Abstract:
An apparatus for estimating the level of feed present within a bulk feed storage tank allows the empty volume of the storage tank above the level of feed to be estimated in order to evaluate the need to order new supplies of feed to be placed within the storage tank. The apparatus includes a slide mechanism having a slide block moveable within a vertically oriented slide tube. A rope entrained around a pulley is attached to the slide block to power movement of the slide block upwardly. A striker member is connected to the slide block and positioned externally of the slide tube. A second rope is attached to the striker member to permit selective actuation thereof to strike the exterior side of the storage tank. The pitch of the reverberation from the striking of the striker member provides an indication of the level of feed within the storage tank.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims domestic priority to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/004,112, filed on May 28, 2014, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to a device for estimating the volume of feed in a bulk feed tank, and more particularly, to an apparatus movable along the vertical height of a bulk feed tank to impact the side of the bulk feed tank to estimate the level of feed within the tank from the sound made from the impact. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Poultry houses are used to raise birds, such as chickens or turkeys, from a young age to an adult bird, at which time the adult birds are crated and delivered to a processing plant. Modern poultry houses can be provided with automated feeding devices that deliver food for the growing birds and with automated watering devices that provide fresh supplies of water as the water is consumed by the birds. Although other species of poultry are raised in such an environment, the most common specie is the chicken. 
         [0004]    The feed for the chickens is stored outside of the chicken house in an upright container commonly referred to as a bulk feed tank, or a feed silo. These containers are usually round and formed of bands of corrugated galvanized steel sheeting formed into an arcuate shape and connected together to form a cylindrical tank. The top of the bulk feed tank includes an inlet opening into which a feed truck can deliver bulk supplies of feed for the birds into the tank. The feed flows to the bottom of the tank by gravity into a frusto-conical outlet portion that terminates in an outlet opening, which is typically coupled to the automatic feeding devices to supply feed to the poultry within the poultry house as is prearranged. 
         [0005]    The bulk feed tanks vary in height and in diameter according to the volume of bulk feed that the operator wants to keep on hand. Differences in height can be attained by adding additional bands of galvanized sheet metal. The joints between the respective vertical bands of sheet metal provide dividing zones that can be used to calculate the amount of feed that the partially emptied feed tank can hold. For example, for a given diameter bulk feed tank, the volume of feed between the joints can be a given tonnage of feed, such as two tons of feed. Thus, if the bulk feed tank is emptied through two joints, the operator will know that he can order four tons of feed to be delivered to that particular bulk feed tank. 
         [0006]    For purposes of inspection, bulk feed tanks typically include vertical ladders affixed to the side of the tank. The operator will typically climb the ladder and use a hammer or other solid object to impact the side of the tank as he climbs the ladder, periodically striking the tank as he climbs. The sound of reverberation made by the sheet metal bands is different when the bulk feed is behind the band of sheet metal than when the tank does not have feed behind the sheet metal panel being struck. The mass of the feed behind the panel deadens the reverberation, while the empty portion reverberates with more of an echo. In this manner, the operator can estimate with reasonable accuracy where the level of the feed inside the tank lies without climbing to the top of the tank and looking into the inlet opening. 
         [0007]    Manufacturers of bulk feed tanks have addressed the problem of ascertaining the volume of feed remaining in the tank by forming transparent windows into the sides of the tank so that the operator can see where the level of the feed lies within the tank. However, transparent windows only work for a limited period of time because of the dirty and abrasive nature of poultry feed which clouds and scratches the interior side of the windows until the windows are no longer transparent and, thus, are no longer effective in determining where the level of feed lies within the tank. 
         [0008]    It would be desirable to provide a device that can be utilized to ascertain the level of feed within the interior of a closed bulk feed tank without requiring the operator to physically climb a ladder on the tank to strike the sides of the tank with a solid object, or to inspect the interior of the tank through the inlet opening at the top of the tank. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is an object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of the known prior art by providing an apparatus for estimating the level of feed within a bulk feed tank without requiring a visual inspection of the contents of the bulk feed tank. 
         [0010]    It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus that enables a person to estimate the level of feed within a bulk feed storage tank without requiring the person to climb a ladder to access the interior of the bulk feed storage tank. 
         [0011]    It is a feature of this invention that the person requiring the information as to the volume of feed remaining in the interior of a bulk feed storage tank can obtain that information by manipulating a rope at the ground level of the bulk feed storage tank. 
         [0012]    It is an advantage of this invention that the empty volume of the bulk storage feed tank can be estimated. 
         [0013]    It is another advantage of this invention that the timing for ordering a new supply of feed can be determined by utilizing the apparatus for estimating the level of feed in a bulk storage tank. 
         [0014]    It is another feature of this invention that the apparatus for estimating the level of feed in a bulk feed storage tank includes a striker member supported on a slide block mounted in a slide tube secured relative to the side of the bulk feed storage tank. 
         [0015]    It is still another advantage of this invention that the striker member can be moved vertically along the exterior surface of the bulk feed storage tank to permit the striker member to be operated at different vertically spaced positions along the slide tube. 
         [0016]    It is still another feature of this invention that the movement of the slide block within the slide tube is controlled by a first rope entrained around a pulley at the top of the slide tube, while the movement of the striker member against the bulk feed storage tank is controlled through manipulation of a second rope accessible at the ground level adjacent the bulk feed storage tank. 
         [0017]    It is yet another advantage of this invention that the reverberations of the exterior surface of the bulk feed storage tank have a different audible pitch when the striker member strikes the side of the storage tank with a supply of feed behind the exterior surface struck by the striker member, than when the side of the storage tank being struck by the striker member has nothing behind the exterior surface. 
         [0018]    It is a further advantage of this invention that the operator can estimate the level of feed within the storage tank by listening to the change in pitch of the reverberations of the exterior surface of the bulk feed storage tank as the striker member is actuated to strike the exterior surface of the storage tank at different heights above the ground. 
         [0019]    It is yet another feature of this invention that the slide mechanism is constructed to smoothly slide vertically within the slide tube with the striker member being supported in a cantilevered manner from the slide block. 
         [0020]    It is a further feature of this invention that the slide block is movable within the vertical slide tube in an upward manner through manipulation of a rope and in a downward manner through the operation of gravity. 
         [0021]    It is still another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for estimating the level of feed within a bulk feed storage tank that provides differently pitched reverberations when struck by a striker member depending on whether or not feed is located behind the position at which the striker member strikes the exterior side of the bulk feed storage tank, which apparatus is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use. 
         [0022]    These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished according to the instant invention by providing an apparatus for estimating the level of feed present within a bulk feed storage tank, which in turn estimates the empty volume of the storage tank above the level of feed in order to evaluate the need to order new supplies of feed to be placed within the storage tank. The apparatus includes a slide mechanism having a slide block moveable within a vertically oriented slide tube. A rope entrained around a pulley is attached to the slide block to power movement of the slide block upwardly. A striker member is connected to the slide block and positioned externally of the slide tube. A second rope is attached to the striker member to permit selective actuation thereof to strike the exterior side of the storage tank. The pitch of the reverberation from the striking of the striker member provides an indication of the level of feed within the storage tank. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a schematic front elevational view of a bulk feed tank having a ladder and an apparatus incorporating the principles of the instant invention to ascertain the level of feed within the interior of the tank; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a schematic side elevational view of the bulk feed tank shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged schematic side elevational view of the apparatus for striking the sides of the bulk feed tank, the pivotal movement of the striking member being shown in phantom, corresponding to circle  3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a schematic detail side elevational view of the striking apparatus removed from the slide tube, the pivotal movement of the striking member being shown in phantom; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a schematic detail front elevational view of the striking apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the striking apparatus taken from above the striking apparatus within the slide tube; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged schematic side elevational view of the top portion of the slide tube, corresponding to circle  7  in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0031]    Referring now to the drawings, the structural components of the apparatus  10  mounted on a bulk feed tank  1  can best be seen. Any references to left and right or up and down are used as a matter of convenience and are determined by standing at the front of the bulk feed tank, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , facing the ladder affixed to the side of the tank. One skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the instant invention are not limited to a feed tank for use in poultry raising operations, but would apply to any storage tank device having a vertical height, but since the preferred embodiment is a bulk feed tank used in chicken houses to store a supply of feed for the chickens, this is the embodiment shown in the drawings. 
         [0032]    A conventional feed tank  1  is formed from metal panels  3  that are connected in a vertical orientation to one another at a joint  3   a . Typically, the bulk feed tank  1  is formed as a cylindrical body portion  2  by the metal panels  3  and terminates in a frusto-conical outlet portion  4  having an outlet opening  5  at the end thereof to deliver feed into a feeding apparatus (not shown). Typically, the bulk feed tank  1  includes a ladder  6  mounted to the side of the bulk feed tank  1  by support brackets  7  so that an operator can climb the ladder  6  to reach the inlet opening  9  at the top of the bulk feed tank  1 . The ladder  6  is vertically oriented and includes vertically spaced rungs  8  that enable access along the side of the bulk feed tank. 
         [0033]    The apparatus  10  for estimating the level of feed within the interior of the bulk feed tank includes a vertically oriented slide tube  12  into which is formed a vertical slot  14  that extends from near the top portion to the bottom portion thereof. Preferably, for the sake of manufacture, transport and assembly, the slide tube  12  is formed in discreet segments that interconnect vertically to extend the slide tube  12  to the top of the cylindrical body portion  2  and downwardly therefrom to at least the bottom portion of the cylindrical body  2  or to within convenient reach of the ground G to facilitate any potential servicing of the slide apparatus  15  and striker member  20 . For purposes of stability, the vertical slot  14  formed in the slide tube  12  preferably terminates below the top edge of the slide tube  12 , but extends to the bottom edge of the slide tube  12  to facilitate assembly of the slide apparatus  15  into the slide tube  12 . Preferably, a closing bracket  13  can fill the lower end of the slot  14  and stabilizes the lower end of the slide tube  12 . 
         [0034]    The slide tube  12  preferably mounts on the support brackets  7  of the ladder  6  along vertical length thereof. Alternatively, the slide tube  12  could mount directly to the side of the ladder  6 , or be supported directly on the metal panels  3  forming the body  2  of the bulk feed tank  1 . As is shown in  FIG. 2 , the slot  14  should be oriented to face away from the ladder  6  to permit a pivotal connection to the striker member  20 , as will be described in greater detail below. The closing bracket  13  will also allow the slide apparatus  15  to rest on the bottom of the slide tube  12 . 
         [0035]    The slide apparatus  15  is preferably formed as a slide block  16  from a metal bar to provide sufficient weight as to move vertically downwardly through the slide tube  12  by gravity controlled by a rope mechanism  30 , as will be discussed in greater detail below. The slide block  16  can include slide panels  17  mounted on the sides thereof to enhance the sliding movement of the slide block  16  through the slide tube  12 . The slide panels  17  can be formed of low friction plastic material to reduce any friction between the slide block  16  and the interior surface of the slide tube  12 . Preferably, the slide tube  12  is rectangular or square in shape and is formed from a metal or plastic hollow box. Alternatively, the slide tube could be round, also formed of metal or plastic tubing. The slide block  16  preferably has a cross-sectional shape that conforms to the selected shape of the slide tube  12  so that the slide tube  12  is substantially filled with the slide block  16 . 
         [0036]    The slide block  16  forms a first portion of the slide apparatus  15  that is retained within the slide tube  12  for vertical movement therewithin and also includes a second portion in the form of an L-shaped mounting flange  18  that is connected to the slide block  12  or welded thereto and projects outwardly from the slide block  16  through the slot  14  before bending at right angles to provide a mounting surface for the striker member  20 . The L-shaped flange  18  supports a pivot  22  that connects the striker member  20  in a manner to allow the striker member  20  to strike the adjacent side of the body  2  of the bulk feed tank  1 , as will be described in greater detail below. The slot  14  enables the L-shaped flange  18  to project from inside the slide tube  12  to a position outside the slide tube  12  and support the swinging movement of the striker member  20 . 
         [0037]    The striker member  20  includes an elongated body portion  24  that is connected to the L-shaped flange  18  through the pivot  22  in a manner to be pivotally movable relative to the slide apparatus  15 . The lower end of the body  24  of the striker member  20  is preferably formed as a striker head  25  that is capable of striking the adjacent portion of the body  2  of the bulk feed tank  1  and cause a reverberation. The upper end of the body portion  24  bends at an angle to the body portion  24  to create an actuation handle  26  that provides some mechanical advantage for pivotally moving the striker member  20  to strike the adjacent metal panel with sufficient force to create a reverberation. 
         [0038]    The movement of the slide block  16  is controlled through a mechanism  30  in the form of a rope  32  that connects to a mounting ring  19  at the top of the slide block  16  and extends upwardly therefrom within the interior of the slide tube  12  to exit the upper end of the slide tube  12 . The rope  32  is then entrained around a pulley  35  mounted to the top end of the slide tube  12  and extends therefrom toward the ground G. Preferably, the rope  32  loops upwardly within convenient reach of an operator standing on the ground G and then extends upwardly to connect with the actuation handle  26  on the striker member  20 . With the rope  32  configured in this manner, the operator can grasp the rope  32  near the lowermost loop and pull downwardly on the portion of the rope  32  extending downwardly from the pulley  35 , which will cause the slide block  16  to move upwardly within the slide tube  12 . As the rope  32  is pulled downwardly, the actuation handle  26  moves upwardly leaving the lowermost loop located within convenient reach of the operator. To secure the slide mechanism  15  at a selected vertical position within the slide tube  12 , the lowermost portion of the slide tube  12  can be equipped with a tie-off (not shown) that locks the rope  32  at a selected position. 
         [0039]    In operation, the slide tube  12  assembled and secured to vertically spaced supports, such as the ladder support brackets  7 , so as to be oriented vertically in close proximity to the side of the bulk feed tank  1 , yet far enough away to permit the pivotal movement of the striker member  20 . The pulley  35  is affixed to the top of the slide tube  12  and the rope  32  is entrained around the pulley  35  with one end passing through the interior of the slide tube  12  and the other end positioned along the exterior of the slide tube  12 . The slide apparatus  15  is pre-assembled with the striker member  20  pivotally connected to the L-shaped mounting flange  18  that projects from the slide block  16 . 
         [0040]    The end of the rope  32  passing through the interior of the slide tube  12  is secured to the mounting ring  19  at the top of the slide block  16  and the slide mechanism  15  is inserted into the bottom of the slide tube  12  with the L-shaped mounting flange  18  projecting through the slot  14 . The closing bracket  13  can then be installed to maintain the gap in the slot  14  and to close the end of the slide tube  12  in a manner that prevents the slide mechanism  15  from falling out of the bottom of the slide tube  12 . The second end of the rope  32  passing on the exterior of the slide tube  12  can be connected to the end of the actuation handle  26 . If desired, the rope  32  can be tied off to secure the position of the slide mechanism  15  relative to the slide tube  12 . 
         [0041]    To check on the estimated level of the feed within the bulk feed tank  1 , the operator pulls on the rope  32  to raise the slide mechanism  15  to a first selected position along the slide tube  12 . While maintaining the position of the slide block  16  within the slide tube  12 , the end of the rope  32  connected to the actuation handle  26  is pulled downwardly to cause the striker member  20  to pivot in a manner than moves the striker head  25  into a sharp engagement with the metal panel  3  adjacent to the slide mechanism  15 . The operator listens to the reverberation in the bulk feed tank  1  caused by the striking of the metal panel  3  by the striker head  25 . If the reverberation sounds deadened, the feed level within the bulk feed tank  1  is likely above the first selected position. If the reverberation sounds hollow, then the feed level is likely below the first selected position. 
         [0042]    The slide mechanism  15  is then moved to a second selected position, either above or below the first selected position depending on the type of reverberation detected. The process of pivoting the striker member  20  is repeated and the operator again listens to the reverberation created. By positioning the slide mechanism  15  at different selected positions, the feed level in the bulk feed tank  1  can be reasonably accurately estimated. By judging the position of the estimated feed level relative to the joints  3   a , the volume of the empty portion of the bulk feed tank  1  can be estimated and an appropriate amount of feed ordered to be placed into the bulk feed tank  1 . 
         [0043]    If the operator wants to leave the slide mechanism  15  at an elevated position within the slide tube  12 , the rope  32  can be tied to a tie-off (not shown) or even tied to the ladder  6 . The slide block  16  will move downwardly by gravity within the slide tube  16 . The use of slide panels  17  will lower friction between the slide block  16  and the slide tube  12  to facilitate the downward movement of the slide block  16 . Upward movement of the slide block  16  is manually effected by pulling appropriately on the rope  32 . In the event the slide apparatus  15  needs to be serviced or replaced, the closing bracket  13  can be removed from the lower end of the slide tube  12  and the slide apparatus  15  extracted therefrom. 
         [0044]    It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.