Timed-Access Control for Gravity Protein Feeders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gravity-fed deer protein feeders fail to control access to feed attractants during daylight hours, leading to deer adapting nocturnal feeding patterns and reducing the effectiveness of attracting whitetail deer during legal hunting times.
Innovation Solution
A timed-access control system for gravity-fed protein feeders, incorporating a programmable timer switch, solar panel, feed access control door assembly, electromagnetic coil relay, and linear actuator, which controls access to feed attractants through variables of time of day, frequency of access, and duration, ensuring access only during daylight hours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If feed attractant is continuously accessible in gravity-fed protein feeders, then deer can access feed at any time, but deer adapt nocturnal feeding patterns and avoid feeders during daylight hours when hunting is legal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by using a programmable timer switch to open and close the feed access door at predetermined intervals during daylight hours. The door opens at specific times (e.g., dawn, noon, dusk) to allow deer access to feed, then closes during periods when hunting is not legal. This periodic opening and closing schedule forces deer to feed during daylight hours when they can be observed and harvested, directly resolving the contradiction between continuous feed availability and deer feeding behavior alignment with hunting regulations.
2Reliability
If feed access door is always open for continuous feed availability, then deer have unlimited access to nutrition, but the feeder cannot control access timing to align with legal hunting hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning the feed access door from a static always-open state to a dynamic controlled state. The door is equipped with a motorized actuator system that can open and close automatically based on timer settings, allowing the feeder to adapt access timing to match legal hunting hours while maintaining nutritional delivery. This dynamic control mechanism resolves the contradiction by making the door state variable rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback through the programmable timer switch that monitors and controls door opening/closing cycles. The timer provides temporal feedback by enforcing predetermined schedules, ensuring feed is only accessible during appropriate daylight hours. This feedback mechanism reliably delivers nutrition during controlled time windows, resolving the contradiction between continuous nutritional access and timed control capability.
3Productivity
If a timed-access control system with motorized door and timer is added to the feeder, then access can be controlled during daylight hours, but the device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a control system where a single programmable timer switch performs multiple functions: it controls the motorized door actuator, manages feed access timing, and coordinates with the solar panel power system. The solar panel itself serves dual purposes by providing power to the electrical components and charging a battery for nighttime operation. This multi-functionality approach reduces the number of separate components needed, resolving the contradiction between effective timed access control and device complexity.
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 effectively forces deer to access feed attractants during daylight hours, enhancing the feeder's purpose of attracting whitetail deer during legal hunting times and maintaining the nutritional benefits of high-protein feed.
Implementation Method 1
a solar panel, wherein said solar panel is configured to maintain and recharge the primary battery
Implementation Method 2
an electromagnetic coil relay
Implementation Method 3
a linear actuator
Implementation Method 4
gravity-fed feeder improvement system
Data Source
AI summary
A gravity-fed protein feeder improvement comprising a timed-access control system configured to increase opportunities to attract or harvest a target animal at a protein feeder site during daylight hours, said timed-access control system comprising a programable timer switch, a battery, a solar panel, a feed access control door assembly, an electromagnetic coil relay, a linear actuator, actuator alignment bracket and assembly mount.