Patents by Inventor Benjamin F. Rapp

Benjamin F. Rapp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4656969
    Abstract: An automatic livestock feeding apparatus having a hopper, a trough, a distributor for transferring feed from the hopper to the trough, and a feed level sensing device. The feed level sensing device includes apparatus for inducing vibration of the trough when the amount of feed present in the trough falls below a predetermined level. The sensing device further includes apparatus for detecting the vibration, thus indicating a low feed level condition. The feeding apparatus also includes a distributor control device which is responsive to the low level feed condition indicated by the feed level sensing device, and which activates other apparatus to cause the trough to be replenished with either a dry feed or liquid feed mixture. A counter display may included as part of the feeding apparatus to indicate the number of times the trough has been replenished. Additional control apparatus may be included to limit trough replenishing where ration feeding is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Rapp, Gary L. Rapp