Patent ID: 6067933
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
A feed intake apparatus for a livestock feeding system, said apparatus comprising:(a) a hopper having a feed inlet which receives feed from a feed supply source and a feed outlet, said hopper having a means of regulating the amount of feed in said hopper;(b) a housing connected to the bottom of said hopper having a feed inlet which receives feed from said hopper and a feed outlet, said housing having a body which generally converges downwardly and inwardly from said housing feed inlet toward said housing feed outlet;(c) a feed conveyor attached to said housing, said feed conveyor comprising a conveyor tube with a feed auger housed therein, said feed auger having a multiplicity of substantially equally spaced flights and being driven within said conveyor for conveying feed through said conveyor tube;(d) an agitation means within said housing; and(e) a drive means connected to said auger for imparting motion to the agitation means said agitation means comprising:i at least one rotatable shaft extending through the housing;ii rotatable shaft support bearings attached to opposite sides of the housing;iii feed agitation members mounted on said at least one rotatable shaft which break up clumps and reduce the occurrence of their formation thereby positively preventing jamming or compaction in said conveyor tube, said housing, and said hopper;iv a gear mounted on each of said at least one rotatable shaft on the exterior of said housing; andv a drive means connected to said gear for imparting motion to a second rotatable shaft extending through said housing.