# US 8,464,661 B1 · Automated animal watering apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,661 B1 - Document ID: US8464661B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/184,513 - Filed: 2011-07-16 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2007-09-07 - Applicants: Theresa J. Dunn; Sylas B. Ashton; Seth J. Ashton - Inventors: Theresa J. Dunn; Sylas B. Ashton; Seth J. Ashton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464661B1 ## CPC - A01K 7/02: Automatic devices - A01K 7/027: {Drinking equipment with water heaters, coolers or means for preventing freezing} - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS ## Abstract An automated animal watering apparatus having an inlet-outlet aperture disposed within a recessed repository, a first water sensor, a second water sensor, a combined pipe with an inlet portion and an outlet portion; the inlet portion operationally connected to an extant faucet, the outlet portion operationally communicating with an extant drainage; a heater plate, a temperature sensor, a drain pump, and a central processing unit controlling the device; wherein the central processing unit operationally communicates with the sensors, inlet valve, and drain pump, to maintain a water level within the repository, a water temperature between determined norms, and engages a preprogrammed flushing cycle by alternately activating and deactivating the drain pump. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automated animal watering apparatus comprising: an open-topped container comprising: a base; an access panel removably fastened to the base; an exterior wall extending upward from the base, the exterior wall laterally enclosing the container; an upper rim disposed atop the exterior wall; an interior wall extending downward and inwardly from the upper rim; a recessed repository laterally delimited by the interior wall; a sloped surface disposed within the repository, the sloped surface divergently parallel with the access panel, the sloped surface continuously connected with the interior wall and disposed between a maximum height and a minimum height with respect to the base; a combined inlet-outlet aperture disposed in the sloped surface at the minimum height, the inlet-outlet aperture proximal the inner wall; a first water sensor disposed in the inner wall proximal to the upper rim; a second water sensor disposed in the inner wall proximal to the inlet-outlet aperture; a cavity disposed between the exterior wall, the inner wall, the access panel, and the sloped surface; a heater plate disposed within the cavity, the heater plate in contact with the sloped surface; a temperature sensor in operational communication with the heater plate; a combined pipe having an inlet portion and an outlet portion disposed within the cavity parallel with the base, the inlet portion operationally connected to an extant faucet and the outlet portion operationally communicating with an extant drainage; a T junction interconnecting the inlet-outlet aperture and the combined pipe; an inlet valve disposed within the combined pipe, the inlet valve disposed upstream of the T junction; a drain pump disposed within the combined pipe, the drain pump disposed downstream of the T junction; a central processing unit disposed within the cavity, the central processing unit in operational communication with the first water sensor, the second water sensor, the temperature sensor, the heating plate, the drain pump, the inlet valve, and a timer; a plurality of wiring interconnecting the central processing unit, the first and second water sensors, the temperature sensor, the heating plate, the drain pump and the inlet valve; a plurality of apertures disposed in the exterior wall proximal the base, the combined pipe inlet portion, outlet portion, and a power cord disposed therethrough; wherein the automated animal watering apparatus regulates a water level within the repository, said water level maintained between the first and second water sensors; the inlet valve inletting water when the water falls to a level detectable by the second water sensor and the inlet valve ceasing inletting water when water is detected by the first water sensor; the drain pump is operationally activated on a programmable cycle to flush the device to a predetermined schedule. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automated animal watering apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heater plate is activated when the water temperature in the repository falls to an activation temperature as relayed by the temperature sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The automated animal watering apparatus of claim 1 wherein a filter screen is disposed over the inlet-outlet aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automated animal watering apparatus of claim 1 wherein the access panel is attachable to the base be means of a plurality of fasteners. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The automated animal watering apparatus of claim 2 wherein the heater plate is deactivated when the water temperature in the repository reaches a deactivation temperature as relayed by the temperature sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The automated animal watering apparatus of claim 4 wherein the fasteners are screws. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The automated animal watering apparatus of claim 6 wherein the base is circular and the exterior wall is generally frustroconical in shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The automated animal watering apparatus of claim 2 wherein the drain pump is operationally activated at a predetermined temperature to flush the device.