Abstract:
An automated feed out system includes a bunker silo for storing silage therein and a cover for selectively placing the cover in a covered position thereby covering and sealing silage in the bunker silo. The automated feed out system includes a frame for supporting augers thereon for selectively defacing feed from a feeding face with the cover in a covered position. The automated feed out system also includes conveyors for transporting the defaced feed to a predetermined location.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from previously regularly filed U.S. provisional patent application 61/491,508 filed May 31, 2011 by Martin Folkema under the titled: Fully Enclosed Automated Feed Out System. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present concept relates to bunker silos in particular the present concept is a fully enclosed automated feed out system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Bunker silos have become the presently preferred method for storing silage. Bunker silos offer the user reasonable capital cost, high storage volume, quick and easy filling procedures for the storage of silage. 
         [0004]    There are however problems which have plagued storage of silage in bunker silos most of which are as a result of the penetration of air, moisture or rodents into the silage overtime. Currently in order to minimize penetration of air and water and rodents into the silage a plastic cover is placed over the silage after it has been compacted into the bunker silo. Normally used tires are placed on top of the cover to keep it in place during the storage season. In the current state of the art as the silage is being consumed at the feed face the cover is rolled back as required. This exposes the feed face to air and water. 
         [0005]    There are both manual and mechanized methods of removal of material from the bunker silo. These mechanized and manual removal methods are time consuming and labor intensive and require the removal of the cover at the feed face of the bunker silo. 
         [0006]    Machines designed to remove silage and agricultural material from silo bunkers are known in the art and described in for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,121,488, U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,164, U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,552, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,971. All of these patented devices have in common that either the bunker silo has no cover whatsoever in place to protect the silage from moisture and air and/or the cover that is in place must be removed from the feeding face in order for the silage removing equipment to be put in place and made functional. 
         [0007]    In addition none of these devices automates the silage removal process to the point where one can effectively reduce labor costs for moving of silage out of a bunker silo and prevent a loss of silage through unwanted penetration of air, water and rodents into the bunker silo. 
         [0008]    Therefore there is a need for a fully enclosed automated feed out system which allows one to remove silage from the feeding face without removal of the cover from the feeding face and also having the ability to reduce the labor input required in order to remove silage from the feeding face of a bunker silo. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A fully enclosed automated feed out system comprising a bunker silo for storing silage therein; a cover for selectively placing the cover in a covered position thereby covering and sealing silage in the bunker silo; a means for selectively defacing silage from a feeding face with the cover in a covered position; and a means for transporting the defaced silage to a predetermined location. 
         [0010]    Preferably the fully enclosed automated feed out system includes a frame moveable along a longitudinal direction for selectively positioning defacing augers onto the feeding face. 
         [0011]    Preferably the frame including a top cross member and a bottom cross member rollable along a longitudinal direction along the bunker silo and having attached thereto an auger subframe for supporting upright augers thereon. 
         [0012]    Preferably the fully enclosed automated feed out system including conveyors for conveying the defaced silage to a predetermined location. 
         [0013]    An automated feed out system comprising: 
         [0014]    a) a bunker silo aligned along a longitudinal direction, for storing feed therein, 
         [0015]    b) a means for selectively placing a cover in a covered position to cover and seal the feed and a feeding face in the bunker silo; 
         [0016]    c) a means for selectively defacing feed from a feeding face with the cover in a covered position; 
         [0017]    a means for transporting the defaced feed to a predetermined location. 
         [0018]    Preferably wherein the defacing means includes a frame moveable along the longitudinal direction for selectively positioning at least one defacing auger onto the feeding face for defacing feed therefrom. 
         [0019]    Preferably wherein the frame including at least one upright auger supported by a top cross member and a bottom cross member, the frame roll able along the longitudinal direction along the bunker silo such that the at least one upright auger incrementally defaces feed from the feeding face in the longitudinal direction. 
         [0020]    Preferably wherein the frame including an auger sub frame for connecting the cross members and supporting the at least one upright auger thereon. 
         [0021]    Preferably wherein the sub frame adapted to move back and forth in a transverse direction across the feeding face for evenly defacing the feeding face in the transverse direction. 
         [0022]    Preferably wherein the frame further including a transversely oriented top auger for defacing a top portion of the feeding face. 
         [0023]    Preferably wherein the transporting means including a transversely oriented bottom auger for transporting defaced feed transversely across the bottom of the feeding face. 
         [0024]    Preferably wherein the transporting means further including a blower receiving defaced feed from the bottom auger such that defaced feed is transported away from the feeding face by the blower. 
         [0025]    Preferably wherein the transporting means including conveyors receiving defaced feed from the blower such that defaced feed is conveyed to a predetermined location. 
         [0026]    Preferably wherein the frame including at least two upright augers supported by a top cross member and a bottom cross member, the frame roll able along the longitudinal direction along the bunker silo such that the at least two upright augers incrementally deface feed from the feeding face in the longitudinal direction. 
         [0027]    Preferably wherein the frame including an auger sub frame for connecting the cross members and supporting the at least two upright augers thereon. 
         [0028]    Preferably wherein the cover means including guard members that prevent the cover from entangling with the defacing means when in the covered position thereby maintaining the seal created by the cover. 
         [0029]    Preferably wherein the guard members include transversely oriented horizontal guard members and a transversely oriented top guard member which maintains the cover spaced from the defacing means. 
         [0030]    Preferably wherein the cover means including a spool and a cover carriage for rollably receiving the cover onto and off of the spool. 
         [0031]    Preferably wherein the frame supported by wheels and including a frame motor for rollably moving the frame longitudinally along the bunker walls. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    With the intention of providing demonstration of the characteristics of the device or method, an example is given below, without any restrictive character whatsoever, with reference to the corresponding figures, of a preferred embodiment of the device and method as follows; 
           [0033]      FIG. 1   a  schematically front end elevational view of the fully enclosed automated feed out system with the guard members in place. 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  is a schematic front end elevational view of the fully enclosed automated feed out system with some of the guard members removed. 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side elevational partial view of the fully enclosed automated feed out system shown in the covered position. 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a schematic top plan view of a bunker silo system with the cover in the uncovered position. 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side elevational view of the fully enclosed automated feed out system together with a bunker silo showing the cover in the covered position. 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  is a schematic side elevational view of the fully enclosed automated feed out system together with a bunker silo showing the cover in the covered position. 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  is a schematic elevational view of the fully enclosed automated feed out system with the cover in the uncovered position. 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  is a schematic top plan view of a number of bunker silos arranged side by side and end to end showing the flow of silage from the bunker silos to a silage wagon. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0041]    Referring to the attached figures of the present invention a precision feed out system is shown generally as  100  and includes the following major components namely bunker silo  102  typically including 2 bunker walls  104  each wall having a wall top  106  wherein silage  110  is stored between the bunker walls  104 . 
         [0042]    The feed, in this example is silage. The feed or silage removal portion of the fully enclosed automated feed out system  100  includes a frame  112  supported at the top with top rollers  114  and at the bottom with wheels  116 . Frame motor  131  is used to propel frame  112  in a longitudinal direction  118  into bunker silo  102  as the feeding face  120  of silage heap  111  is slowly removed. It will be noted that in this example the feed is silage but the feed may also be any other feed stored in bunker silos. 
         [0043]    Frame  112  is urged in the longitudinal direction  118  to continuously make contact with feeding face  120  as silage  110  is being removed from feeding face  120 . Any drive means known in the art could be used including electric or hydraulic drives for all moving components including the augers  124  and  126  and the frame  112 . 
         [0044]    Frame  112  supports subframe  122  which in turn supports two upright augers, a left upright auger  124  and right upright auger  126  as well as a bottom auger  128  which extends transversely along a transverse direction  130 . 
         [0045]    Auger subframe  122  includes reinforcing members  132  upright supports  134 , which hold in place left upright auger  124  and right upright auger  126 . 
         [0046]    The top of auger subframe  122  is attached slideably and/or rollably to top cross member  140  at the top end and is attached slideably and/or rollably to bottom cross member  142  at the bottom end. 
         [0047]    This allows auger subframe  122  to move transversely in the transverse direction  130  across the feeding face  120 . Auger subframe  122  is depicted in  FIG. 2  in a first position  146  and in a second position  148 . 
         [0048]    Auger subframe  122  in fact can move all the way to each of the bunker walls  104  by transversely moving auger subframe  122  in the transverse direction  130 . 
         [0049]    Auger subframe  122  is mechanized preferably using hydraulic motors however other drive systems such as electric motor with chain drive and other servo drive mechanisms may also be used to move auger subframe from a left most position wherein left upright auger  124  is almost in contact with bunker wall  104  on the left side to a right most position wherein upright auger  126  is almost in contact with right bunker wall  104 . In this manner the upright augers  126  can make full contact with the entire feeding face  120 . 
         [0050]    In some instances the silage heap  111  can extend above auger subframe  122  in which case a top auger  150  is used. Top auger  150  can be moved upwardly and downwardly along top auger rail  152  in top auger direction  154  thereby being able to remove silage  110  from the top of the silage heap  111  as required. 
         [0051]    Therefore in the depicted embodiment left upright auger  124  and right upright auger  126  can cover 80 to 90 percent of the feeding face  120  of silage  110 , the upper most portion of silage  110  can be defaced and removed by top auger  150  by moving top auger  150  along top auger direction  154 . 
         [0052]    In an alternate embodiment not shown left upright auger  124  and the right upright auger  126  are extended upwardly beyond top cross member  140  and in fact can extend as high as the top most position of top auger  150  in which case one can eliminate the need for the use of top auger  150 . 
         [0053]    As left upright auger  124  and right upright auger  126  and top auger  150  deface or remove silage  110  it falls as schematically depicted by falling silage  160  shown in  FIG. 2 . The silage, which is removed and falls to the bottom portion of bunker silo  102  is collected by bottom auger  128  which conveys and supports the defaced silage  110  to a blower  162 . Blower  162  may in fact be an auger or a conveyor or other conveyance device which serves the same purpose as a blower. 
         [0054]    Left upright auger  124  and right upright auger  126  as well as top auger  150  are selected and have the ability to remove silage  110  from bunker silo  102  by rotational grinding motion of these augers against the feeding face  120  of silage heap  111 . 
         [0055]    Bottom auger  128  on the other hand is selected for transportation of the defaced silage from the bottom of bunker silo  102  over to blower  162  where further transport of the silage occurs. 
         [0056]    Modern bunker silos  120  include a cover system including a cover  170  for covering silage  110  to minimize and in some cases prevent penetration of air and moisture into silage  110 . The cover  170  covers and seals the feed in the silo from air, moisture, rodents and other undesirable factors. The seal although not perfect is preferable over directly exposed feed to air and water as currently occurs during defacing operations. In current state of the art operations the “seal” is broken when the cover is retracted to expose the feeding face  120  in order to deface the feeding face. It would be advantageous to be able to deface the feeding face  120  without having to remove the cover  170  in other words without having to break the seal. 
         [0057]    Cover  170  may be constructed of flexible plastic sheet or film but may also be made of rigid plastic or metal panels, or a combination of plastic sheet and rigid panels. 
         [0058]    Schematically shown in  FIG. 5  for example is a cover carriage  172  which includes a cover spool  174  and a motor  151  which either reels in or pays out cover  170  as required. 
         [0059]    Cover carriage  172  also moves longitudinally along longitudinal direction and is normally supported on wheels, which travel in a track  161  positioned along wall top  106  of each of the bunker walls  104 . 
         [0060]    By moving cover carriage  172  and rotating spool  174  one can either pay out to put the cover in the covered position  176  as shown in  FIG. 5  or put the cover in the uncovered position  178  as shown in  FIG. 7  schematically. 
         [0061]    The Fully enclosed automated feed out system  100  includes guards to ensure that cover  170  does not become entangled into the augers of the feed out system, when in the covered position  176 . 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 1  for example horizontal guard members  180  extend in the transverse direction  130  across the face of bunker silo  102  preventing cover  170  from making contact with left and right upright augers  124  and  126 . 
         [0063]    Top guard member  182  for example ensures that cover  170  doesn&#39;t come into contact with top auger  150 . 
         [0064]    A bottom auger guard  184  schematically depicted in  FIG. 3  ensures that cover  170  doesn&#39;t come into contact with bottom auger  128 . 
         [0065]    In this manner the reader will note that the Fully enclosed automated feed out system  100  can operate and deface feeding face  120  of silage  110  with cover  170  in the covered position  176 . This will minimize the penetration of air and water and rodents into the silage  110  and thereby reduce the amount of spoilage of the silage. 
         [0066]    When silage  110  reaches blower  162  it is conveyed via a feed pipe  190  to conveyor  192 , which has a conveyor cover  194 . 
         [0067]    Conveyor  192  may also include a side conveyor  196  which runs along the longitudinal direction  118  of bunker silo  102  and a rear conveyor  192  which runs along transverse direction  130  of bunker silo  102 . In this manner the silage which has been defaced from feeding face  120  can be conveyed longitudinally along the bunker silo toward the rear portion of the silo and then transversely along the back of the bunker silo  102 . 
         [0068]    Referring now to  FIG. 8  which is a schematic top plan view of a number of bunker silos  102  which are positioned side by side and back to back. The arrows  200  depict the movement of silage  110  along the side conveyors  196  and then onward onto rear conveyor  198  and off to exit conveyor  202  which unloads the silage into a silage wagon  204  which is pulled by tractor  206 . 
         [0069]    It may also be possible that silage  110  can be moved with an exit conveyor  202  directly into a barn for further conveyance throughout the barn for automated feeding. 
         [0070]    It should be apparent to persons skilled in the arts that various modifications and adaptation of this structure described above are possible without departure from the spirit of the invention the scope of which defined in the appended claim.