Abstract:
An auger for a vertical livestock feed mixer having an open-top mixing tub is provided. The auger includes two flights to draw in feed components from the bottom of the mixer tub and move them to the top. The trailing edge of the upper auger flight includes an upraised portion to deflect feed components towards the sidewalls of the feed mixer. The leading edge of the lower auger flight includes a kicker plate on the topside of the flight to deflect feed components towards the centre of the auger.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to the field of augers used to mix livestock feed in feed mixers and, in particular, to augers for use in vertical feed mixers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Vertical feed mixers having open-top mixing tubs have been used in agriculture for many years. Vertical mixers process forages and commodities of all types of feed for livestock. Vertical mixers include a tub containing one or more vertical augers. These augers can have knives mounted on their flights such that when the augers rotate, the knives will cut the forage and the augers will process and blend the components within the tub. The result will yield a total mixed ration (“TMR”). 
         [0003]    There are commodities or components that cannot be readily processed and blended with currently known mixing augers such as wet distiller&#39;s grain (ethanol by-product) and steam-flaked corn. These are two feed components typical in most TMRs fed to beef cattle. Typical rations will consist of small percentages of pre-processed roughage (less than 5%) and high percentages of steam-flaked corn and wet distiller&#39;s grain (ethanol by-product). If these two components are improperly mixed, reduced particle size, breakage of the feed components into fines and balling of the wet distiller&#39;s grain can result in the TMR. 
         [0004]    The inability of current auger designs to effectively process and blend these components has limited the mixer usefulness to some producers and/or end-users. Currently known auger designs comprise three flight sections and have a narrower profile. These auger designs cannot move enough feed mix (ration make-up) from the bottom of the mixing tub to the top of the auger flights without causing breaking or reducing the particle size of steam-flaked corn. The result is too many fines in the mixture thereby making the entire ration useless. When high percentages of the wet distiller&#39;s grain (ethanol by-product) are used in feed mixtures with current auger designs, balling of the feed mixture can result thereby preventing the feed ration from being consistently mixed throughout. Again, this makes the entire ration practically useless. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A livestock feed auger is provided for use in a feed mixer tub. In one embodiment, the auger is a vertical auger designed to blend rations that are specific to livestock operations. In another embodiment, the auger is used to blend rations specific to beef cattle operations. 
         [0006]    In yet another embodiment, the auger can quickly, efficiently, and gently move ration components from the bottom of the mixing tub to the top of the auger flights. The auger can perform this operation in less than two complete 360-degree revolutions of the auger. 
         [0007]    In still another embodiment, the auger can minimize fines and ensure the accurate and consistent distribution of the wet distiller&#39;s grain throughout the entire ration (TMR). 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the auger can allow the feed mixer to quickly and accurately blend all components of the TMR, specifically, high percentages of steam-flaked corn and wet distiller&#39;s grain (ethanol by-product). 
         [0009]    In yet another embodiment, the auger can gently blend fragile feed ration components, such as steam-flaked corn, without producing an unacceptable amount of fines. 
         [0010]    In yet another embodiment, the auger can allow the feed mixer to completely blend the wet distiller&#39;s grain (ethanol by-product) accurately throughout the entire ration with minimal variance. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the auger comprises a vertical pipe and two auger flights disposed about the pipe. In another embodiment, the auger flights comprise an upper or top flight and a lower or bottom flight that are joined end-to-end on the pipe. In another embodiment, the tail-end of the top flight comprises an up-turned portion or corner. In another embodiment, the leading edge of the bottom flight comprises a deflecting element disposed on the topside of the bottom flight, referred to as a “kicker plate”, for deflecting feed components towards the centre of the auger. In other embodiments, the pipe is approximately 18 inches in diameter with the top and bottom flights being approximately 18 inches wide. In these embodiments, the pitch spacing between the auger flights is approximately 21 inches, ±2 inches. 
         [0012]    With an auger configured in accordance with one embodiment, ration components such as steam-flaked corn and wet distiller&#39;s grain are moved from the bottom of a feed mixing tub to the top of the mixing tub by the auger in fewer revolutions than a conventional vertical mixing auger. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view depicting a two-flight auger having a feed deflector disposed on the top surface of the leading edge of the bottom flight. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view depicting the auger of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view depicting the auger of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view depicting the auger of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view depicting the auger of  FIG. 3  along section lines A-A. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective exploded view depicting the auger of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top perspective cutaway view depicting a feed mixing tub having two of the augers depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    A livestock feed auger for a feed mixing tub is provided. A representative embodiment of auger  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 . In this embodiment, auger  10  comprises top flight  12  and bottom flight  14 . In a representative embodiment, flights  12  and  14  are cut out of plate steel and then pressed into a spiral. The flights are then placed onto pipe  22  for fitting and attachment to pipe  22 . In one embodiment, flights  12  and  14  are welded together attached end-to-end along seam  20  and are welded to pipe  22 . Any material suitable for augers may be used in the construction of auger  10 . In a representative embodiment, AR200 steel can be used for flights  12  and  14 . 
         [0021]    Positioned within pipe  22  is ring  40 . Ring  40  is attached to the interior of pipe  22 , typically by welding, and is used to bolt auger  10  onto a mixer drive unit of a feed mixer (not shown). Positioned above ring  40  within pipe  22  is auger lifting brace  38 . Lifting brace  38  is provided to facilitate lifting auger  10  when installing into or removing from a vertical feed mixer. Disposed on lifting brace  38  is lock nut  39 . An auger pipe cap (not pictured) is fitted onto pipe  22  once auger  10  is installed onto a feed mixer. The auger pipe cap is fixed to pipe  22  with a bolt (not pictured) by threading the bolt into lock nut  39 . 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, top flight  12  further comprises upturned portion  16 . Upturned portion  16  is not attached perpendicular to auger pipe  22  like the rest of flights  12  and  14  but is attached to pipe  22  at an upward facing angle. In a further embodiment, this angle is approximately 22 degrees above the horizontal. Including upturned portion  16  on top flight  12  tends to produce a “volcanic effect” as feed rations roll off of top flight  12 . In this manner, rations are forced off of top flight  12  in an outward direction toward the mixer walls where they fall to the bottom of the mixing tub to allow the entire mixing process to repeat. This promotes blend accuracy while reducing fines, balling, and mixing or blending time. In another embodiment, auger  10  further comprises top flight brace  18  that reinforces top flight  12  in order to maintain the position of upturned portion  16 . 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, bottom flight  14  comprises leading edge  26  that extends outwardly beyond the width of top flight  12  towards the wall of a mixing tub (not shown). The width of leading edge  26  is cut dependent on the size of the vertical feed mixer auger  10  will be used in. In one embodiment, leading edge  26  can be in the range of approximately 27 inches to 52 inches wide. When auger  10  rotates, leading edge  26  moves ration components from the mixer tub floor onto bottom flight  14 . The outer edge of bottom flight  14  moves ration components from the mixer walls onto bottom flight  14 . In yet another embodiment, bottom flight  14  further comprises kicker plate  28 . Kicker plate  28  is placed on the outer edge of bottom flight  14  to direct feed ration components into the center of auger  10  to aid in the mixing of the components. The size and position of kicker plate  28  on bottom flight  14  can directly affect the performance of auger  10 . Kicker plate  28  also aids in the discharge of the TMR out of the mixing tub when a delivery door on a sidewall of the mixing tub (not shown) is opened. In a representative embodiment, kicker plate  28  can be in the range of approximately 11 inches to 16 inches wide and placed on bottom plate  14  such that the outermost end of kicker plate  28  is positioned approximately 10 inches from leading edge  26  whereas the innermost end of kicker plate  28  is positioned approximately 18 inches from leading edge  26  such that feed components striking kicker plate  28  are deflected towards the centre of auger  10 . The relative positioning of kicker plate  28  is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, bottom flight  14  further comprises stainless steel wear plates  30  and  32  located on the outer edges of bottom flight  12  on either side of kicker plate  28 . Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a wear plate  29  can be mounted on a front face of kicker plate  28 . The use of wear plates  29 ,  30  and  32  decrease the wear rates of the AR200 steel typically used in embodiments of auger flights  12  and  14 . In another embodiment, bottom flight  14  can further comprise knife-mounting slot  34 . This allows a user the option of adding a knife (not shown) to slot  34  of auger  10  to further process any roughage that can be added to the ration. 
         [0025]    A side view of auger  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . In one embodiment, the width of flights  12  and  14  are in the range of approximately 12 inches to 18 inches. The spacing or pitch between the auger flights is approximately 21 inches, ±2 inches. This spacing provides enough room between flights to carry more feed components from bottom to the top of auger  10 . In the illustrated representative embodiment, this flight spacing or pitch allows feed components to be moved from the bottom to the top in two complete 360-degree revolutions of auger  10 . In providing an auger that moves feed components from the bottom of a mixing tub to the top in two auger revolutions, the amount of fines produced in the TMR is reduced. It is also observed that ration components that have greater moisture content, such as wet distiller&#39;s grain, are less likely to ball because of this increased flight spacing. 
         [0026]    In a representative embodiment, top flight  12  is approximately the same width as bottom flight  14  measured from the trailing edge of cutaway section  24 . Cutaway section  24  of bottom flight  14  allows ration components to fall down the sidewalls of the mixer tub, past the auger flights, to the mixer floor. It is observed that the inclusion of cutaway section  24  on bottom flight  14  acts to reduce the horsepower and torque required to rotate auger  10 . This promotes blend accuracy and less variance throughout the entire ration. The structural aspects of top flight  12  and bottom flight  14  makes auger  10  approximately cylindrical in design. It is observed that this cylindrical design ensures that the ration components moved onto bottom flight  14  stay on auger  10  until the components reach upturned portion  16  and promotes blend accuracy of the TMR with fewer revolutions of auger  10 . In another embodiment, bottom flight  14  further comprises cover plate  36 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Cover plate  36  shields the fasteners that bolt the auger drive unit (not shown) to the floor of a vertical feed mixer. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , braces  42  and  44  are illustrated. In a representative embodiment, braces  42  and  44  are welded to the underside of bottom flight  14  to minimize deflection of bottom flight  14  from the weight of the feed rations when auger  10  is in operation. When a vertical feed mixer is completely loaded with feed components, the weight of the TMR within the tub may cause the outer portion of bottom flight  14  to deflect into the mixer floor. Braces  42  and  44  prohibit or minimize this deflection. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , vertical feed mixer  46  having open-top mixing tub  48  is shown with two augers  10 . In this representative embodiment, mixer  46  is shown mounted on trailer  52  having hitch  54  for attaching to a motor vehicle although it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that mixer  46  can be mounted on the bed of a truck or configured as a stand-alone mixer. Mixing tub  48  is shown with baffles  50  that act to partially segregate tub  48  into two portions, each having an auger  10 . In operation, feed components are introduced into tub  48  from the top. Augers  10  are then operated to mix the components together. Once the feed components are mixed, feed gate  56  is opened while augers  10  are rotating to allow mixed feed to exit. It should also be apparent to those skilled in the art that one or more feed gates  56  can be located on any suitable position on the outer sidewalls of mixing tub  48  to allow the removal of mixed feed from mixer  46 . 
         [0029]    Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.