Patent ID: 7762212

Claim:
A method of maintaining an animal watering device comprising the steps of providing an animal watering device comprising a watering tank having: a support assembly operable to support said tank and to cause movement thereof between an elevated position corresponding to a lower water level in the tank, and a lowered position corresponding to a higher water level in the tank; a selectively actuatable water fill assembly operably coupled with said tank in order to add water to the tank; a selectively actuatable drain valve assembly operably coupled with said tank in order to drain the tank; and a control assembly operably coupled with said tank and drain valve assembly, said control assembly operable to actuate said drain valve assembly after a predetermined number of movements of said tank between said elevated and lowered positions thereof; monitoring the position of said tank; successively adding water to said tank when said tank reaches said elevated position corresponding to said lower water level, and in response thereto causing said tank to move to said lowered position corresponding to said higher water level; and draining water from said tank after a predetermined number of said movements of said tank between said elevated and lowered positions thereof.