Horizontal Feed Storage Layout for Mobile Coop Weight Distribution
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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 human health risks due to vaccines and antibiotics, while mobile systems struggle with heavy feed storage that requires stationary containers.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal feed storage system comprising an elongated, mobile container with distributed weight, using conveyance mechanisms like augers to evenly distribute feed across its length, allowing for easy movement and storage without sinking, and integrated with mobile poultry/swine enclosures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If feed is stored in a stationary silo or storage container, then feed storage capacity is sufficient, but the weight is too concentrated and requires concrete pad reinforcement
Solution Approach 1:
The feed storage system is divided into multiple segments along the length of the mobile coop, with feed distributed across several storage locations rather than concentrated in a single silo. This segmentation allows the total feed weight to be spread out, reducing the load concentration on any single point of the mobile structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed storage system transitions from a vertical silo configuration to a horizontal distribution system integrated along the length of the mobile coop. By extending feed storage in the horizontal dimension rather than concentrating it vertically, the weight is distributed across a larger area, eliminating the need for concrete pad reinforcement.
2Quantity of substance
If a stationary silo is used for feed storage, then feed capacity is sufficient, but the structure requires concrete pad to prevent sinking
Solution Approach 1:
The feed storage system is integrated with the mobile coop structure, allowing the entire system to move together as one unit. This dynamic configuration eliminates the need for stationary concrete pads and fixed structural reinforcements, as the feed weight is distributed across the mobile structure's frame and supported by its wheels or tracks.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed storage system is merged with the mobile coop structure itself, rather than being a separate stationary silo. The feed containers are integrated into the coop's frame, sharing the structural support system and eliminating the need for separate concrete pad foundations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional stationary facilities are used, then animal housing is provided, but animals live on dirty litter and fecal matter compromising immune function
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile coop system allows animals to be moved to fresh locations regularly, preventing accumulation of dirty litter and fecal matter at any single site. The dynamic repositioning of the entire coop structure enables continuous access to clean ground, maintaining animal immune function without requiring complex stationary waste management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile coop system provides self-service waste management through its own movement capability. By relocating the entire structure to new ground, the system automatically leaves behind accumulated waste without requiring separate manure removal equipment or stationary lagoon systems.
4Adaptability or versatility
If stationary facilities with manure management systems are used, then animal housing is provided, but materials costs and labor costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile coop system extracts and eliminates the need for extensive stationary manure management infrastructure such as lagoons, complex litter systems, and waste disposal facilities. By moving the entire housing structure, the system takes out the requirement for permanent waste management installations, significantly reducing materials and maintenance costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile coop system performs waste management through its own movement, eliminating the need for separate manure removal operations, labor-intensive litter replacement, and expensive stationary treatment facilities. The system serves its own waste management needs through relocation.
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.