Patent Publication Number: US-2006011528-A1

Title: Animal water tub

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to a livestock watering tank such as a horse water tub.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Typically, horses are turned out in pastures. Water is essential for all mammals to live. Horses living outside usually have a large tub container filled with water to supply this need. The most widely used today is the 100 gallon tub made by Rubbermaid. The invention fits this model and can be adapted to other containers. Problems with tub type water containers used today are described below.  
      A horse eats from the ground and picks up rocks, dirt, grass, and small insects and parasites all of which can make a horse sick or die. Another problem is that water freezes when the temperature drops below 32° F. Electric heating elements are currently available but they require an electric source nearby. The units are extremely inefficient in extreme cold. The reason is that the heating element is at the bottom of the tub and doesn&#39;t heat the whole tub. Another problem with most water tubs is that they are far from the barn or house, making the water level of the tub a guessing game.  
      It is an object of the present invention to obviate the foregoing and other problems of animal watering tubs.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In accordance with the present invention, an animal watering tub has a unit with a re-circulating pump and a filter. The circulating filtration system automatically cleans the water and the collected particles and debris can be dumped. A heater heats the circulating water. The invention will not only heat the water but it will periodically re-circulate all the water in the tub, keeping the water temperature more constant and providing more efficient heating.  
      The invention will raise a plastic flag, much like on the side of a mailbox, to indicate the need to refill the tub.  
      The invention can be conventionally powered or solar powered. The solar panel fits on the rim of the tub to get the maximum sunlight. With solar power, electric bills go down and running wiring to far away pastures is no longer necessary.  
      The invention keeps animals&#39; water cleaner, healthier, moving and warmer in the winter.  
      The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following more detailed description and dependent claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows the livestock water tank;  
       FIG. 1A  is a section on the line A-A of  FIG. 1  and shows the tub with a unit having the recirculating pump, filter and heater of the present invention installed;  
       FIG. 2  shows a process flow diagram of the unit of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 3  shows an alternative embodiment with the unit in the tub. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A a livestock water tank includes a tub  10  positioned adjacent a unit  12 . In the exemplary embodiment, tub  10  is a Rubbermaid 100 gallon tub. Unit  12  has a pump  14 , a filter  16 , a heater  18 , a disinfectant system  19  and an indicator  20 . Pump  14  has an influent line  15  which draws water from the bottom of the tub. The water flows through filter  16  and heater  18 . Warm water from heater  18  is returned to the tub through effluent line  17 . It rises towards the top of the tub. Water is drawn downwardly by the pump  14 . This creates a recirculation flow pattern. Unit  12  has a solid outer covering  13  enclosing the components.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, pump  14  and filter  16  are a commercially available pond pump filter with a biological filter. Periodically, the filter  16  must be cleaned or replaced. Disinfection system  19  controls bacteria growth. A level sensor activates indicator  20  when the level of water in the tub falls below the desired level.  
       FIG. 2  shows a process flow diagram of the agricultural water filter system. Check valve  31  insures proper flow direction. Coarse particulate filter  32  removes large particulate material and fine particulate filter  33  removes fine debris. Pump  34  is capable of turning over the water level of the tub at least once per hour. Disinfection system  35  provides bacterial disinfection of the water. Heating coil  36  has an on/off switch for cold weather use. Check valve  37  at the effluent line insures proper water flow.  
      Pressure level indicator  38  senses pressure across the filter. A light on this indicator indicates that attention is required when the pressure differential is not correct.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1A , a plug  22  provides a connection to a conventional electrical outlet. Alternatively, a solar panel  24  is positioned on the unit  12  to provide solar power to the unit.  
      In the alternative of  FIG. 3  the unit  12  has a clip  25  for holding it in the tub. Alternatively, the tub has molded tabs which hold the unit in the tub.  
      Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The appended claims therefore cover all such modifications and applications which are within the true spirit and scope of the invention.