FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

This invention is related to a device for feeding animals, particularly fish, according to the pre-characterizing portion of appendent claim 1.

Such a device is known by the applicant's European patent 81 538 and has turned out to be extremely preferable. However, a problem exists when the food is a dry food in granular, e.g. pelletized, form, and gas, particularly air, is used as a transport medium in the conduit. Such granular or pelletized dry food occurs with different particle size and for feeding the particle size is chosen, which is best suited for the actual fish size. Said problem is more specifically due to the fact that the pelletized dry food to a greater or smaller degree contains a component having a small particle size; this component has in practice the character of dust, which cannot or only with difficulty can be utilized by the fish. This fine component or this dust causes, furthermore, the disadvantage that it readily tends to deposit in the conduit and cause clogging thereof. This tendency is particularly troublesome when moisture occurs in the conduit, which may readily happen

by condensation, in particular when the conduit has a rela¬ tively low temperature by extending under water or under ground.

Until now one has tried to remove the fine, dust-like component from the granular food by sieving or the like. Although this causes a reduction of the seriousness of the problem, the problem does, however, remain to an inconvenient degree. The reason therefor is due to a further disintegration of the food during subsequent handling. This handling involves in the normal case location of the food in containers. The food must then from these containers flow into the cells of the supply member to finally be delivered into the conduit by means of the mobility of the supply member. By the action to which the food is subjected in the container as well as in the transfer therefrom into the cells of the supply member a considerable disintegration of the food granules occurs so that despite careful preceding sieving, a considerable proportion of dust¬ like food material is supplied into the conduit with the concomitant problems already mentioned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to devise ways to reduce the occurrence in the conduit of such dust-like food material, which causes risk for clogging, as far as possible.

This object is primarily achieved by that defined in the characterizing portion of claim 1.

By means of the solution according to the invention, the food will be deliberated from the dust like food component when the food already is present in the cells of the supply member and is under transportation therein towards the discharge region, wherein the food is discharged into the conduit. In other words, the dust like food component will be eliminated from the food so late during the food handling procedure that a minimum

thereof actually gets into the conduit; accordingly, the problems discussed hereinabove are reduced as far as possible or in any case considerably.

Preferable developments of the device according to the inven¬ tion are defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the enclosed drawings a more specific descrip tion of an embodiment example of the invention will follow hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig 1 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the device accor¬ ding to the invention;

fig 2 is a partially cut view illustrating a supply member and a housing therefor contained in the device;

fig 3 is a view as viewed from the left in fig 2 and illustra¬ ting the lower part of the housing;

fig 4 is a view as viewed along the line IV-IV in fig 3;

fig 5 is a partially cut view in a larger scale illustrating the supply member and the housing thereof in an upper part; and

fig 6 is a view as viewed along the line VI-VI in fig 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The device illustrated in fig 1 comprises a food station 1, which may comprise one or more food containers. A food supply arrangement 2 is adapted to supply food into a conduit 3. A pump 4 is arranged to cause fluid to flow through conduit 3 to

a number of feed locations 5, the fluid flow carrying the food with, it on passage past the supply arrangement 2.

The feed locations 5 are in this case constituted by four net bags for fish. These net bags are located in lakes or water¬ courses spaced from the shore. However, it is preferred that components 1 , 2 and 4 are located on the shore while conduit 3 possibly constructed as a flexible hose partially may run on the bottom of the lake or watercourse and, ashore, be digged into the ground. Along conduit 3, path selectors 7 are provided for diverting fluid/food flowing in the conduit to net bags associated to the path selectors, which are so designed that they in one set position allow transport to a net bag at the end of conduit 3.

The drive motor for pump 4 is by a line 9 connected to a control unit 10, which also controls a drive motor 11 for supply arrangement 2 via a line 12 and the various path selec¬ tors via a cable 13. Control unit 10 is programmable so as to obtain desired feed conditions. For optimal fish growth it is essential that feeding is carried out at a proper time and with food types and food volumes adjusted to actual parameters, such as water temperature, fish size and fish number.

As food there is used dry food and wet food and food with humidity lying therebetween. The device according to the present invention is in practice intended to be used for relatively dry, granular or pelletized food, which is trans¬ portable in the conduit 3 by means of a gas, in practice air.

Thus, the pump 4 is formed by an air fan.

In particular when conduit 3 runs to bags 5 under water, there is a risk that condensate may be formed in the conduit and this may in combination with components of the food having a small particle size cause clogging of the conduit. To reduce such clogging tendencies, control unit 9 is preferably adapted to

cause fan 4 to blow air through the conduit during a cleaning period without operating supply arrangement 2. Not until after this cleaning control unit 10 puts supply arrangement 2 into operation to introduce food into the conduit. While maintaining continous air flow in conduit 3 and introducing food thereto, the air/food mixture may without interruption be distributed to the various fish bags during desired time periods by adjusting the selectors 7. The length of the periods may be programmed in depence upon the feed variables discussed above. After supply of food to all bags, control unit 10 is adapted to stop opera¬ tion of supply arrangement 2 and simultaneously cause fan 4 to operate during an additional time period so that a final cleaning of the conduit occurs.

To reduce the risk for clogging of conduit 3, control unit 10 is preferably designed so that supply arrangement 2 cannot be put into operation unless fan 4 is operating.

Illumination 14 may be provided in connection with the bags 5 for feeding at night time.

The supply arrangement 2 comprises a movable supply member 16 (figs 2-6). The supply member is preferable designed as a rotor 16 rotable about a shaft 15 and comprising a number of cells 17 for food. The rotor 16 is illustrated as an example as compri¬ sing an inner core like portion 18 with a circular periphery and from this portion a number of walls 19 project radially and define the cells 17 from each other in a tangential direction. Instead of the illustrated core like portion 18, a ring shaped portion could be arranged to form the bottom of cells 17 and this ring shaped portion could be connected to the shaft 15 by means of spoke like or other members. The cells 17 are open in the axial direction of the rotor and also radially outwardly. As is more closely described in the European patent 81 538, the effective volume of the cells could be varied by mounting inserts in the cells.

The rotor 16 has the character of a disc orientated radially relative to the shaft 15. The dividing walls 19 have an axial extent substantially equal to the extent of the portion of the rotor forming the bottom of cells 17. The rotor 16 is located in the housing 21 with side walls 22 and 23 respectively and a mantle 24 interconnecting the side walls. The mantle has a circular shape and the outer ends of dividing walls 19 move closely adjacent to the inner surface of the mantle. As appears from fig 2 the radial side edges of dividing walls 19 are located closely adjacent to the inner surfaces of side walls 22, 23 of the housing. In the side wall 22 of housing 21, an inlet opening 25 is provided, which communicates with a pipe socket 26 included in conduit 3. Opposite inlet opening 25 in the other side wall 23 of the housing, an outlet opening 27 is provided which communicates with a pipe socket 28 attached to the housing and also included in conduit 3. The inlet and outlet openings 25, 27 are located in front of cells 17 in the rotor.

On the housing side opposite openings 25 and 27, a fill opening 29 is provided in the mantle 24 of the housing and connected to a pipe socket 30, which in turn communicates with a food store vessel 31. This is by means of a dividing wall divided so that two food containers 32, 33 are achieved. Between opening 29 and containers 32, 33 there is provided a valve device 34, e.g. of the slide damper type, by means of which food from the selected container 32, 33 may be allowed to flow into cells 17 of the rotor through opening 29. Valve device 34 may also be arranged so that food simultaneously may be taken from both containers 32, 33.

In connection with the fill opening 29 a knife 35 is arranged. The primarily intended direction of rotation of the rotor is in fig 5 indicated with arrow 36. The knife 35 is so located that its edge meets the cells after filling through opening 29 and immediately radially outwardly of the periphery of the rotor. The knife 35 will thereby, while avoiding crushing and

compacting of food in the cells 17, cut food granules located in the cutting zone.

The outlet opening 27 of the housing is so located and dimen¬ sioned relative to inlet opening 25 (see fig 4) of the housing that a cell 17 approaching the openings enters into communi¬ cation with outlet opening 27 before entering into communi¬ cation with inlet opening 25. This ensures that a cell which when the rotor stops after terminated feeding communicates with inlet opening 25 through a portion thereof will be evacuated of food through a comparatively larger outlet opening so that no tendency to food crushing will occur.

It is to be observed that inlet and outlet openings 25, 27 have such dimensions compared to dividing walls 19 that inlet opening 25 continously communicates with outlet opening 27 through one or more cells 17. This continous air communication through the rotor reduces substantially the risk for clogging of conduit 3.

Housing 16 comprises openings 37 communicating with a pressu¬ rized fluid source 38 (figs 5 and 6) and located to cause a fluid flow generated by the pressurized fluid source 38 to flow through the food filled cells 17 in the direction of arrow 39 before the cells deliver their contents to conduit 3 in order to convey and thereby separate from the food a food component having a small particle size by means of the fluid flow. The pressurized fluid source 38 is in practice formed by an air fan. This fan delivers with its outlet an air flow into a pipe socket 40 secured to side wall 22 of the housing. On the opposite side wall 23 of the housing a pipe socket 41 is secured, which receives the air flow after it has passed through cells 17 of the rotor. It is preferred that pipe socket 41 delivers the air loaded with food dust to a separation device 42, which separates the food dust from the air for subsequent utilisation and returns the cleaned air to the

atmosphere. Alternatively, the cleaned air may be supplied to the inlet of fan 38 so that an air circulation is achieved.

Openings 37 in the housing are located so as to have between themselves the peripherical portion of rotor 16 provided with the cells 17. As mentioned, cells 17 are open in a direction substantially parallell to the axis of rotation of the rotor and furthermore, openings 37 in the housing are located to direct the air flow to pass through the cells substantially in the axial direction of the rotor.

Since the air flow in the direction of arrow 39 will tend to bring with it the food at least the openings 37 downstream of cells 17 have such a size that they allow passage of the food component having a small particle size but prevent the rest of the food, i.e. the part which is acceptable, from exiting the cells. Preferably, and as illustrated in the example, also the openings located upstream of cells 17 have such a size as just mentioned. The openings 37 are with other words relatively small and they occur in a large number as is most clearly apparent from ig 5. Openings 37 may according to a typical example have a diameter of about 5 mm. Furthermore, the ope¬ nings are on either side of the cells 17 of rotor 16 present in a large number and in a relatively dense distribution so as to form a sieve like configuration.

The mouths of openings 37 facing towards rotor 16 are on both sides of the rotor disposed in planes substantially coinciding with the surfaces of side walls 22, 23 of the housing facing towards the rotor.

According to a first possibility the openings 37 could be formed directly in side walls 22, 23 of the housing, e.g. by boring or otherwise. According to a second possibility illust¬ rated in the drawings, openings 37 may be formed in elements 43 covering apertures 44 formed in side walls 22, 23 of the housing. Elements 43, or at least the portion thereof

comprising openings 37, may be formed by a relatively thin, layer like material, e.g. metal sheet. It is preferable tha the layer like material has a thickness of not more than 4 m, preferably not more than 2 mm, for good separation operatio and small tendency to clogging. Those portions of elements 43 which are provided with openings 37 are located with their surfaces facing towards rotor 16 lying generally in the same plane as the internal surfaces of side walls 22, 23. As indi¬ cated in fig 6 the elements 43 may each comprise a tubular portion 45 received in the respective aperture 44 and an outwardly directed flange 46 serving for securing purposes. The flange could for instance provide securing of the respective element 43 by being clamped between the respective side wall 22, 23 of the housing and an outwardly directed flange of the respective pipe socket 40, 41. The apertures 44 and accordingly elements 43 may for instance be circular as indicated in the drawings.

The cross sectional area of at least the openings 37 located downstream of rotor 16 increases preferably in the flow direc¬ tion 39 of the air flow since this reduces the risk for clog¬ ging of the openings. The openings may for instance be conical. The openings 37 upstream of the rotor 16 may have a constant cross sectional area in the flow direction 39.

As appears from fig 5 the mantle 24 of the housing may comprise an additional food inlet opening 47. An additional container 48 for containing another kind of food than that in containers 32, 33 adjoins to the opening 47. The container 48 may for instance be arranged for receiving food having a smaller particle size e.g. pellets and granules lying within the range 1-4 mm. Such a food causes small clogging problems since it is used in rela¬ tively small volumes. As a comparison it may be mentioned that in containers 32 and 33 there could be received food with dia¬ meters amounting to about 6 and about 9 mm respectively.

A valve device 49 serves to open and close respectively the food inlet via opening 47 into cells 17 of the rotor.

Since in the described case the food intended to be introduced via opening 47 does not cause any clogging problems by absence of dust like components but any way contains granules with relatively small size it may be suitable to carry out the supply arrangement so that its rotor also can be imparted the alternative direction of rotation indicated in fig 5 by means of the dashed arrow 51, which means that food introduced into cells 17 via opening 47 is being transported to the discharge region at openings 25 and 27 without passing the dust separa¬ tion openings 37. If, however, food having dust like components to be removed is located also in the container 48 it is sui¬ table to use the direction of rotation indicated by arrow 36 so that through openings 37 is obtained dust separation also in such a case.

By means of fan 4 there will be present a high pressure state in the area of openings 25, 27 of the housing. This over pressure tends to propagate within the housing and cause an airflow from the interior of the housing through the food inlet openings 29, 47 and into the respective food container. Such airflow may give rise to increased concentrations of dust like food components a distance upwardly in the respective food container and such dust concentrations may cause disturbances concerning the flow of food into cells 17 of the rotor. In order to reduce such problems at least one pressure equalizing opening 50 is arranged in housing 21 and establishes communi¬ cation between cells 17 and ambient atmosphere outside the housing before the cells through rotation of rotor 16 reach a food inlet opening 29 and 47 respectively in the housing. The pressure equalizing opening 50 may simply be an aperture in one or both of side walls 22, 23 of the housing. As an alternative or complement thereto the pressure equalizing opening could also be arranged in the mantle 24 of the housing.

In the described embodiment having two food inlet openings 29 and 47 and a rotor rotatable in both directions 36, 51 it is suitable to arrange pressure equalizing opening 50 in the region between the inlet openings 29 and 47 since it is then ensured that independently of selection of direction of rota¬ tion, overpressure relative to the ambient possibly existing in the cells 17 of the rotor is relieved before the respective cell reaches the one of the openings 29 and 47 which at the time in question is active for food inlet.

The device described operates as follows. On initiation of a feeding cycle fan 4 is initally operated to carry out cleaning by blowing before rotor 16 is caused to rotate. It is here thought that food from container 32 and/or 33 is to be fed into cells 17 of the rotor and accordingly, valve device 34 is opened whereas valve device 49 is closed. Rotor 16 is caused to rotate in the direction of arrow 36 and thereby food falls by the action of gravitation into the radially outwardly open cells through opening 29 and the food thus received is trans¬ ported further towards openings 25 and 27. During this trans¬ port the food filled cells pass by openings 37 and thereon the fine, dust like component in the food is blown away from the cells. The cells now containing only granular or grain like food are, when they reach the inlet opening 25, exposed to the air flow, which is generated by the fan and which forcibly urges the food out of the cells and transports it along in conduit 3. By continuously maintaining the airflow in the conduit and successively bringing the cells of the rotor into communication therewith an even and continuous food transport with substantially constant food concentration in the conduit is obtained.

When food having a smaller particle size is to be supplied from container 48, valve device 34 is closed whereas valve device 49 is opened. The rotor is now instead caused to rotate in the direction of arrow 51 and the cells 17 passing by are

successively filled with food, which is transported along to the discharge area at openings 25, 27.

The invention is of course not only limited to the embodiment described. Thus, an arbitrary number of various kinds of food may be fed to the food supply arrangement 2 via an arbitrary number of food inlet openings. The food supply member 16 does not have to be designed so that its cells are evacuated by being traversed by the air flow generated by the fan 4; instead the device could be such that the food by influence of gravity falls out of the cells and into conduit 3. Furthermore, fan 38 does not have to be arranged so as to blow an airflow through cells 17 of the supply member; instead the fan could be arranged to suck the airflow through the cells. It is to be mentioned that supply member 16 does not necessarily have to have the character of a rotor; as an example the supply member could be rectilinearly reciprocatingly movable. Finally it is to be mentioned that two or more sets of dust separating openings 37 could be arranged at a mutual distance in the circumferential direction of the housing so that the cells on rotation of the rotor successively will pass two or more dust separation regions. Also other modifications of the device are conceivable within the scope of the invention.