Abstract:
An automated watering trough is provided with a fluid supply line that automatically fills the trough to a desired volume through the use of a valve and actuator. A protective housing may be provided to substantially encase the valve and actuator, along with an optional overflow conduit, to reduce the incidence of contact between livestock and the automation components. The shell of the trough may be comprised of a recycled tire provided with a base plug, which may support the protective tower and automation components.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to troughs for use in watering livestock, and more particularly to a trough that automatically maintains a selected volume of water and substantially resists damage to its operative components by livestock. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Watering troughs are widely used by livestock producers who raise their livestock in grazing paddocks that do not have natural water sources such as streams or ponds. The use of water troughs is also frequently used for the exclusion of livestock from natural bodies of water. Some water troughs take the form of a simple holding tank that is placed in the pasture and must be manually filled with water that is brought to the trough from a remote source. Some troughs are positioned adjacent to a water source that must be manually actuated, such as a hand pump that is coupled with a well. However, the manual labor required to deliver water to the troughs expends valuable time and, depending on the location of the trough, can be a significant inconvenience. 
     Prior art methods have attempted to automate livestock watering systems. However, those attempts typically resulted in watering troughs that were either too complex and costly to operate or troughs that repeatedly failed to perform their automated function. Oftentimes, the failure of an automated water trough is due to component damage caused by livestock or the elements. As livestock repeatedly come into contact with water supply lines, valves and other such structures, the automated system invariably becomes damaged and fails over time. Harsh winters and dry, hot summers will also wear down component systems, if not causing them to fail suddenly. 
     Accordingly, what is needed is an automated watering system for livestock that is comprised of structural components that resist the damaging effects that livestock and the elements can have on such systems. However, such an automated watering system should also be flexible in use as well as simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The watering trough of the present invention is generally provided with an automated water supply system that maintains a desired volume of water for watering livestock throughout the year. The trough is provided with a base and an outer wall that extends upwardly from a peripheral edge of the base to form an open cavity for holding the water. A fluid supply conduit is positioned to deliver the water to the cavity. In one preferred embodiment, the fluid supply conduit extends beneath the ground surface from a water source and enters the trough through its base. A valve and valve actuator are coupled to the fluid supply conduit and adjusted to permit the flow of water into the cavity until a desired volume is reached, at which time the flow of water is terminated. 
     A preferred embodiment of the trough incorporates an inner wall that at least partially surrounds the valve and valve actuator to substantially limit the incidence of contact between the components and the livestock. The inner wall may be shaped to form a protective tower, which surrounds the valve and valve actuator. An overflow conduit may also be positioned within the protective tower to disperse excess water in the event that the valve actuator fails to terminate the flow of water. To further reduce the incidence of contact between the components and the livestock, the protective tower may extend upwardly from the base of the water trough at a point approximating the center of the trough. 
     Another preferred embodiment fabricates the base and wall of the trough from a portion of a recycled over-the-road tire. A plug is fashioned to seal the bottom opening of the tire, and the protective tower is positioned to extend upwardly from the plug. Such a “tire trough” may be easily incorporated with a heat sink to reduce the chances of the water freezing during the winter. 
     It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide an automated watering trough that substantially prevents damage to the automation components and water supply by livestock using the trough. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an automated watering trough that substantially prevents damage to the automation components from the weather and other natural elements. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an automated watering trough that makes a substantial use of recycled products during its construction. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an automated watering trough that is relatively simple in construction. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an automated watering trough that is easily adapted for a plurality of uses in different settings and environments. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an automated watering trough that is easy to use and maintain. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will be clear to those of skill in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric cut-away view of one embodiment of the automated trough of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view of one embodiment of the automation components of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cut-away view of one embodiment of the automation components of the present invention and one method of coupling the same to a trough of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cut-away view of the automation components of  FIG. 2  and one method of coupling the same to a trough of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The livestock trough  10  of the present invention is generally depicted in  FIGS. 1–4 . The trough  10  is provided with a base  12  having an upper surface  14  and a lower surface  16 . A wall  18  extends upwardly from the peripheral edge portion of the base  12  to form an open cavity  20 . It is contemplated that the base  12  and wall  18  could be formed from nearly any material, so long as the material is suitable for extended periods of contact with water. For example, the trough could be formed from metal, such as the ubiquitous round or ovular metal water troughs that are frequently used for watering livestock. The shape of the trough is relatively unimportant and may be configured to fit any particular application. It is preferred, however, that the trough be sized and shaped to support a sufficient volume of water to support the livestock for which it is intended. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the trough is comprised of a recycled over-the-road tire having one of its sidewalls removed. When positioned in a generally horizontal fashion, the base  12  of the trough will be comprised of the remaining side wall, and the wall  18  will be comprised of the tread. In this position, however, the base will have an inner edge portion that defines a large opening  22  in the base  12 . A plug  24  must be used to seal the opening  22  so that the trough  10  will hold a desirable volume of fluid. It is contemplated that the plug  24  could be comprised of nearly any material, such as rubber, metal or concrete. However, in a preferred embodiment, the plug  24  is comprised of a plastic, such as polyethylene or other similar material. 
     A fluid supply conduit  26  should be positioned in selective fluid communication with the cavity  20  to supply the desired volume of water. It is contemplated that the source of the water could be a neighboring body of water, a well or the like. It is further contemplated that the method of delivering the water through the fluid supply conduit  26  could be one of many known methods, including gravity systems, electric pumps, solar-powered pumps, sling pumps, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid supply conduit  26  extends upwardly through an opening  28  in the plug  24  so that it is positioned at least partially within the cavity  20 . It is contemplated, however, that a similar opening could be formed in virtually any other location in the trough, such as the base  12  or the wall  18  through which the fluid supply conduit  26  could be run. Location of the fluid supply conduit  26  through the plug  24 , however, provides a generally centered location for the fluid supply conduit  26 , making it more difficult for the livestock to come into contact with the fluid supply conduit  26 . 
     A valve  30  is coupled to the terminal end of the fluid supply conduit  26 . In a preferred embodiment, a float valve is used, such as the float valves depicted in  FIGS. 2–4 . However, other known valves could be interchanged with the float valve to achieve the desired regulation of water through the fluid supply conduit  26 . A valve actuator  32 , such as the ball float  33  depicted in  FIGS. 2–4 , is coupled with the valve  30 . Where circumstances deem prudent, many different types of valve actuators could be incorporated with the valve  30 . For example, a ball float  33  may be coupled to the float valve using a substantially rigid arm member  35  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) or a substantially flexible cord member, depending on the type of float valve used. To conserve space, a vertically movable float  39  ( FIG. 4 ) can be coupled with the valve  30  and the fluid supply conduit  26 . Other actuators, such as electronic moisture sensors and the like, could be incorporated. Regardless of the type of actuator  32  or valve  30  used with the system, the principal function of the two will be to regulate the flow of the water from the fluid supply conduit  26  until a desired volume is attained. At that point, the actuator  32  should function to simply close the valve  30 . It is preferred that the actuator be adjustable to alter the volume of fluid within the trough  10  as desired. 
     In a preferred embodiment, an inner wall  34  is coupled to the trough  10  so that it at least partially surrounds the valve  30  and valve actuator  32 , forming a protective tower to further reduce the likelihood of contact between the fluid supply line  26 , the valve  30 , or the valve actuator  32  with the livestock. As depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the inner wall  34  is shaped to define an inner chamber  36 , which should be sized and shaped to house the valve  30  and valve actuator  32  accordingly. Where desirable, an overflow conduit  41  may be positioned within the inner chamber  26  at a desired height from the base  12  or plug  24  so that the fluid within the cavity  20  will not overflow in the event that the valve  30  and/or valve actuator  32  fail. A removable cap  38  may be removably coupled to the inner wall  34  to further protect the structures positioned within the inner chamber  36 , while permitting access for maintenance. 
     The inner wall  34  should be secured to the plug  24  (or other structural member from which it will depend) in a watertight fashion. As depicted in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 , the inner wall  34  may be secured to a water access cover  40 , which can be fastened to the plug  24  over an optional access hole  45  formed within the plug  24 . The type of fastener  42  used will depend upon the materials selected for the plug  24 . However, in the example of a plastic member, stainless steel screws are an example of one type of appropriate fastener. To further guarantee a watertight seal, an O-ring  43  can be secured between the plug  24  and the water access cover  40  around the access opening  45 . The plug  24 , where a plastic or rubber material is used, can be secured to the base  12  adjacent the opening  22  by first applying a layer of sealant between the plug  24  and the base  12 . The plug  24  can then be fastened to the base  12  using an appropriate fastener, such as the stainless steel screws  44 . However, the type of fastener  44  used may change where the materials for the plug  24  and the base  12  require. 
     To substantially drain the volume of fluid from the cavity  20 , a drain hole  46  should be formed within the base  12  or wall  18 . A drain plug  48  should be provided to adequately seal the drain hole  46  when the trough  10  is in use. Press-fit, threadably-mated, and other drain plugs  48  are contemplated. 
     The design of the trough  10  is sufficiently flexible to accommodate additional structures and features. For example, the trough  10  may be supported above ground level by a base, which could be comprised of a second over-the-road tire, to provide an elevated drinking position for the livestock. Where a heat sink is desired in colder climates, the trough  10  is easily positioned above a hole in the ground, which is dug deeper than the frost line. One or more heat conduits could be inserted through the base  12  or plug  24  to direct the passage of heat from below the frost line, up through the hole in the ground, and through the heat conduits, forming a heat sink to substantially prevent the fluid within the cavity  20  from freezing. 
     In the drawings and in the specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention; and although specific items are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and proportion of parts, as well as substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.