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US 7,007,634 B1Granted
Automated livestock trough
OwnerLes Pedersoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated watering trough is provided with a fluid supply line that automatically fills the trough to a desired volume through the use of a valve and actuator. A protective housing may be provided to substantially encase the valve and actuator, along with an optional overflow conduit, to reduce the incidence of contact between livestock and the automation components. The shell of the trough may be comprised of a recycled tire provided with a base plug, which may support the protective tower and automation components.
Claims19
A trough for livestock, comprising:
- a base, substantially comprised of a tire side wall, having upper and lower surfaces, a generally annular opening proximate a center portion of said base, and a peripheral edge portion;
- an outer wall, substantially comprised of a tire tread, extending upwardly from the peripheral edge portion of said base to form an open cavity;
- a fluid supply conduit extending through said opening formed within said base so that said fluid supply line is in fluid communication with said cavity to selectively supply a volume of fluid to said cavity;
- valve means operatively connected to said fluid supply conduit for regulating the volume of fluid that enters said cavity from said fluid supply conduit;
- valve actuator means operatively connected to said valve means for at least partially opening said valve means when the volume of fluid in said cavity is below a predetermined level;
- an access cover that covers the opening formed within said base and receives said fluid supply conduit and an overflow conduit that is positioned to drain excess fluid from said cavity;
- and an inner wall that forms a protective tower that is removably secured to said access cover, said protective tower and access cover defining an inner chamber that is in fluid communication with said cavity.
4 more elements
A trough for livestock, comprising:
- a base having upper and lower surfaces and a peripheral edge portion;
- an outer wall extending upwardly from the peripheral edge portion of said base to form an open cavity;
- an inner wall that forms a protective tower having an inner chamber that is in fluid communication with said cavity;
- an overflow conduit extending through the opening formed within said base so that said overflow conduit is disposed within the inner chamber of said protective tower to drain excess fluid from said cavity;
- a fluid supply conduit extending through an opening formed within said base so that said fluid supply line is in fluid communication with said cavity to selectively supply a volume of clued to said cavity;
- an access cover that covers the opening formed within said base and receives said fluid supply conduit and said overflow conduit;
- said protective tower being removably secured to said access cover;
- valve means operatively connected to said fluid supply conduit for regulating the volume of fluid that enters said cavity from said fluid supply conduit;
- and
- valve actuator means operatively connected to said valve means for at least partially opening said valve means when the volume of fluid in said cavity is below a predetermined level;
- said valve means and said valve actuator means being disposed within the inner chamber of said protective tower.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.