Rotating Trap-Door Feeder Insert for Boar-Only Food Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal feeders do not discriminate between different animal species, allowing all animals to access food, which is inefficient and can lead to food wastage, especially when designed for boars.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a U-shaped frame with a rotating food extracting mechanism, including trap doors and a spring system, which is adapted to existing feeders to allow only boars to access food, controlling the food supply and preventing other animals from feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a universal animal feeder is used, then all animals can access food, but this leads to food wastage and inefficiency when boar-specific feeding is required
Solution Approach 1:
The trap door mechanism creates a localized access control system at the food outlet, allowing the feeder to differentiate between authorized boars and unauthorized animals. The mechanical threshold requires specific physical characteristics (snout shape, lifting strength) that only boars possess, thus providing species-specific access control while maintaining universal feeder structure
2Ease of manufacture
If the feeder is designed to be simple and universal, then manufacturing costs are low, but it cannot discriminate between different animal species
Solution Approach 1:
The trap door is designed as a movable mechanical element that dynamically responds to the physical characteristics of accessing animals. The door's ability to open only when lifted by an animal with sufficient strength and appropriate snout geometry provides passive, automatic species discrimination without complex control systems, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while adding functional versatility
3Ease of operation
If food is freely accessible to all animals, then feeding operation is simple, but food rationing and controlled supply cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The trap door mechanism enables self-service species filtering, where the physical characteristics of boars automatically trigger the opening mechanism while other animals are naturally blocked. This passive selection system requires no external control, programming, or complex operation, maintaining ease of use while achieving effective food rationing and controlled supply to authorized species only
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively restricts access to boars, prevents food wastage, and allows controlled food rationing, making it a universal solution for boar-specific feeding without additional costs or adaptations.
Implementation Method 1
a spring system, which is adapted to existing feeders to allow only boars to access food
Implementation Method 2
designed to extract food from the feeder
Data Source
AI summary
A device for extracting food from a tank of an animal feeder where it is designed to be fastened. The device includes an opening, which in turn includes a frame, formed by a U-shaped sheet that has a hole located in each wing of the U-shape, and a food extracting mechanism that is fastened to the frame with the ability to rotate. The food extracting mechanism includes a trap door joined to a tube to house a shaft that is fastened to the frame through the holes.