초록 ▼

A discharge unit for an animal feeder attaches to the feed outlet of the feeder. The discharge unit has an upwardly extending coupling tube which engages the feeder outlet. Several feeder tubes extend outwardly from the lower end of the coupling tube and together with the lower end of the coupling t

A discharge unit for an animal feeder attaches to the feed outlet of the feeder. The discharge unit has an upwardly extending coupling tube which engages the feeder outlet. Several feeder tubes extend outwardly from the lower end of the coupling tube and together with the lower end of the coupling tube define a central chamber of the discharge unit. A spreader cone is located within a floor region of the central chamber. Feed passing from the feed outlet of the feeder passes through the internal diameter of the coupling tube of the discharge unit and over the spreader cone before passing through the central chamber and through the feeder tubes to be discharged from the feeder.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A discharge unit for removable installation at a lower extent of animal feeder having a hopper body and having sidewalls, a bottom wall region and a cover which together define an initially open interior adapted to contain particulate or granular animal feed, the bottom wall

What is claimed is: 1. A discharge unit for removable installation at a lower extent of animal feeder having a hopper body and having sidewalls, a bottom wall region and a cover which together define an initially open interior adapted to contain particulate or granular animal feed, the bottom wall region of the feeder having a feed outlet opening through which the feed material passes, the discharge unit comprising: an upwardly extending coupling tube having an upper end and having a lower end, generally cylindrical sidewalls, an internal diameter and an external diameter which is sized to matingly engage the feed outlet opening of the feeder for attaching the discharge unit to the feeder; a plurality of generally cylindrical feeder tubes extending outwardly from the lower end of the coupling tube, each of the feeder tubes having an inner extent and an outer extent, and wherein the inner extents of the feeder tubes, together with the lower end of the coupling tube define a central chamber of the discharge unit; wherein the central chamber of the discharge unit has a floor region with a spreader cone extending upwardly therefrom within the central chamber in the direction of the internal diameter of the coupling tube, whereby feed passing from the feed outlet of the feeder passes through the internal diameter of the coupling tube of the discharge unit and over the spreader cone before passing through the central chamber and through the feeder tubes to be discharged from the feeder. 2. The discharge unit of claim 1, wherein the feeder tubes each have a mouth opening and wherein a feed stop in the form or a dam or weir is located in the mouth opening of each of the feed tubes, the feed stops serving to partially obstruct the mouth opening of each feed tube to thereby control the flow of feed from the discharge unit. 3. The discharge unit of claim 2, wherein the mouth opening of each feeder tube has a top lip and a bottom lip and wherein the top lip forms an overhang with respect to the bottom lip to thereby prevent water from dripping from the top lip into the mouth opening of the feeder tube. 4. The discharge unit of claim 1, wherein the feeder tubes are joined to the coupling tube at downwardly extending angles to improve the gravity flow of feed from the discharge unit. 5. The discharge unit of claim 4, wherein the feeder tubes are joined to the coupling tube at an approximate 10째 angle of pitch so that they extend downwardly at an angle from a horizontal axis drawn perpendicular to the cylindrical sidewalls of the coupling tube. 6. The discharge unit of claim 1, further comprising an internal sleeve which is mounted within the coupling tube flush with the internal diameter thereof, the internal sleeve extending along the sidewalls of the coupling tube downwardly into the central chamber of the discharge unit to further control the travel of feed being dispensed from the unit. 7. The discharge unit of claim 1, wherein the coupling tube, spreader cone and feeder tubes are integrally molded from a synthetic material. 8. The discharge unit of claim 7, wherein the coupling tube, spreader cone and feeder tubes are rotationally molded from linear low density polyethylene. 9. An animal feeder, comprising: a hopper body and having sidewalls, a bottom wall region and a cover which together define an initially open interior adapted to contain particulate or granular animal feed, the bottom wall region of the feeder having a feed outlet opening through which the feed material passes; an upwardly extending coupling tube mounted on the feed outlet opening of the feeder, the coupling tube having an upper end and having a lower end, generally cylindrical sidewalls, an internal diameter and an external diameter which is sized to matingly engage the feed outlet opening; a plurality of generally cylindrical feeder tubes extending outwardly from the lower end of the coupling tube, each of the feeder tubes having an inner extent and an outer extent, and wherein the inner extents of the feeder tubes, together with the lower end of the coupling tube define a central chamber of the discharge unit; wherein the central chamber of the discharge unit has a floor region with a spreader cone extending upwardly therefrom within the central chamber in the direction of the internal diameter of the coupling tube, whereby feed passing from the feed outlet of the feeder passes through the internal diameter of the coupling tube of the discharge unit and over the spreader cone before passing through the central chamber and through the feeder tubes to be discharged from the feeder. 10. The animal feeder of claim 9, wherein the feeder tubes each have a mouth opening and wherein a feed stop in the form or a dam or weir is located in the mouth opening of each of the feed tubes, the feed stops serving to partially obstruct the mouth opening of each feed tube to thereby control the flow of feed from the discharge unit. 11. The animal feeder claim 10, wherein the mouth opening of each feeder tube has a top lip and a bottom lip and wherein the top lip forms an overhang with respect to the bottom lip to thereby prevent water from dripping from the top lip into the mouth opening of the feeder tube. 12. The animal feeder of claim 9, wherein the feeder tubes are joined to the coupling tube at downwardly extending angles to improve the gravity flow of feed from the discharge unit. 13. The animal feeder of claim 12, wherein the feeder tubes are joined to the coupling tube at an approximate 10째 angle of pitch so that they extend downwardly at an angle from a horizontal axis drawn perpendicular to the cylindrical sidewalls of the coupling tube. 14. The animal feeder of claim 9, further comprising an internal sleeve which is mounted within the coupling tube flush with the internal diameter thereof, the internal sleeve extending along the sidewalls of the coupling tube downwardly into the central chamber of the discharge unit to further control the travel of feed being dispensed from the unit. 15. The animal feeder of claim 9, wherein the coupling tube, spreader cone and feeder tubes are integrally molded from a synthetic material. 16. The animal feeder of claim 15, wherein the coupling tube, spreader cone and feeder tubes are rotationally molded from linear low density polyethylene.