Automatic watering device

A device for automatically providing controlled amounts of clean, fresh drinking water to livestock, and the like, comprising:

• a basin;
• a trough attached to said basin;
• a partition separating said basin and said trough;
• a slot defined in said partition, said slot establishing fluid communication between said basin and said trough and having side walls which each include a first undulating portion and a second straight portion;
• water supply means fluidly connected to said basin;
• flow control means fluidly interposed between said water supply means and said basin to control the flow of liquid into said basin from said water supply means, said flow control means including a body movably mounted in said slot and having a fluid passage defined therethrough, a housing pivotally mounted on said body in said basin, a stopper mounted on said housing to occlude said fluid passage when a water level in said basin reaches a desired level, and a float attached to said housing and located within said basin for sensing the liquid level in said basin and for moving said stopper over said fluid passage to prevent further liquid from entering said basin via said passage when the liquid level in said basin reaches a predetermined level and for moving said stopper away from said fluid passage when the liquid level in said basin drops below a predetermined level to permit replenishing of the water in said basin and said trough.