Abstract:
The freezeless method for watering livestock, in one embodiment, is a method and means to provide water to livestock using a well, trough and a piston pump that is activated and powered by the animal. The animal uses its nose to push a plate on a lever apparatus that is attached to the pump. The pushing motion causes a rod to move the piston pump, which in turn raises water to the surface via piping into the trough where the animal drinks the water. The animal continues to pump the lever apparatus until the desired amount of water is consumed. By using a drain means and insulation means, the apparatus operates in freezing temperatures without the use of a power or heat source.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    It is well-known in the art to use an apparatus or method to provide water and other fluids to domesticated animals. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,956, which is comprised of an apparatus for providing a fresh supply of water to small animals on a ground surface, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,221, a pet watering device with sensor. Also see U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,784, which describes a device for delivering fluid to livestock using a reservoir and gravity.  
           [0002]    The use of pumps in combination with water storage tanks or wells has also been used for some time. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,707, which provides a livestock watering system comprised of an underground water storage tank with a pump means connected for pumping water to the ground level, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,158, a method and apparatus involving a pump and piping network for raising water from a well and distributing the water at ground level. Also see U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,934, which discloses an animal waterer with drinking fountain and pump.  
           [0003]    It is also known to use an animal waterer that is activated or operable by an animal. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,873 which provides for an animal operable watering valve connected to a water container and U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,784, a method and means for circulating fluid to livestock involving a drinker actuated by the animal. Also see U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,221, which discloses a device and method for watering a pet involving a sensor that opens a valve when the pet is detected near the device.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    It is an object of the Invention to overcome limitations in the prior art of water pumps and troughs that require electricity and/or human activation and supervision, without resorting to complex and expensive pumping mechanisms, sensors, valves and intricate piping to provide water to animals. The existing prior art inadequately addresses the need for an animal waterer that is relatively inexpensive, can be located in remote areas, does not require a large square area and does not require electricity, or human activation or supervision.  
           [0005]    The only prior art which discloses an invention that utilizes a similar pumping mechanism used in conjunction with a water well and trough, that is completely powered and monitored by an animal and may operate in freezing temperatures without need for supervision, maintenance or frequent replenishment, was a system invented by Walter Diehl and made locally public by him, although not patented. It was with Walter&#39;s blessing that I continued the work on his initial concept and developed this Invention. Walter has since deceased. This prior art has been improved upon by the Invention, as outlined below, and the claims made for the Invention are new to the Invention.  
           [0006]    The Invention relates to a method and means for providing water to animals, namely livestock. The Invention has particular application (but is not thereby limited) in the field of cattle farming, where it is particularly beneficial to the farmer to have the ability to provide water to cattle at all hours, in remote locations and in various weather conditions, without requiring the presence of the farmer to monitor the water level or activate the pump to fill the trough, nor the need for electricity, large capital investment, large square area or ongoing maintenance.  
           [0007]    These and other objects and advantages of the Invention are apparent in the following descriptions of the preferred embodiments of the Invention, which are not intended to limit in any way the scope or the claims of the Invention. The particular improvements on the Diehl prior art include:  
           [0008]    1) Size, shape and weight of hood  
           [0009]    which allows installation without the use of heavy equipment  
           [0010]    does not provide corners that animals can rub on which could damage the facility  
           [0011]    is enclosed on top to prevent birds from perching on top and contaminating the water in the trough  
           [0012]    2) The drain back prevention means makes the invention acceptable environmentally. Without it, the saliva of watering animals could drain back into the water source, contaminating the water in the well and possibly acquifers that would impact neighboring wells.  
           [0013]    3) The insulation system prevents freezing of the piping and the water in the well. Without this system, the device has proven to freeze up. This includes an insulation sleeve and lid in the culvert and insulation under the surrounding pad.  
           [0014]    4) The drain means is a {fraction (7/64)} inch hole drilled into the piping 5 feet below the lid.  
           [0015]    5) A two-position system for the lever means allows for a greater mechanical advantage for deeper wells.  
           [0016]    6) Two sizes of pumping means have been developed to accommodate deeper wells.  
           [0017]    7) A nitrile cup has been incorporated in the pumping means which creates less drag, thus requiring less pressure by the animal to do the pumping. This cup will also last much longer than a leather cup in the pumping means.  
           [0018]    8) The recommendation of a cement pad surrounding the culvert, incorporating a frost barrier between the culvert and the cement pad, is another environmental necessity to prevent contamination seeping into the water source.  
           [0019]    9) Where a large number of animals require it, two or more pumping units are assembled on one lid.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0020]    The preferred embodiment of the Invention displays a preferred composition but is not intended to limit the scope of the Invention. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and essential elements of the Invention.  
           [0021]    The preferred embodiment of the Invention is a method and means comprised of a well  1 , culvert  2 , lid  3 , pumping means  4 , piping  5 , intake valve  6 , drain back prevention means  7 , drain means  8 , pumping rod  9 , hood  10 , lever means  11 , plate  12 , walled trough  15 , suspending and access means  16 , platform  17 , insulation pad  18 , an animal  20 , insulation lid  21 , insulation sleeve  22 , and dugout  23 . The preferred embodiment of the Invention uses a well  1  created by drilling into a ground water source or trenching from a dugout  23 . 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    FIG. One ( 1 ) is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the Invention (not to scale) showing four types of applications.  
         [0023]    FIG. Two ( 2 ) is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the Invention.  
         [0024]    FIG. Three ( 3 ) is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the Invention in use.  
         [0025]    FIG. Four ( 4 ) is a perspective close-up view of the insulation lid  21  and sleeve  22  used in the Invention.  
         [0026]    FIG. Five ( 5 ) is a perspective close-up view of the intake valve  6 .  
         [0027]    FIG. Six ( 6 ) is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the Invention (to scale), showing a single, double and dugout installation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]    FIG. One ( 1 ) illustrates a cross-sectional of the preferred embodiment of the Invention (not to scale) comprised of well  1 , culvert  2 , lid  3 , pumping means  4 , piping  5 , intake valve  6 , drain means  8 , pumping rod  9 , hood  10 , walled trough  15 , suspending and access means  16 , platform  17 , insulation pad  18 , insulation lid  21 , insulation sleeve  22  and dugout  23 .  
         [0029]    The pumping means  4  (available in two sizes for varying depths of wells and sizes of casings), pumping rod  9 , and piping  5  are placed in a vertical position within the culvert  2  so that the intake valve  6  is immersed in the well  1  and the drain back prevention means  7  (not shown) is positioned such that the water from the well  1  is drawn through the intake valve  6 , through the piping  5  through the drain back prevention means  7  and into the walled trough  15 . The drain back prevention means  7  is attached at the top end of the piping  5  such that the water in the walled trough  15  does not re-enter the well  1  and possibly contaminate the water in the well  1 . However, the water in the piping  5  below the drain back prevention means  7  does drain back into the well  1  down to the level of the drain means  8 . An insulation lid  21  and sleeve  22  is inserted into the culvert  2  to prevent freezing. A hood  10  is placed on the lid  3  around the lever means  11  (not shown). The lever means  11  is attached to the pumping rod  9  by means of the connecting device  14  (not shown) and the hood  10  by means of the connecting bolt  19  (not shown). The lower end of the pumping rod  9  is attached to the pumping means  4 . The plate  12  (not shown) is attached to the lever means  11 . The drain back prevention means  7  also prevents the lever means  11  from contacting the pumping rod  9 . The suspending and access device  16  is cut in the sides of the hood  10  for the purpose of suspending the assembled pump during maintenance and to access the pumping rod  9  during assembly. The water in the well  1  can come from a natural aquifer in the ground or by trenching from a dugout  23 .  
         [0030]    FIG. Two ( 2 ) illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of the Invention, comprised of culvert  2 , lid  3 , drain back prevention means  7 , pumping rod  9 , hood  10 , lever means  11 , plate  12 , rod stop  13 , connecting device  14 , walled trough  15 , suspending and access device  16  and connecting bolt  19  (two positions being available for two different mechanical advantages).  
         [0031]    A hood  10  is placed on the lid  3  around the lever means  11 . The lever means  11  is attached to the pumping rod  9  by the connecting device  14  and to the hood by the connecting bolt  19 . The plate  12  is attached to the lever means  11 . A rod stop  13  is attached to the pumping rod  9  to position the lever means  11  and plate  12  appropriately for the animal  20  (not shown) to pump water.  
         [0032]    FIG. Three ( 3 ) illustrates the preferred embodiment of the Invention in use, comprised of culvert  2 , lid  3 , hood  10 , lever means  11 , plate  12 , walled trough  15 , suspending and access means  16 , platform  17 , and animal  20 .  
         [0033]    A hole of suitable diameter is drilled into the ground until water is reached, or trenching is completed from a dugout  23  (not shown), creating a well  1  (not shown). The culvert  2  is inserted into the hole so that it stands in a vertical position. The pumping means  4  (not shown), pumping rod  9  (not shown), and piping  5  (not shown) are inserted into the culvert  2 , so that the intake valve  6  (not shown) is immersed in the water contained in the well  1 . The drain back prevention means  7  (not shown) is positioned on top of the piping  5  so that the water from the well  1  can be pumped by the pumping means  4 , through the piping  5 , via the pumping rod  9  through the drain back prevention means  7  and into the walled tough  15 . The culvert  2  and lid  3  are insulated to prevent the water from freezing while in the piping  5 . A lid  3  is placed on top of the culvert  2 . A hood  10  is placed over the lever means  11  and fastened to the lid  3 . The walled trough  15  and hood  10  are attached to the lid  3  which is attached to the culvert  2  at a height suitable for the animal  20  to drink. The culvert  2 , lid  3 , hood  10 , and walled trough  15  are of a durable steel material, to endure the pressure exerted by the animal  20  on these components, and to protect the lever means  4  and pumping rod  9  from damage. The drain back prevention means  7 , hood  10 , lever means  11 , rod stop  13 , and walled trough  15  are powder coated to prevent rusting in the outdoor environment. The lever means  11  with plate  12  is attached to the pumping rod  9  and the hood  10 . A platform  17  should be placed around the culvert  2  to reduce the effect of the spilled water such as the creation of puddles and holes caused by hoof action near the culvert  2 , to prevent any spilled water from seeping through the ground and contaminating the well  1 , and to prevent the pressure of the weight of the animal  20  from driving the frost down to a level that might freeze the water in the well  1 . The animal  20  steps onto the platform  17  and places its nose and mouth in the walled trough  15 . The animal  20  pushes the plate  12  attached to the lever means  11  and the pumping rod  9  which activates the pumping means  4 . The plate  12  is of an acrylic material to increase the comfort of the animal  20  when pushing the plate  12  and prevent the wet nose of the animal  20  from adhering to the cold plate  12  in lower temperatures. The pumping means  4  (available in two sizes to facilitate different depths of wells and sizes of casings) intakes water through the intake valve  6  and pushes the water through the piping  5  through the drain back prevention means  7 . The water travels through the drain back prevention means  7  and to the walled trough  15 . The animal  20  continues pushing the plate  12  which operates the pumping means  4  until it has finished drinking. The drain back prevention means  7  prevents the water contained in the walled trough  15  from returning to the well  1  and contaminating the water in the well  1 . The drain means  8  in the piping  5  allows water in the piping  5  below the drain back prevention means  7  to drain back into the well  1  down to the level of the drain means  8  when the animal  20  stops pushing the plate  12 . This prevents the water in the piping  5  from freezing in cold temperatures.  
         [0034]    FIG. Four ( 4 ) illustrates the preferred embodiment of the insulation lid  21  and insulation sleeve  22 .  
         [0035]    The insulation sleeve  22  of at least four feet in length, is placed into the culvert  2  (not shown). The insulation lid  21  is fitted on top of the insulation sleeve  22  prior to placement of the lid  3 . This helps prevent freezing of the pumping rod  9  (not shown) and the piping  5  (not shown) as well as the water in the well  1  (not shown).  
         [0036]    FIG. Five ( 5 ) illustrates the preferred embodiment of the intake valve  6 .  
         [0037]    The intake valve  6  is attached to the piping  5 . This intake valve  6  must be within the water in the well  1  (not shown) in order for the Invention to pump water.  
         [0038]    FIG. Six ( 6 ) illustrates a cross-sectional of the preferred embodiment of the Invention (to scale) comprised of well  1 , culvert  2 , pumping means  4 , piping  5 , intake valve  6 , hood  10 , walled trough  15 , and dugout  23 .  
         [0039]    All components of the Invention may be comprised of any device and material suitable, including but not limited to a piston pump for the pumping mechanism, ABS plastic for the external parts of the pumping means, cast aluminum and nitrile for the inner parts of the pumping means, ABS plastic piping, steel for the culvert, lid, drain back prevention means, pumping rod, lever means, rod stop, trough and hood, styrofoam for the insulation, acrylic for the plate, stainless steel for the connecting device and connecting rod, and cattle or bison for the animal.  
         [0040]    In the foregoing Description, the Invention has been described in its preferred embodiments. However, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the broader scope and spirit of the Invention. Accordingly, the present specifications and embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.  
         [0041]    The descriptions here are meant to be exemplary and not limiting. It is to be understood that a reader skilled in the art will derive from this descriptive material the concepts of this Invention, and that there are a variety of other possible implementations; substitution of different specific components for those mentioned here will not be sufficient to differ from the Invention described where the substituted components are functionally equivalent.  
       DRAWINGS  
     Key for Diagrams  
       [0042]    [0042] 1 ) Well  
         [0043]    [0043] 2 ) Culvert  
         [0044]    [0044] 3 ) Lid  
         [0045]    [0045] 4 ) Pumping means (2 sizes)  
         [0046]    [0046] 5 ) Piping  
         [0047]    [0047] 6 ) Intake valve  
         [0048]    [0048] 7 ) Drain back prevention means  
         [0049]    [0049] 8 ) Drain means  
         [0050]    [0050] 9 ) Pumping rod  
         [0051]    [0051] 10 ) Hood  
         [0052]    [0052] 11 ) Lever means  
         [0053]    [0053] 12 ) Plate  
         [0054]    [0054] 13 ) Rod stop  
         [0055]    [0055] 14 ) Connecting device  
         [0056]    [0056] 15 ) Walled trough  
         [0057]    [0057] 16 ) Suspending and access means  
         [0058]    [0058] 17 ) Platform  
         [0059]    [0059] 18 ) Insulation pad  
         [0060]    [0060] 19 ) Connecting bolt (two positions on the hood)  
         [0061]    [0061] 20 ) Animal  
         [0062]    [0062] 21 ) Insulation lid  
         [0063]    [0063] 22 ) Insulation sleeve  
         [0064]    [0064] 23 ) Dugout