Abstract: A livestock feeding station includes an entrance raceway, an exit raceway arranged at an angle relative to the entrance raceway, and a feeder located at an intersection between the entrance and exit raceways. A feed dispensing mechanism selectively dispenses an allotted amount of feed into the feeder. A scale assembly having a platform located in the entrance raceway is used to individually weigh animals within the feeding station. The scale assembly includes a hinged scale platform to allow for easy cleaning, and a cantilevered scale platform extension that extends past an end of the entrance raceway and the feeder to provide a weighing platform assembly that continues to hold an entire animal during normal feeding functions. The scale assembly also includes a basket assembly construction to ensure that an accurate weight measurement can be made even if an animal is leaning against a back or front side of the station.

Abstract: A bin level monitoring system uses one or more monitoring devices (10) to measure a material (23) level in a bin (34). The monitoring devices (10) each have a frame (11) with at least two rigid frame members (12, 13) extending in a longitudinal direction with a space (14) between the frame members. A flexible material (22) covers the frame members (12, 13) and encloses the space (14) there between. A first resistive element (24) and a second resistive or conductive element (30) extend in the longitudinal direction of the device (10) and are arranged to move into contact with each other between the first and second frame members (12, 13) when pressure is applied by bulk material (23) in the bin (34) pressing against an outer surface of the flexible covering (22). An electric circuit (35) connected to the monitoring device (10) measures a total resistance of the free, non-contacted portion of at least one of the first and second elements (24, 30) to provide a measurement of the material level in the bin (34).

Abstract: A safety bypass gate is provided for use with a livestock management system having a sorting scale arranged between watering and feeding areas. The safety bypass gate changes from a closed position to an open position to provide an emergency exit from the watering area when a condition exists that prevents animals from passing over the sorting scale. The safety bypass gate includes a pair of pivoting gate members and a channel member that fits over the top edges of the gate members to secure them closed. The channel member is attached to a pneumatic actuator that uses air pressure to hold the channel member in its locked position, and a spring return that moves the channel member to its unlocked position upon a drop in air pressure. Springs bias the gate members from their closed positions to their open positions when the channel member moves to its unlocked position.

Abstract: A livestock feeding station includes an entrance raceway, an exit raceway arranged at an angle relative to the entrance raceway, and a feeder located at an intersection between the entrance and exit raceways. A feed dispensing mechanism selectively dispenses an allotted amount of feed into the feeder. A scale assembly having a platform located in the entrance raceway is used to individually weigh animals within the feeding station. The scale assembly includes a hinged scale platform to allow for easy cleaning, and a cantilevered scale platform extension that extends past an end of the entrance raceway and the feeder to provide a weighing platform assembly that continues to hold an entire animal during normal feeding functions. The scale assembly also includes a basket assembly construction to ensure that an accurate weight measurement can be made even if an animal is leaning against a back or front side of the station.

Abstract: A safety bypass gate is provided for use with a livestock management system having a sorting scale arranged between watering and feeding areas. The safety bypass gate changes from a closed position to an open position to provide an emergency exit from the watering area when a condition exists that prevents animals from passing over the sorting scale. The safety bypass gate includes a pair of pivoting gate members and a channel member that fits over the top edges of the gate members to secure them closed. The channel member is attached to a pneumatic actuator that uses air pressure to hold the channel member in its locked position, and a spring return that moves the channel member to its unlocked position upon a drop in air pressure. Springs bias the gate members from their closed positions to their open positions when the channel member moves to its unlocked position.

Abstract: A safety bypass gate is provided for use with a livestock management system having a sorting scale arranged between watering and feeding areas. The safety bypass gate changes from a closed position to an open position to provide an emergency exit from the watering area when a condition exists that prevents animals from passing over the sorting scale. The safety bypass gate includes a pair of pivoting gate members and a channel member that fits over the top edges of the gate members to secure them closed. The channel member is attached to a pneumatic actuator that uses air pressure to hold the channel member in its locked position, and a spring return that moves the channel member to its unlocked position upon a drop in air pressure. Springs bias the gate members from their closed positions to their open positions when the channel member moves to its unlocked position.

Abstract: A bin level monitoring system uses one or more monitoring devices (10) to measure a material (23) level in a bin (34). The monitoring devices (10) each have a frame (11) with at least two rigid frame members (12, 13) extending in a longitudinal direction with a space (14) between the frame members. A flexible material (22) covers the frame members (12, 13) and encloses the space (14) there between. A first resistive element (24) and a second resistive or conductive element (30) extend in the longitudinal direction of the device (10) and are arranged to move into contact with each other between the first and second frame members (12, 13) when pressure is applied by bulk material (23) in the bin (34) pressing against an outer surface of the flexible covering (22). An electric circuit (35) connected to the monitoring device (10) measures a total resistance of the free, non-contacted portion of at least one of the first and second elements (24, 30) to provide a measurement of the material level in the bin (34).

Abstract: A safety bypass gate is provided for use with a livestock management system having a sorting scale arranged between watering and feeding areas. The safety bypass gate changes from a closed position to an open position to provide an emergency exit from the watering area when a condition exists that prevents animals from passing over the sorting scale. The safety bypass gate includes a pair of pivoting gate members and a channel member that fits over the top edges of the gate members to secure them closed. The channel member is attached to a pneumatic actuator that uses air pressure to hold the channel member in its locked position, and a spring return that moves the channel member to its unlocked position upon a drop in air pressure. Springs bias the gate members from their closed positions to their open positions when the channel member moves to its unlocked position.

Abstract: A livestock management system is provided that sorts animals for split-weight feeding based on a calculated median weight of a herd. The system includes a pen area partitioned into a first feeding area containing at least a first feeder, a second feeding area containing at least a second feeder, and a common watering area containing at least one waterer. First and second one-way gates are respectively provided between the feeding areas and the watering area allowing animals to pass from the feeding areas into the watering area. A walk-through scale has an inlet open to the watering area, and first and second outlets open to the first and second feeding areas, respectively. The walk-through scale has a sort gate for selectively directing animals into the first and second feeding areas based on a comparison of a detected weight of the animal and a calculated median weight of the herd.

Abstract: A swinging gate assembly is provided for use in an electronic livestock feeding station and an automated sorting system. The gate assembly has a generally V-shaped configuration in plan view with first and second side openings defined on each side of the V-shape. A gate panel has a first side edge pivotally connected to the frame for rotation about a substantially vertical first pivot axis at the apex of the V-shape. The gate panel is swingable about the first pivot axis between a first position in which the first side opening is closed by the gate panel and a second position in which the second side opening is closed by the gate panel. A mechanical actuator and locking assembly is provided for moving the gate panel between the first and second positions and locking the gate panel in a selected one of the positions.

Abstract: A swinging gate assembly is provided for use in an electronic livestock feeding station and an automated sorting system. The gate assembly has a generally V-shaped configuration in plan view with first and second side openings defined on each side of the V-shape. A gate panel has a first side edge pivotally connected to the frame for rotation about a substantially vertical first pivot axis at the apex of the V-shape. The gate panel is swingable about the first pivot axis between a first position in which the first side opening is closed by the gate panel and a second position in which the second side opening is closed by the gate panel. A mechanical actuator and locking assembly is provided for moving the gate panel between the first and second positions and locking the gate panel in a selected one of the positions.

Abstract: A swinging gate assembly is provided for use in an electronic livestock feeding station and an automated sorting system. The gate assembly has a generally V-shaped configuration in plan view with first and second side openings defined on each side of the V-shape. A gate panel has a first side edge pivotally connected to the frame for rotation about a substantially vertical first pivot axis at the apex of the V-shape. The gate panel is swingable about the first pivot axis between a first position in which the first side opening is closed by the gate panel and a second position in which the second side opening is closed by the gate panel. A mechanical actuator and locking assembly is provided for moving the gate panel between the first and second positions and locking the gate panel in a selected one of the positions.

Abstract: A livestock management system is provided that sorts animals for split-weight feeding based on a calculated median weight of a herd. The system includes a pen area partitioned into a first feeding area containing at least a first feeder, a second feeding area containing at least a second feeder, and a common watering area containing at least one waterer. First and second one-way gates are respectively provided between the feeding areas and the watering area allowing animals to pass from the feeding areas into the watering area. A walk-through scale has an inlet open to the watering area, and first and second outlets open to the first and second feeding areas, respectively. The walk-through scale has a sort gate for selectively directing animals into the first and second feeding areas based on a comparison of a detected weight of the animal and a calculated median weight of the herd.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for dispersing a metathesis catalyst in an olefin to produce a catalyst-monomer mixture having a desired catalyst:monomer ratio comprising dispersing the catalyst within a solvent and mixing the dispersed catalyst with an olefin monomer. In preferred embodiments, the catalyst is of the formula wherein M is ruthenium or osmium; X and X1 are either the same or different and are any anionic ligand; L and L1 are either the same or different and are neutral electron donor; R and R1 are either the same or different and are each independently hydrogen or a substituent selected from the group consisting of C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C20 alkynyl, aryl, C1-C20 carboxylate, C1-C20 alkoxy, C2-C20 alkenyloxy, C2-C20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C2-C20 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C20 alkylthio, C1-C20 alkylsulfonyl and C1-C20 alkylsulfinyl, wherein each of the substituents is substituted or unsubstituted.

Abstract: A septic tank structure having first and second lower tank members and a cover member supported on and forming a seal with respective upper ends of the tank members. The tank members each have a closed lower end, an open upper end, and side walls extending between the lower and upper ends to form a receptacle for receiving waste materials. The tank members have respective flat sides that extend in a substantially vertical plane and are placed together when the tank structure is assembled. The upper ends of the assembled tank members define an outer periphery having an oval shape. The cover member has a lower periphery, a manhole opening, and a steeply sloped wall portion extending between the lower periphery and the manhole opening. The lower periphery of the cover member has an oval shape that corresponds to the oval shape of the upper ends of the assembled tank members. A channel-shaped configuration on the lower periphery of the cover member enhances the seal between the cover member and the tank members.

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 cone 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. A sweep member is positioned below the deflector cone lower edge and adapted for sweeping feed in the hopper to the aperture. An adjustment mechanism is provided for suspending the deflector cone above the hopper bottom and adjusting a spacing between the lower edge of the deflector cone and the hopper bottom.

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 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.