Modular Animal Feeder with Trolley Net System for Controlled Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional animal feeders are prone to moisture accumulation, leading to moldy food and health issues in animals, and often have sharp edges or cumbersome designs that can injure animals, while also failing to control the rate of food consumption effectively.
Innovation Solution
A modular feeder system with a frame, trolley, and net system that allows for quick installation and adjustment of food delivery, featuring a sloped floor for drainage, removable roof for easy assembly, and shock system to prevent accidental water contact, along with optional uprights and cross bars for secure and safe feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If bales of hay or other edible materials are simply placed on the ground, then animals are free to eat as much as they want, but the food is exposed to various elements including rain, sleet, snow, and pests, causing the food to become moldy and undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder system divides the food storage into separate compartments (grain tray, hay rack, water trough) with distinct protective features for each, allowing targeted protection against different harmful factors while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses removable and replaceable components such as the grain tray, hay rack, and water trough that can be easily cleaned, replaced, or repaired, providing economical protection against moisture and pest damage without requiring a complete system replacement
2Strength
If traditional feeders are made of steel and other durable materials, then the feeders are durable, but the sharp edges can injure an animal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates rounded edges and corners on all steel components, and uses wooden or plastic components where applicable, creating a protective shell that maintains structural durability while eliminating sharp edges that could injure animals
Solution Approach 2:
All metal components feature rounded edges and corners rather than sharp angles, and the overall feeder design incorporates curved surfaces, transforming the hazardous sharp edges into safe curved surfaces that maintain strength while preventing animal injury
3Productivity
If bales of food are surrounded by materials such as nets to prevent unlimited consumption, then the rate of consumption is limited, but it is difficult and time consuming to install the nets around the heavy bales
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder system comes pre-assembled with all restraint mechanisms, netting, and structural components already in place, allowing the heavy food bale to be simply placed into the pre-prepared structure without requiring time-consuming installation of restraint materials around the bale
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the restraint function with the structural support function by integrating the netting and restraint mechanisms into the overall feeder frame structure, so that a single pre-assembled unit provides both structural support and consumption rate control without requiring separate installation steps
4Ease of operation
If pre-assembled feeders are manufactured, then the feeders are ready for immediate use, but they are large and expensive to ship
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder system is divided into separate modular components (frame, grain tray, hay rack, water trough, legs) that can be shipped in a compact, space-efficient configuration and then assembled on-site, reducing shipping volume and cost while providing a ready-to-use system after assembly
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 system keeps food dry, reduces the risk of injury, and allows for controlled consumption rates, improving animal health and safety while simplifying installation and shipping through modular design.
Implementation Method 1
a convexly sloped floor located within the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall
Implementation Method 2
shock system to prevent accidental water contact
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for using a feeder system for animals are described. The modular system includes frame having a plurality of walls. One embodiment includes a trolley system having a net system and shock system. The trolley system is movable relative to the plurality of walls in order to move the net system towards and away from a floor and a roof. More specifically, the trolley system allows the net system to be moved upwards towards the roof, after which food can be inserted into the frame. Once the food is appropriately located, the trolley system allows the net system to be moved downwardly until it is on top of the food to regulate the rate at which an animal consumes the food. The walls may have releasable fasteners that can be used to releasably secure the walls to one another, and the trolley system to one of the walls.