Livestock watering station

A housing for a livestock drinking station is formed by a hemispherically-shaped drinking basin including a water outlet located substantially in the bottom center of the basin and a swirl-type water inlet integrally formed in one side thereof. A continuous side wall extends around the periphery of the basin and is tapered outwardly from the top of the basin toward the bottom thereof and includes a continuous shoulder for supporting the basin within the ground. The basin and continuous side wall are integrally made of shock-proof, reinforced fiberglass material affording a smooth, non-porous external surface. The continuous side wall and the basin form a smooth rounded top edge surface. A fast-flow drain is removably mounted within the water outlet and includes an adjustable orifice for varying the flow of water from the fast-flow drain. An automatic water feed valve in the water inlet line maintains a constant water level in the basin. A drainage system is located under the fast-flow drain within the interior of the housing for draining water flowing from the basin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention is directed to livestock watering stations for supplying 
drinking water to domestic or zoo animals, and in particular to such 
devices which automatically control the flow of fresh drinking water and 
which afford a self-cleaning action as water enters the bowl of the 
drinking station. 
2. Prior Art 
Known livestock watering stations have certain disadvantages resulting from 
requirements relating to installation and maintenance and may be a source 
of injury and/or sickness to livestock. Thus, watering stations made of 
concrete, clay materials, or metal are either porous or corrosive, and 
thereby absorb the water and impurities contained therein and which may 
become embedded in the porous material below the surface of the water and 
remain impervious to ordinary cleaning methods. Such conditions are 
conducive to the breeding of unwanted bacteria and algae. Moreover, the 
chore of periodically cleaning such watering stations is laborious, time 
consuming, and inadequate. Such periodic cleaning is often accompanied by 
the creation of a messy, unsightly slough about the vessel, which, again, 
becomes a breeding ground for flies, mosquitoes, and other 
disease-carrying insects. The shape of prior art watering stations, 
combined with a rough exterior surface, may contribute to the injury of 
animals by the infliction of abrasions, bruises, and lacerations when the 
legs, knees, or other parts of the animal's body come into contact with 
the sides or other portions of the drinking vessel. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The livestock drinking station in accordance with the invention overcomes 
all of the aforementioned disadvantages of prior art livestock drinking 
vessels. In accordance with the invention, the livestock drinking station 
is embedded in the soil with sod built up over a projecting shelf or 
shoulder, which may be integral with the remaining portion of the drinking 
station, and a bed of loose gravel is laid in the interior drain area. A 
drain plug in the bottom central portion of the water bowl is equipped 
with a recessed handle, and when removed, enables the basin to be rapidly 
emptied of water for cleaning. Drain water does not accumulate in the sod 
or turf surrouding the drinking station as it is poured onto the loose 
gravel and dirt in the drain area under the drain plug. 
The water feed line includes a feed valve which is automatically opened or 
closed as required by a set water pressure to maintain a substantially 
constant water level within the drinking vessel. Fresh water from the 
automatic feed valve is injected into the drinking basin in a direction 
tangent to the interior curved surface thereof so that it provides a 
swirling motion about the basin to create a washing action on the side 
wall thereof, thus inhibiting the formation of algae and unwanted organic 
matter. 
The orifice in the drain plug may be left closed, or it may be adjusted to 
a selected size opening thereby permitting the escape of water at an 
adjustable flow rate to prevent stagnant water from accumulating within 
the drinking vessel. As the feed valve automatically maintains a constant 
water level, the drain action creates a circulation which ensures a 
constant supply of fresh, clean water in the drinking basin. 
Thus, in accordance with the livestock drinking station of the invention, a 
cleaner, more efficient livestock watering installation is afforded. Such 
an installation requires significantly less cleaning and maintenance than 
known prior art drinking installations. When periodic cleaning is carried 
out, such a task is made much easier, is performed quicker, and is far 
more efficient than with known livestock drinking stations. Moreover, the 
circulating action provided through adjustment of the drain orifice in 
conjunction with the automatic operation of the water feed valve ensures a 
constant supply of fresh water, thereby reducing or eliminating the 
problems associated with stagnant water in livestock drinking stations. 
The smooth, non-porous surface of the drinking station inhibits the 
formation of organisms within the water, and on the surface or below the 
surface of the exterior or exposed portions of the drinking station. The 
contour of the drinking vessel with its smooth surfaces and slanted sides 
greatly lessens the chances of accidental injury to livestock using the 
drinking station. The shock-proof, reinforced fiberglass construction 
reduces damage to the watering station during shipment to, and emplacement 
at, the watering site, thereby affording a durable and reliable facility. 
The one-piece, integral construction of the watering station affords 
portability by reducing the amount of time and labor required to move the 
watering station from one site to another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, livestock watering station 10 is 
cylindrical in cross section having smooth rounded top edges, tapered 
sides 14 inclined outwardly from the top of livestock watering station 10 
to the bottom thereof, and shoulder 16 which extends outwardly from the 
bottom of tapered side 14 and is preferably integral therewith. Shoulder 
16 provides a means for anchoring the livestock watering station at a 
desired watering site, which will be more fully described hereinafter. 
Access door 18 is provided approximately one-third from the bottom of the 
livestock watering station and is secured to side 14 thereof by any 
appropriate means such as round-head or sunken screws. Livestock watering 
station 10 is made of shock-proof, reinforced fiberglass construction so 
as to provide smooth, non-porous surfaces and a rugged and durable 
construction. As shown in FIG. 2, equally spaced drain holes 15 are formed 
or drilled into the upper portion of basin 20 to provide for overflow of 
water. 
As illustrated in FIG. 3, livestock watering station 10 includes a 
hemispherically-shaped bowl or basin 20 having a drain opening 22 in the 
central bottom portion thereof which is fitted with adjustable orifice 
mechanism 24 (to be described more fully hereinafter) for enabling water 
to drain from basin 20, as well as to provide a means for complete 
draining of the basin to clean the surfaces thereof. Water is provided 
through shut-off valve 26, automatic feed valve 28, inlet piping 30, and 
nipple 31 to water inlet port 32 such that water is injected into basin 20 
approximately one-third from the bottom of the basin to provide a 
swirl-type flow pattern. Water inlet port 32 is molded in basin 20 and is 
integral therewith, thereby obviating a special fitting which is subject 
to corrosion and the collection of dirt and bacteria. As mentioned 
previously, the injection of water in such a manner will provide a 
swirling motion so as to provide a cleansing action to the sides of basin 
20, as well as to maintain movement of the water to prevent it from 
becoming stagnant. Automatic feed valve 28 is of a known type which has an 
adjustable pressure setting such that the height of the water within basin 
20 may be maintained at a desired constant water level. Automatic feed 
valve 28 is mounted adjacent the inside of access door 18 such that the 
automatic feed valve is readily accessible from the outside of livestock 
watering station 10. Automatic feed valve 28 may also be mounted on the 
exterior underside of basin 20 at inlet 32. 
As illustrated in FIG. 3, livestock watering station 10 is embedded in the 
soil such that shoulders 16 are covered by the sod to a suitable depth to 
maintain the stability of the livestock watering station during its normal 
use. Such normal use would contemplate the bumping of a large domestic 
animal, such as a horse, against the livestock watering station. Thus, 
there must be a suitable depth of soil, for example four to six inches, 
over shoulder 16 in order to maintain the livestock watering station 10 at 
its desired location without its being susceptible to tilting. Of course, 
the amount of soil should not extend above the bottom of the opening of 
access door 18. Loose gravel 30 is provided for several inches depth at 
the bottom of the livestock watering station for quick, clean drainage of 
the water flowing from fast flow drain opening 22 during normal operation 
so as to prevent the soil in the immediate vicinity of the bottom of the 
livestock watering station from becoming soaked with water. 
It is understood that livestock watering station 10 may also be operated 
such that no water is caused to drain from the adjustable orifice 24 in 
the bottom of basin 20, such that the only water that is provided to basin 
20 through water inlet 32 is that necessary to replenish the water level 
due to the consumption of the livestock using the livestock watering 
station, or evaporation and spillage. When it is desired to clean basin 
20, the adjustable orifice mechanism 24 is removed which results in an 
almost immediate draining of the water within basin 20. Recessed handle 23 
may be extended to facilitate removal of adjustable orifice mechanism 24. 
After the basin is cleaned, the supply of water provided to basin 20 will 
rinse the surfaces thereof which then are drained outside of opening 22. 
The drain may then be replaced and adjusted to provide the necessary 
orifice so as to provide a desired amount of leakage of water from basin 
20. 
Typical dimensions of the watering station for use with cattle or horses 
are as follows: 
Height top to bottom=36" 
Depth of basin=18" 
Extent of shoulders=5" 
OD of basin=34" 
ID of basin=28" 
The shock-proof, reinforced fiberglass body of the livestock watering 
station 10 enables it to be resistant to the formation of algae, as well 
as to absorb the bumping of large domestic animals such as cattle and 
horses, which may be utilizing the livestock watering station. The tapered 
sides 14 of livestock watering station 10 also eliminate or reduce damage 
that may be caused to the legs of horses which may have a tendency to rear 
in the vicinity of the livestock watering station. There are no 
projections in the external surfaces of the livestock watering station 
which would result in injury to the livestock using it.