The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 24, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 28, 1994
Mark K Gaalswyk, Welcome, MN (US);
Other;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for monitoring livestock feed consumption from a bulk feed storage bin. The apparatus is a consumption meter including a data processing unit operably connected in communication with a mechanism for sensing the operation of a feed delivery motor. The method employs the consumption meter that senses the time the motor operates. Based on an estimated feed flow rate initially inputted by the operator, the data processing unit calculates and stores the amount of feed discharged from the storage bin by multiplying the estimated flow rate by the time the motor operates. Other inputted data including the number of animals being fed allows the calculation and storage of other data useful to the livestock producer. At times when the amount of feed in the storage bin is known, a comparison is made between this actual amount and the calculated amount based on the estimated flow rate. If a difference is found the consumption meter is reverse calibrated by use of a predetermined formula to adjust the estimated feed flow rate. Also, the stored data is adjusted and the difference is distributed over each of the days since the last calibration.