Telescoping Poultry Feeder with Adjustable Feed Pan Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing poultry feeders lack the ability to easily adjust feed levels, which can lead to inefficiencies in feed consumption and access for birds of different sizes, resulting in longer growth times and higher feed waste.
Innovation Solution
A poultry feeder system with a drop tube and feed leveler that allows for telescoping movement and adjustable feed levels, enabling easy adjustment of feed supply based on bird size and bedding height, ensuring consistent access and reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If feed pan depth is increased to accommodate growing birds, then birds of larger size can access feed, but young chicks cannot see or access the feed effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The feed pan is designed with adjustable depth capability, allowing it to transition between shallow and deep configurations. The pan can be positioned at multiple heights along the drop tube, enabling dynamic adaptation to different bird growth stages without requiring multiple different feeders
Solution Approach 2:
The feeder system allows changing the feed pan depth parameter by adjusting its position on the telescoping drop tube. As birds grow, the pan depth can be increased by moving it to a higher position, while for young chicks, the pan is positioned lower to maintain shallow depth for easy access
2Quantity of substance
If large amount of feed is deposited in feed pan, then sufficient feed quantity is available, but feed may go stale or be fouled before consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder incorporates a dynamic feed delivery system where the feed pan can be adjusted to receive different amounts of feed based on its position on the drop tube. This allows optimizing the feed quantity to match consumption rates, preventing overfilling that would lead to stale feed
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback through the transparent feed pan, allowing operators to monitor feed levels and freshness. The pan's position and feed quantity can be adjusted based on observed consumption patterns, ensuring feed is replenished before it goes stale
3Ease of operation
If feed pan is made shallow for young chicks, then chicks can easily access feed, but larger birds cannot access feed effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The feed pan is designed to be dynamically adjustable in depth by sliding along the telescoping drop tube. This single pan serves multiple functions across different growth stages, eliminating the need for separate shallow and deep feeders
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable feed pan creates a universal feeder that can accommodate both young chicks and larger birds. By adjusting the pan position, the same feeder structure serves different bird sizes and feed depth requirements throughout the growth cycle
4Device complexity
If feeders are made fixed in position, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adjustment for different bird sizes and bedding heights is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drop tube is designed with telescoping sections that allow vertical adjustment of the feed pan position. This dynamic structure enables easy height adjustment for different bedding depths and bird sizes without complex mechanical systems
Solution Approach 2:
The drop tube is segmented into telescoping sections that can extend or retract independently. This segmentation allows simple vertical adjustment of the feed pan height to accommodate varying bedding heights and bird growth stages
Data Source
AI summary
The feed leveler on a poultry feeder has a plurality of feet provided on an inward facing surface of the feed skirt. A feed pan has a pedestal extending up from a pan floor configured to engage with one of the plurality of feet. Each foot is positioned at a different vertical position along a longitudinal axis of the feed leveler. The pan floor has a central core, wherein a lower portion of a drop tube extends through the central core and a retainer is fastened to a bottom end of the drop tube to mount the feed pan and feed leveler on the drop tube such that the feed pan and the feed leveler can slide along a vertical axis of the drop tube so the poultry feeder engages a ground surface on which the feed pan is received in a telescoping manner.