Freeze resistant watering device
OwnerJeffry Goldeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A freeze-resistant watering device has a nipple or ball valve, a heat pipe, a sleeve in tight thermal contact with the nipple, a water-tight connection to a liquid containing container or supply pipe, and an outer shield enclosing an insulating space or insulation material. This device thermally couples a watering nipple or ball valve to a container or supply pipe via a thermal conduction path including bends so that the nipple or ball valve maintains at a temperature that is near the temperature of the liquid in the container or supply pipe. Further, the use of one or more freeze-resistant watering devices with a thermally insulated container in a watering unit with an insulated container or supply pipe provides drinking water to animals, and in particular, birds in sub-freezing and in hot weather.
Claims18
A watering system for providing drinking water or liquid from a thermally insulated container or thermally insulated supply pipe to animals, birds, and poultry, said watering system comprising:
- at least one freeze-resistant nipple valve device, each comprising:
- a heat pipe in contact with the water or liquid in the container or supply pipe;
- said heat pipe having a water-tight connection to the container or supply pipe and wherein said heat pipe protrudes into the container or supply pipe;
- a nipple or ball valve having a body, an actuator, and an exit surface;
- a heat conducting sleeve in tight thermal contact with said body of said nipple or ball valve and with said heat pipe;
- an outer shield containing thermal insulation and enclosing said heat pipe and said body of said nipple or ball valve;
- wherein said heat pipe and said outer shield containing insulation have one or more bends;
- wherein said heat pipe conveys the water or liquid from the container or supply pipe to said nipple or ball valve;
- and,
- wherein said outer shield exposes said actuator and said exit surface for use by the animals, birds, or poultry.
A watering system for providing drinking water or liquid from a thermally insulated container or thermally insulated supply pipe to animals, birds, and poultry, said watering system comprising:
- at least one freeze-resistant nipple valve device, each comprising:
- a first heat pipe tube in contact with the water or liquid in the container, said first heat pipe tube having a water-tight connection to the container or supply pipe and said first heat pipe tube having a protrusion into the container or supply pipe;
- a nipple or ball valve having a body, an actuator, and an exit surface;
- a second heat pipe tube attached by water-tight seal to said body of said nipple or ball valve;
- a heat conducting member having two ends, one end in tight thermal attachment with said first heat pipe tube, and the other end in tight thermal attachment to said second heat pipe tube;
- a heat conducting sleeve in tight thermal contact with said body of said nipple or ball valve and with said second heat pipe tube;
- a conduit for conveying the water or liquid from said first heat pipe tube to said second heat pipe tube;
- an outer shield containing thermal insulation and enclosing said first heat pipe tube and said second heat pipe tube, said conduit, and said body of said nipple or ball valve;
- and,
- wherein said heat conducting member is situated inside said conduit and said member has at least one orifice at each end to allow the water or liquid to flow between said first heat pipe tube and said second heat pipe tube, and said outer shield exposes said actuator and said exit surface for use by the animals, birds, or poultry.
A freeze-resistant watering device, said device attached to a container or supply pipe having water or liquid therein, said device comprising:
- a heat pipe in contact with the water or liquid in the container or supply pipe, said heat pipe having a water-tight connection to the container or supply pipe, said heat pipe protruding into the container or supply pipe, and comprising:
- at least one segment that is a heat pipe tube, and
- at least one segment that is a heat conducting member having two ends;
- a nipple or ball valve having a body, an actuator, and an exit surface, said nipple or ball valve attached by water-tight seal to said segment that is a heat pipe tube;
- at least one conduit for conveying the water or liquid from the container or supply pipe to the said nipple or ball valve, said conduit containing said segment that is a heat conducting member;
- a heat conducting sleeve in tight thermal contact with said body of said nipple or ball valve and with said segment that is a heat pipe tube;
- an outer shield containing thermal insulation and enclosing said heat pipe, said conduit, and said body of said nipple or ball valve;
- wherein adjacent said segments of the heat pipe are in tight thermal contact to provide the conduction of heat from the container or supply pipe to said heat conducting sleeve;
- wherein each said segment that is a heat conducting member has at least one orifice at each end to allow the water or liquid to flow through said segment that is a heat pipe tube and another segment that is a heat pipe tube or said heat pipe in contact with the water or liquid in the container or supply pipe;
- wherein said conduit has a water-tight seal to each adjacent said segment that is a heat conducting tube or to said heat pipe in contact with the water or liquid in the container or supply pipe;
- and,
- wherein said outer shield exposes said actuator and said exit surface for use by the animals, birds, or poultry.
A freeze-resistant watering device, said device attached to a container or supply pipe having water or liquid therein, said device comprising:
- a heat pipe in contact with the water or liquid in the container or supply pipe;
- said heat pipe having a water-tight connection to the container or supply pipe and wherein said heat pipe protrudes into the container or supply pipe;
- a nipple or ball valve having a body, an actuator, and an exit surface;
- a heat conducting sleeve in tight thermal contact with said body of said nipple or ball valve and with said heat pipe;
- an outer shield containing thermal insulation and enclosing said heat pipe and said body of said nipple or ball valve;
- wherein said heat pipe and said outer shield containing insulation have one or more bends;
- wherein said heat pipe conveys the water or liquid from the container or supply pipe to said nipple or ball valve;
- and,
- wherein said outer shield exposes said actuator and said exit surface for use by the animals, birds, or poultry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.