Abstract:
A drinker for a watering system of a poultry house comprising a housing having a side wall, a top, and a bottom defining a valve chamber having an inner surface and a floor. A valve seat is formed in the chamber above the outlet port; and a valve member received within the chamber to be movable between a first closed position and a second position opened position. A trigger pin passes through the outlet and has a head with a cavity in the top surface. The cavity has a shape different from the shape of the valve member. The drinker elements are sized such that the distance between the valve seat and the chamber floor is greater than the height of the pin head. Additionally, the valve member is sized such that when the valve member is in its closed position, the valve member is does not contact the pin head.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to watering systems for use in a poultry house, and, in particular, to an improved two-stage drinker for use in the watering system. 
   A typical watering system for a poultry house includes a water regulator which is connected to a supply of water to reduce the line pressure of the supply water. Watering lines extend from the regulator and drinkers depend from the bottom of the watering lines. Currently existing drinkers include a housing having a ball valve which is operated by a pin. When the chicken pecks at the pin, the pin moves the ball valve off its seat, to allow water to pass through the drinker, allowing the chicken to have water. 
   A persistent problem with drinkers has been leakage caused by the inability for the ball to fully engage the valve seat in the drinker housing. The leakage plaguing currently available drinkers comes from the fact that the design of the currently available drinkers requires the components of the drinker to fit within tight tolerance limits. It would be desirable to produce a drinker which does not require such tight tolerances and which will substantially reduce the leakage problem. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly stated, a drinker for a watering system of a poultry house; the drinker comprising a housing having a side wall, a top, and a bottom defining a valve chamber having an inner surface and a floor. The chamber has in inlet an inlet to place the drinker chamber in communication with a supply of water and an outlet port extending through the bottom of the housing to allow water to exit the housing. The outlet port is defined by a wall which slopes outwardly, such that the diameter at the bottom of the outlet port is larger than the diameter at the top of the outlet port. A valve seat is formed in the chamber above the outlet port; and a valve member received within the chamber. The valve member is movable between a first position in which the valve member engages the valve seat to close the outlet port to prevent the flow of water through the drinker and a second position in which the valve member is raised relative to the valve seat to open the outlet port to allow water to pass through the drinker. 
   A trigger pin has a shaft which through the outlet port and a head on the top of the shaft which is sized to rest on the chamber floor. Additionally, a cavity of formed in the top of the pin head. The cavity has a shape different from the shape of the valve member. In a preferred embodiment, the valve member is a ball and the cavity is generally cylindrical. The pin if pivotally moveable relative to the housing. Thus, when the pin is pivoted, the peripheral edge of the cavity engages the valve member to move the valve member from the closed position to the opened position. 
   Preferably, the distance between the valve seat and the chamber floor is greater than the height of the pin head. Additionally, the valve member is sized such that when the valve member is in its closed position, the valve member is does not contact the pin head. Hence, the pin will not interfere with the closure of the drinker. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a poultry house having a watering system including a pressure regulator which supplies low pressure water to an elongate watering pipe having a series of drinking stations or drinkers spaced therealong; 
       FIG. 2  is an elevational view of watering system with a centrally located regulator, a watering pipe, and drinkers mounted to the underside of the watering pipe 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of a drinker of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the drinker taken along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a housing for the drinker; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a valve cap for the drinker; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an insert for the drinker; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged elevational view of a pin for the drinker; 
       FIG. 8B  is a further enlarged cross-sectional fragmentary view of the drinker pin; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the drinker in an idle position, in which water is prevented from passing through the drinker; 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the drinker in a first stage, in which water flows through the drinker at a first rate; and 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the drinker in a second stage, in which water flows through the drinker at a second, faster, rate. 
   

   Corresponding reference numerals will be used throughout the several figures of the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what we presently believe is the best mode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   A watering system  1  for use in a poultry house H is shown schematically in  FIG. 1 . The watering system  1  includes a water supply pipe  3  which is connected to watering pipes  5 , two of which are shown. A regulator  9  is positioned at the start of each of the watering pipes to reduce the line pressure. A plurality of watering stations or drinkers  7  are spaced along each watering pipe  5 . A support or stiffening member  10  (e.g., a support pipe) is suspended from the roof rafters of the poultry house H by cables  15 . The regulator  9  and water pipes  5  are carried by the support pipe. Hangers  11  and a bracket  13  suspend the water pipe  5  and regulator  9 , respectively, from the support pipe  10 . Hangers  11  clampingly grip both support pipe  10  and watering pipe  5  at spaced locations therealong and thus transfer shear loads therebetween thus substantially stiffening the watering system. The bracket  13  and the regulator  9  are preferably as shown in Published Application No. 2003-0111019, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,021, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   Cables  15  (see  FIG. 2 ) attached to the brackets  11  and  13  suspend the support pipe  11  from the roof trusses or the like of house H. Typically, cables  15  are part of a motorized winch and cable assembly that when selectively operated allows the drinking system to be raised and lowered. The cables are spaced at desired intervals (e.g., 5–15 feet) so as to suspend the support pipe  10  and regulator  9  in the poultry house H without undue deflection of either the support pipe  10  or the watering pipe  5 . As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the cables are adjustable in the conventional manner so that the watering pipe  5  is substantially level along its length. It will be understood that the term cable refers generically to any member that may be used to suspend the water system from the roof structure of a poultry house. Such tension suspension members could include wire cables, chains, ropes, wires, rods, links or the like. 
   An illustrative example of a preferred drinker  20  is shown generally in  FIG. 3 . The drinker  20  includes a housing  22  shown in detail in  FIG. 5 . The housing  22  has an upper generally cylindrical side wall  24  and a lower sidewall  26  which slopes inwardly. The housing is open at its top  28  and has a bottom opening  30 . The inner surface of the housing is stepped as at  32  and  34  to define three different sections  36 A–C of the chamber formed by the housing walls  24  and  26 . At the bottom chamber section  36 C, the inner surface slopes, as at  38  to a shoulder  40 . The shoulder  40  surrounds the bottom opening  30 . A generally C-shaped attachment member  41  extends from the housing side wall  24  to mount the drinker  20  to the water pipe  5 . Such an attachment member is shown and described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,346, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   A valve cap  42  (shown in detail in  FIG. 6 ) is received in the chamber section  36 A. The cap  42  has a side wall  44 , a lower surface  46 , and an upper surface  48 . The side wall  44  has a diameter sized such that the cap  42  will be frictionally received within the housing chamber  36 A. A post  50  extends up from the upper surface  48 , at the center thereof, to define a rabitted channel to receive an O-ring  52 . The cap  42  is sized such that its bottom surface  46  rests on the housing shoulder  32  and the top of the post  50  is approximately flush with the housing top surface  28 . As can be appreciated, the O-ring  52  forms a liquid tight seal between the cap  42  and the housing  22 . Additional grooves  54  and  56  are formed in the side wall  44 . The grooves  54  and  56  define a ring  58 . The groove  56  is approximately twice as tall as the groove  54 . The ring  58  has an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the wall  44  to be essentially equal to the inner diameter of the housing chamber  36 A. The ring  58  thus positively engages the inner surface of the housing chamber  36 A when the valve cap is inserted into the housing to increase the frictional engagement of the valve cap with the housing inner surface. The two grooves  54  and  56  could also receive additional O-rings, if desired. However, because the drinkers are operated at a low water pressure, additional seals are not necessary. The valve cap lower surface  46  is relieved to form a truncated generally conical area  58  having a generally cylindrical portion  59  at the upper end of the conical area  58 . A bore  60  extends from the top of the conical area  59  axially through the valve cap, and opens at the top surface of the valve cap. 
   A pin  62  ( FIG. 8 ) extends through the bore  60 . The pin  62  has a shaft  64  and a head  66 . The pin head shaft  64  has a diameter sized so that the shaft  64  can slide within the valve cap bore  60 . The pin head  66  has a diameter greater than that of the valve cap bore and is received in the cap recessed area  58 . Hence, the pin head  66  will prevent the pin  62  from being pushed upwardly out of the bore  60 . 
   An insert or cup  70  (shown in more detail in  FIG. 7 ) is received in the lower portion  36 C of the housing chamber. The cup  70  has an outer surface shaped to be frictionally received in the house chamber portion  36 C. The cup has an outer wall surface  72  which is generally cylindrical. A sloped side surface  74  extends from the bottom of the wall surface  72  to the bottom surface  76  of the cup  70 . When received in the housing  22 , the cup bottom surface  76  rests on the housing shoulder  40 , and the upper surface of the cup is level with, or slightly above, the lower step  34  of the housing chamber, such that the cup  70  is substantially received in the housing chamber portion  36 C, as seen in  FIG. 4 . 
   Internally, the cup  70  defines a chamber  78  that is generally cylindrical and which has a floor  82  at the bottom of the chamber. The chamber  78  is stepped, as at  80 A,  80 B, and  80 C, to define ever smaller diameter sections  78 A–D to the chamber  78 . The change in radius is between the three sections of the chamber is small. In a preferred embodiment, the upper section  78 A preferably has a radius of about 0.265″; the second section  78 B preferably has a radius of about 0.253″; the third section  78 C preferably has a radius of about 0.226″; and the fourth section preferably has a radius of about 0.220″. Hence, the steps  80 A–C define shoulders having annular widths of about 0.012″, 0.027″, and 0.006″. Additionally, the chamber sections  78 A–D preferably have heights of about 0.0460″, 0.0750″, 0.0690″, and 0.0665″, respectively. Preferably, the steps  80 A–C are slightly radiused. 
   An opening  84  extends through the bottom of the cup, from the cup chamber floor  82  to the cup bottom surface  76 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the cup opening  84  is aligned, and preferably concentric, with the housing bottom opening  30 . The cup opening  84  is smaller in diameter than the housing bottom opening. Preferably, the cup opening  84  has a diameter at the cup chamber floor of about 0.135″, whereas, the housing opening is about twice that wide. The cup opening is defined by an upper generally cylindrical wall  86  which extends from the chamber floor  82  to a point approximately even with the upper edge of the cup sloped side wall  74 . In a preferred embodiment, the wall  86  has a height of about 0.0435″. At about that point, the cup opening is defined by a surface  88  that is slopes slightly outwardly, such that the cup opening diameter is greater at the cup bottom surface than at the intersection between the cup outer walls  72  and  74 . Preferably, the opening wall  88  defines an angle α of about 6° and has a height of about 0.085″. 
   A second pin  90  is received in the cup  70 . The pin  90 , which is shown in more detail in  FIG. 8B , is identical to the pin  62  and includes the stem  64  and head  66 . The pin head has a diameter greater than the diameter of the cup opening  84  and rests on the cup chamber floor  82  in the assembled drinker. The pin head has an upper surface  92 A and a lower surface  92 B. A cavity  93  is formed in the head upper surface  92 A. The cavity  93 , as seen, is preferably generally cylindrical in form, and includes a side wall  93 A and a floor or bottom surface  93 B. As seen in  FIG. 8B , the cavity  93  is generally concentric with the perimeter of the pin head  92 . Preferably, the pin head has a height of about 0.067″ and a diameter of about 0.178″. These parameters give the pin head a height which is very slightly greater than the height of the cup chamber section  78 D and a diameter that is substantially less than the diameter of the cup chamber section  78 D. The cavity  93  preferably has a depth of about 0.017″ and a diameter of about 0.118″. 
   The pin shaft  64  extends downwardly from the pin head and extends through the cup opening  84  and the housing bottom opening  30 . The junction of the pin shaft to the pin head is preferably slightly radiused. The pin shaft is generally cylindrical, and thus has a substantially constant diameter over the length of the shaft. Hence, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the pin shaft has a diameter preferably of about 0.1245″ which is slightly less than the diameter of the cup opening  84  at the cup chamber floor. However, because the cup opening increases in diameter, a conical gap is formed between the pin shaft  64  and the cup bottom opening wall  88 , as best seen in  FIG. 4 . This gap allows for the pin to swing or pivot from side to side. When the pin  90  pivots, it pivots about the bottom corner of the pin head, as seen in  FIG. 10 . Thus, with reference to  FIG. 4 , if the pin shaft is moved to the left, the pin will pivot about the right side of the pin head. Similarly, if the pin shaft is moved to the right, the pin will pivot about the left side of the pin head. 
   Lastly, the drinker  20  includes a valve element  100  which is received within the cup chamber  78 . Preferably, the valve element is a ball (or sphere) which has a diameter of about 0.25″ which is slightly less than the diameter of the cup chamber section  78 B and slightly larger than diameter of the cup section  78 C, such that the ball  100  sits on the cup chamber shoulder  80 B. As can be appreciated, the shoulder  80 B defines the valve seat for the drinker. 
   To assemble the drinker, the cup  70  is inserted into the housing  20 , and then the pin  90  and ball  100  are inserted into the cup  70 . The valve cap  42 , with the pin  62  is then inserted into the housing. The cup is frictionally received in the housing, and the frictional engagement of the valve cap with the housing maintains the valve element and pins within the housing. The assembled drinker  20  can then be mounted to the watering pipe. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 9 , when the drinker is in its idle position the valve ball  100  extends into the cavity  98  in the head of the pin  90 . However, due to the relative sizes and dimensions of the pin head, the pin head cavity, the diameter of the shoulder  80 C (which forms the valve seat for the drinker), and the distance from the chamber floor  82  to the shoulder  80 B, the valve element does not contact the pin head when the drinker is in its idle position. Hence, the pin head will not interfere with the seating of the ball  100  on the valve seat or shoulder  80 B. This will substantially reduce the possibility of leakage due to a poor seating of the valve member. 
   In conventionally available drinkers, such as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,524,724 and 4,598,373 which utilize pins with cavities, the cavities have a curved surface with a curvature conforming to the curvature of the ball. That is, the cavity in the conventionally available drinkers have a radius substantially equal to the radius of the ball. However, in the pin  90 , the cavity is cylindrical (i.e., rectangular in cross-section). Due to the shape of the cavity, when a chicken (or other animal) pivots the pin, the ball will be lifted from the perimeter of the cavity, rather than from the center of the cavity as occurs with the pins of conventionally available drinkers. As can be appreciated, as the pin is pivoted, the peripheral edge of the pin cavity will be raised more than the center of the cavity. Hence, even though the pin head is spaced slightly from the valve element, as noted above, the valve element will still be lifted due to pivoting of the pin. 
   Actually, the drinker is a two stage drinker. When the drinker is in an idle position (i.e., when the ball  100  is sitting on the valve seat  80 B) as seen in  FIG. 9 , no water passes through the drinker. When an animal pivots the pin  90 , as seen in  FIG. 10 , the ball will be raised due to the pivoting of the pin head, as described above, to allow water to pass through the opening in the top of the drinker, through the opening  60  in the cap  42 , into the chamber  36 B, around the ball  100  and pin  90 , and out the openings  30  and  84  in the housing and cup, respectively. At this low flow rate, generally a drop of water is allowed to exit the drinker, and the animal can take the water from the pin  90 . Due to the dimension, and especially the height, of the components, the pin  62  is moveable vertically in the drinker housing  22 . Hence, rather than moving the pin  90  pivotally, an animal can raise the pin. By raising the pin  90 , the ball  100  can be lifter further off the seat  80 B, and water can flow at a second, faster, rater through the drinker  20 . 
   As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.