DESIGN AND TEST OF SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING PUSHER DEVICE FOR CATTLE STABLE

Abstract

This paper proposed a supplemental feeding pusher based on beef cattle's auxiliary feeding needs to solve the traditional feeding mode of manual work, labor intensity, and inconsistent manual work standards. Firstly, the conveyed feed particles movement process was established as a motion model and the basis of the design parameters of the screw conveyor was explained. ANSYS static analysis module was used to ensure that the structural parameters of the discharging device were reasonable, ANSYS vibration modal analysis module was used to verify the frame strength and stability. According to the theoretical design of the trial prototype, the control system with STM32F103RE microcontroller as the core was carried out. Finally, the orthogonal test was conducted with the screw shaft speed, sweeping roller brush height, and traveling speed as test factors; different parameters were set to verify the effect of supplemental feeding and pushing, and parameter optimization of the test results was carried out using Design-Expert software. The optional combination of working parameters was determined to be the feeding screw shaft speed 188 r/min, the sweeping roller brush speed 160 r/min, and the work speed 0.26 m/s. The test demonstrated that the residual feed width was 0.73 m, and the transverse coefficient of variation was 14.9%, which could satisfy the needs of auxiliary feeding for beef cattle. This study reduced feed waste and met the cattle feeding needs to the greatest extent, and it could provide a reference for auxiliary feeding machinery.