Swine feeding apparatus

An improved swine feeding apparatus of the type having a feed storage unit (11) operably connected to a feed receiving and dispensing trough unit (16). The improvements include an interior feed retaining wall (41) to assist in maintaining all feed within access of a feeding swine. The improvements further includes an improved agitator unit (17) whereby a swine operated agitator member (49) may rotate and pivot freely to agitate feed. Finally, the invention includes an improved feed gate unit (18) wherein the threaded connection between the feed gate shaft (29) and the crank handle (32) is protected against contact with the feed.

I claim:

1. An improved swine feeding apparatus of the type having a feed storage unit operably connected to a feed receiving and dispensing trough unit, the improvement including at least one agitator unit, comprising:

(a) an agitator base connected to said feed receiving and dispensing trough unit;

(b) an agitator member having a first end disposed within said feed storage unit and a second end rigidly attached to the first end thereof and disposed within said feed receiving and dispensing trough;

(c) a pivot member rotatably connected to said agitator member and pivotably connected to said agitator base; such that said agitator member may rotate about said pivot member and said pivot member may pivot with respect to said agaitator base.

2. An improved swine feeding apparatus of the type having feed storage unit operably connected to a feed receiving and dispensing trough unit and further having a feed gate unit connected by a shaft to a crank handle, the improvement comprising a feed gate unit having:

(a) at least one feed gate;

(b) a feed gate shaft non-rotatably affixed to said feed gate and having at least one threaded end;

(c) a crank handle having interior threads for threaded attachment to said feed gate shaft, said crank handle having lubricant disposed therein for operable interaction with the threaded end of said feed gate shaft and the interior threads of crank handle, a sleeve disposed about the threaded end of said feed gate shaft to shield said threads from feed contained within said feed storage unit, and means for sealing said lubricant in said sleeve for lubricating said threads.

3. An improved swine feeding apparatus of the type having a feed storage unit operably connected to a feed receiving and dispensing trough unit and further having a feed gate unit connected by a shaft to a crank handle, the improvement comprising:

(a) a feed receiving and dispensing trough unit having:

(i) a base member;

(ii) an exterior feed retaining wall disposed proximal to said base member; and

(iii) an interior feed retaining wall disposed proximal to said base member and distal said first feed retaining wall, such that substantially all feed disposed between said exterior and interior feed retaining walls is readily accessible to feeding swine;

(b) a feed gate unit having:

(i) at least one feed gage;

(ii) a feed shaft non-rotatably affixed to said feed gage and having at least one threaded end;

(iii) a crank handle having interior threads for threaded attachment to said feed gate shaft;

(c) at least one agitator unit comprising:

(i) an agitator base connected to said feed receiving and dispensing trough unit;

(ii) an agitator member having a first end disposed within said feed storage unit and a second end connected rigidly to the first end thereof and disposed within said feed receiving and dispensing trough;

(iii) a pivot member rotatably connected to said agitator member and pivotably connected to said agitator base member, such that said agitator member may rotate about said pivot member and said pivot member may pivot with respect to said agitator base member.

4. An improved swine feeding apparatus of the type having a feed storage unit operably connected to a feed receiving and dispensing trough unit, the improvement including at least one agitator unit, comprising:

(a) an agitator base connected to said feed receiving and dispensing trough unit;

(b) an agitator member having a first end disposed within said feed storage unit and a second end rigidly attached to the first end thereof and disposed within said feed receiving and dispensing trough;

(c) means for rotatably and pivotally connecting said agitator member to said agitator base whereby said agitator member may rotate and pivot with respect to said agitator base.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the axis of rotation of said agitator member is substantially vertical and the axis of pivoting of said agitator member is substantially horizontal.