Livestock feeder

摘要

A livestock feeder has a hopper, a feed outlet opening through the hopper for dispensing the feed, a feed trough operably positioned beneath the hopper for receiving the feed, and a broadcast spreader mechanism that includes a sling plate that is operably mounted to cover the feed outlet opening. The broadcast spreader mechanism has a motor for spinning the sling plate for broadcasting the feed outwardly when in operation. A retracting mechanism retracts the sling plate to uncover the feed outlet opening when the sling plate spins, so that the feed from the hopper falls downwardly into the broadcast spreader mechanism to be broadcast and dispensed. A tubular skirt surrounds the broadcast spreader mechanism for catching the feed as it is broadcast, and directing the feed downwardly into the feed trough.

主权项

1. A livestock feeder for dispensing feed for consumption by livestock, the livestock feeder comprising:
a hopper for storing the feed; a feed outlet opening through the hopper for dispensing the feed; a feed trough operably positioned beneath the hopper for receiving the feed; a broadcast spreader mechanism that includes a sling plate that is operably mounted to cover the feed outlet opening, the broadcast spreader mechanism having a motor for spinning the sling plate for broadcasting the feed outwardly when in operation; a retracting mechanism for retracting the sling plate to uncover the feed outlet opening when the sling plate spins, so that the feed from the hopper falls downwardly into the broadcast spreader mechanism to be broadcast and dispensed; a tubular skirt surrounding the broadcast spreader mechanism for catching the feed as it is broadcast, and directing the feed downwardly into the feed trough; and a lower housing formed beneath the hopper, the motor being mounted in the lower housing, the lower housing being separated from the hopper with a plurality of support struts, to form an annular feed discharge slot between the lower housing and the hopper, wherein the tubular skirt covers the annular feed discharge slot, and wherein the discharge mechanism ejects the feed through the annular feed discharge slot and against the tubular skirt.