Improvements in Feeding Apparatus for Horses and other Animals.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 8th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feeding Apparatus for Horses and other Animals.
1 JOHN MARK WENSLEY, of 29 & 31 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath, in the
County of Kent, Corn Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is to provide apparatus which can be arranged
or set to deliver a feed into the manger of the animal to be fed, at a predetermined
time, automatically, and without the presence of an attendant.
According to my invention, I arrange a box or hopper to contain the feed in a
convenient position above the manger, or over a shoot leading thereto. To this
box fit a hinged bottom, with a catch to retain it in its closed position. The
catch is connected to the armature of an electro magnet, so that when the latter
becomes excited, under the influence of an electric current, it operates to release
the catch and allow the bottom of the box to fall open.
The electric current for operating the magnet is obtained from a battery which
may occupy any convenient position. The circuit of the electric current is
completed by means of a clock, which serves to establish an electrical contact at
the time elected for the opening of the box and the delivery of the feed. The
clock may be set to any desired time, after the manner of an ordinary alarm clock,
so that the box previously charged with food will be opened to deliver its contents
into the manger without the assistance of the attendant. Thus it will be seen that
the animal will be able to have his meal at the regular hour, notwithstanding the
attendant's absence.
In order to avoid the wasting of the electric battery after the box has been
opened to deliver the feed, a spring contact is arranged to be released by the
opening of the hinged door, so as to break the circuit and throw the battery out of
action when the work is done.
Dated this 20th day of September 1892.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feeding Apparatus for Horses and other Animals.
I JOHN MARK WENSLEY of 29 & 31. Montpelier Vale, Blackheath, in the
County of Kent, Corn Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of the present invention is to provide simple and inexpensive apparatus
which can be arranged or set to deliver a feed into the manger of the animal to be
fed, at a predetermined time, automatically, and without the presence of an
atten:lant.
In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated apparatus embodying my

page_text: closed position. The catch E forms part of the armature f (pivotted at f¹) of an
electro-magnet F, so that when the latter becomes excited, under the influence of
an electric current, it operates to release the catch by rocking the armature on its
pivot, and allow the bottom of the box to fall open.
d is a small roller upon the edge of the hinged flap D, at the point where the
latter engages with the catch E, the office of the roller being to facilitate the
disengagement of the flap D from the catch E.
The electric current for operating the magnet is obtained from a battery G,
which may occupy any convenient position. The circuit of the electric current is
completed by means of a clock, which serves to establish an electrical contact at
the time elected for the opening of the box and the delivery of the feed. The
clock may be set to any desired time, after the manner of an ordinary alarm clock,
so that the box, previously charged with food, will be opened to deliver its contents
into the manger without the assistance of the attendant. Thus it will be seen that
the animal will be able to have his meal at the regular hour, notwithstanding the
attendant's absence.
In order to avoid the wasting of the electric battery after the box has been
opened to deliver the feed, a spring contact is arranged to be released by the
opening of the hinged door, so as to break the circuit and throw the battery out of
action, when the work is done. Thus, h h are a pair of spring contacts in the
electric circuit, situated by preference near the bottom of the hopper A.
H is a metal pin, upon the edge of the flap D of the hopper, adapted to engage
with both springs h h, and complete circuit between them, so long as the bottom
of the hopper remains closed. When, however the magnet has operated to release
the catch, and the hopper has opened, the circuit is broken by the pin H becoming
disengaged from the springs h h.
The apparatus is re-charged, and the alarm reset by the attendant at his leisure.
A series of apparatus may, if desired, be arranged to operate simultaneously,
when a number of horses are to be fed at one time.
When it is desired to feed the horses from a distance, as from an adjoining house,
without going into the stable, this may be effected by completing the electric
circuit by the aid of a switch or contact button, and in that case the alarm clock is
not required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The application to feeding apparatus for horses and other animals having a
hinged flap or door by which the food is discharged, of an electrically-operated
catch, which releases the flap or door at the required time, substantially as
described with reference to the drawings.
2. In electrically operated feeding apparatus substantially as described and
illustrated, the employment of a contact breaking device arranged in connection
with the hinged flap or door, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The apparatus for feeding horses and other animals constructed, arranged,
and operated substantially as herein-before shewn and described.
4. The application to the hinged flap or door of the feeding apparatus, of a roller
arranged at the point of engagement with the electrically-operated catch, for the
purpose of facilitating disengagement, substantially as described with reference to
the drawings.
Dated this 24th day of February 1893.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.