Variable Dimension Poultry Feeder With Adjustable Chutes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional poultry feeders struggle to accommodate varying feed capacities for different ages of poultry and often result in feed spillage and waste, especially with fine-grain feeds.
Innovation Solution
A feeder design featuring adjustable, pivotable chutes that form a size-variable tray system with a feed hopper and a manual control system to manage feed capacity and prevent spillage, utilizing a unique lip and feed saving members to ensure efficient feed retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the feeder uses a fixed-size tray, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different ages of poultry with varying feed capacities
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is divided into two separate chutes (first chute and second chute) that can move independently relative to each other. Each chute can be positioned at different angles to adjust the tray's capacity, allowing the feeder to accommodate different poultry ages without requiring a completely different tray structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The chutes are designed to be movable rather than fixed, with the second chute capable of pivoting relative to the first chute. This dynamic structure allows the tray capacity to be adjusted by changing the relative position of the chutes, enabling adaptation to different feed requirements while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.
2Loss of substance
If the feeder uses a simple open tray design, then the structure is simple, but feed spills and seeps out especially with fine-grain feeds
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is segmented into two chutes with an interface between them. The first chute has a lip at its end edge that engages with the second chute, creating a sealed interface that prevents fine-grain feed from spilling through the junction while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The chutes are designed with flexible or closely fitting surfaces that can conform to each other at the interface. The lip structure and engaging surfaces create a seal that prevents feed leakage without requiring rigid, complex sealing mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the chutes are fixed in position, then the structure is stable, but the feed capacity cannot be adjusted for different poultry ages
Solution Approach 1:
The second chute is designed to pivot relative to the first chute around a fixed axis, allowing dynamic adjustment of the tray capacity while maintaining stable positioning during operation. The pivot mechanism enables easy reconfiguration without compromising the structural stability of the overall feeder.
Solution Approach 2:
Only the second chute is made movable while the first chute remains fixed, providing a stable reference structure. This localized mobility allows feed capacity adjustment without making the entire structure unstable, maintaining overall compositional stability while enabling adaptability.
4Loss of substance
If the chutes overlap completely to maximize feed retention, then feed spillage is minimized, but the lower part of the receptacle cannot be accessed for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The second chute can be pivoted to different positions, including a fully open position where it no longer overlaps with the first chute. This dynamic positioning allows the tray to be completely opened for cleaning and maintenance while maintaining full overlap capability for feed retention during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The chute overlap can be periodically adjusted between a closed position for feed retention and an open position for cleaning. This periodic switching between operational and maintenance states allows both feed retention and ease of cleaning to be achieved at different times in the operational cycle.
Data Source
AI summary
A feed hopper with two chute members is provided. The chutes are movable with respect to one another and one chute has an extending lip to engage the inner surface of the other chute to prevent feed from escaping the hopper.