Abstract:
An animal gate has an integrally formed water delivery tube to deliver low-pressure water to a water trough and an integrally formed food supply bin to deliver animal food to a food trough. Both water and food supplies in the respective troughs are maintained by static force. In an optional embodiment, the water supply can be shut off via valve, and the water trough can be purged via a sealable drain in the bottom of the water trough.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    Many animals, including hogs, are maintained in individual pens during substantial portions of their adult lives. Female hogs, known as sows, are typically housed in specially designed pens that allow them to lay down and nurse their young without injuring their young. Sows are also fed and watered in these pens. Normally, food is provided by a farmer on at least a daily basis, and water is supplied through an automatic delivery system.  
           [0002]    Because sanitary conditions in sow pens or sow “crates” as they are called are poor, large amounts of food placed in a sow crate are subject to being contaminated with hog waste. Similarly, the large amounts of water—such as the 50-60 gallons of water consumed by a single sow in a single day—cannot be placed in the sow crate, either. In recent years, the preferred method for delivering water to sows requires a high-pressure pump to deliver pressurized water through a high-pressure hose to a squeeze nipple in the sow crate. When the sow is thirsty, she bites the nipple and pressurized water is squirted into her mouth through a small opening in the nipple. When all aspects of the system are functioning properly, this arrangement delivers an adequate water supply.  
           [0003]    It is often the case, however, that conditions inside the sow crate result in blockage of the nipple. In many cases, particles of food, dirt or an accumulation of slobber diminish the functionality of the nipple and prevent the sow from getting a sufficient amount of water. When a sow fails to get a sufficient amount of water, the sow&#39;s ability to properly nurse her young is affected, along with her general health. Even worse, it is very difficult for a farmer to determine, without checking, whether a sow&#39;s watering system is functioning properly. Because many farmers have hundreds of sows each in different sow crates, individual crates are seldom inspected for this problem.  
           [0004]    The current system also poses other limitations. High-pressure water pumps are needed to maintain adequate water pressure through the network of hoses and nipples going from the water supply to each sow crate. These pumps, as mechanical instruments, have limited life expectancies and must be replaced, at a cost of time, money, and disruption in operation. Furthermore, the high pressure hoses necessary for delivery of pressurized water to the sow crates are susceptible to developing leaks, forcing loss of water, loss of pressure and another disruption every time a leak develops.  
           [0005]    Finally, sow crates (including the gate portions) are currently made of stainless steel. This otherwise hearty material decays quickly in an environment where it is constantly exposed to the highly corrosive effects of hog waste, including large amounts of methane gas and other waste by-products. These gates are expensive to replace and, because the high pressure water lines typically attached to the stainless steel gates do not fare well when disconnected from an old gate and reconnected to a replacement gate, the relative frailty of the stainless steel gates further complicates difficulties with high-pressure water delivery systems.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a system for delivery of water to animals in holding crates that will have improved reliability and delivery characteristics over current systems.  
           [0007]    There is another need for a system for delivering food to animals such as hogs that will allow delivery of a large amount of food without allowing the food to become spoiled by waste in the feeding area.  
           [0008]    Finally, there is a need for a gate for a sow crate that will accomplish the above-stated needs while demonstrating improved resiliency to corrosive agents in the sow crate.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    These and other shortcomings relating to animal crate gates and nourishment delivery systems are solved by the present invention. More specifically, the present invention is an animal nourishment delivery gate that has an integrally formed water delivery tube, connected to a low-pressure water supply by a joint, for static delivery of low-pressure water to a water trough. The present invention also includes an integrally formed food supply bin having a food trough for delivery of animal food to an animal. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the animal nourishment delivery gate is constructed of a corrosion-resistant member of the plastics family, and further includes a shut-off valve to stop the delivery of water to the water trough so that the water trough can be cleaned and purged by through a water trough drain.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 depicts a front view of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a side view of the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 2.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. Gate  100  is preferably manufactured as one single piece. Ideally, because of the caustic corrosive agents present in the intended environment of a hog farm, the gate  100  is formed of a corrosion-resistant material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or another such plastic derivative having qualities of durability and relatively light weight. The gate  110  is attached to a surrounding, stationary cage portion (not shown) by hinges  102  and  104 , and the gate is secured in a closed position, when desired, by latch  106  or, in an optional embodiment, a double latch.  
         [0014]    The gate  100  is formed so as to define an integral water delivery tube  100 , the water delivery tube  110  having a first tube end  112  and a second tube end  114 . The first tube end  112  is generally referred to as the supply side tube end because it is the end of the water delivery tube  110  that is connected to a water supply hose or conduit. The second tube end  114  is generally referred to as the consumption side tube end because it is the end of the water delivery tube  110  that supplies water to the animal. The consumption side tube end  114  terminates into the water trough  116 , the water trough  116  also being integrally formed into the gate  100  by manufacturing methods well known to those skilled in the art of plastics fabrication. In an alternate embodiment, the water trough  116  may not be integrally formed with the gate  100 , but is integrally attached thereto in a secure fashion.  
         [0015]    Importantly, the positioning of the consumption side tube end  114  relative to the water trough  116  is notable. In a preferred embodiment, the consumption side tube end  114  is positioned near the top of the water trough  116 . By positioning in this manner, sediment such as dirt, food, excrement, etc. that may be introduced into the water contained in the water trough  116  will sift to the bottom of the water trough  116  and will not interfere substantially with the further delivery of water to the water trough  116  by the water delivery tube  110 .  
         [0016]    Water is delivered to the water trough  116  via the water delivery tube  110  in a low-pressure arrangement. Because the water delivery is low pressure, water can remain standing in the water trough  116  because of the static resistance of the volume of water in the water opposing the volume of water coming from the water source.  
         [0017]    The food supply bin  120  is also integrally formed with the gate  100  in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, although alternate embodiments may find the food supply bin  120  integrally attached to the gate  100  in a secure manner. The food supply bin  120  is sized and designed to store a quantity of food for the animal. Thus, the food supply bin  120  is accessible to a farmer via the opening  125 . The opening  125  is preferably wide enough to allow the farmer to deposit food therein without unnecessary spillage.  
         [0018]    As the food supply bin  120  is filled with food, the food falls into the food trough  130  below. Once the food trough is filled, or substantially filled, the static force of the food in the food trough will prevent the food remaining in the food supply bin  120  from spilling out. As the animal eats food from the food trough  130 , the force of the food in the food supply bin  120  will urge another amount of food—generally equivalent to the amount of food consumed—into the food trough  130 , keeping the food trough  130  filled with food for as long as food remains in the food supply bin  120 . The dimensions of the food supply bin  120  depicted in herein are representative only—these dimensions can be varied to accommodate different animal types, different food types, and different feeding regimens.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a front view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Gate  100  having hinges  102 ,  104  and latch  106  also has a water delivery tube  110  having supply tube end  112  and a consumption tube end  114 . The consumption tube end empties into the water trough  116 . At the supply tube end  112 , a joint  210  connects the supply tube end  112  to a supply hose  220 . The embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 incorporates a shut-off valve  230  into the water delivery tube  110  to terminate the supply of water from the water supply to the water trough. One reason for utilizing the shut-off valve  230  in this way is to clean the water trough  116 . Once the shut-off valve  230  is turned in the closed position, a water trough drain  240  may be opened, thereby releasing the remaining water in the water delivery tube  110  and the water trough  116 , effectively cleaning any accumulated sediment from the bottom of the water trough  116 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 also depicts the food supply bin  120  and its opening  125  for receiving food and its food trough  130  for making the food available to an animal for consumption.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a side view of the gate  110 , as viewed from the side of the hinges  102 ,  104 . The supply hose  220  connects to the joint  210 . When the shut-off valve  230  is in the open position, water flows from the supply hose  220  through the shut-off valve  230  and through the water delivery tube  110  of the frame and into the water trough  116 .  
         [0022]    Food is deposited into the opening  125  of the food supply bin  120 . The food falls through the food supply bin  120  until it reaches the food trough  130 , where it stays—preventing further food flow—until the animal eats the food, at which time the food in the food trough  130  is replenished by food in the food supply bin  120 .  
         [0023]    These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention—rather, the scope of the invention should only be limited by the claims below.