This is a project that came to mind earlier this year.  Down at the ranch, we fill our feeders with 50 pound sacks of corn.  The feeders are stood up on 4 pipe legs, with a 55 gallon barrel mounted at the top.  The top of the barrel is about 10 feet from ground level.

To fill the feeders, we typically use an extension ladder.  When the ladder is leaned against the feeder, there is a change for the whole feeder setup toppling.  To help combat this, another person has to push on the feeder in the opposite direction.  Then we pass the 50 pound bag of corn up the ladder to the schmuck at the top.

Sure, there are better designed feeders on the market - ones that lower to the ground via a hand crank, or other methods to deliver the corn up there.  This is my take. I have no idea if it will work, I haven't tested yet.  But my gut feeling is that it should.  More to come when I get a chance to test it.

Note: As of 11/2003 the CornBlower has been tested. See results here.

This is my design for the CornBlower.  All made of PVC pipe, with a gas powered leaf blower on the end.  (Blue) 

Green

The idea is that the leaf blower will inject high speed air into the 3" PVC pipe.  Corn will be fed via the hopper.  Following the law that high pressure gases will always move to equalize to a lower pressure, the air should go through the red pipe.  The adding of corn via the hopper will block any escaping air.

Red

This is sectional 2" PVP pipe.  It rises at a 45 degree angle, and runs for about 12 feet, with a height gain of about 8 feet.  The idea is that sitting on a pickup truck bed, this will raise the whole CornBlower high enough to "lip" onto the top of the feeder.

Teal

This is the final exit chute.  It is made of 2" PVC with a 90 degree angle and about 7 inches (left over pipe) to provide the hook.  I cut the nozzle of the end of the pipe to a 45 degree angle to help the discharge of corn.

Construction

I had to make a plan to make a materials list.  My planning are the drawings above.  A lot of the details were worked out while I was standing in the aisle of Lowes.  I knew the over all dimensions I was shooting for, and most of the angle pieces.  After lots of scratching my head, and fending off the over helpful staff, I made my purchases.

Here is the loading chute glued together.  The leaf blower will connect on the left side, and the hopper will connect at the 45 degree angle on the top.

I cut the hole for the hopper.  Its just tight enough to be threaded on to the pipe fittings.  But I do have a PVC nut to screw the hopper to the CornBlower.

Oops! Got carried away and forgot to take incremental pictures.  The CornBlower is basically done at this point.  Each section is no more than 5 feet long, and has threaded ends for assembly.

Here it is assembled.

It assembled very easily.  I knew where I was going, and didn't have to adlib too much.  The next big task is to actually *test* the contraption.  Like I said before, I think it will work, but won't know till I try!

Created 10/22/03