Hay pellet dispenser for feeding mash to horses, ponies, and donkeys

Abstract

a feed box (1) specifically designed for this purpose, characterized in that it is weatherproof and provides optimal space for all components of the hay pellet dispenser, including feed and water,

Description

2 Field of application of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a feeding box (1) for feeding equines with control (11) according to the preambles of claims 1, 2 and 3, which can be used in the context of horse husbandry. 3 Characterization of the state of the art

[0002] 3.1 State of the art is: • Several manual feedings daily by humans with freshly soaked hay cubes. Disadvantage: Extremely labor-intensive. The daily ration is divided into a few larger portions, resulting in stomach overload per feeding. Long, unhealthy breaks between feedings. The horse goes hungry at night. • Feeding dry hay cubes. Disadvantage: Due to the strong swelling in the horse's stomach, it poses a high health risk - risk of colic. • Manually prepared feed mash in a feed bucket is released to the horse by an automatic feed pusher. Disadvantage: Only works for a single feeding until the feed bucket is empty. • A chest with a timer-controlled lid: The horse can eat when the lid opens automatically at the desired feeding times and should take its head out of the chest when the lid closes automatically. Disadvantage: The chest contains the entire daily ration of soaked hay cubes. The hay cube sits for a very long time, spoils in the summer, or freezes in the winter. Horses can block the closing mechanism with their heads and continue eating unchecked. In this case, the stomach becomes overloaded by the excessive amount of food. Stomach problems due to spoiled feed are possible. • The predecessor model to the current invention only allows up to six automatic feeding times per day. Horse-friendly feeding breaks of a maximum of three hours between automatic feedings are not possible without additional manual feeding. Another disadvantage is the additional labor required, as all six feed buckets must be filled with hay cubes by hand every day, and only the water is added automatically. Furthermore, the 24-hour feeding program must be restarted daily using a button. 3.2 Disadvantages / shortcomings of the obvious solution(s)

[0003] The digestive tract of equines (horses, ponies, donkeys) is designed to consume small, regular amounts of food throughout the day to stay healthy. Occasional large meals at long intervals, as is commonly practiced, are not only unnatural for a horse, but also harmful to its health. Feeding breaks of more than three hours have been proven to promote psychological stress, stomach ulcers, and colic. Furthermore, horses tend to experience increased chills during long feeding breaks in cold and wet winter conditions.

[0004] Old, sick, and toothless horses face the additional problem that, while they can still chew grass or hay, they can no longer break it down and digest it. Such horses become increasingly emaciated, frail, and prone to disease. This often leads to premature death—despite the free availability of hay and grass.

[0005] Without automatic feeding technology, horses cannot be fed regularly at night, as even the most dedicated horse owners are unable to sustainably provide their horses with freshly prepared hay mash at least every three hours around the clock. Current horse feeding practices therefore often result in feeding breaks of up to twelve hours—both during the day and at night.

[0006] Conclusion: It is not feasible in the long term to feed horses manually around the clock with many small, freshly soaked hay cob portions according to their needs and in a horse-friendly manner. 3.3 Causes of these disadvantages / defects

[0007] Until now, there has been no automatic feeder that can prepare up to 12 fresh hay cob meals a day all year round, in all weather conditions, without weather protection and without electricity and water connections, and that both water and hay cobs only need to be refilled at weekly intervals. 4 Problem to be solved by the invention

[0008] 4.1 Objective: The invention is based on the object of providing the horse with freshly prepared hay mash at regular intervals in continuous operation around the clock, thereby keeping it healthy and saving the horse owner work.

[0009] 4.2 Task: The task of the inventive device is to offer the horse up to 12 freshly prepared soaked hay cob portions daily using an automatic hay cob feeding system. The purpose of the inventive device is to limit horses' feeding breaks to a maximum of three hours. The invention prevents hyperacidity, stomach ulcers, colic, and psychological stress, and improves the quality of life of older, sick, or toothless horses. The workload for the horse owner is reduced enormously by the inventive device, since with a hay cob capacity of approx. 20 kg in the hay cob compartment (6) and a water tank (7) of max. 80 l, filling with water and hay cobs is on average only necessary every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the feed requirements of the respective horse. 5 Inventive solution5.1 Description of the invention

[0010] The inventive device consists of • a specially designed feed box (1), a feeding bowl (2), a safety feed flap (3), a feed auger (4), a water pump (8), a water tank (7), a water level indicator (9), and a flap motor (5) for closing and opening the safety feed flap (3), as well as a control unit (11). The hay cob dispenser is powered by 12V or 220V electricity. A clearly visible charge regulator with a battery charge level indicator (10) is integrated. The heater (12) for heating water and feed ensures trouble-free, horse-friendly feeding, even in winter. • Program sequence per feeding: The flap motor (5) closes the safety feed flap (3), thus safely covering the feeding bowl (2) for the horse. Hay cubes and water are then automatically pumped into the feeding bowl (2) in the desired amount. After the soaking time set by the user, the safety feed flap (3) opens, and the horse can eat the freshly prepared feed from the feeding bowl (2). At the next feeding and all subsequent feedings, the safety feed flap (3) closes again when the program starts, and the program sequence described above with hay cob and water inlet as well as soaking time is carried out in the same way. 5.2 Advantages of the inventive solution

[0011] Healthy feeding and improved quality of life for older, weakened, toothless horses.

[0012] Enormous work relief for the horse owner.

[0013] Fewer illnesses, fewer veterinary costs, as harmful feeding breaks of more than 3 hours can be permanently avoided.

[0014] The feeder is self-sufficient and weatherproof and can be operated outdoors without weather protection and without a power or water connection.

[0015] The hay cob vending machine is so compact that its location can be changed at any time. 5.3 Further development of the invention • The feeding system works with 12V power and can be operated all year round without weather protection using either a solar module or a 12V charger connected to the 220V household power. • The user / horse owner can set the desired amount of hay cube, amount of water, soaking time and feeding times on the control (11). • Up to 12 feedings per day are possible as standard with the control (11). • The feeding system works continuously, without interruption, without the need for restarting. • The hay cob compartment (6) of the feed box (1) can hold approximately 20 kg of hay cobs. • The water tank (7) holds - depending on the equipment - between 40 and 80 l of water. • A water level indicator (9) shows a low water level early on. • Depending on the horse’s individual feed requirements, the water tank (7) and the hay compartment (6) only need to be refilled every 1 to 2 weeks. • A special feature is the safety feed flap (3), which the horse owner can adjust to either tight or loose using a screw, depending on the horse's behavior. When set loosely, the safety feed flap (3) closes under its own weight. When locked, the flap motor (5) pushes the safety feed flap (3) down to securely close the feeding bowl (2) during the soaking period. • The feeding auger (4) transports not only hay cubes into the feeding bowl (2), but also smaller feed particles, such as hay flakes, muesli, etc. • The battery charge indicator (10) provides early warning of a low charge level during solar operation, so the battery can be replaced or charged in a timely manner. A 12V charger can also be permanently connected. • A heater (12) not only protects water and feed pulp from freezing, but also warms the feed pulp in winter. List of reference symbols 1 food box 2 feeding bowls 3 Safety lining flap 4 feeding snail 5 flap motor 6 hay cob compartment 7 Water tank 8 Water pump 9 water level indicators 10 battery charge indicators 11 Control 12 Heating

Claims

[1] a specially designed feeding box (1), characterized by that it is weatherproof and that all components of the hay cob dispenser, including feed and water, fit perfectly into it, [2] a feeding bowl (2), characterized by that both small and large horses can eat comfortably from it, [3] a safety lining flap (3), characterized by that it can be adjusted either tightly or loosely, [4] a feeding snail (4), characterized by that it transports the set amount of hay cubes or other feed to the feeding bowl (2), [5] a flap motor (5), characterized by that it closes the safety feed flap when the program starts and opens it again after the soaking time, [6] a hay cob compartment (6), characterized by that about 20 kg of hay cubes fit in for weeks of continuous operation, [7] a water tank (7), characterized bythat operation for weeks without refilling is possible, [8] a water pump (8), characterized by that the exact amount of water is pumped to the feeding bowl, [9] a water level indicator (9), characterized by that it indicates a low water level in good time, [10] a battery charge indicator (10), characterized by that a low charge level is clearly visible from a distance, [11] a controller (11), characterized by that it has been programmed specifically for the intended use and the horse owner can adjust / change the hay cob and water quantity, soaking time according to his own requirements for up to 12 feeding times, [12] a heater (12), characterized by that water and feed mash are protected from freezing in winter.