Abstract:
An animal water feeder having an improved flow control nozzle. The flow is controlled by the animal engaging a movably confined ball at the terminus of the nozzle. A portion of the ball is exposed. The nozzle assembly includes a tube extending downwardly from the feeder. The tube includes a valve, an actuator having at least one water passage therein an engaging pin positioned adjacent thereto, and the ball. Movement of the ball opens the valve to release water which flows past the actuator to the terminus of the tube.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to an improved animal water feeder and a novel flow control nozzle used therewith. 
   The raising of animals in confinement, particularly poultry in cages, is today practiced throughout the world using techniques of mass production. Among the problems facing the operator of a large facility is the centralized distribution of water to the cages in the appropriate quantities without excessive or continual spillage. Maturing animals require different amounts of water during growth. Further, the growth rates of the animals being served may vary. Fixed centralized discharge systems are not responsive to the needs of individual animals. Furthermore, an excess water discharge has a tendency to pool and create an environment which is conducive to the spread of disease. 
   In an attempt to reduce the problems arising from the use of a central water distribution system, the use of localized distribution means serving one or a limited number of confined areas is utilized. Each animal being served activates a dispensing nozzle to receive water. A valving mechanism associate with each nozzle controls in part the amount of water distributed and the effectiveness of the cessation of flow during the time of non-use. These devices have been generally ineffective in preventing dripping during non-use due primarily to the change in mechanical characteristics of spring-biased valving over extended periods of use. 
   Typical individual water feeders presently in use have a closed or non-vented reservoir. The release of water from the closed container creates a reduced pressure therein leading to ever decreasing flow rates. Furthermore, changes in ambient conditions affect the internal pressure and result in variable flow rates. In addition, the use of sealed reservoirs require that the water feeder be removed from the cage, inverted and the nozzle removed to clean and refill the device. In facilities housing thousands of animals, this sequence of steps can take a long time involving the expenditure of many man-hours. 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to the provision of an improved water feeder having a novel feeding nozzle that essentially eliminates fluid leakage. In addition, the present water feeder utilizes a vented reservoir thereby avoiding the problems arising from the creation of reduced pressure in a sealed container. The novel feeding nozzle permits the flow rate to be modified to suit the particular application. Since the flow rate can be established and maintained during distribution of the contents of the container, the energy expended by the animal in extracting a given quantity of fluid is essentially constant. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The water feeder which is the subject of the present invention comprises a reservoir having an intake port and a discharge port therebelow. The reservoir can be received in a wire hanger for attachment to the wall of a cage, or alternatively, clamped means can be employed. The intake port is used to refill the reservoir and serves to vent the reservoir thereby maintaining the internal pressure at the ambient level. 
   An elongated tube is attached at the discharge port of the reservoir and is positioned so as to be accessible to the animal being supplied. The tube has a water passage extending therethrough to a free end. A flow control valve is located in the tube proximate to the discharge port. The nozzle assembly further includes an actuator positioned within the water passage and capable of axial movement therein. One end of the actuator is located adjacent to the flow control valve. 
   A discharge control member is movably retained in the free end. The control member extends into the opening at the free end of the tube and is accessible to the animal in the cage. A retention tip having an opening therein is located at the free end to engage the discharge control member when the device is not in use. Movement imported to the discharge control member, for example pressure exerted by the mouth or tongue of an animal or by the pecking thereof by a beak, causes the control number to become unseated in the retention tip allowing the passage of fluid. 
   The movement of the discharge control member causes the actuator to move and to contact the valve whereupon the valve is opened and fluid exits the reservoir. The actuator is provided with one or more fluid passages along its length. The fluid in the passages is conveyed to the free end of the tube and is available to the animal. The cessation of contact between the animal and the discharge control member results in the actuator returning to the reset position and the valve to close thereby terminating the flow of the fluid into the passage. The discharge control member is retained by the retention tip. However, flow therearound continues until the fluid exits from the passage. Since the reservoir is vented, the flow rate does not significantly vary with differing levels in the reservoir and a partial vacuum within the reservoir does not develop. 
   The present invention provides an essentially drip-free feeder that delivers fluid at a uniform rate in response to activation by the animal being served. The use of a reservoir having an intake port enables the reservoir to be refilled without decoupling from the wall of the animal cage. The flow rate of fluid and the effort extended by the animal to activate the device can be customized by the selection of the actuator and the valve. 
   Further features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view in perspective of the preferred embodiment of the invention supported on the wall of an animal cage; 
       FIG. 2  is a view in cross-section of the nozzle assembly and discharge port of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a view in cross-section of the valve used in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an end view of the valve shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of an actuator for use in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an end view of the actuator shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view showing the elements of the discharge nozzle of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of another actuator; 
       FIG. 9  is an end view of the actuator of  FIG. 8 ; and 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  are views in cross-section showing another valve and actuator for use in the discharge nozzle. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the novel water feeder  10  includes a fluid reservoir  11  having an intake port  12  located on the top surface thereof. The intake port is threaded to receive cap  14  having a vent  15  therein. The feeder  10  is shown having a central encircling wire  20  about the middle of the reservoir. Wire  20  has a pair of hooks  18  adjacently spaced on one side of the reservoir for attachment to a wire  19  of the animal cage. When the feeder  10  is attached to the cage, the nozzle assembly  17  extends into the cage so as to be accessible to the animal therein. 
   The reservoir  11  is seen in  FIG. 1  as having an angled lower region  22  containing discharge port  16  therein. The reservoir can utilize containers of varying shapes depending in part on the dimensions and configuration of the cage. In the embodiment show, the angled region  22  causes the nozzle assembly  17  to extend downwardly into the cage thereby improving access thereto by a caged animal. Further, the downward tilt aids in the flow of fluid through the nozzle assembly. 
   The details of the nozzle assembly are shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIGS. 2 and 7  wherein the discharge port  16  located on angled region  22  of the reservoir is threaded to receive a mating tubular fitting  24 . Typically, the reservoir and fitting  24  are manufactured of molded plastic. An elongated metallic sleeve  30  is received in fitting  24 . The sleeve  30  is inwardly curved at the free end to form a retention tip  34  having a central opening. A metal ball  35  is movably retained in tip  34  with a portion thereof extending outwardly of the tip. 
   In the preferred embodiment, a washer  27  is interposed between the discharge port  16  and the shoulder  33  of fitting  24 . The washer provides a seal between the adjacent threaded parts. A cylindrical section  26  having an upper flanged end forming washer  27  extends downwardly in sleeve  30  and is provided with the flow control member of valve  28  at the lower end. The cylindrical section includes the washer, valve and straight section therebetween and is preferably formed as a single part of molded elastomeric material. The part is shown in further detail in  FIGS. 3 and 4  wherein a slit  40  extends through the valve end  41 . The valve is normally closed as shown in  FIG. 3 . In the preferred embodiment, the valve end is inwardly curved to aid in effecting a seal. The weight of water against the curved end  41  urges the edges of slot  40  toward each other in sealing engagement. 
   An actuator  31  having an engaging pin  32  positioned adjacent the valve end  41  is movably contained within the water passage in sleeve  30 . The opposing end of the actuator rests against the ball  35 . When the ball is moved, the actuator moves to cause the engaging pin  32  to contact the valve end  41 . The contact results in the edges of the slit  40  separating to pass fluid. The valve, termed a diaphragm valve, opens when pressure is applied to one or both sides of the slit  40 . Since the actuator diameter is made to approximate the inside diameter of sleeve  30 , the movement of the actuator is essentially along the axis of the sleeve and the position of the pin remains centered on the valve end. 
   The tubular sleeve is provided with a retention tip  34  that receives the discharge control member  35  thereagainst. The member  35  is a metal ball having a diameter of the opening in the retention tip. As a result, the animal can urge the ball inwardly thereby imparting movement to the actuator. The pin  32  on the actuator contacts the valve end  41  to permit fluid to flow downwardly from the reservoir. 
   The actuator  31  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  is provided which a number of vanes  44  that extend radially outward to define a number of channels along with the fluid flows to the free end of sleeve  30 . The actuator is preferably formed of molded plastic. Different configurations of the actuators can be used in the sleeve. An alternate embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  wherein actuator  50  is formed with a rounded end  51  having a series of openings  53  therein. Each opening  53  communicates with a fluid passage formed between adjacent vanes  54 . The rounded end  51  rests against the ball  35  in the retention tip  34 . Movement of the ball along the axis of the sleeve results in an opening of the valve and a resultant flow of stored fluid. 
   An alternate type of valve  60  is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The valve is formed of molded silicone rubber with a flanged washer  61  at one end and a central cylindrical section  62  dimensioned to fit within sleeve  30 . An opening  64  is formed in the opposing end of the cylinder. A movable valve cover  65  is positioned over the opening  64  and movably secured at one edge to the cylinder wall. In the embodiment shown, the actuator  70  is provided with a pin  71  at each end. Movement of the actuator causes the pin adjacent to the valve cover to raise the cover and permit fluid to flow as shown in  FIG. 11 . When the animal ceases applying force to the ball in the retention tip, the actuator returns to the position shown in  FIG. 10  and the valve is urged closed by the pressure applied by the fluid in the reservoir. 
   The configuration of the actuator  31  and the characteristics of the flow control valve primarily determine the flow rate when the discharge control member  35  is urged inwardly. One use of the present invention is directed to caged animals wherein the member  35  is moved by the mouth or beak of the animal. In other applications in which different types of animals apply greater forces of longer duration, different actuators can be used for limiting flow rates. In any case, the absence of a force applied to member  35  causes the member to be received in the retention clip and the actuator is withdrawn from contact with the valve. The discharge control member  35  and sleeve are preferably made of stainless steel since these two parts are subject to abuse by the caged animals. However, durable molded plastic parts can be used if desired. 
   While the foregoing description has referred to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is to be noted that modifications and variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.