An extendable auger having a base section, an extension section, an extension fixation assembly and a cover. The base section includes a base section central shaft having a hollow core and a base section helical member. The extension section is positionable over the base section and includes an extension section central shaft having a hollow core and an extension section helical member. The extension fixation assembly includes a base support wall positioned at the top end of the base section central shaft and an extension abutment wall positioned at the bottom end of the extension section central shaft. The base support wall is superposable to the extension abutment wall and securable thereagainst. The extension fixation assembly further includes a fastening assembly configured to removably secure the extension section to the base section, when the base support wall and the extension abutment wall are superposed to one another.

Static plant for preparing feed mixes for ruminant livestock, having a conveyor unit for conveying the feed mix ingredients, chain and/or screw feeders, feeders with weight sensors and supplementary conveyor belt, silos of solid ingredients, and silos of liquid ingredients, independently supplying via the conveyor unit, with dual flow, two or more high-capacity mixers.

A cutting edge for agricultural use provides opposed cutting edges arranged to be rotationally symmetric about an axis so that the cutting edge may be reversed in the field to repair or replace the cutting edge without the need for separate spare parts. In some embodiments a support plate may provide a ledge stop supporting the unused cutting edge to absorb impact shocks without cutting edge damage.

A weigh hopper assembly including a plurality of adjacently aligned weigh hoppers connected via a frame, and longitudinal conveyor mechanism extending along a top portion of the weigh hopper assembly. Each weigh hopper has independent load cells in order to individually weigh the material discharged into the weigh hopper. The conveyor mechanism includes a plurality of gates along a bottom surface of the conveyor mechanism, each gate being aligned with a corresponding weigh hopper of the plurality of weigh hoppers. The conveyor mechanism is in turn connected to a plurality of product bins. A top portion of the conveyor mechanism is in communication with a plurality of product bins via a series of inlet chutes and gates. The weigh hoppers are aligned adjacent to each other and spaced so that each weigh hopper aligns with the transport vehicle.

A control system for mixing materials for livestock feed including a container that receives the materials, agitators that mix the materials in the container, a driveline that drives the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, a power source that provides an input speed at an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source and having a hydrostatic loop to provide a speed ratio between the input speed and the output speed, a plurality of sensors positioned between the power source and the agitators that provides mixing signals commensurate to mixing parameters, and an electronic control unit configured to receive the mixing signals, extract mixing parameter values from the mixing signals, and actuate the continuously variable transmission and adjust the speed ratio based on the mixing parameter values to enhance efficiency of the mixing of the materials.

In an apparatus for feeding animals including one or more feed dispensing containers from which the animals can take feed which are fed by supply ducts from a supply a device is provided which includes a feed supply duct portion arranged such that the feed falls through the feed supply duct portion under gravity. A drive member is mounted at the duct and includes a plurality of paddle blades of a wheel mounted for rotation about an axis of the wheel such that falling feed in the duct acts to drive the blades to rotate the wheel about the axis and a driven component driven by the wheel. The driven component is in most cases a dispenser for feeding a liquid or particulate additive material from a supply cartridge, which is mounted on a common housing forming the duct and containing the wheel, to an injection opening on the bottom of the housing for addition to the feed passing through the duct portion.

An appliance for preparing animal feed, includes a housing, a mixing chamber designed to receive a portion of dehydrated feed and a liquid portion, mobile mixer arranged in the mixing chamber, a consumption chamber, wherein the mixing chamber is removable from the preparation appliance, wherein the mixing chamber, once mounted on the preparation appliance: is rotatable in order to pass from a position mixing the feed ration to a position dispensing the feed ration, and has a gripping portion which protrudes from the housing.

A preparation apparatus for preparing feed for animals, includes a first storage container for storing a dehydrated feed, a second storage container for storing a liquid such as water, mixing chamber, a mixer for mixing the dehydrated feed and the liquid in order to form a feed ration in paste form, and a consumption container arranged to receive the feed ration, wherein the mixing chamber includes an opening, the mixing chamber is mounted movable relative to the preparation apparatus, so as to move from a first position to a second position.

High thermal transfer, hollow core extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) include elongated hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) equipped with helical fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) along the lengths thereof. The fighting (132, 134, 194) may also be of hollow construction which communicates with the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192). Structure (88, 90) is provided for delivery of heat exchange media (e.g., steam) into the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) and the hollow fighting (132, 134, 194). The fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) also includes a forward, reverse pitch section (64, 162, 216). The extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) are designed to be used as complemental pairs as a part of twin screw processing devices (20), and are designed to impart high levels of thermal energy into materials being processed in the devices (20), without adding additional moisture.

High thermal transfer, hollow core extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) include elongated hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) equipped with helical fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) along the lengths thereof. The fighting (132, 134, 194) may also be of hollow construction which communicates with the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192). Structure (88, 90) is provided for delivery of heat exchange media (e.g., steam) into the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) and the hollow fighting (132, 134, 194). The fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) also includes a forward, reverse pitch section (64, 162, 216). The extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) are designed to be used as complemental pairs as a part of twin screw processing devices (20), and are designed to impart high levels of thermal energy into materials being processed in the devices (20), without adding additional moisture.