Abstract: A ceiling ventilation inlet includes a housing having an air inlet aperture, an air outlet aperture, and a baffle supported for linear movement adjacent the air outlet aperture. A spring is positioned such that the baffle moves dependant upon air pressure difference between the confinement space and the external environment. Air entering the housing opens the baffle and enters the livestock confinement building in a 360 degree dispersion pattern. The spring causes the baffle to direct the flow of air into the confinement space at a near constant rate so as to optimize ventilation. The greater the air pressure difference between the confinement space and the external environment the greater the air outlet area becomes. Since the inlet is responsive to the pressure difference and the air outlet area increases or decreases in size, the airflow velocity entering the confinement space may be optimized at a near constant rate.

Abstract: A ventilation inlet includes a housing having two air inlets apertures, a solid wind-deflecting rear wall, and a baffle supported for pivotal movement about a pivot point. A spring or other biasing mechanism is operatively connected to the baffle. Air entering the housing opens the baffle and enters the livestock confinement building. The baffle, positioned responsive to the amount and pressure of air entering the housing, directs the flow of air into the confinement space so as to optimize the speed and direction of the external fresh air entering the confinement space. The design of the ventilation inlet is optimized by calculating the necessary operators required to enable the baffle to properly respond to the incoming air.

Abstract: A wind diverter for deflecting incoming wind away from the discharge end of a ventilator fan of the type which ventilates agricultural buildings. The diverter includes a conical wind deflector which is mounted to an exhaust hood of the fan by rigid brackets. The deflector is in line with the exhaust hood and spaced away from its discharge end to permit exhaust of air from the hood. Incoming wind is deflected past the periphery of the deflector to create a low pressure region which assists the discharge of air from the exhaust hood.

Abstract: A feeder for dispensing feed to livestock which includes a trough having a surface adapted to receive the feed thereon and a hopper positioned above the trough surface. The hopper has a bottom with an aperture therethrough and a side wall. A feed wheel is rotatably mounted on the trough and includes a radially extending spoke engageable by livestock. A deflector having an upwardly tapering cross-sectional configuration is positioned in the hopper and includes a lower edge positioned above the hopper bottom and terminating inwardly of the hopper side wall and outwardly of the hopper bottom aperture. Sweep means is positioned below the deflector lower edge and adapted for sweeping feed in the hopper to the aperture.

Abstract: A self feeder for livestock is provided which comprises a base member having a surface for receiving feed thereon and a hopper positioned thereabove. The hopper is adapted for containing feed therein and has a bottom with an aperture for allowing feed to flow therethrough and into said base member receptacle. A plurality of hopper support members are each connected respectively to the base member and the hopper and are also adapted for separating feeding animals. A feed wheel rotatably mounted in the receptacle includes an upright member rotatably mounted in the receptacle. The upright member extends through the hopper bottom aperture with upper and lower portions respectively above and below the level of the hopper bottom. An agitating rod extends from the upright member upper portion for agitating feed within the hopper as the feed wheel is rotated. The feed wheel lower portion includes a spoke extending from the upright member which is movable by an animal to rotate the feed wheel.

Abstract: An animal feeder is provided which has a bin portion for storing feed and a trough portion. The two portions have mating ribs and grooves forming a fluted joint which when used with a suitable adhesive agent bonds the two portions together. Located in the lower end of the bin portion is a flow passageway communicating with the trough portion and having a dispensing opening through which the feed is dispensed into the trough portion. The flow of feed is controlled by a variable gate positioned so as to regulate the size of the dispensing opening. The size of the opening, distance of the top of the opening from the trough, and a vertical rib positioned within the trough portion which circumscribes the dispensing opening and acts as a dam, cooperate so as to limit the amount of undisturbed feed in the trough position. The feeder is designed to mate with a hanger therefor to allow simple and quick mounting of the feeder to a fixed structure.

Abstract: An animal feeding device in which the animal actuates the transfer of the feed from a sheltered feed storage hopper to a feeding station by working a lever or similar device. The feed hopper is positioned above the feeding station, whereby the feed will transfer by gravity therebetween. A rotatable cylinder having pockets therein is positioned between the storage hopper and the feeding station so as to block gravity flow of the feed. A rod is fixedly attached to the rotatable cylinder and extends outwardly into the feeding station, such that the animal may swing the rod from side to side thereby rotating the cylinder back and forth. The rotation of the cylinder alternatively causes the pockets therein to fill with feed and to empty into the feeding station. A dampening mechanism is provided which senses accumulation of feed in the feeding station and resists additional demand of feed by the animal.