Patent ID: 8464661

Claim:
An automated animal watering apparatus comprising: an open-topped container comprising: a base; an access panel removably fastened to the base; an exterior wall extending upward from the base, the exterior wall laterally enclosing the container; an upper rim disposed atop the exterior wall; an interior wall extending downward and inwardly from the upper rim; a recessed repository laterally delimited by the interior wall; a sloped surface disposed within the repository, the sloped surface divergently parallel with the access panel, the sloped surface continuously connected with the interior wall and disposed between a maximum height and a minimum height with respect to the base; a combined inlet-outlet aperture disposed in the sloped surface at the minimum height, the inlet-outlet aperture proximal the inner wall; a first water sensor disposed in the inner wall proximal to the upper rim; a second water sensor disposed in the inner wall proximal to the inlet-outlet aperture; a cavity disposed between the exterior wall, the inner wall, the access panel, and the sloped surface; a heater plate disposed within the cavity, the heater plate in contact with the sloped surface; a temperature sensor in operational communication with the heater plate; a combined pipe having an inlet portion and an outlet portion disposed within the cavity parallel with the base, the inlet portion operationally connected to an extant faucet and the outlet portion operationally communicating with an extant drainage; a T junction interconnecting the inlet-outlet aperture and the combined pipe; an inlet valve disposed within the combined pipe, the inlet valve disposed upstream of the T junction; a drain pump disposed within the combined pipe, the drain pump disposed downstream of the T junction; a central processing unit disposed within the cavity, the central processing unit in operational communication with the first water sensor, the second water sensor, the temperature sensor, the heating plate, the drain pump, the inlet valve, and a timer; a plurality of wiring interconnecting the central processing unit, the first and second water sensors, the temperature sensor, the heating plate, the drain pump and the inlet valve; a plurality of apertures disposed in the exterior wall proximal the base, the combined pipe inlet portion, outlet portion, and a power cord disposed therethrough; wherein the automated animal watering apparatus regulates a water level within the repository, said water level maintained between the first and second water sensors; the inlet valve inletting water when the water falls to a level detectable by the second water sensor and the inlet valve ceasing inletting water when water is detected by the first water sensor; the drain pump is operationally activated on a programmable cycle to flush the device to a predetermined schedule.