Variable Dimension Poultry Feeder With Pivot Chutes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing poultry feeders lack the ability to adjust feed capacity according to the age of the animals and often result in spillage and waste, especially when handling fine-grain feed.

Innovation Solution

A feeder design featuring two cylindrical chutes that can pivot independently to adjust their relative positions, allowing for variable feed capacity and minimizing spillage, with a feed hopper in the shape of an inverted V and a manual control system to manage the chutes' positions, ensuring the lip of one chute does not catch the inner edge of the other, preventing feed loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the feeder uses a fixed capacity design, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different age groups of poultry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeed capacity adjustmentVSAvoidfeeder structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The feeder is divided into two separate chutes that can independently pivot and be positioned at different angles, allowing each chute to function as an independent feed retention unit that can be individually adjusted for different poultry age groups

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The chutes are made movable rather than fixed, with each chute capable of pivoting on its axis to change its position and the feed retention capacity of the receptacle, enabling dynamic adaptation to different feeding requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the feeder uses a fixed capacity design, then the manufacturing is simple, but it lacks adaptability to different animal ages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeed capacity adjustmentVSAvoidfeeder construction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The feeder consists of two separate chutes (first chute and second chute) that can be manufactured independently and then assembled together, with each chute having its own pivot mechanism for independent adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first chute is positioned inside the second chute, with the inner edge of the first chute having a lip that engages with the outer chute, creating a nested configuration that allows for compact manufacturing and assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Quantity of substance

If the chutes are positioned to maximize feed capacity, then more feed can be retained, but fine-grain feed may spill or seep

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeed retention capacityVSAvoidfeed spillage

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The inner edge of the first chute is equipped with a lip at its lower end that closely adjacent or contacts the outer chute, creating a localized sealing feature that prevents fine-grain feed from spilling while maintaining overall feed retention capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The chutes can pivot to adjust their relative positions, allowing the operator to optimize the balance between feed retention capacity and spillage prevention by changing the degree of overlap between the chutes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Loss of substance

If the lip of the inner chute contacts the outer chute, then feed spillage is prevented, but the chutes may get stuck

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeed spillage preventionVSAvoid chute movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lip of the first chute is pre-positioned to closely adjacent or contact the outer chute in the normal operating position, establishing feed spillage prevention as the default state, while the pivot mechanism allows for deliberate movement when adjustment is needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11076580B2Variable dimension poultry feeder

Publication Date: 2021.08.03 BUTTERFLY CONCEPTS

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.