Abstract: An animal feeder having a rotatable feed plate. A spacer is carried by the feed plate to limit the amount of feed carried by the plate and further prevents accumulation of feed on the central portion feed plate. Limiting the amount of feed on the plate reduces the weight of feed to allow rotation of the plate by a smaller feeding animal. The spacer of this invention further reduces feed spoilage caused by static feed typically collected on the feed plate central portion. The feed plate is spaced from the feed trough by a central raised portion of the base to isolate feed carried on the plate from that in the trough. Isolating feed on the feed plate in this manner prevents the wicking of moisture from the trough into the hopper.

Abstract: An anti-lift/anti-twist hinge which includes a bracket having a wall and a pair of spaced converging flanges. The flanges have aligned openings therein for accommodating a hinge pin. The hinge bracket is attached to a gate and prevents the upward rooted or rubbed shifting of the gate and bracket by the interfering fit between the pin and bracket. When tightened against the gate the bracket flattens a side wall of the supporting gate tube to prevent twisting of the bracket relative to the tube.

Abstract: A liquid meter including a freely rotatable impeller driven by a constant speed drive. Liquid to be metered is introduced as a flow against, and accelerated by, the impeller. The energy necessary to accelerate the liquid is monitored to determine liquid flow. Preferably, the impeller is driven through a magnetic coupling which facilitates isolation of at least large portions of the drive from the liquid flow. One preferred embodiment employs a pair of spring coupled shutters with one shutter being magnetically coupled to the impeller. The displacement of the spring is dependent on liquid flow with that displacement being determined by photoelectrically monitoring the relative positions of the shutters. The power necessary to maintain the drive at constant speed may also, or alternatively, be monitored to determine liquid flow.

Abstract: A check valve designed for incorporation in a milk line of large milking systems is comprised of a vertical tubular member having an outlet tube of smaller bore extending laterally therefrom at right angles thereto and a spherical valve element within the vertical member having a diameter considerably less than the bore of said member and greater than the bore of the outlet tube. The vertical tube extends above the discharge outlet a distance equal to the diameter of the valve element, is sealed at its upper end, and receives the valve element therein when milk is pumped through the lower end and out of the outlet tube. A horizontally extending circular valve seat is carried by the lower end portion of the vertical tubular member closely adjacent to the outlet tube and cooperates with the valve element to prevent return flow of milk from the outlet tube when pumping through the line ceases.