Abstract:
A livestock waterer for use in frigid climates includes a lid which floats on the surface of the water in each basin of the waterer. The lid is hollow with a convex upper surface and with baffle walls depending from the underside of the lid. The baffle walls interrupt wave action on the surface of the water created by depression of the lid into the water when an animal presses down on the lid to gain access to the water. The floor of each basin is provided with an integrally formed mounting post to support a heater within the basin. The baffles walls prevent exhaustion of water within the basin thereby preserving submersion of the heater at all times.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to livestock watering devices and in particular to those devices which are equipped with heating devices. 
         [0002]    Previous generations of livestock waterers consisted of open tubs in barnyards or pens. There livestock could access the water as needed. Improvements were then made to the cattle waterers which allowed the tubs to be filled automatically. Although the automatic fillers solved a number of problems with the waterers, problems relating to freezing persisted. Specifically, in sub-freezing climates, the water in the waterer is susceptible to freezing. In order to abate this problem, farmers began to use heaters to warm the water to above freezing. Although heaters aided in keeping most of the water in a liquid state, freezing still occurred at the air-water interface. Additionally, the costs of heating the waterers became more expensive. Improvements to better insulate the waterers led to insulation material utilized in the outer shell of the waterer and inventions directed at insulating the upper surface of the water itself. U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,687 discloses a waterer with a circular cover or lid which floats upon the water&#39;s surface. The lid could be manipulated by the animal in such a way to allow access to the water beneath. Other patents sized the lid to avoid its freezing to the surrounding opening. U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,022 implemented guide rails anchoring the cover to the waterer while still allowing the animals access to the water below. The guide rails assisted in preventing the animals from being able to physically remove the lids from the waterer. 
         [0003]    With conventional lids, movement of the lids by animals seeking to drink creates turbulence and splashing of water from the waterer. This wastes water and also creates a muddy ground surface around the waterer or leads to ice build up on the outside of the waterer. The shape of previous lids made them prone to generating wave action within the waterer. Wave action causes water to be lost which in turn add extra costs in the replacing of the water as well as heating of the replacement water. 
         [0004]    One other shortcoming is the placement of the heater within the waterer. Traditionally, the heater is placed in a protected central location away from the basins accessible by the animals so that the animals will not damage the heating element. The heat created by the heating element must travel from the central location of the waterers to the basins and may be sufficiently dissipated before water in the basins is sufficiently warmed to prevent freezing in frigid weather conditions. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An improved livestock waterer includes a base which provides one or more basins for containing water which may be accessed by an animal seeking water. The basins are separated by an enclosure which is an integral part of the base. The enclosure may house heater and water supply elements and may also include a central water container from which water may circulate to the basins through ports connecting the basins to the central water container. 
         [0006]    Each of the basins is provided with a polymeric or other non-metal floating lid. Each lid is constructed as a hollow enclosure in which air is trapped. The upper surface of each lid is in the form of a dome or convex curve so that water will not remain standing on the upper surface. The underside of each lid includes a number of baffles which reduce wave action on the surface of the water below the lid as the lid is depressed or displaced by an animal seeking water below the lid. By reducing turbulence below the lid, less chance exists that water will splash from the basin during drinking activity, or when an animal experiments with the lid out of curiosity. 
         [0007]    Heating elements may be placed within the water basins. Each heating element is supported on a post which is formed integrally with the base such that the post will stand upright upon the bottom of a water basin. 
         [0008]    A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved livestock waterer which reduces the incidence of splashing from the waterer when an animal displaces the lid floating on the water made available to the animal. 
         [0009]    Another object of the invention is to provide an animal waterer which is less susceptible to ice accumulation on the floating lids overlying the water within the waterer. 
         [0010]    A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting structure for a heater element stationed within the water in the waterer. 
         [0011]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide an animal waterer which always maintains water covering the heating elements. 
         [0012]    These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the waterer having elongate water basins separated by a central enclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top view perspective of the lid of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view perspective of the lid of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional front perspective of a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 , shown with water in the waterer. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view perspective of the lid for each of the basins of the livestock waterer of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Referring now to the drawings, one embodiment of the livestock waterer  4  can be seen in perspective in  FIG. 1  positioned to demonstrate the three dimensional shape of the structure. Mounting points  6  can be used to secure the invention to a surface such as a concrete platform with the use of a selected type of mounting hardware. Mounting recesses  8  allow easier access to the mounting points  6  and ease in the facility of accessing the chosen mounting hardware. 
         [0020]    Livestock waterer  4  includes a housing  12  which comprises two basins  10  separated by an elevated enclosure  7 . The housing  12  further comprises front and rear longitudinal sidewalls  5 ,  13  and opposing end walls  9 ,  11 . Sidewalls  5 ,  13 , end walls  9 ,  11  and elevated enclosure  7  are formed integrally of polymeric material. Lids  14  substantially cover the opening of basins  10 . Lids  14  are buoyant, preferably hollow and are made from a polymeric material. Lids  14  preferably float on the surface of water contained within each basin  10 . Pass through openings  16  in the lids  14  allow guides  18  to pass through the lids  14 . Guides  18  each consist of elongate vertically disposed rods which extend into basin  10  and are fixed at the bottom of basin  10 . Guides  18  are also retained in an upstanding orientation by their attachment to guide mounts  20  atop opposing end walls  9 ,  11  or by attachment to the sidewalls  15  of elevated enclosure  7 . Guides  18  are spaced apart from basin sides a small distance. Preferably one guide  18  is located along each opposite side of the basins  10 . A top access panel  22  on the top of the elevated enclosure  7  is removable to access equipment such as a float valve (not shown) within elevated enclosure  7 . Recess  25  facilitates removal of the top access panel  22 . Side access panel  26  is selectively removable from the livestock waterer  4  and provides access to the interior of the elevated enclosure  7 . Plugs  28  are received in openings  30  in end walls  9 ,  11  to seal openings  30  which are in communication with the basins  10 . The plugs  28  are selectively removable and once removed, allow water to drain from the basins  10 . 
         [0021]    Details of the structure of each lid  14  may be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Each lid  14  includes an upper surface  50  and an underside  70 . Upper surface  50  of each lid  14  is preferably convex in shape and upper surface  50  may be formed as a segment of a cylinder or may otherwise be domed in shape. Peripheral regions  57  of upper surface  50  may be planar though they are not required to be so. Peripheral regions  57  of upper surface  50  are preferably kept minimal in area to provide little planar surface on which water may collect. Lid  14  is preferably hollow with upper surface  50  sealed at side edges  80 ,  82 ,  84  and  86  to underside  70  so that air is trapped within lid  14  and it is buoyant. 
         [0022]    As seen specifically in  FIG. 3 , the underside  70  of lid  14  is substantially planar. A baffle system  61  depends from the underside  70 . Baffle system  61  comprises transverse walls  60 ,  68  and longitudinal walls  62 ,  66 , each of which are generally perpendicular to the underside  70  of lid  14 . Bottom edges  74  of baffle system  61  may be parallel to underside  70  and may extend approximately one to five (preferably two to three) inches from underside  70  of lid  14 . The baffle system  61  may be integral with the other structures of lid  14 . Longitudinal walls  62 ,  66  of baffle system  61  extend substantially the length of underside  70  but are interrupted by gaps  71  therein. In the preferred embodiment transverse walls  60 ,  68  interconnect longitudinal walls  62 ,  66  at a substantial perpendicular near distal ends  64 ,  69  of longitudinal walls  62 ,  66 . Distal ends  64 ,  69  of longitudinal walls  62 ,  66  extend past their intersections with transverse walls  60 ,  68  a short distance which, in the case of a lid  14  which is of a total length of approximately thirty-six inches, may be one to two inches. Distal ends  64 ,  69  may be inclined from bottom edge  74  at twenty to seventy degrees and preferably from thirty to sixty degrees. Proximal edges  72 ,  73  of longitudinal walls  62 ,  66  extend approximately ten to twelve inches past transverse walls  60 ,  68  in the case of a lid  14  of length in the range of thirty-six inches. Longitudinal walls  62 ,  66  are longitudinally aligned with proximal ends  72 ,  73  thereof spaced apart from one another to form gaps  71 . Proximal ends  72 ,  73  may be inclined at ten to eighty degrees from perpendicular to underside  70  preferably at 30 to 60 degrees. Gaps  71  between proximal ends  72 ,  73  of longitudinal walls  62 ,  66  are critical in providing turbulence damping so that air is not trapped between longitudinal walls  62 ,  66  and transverse walls  60 ,  68  below lid  14 . The gaps  71  separate baffle system  61  into first set of baffles  63  and a second set of baffles  67 . The second set of baffles  67  mirrors the first set of baffles  63  in the preferred embodiment. The baffle system  61  interrupts and abates the wave motion of the water caused when an animal manipulates lid  14  to access the water. The baffle system  61  may be formed on underside  70  as an integral part of lid  14  and each wall  60 ,  62 ,  66  and  68  may be hollow. 
         [0023]    A second embodiment of the invention is seen in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . Livestock waterer  104  shares many of the structures and characteristics of the embodiment detailed in  FIGS. 1-3 . Mounting recesses  108  allow access to mounting points  106  which can be fitted with hardware to anchor the livestock waterer  104  to a ground surface. Livestock waterer  104  contains basins  110  set in housing  112 . The housing  112  further comprises front and rear longitudinal sidewalls  105 ,  113  and opposing end walls  109 ,  111 . Recess  125  allows a top access panel  122  to be removed easier. The top access panel  122  and side access panel  126  are selectively removable and allow access to the interior of the elevated enclosure  107 . 
         [0024]    A lid  114  substantially covers each of basins  110 . Openings  116  in lids  114  allow guides  118  to pass through lids  114 . Guide mounts  120  extend from the sidewalls  105 ,  113  and secure the guides  118 . Guides  118  are further secured by being anchored to bottom  141  of basins  110 . 
         [0025]    Now referring to  FIG. 5 , a cross-sectional view shows more detail of the second embodiment livestock waterer  104 . Cavity  140  within the livestock waterer  104  extends to the bottom  141  of basin shelf  142 . Housing  112  comprises end walls  109 ,  111  which cooperate with basin shelf  142  and longitudinal sidewalls  105  (seen in  FIG. 4 ),  113  to define cavity  140 . Sidewalls  115  of elevated enclosure  107 , end walls  109 ,  111 , longitudinal sidewalls  105 ,  113  and basin shelf  142  cooperate to define basins  110  which are elevated above a ground surface. Longitudinal sidewalls  105 ,  113 , sidewalls  115  of elevated enclosure  107  and end walls  109 ,  111  can be seen to be an integral one-piece polymeric structure formed by molding. A water supply pipe (not shown) may traverse cavity  140  and pass through basin shelf  142  to enter central fill tub  146 . Float compartment  144  adjoins central fill tub  146  and provides a location far a float valve (not shown) from which central fill tub  146  is filled. The water enters the basins  110  via ports  148  which connect basins  110  with central fill tub  146 . Lids  114  are buoyant and are supported on water surface  132  within basins  110 . Therefore, lids  114  rise with the addition of water to the basins  110 . Lids  114  slide vertically on guides  118  as water is added to or removed from the basins  110  and as animals seeking water depress lids  114  to gain access to water below lids  114 . 
         [0026]    Once basins  110  are filled to a desired level with water, a float valve (not shown) located in elevated enclosure  107  closes to prevent further inflow of water from a water source. An animal gains access to the water by pushing lid  114  downward. As the animal exerts downward force, the lid  114  partially submerges and water rolls over upper surface  150 . Once the animal ceases to exert downward force on lid  114 , water rolls off convex lid  114  and the lid  114  returns to its floating position on top of water contained in basin  110 . 
         [0027]    Again referring to  FIG. 5 , basin floor  154  contains elements aiding in the heating of the water contained in basins  110 . Post  152  extends from basin floor  154  and may be integrally formed with basin floor  154 . In the preferred embodiment, post  152  is cylindrical. The shape and size of post  152  is selected such that heater  156  may attach to the periphery of post  152 . The heater is positioned in the middle of basin floor  154  in such a way so it cannot be accessed by an animal drinking from the livestock waterer  104 . 
         [0028]    As water is removed from the livestock waterer by the animals or through evaporation, the lids  114  descend toward the basin floor  154 . The baffle system  161  of lids  114  of livestock waterer  104  depend from underside  170  of lids  114  to a distance of at least the height of post  152 . This minimal length assures water will always sufficiently cover the heater  156  and minimize overheating of heater  156 . 
         [0029]    Again referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the basin floor  154  may be sloped to provide enhanced emptying and cleaning of the livestock waterer  104 . Once plugs  128  are removed from openings  130 , water drains from basins  110 . The top access panel  122  and side access panel  126  allow a person to more easily access a heating element or water supply within the housing  112 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  discloses a lid  114  for the embodiment of the livestock waterer  104  of  FIG. 4 . Lid  114  comprises an upper convex surface  150  and an underside  170  which is substantially planar. Baffle systems  161  depend from underside  170  and each comprises a transverse wall  163  joined perpendicularly to longitudinal walls  162  and  166  which are spaced apart. Each of longitudinal walls  162  and  166  inclines from its attachment to transverse wall  163  to the underside  170 , leaving a small gap between baffle systems  161  approximately midway along underside  170 . Walls  162 ,  163 ,  166  each preferably depends at a substantial perpendicular from underside  170 . 
         [0031]    In the foregoing description, the container has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, but it should be understood that the description does not intend to limit the container to the embodiments described. Rather, this description is intended to include such alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included in the sphere and scope of this invention, as more particularly set forth in the claims.