FR2811200A1 - Constant level water trough for feeding cattle comprises tank and cover coupled by tenons and mortises in rear and flange in front for placing key, and emptying orifice sealed by plug - Google Patents

Abstract

The water trough is composed of a tank (1) with a cover (2). In the rear of the tank and cover are tenons and mortises for their coupling and a flange in their front part for placing a key (12). The tank has an emptying orifice sealed by its inner part, sheltered from frost, by a plug (32) which is held by the pressure of the cover. The column (40) which supports the float valve comprises fittings which enable the installation of a tap connected to the water inlet. The tap enables the tank and cover to be cleaned via a flexible pipe.

Description

The present invention relates to the drinkers used for

  livestock feed and in particular isothermal drinkers, designed to maintain water at a temperature adapted to the seasons and in particular a temperature

  sufficient to avoid freezing in winter.

  These drinkers consist of a tank and a lid provided with one or more orifices and each orifice is closed with a cover which can be retracted automatically by the cattle when they seek to drink. The tank and the cover are made of double-walled plastic with an insulating filling material and the cover is in the form of a ball.

hollow plastic.

  Like any type of drinker, these drinkers must be subject to regular cleaning and the present invention provides arrangements which allow the operator to carry out a cleaning operation quickly and

very effectively.

  The drinker according to the invention is made of molded thermoplastic material and the tank as well as the cover have, intrinsically, obtained directly by molding, arrangements relating in particular to the assembly of the two, which arrangements eliminate assembly operations of accessories on said tank and / or said cover and simplify the cleaning operations of the two elements and make it possible to significantly reduce the time taken to carry out these cleaning operations by

  also reducing the risk of prevention due to frost for example.

  According to a first arrangement of the invention, the parting line between the cover and the upper part of the tank, has a substantially square or rectangular shape and the tank comprises, on the one hand, on one side, arrangements in the form of mortise which cooperate with a tenon-shaped arrangement made on one side of the cover, allowing hooking and assembly of the two and, on the other hand, on the opposite side of said tank and said cover arrangements which allow locking of the two in cooperation with at least one independent complementary body

  made up of a kind of key which acts as a bridle.

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  Still according to the invention, the mortise for positioning the cover is a mortise which is closed at each of its ends.

  allowing centering of the post arranged on said cover.

  Still according to the invention, the locking key comprises on the one hand a pin which extends between an operating handle and a hook or bit in the form of a simple cylindrical rod and, on the other hand, elastic means for maintaining a certain pressure between the cover and the tank, which elastic means are interposed between the handle and a washer which is movable on said spindle, which washer is in contact with a shoulder on the

lid.

  Still according to the invention, the arrangements on the tank for locking the cover consist of a cavity for accommodating the bit and allowing its rotation and, between this cavity and the upper rim of the tank, with a vertical orifice form of light, which allows the passage of said bit,

strung vertically.

  Still according to the invention, the arrangements made in the cover essentially consist of a light-shaped orifice, which orifice is located in the extension of the orifice of the tank and, in a complementary manner, the cover has in the center of the orifice in the form of a light, a cylindrical cavity making it possible to accommodate the elastic means associated with the key, and in particular the washer which bears on the bottom of said cavity and the spring which extends between said washer and the operating handle, which handle can be accommodated in a kind of counterbore arranged in the thickness of the cover, which counterbore has a depth which corresponds for example to the

height of the key handle.

  According to another arrangement of the invention, the tank has a bottom arranged with a slope directed towards a drain orifice, which drain orifice is normally closed by means of a buffer located inside the

  tank to avoid freezing problems.

  According to another arrangement of the invention, the shutter is associated with a vertical rod, which rod comprises means in the form of springs which

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  allow pressure to be applied to the shutter pad, which pressure is exerted by the cover, which cover is arranged to compress the elastic member by means of a washer mounted to slide on the stem of the shutter pad, which rod is centered in an appropriate arrangement made in the cover, vertical to said pad. According to another arrangement of the invention, the tank comprises, a column serving as a support for a float valve, and this column is arranged to allow, on the one hand to connect to said valve a tap connected to the inlet of water, and on the other hand, to receive and accommodate a flexible hose, one end of which is connected to said tap and the other end of which is, for example, provided with a nozzle, to provide the operator responsible for cleaning with all the means intended to make this operation effective

  cleaning without the need for additional elements.

  The support column of the float valve is arranged to allow for example a winding of the cleaning hose and the cover comprises, at the right of this column, a boss which makes it possible to accommodate the projecting part of

the column-shaped layout.

  All of these means allow on the one hand, rapid opening of the cover, immediate access to the drain plug and to the nozzle which allows

  to clean the inside of the tank and even the cover.

  The invention will be further detailed with the aid of the following description and

  appended drawings, given as an indication and in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drinker according to the invention with a key-shaped member for locking the cover on the tank; - Figure 2 is a perspective view showing another type of drinker; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing in particular the rear of the trough; - Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of the arrangements made to the tank and the cover to allow the passage of the assembly and locking member;

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  - Figure 5 shows the assembly and locking member in position between the tank and the cover; - Figure 6 is a perspective view in section of the trough showing the main arrangements which facilitate the cleaning operation; - Figure 7 shows the arrangements for permanently installing a

  flexible to carry out the cleaning operation of the container and the lid.

  The drinking trough represented in FIG. 1 and 2 comprises a tank 1 capable of containing between 50 and 100 liters of water for example, and a cover 2 which is provided in the case of FIG. 1 with two lids 3 whereas in the case

  shown in Figure 2, it has only one.

  The tank 1 and the cover 3 are made of thermoplastic material, obtained by molding or rotational molding, and the space between the walls is filled

by an insulating material.

  Figure 3 shows the rear part of the drinker. Note, at the upper part of the tank, a mortise 6 which extends over the major part of the rear face 7 of the tank and, fitted on the cover 2, a sort of flap 8 whose lower end has a tenon 9 which

fits into the mortise 6.

  The mortise is closed at each of its ends so as to achieve

  a sort of bonding of the post 9, and of the cover 2 relative to the tank 1.

  The general shape of the joint plane 10 between the tank and the cover is rectangular or square as the case may be. The cover and the tank comprise on one side, on the rear for example, the arrangements in the shape of a tenon 9 and a mortise 6 which allow their assembly. These arrangements are obtained

directly by molding.

  The front part of the drinker also has fittings both at the front face 11 of the tank 1 and the cover 2, on its

  front edge, which allow to lock said cover on said tank.

  The locking is in fact carried out by means of a pair of keys 12 of which only one is shown; these keys are independent of both the tank and the cover. These keys 12 have a pin 13 which slides into the

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  cover 2 and in the upper part of the tank 1 by detailed orifices

  further in relation to Figures 4 and 5.

  The lower end of the spindle 13 comprises a bit 14 in the form of a cylindrical rod, which is welded in its center and perpendicular to the spindle 13. The upper part of the spindle 13 has a handle 15 which makes it possible to operate this key 12 to get for example a

  locking on a simple quarter turn.

  This key 12 constitutes a kind of flange interposed between the tank 1 and the cover 2. In addition, it acts as a press by means of an elastic member constituted for example by a spring 16. This spring 16 is interposed between - the head 17 which is in the form of a washer, located at the upper end of the spindle 13, under the handle 15, and a washer 18, free on the

pin 13.

  Note that the drinker consists of parts that are self-sufficient, that is to say that they do not require any intervention to install equipment (s) both on the tank 1 and on the

cover 2.

  Figure 4 shows in more detail the arrangements made

  on the front face of the tank 1 and the front part of the cover 2.

  On the tank 1 there is, under the level of the joint plane 10, a cavity 20 whose size is sufficient to accommodate the bit 14 and above all to allow

its rotation.

  The upper wall of the cavity 20 has a groove 21 which is perpendicular to the front face 11 of the tank, which groove 21 constitutes the

  housing the bit 14 in its normal locking position.

  The bit 14 accesses the cavity 20 by means of a vertical orifice 22 in the form of a light, the dimensions of which are adapted to those of said bit 14 to allow its passage. This orifice 22 extends between the plane

seal 10 and cavity 20.

  In the cover 2, there is a vertical orifice 23 in the form of a light, which constitutes the extension of the orifice 22 to allow passage

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  the bit 14. This orifice 23 passes through a cylindrical cavity 2 which has a bottom 25 serving as a support for the washer 18 of the key 12. The cavity 23 serves to house the washer 18 and the elastic member 16 in the form of a helical spring . The cover also includes, above the cavity 24, a counterbore 26 serving as a housing for the washer 17 which is located under the operating handle 15 of the key. The depth of the counterbore 26 corresponds for example to the height of the

handle 15.

  The key 12 is introduced vertically into the orifices 23 and 22 of the cover 2 and of the tank 1 respectively. When the washer 18 is supported on the shoulder 25 at the bottom of the cavity 24, the operator presses the key, compressing the spring 16 so as to place the bit 14 in the cavity 20 and then prints a quarter turn placing it bit in front of the groove 21 which allows to lock its position. The bit 14 is automatically positioned in the groove 21 as soon as the handle 15 is released by

Operator's.

  For opening, the operator presses the handle 15 or the washer 17, in order to disengage the bit from its groove 21 and allow by rotation of a

  quarter turn, to bring said bit 14 back in front of the orifices 22 and 23.

  Figure 6 shows, in section, the tank 1 and the cover.

  We notice at the rear part of the tank 1, the mortise 6 in which

  the lug 9 fitted in the rear part of the cover 2 is housed.

  The bottom 29 of the tank is arranged with a slope which allows a gravity drain by a plug and in particular an orifice 30 which is extended by a conduit 31 which opens for example on the front face 11 as

  shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6, at its lower part.

  The orifice 30 of the drain is located inside the tank 1; it is closed by means of a pad 32 of frustoconical shape. This buffer 32 comprises a rod 33 which serves as an operating rod, which rod 33 extends over the entire height of the tank, up to the cover 2 and comprises means which make it possible, in cooperation with the said cover, to exert pressure permanent on said pad.

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  A spring 34 is interposed between the pad 32 and a washer 35 movable on the rod 33. This washer 35 is pushed by the cover 2 when the latter is closed. The cover has an orifice-shaped arrangement 36 which makes it possible to center and accommodate the upper end of the rod

33.

  The sealing means also constitute, like the key 12, a

  independent set, easy to set up and remove if necessary.

  The tank 1 has in its internal part, against the rear wall 7, a column 40 for the water inlet, which inlet is represented by an arrow 41. This column extends projecting above the joint plane 10 and this part

  projecting is housed in a boss 42 arranged in the cover 2.

  Figure 7 shows this column 40 which rises from the bottom 29 of the

  tank 1 and protrudes beyond the upper rim 43 of said tank.

  This column 40 has a case-shaped arrangement 44 for housing a valve 45 which is provided with a float 46, and which makes it possible to maintain a

constant level of water in the tank.

  This valve 45 comprises, laterally, in another arrangement 46 of the column 40, a tap 47 which is connected directly to the water inlet at the level of the valve 45. This tap 47 is provided at its outlet with a flexible 48 which is equipped at its end with a nozzle 49 to allow cleaning of the

tank and lid.

  Note, at the upper part of the column 40, another arrangement 50 which acts as a support and reel for the hose 48 with, at its upper part, a slot 51 to allow embedding of

  the nozzle 49 and its retention in position in the tank.

  This arrangement 50 at the top of the column is housed in the boss 42

cover 2.

  All these arrangements obtained directly by molding, both on the tank 1 and on the cover 2, make it possible to offer a simple and effective product, at low cost. The operator directly has all the means that allow him to intervene quickly to perform an operation

  cleaning of the drinking trough, on site.

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Claims (10)

- CLAIMS -   1.- Drinking trough in molded thermoplastic material consisting of a tank (1) provided with a valve (45) with float, closed by a cover (2), characterized in that said tank and said cover comprise, intrinsically, obtained directly by molding, arrangements relating in particular to the assembly of the two, which arrangements remove operations for mounting accessories on the tank and / or the cover and provide a simplification of the cleaning operations of the two elements, significantly reducing the time taken to complete these operations, also reducing   the risks of prevention due for example to freezing.   2.- drinker according to claim 1, characterized in that the joint plane (10) between the cover (2) and the upper part of the tank (1) has a substantially square or rectangular shape, and said tank (1) comprises, on one side, mortise-shaped arrangements which cooperate with a tenon-shaped arrangement (9) produced on one side of said cover, allowing hooking and assembly of the two and, on the other hand, on the opposite side of said tank and said cover, arrangements which make it possible to lock the two in cooperation with at least one independent complementary member constituted by a kind of key (12) which acts as a bridle.   3.- drinker according to claim 2, characterized in that the mortise (6) arranged in the rear face (7) of the tank (1), is closed at each of its ends so as to allow centering and wedging of the tenon (9) fitted on the cover (2).   4.- drinker according to any one of claims 2 or 3,   characterized in that the locking key (12) comprises, on the one hand, a pin (13) which extends between an operating handle (15) and a hook or bit (14) and, on the other hand, elastic means (16) for maintaining a certain pressure between the cover (2) and the tank (1), which elastic means are interposed between said handle (15) and a washer (18) which is 2811200   movable on said spindle (13), which washer is in contact with a   shoulder (25) formed on the cover.   5.- drinker according to any one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that the arrangements made on the tank (1) to allow the lid (2) to be locked, consist of a cavity (20) whose dimensions are adapted to accommodate the bit (14) of the key (12) and allow its rotation, with also, between this cavity (20) and the upper rim of the tank, a vertical orifice (22) in the form of a lumen, which allows the passage of said bit and, at the upper part of the cavity (20 ), a groove (21) perpendicular to the face (11) of the tank, which accommodates said   bit in its normal locking position.   6.- drinker according to any one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that the arrangements made in the cover (2) essentially consist of an orifice (23) in the form of a light, located in the extension of the orifice (22) of the tank (1), and, in a complementary manner, in the center of the light-shaped orifice, in a cylindrical cavity (24) which makes it possible to accommodate the elastic means associated with the key, which cavity extends over a portion of the height of the cover and its bottom constitutes a shoulder ( 25) for the washer (18) of the key, which cover may also include a counterbore (26) above the orifice (23), which counterbore makes it possible to house the handle (15) of the key.   7. A drinker according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the tank (1) has a bottom (29) arranged with a slope directed towards a drain orifice (30) which opens out via a conduit (31) to the lower part of the front wall (11), which orifice is normally closed by means of a plug (32) which is located inside the tank (1).   8.- drinker according to claim 7, characterized in that the shutter (32) is associated with a vertical rod (33), which rod comprises elastic means in the form of springs (34) which make it possible to apply, by l 'intermediate the cover (2), a pressure on said obturator pad, ll 2811200 which cover is arranged to compress said elastic member, by means of a washer (35) slidably mounted on the rod (33) of the pad, which rod is centered in an arrangement (36) made in the   cover, vertical to said pad.   9.- drinker according to any one of claims 1 to 8,   characterized in that the tank (1) comprises a column (40) serving as a support for a float valve (45), and this column is designed to allow on the one hand, to connect a tap (47) to said valve connected directly to the water supply and, on the other hand, to accommodate and house a flexible pipe (48) one end of which is connected to said tap (47) and the other end of which is for example provided with a nozzle (49) intended to facilitate the cleaning operation.   10.- drinker according to claim 9, characterized in that the column (40) has at its upper part an arrangement (50) which allows a winding of the flexible pipe (48) and a locking of the nozzle (49), which arrangement (50) is positioned in the cover (2), which   cover has, to the right of this column, a boss (42).