Vibratory Feeder Hopper Design to Prevent Feed Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal feeders face challenges in preventing bridging and ensuring smooth flow of particulate animal feed, which can lead to inefficient dispensing and require manual agitation.
Innovation Solution
A vibratory animal feeder with a hopper vibrator and feed dispensing assembly that imparts vibration to the feeder hopper, breaking up the feed and facilitating its flow through a feed dispensing opening, using a battery-powered motor and a feed dispensing wheel with paddle-like blades to agitate and dispense the feed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional animal feeder is used without vibration mechanism, then the structure is simple, but bridging occurs and feed flow is blocked requiring manual agitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration through a motor-driven eccentric weight system that generates oscillating motion. This vibration is transmitted to the hopper walls and feed material, preventing bridging and ensuring continuous feed flow without manual intervention. The vibration mechanism transforms the static feeder structure into a dynamically active system that self-cleans and maintains flow channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration mechanism enables the feeder to self-service by automatically preventing and eliminating bridging conditions. The system monitors and corrects its own operational issues through continuous vibration, eliminating the need for manual agitation or intervention to maintain feed flow reliability.
2Productivity
If manual agitation is used to prevent bridging, then the device structure remains simple, but labor time and operational intervention are required
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration mechanism enables the feeder to self-service by automatically preventing and eliminating bridging conditions. The system monitors and corrects its own operational issues through continuous vibration, eliminating the need for manual agitation or intervention to maintain feed flow reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration mechanism performs preliminary action by continuously preventing bridging before it can block feed flow. The system maintains optimal flow conditions proactively rather than reacting to blocked feed, ensuring consistent dispensing efficiency without operational intervention.
3Reliability
If vibration is applied to prevent bridging, then feed flow is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration mechanism operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when bridging conditions are detected or at scheduled intervals. This periodic operation maintains feed flow reliability while minimizing energy consumption by keeping the motor idle during normal flow conditions.
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 vibratory feeder effectively prevents bridging and ensures the free flow of animal feed, allowing for efficient dispensing without manual intervention, ensuring that the entire quantity of feed is dispensed without the need for manual loosening or agitation.
Implementation Method 1
At least one hopper vibrator may be disposed in the hopper interior in mechanical engagement with the feeder hopper to impart vibration to the feeder hopper and agitate and break up the animal feed
Data Source
AI summary
A vibratory animal feeder suitable for containing and agitating particulate animal feed and preventing or minimizing bridging and facilitating flow of the feed as the feed is dispensed to attract game animals may include a feeder hopper. The feeder hopper may include a hopper interior for containing animal feed and a feed dispensing opening communicating with the hopper interior. A feed dispensing assembly may be disposed in communication with the feed dispensing opening of the feed hopper. At least one hopper vibrator may be disposed in the hopper interior in mechanical engagement with the feeder hopper to impart vibration to the feeder hopper and agitate and break up the animal feed such that the animal feed flows more easily and freely from the feeder to the ground or other surface.