Horizontal Feed Storage Layout for Mobile Livestock Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional poultry and swine production systems face issues with stationary facilities leading to compromised animal health, high labor and material costs, environmental concerns, and potential health risks from vaccine and antibiotic use, while mobile systems struggle with heavy feed storage.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal feed storage system comprising an elongated, mobile container with distributed weight, using conveyance mechanisms like augers to evenly distribute feed and facilitate movement, allowing for efficient filling and emptying without the need for reinforced structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If feed is stored in a traditional silo or stationary storage container, then feed storage capacity is achieved, but the weight is too concentrated and the structure cannot be moved without a concrete pad
Solution Approach 1:
The feed storage system is divided into multiple horizontal sections or compartments along the length of the container. This segmentation distributes the total feed weight across multiple support points and reduces the concentrated load at any single location, enabling mobility without requiring a concrete pad while maintaining the ability to store sufficient feed for thousands of poultry or swine for a week or more.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a stationary facility is used for poultry and swine production, then infrastructure stability is achieved, but animal health deteriorates due to dirty litter and fecal matter accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static facility to a dynamic mobile unit that can be relocated across the field. The entire poultry or swine housing structure, including feed storage, becomes movable on wheels or tracks, allowing periodic movement to fresh ground that prevents litter saturation and reduces exposure to fecal matter and pathogens, thereby maintaining animal health while providing stable housing conditions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a mobile poultry or swine coop is used, then animal health improves, but feed storage becomes problematic due to weight and mobility requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal feed storage container is designed as a multi-functional integrated system that serves both as structural support for the mobile coop and as feed storage. The container's frame provides the mechanical support needed for mobility while its enclosed volume stores feed, eliminating the need for separate heavy silos and simplifying the overall system architecture.
4Quantity of substance
If traditional vertical silos are used for feed storage, then feed capacity is achieved, but the structure requires reinforced building support and frequent refilling
Solution Approach 1:
The feed storage system transitions from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. This dimensional change allows the feed container to be supported by the mobile coop's horizontal frame structure rather than requiring vertical reinforced building supports. The elongated horizontal design also facilitates easier access for filling and emptying operations while maintaining adequate feed capacity.
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 system enables mobile feed storage that reduces the need for frequent refilling, minimizes environmental impact, and improves animal health by distributing weight evenly, thus enhancing mobility and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
A first conveyance mechanism or set of conveyance mechanisms may displace the feed throughout the elongated feed container by moving the feed from the fill opening towards the opposite end(s) of the elongated feed container
Implementation Method 2
A second conveyance mechanism or set of conveyance mechanisms may bring the feed from throughout the elongated feed container to an opening for emptying feed
Data Source
AI summary
A horizontal feed storage system may comprise an elongated feed container having a length and a width, wherein the length is at least ten times greater than the width. The elongated feed container may have a fill opening through which the feed is deposited into the elongated feed container and a feed removal opening through which feed is removed from the elongated feed container. The elongated feed container may be movable. The elongated feed container may include multiple conveyance mechanisms disposed within the elongated feed container. The multiple conveyance mechanisms may include a first conveyance mechanism and a second conveyance mechanism, wherein the first conveyance mechanism may displace feed by moving the feed in a first direction away from the fill opening, and/or the second conveyance mechanism may displace feed by moving the feed in a second direction toward the feed removal opening.