Movable Feeding Fence Section Reducing Shoulder Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feeding fences can cause self-inflicted injuries in animals, particularly cows, due to the strong forces they exert when trying to reach feed beyond their reach, and do not allow for efficient distribution of feed, leading to reduced consumption and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A feeding fence section that moves when pushed by an animal, allowing it to follow the animal's movement, with flexible mounting means that bias the fence back to its starting position, and multiple head passages for simultaneous feeding, reducing pressure on the animal's shoulders and encouraging longer feeding times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the feeding fence is made rigid and fixed to prevent animals from crossing, then the structural integrity and security are improved, but the animals may inflict self-injuries when pushing strongly against it to reach feed
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding fence section is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to tilt forward when animals push against it. The mounting means enable the fence section to dynamically adjust its position, tilting forward to follow animal movements while maintaining structural integrity through the biasing mechanism that returns it to the starting position.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the feeding fence is made displaceable to reduce injuries, then animal comfort and safety are improved, but the fence may lose structural stability and allow animals to cross
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting means change the positional parameter of the fence section dynamically. The fence section tilts forward within a controlled angular range when animals push, then returns to its original position through the biasing mechanism, maintaining both movability for safety and stability through defined positional limits.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the feeding fence allows significant movement to follow animal movements, then animal comfort and reduced injuries are improved, but the fence may become too flexible and lose its barrier function
Solution Approach 1:
The fence section allows partial movement by tilting forward to follow animal movements, which is sufficient to reduce injuries and improve comfort. The movement is limited to the extent needed for animal welfare while the biasing mechanism ensures the fence returns to its barrier position, maintaining adequate barrier strength.
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 solution effectively reduces self-inflicted injuries, increases feed consumption, and enhances animal comfort by allowing the fence to adjust to the animal's movement, while maintaining structural integrity and preventing animals from crossing the fence.
Implementation Method 1
The mounting means are preferably arranged to bias the fence section with a biasing force that is a function of the angular deviation (a) of the fence section from the starting position. The function may in particular be a linear function such as one achieved by means of a spring, in particular a torsional spring.
Implementation Method 2
or passive biasing means - such as a coil spring, gas spring, rubber blocks or similar resilient means - enabling that the mounting means will try to force the fence section towards the starting position as soon as the fence section is angularly displaced away from the starting position.
Data Source
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AI summary
A feeding fence section (1, 1') suitable for separating a feeding area (4) for animals and a feed-holding part (5) is disclosed, where the feeding fence section (1, 1') is provided with flexible mounting means (2), which allows the fence section (1, 1') to be angularly displaced by said animals from a starting position (1) towards a tilted position (1') about a substantially horizontal, longitudinal axis, wherein the mounting means (2) are biasing the fence section from said tilted position (1') towards the starting position (1).