Poultry watering system with float box and elongated line

An inexpensive poultry watering system allows water to be supplied under very low pressure (e.g. a 2 inch head) to nipples or similar water dispensers, without the use of a regulator. Relatively high pressure water is fed into a float box, with a float valve assembly in the box valving the water as it flows into the float box, to establish a level of water in the box. An outlet opening from the box is connected to an elongated (e.g. 8 foot-10 foot) conduit which has the nipples, or other water dispensers, spaced along it. The conduit is suspended by conventional hangers, The float box needs no additional support, being connected to the conduit by a short pipe section and collar. A ballast/support pipe may be mounted above the conduit. The plastic float box has an anti-roost ridge at the apex of its top, and its bottom is sloped from the inlet toward the outlet.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Poultry, and other animal watering systems have as a primary goal the 
delivery of a clean supply of water directly to the animals with a minimum 
of water waste, and utilizing equipment that is as inexpensive as possible 
while still performing the desired delivery function. It is necessary to 
minimize water waste since excess delivery of water not only is a waste of 
the water itself, but can contaminate a poultry house so that the birds 
have a less than desirable growing environment. 
It has been difficult in the past to accomplish the mutual goals of clean 
water delivery, minimum wastage of water, and inexpensive equipment. While 
some alternative systems to conventional 8 foot watering troughs have been 
developed--such as overhead water delivery pipes with nipple drinkers, or 
like dispensers, extending downwardly from the pipes--such systems 
typically include a water pressure regulator. The water pressure regulator 
is necessary since the water is supplied under a relatively high pressure 
(e.g. at least several pounds) to the poultry house, and if the water were 
dispensed at that pressure there would be an excessive amount of water, 
and it could be uncomfortable for the birds. However pressure regulators 
are expensive pieces of equipment and make the cost of the watering system 
much higher than is desired. 
According to the present invention, a poultry watering system, method, and 
components of the system, are provided which accomplish all of the mutual 
goals of clean delivery of water directly to the birds; with minimum 
wastage; and with minimum equipment cost. These goals are accomplished 
according to the present invention by providing a plastic float box which 
is operatively connected to the overhead conduit. The float box has a 
water inlet opening and a water outlet opening, with a valve assembly 
means provided in operative association with the water inlet so as to 
selectively allow or prevent the flow of water into the float box, so that 
the water establishes a predetermined level, or head, within the box. This 
head of water in the float box then provides the motive force for 
supplying water to the nipples, or like water dispensers. The head of 
water established in the float box typically is about 2 inches which is 
less than is normally obtained using conventional regulators. The float 
box is of plastic, and has a minimum amount of material, but with an 
anti-roost ridge on the top thereof. Such a system is much less expensive 
than conventional system with regulators, yet performs its desired 
function at least as well as a regulator system. 
No specially constructed mounting system is necessary in order to support 
the watering system according to the invention. The conduit may be 
supported just as is conventional (e.g. with hangers), the support of the 
conduit automatically supporting the float box. Preferably the float box 
is connected in a secure manner to the conduit by a short pipe section and 
a collar. The conduit preferably is at least about 8 feet long, and 
typically lengths of 8-10 feet are desirable. 
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive 
poultry watering system or the like for delivering a clean supply of water 
directly to the birds with a minimum of water spillage. This and other 
objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the 
detailed description of the drawings and the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
The animal watering system of the invention consists essentially of only a 
few components. These few components comprise a float box 10, an elongated 
conduit 12, a fluid operated valve assembly 14, an animal-actuated water 
dispensing means 16, and a mounting means 18 for mounting the conduit 12 
so that it is generally horizontal. The float box 10 comprises a hollow 
body preferably having top, bottom, and side walls. In a side wall 20 
thereof is provided an opening which defines an inlet for water entering 
the float box 10. In FIG. 1, a short pipe section 21 is illustrated 
extending outwardly from the float box 10 and connected to the inlet 
opening. The short pipe section is operatively connected to a pipe 22 or 
the like which is operatively connected to a source of drinking water 23. 
Typically the pressure of the water supplied from the source 23 is at 
least about several pounds. 
Also disposed in a side wall of the float box 10 is an outlet opening. 
Preferably the outlet opening is disposed in the side wall 25 which is 
opposite the side wall 20. In FIG. 1, the short pipe section 26 is 
operatively connected to the outlet opening, and in the embodiment 
illustrated in FIG. 1 the inlet opening at pipe section 21 is disposed in 
an upper portion of the housing, while the outlet opening defined at the 
short pipe section 26 is disposed in a lower portion of the housing (below 
the inlet opening). 
The float box 10 top 28 is sloped, and as seen in FIG. 2 preferably 
comprises an anti-roost ridge 29 at the apex thereof. The bottom 30 of the 
float box 10 preferably has at least a portion (see portion 31 in FIG. 1) 
thereof which slopes from the side wall 20 toward the side wall 25. This 
slope is provided so as to save material for the float box since the 
interior volume of the float box need not be large. Preferably the float 
box 10 is completely formed of plastic, including as interfitting top and 
bottom sections. One particularly suitable plastic for forming the float 
box is sold under the trademark "VALOX" by General Electric. 
The float operated valve assembly 14 may be of any suitable conventional 
construction. Typically it has a float portion 33, a float arm 34, and a 
valve defined at the portion indicated generally by reference numeral 35 
in FIG. 1. For example suitable constructions of the float operated valve 
assembly comprise the float valve sold by Monoflo International, Inc. of 
McLean, Va. under the trade name "Mini 80" (part number 35503), or such as 
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,344. The float valve assembly 14 selectively 
allows or prevents the flow of water into the float box 10 from the source 
23, and establishes a level or head of water, indicated by reference 
designation L in FIG. 1, within the float box. Preferably the float box 
and the valve assembly are dimensioned so that the distance of the level L 
established in the box 10 from the short pipe section 26 at the outlet 
opening is about 2 inches. This distance is indicated by reference 
designation D in FIG. 1. 
The conduit 12 which is operatively connected to the outlet from the float 
box 10 preferably comprises a piece of circular cross-section plastic pipe 
(e.g. 3/4 inch in diameter). Any conventional conduit may be used as a 
conduit 12. The conduit 12 typically is connected to the float box 10 in a 
relatively rigid manner. One simple but effective connector is provided by 
providing a collar 40, which has 0-rings (e.g. 41) associated therewith, 
and makes a sealing interference fit with conduit 12 and pipe section 26. 
Of course other suitable connecting mechanisms (such as screw threads) can 
be utilized. 
Note (see FIG. 2) that the box 10 is only slightly wider than conduit 12 
(e.g. a width of 2 inches) since it need not provide a large volume of 
water. 
The length of the elongated conduit 12 typically is between about 8-10 
feet. This provides a very practical distance, allowing the system 
according to the invention to replace conventional 8 foot waterers, and 
provides enough water dispensing mechanisms to be practical, while being 
effective in use with the float box 10. Preferably at the end of the 
conduit 12 opposite float box 10 a sight tube 42 is provided. The level of 
water in transparent material tube 42 is the same as that in box 10, and 
allows an operator to easily determine the level. 
The animal-actuated water dispensing devices 16 may comprise any 
conventional devices. Preferably, the devices are what are commonly known 
as "nipples" or "nipple drinkers", and extend downwardly from the conduit 
12, with an actuator portion 43 thereof extending downwardly from the 
bottom of each of nipples and engageable by the animal. Exemplary nipple 
drinkers that are effective include those sold commercially by Monoflo 
International, Inc. of McLean, Va., Ziggity Systems Inc. of Middlebury, 
Ind. and those such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,008,451 and 4,402,343. 
The mounting means 18 may comprise any suitable mounting means, such as 
conventional hanging brackets and wires presently used in poultry houses 
for multiple hundred foot lines. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 
and 2, brackets 45 are operatively connected to the conduit 12, and to a 
metal ballast/support pipe 47. The brackets 45 then are mounted to wire 
hangers 49 or the like which extend downwardly from the ceiling of the 
poultry house, or some other supporting structure. It is also desirable to 
provide a conventional anti-roost wire 51 which is supported by 
intermediate brackets 53 or the like, and is connected up to a source of 
low voltage electricity (not shown, and conventional). The ballast/support 
metal pipe 47 may comprise a part of the anti-roost system. 
While the support means 18 supports the conduit 12 so that it is 
"generally" horizontal, there is no necessity that it be exactly 
horizontal, and in some circumstances a slight slope is appropriate. 
Utilizing the apparatus described above, a method of supplying clean water 
directly to animals in an effective and cost-efficient manner is provided. 
The method steps comprise: Feeding water under relatively high pressure to 
the float box. Valving the flow of water into the float so as to establish 
a head of water in the float box. And, mounting the conduit and nipples so 
that they receive water from the float box and the head of water in the 
float box causes the water to flow under low pressure through the nipples 
when they are actuated by poultry. The valving and mounting steps are 
preferably practiced so that a head of approximately 2 inches of water is 
provided in the float box, which supplies the motive pressure for water to 
flow through the nipples. 
While the invention has been herein shown and described in what is 
presently conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment 
thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that 
many modifications may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, 
which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended 
claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures, systems, and 
procedures.