Abstract: A method and apparatus for circulating air. The apparatus includes a motor for rotating the blades of a fan. The apparatus also includes a housing for the fan having a wall which is disposed proximate to the blades in the fan in a spaced relationship thereto. In addition, the apparatus includes a motor mount which is operable to support the wall of the housing so as to substantially maintain the spaced relationship between the wall and the blades of the fan.

Abstract: A facility for housing animals such as poultry in a well-ventilated and temperature controlled environment. The facility includes an electronic temperature controller system for providing manual control, as well as programmed operation, over a plurality of side wall curtains, a plurality of tunnel curtains, a plurality of side wall exhaust fans and a plurality of tunnel fans. The system enables the user to instantly visually check the status of, and program operation of, each of these devices by providing a plurality of independent switch controls and indicia for each such device associated with the facility. In alternative embodiments a plurality of heater control switches are included as well as a plurality of auxiliary switch controls for controlling a plurality of optional stir fans.

Abstract: A throttle cam for a throttle valve comprises a throttle cam for a throttle valve with the throttle cam comprising a cam body having a shaft opening with an opening axis. The throttle cam further comprises a trough-shaped cable track adjoining the cam body. The cable track comprises a track bottom having one end adjacent to cable connection openings, and a pair of track walls separated by the track bottom. The track walls extend away from an opening axis and lie in a radial plane so that, when the cam body is in a closed position, the throttle cable is received in the track bottom, and when the cam body is sufficiently rotated away from the closed position, a portion of the throttle cable is displaced away from the track bottom in the radial plane. The cable track further comprises a cam clip adjoining one of the track walls to obstruct displacement of the throttle cable beyond the track walls when the cam body is rotated away from the closed position.

Abstract: A versatile feeder for use in an automated feeding system of the type used to raise domestic birds and animals on a commercial scale comprising a pan member for containing and presenting feed for consumption, feeder tube means disposed above said pan member and connectible with a feed conveyor source, said feeder tube means having upper and lower feed gates for directing feed supplied to said feeder tube means from said feed conveyor source into said pan member, and rotatable collar means surrounding said feeder tube means for controlling a first feed flow directed through said upper feed gate into said pan member independently of a second feed flow directed through said lower feed gate into said pan member. Associated wing members may also be provided on said rotatable collar means to prevent access to said first feed flow by said consuming birds and animals prior to the feed reaching a limited feeding area defined within the pan member.

Abstract: A poultry feeder assembly for use with an automated conveyor-type feed system. The feeder assembly is inexpensive to manufacture and comprises only two assembly pieces which are formed of a resilient, flexible material allowing for easy assembly and adjustment without tool or implement. Multi-stage incremental positioning provided between a dome/feeder-tube combination and a pan member allows feeding of brood through pre-harvest sized foul and renders the feeder assembly adaptable for use with feeds having varying flow characteristics.

Abstract: An intake cup apparatus is provided for delivering feed from a drop tube to a rotating auger-like conveyor. The apparatus comprises a housing extending above and around the auger-like member and having a top inlet portion for connection to the drop tube for receiving feed therefrom; and a feed metering gate structure mounted interiorly of the housing for directing and controlling the rate of flow of the feed to the auger-like conveyor. This gate structure comprises a pair of generally parallel plates spaced apart by a dimension similar to the diameter of the auger-like conveyor and having lower edges thereof extending about the auger-like conveyor. These plates are vertically movable relative to the auger-like member to thereby control the flow rate of feed thereto.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding livestock comprises a pan accessible to the livestock for feeding therefrom, a container for holding a quantity of feed comprising dry powdered feed material and a mixing chamber. A dispensing mechanism dispenses measured increments of the feed to the mixing chamber and a control valve is coupled with a water supply line for dispensing measured increments of water to the mixing chamber. A mixer is selectively operable for mixing the water with the feed to produce a fluid feed mixture for delivery into the pan.

Abstract: Disclosed is a conveyor system for delivering feed to poultry cages which are organized in an oppositely facing, multi-level array. The system comprises a first endless conduit extending along an upper conduit run past an upper level of cages facing in a first direction, and extending along a lower conduit run past a lower level of cages facing in a second or opposite direction. A second endless conduit extends along an upper conduit run past an upper level of cages facing in that opposite direction, and extends along a lower conduit run past the lower level of cages facing in the first direction. Displaceable driver elements disposed in these endless conduits carry feed in trough runs past the adjacent cages. An overhead delivery conveyor delivers feed to these first and second conduits. First and second drop tubes permit the level of feed in the conduits to be adjusted. This adjustment discourages the poultry from playing with or raking the feed.

Abstract: A feeder for poultry and the like is disclosed. The feeder includes pan means for retaining and presenting delivered feed, and hollow drop tube means adapted to extend from a conveyor to a distal end adjacent the pan means. A first feed gate defined between the drop tube distal end and the pan permits feed to pass from the drop tube to an inner pan area for consumption by relatively mature poultry. A brood gate opening defined in the drop tube above its distal end permits feed to flow from the conveyor through at least part of the drop tube and out the brood gate opening to an outer portion of the pan for consumption by relatively immature poultry.

Abstract: A novel tube construction is provided for use in an auger feeder conveyor. The tube comprises a bi-edged tube sheet curved in a mediate portion to form a tube of substantially circular cross-sectional aspect. A portion adjacent a first sheet edge extends substantially radially outwardly to form a male flange. A portion adjacent a second sheet edge has a first element which extends substantially radially outwardly. That portion is reversely turned to provide a second flange element extending radially inwardly. The first and second elements thus form a female flange into which the male flange fits. In this way, a tube seam is formed which maintains the tube sheet in its cross-sectional aspect. A bell and spigot arrangement can be provided for interconnecting tube sections. Several ways are offered for arranging the tube sections in a progressively angularly offset array to encourage desired feed distribution action.

Abstract: A feeder pan assembly is provided for use with poultry and the like. A hood includes a shell which extends into a pan to define an annular feeding area accessible to the poultry. A hood-pan interconnector includes a number of supports which are curved and inclined to slide over a corresponding number of ramps formed upon the shell. When the hood and interconnectors are relatively rotated, the interconnector supports slide over the ramps to raise or lower the pan. This pan position readjustment increases or decreases the amount of feed flowing into the feeder pan assembly feeding area.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for precisely measuring the weight of even large amounts of feed stored in bulk feed storage bins. This apparatus includes a number of electrical load cells supported upon a foundation. The weight of the bulk feed bins and any feed contained therein is, in turn, supported upon the load cells by bin support legs. If desired, an interconnecting platform can be provided to support a number of feed bins and their legs upon several cells. In response to weight-induced deformation of a load cell element, electrical signals are transmitted to electrical processing circuitry. This circuitry can provide a display of the weight of feed remaining in the bin, the number of feedings remaining in the bin at a given weight increment of feed, the presence or absence of a minimal amount of feed within the bin, and other data.