U.S. patent application number 13/388909 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-28 for erectable trough.
Invention is credited to Roger Kenneth Roy Dalrymple.
Application Number | 20120160177 13/388909 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43544511 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120160177 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dalrymple; Roger Kenneth
Roy |
June 28, 2012 |
ERECTABLE TROUGH
Abstract
A trough comprises elongate trough body (12) and at least one
elongate support element (14, 15). The trough body comprises at
least one longitudinal side wall portion (18,19) and a bottom
portion (16) which are integral with one another, or attacked to
one another along respective longitudinal edges. The support
element extends along the outer face of the side wall portion,
lower than an upper edge of the side wall portion but higher than
the bottom portion. The support element may be restrained from
moving outward, away from a longitudinal trough centreline, by
connecting a restraint located inside the trough to the support
element. The side wall portion is maintained upright partly by
tension in the support element or in the restraint. In one
embodiment, a plastics sheet material is bent into a U-shaped
animal feed trough with opposite side walls (18,19) supported
upright by tension in longitudinal supporting wires (14,15) and
transverse restraint wires (26), the ends of which connect to the
support wires through respective perforations (30) in the side
walls.
Inventors: |
Dalrymple; Roger Kenneth Roy;
(Bulls, NZ) |
Family ID: |
43544511 |
Appl. No.: |
13/388909 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
August 5, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NZ2010/000158 |
371 Date: |
March 7, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
119/61.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 5/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/61.1 |
International
Class: |
A01K 5/01 20060101
A01K005/01 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 5, 2009 |
NZ |
578867 |
Claims
1. A trough comprising an elongate trough body and at least one
elongate support element, wherein: the trough body comprises a
bottom portion of the trough body and at least one side wall
portion of the trough body; the side wall portion extends along a
longitudinal side of the trough; a lower longitudinal edge of the
side wall portion is attached to, or continuous with, a
longitudinal edge of the bottom portion; the at least one elongate
support element extends along the outer face of the side wall
portion and is lower than an upper edge of the side wall portion
but higher than the bottom portion; and the side wall portion is
maintained upright at least in part by tension in the elongate
support element.
2. A trough comprising an elongate trough body and at least one
elongate support element, wherein: the trough body comprises a
bottom portion of the trough body and at least one side wall
portion of the trough body; the side wall portion extends along a
longitudinal side of the trough; a lower longitudinal edge of the
side wall portion is attached to, or continuous with, a
longitudinal edge of the bottom portion; the elongate support
element extends along the outer face of the side wall portion and
is lower than an upper edge of the side wall portion but higher
than the bottom portion; at least one restraint is located
substantially inside the trough; the elongate support element is
connected to the restraint and is restrained from moving outward,
away from a longitudinal centreline of the trough, at least in part
by a tension in the restraint; and the side wall portion is
maintained upright at least in part by the tension in the
restraint.
3. A trough as claimed in claim 2, wherein the restraint extends
transversely from one side of the trough to the other.
4. A trough as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the restraint is a
wire.
5. A trough as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the side wall
portion has at least one perforation, and an outer end of the
restraint extends outwardly through the perforation to connect to
the elongate support element.
6. A trough as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein an
outer end of the restraint is formed with a loop through which the
elongate support element passes to connect the elongate support
element to the restraint.
7. A trough as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the restraint is a
substantially rigid U-shaped bracket that extends transversely
across the trough.
8. A trough as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the
elongate support element is substantially rigid.
9. A trough as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the
side wall portion is maintained upright at least in part by tension
in the elongate support element.
10. A trough as claimed in claim 1 or 9, wherein the elongate
support element is tensioned between two anchor devices which are
located at respective ends of the elongate support element.
11. A trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein
the elongate support element is supported at a predetermined height
at one or more locations intermediate its ends.
12. A trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein
the elongate support element is a wire.
13. A trough as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein: the
trough body has two opposed side wall portions which extend along
respective opposite longitudinal sides of the trough the trough has
at least two elongate support elements which extend along
respective outer faces of the two side wall portions; each side
wall portion has perforations which are distributed along the
length of the trough; the perforations in one side wall portion are
respectively aligned transversely across the trough with
corresponding perforations in the opposite side wall portion; and a
plurality of restraints are located substantially inside the trough
with opposite ends of each restraint extending outwardly through
respective pairs of transversely aligned perforations to connect
respectively to the elongate support elements.
14. A trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein
the side wall portion is integral with the bottom portion.
15. A trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein
the trough body is formed from a sheet.
16. A trough as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sheet is
continuous along the length of the trough.
17. A trough as claimed in claim 15, wherein the trough comprises
discrete length portions that are distributed along the length of
the trough, and each discrete length portion is formed from a
respective sheet.
18. A trough as claimed in claim 17, wherein the discrete length
portions are distributed along the length of the trough with
adjacent discrete length portions partially overlapping one
another.
19. A trough as claimed in claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein the sheet or
each respective sheet is made of a resilient semi-rigid
material.
20. A trough as claimed in claim 19, wherein the sheet or each
respective sheet is made of a plastics material.
21. A trough as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the
sheet or each respective sheet is provided with a line of weakness
about which the sheet or each respective sheet preferentially bends
when the side wall portion is made non-planar with the bottom
portion.
22. A trough as claimed in claim 21, wherein the sheet or each
respective sheet is creased to provide the line of weakness.
23. A trough as claimed in claim 21 or 22, wherein the sheet is
provided with perforations along the line of weakness.
24. A trough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein
the bottom portion is perforated to provide one or more drainage
holes.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a trough and in particular
to a trough from which farm animals can feed. The trough is
open-topped and is suited for containment of feed materials for
feeding out simultaneously to a large number of animals, for
example sheep or cattle. The trough can be advantageously used in
conjunction with one or more overhead electrified wires to reduce
contamination and wastage of the feed material by deterring animals
from walking or encroaching into or onto the trough.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many animal feeding systems are known. Dry feed material can
be distributed directly onto the ground or floor but significant
wastage can occur from trampling and soiling by the animals. It is
known to contain the dry feed in troughs or other containment
devices to reduce spoilage from the animals. These devices often
provide only a short perimeter length at which only a limited
number of animals can access the feed. Where large numbers of
animals are grouped together, shy feeders can be disadvantaged by
not getting access to the feed material until the more dominant
animals are sated, leaving less desirable or even insufficient feed
remaining.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0003] An object of at least one embodiment of the invention is to
provide a trough for containing feed material, or at least to
provide the public with a useful choice.
[0004] In a first aspect, the invention may be broadly said to be a
trough comprising an elongate trough body and at least one elongate
support element, wherein: [0005] the trough body comprises a bottom
portion of the trough body and at least one side wall portion of
the trough body; [0006] the side wall portion extends along a
longitudinal side of the trough; [0007] a lower longitudinal edge
of the side wall portion is attached to, or continuous with, a
longitudinal edge of the bottom portion; [0008] the at least one
elongate support element extends along the outer face of the side
wall portion and is lower than an upper edge of the side wall
portion but higher than the bottom portion; and [0009] the side
wall portion is maintained upright at least in part by tension in
the elongate support element.
[0010] In a second aspect, the invention may be broadly said to be
a trough comprising an elongate trough body and at least one
elongate support element, wherein: [0011] the trough body comprises
a bottom portion of the trough body and at least one side wall
portion of the trough body; [0012] the side wall portion extends
along a longitudinal side of the trough; [0013] a lower
longitudinal edge of the side wall portion is attached to, or
continuous with, a longitudinal edge of the bottom portion; [0014]
the elongate support element extends along the outer face of the
side wall portion and is lower than an upper edge of the side wall
portion but higher than the bottom portion; at least one restraint
is located substantially inside the trough; the elongate support
element is connected to the restraint and is restrained from moving
outward, away from a longitudinal centreline of the trough, at
least in part by a tension in the restraint; and [0015] the side
wall portion is maintained upright at least in part by the tension
in the restraint.
[0016] Preferably, the restraint extends transversely from one side
of the trough to the other. The restraint may be a wire.
Preferably, the at least one side wall portion has at least one
perforation, and an outer end of the restraint extends outwardly
through the perforation to connect to the support element. An outer
end of the restraint may be formed with a loop through which the at
least one elongate support element passes to connect the support
element to the restraint.
[0017] The restraint may be a substantially rigid U-shaped bracket
that extends transversely across the trough. The at least one
elongate support element may be substantially rigid.
[0018] Preferably, the side wall portion is maintained upright at
least in part by tension in the elongate support element.
[0019] The at least one support elongate element may be tensioned
between two anchor devices which are located at respective ends of
the support element. The at least one support element may be
supported at a predetermined height at one or more locations
intermediate its ends. The at least one support element may be a
wire.
[0020] Preferably, the trough body has two opposed side wall
portions which extend along respective opposite longitudinal sides
of the trough [0021] the trough has at least two elongate support
elements which extend along respective outer faces of the two side
wall portions; [0022] each side wall portion has perforations which
are distributed along the length of the trough; [0023] the
perforations in one side wall portion are respectively aligned
transversely across the trough with corresponding perforations in
the opposite side wall portion; and a plurality of restraints are
located substantially inside the trough with opposite ends of each
restraint extending outwardly through respective pairs of
transversely aligned perforations to connect respectively to the
elongate support elements.
[0024] The side wall portion may be integral with the bottom
portion.
[0025] Preferably, the trough body is formed from a sheet.
Preferably, the sheet is continuous along the length of the trough.
Alternatively, the trough may comprises discrete length portions
that are distributed along the length of the trough, and are formed
from respective sheets. The discrete length portions may be
distributed along the length of the trough with adjacent discrete
portions partially overlapping one another.
[0026] The sheet or each respective sheet may be made of a
resilient semi-rigid material. The sheet or each respective sheet
may be made of a plastics material. The sheet or each respective
sheet may be provided with a line of weakness about which the sheet
or each respective sheet preferentially bends when the side wall
portion is made non-planar with the bottom portion. The sheet or
each respective sheet may be creased to provide the line of
weakness. The sheet or each respective sheet may be provided with
perforations along the line of weakness.
[0027] Preferably, the bottom portion is perforated to provide one
or more drainage holes.
[0028] The term `comprising` as used in this specification or in
the accompanying claims means `consisting at least in part of`,
that is to say when interpreting statements in this specification
or in the accompanying claims which include that term, the
features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be
present but other features can also be present.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] Preferred embodiments and methods of utilising the invention
will be further described, with reference to the accompanying
figures, by way of example only and without intending to be
limiting, wherein;
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of part of a first trough
according to the current invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 shows a partly diagrammatic transverse
cross-sectional view of a second trough according to the
invention;
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a partly diagrammatic transverse
cross-sectional view of a third trough according to the
invention;
[0033] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of part of a fourth trough
according to the current invention; and
[0034] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of representative end
portions of a fifth trough according to the current invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] Referring to the figures it will be appreciated that the
invention may be implemented in various forms and modes. The
following description of preferred embodiments of the invention is
given by way of example only.
[0036] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of part of a first
embodiment of a trough 10. The trough is placed on the ground, for
example out in a paddock, or alternatively on a floor surface, for
example in a barn.
[0037] The trough is elongate and comprises an elongate trough body
12 and two elongate support elements in the form of longitudinal
supports 14, 15.
[0038] The trough body is made from a sheet material that provides
a floor or bottom portion 16 of the trough body, and two opposed
side wall portions which extend upwardly from opposite elongate
side edges of the floor portion to form the trough side walls 18,
19. The sheet material is laid out on a floor or ground surface and
folded, bent or curved along two spaced and generally parallel
lines to form both trough side walls integrally with the trough
floor.
[0039] The longitudinal supports 14, 15 extend along respective
outer faces 20 of the opposite side walls below the upper edges 22,
23 of the side walls 18, 19 but higher than the floor or bottom
portion 16 of the trough. The side walls are maintained upright at
least in part by the respective supports 14, 15.
[0040] The longitudinal supports 14, 15 may each be made from a
rigid or semi-rigid material, for example a tube or pipe or a high
tensile steel wire or rod.
[0041] Alternatively, the side walls may be maintained upright at
least in part by tension in the respective supports 14, 15. The
supports 14, 15 may be wires that are tensioned between two anchor
devices (not shown in the figures) located at respective opposite
ends of the wires.
[0042] The longitudinal supports 14, 15 can be supported at a
predetermined height by one or more blocks or posts at intermediate
locations between the ends of the support wires. This is
particularly useful to hold support wires at a desired height above
an uneven ground surface, for example where the trough extends over
a relatively high point and the tension in the support wires could
tend to pull the support wires down and collapse the side walls, or
conversely where the trough extends over a relatively low point and
the tension in the support wires could tend to lift the support
wires and the side walls, and at least partially close the trough.
Where the trough is placed on the ground, the blocks or posts may
be a peg 25 driven into the ground as shown in FIG. 1. The support
may be secured to the top or a side face of the peg, for example by
a U-shaped staple or other suitable fastener.
[0043] Perforations 30 are provided in the trough side walls 18,
19. As shown in FIG. 1, the perforations are approximately at a
mid-height position in the side walls. The perforations may be
provided at other heights. The perforations are provided as pairs
of transversely-aligned perforations with the two perforations of
each pair respectively provided in the two opposed side walls. The
pairs of perforations are distributed at intervals, e.g. at 2 metre
intervals, along the length of the trough body.
[0044] Restraints 26 extend transversely across the width of the
trough. As best seen in the two magnified part views of FIG. 1,
loops 27 at the ends of the restraints protrude partially through
respective perforations 30 in the side walls. The supports 14, 15
lying along the outer faces of the side walls pass through the
loops to restrain the supports, and thus the side walls, from
outward movement, i.e. movement away from the longitudinal
centreline of the trough.
[0045] The side walls 18, 19 are restrained and held upright, at
least in part, by the restraints 26 and by the two supports 18, 19.
Where a restraint 26 or a support 18, 19 is a wire, the side walls
18, 19 may be restrained and held upright, at least in part, by
tension in the restraint wire or the support wire.
[0046] Each restraint 26, including the end loops 27, may be
fashioned from a length of wire, as seen in FIG. 1. The restraints
may be flexible so that if pressure is applied to the outer face of
a side wall 18, 19, for example by an animal feeding at the trough,
the side wall can bend inward at least in the in the locality of
the applied pressure.
[0047] In another embodiment (not shown in the figures), two or
more elongate support wires can be used along one or each side wall
of the trough. For example, a high trough side wall can be
supported by a pair of support wires, one above the other, with the
support wires connected to the ends of respective upper and lower
sets of transverse restraint wires through respective upper and
lower sets of perforations in the side walls.
[0048] Inward movement of the side walls 18, 19 may be restrained
by one or more compression elements (not shown in the figures),
with each compression element extending transversely across a major
part of the width of the trough, between the two side walls. For
example, each restraint wire 26 may be threaded through a
respective tube that is located between the side walls to help
reduce inward movement of the side walls and maintain the distance
between the two side walls. The tube may be a length of alkathene
pipe.
[0049] The tubes may have a diameter that is greater than that of
the perforations 30 in the side walls so that the end of the tube
cannot pass through the perforation and instead engages against the
inner face of a respective side wall. Alternatively, where a tube
has a diameter less than that of the perforations, a washer or
similar device, having an outer dimension that is greater than the
diameter of the perforations 30 in the side walls, and perforated
with a hole with a diameter that is smaller than the tube diameter,
is placed between a respective end of the tube and the inner face
of the side wall.
[0050] The sheet material is preferably a resilient, semi-rigid
plastics material such as a heavy duty polyethylene, polythene or
polypropylene. The trough side walls may be biased to push outwards
against the support wires by the inherent resilience, or `memory`,
of the sheet material. The rigidity of the sheet material is
sufficient so that the upper edge portion of the upright side
walls, which is cantilevered above the support wires 14, 15, is
maintained substantially upright. In currently preferred
embodiments, the trough body is a polyethylene plastics sheet
material with a thickness of either 2 mm or 3 mm. However, the
invention is not limited to troughs having bodies made from the
above-mentioned sheet plastics materials and sheet thicknesses.
[0051] Alternatively, or additionally, inward movement of the side
walls 18, 19 may be restrained by making the transverse restraints
sufficiently rigid and securing the outer ends of the restraints to
the side walls. In an arrangement not shown in the figures,
enlargements, for example loops 27, at the outer ends of the
transverse restraints 26, 76 may be secured, for example by tying
with a cable tie passing through a corresponding perforation 30 in
one of the trough side walls 18, 19, to an object, for example a
washer or short length of pipe or tube that is located at the
outside of the trough wall. Each enlargement at an end of a
restraint, and the washer, pipe or tube to which it is tied, has a
dimension larger than the diameter of the corresponding perforation
30 in the side wall 18, 19 so that the enlargement and the washer,
pipe or tube cannot pass through the perforation. In this way the
side wall is secured to the end of the restraint. The side walls
may be held outward, at least in part, by rigidity in the
restraints.
[0052] A wave, or upright ribs or corrugations, may be formed in
the side walls to enhance the rigidity of the side walls. The wave
or ribs or corrugations may be pre-formed in the longitudinal edge
portions of the sheet material by thermoforming, or by stretching
the material beyond its elastic limit. The wave or corrugations
stiffen the side walls and help support the side walls, and
particularly the cantilevered upper edge portion of the side walls
above the support wires 14, 15, in an upright position.
[0053] The sheet material may be provided with lines of weakness
(not shown in the figures) about which the sheet material
preferentially bends when the side walls are erected. The lines of
weakness may be formed by creasing the sheet, or by forming
indentations or perforations in the sheet, along the intended lines
of weakness.
[0054] The trough may be perforated with drainage holes (not shown
in the figures) to allow rain water or other liquids to readily
drain from the trough.
[0055] The sheet material may be continuous along the length of the
trough body. Alternatively, the trough body may be divided into
discrete body portions that are distributed along the length of the
trough body. Preferably the discrete body portions are distributed
along the length of the trough body with adjacent body portions
partially overlapping one another, as can be seen in the overlap 29
shown in FIG. 1.
[0056] Respective pairs of side wall perforations in each of two
overlapping body portions may be aligned and the loops at the ends
of one restraint wire 26A passed through the perforations to
restrain the support wires and maintain the overlap 29 between the
two adjacent body portions.
[0057] The trough according to the invention described in this
specification can be extended to any desired length, if necessary
by joining overlapping body portions as described above, over a
flat or undulating surface, to provide access for any desired
number of animals to feed simultaneously. This allows all animals
in a group to access sufficient feed without disadvantaging shy
feeders that might be reluctant to compete against more dominant
animals in restricted feeding arrangements.
[0058] The ends of the trough can be closed but generally end
closures are not necessary if only dry (i.e. not liquid) feed
material is used in the trough and the feed material is not placed
near the ends of the trough.
[0059] FIGS. 2 and 3 show partly diagrammatic transverse
cross-sectional views of second and third embodiments of the
invention. Features corresponding to those discussed above and
labelled in FIG. 1 are labelled with like numerals in FIGS. 2 and
3.
[0060] FIG. 2 shows a generally U-shaped cross-section of the
trough body formed from the sheet material. The transitions between
the trough bottom and the two side walls may be curved as shown, or
may be folded or creased to give a smaller radius of curvature.
[0061] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a trough according to the
invention is used in conjunction with generally horizontal
electrified wires 40, 41 which extend parallel to and above the
trough. The wires are suspended from the outer ends of a plurality
of spaced apart outriggers. Each outrigger comprises a pair of arms
42, 44 which are freely suspended from an insulating hanger 45 that
is pivotably attached to a respective support post 46. Each support
post is driven into the ground through a suitably sized aperture in
the bottom 16 of the trough 10. Alternatively, each outrigger is
freely suspended from an insulating hanger 45 that is pivotably
attached to a generally horizontal wire which is tensioned between
a pair of posts, similarly to the arrangement shown in FIG. 5.
[0062] The electrified wires are each tensioned between two anchor
devices (not shown in the figures), e.g. posts, which are located
at respective opposite ends of the electrified wires. The
outriggers are distributed along the length of the trough to
support the electrified wires at a predetermined height above the
trough. The height of the electrified wires is selected to allow
animals to feed from the trough but deter the animals from walking
or trampling on the trough or the feed material in the trough. The
electrified wires, if contacted by an animal, can readily move away
from a rest position without being substantially deformed or
damaged, and can then return back to the rest position after the
animal has recoiled from the electric shock.
[0063] This arrangement reduces wastage and spoilage of the feed
material which is generally contained within the trough in an
unspoiled and uncontaminated condition until consumed by the
feeding animals.
[0064] In other alternative trough embodiments the support wires,
instead of being restrained against outward movement by the
restraint wires 26 described above, are restrained and supported by
one or more U-shaped brackets. Each bracket has a pair of limbs
which extend upward from opposite ends of a middle body portion.
The brackets are substantially rigid, or semi-rigid and resilient
and may be made from spring steel.
[0065] In one trough embodiment (not shown in the figures) a
U-shaped bracket is located outside the trough body. The middle
body portion of the bracket extends transversely across the trough
under the floor or bottom portion of the trough body. The two limbs
of the bracket are positioned upright outside the respective trough
side walls. The longitudinal support wires are secured to the upper
ends of the bracket limbs to restrain the support wires from inward
and outward movement and to support the support wires at a desired
height.
[0066] FIG. 3 shows another trough embodiment, with a U-shaped
bracket 50 located largely, but not completely, inside the trough
body. Features corresponding to those discussed above and labelled
in FIGS. 1 and 2 are labelled with like numerals in FIG. 3. The
trough has a generally U-shaped cross-section and is formed from
the sheet material.
[0067] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the middle body portion
of the bracket sits on, and extends transversely across, the floor
or bottom of the trough body. Each of the two limbs 52, 53 of the
bracket is positioned upright to extend upward inside each
respective side wall 18, 19 of the trough. A return portion 54, 55
at the upper end of the limb extends over the top edge 22, 23 of
the wall and down the outside of the wall. A support wire 14, 15 is
secured to the lower end of the return portion 54, 55, located part
way down the outside of the side wall 18, 19, to restrain the
support wire from inward and outward movement and to support the
support wire at a desired height. The upper portion of the side
wall is held between return portion of the limb and the remainder
of the limb to restrain the wall from both inward and outward
movement. A tie, for example a cord or wire 56, may be passed under
the bottom of the trough body to help hold the trough body in the
U-shaped cross-section and the trough side walls in place.
[0068] FIG. 4 shows another trough embodiment, with a U-shaped
bracket 60 located largely, but not completely, inside the trough
body. Features corresponding to those discussed above and labelled
in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are labelled with like numerals in FIG. 4. The
trough has a generally rounded U-shaped cross-section and is formed
from the sheet material.
[0069] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the bracket sits 60 on,
and extends transversely across the floor or bottom of the trough
body and up the inside of each respective trough side wall 18, 19.
Respective return portions 64, 65 extend over the top edge 22, 23
and part way down the outside of each wall. A grip portion 66, 67
at each end of the bracket extends substantially horizontally and
inter-engages a respective support wire 14, 15. The
inter-engagement is by a twist, in the grip portion itself and/or
in a corresponding portion of the support wires.
[0070] The opposite ends of an elongate tie 68, for example a cord
or wire, are connected to a respective grip portion 66, 67 or
support wire 14, 15, at or adjacent their twisted engagement. The
tie 68 passes under the bottom of the trough body to help hold the
trough body in the rounded U-shaped cross-section and the trough
side walls in place.
[0071] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the side walls
18, 19 do not need to be provided with apertures, similar to the
apertures 30 seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, through which a transverse
restraint is passed to help maintain the support wires 14, 15 at
the desired height along the side walls.
[0072] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, where features already
described above and shown in the previous figures are
correspondingly labelled, an elongate trough body 12 is supported
by two longitudinal support wires 14, 15. Each of the support wires
is tensioned between two strainer posts 71, 72 which are located at
respective opposite ends of the wires. A substantially horizontal
transverse spreader 73, 74 may be located between each strainer
post and a respective end of the trough body 12 to hold the two
support wires apart by a distance that is approximately the same as
a desired width of the trough.
[0073] The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is similar to that shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, in that: the support wires 14, 15 extend along
respective outer faces of the opposite side walls 18, 19 below the
upper edges of the side walls but higher than the floor or bottom
portion 16 of the trough; the trough side walls are maintained
upright at least in part by tension in the respective support wires
14, 15; pairs of transversely-aligned perforations are provided in
the opposed trough side walls, for example at a mid-height position
in the side walls; and the pairs of perforations are distributed at
intervals along the length of the trough body.
[0074] As seen in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a restraint 26
may extend transversely across the width of the trough, between
respective engagements at each outer end of the restraint wire with
one of the elongate support wires 14, 15, through respective
perforations in a trough side wall 18, 19. Alternatively or
additionally, as seen in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a
restraint 76 may extend transversely across part of the width of
the trough, from an engagement of the outer end of the restraint 76
with one of the elongate support wires 14, 15, through a respective
perforation in a trough side wall 18, 19, to an attachment of the
restraint 76 to an upright post 77 which extends upward through a
suitably sized aperture in the trough floor 16. The engagement of
the outer ends of the restraints 26, 76 with the elongate support
wires may be similar to that described above and shown in FIG. 1 or
2.
[0075] Each restraint 26, 76 may be fashioned from a length of
wire. The restraints 26, 76 may be flexible so that if pressure is
applied to the outer face of a side wall 18, 19, for example by an
animal feeding at the trough, the side wall can bend inward.
[0076] The upright orientation of the side walls may be facilitated
by sloping the restraint wire 76 upward from its outer end toward
its attachment to the respective post 77. Alternatively (and not
shown in FIG. 5), a restraint wire 76 may slope downward from its
outer end toward its attachment to the respective post 77 or to the
floor 16 of the trough, or may be substantially horizontal.
[0077] The side walls 18, 19 may be supported upright, at least in
part, by tension in one or more of the transverse restraint wires
26, 76.
[0078] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, generally horizontal
electrified wires 40, 41 extend parallel to and above the trough.
The wires are suspended from the outer ends of spaced apart
outriggers 43. Each outrigger is freely suspended from a hanger 45
that is pivotably attached to a substantially horizontal top wire
79. The ends of the top wire may be respectively attached to the
two strainer posts 71, 72. The top wire is optionally supported by
attachment to intermediate posts 77.
[0079] The electrified wires 40, 41 are secured to, and tensioned
between, the two strainer posts 71, 72. Similarly to the
arrangements described above and shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the
outriggers are distributed along the length of the trough to
support the electrified wires above the trough at a height that is
selected to allow animals to feed from either side of the trough
while deterring the animals from walking or trampling on the trough
or the feed material in the trough. The electrified wires, if
contacted by an animal, can readily swing or move away from a rest
position without being substantially deformed or damaged, and can
then return back to the rest position after the animal has recoiled
from the electric shock. This arrangement reduces wastage and
spoilage of the feed material which is generally contained within
the trough in an unspoiled and uncontaminated condition until
consumed by the feeding animals.
[0080] Wire strainers or tensioners (not shown in FIG. 5), for
example known ratchet-action wire tensioners, may be fitted in each
of the support wires and/or the top wire to apply and maintain
sufficient tension to help support the trough side walls and/or to
carry the outriggers and electrified wires above the trough.
Electrical insulation (not shown in FIG. 5) may be incorporated to
electrically isolate the electrified wires 40, 41 from the strainer
posts and the intermediate support posts. For example the
outriggers 43 and/or hangers 45 may be insulated, and/or in-line
insulators may be placed between the ends of the electrified wires
40, 41 and the strainer posts 71, 72.
[0081] In another trough embodiment (not shown in the figures), the
sheet material of the trough body provides a trough bottom and only
one upright side wall. This first trough side wall is supported by
a tensioned support wire as described above. This single-sided
trough body is placed against a wall or other suitable barrier
which acts as a second trough side wall. Cross tie wires may be
fastened at one end to the wall or other suitable barrier, with a
loop at the other end of each cross tie wire passing through a
perforation in the sheet material at the first trough side wall to
connect with the tensioned support wire in the manner described
above. One edge of the trough bottom is located adjacent the base
of the wall or barrier. That edge can be secured to the ground or
floor, or to the base of the wall or barrier, by suitable
fasteners.
[0082] This single-sided arrangement allows animals to feed from
only one side of the trough, unlike the double sided trough
arrangements described above and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which
allow animals to feed from both sides.
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