Patent US3918405A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3918405A
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Weight-controlled recirculating feeding apparatus and method
Assignee: CTB Inc
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Filing: 1974-01-14
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A weight controlled recirculating feeder is provided. Feed is delivered from a remote supply to a hopper suspended from a weight scale until a pre-designated weight has been accumulated. When the weight scale trips, a shut-off valve closes, and feed is directed to downstream weight-sensitive hoppers. At a predesignated time, feed is transferred from the hoppers to recirculating feeders by a transfer conveyor, and undelivered feed is returned to the hopper. The recirculating conveyors each include a first line feeder including an open topped trough and means for moving feed along the trough from an upstream receiving point past a series of poultry cages to a downstream point. A first cross conveyor, a return line feeder, and a second cross conveyor operate to return unconsumed feed to the upstream feed receiving point. At the receiving point, a receiver accepts the returned feed and fresh feed from the hopper, mixes the feed stream, and discharges the feed to the recirculating conveyor to recurrently present feed particles to the devouring poultry until they are consumed.
Inventors
- 👤 Eldon Hostetler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:03
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K5/00; A01K5/02; A01K5/0275; A01K5/0283; A01K39/00; A01K39/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A feeding system for poultry and the like, comprising feed weighing means for receiving and weighing a measure of feed from a remote supply, and feed recirculating means operatively connected to the feed weighing means and having an upstream receiving point for receiving feed from the weighing means at said point, the recirculating means including a first feed line for presenting feed to poultry in a manner permitting consumption of the feed by the poultry, means for urging the feed from the upstream receiving point to a downstream point and feed return means interconnected between the downstream point and the recirculating means upstream receiving point for returning unconsumed feed from the downstream point to the upstream receiving point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A feeding system for poultry and the like, comprising feed weighing means for receiving and weighing a measure of feed from a remote supply, and feed recirculating means operatively connected to the feed weighing means and having an upstream receiving point for receiving feed from the weighing means at said point, the recirculating means including a first feed line for presenting feed to poultry in a manner permitting consumption of the feed by the poultry, means for urging the feed from the upstream receiving point to a downstream point and feed return means interconnected between the downstream point and the recirculating means upstream receiving point for returning unconsumed feed from the downstream point to the upstream receiving point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A feeding system according to claim 1 including a plurality of feed recirculating means operatively connected to a common feed weighing means to receive feed therefrom, each recirculating means being adapted to endlessly recirculate the receiving feed without returning said feed to the weighing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A feeding system according to claim 1 including feed transfer means for drawing feed from the feed weighing means and delivering at least a portion of the drawn feed to the feed recirculating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A feeding system according to claim 3 including feed return means for returning any undelivered feed from the transfer means to the weighing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A feeding system according to claim 1 including receiver means having means for receiving unconsumed feed at the upstream receiving point and having other means for receiving feed from the weighing means, the receiver means being adapted to discharge the received feed to the recirculating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A feeding system according to claim 1 wherein said feed weighing means includes means for receiving a flow of feed from a remote supply, signal means actuatable by a pre-determined weight of received feed, and shut-off means responsive to the signal means for terminating the flow of feed to the weighing means when a pre-determined weight of feed has been received therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
A feeding system for poultry and the like, comprising feed weighing means for receiving a weighed measure of feed from a remote supply, feed transfer means for receiving feed from the weighing means, feed recirculating means having an upstream receiving point adapted to receive feed from the transfer means and a downstream point, the recirculating means including a first feed line means operatively connected to the upstream receiving point for presenting the received feed to the poultry in a manner permitting consumption of the feed by the poultry and means for urging the feed from the upstream receiving point to the downstream point, the recirculating means further including means for moving unconsumed feed from the downstream back to the upstream receiving point for recirculation to the consuming poultry.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
A feeding system for poultry and the like, comprising feed weighing means for receiving a weighed measure of feed from a remote supply, feed transfer means for receiving feed from the weighing means, feed recirculating means having an upstream receiving point adapted to receive feed from the transfer means and a downstream point, the recirculating means including a first feed line means operatively connected to the upstream receiving point for presenting the received feed to the poultry in a manner permitting consumption of the feed by the poultry and means for urging the feed from the upstream receiving point to the downstream point, the recirculating means further including means for moving unconsumed feed from the downstream back to the upstream receiving point for recirculation to the consuming poultry.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A feeding system according to claim 7 including a plurality of recirculating means operatively connected to a common feeD transfer means to receive feed therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A feeding system according to claim 7 wherein said first feed line comprises a trough having a feed-supporting bottom and a top open along its length and adapted to provide access to contained feed by consuming poultry.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
A feeding system according to claim 7 wherein said feed recirculating means comprises first cross feed movement means operatively connected to said downstream point, feed return line means for receiving feed from the first cross feed movement means, and second cross feed movement means operatively connected to the feed return line for transferring unconsumed feed to the upstream receiving point.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A feeding system according to claim 7 including receiver means for receiving a first stream of new feed from said feed transfer means and a second stream of feed from said recirculating means downstream point, said receiver means being adapted to intermingle said first and second stream of feed and to discharge said intermingled feed in said recirculating means at said upstream receiving point.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A feeding system according to claim 11 wherein said receiver means includes a first and a second chamber for receiving said streams of feed, said second chamber being adapted to hold feed in a statically stored condition within said transfer means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A feeding system according to claim 11 including powered mixer means to positively intermingle said streams of feed and to deliver said feed to said first feed line means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A feeding system according to claim 11 including means for adjusting the amount of intermixed new and recirculated feed delivered to said first feed line means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
A feeding system according to claim 10 wherein said first feed line means and said feed return line means each includes a trough having a feed supporting bottom and a top open along its length and adapted to provide access to contained feed by consuming poultry, and auger means for moving the feed along the trough to a cross feed movement means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A feeding system according to claim 15 wherein said auger means tend to assume a wrapped condition during operation, and including means for preventing said wrapped augers from driving any drive means connected thereto in a reverse direction when said auger means are not powered.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A feed system according to claim 7 wherein said feed transfer means includes feed delivery means for delivering feed from the feed weighing means to the feed recirculating means upstream receiving point, and overflow means for returning feed not delivered to the receiving point to the feed weighing means.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of feeding poultry and the like, comprising the steps of directing a flow of feed from a remote supply to a weighing means, temporarily accumulating the inflowing feed in the weighing means, terminating the flow of feed to the weighing means when a pre-determined weight of feed has accumulated in the weighing means, transferring feed from the weighing means to an upstream receiving point in a feed recirculating means, urging the feed through the recirculating means, presenting the feed in the recirculating means to poultry for consumption, and returning unconsumed feed to the recirculating means upstream, receiving point for endless recirculation to the poultry.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of feeding poultry and the like, comprising the steps of directing a flow of feed from a remote supply to a weighing means, temporarily accumulating the inflowing feed in the weighing means, terminating the flow of feed to the weighing means when a pre-determined weight of feed has accumulated in the weighing means, transferring feed from the weighing means to an upstream receiving point in a feed recirculating means, urging the feed through the recirculating means, presenting the feed in the recirculating means to poultry for consumption, and returning unconsumed feed to the recirculating means upstream, receiving point for endless recirculation to the poultry.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 18 including the steps of receiving at least a portion of the transferring feed at the recirculating means upstream receiving point, and redelivering any feed unreceived by the recirculating means to the weighing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 18 including the steps of urging the feed in the recirculating means along a first feed line, urging the feed along a first cross feed means, urging the feed along a feed return line, and urging the feed along a second cross feed means for return to the upstream feed receiving point without returning feed in the recirculating means to said weighing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 20 including the steps of presenting tHe feed in the feed return line to poultry for consumption, and delivering unconsumed feed from the feed return line to the second transfer means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 20 including the step of intermixing feed from the second cross feed means with feed from the transfer means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 18 including the steps of depositing feed from the first cross feed means atop any feed already contained in the return line.
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) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |