Elevated Animal Feeder Auger System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal feeder devices do not effectively facilitate physically limited users in filling elevated hoppers with granular feed, requiring manual effort and straining for users with mobility issues.
Innovation Solution
An elevated animal feeder device with a suspendable feed bucket and an auger system that transports granular feed from the bucket into the hopper when rotated, eliminating the need for manual filling, utilizing a motor-powered auger and grapples for suspension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual filling of elevated hopper is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates for physically limited users
Solution Approach 1:
The auger system automatically transports feed from the bucket to the hopper without requiring manual intervention. Once the user places feed in the bucket and activates the system, the auger self-propels the feed upward and dispenses it into the hopper, eliminating the need for continuous manual filling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical lifting and pouring action with an automated auger mechanism powered by an electric motor. This substitution transforms the operation from direct human physical effort to an automated mechanical system that performs the feed transport function.
2Productivity
If elevated hopper is used, then animal feeding is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to required manual effort
Solution Approach 1:
The auger acts as an intermediary mechanism between the feed bucket and the elevated hopper. It bridges the vertical gap and automates the feed transfer process, allowing the system to maintain the benefits of elevated feeding while eliminating the manual effort previously required to achieve this configuration.
3Extent of automation
If automated auger system is added, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: the feed bucket for loading, the auger mechanism for transport, the motor for power, and the hopper for storage. This segmentation allows each component to be independently designed, maintained, and replaced, managing overall system complexity while achieving automation.
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
Enables physically limited users to fill the hopper automatically, reducing strain and effort, ensuring continuous feeding without manual intervention, and allowing for efficient dispensing of feed to animals.
Implementation Method 1
An auger is rotatably disposed within the auger chute to transport the granular animal feed upwardly through the auger chute and into the hopper for filling the hopper with the granular animal feed when the auger rotates in a first direction
Data Source
AI summary
An elevated animal feeder assembly includes a hopper for containing granular animal feed. The hopper has a dispensing chute for dispensing the granular animal feed and a plurality of legs for elevating the hopper above a support surface. A feed bucket is suspendable from the hopper facilitating the feed bucket to be filled with the granular animal feed. A pair of grapples is each attached to the feed bucket to suspend the feed bucket from the hopper. An auger chute is disposed in the feed bucket and the auger chute extends into the hopper. An auger is rotatably disposed within the auger chute to transport the granular animal feed upwardly through the auger chute and into the hopper for filling the hopper with the granular animal feed when the auger rotates in a first direction.