Ground-Level Animal Feeder with Curved Gravity Hopper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional animal feeders for grazing animals, such as horses, pose anatomical and physiological challenges by requiring unnatural feeding positions, leading to musculoskeletal issues and gastric ulcers due to intermittent feeding, which fails to replicate natural grazing patterns.
Innovation Solution
An animal feeder with a hopper and a trough at ground level, featuring a curved wall to direct feed under gravity and a rate-controlled dispenser that allows continuous feeding, ensuring the animal can eat comfortably and naturally, reducing the risk of gastric ulcers and musculoskeletal strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If wall-mounted or raised feeders are used to prevent forage from reaching the ground, then forage is protected from soiling and waste is reduced, but animals are forced to feed in unnatural elevated positions causing musculoskeletal strain and dental misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder transitions from vertical wall-mounted positioning to horizontal ground-level positioning, changing the spatial dimension of feed delivery. The hopper extends horizontally over the animal's head, delivering forage at ground level rather than requiring the animal to reach upward, thus eliminating musculoskeletal strain while keeping forage protected.
Solution Approach 2:
The hopper acts as an intermediary structure that bridges the gap between ground-level animal positioning and elevated forage storage. It delivers forage horizontally at ground level, mediating between the need to store forage off the ground and the need to present it at natural feeding height.
2Ease of operation
If forage is placed directly on the ground to enable natural grazing position, then animals can feed in natural positions without strain, but forage quickly becomes soiled and inedible leading to wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper serves as an intermediary that delivers forage to ground level without requiring forage to be placed directly on the ground. It maintains forage protection during storage and delivery while presenting it at the correct height for natural feeding.
Solution Approach 2:
The hopper design allows animals to access forage continuously at ground level in a self-service manner, replicating natural grazing behavior where animals can constantly access feed without human intervention or elevated positioning.
3Reliability
If feeders are replenished at intervals to maintain hygiene, then forage quality is maintained, but animals experience prolonged periods without food leading to gastric ulcers and disrupted digestive patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper provides continuous forage delivery at ground level, eliminating interruptions in feeding. Animals can continuously access forage throughout the day, maintaining constant gastric activity and preventing ulcers, while the hopper's design keeps forage protected from contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The hopper is pre-filled with sufficient forage to last the entire day or multiple days, eliminating the need for interval replenishment. This preliminary loading ensures continuous food availability while maintaining forage quality through protected storage.
4Reliability
If wall-mounted feeders are positioned at sufficient height to avoid ground contact hazards, then safety hazards are eliminated, but severe muscular strain occurs on the animal's head, neck and back
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder system changes from vertical height-based safety to horizontal extension-based safety. Instead of elevating the feeder vertically to avoid ground contact, the hopper extends horizontally over the animal's head, delivering forage at ground level and eliminating the need for elevated positioning that causes muscular strain.
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 feeder allows animals to feed in a natural position, reducing musculoskeletal strain and gastric ulcers by providing a continuous supply of food, mimicking natural grazing patterns and reducing the incidence of gastric ulcers and behavioral issues.
Implementation Method 1
a curved wall to direct feed under gravity
Data Source
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AI summary
An animal feeder for grazing/foraging animals adapted to anatomically replicate a natural grazing/foraging position and physiologically replicate a natural grazing/foraging pattern in which the animal feeder has a hopper for storing feed, and a trough from which an animal can feed in a natural ground-level grazing position.