Adjustable Poultry Feeder Downpipe Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing poultry feed troughs are complex, costly, and require significant assembly effort, with difficulties in raising and lowering the downpipe, which can lead to feed loss and hinder young chicks' access to food, and the lattice structure prevents chicks from entering the bottom pan.

Innovation Solution

A simplified feed trough design featuring a plate-shaped bottom shell, a trough funnel, and a downpipe with adjustable feed openings, where the downpipe is vertically displaceable within the trough funnel, allowing easy access for young poultry and reducing assembly complexity, with the downpipe's position adjusted using a space bar structure for varying feed levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a high peripheral edge is used to prevent feed spilling, then feed containment is improved, but accessibility for young chicks deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeed containmentVSAvoidfeed accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The peripheral edge is designed to be flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to bend downward when chicks push against it, thereby dynamically adapting to provide both containment for adult poultry and access for young chicks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the downpipe is raised to provide fresh feed for older poultry, then feed freshness is improved, but feed loss increases due to jerky lifting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeed freshnessVSAvoidfeed loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The smooth-bore design of the downpipe prevents feed from adhering to its surface, and the gradual raising mechanism prevents jerky motion, both of which preliminarily counteract the forces that would cause feed loss during the raising operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Ease of operation

If the downpipe is lowered to increase feed level for young chicks, then feed accessibility is improved, but assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeed accessibilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The feed trough is divided into separable components including the bottom shell, downpipe, and peripheral edge, allowing the downpipe to be independently positioned at different heights and the peripheral edge to be attached or detached as needed, simplifying assembly while maintaining adjustability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If a lattice structure is used to prevent adult poultry from contaminating feed, then feed protection is improved, but chick access to the bottom pan is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeed protectionVSAvoidchick access

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective function previously performed by a lattice structure is extracted and replaced by the flexible peripheral edge design, which prevents adult poultry access through its containment shape while allowing chick passage through its flexible, chick-friendly configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP1719407B1Feeding through

Publication Date: 2008.06.18 LAE ANLAGENBAU

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AI summary

The feeder unit (1) for poultry rearing establishments comprises a bottom tray (2) with a central cone, and a central feeder pipe (4) slidably installed in a funnel (3) incorporating a guide pipe (17).