Patent ID: 6712021
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
In a pressure regulator for a poultry drinking system, said drinking system including an elongate watering pipe having a plurality of poultry drinking stations spaced therealong, said regulator comprising a housing having a chamber therewithin, a flexible diaphragm sealed with respect to said housing and dividing said chamber into a water chamber and an ambient chamber, and a spring carried by said housing in operable engagement with said diaphragm such that the force of said spring and of the atmosphere acts upon said diaphragm to force said diaphragm toward said water chamber; said housing having a water inlet adapted to be connected to a supply line and an outlet adapted to be connected to said watering pipe; said inlet and said outlet being in communication with said water chamber; said inlet having an inlet port; said regulator further having a valve carried by said housing and being operatively associated with said diaphragm for movement between a closed position in which said valve blocks the flow of water from said inlet port into said water chamber and an open position in which water is permitted to flow from said inlet port into said water chamber such that with said spring adjusted to a predetermined level the force of said spring acting on the lower side of said diaphragm balances the force exerted on the water side of said diaphragm thereby to regulate the pressure of the water in said water chamber and within said watering pipe to a predetermined water pressure substantially less than the pressure of said water supply, wherein the improvement comprises:said inlet port being movable with respect to said housing between a regulating position in which said inlet port is engageable by said valve member so as to block the flow of water from said inlet port into said water chamber and a flushing position in which said inlet port is clear of said valve so as to permit water from said supply line to flow through said water chamber and into said watering pipe to flush said water chamber and said watering pipe.