Abstract:
A water valve for an animal waterer which can be assembled, disassembled and repaired without the use of tools. The float arm pivots upon the valve body about an integral trunnion bar to permit selective engagement of the valve seal with the valve seat. A cover member overlies the valve body and retains the float arm to the valve body.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Animal waterers have developed over the years to automatically dispense a liquid into a container. Typically, the container is a vessel connected to a water source which can be selectively activated to fill the vessel with the liquid while also being selectively deactivated so that the vessel does not overflow. 
     In order to activate and deactivate the water source, a traditional animal waterer utilizes a float valve. The float valve includes a float, a float arm, and a valve body. The float lies on the surface of the liquid and can be raised or lowered by the level of the liquid in the vessel. As more liquid is added to the vessel, the float rises and manipulates the float arm to close the valve and not allow additional liquid to enter the vessel. As the liquid leaves the vessel such as by an animal consuming the water, or by evaporation or spillage, the float eventually lowers a sufficient amount such that the valve is re-opened. Liquid is allowed to flow and the vessel is filled with the liquid until the valve is closed again. 
     The float valve of a standard animal waterer is exposed to potential maltreatment by the animal as well as exposure to weather. These outside forces, along with normal wear and tear, leave the parts of the float valve susceptible to damage and the parts must frequently be replaced. The typical float valve of an animal waterer utilizes fasteners such as cotter pins or screws to secure the float and float arm to the valve body. In addition to requiring extra parts, replacing the parts of the valve body is time consuming and requires tools to remove fasteners such as cotter pins or screws. Since some users of animal waterers may possess many individual waterers, the number of parts and time needed to repair damaged waterers due to a worn or malfunctioning valve seal can be significant. A float valve assembly which may be disassembled without tools would expedite replacement of valve parts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a float valve for an animal waterer, especially a waterer for small animals such as dogs, which contains a float, a float arm, valve body including a valve seat, and a cover. The float valve allows a water source to fill a container with water. As the water level in the container rises, the float also rises which raises the arm causing a valve seal on the arm to pivot into engagement with the valve seat. As water level in the container drops, the arm eventually lowers to a position at which the valve seal separates from the valve seat and this opens the valve and allows water to enter the container. The parts may all be manipulated and replaced by hand. Therefore, the need for additional tools and excess parts is eliminated. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the float is selectively attachable to one end of the float arm. The other end of the arm contains the valve seal and a pair of trunnions. The float body includes a valve body in the form of a shell which has an open bottom. The valve body includes opposing sidewalls, each with a recess formed along the lower edge of the sidewall. The two opposing recesses receive the trunnions when the valve is assembled. The valve body also contains an end wall with an inner face having a valve seat and an outer face with a coupling which is attachable to a water source. The valve seat and the coupling have communicating passageways such that water can enter the coupling and exit the opening of the valve seat. 
     The invention also includes a cover which slides over the valve body. The valve body includes external bosses such that openings in the cover will capture the bosses and lock the cover in place over the valve body while simple hand manipulation of the device can unlock the cover from the valve body. The cover also includes a flange extending inwardly from each sidewall of the cover. The flanges slide over the bottom of the valve body and retain the trunnions within the recesses. Although the trunnions are contained within the recesses, the trunnions may still freely rotate in the recesses which allows the arm to pivot between a first position to a second position. 
     The invention is secured to a container capable of holding water and connected to a water source. With the seal separated from the valve seat, water enters the coupling on the outer wall and exits the valve seat opening into the container. As the water level rises in the container, eventually the water will raise the float. The float rises with the level of the water causing the arm to pivot on the valve body to a position in which the seal touches the valve seal and stops the flow of water. 
     The valve seal is a small elastomeric element which can be removed from a cylindrical recess in the float arm when replacement is needed. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an animal waterer float valve assembly which does not require any tools to be assembled or disassembled. 
     It is further an object of the present invention to provide a float valve for an animal waterer which does not require fasteners such as cotter pins to retain the valve body to the float and float arm. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an animal waterer with a cover that protects the valve seal and valve seat. 
     It is yet another object to provide a water valve for an animal waterer having all components except the valve seal formed of a single polymer compound. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the arm of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the valve body of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a greatly enlarged perspective of the valve seal of the invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is an enlarged end view of the cover of the invention. 
         FIG. 6B  is an enlarged cross section of the cover of the invention taken along line  6 B- 6 B of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6C  is an enlarged bottom view of the cover of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective of a small animal watering apparatus equipped with the float valve invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure pertains to float valves for animal waterers and in particular to float valves for dog waterers which are mounted to a vertical wall or to a pole. 
       FIG. 1  shows the preferred embodiment of a water valve  100  as assembled and comprises a float  102 , an arm  104 , a valve body  106  and a cover  108 . The float  102  is connected to a first end  105  of the arm  104 . A second end  107  of the arm  104  is hinged to the valve body  106  and retained thereto by the cover  108 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of the water valve  100 . The float  102  includes a buoyant portion  110  which can be constructed in a variety of shapes but which is preferably primarily cylindrical. Buoyant portion  110  is preferably a hollow air-filled enclosure. A connecting member  112  extends from the buoyant portion  110  and allows the float  102  to be connected to the arm  104 . Preferably the connecting member  112  includes an internally threaded cylindrical bore  114  which may receive the first end  105  of arm  104 . Because all parts of the valve  100  may be constructed of polymers, the threads within connecting member  112  and on first end  105  may be at a very coarse pitch. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show the preferred embodiment of the arm  104  which comprises a first segment  120 , a second segment  122 , and a third segment  124  although other embodiments are possible with more or fewer segments. The first segment  120  includes a first end  105  which is provided with external threads  126  therealong which are complementary to the threads in bore  114  of the float  102 . The float  102  therefore can be joined to the first segment  120  such that the first segment  120  is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the float  102 . The second segment  122  of arm  104  is joined to the first segment  120  preferably at a substantial perpendicular. The third segment  124  is joined to the second segment  122  at an angle between zero and ninety degrees, preferably about fifty to sixty degrees and most preferably fifty-seven degrees. The third segment  124  includes a transverse trunnion bar  130  and a valve seal mount  128  into which valve seal  132  is preferably removably mounted. The trunnion bar  130  is preferably cylindrical and includes ends  134 ,  136  which extend from each side of arm  104  at a substantial perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the third segment  124  of arm  104 . Trunnion bar  130  is located adjacent to second end  107  of arm  104 , immediately adjacent to valve seal mount  128 . 
     It may be observed in  FIG. 2  that valve seal  132  is a short resilient solid of round cross section made from resilient material such as synthetic rubber. Valve seal  132  is received in a cylindrical recess  234  of valve seal mount  128 . Though preferably removable from recess  234 , valve seal  132  may be permanently secured within recess  234 . Valve seal mount  128  extends from third segment  124  of arm  104  at approximately fifty to sixty degrees such that valve seal mount  128  is substantially parallel to second segment  122  of arm  104 . 
     The valve body  106  is also seen in  FIG. 2  and an enlarged view thereof is shown in  FIG. 4 . Valve body  106  comprises an upper region  140 , an open bottom  142 , and a first end wall  144 . The upper region  140  includes a U-shaped sidewall  146  with free edges  147 ,  148  which define open bottom  142 . Edges  147 ,  148  each include a recess  150  adjacent to first end wall  144 . The recesses  150  are formed, preferably semi-cylindrically, to accommodate the ends  134 ,  136  of trunnion bar  130  of the arm  104 . The recess  150  on each edge  147 ,  148  is preferably located immediately adjacent first end wall  144 . Additionally, sidewall  146  includes diametrically opposing bosses  133  protruding from the outer surface  145  of the sidewall  146 . 
     The first end wall  144  comprises an inner face  152  and an outer face  154 . The inner face  152  includes an integrally formed valve seat member  156 . The valve seat member  156  extends from the inner face  152  and comprises a frusto-conical sidewall  158  which ends in an opening  160 . Frusto-conical sidewall  158  may be substituted by an elongate cylinder or other shape which supports valve seat  157  at the free end thereof. Valve seat member  156  may alternatively be made selectively removable from inner face  152 . 
     The outer face  154  of first end wall  144  includes a coupler  164  with a bore  162  therethrough which is in communication with the first opening  160  of valve seat member  156 . Coupler  164  is preferably formed integrally with end wall  144 . The coupler  164  is preferably externally threaded as well as internally threaded and can attach to a water line or an adapter for a common garden hose. 
     Preferably all portions of valve body  106  are integrally formed of the same polymer in the same molding operation. Particularly, polyacetal may be used to form the individual members of the valve  100  by injection molding techniques, with the exception of the valve seal  132  which is an elastomer. Float  102  may be fabricated from a suitable material other than polyacetal. The polyacetal used for the rigid members of the valve  100  provides rigidity, low friction and dimensional stability for the valve body  106 , the cover  108 , the arm  104  and the float  102 . 
       FIG. 1  shows the cover  108  in place overlying the valve body  106 , while  FIG. 2  shows the cover  108  from a perspective view. The cover  108  comprises a curved upper region  174  which preferably conforms to the shape of upper region  140  of the valve body  106  such that cover  108  may overlie and surround sidewall  146  of valve body  106 . The cover  108  has an open front  170  and a substantially open bottom  172 . Upper region  174  comprises opposing side walls  176  and a back wall  178 . Each side wall  176  includes an opening  180  which is positioned and sized to receive one of opposing bosses  133  of the valve body  106 . The cover  108  further comprises flanges  182  extending from each sidewall  176  at a substantial perpendicular. Free edges  147 ,  148  of flanges  182  are spaced apart, defining open bottom  172 . (See  FIG. 6C ). 
     In  FIG. 5  it can be seen that valve seal  132  comprises sealing surface  238  and a planar base surface  240 . Sealing surface  238  is very slightly domed while the sidewall  232  of valve  132  is slightly concave. The diameter of sealing surface  238  slightly exceeds the diameter of recess  234  into which valve seal  132  is received, while base surface  240  is substantially equal in diameter to the diameter of cylindrical recess  234 . Valve seal  132  is of round cross section from base surface  240  to sealing surface  238 . 
     Details of cover  108  may be observed in  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B, and  6 C.  FIG. 6A  provides an end view of the cover  108 , cover  108  including curved upper region  174  which interconnects opposing generally parallel sidewalls  176 . At the lower end of each sidewall  176  is a flange  182  which extends toward the center of cover  108 . As can be observed in  FIG. 6A , cover  108  is slightly tapered from its open end  170  to its back wall  178  such that open front  170  is very slightly wider than the spacing of sidewalls  176  as they move away from open front  170  toward back wall  178 . 
     The cross section view of  FIG. 6B  illustrates that sidewall openings  180  are located such that the bosses  133  of valve body  106  will enter sidewall openings  180  when cover  108  is snapped onto valve body  106 . 
     In  FIG. 6C  it can be seen that flanges  182  extend from sidewalls  176  and are slightly narrower near open front  170  than further therefrom. Flanges  182  define open bottom  172  which narrows slightly from open front  170  toward back wall  178 . 
     Again referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the preferred method for assembling the valve  100  starts with threading the arm  104  into the float  102 . Next, seal  132  is inserted into recess  234  of arm  104  and arm assembly is positioned such that each end  134 ,  136  of trunnion bar  130  of the arm  104  sits within one of recesses  150  of the valve body  106 . The correct configuration allows the valve seal  132  to selectively engage the valve seat  157  of the valve body  106  as the trunnion bar  130  rotates in the recesses  150 . Finally, the cover  108  slides over the valve body  106  such that flanges  182  overlie the open ends of the recesses  150  and therefore retain ends  134 ,  136  of the trunnion bar  130  within recesses  150 . The openings  180  of the cover  108  also receive the bosses  133  to retain the valve body  106  within the cover  108 . Simple hand removal of the cover from the valve body  106  allows disassembly of the valve  100  such that replacement of the valve seal  132  may be accomplished. 
     As an alternative, the recesses  150  of valve body  106  may be formed with a narrowing of the opening into each recess  150  such that ends  134 ,  136  of trunnion bar  130  may be snapped past the narrowed opening into the recess, such that the ends  134 ,  136  will not fall from recesses  150  without some force being applied in a downward direction, thereby obviating the need for flanges  182  to capture ends  134 ,  136  within recesses  150 . 
     In  FIG. 7 , a small animal waterer  50  equipped with water valve  100  is shown in an exploded view. Waterer  50  comprises a bowl  52  for holding water. Bowl  52  is supported by wall bracket  54  which may be fastened to an upright wall. Alternatively, using suitable adapters, bracket  54  may be mounted to an upright pole such as a support port for a chain link fence. Water valve  100  is mounted to wall bracket  54  by inserting water line coupler  164  through opening  56  of bracket sidewall  58  and retaining valve  100  to sidewall  58  by washer  60  and nut  62 . To efficiently assemble dog waterer  50 , after arm  104  is threaded into float  102 , valve body  106  is secured to wall bracket  54  and then arm  104  is positioned on valve body  106  such that each end  134 ,  136  of trunnion bar  130  sits within a recess  150 . Then cover  108  is slid onto valve body  106 . 
     Latch bolts  64  are inserted part way into threaded openings  66  of adjacent corners of bowl  52  such that a gap remains between top surface  70  and heads  72  of bolts  64 . Bowl  52  is then located below horizontal plate of  74  of bracket  54  with bolts  64  protruding through holes  76 . Latch bar  78  is then located above housing plate  74  such that slotted holes  80  receive the heads  72  of bolts  64  and the latch bar  78  is then slid longitudinally so that the narrows  82  of slotted holes  80  capture heads  72  and prevent them from falling through holes  76 . With the bowl  52  thus secured to bracket  54 , valve cover  84  may be installed over valve  100  to shield valve  100  from manipulation by an animal, e.g., a dog, drinking from bowl  52 . Screw  86  and cap nut  88  are used to secure valve cover  84  to bracket  54 . A water source may then be coupled to coupler  164  of valve  100  such that water may fill bowl  52  to a desired level as controlled by float valve  100 . 
     Having thus described the invention in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included within the scope of the following claims. Any elements of any embodiment disclosed herein can be used in combination with any elements of other embodiments disclosed herein in any manner to create different embodiments.