal coupled to the other leg of said current dividing network, said second triggerable switching means coupled in parallel with said first triggerable switching means to prevent actuation of said first triggerable switching means when said second triggerable switching means is actuated, said second triggerable switching means being actuated by current flow in said second leg of said current dividing network which is substantially greater than current flow therein when said feed sensor detects feed below a predetermined level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said second leg of said current dividing network includes a potentiomter including a wiper arm wherein said wiper arm is coupled to said control terminal of said second triggerable switching means whereby said potentiometer wiper arm can be adjusted to set the trigger point of said second triggerable switching means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a control system for supplying a high voltage to the shock wire of a poultry feeding device and controlling the drive motor of an auger feeder which transports feed from a hopper to one or more remote feed pans, wherein one of the feed pans includes a feed level switch, the improvement comprising: means for coupling said feed level switch to said shock wire to establish a current flow of a predetermined level in said shock wire when said feed level switch is actuated, said predetermined current level being significantly different than that established when a fowl contacts said shock wire; and a control circuit coupled to said coupling means for detecting said predetermined level current flow and to said drive motor for actuating said drive motor when said feed level switch is actuated indicating a demand for feed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a control system for supplying a high voltage to the shock wire of a poultry feeding device and controlling the drive motor of an auger feeder which transports feed from a hopper to one or more remote feed pans, wherein one of the feed pans includes a feed level switch, the improvement comprising: means for coupling said feed level switch to said shock wire to establish a current flow of a predetermined level in said shock wire when said feed level switch is actuated, said predetermined current level being significantly different than that established when a fowl contacts said shock wire; and a control circuit coupled to said coupling means for detecting said predetermined level current flow and to said drive motor for actuating said drive motor when said feed level switch is actuated indicating a demand for feed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
140 words
The control system as defined in claim 7 wherein sAid control circuit comprises: a relatively high voltage power supply coupled to said shock wire; supply means including a controllable switch for supplying operating current to the auger drive motor; a current dividing network having first and second current paths coupled to said high voltage power supply; first triggerable switch means including a control terminal coupled to said first current path of said current dividing network and coupled to said controllable switch for actuating said controllable switch when the feed level switch is actuated; and second triggerable switch means including a control terminal coupled to said second current path of said current dividing network and coupled to said first triggerable switch to defeat actuation of said first triggerable switch if current in said current dividing network significantly exceeds said predetermined level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The control system as defined in claim 8 wherein said second current path of said current dividing network includes a potentiometer including a wiper arm wherein said wiper arm is coupled to said control terminal of said second triggerable switching means whereby said potentiometer wiper arm can be adjusted to set the trigger point of said second triggerable switching means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The control system as defined in claim 9 wherein said first current path of said current dividing network includes charge storage means coupled to said control terminal of said first triggerable switching means to delay actuation of said first triggerable switching means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The control system as defined in claim 10 wherein each of said first and second triggerable switching means comprises an SCR.
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) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |