Animal watering valve

An animal watering valve preferably includes a valve body, a valve stem, a retention plug, a stem o-ring and a compression spring. A valve bore is formed in the one end of the valve body to receive the valve stem. A plug bore is formed in the opposing end of the valve body. The valve stem preferably includes a sealing base, an actuation end, a plug end and a spring flange. An o-ring groove is formed in the sealing base to receive the stem o-ring. The retention plug preferably includes a threaded portion, a rotation flange and a stem portion. A stem bore is formed through the retention plug. The stem bore is sized to loosely receive the plug end of the valve stem. The plug end is inserted into the compression spring. The retention plug is threaded into the plug bore to retain the valve stem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to feeding animals and more specifically to an animal watering valve, which functions better than that of the prior art for smaller animals.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for an animal watering valve, which functions better than that of the prior art for smaller animals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an animal watering valve, which functions better than that of the prior art for smaller animals. The animal watering valve preferably includes a valve body, a valve stem, a retention plug, a stem o-ring and a compression spring. The valve body preferably includes a bullet nose formed on one end and a threaded shank formed on an opposing end thereof. The threaded shank preferably has a diameter that is less than that of the valve body. An o-ring groove is formed between an end of the valve body and an end of the threaded shank to receive a body o-ring. A valve bore is formed in the one end of the valve body to receive the valve stem. A through hole is formed through a length of the valve body. A plug bore is formed in the opposing end of the valve body to substantially a middle of a length thereof. A portion of an entrance of the plug bore is threaded to form a plug thread. The valve stem preferably includes a sealing base, an actuation end, a plug end and a spring flange. The actuation end extends from one end of the sealing base and the spring flange extends from an opposing end of the sealing base. The plug end extends from the spring flange. An o-ring groove is formed in the sealing base to receive the stem o-ring. The retention plug preferably includes a threaded portion, a rotation flange and a stem portion. The stem portion extends from one end of the threaded portion and the rotation flange is formed on an opposing end of the threaded portion. A pair opposing flats are preferably formed on an outer perimeter of the rotation flange. The plug thread of the valve body is sized to threadably receive the threaded portion of the retention plug. A stem bore is formed through the retention plug. The stem bore is sized to loosely receive the plug end of the valve stem. The compression spring is preferably conical shaped. However, a cylindrically shaped compression spring may also be used.

The animal watering valve is preferably assembled in the following manner. The stem o-ring is inserted into the o-ring groove in the sealing base. The plug end of the valve stem is inserted into the compression spring, such that a smaller diameter of the conical spring is in contact with the spring flange. The actuation end of the valve stem is inserted into plug bore, until the stem o-ring contacts a bottom of the plug bore. The retention plug is threaded into the valve body and tightened with the pair of opposing flats.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an animal watering valve, which functions better than that of the prior art for smaller animals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly toFIG. 4, there is shown a cross sectional view of an animal watering valve1. With reference toFIGS. 1-3 and 5-7, the animal watering valve1preferably includes a valve body10, a valve stem12, a retention plug14, a stem o-ring16and a compression spring18. The valve body10preferably includes a bullet nose20formed on one end and a threaded shank22formed on an opposing end thereof. The threaded shank22preferably has a diameter, which is less than that of the valve body10. An o-ring groove24is formed between an end of the valve body20and an end of the threaded shank22to receive a body o-ring. A valve bore28is formed in the one end of the valve body10to receive the valve stem12. A through hole30is formed through a length of the valve body10. A plug bore32is formed in the opposing end of the valve body to substantially a middle of a length thereof. A portion of an entrance of the plug bore32is threaded to form a plug thread34. The valve stem12preferably includes a sealing base36, an actuation end38, a plug end40and a spring flange42. The actuation end38extends from one end of the sealing base36and the spring flange42extends from an opposing end of the sealing base36. With reference toFIG. 3, the actuation end38includes an outer perimeter and an end wall. The valve body10completely covers the outer perimeter of the actuation end38, the end wall of the actuation end38is not covered by the valve body10. The plug end40extends from the spring flange42. An o-ring groove44is formed in the sealing base36to receive the stem o-ring16. The retention plug14preferably includes a threaded portion46, a rotation flange48and a stem portion50. The stem portion50extends from one end of the threaded portion46and the rotation flange48is formed on an opposing end of the threaded portion46. A pair opposing flats52are preferably formed on an outer perimeter of the rotation flange48. The plug thread34of the valve body10is sized to threadably receive the threaded portion46of the retention plug14. A stem bore54is formed through the retention plug14. The stem bore54is sized to loosely receive the plug end40of the valve stem12. The compression spring18preferably has a conical shape. However, a cylindrical shaped compression spring may also be used.

The animal watering valve1is preferably assembled in the following manner. The stem o-ring16is inserted into the o-ring groove44in the sealing base36. The plug end40of the valve stem12is inserted into the compression spring18, such that a smaller diameter of the conical spring18is in contact with the spring flange42. The actuation end38of the valve stem12is inserted into plug bore32, until the stem o-ring18contacts a bottom of the plug bore32. The retention plug14is threaded into the plug thread34and tightened with a wrench (not shown) applied to the pair of opposing flats52. With reference toFIG. 4, water is released through a portion of the stem o-ring18, when the actuation end38is pivoted by a tongue of an animal. The valve body10is threaded into an animal drinking system (not shown).