摘要 |
Feeder apparatus is provided for delivering a pre-determined amount of feed to hogs and like livestock. The apparatus includes a feed transporting and dispensing conveyor with which are associated a plurality of feeder units; each unit receives and temporarily stores the feed. Each unit includes a feed receiver body. A boot extends from the body and defines a discharge opening. A pear-shaped stopper valve carried in the boot fits into and onto the discharge opening to obstruct the flow. A stopper valve pull system acts to draw the stopper valve away from the discharge opening, thereby permitting feed flow; if desired, this pull system can be connected to a timer so as to discharge the feed at a pre-selected moment. The stopper valve includes a semi-spheroidal element adapted to fit into and onto the discharge opening and a conical element adapted to be drawn through the feed pile so as to discourage feed bridging and hang-up within the feeder unit body. A discharge tube extending into the feeder unit body includes an extensible and retractable bellows member for varying the height of the feed pile to be collected within the feeder unit. |