GB1566746A

GB1566746A - Drinkers for livestock

Info

Publication number: GB1566746A
Application number: GB5040776A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Mono Flo Nipple Drinkers Ltd
Current assignee: Mono Flo Nipple Drinkers Ltd
Priority date: 1977-12-02
Filing date: 1977-12-02
Publication date: 1980-05-08

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DRINKERS FOR LIVESTOCK (71) We, MONO-FLO NIPPLE DRINKERS LIMITED, of Green Mount, Hanson Lane, Halifax, in the County of York, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to socalled cup drinkers, which are generally used for watering poultry, particularly poultry housed in cages, but which can be used for watering any kind of livestock. Basically, a cup drinker comprises a valve controlled water outlet device adapted to be connected to a water conduit, with an open-topped container (the cup) located beneath the outlet device. As a rule, the outlet device can be operated by the animals or birds themselves, to release small quantities of water at a time, into the cup, where the water is readily ac assible for drinking. The advantage of a cup drinker, over an ordinary nipple drinker, is that the water is collected in the cup, instead of splashing on to the floor in the vicinity of e drinker.

It has been proposed to suspcnd the cup from the conduit, as this provides a con veaiient way of mounting the cup, and this requires the provision of some kind of mounting bracket on the conduit or on the cup itif. In the specification of Patent Application No. 39933/74 (Scrial No.

1,536,662) there is described an arrangement in which the cup has a basket type handle with an aperture, through which a part of the outlet device passes, the arrangement being such that the outlet device itself acts as a means for securing the bracket (and thereby the cup) to the conduit. Thus, if the outlet device has a screw-threaded portion which enters the conduit and a hexagonal head which remains below the conduit, part of the basket handle is nipped between the underside of the conduit, and the top side of the hexagon head. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the outlet device must be remoned in order to remove the cup, and whilst it may be desirable to remove the cup fairly frequently (e.g. for cleaning) it is un- desirable to repeatedly remove and replace the outlet device.

According to this invention a cup drinker, as herein defined, has a clip adapted to embrace the conduit and to nip a bracket, secured to the cup, on to the conduit, whereby the cup is adapted to be suspended from the conduit by means of the clip. Preferably the clip and bracket are so arranged that the cup is adapted to be suspended from the conduit solely by the clip. In the-pre ferred arrangement, the clip has a formation such that the water outlet device passes through it, when the drinker is secured to a conduit. Hence, the clip can be removed from the conduit without the necessity to remove the water outlet device.

Preferably the clip is resilient and is constructed so that it must be distended against its inherent resilience to engage it on the conduit. The clip may be moulded in a plastics material possessing an inherent resilience adequate to allow for the necessary distending action, or it may be made from wire possessing the required resilience.

In one construction, the clip has four legs disposed at the corners of a square, so that any two adjacent legs can be fitted either on the same side of the conduit (in which case the other two legs will fit on the other side of the conduit) or on opposite sides of the conduit (in which case, each of the two legs will have a respective one of the other two legs with it on one side of the conduit).

In the preferred arrangement, the conduit is of rectangular cross-section, and the clip is adapted to embrace the bottom side and the two upright sides of the conduit, and has a formation resisting movement off the conduit in a direction perpendicular to the bottom side. This formation may take the form of a lip engaging over at least one edge portion of the top side of the conduit.

However, if such a lip is provided, then the resilience of the clip must be such, that the lip can be completely disengaged from the top side of the conduit.

Preferably the bracket is in the form of a basket "handle1' (i.e. inverted "U" shape) with a hole in its upper part through which the water outlet passes. The lower ends of the limbs of the bracket may be threaded through slots in the wall of the cup itself, in order to secure the bracket to the cup.

Various constructions in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of examples only, with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Application, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through one form of cup drinker, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cup drinker shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative form of clip for use with a cup drinker, Figure 4 is a perpective view of a wire type clip for use with a cup drinker, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a cup drinker employing the clip shown in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a perspective view of another wire type clip, and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a cup type drinker employing the clip shown in Figure 6.

In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown part of a square cross-section plastics conduit 10, which extends along the length of a row of battery cages for poultry, for the purpose of supplying drinking water to the poultry in the cages. Water is supplied to the interior of the conduit 10 through an inlet pipe, part of which is shown at 12 in Figure 1. It will be appreciated that the ends of the conduit 10 are blocked, so that when water is supplied through the pipe 12, the interior of the conduit 10 is filled with drinking water.

At spaced apart positions along the length of the conduit 10, corresponding with the spacing of the cages, a nipple drinker 14 is fitted into the bottom of the conduit. The nipple drinker is a known appliance, and has a body which includes a screw-threaded cylindrical portion 16, which is screwed into a hole in the bottom of the conduit. A hexagon head 18 is formed on the body for the purpose of easy manipulation, and the body includes a valve seat on which rests a valve member (part of which is visible at 20 in Figure 1), a stem 22 of the valve member projecting out through the bottom of the body. When a bird pecks at the stem 22, the stem rises, lifting the valve member 20 off the valve seat, and allowing a small quantity of water to pass out through the nipple drinker 14. The intention is that the bird should catch the water in its beak, but inevitably some water escapes, and in order to prevent this water splashing on to the ground, a plastics cup 24 is located beneath each nipple drinker 14. The cup 24 is formed with slots 26 in its wall, and a mounting bracket 28 which is generally in the form of a basket handle, has the lower ends of its limbs passed through slots 26, and turned upwardly, so that the bracket 28 is secured to the cup.

A hole large enough for the hexagon head 18 of the nipple drinker to pass through it, is formed through the upper portion of the bracket 28, and the latter is threaded over the outside of the hexagon head 18, and pressed against the underside of the conduit 14.

For the purpose of securing the cup 24 to the conduit 10, there is provided a special mounting clip 30, which is moulded in plastics material, such as polyvinylchloride or polyethylene, and which is generally of "U"-shaped cross-section, so that it has a bottom portion 32, and a pair of upstanding limbs 34 and 36. A hole 38 is formed through the bottom portion 32 so that the clip can be threaded over the outside of the hexagon head 18, and the limbs 34 and 36 are each formed with an inturned lip 38 at their upper ends.

The limbs 34 and 36 of the clip have a small amount of resilience, due to the inherent properties of the plastics material from which the clip is manufactured, and it is possible to distend the limbs 34 and 36, so that the lips 38 are spaced apart by the width of the conduit 10.

The nipple drinkers 14 are fitted to the conduit 10, and will not normally be removed. When a cup has to be fitted, the cup is placed underneath the nipple drinker, with the hexagon head 189 passing through the hole in the upper part of the bracket 28, and the latter pressed against the underside of the conduit, -the clip 30 is then threaded over the hexagon head 18 of the nipple drinker, with the limbs 34 and 36 splayed apart, to allow the lips 38 to pass up the outsides of the side walls of the conduit, and when the clip arrives at the position shown in Figure 1, where its bottom portion 32 is pressing against the underside of the upper portion of the bracket 28, the lips 38 snap inwardly, over the edge portions of the top side of the conduit 10. The clip 30 -then embraces the bottom and side walls of the conduit, and nips the upper portion of the bracket 28 between its own lower portion 32 and the conduit 10. Hence, the bracket 28 is firmly secured to the conduit, and the cup is correctly located under the nipple drinker. If it is required to remove the cup, il is necessary to distend the limbs 34 and 36 of the clip, to allow the clip to be disengaged from the conduit.

Turning now to Figure 3, there is shown an alternative construction of clip 40, which has a square base portion, formed with a hole - (not shown) to receive the hexagon head 18 of the nipple drinker, and a set of four upright legs 42a, 42b, 42c and 42d one at each corner of the base. Each of the legs 42 is of approximately the same height as the depth of the conduit 10, and the spacing between any pair of adjacent legs 42 is approximately equal to the width of the conduit 10. Each of the legs is also formed with an inturned cap 43 at its upper end.

As shown in Figure 3, the clip 40 is attached to a conduit 10, with the legs 42d and 42c engaging on one side of the conduit, and the other two legs 42a and 42b, engaging on the other side of the conduit. It will be appreciated, that the clip is used to nip the bracket of a cup to the underside of the conduit, in exactly the same manner as illustrated in Figure 1. However, as shown in Figure 3, the clip 40 can also be fitted to a conduit 100 passing at right angles to the conduit 10, so that in that case, the legs 42a and 42d engage on one side of the conduit, and the legs 42b and 42c engage on the other side of the conduit. Hence, the clip illustrated in Figure 3 is somewhat more versatile than that which is shown in Figures 1- and 2. It will be appreciated, that each of the legs 42 possesses sufficient resilience, to enable it to pass up the outside of the conduit 10 or 100, with its cap 43 outside the width of the conduit, but as soon as the clip arrives at the position of use, its cap will snap over the top edge of the conduit.

In Figure 4, there is illustrated an alternative form of clip 50, which is made of wire bent into a formation such that it has "U"shaped end sections 52 and 54, two of the limbs of these end sections being joined by a "lip" 56, and the other two limbs being joined by a "lip" 58. Each of the "lips" comprises a shallow "U"-shaped section, disposed in a horizontal plane. The spacing between the limbs of each of the "U"-shaped end sections 52 and 54 is equal to the width of a conduit 10 and the depth from the bottom member of the "U"-shaped section 52 or 54 to the underside of the "lips" 56 and and 58 is equal to the depth of the conduit. The wire clip 50 has some resilience, so that the limbs of each "U"-shaped end section 52 and 54 can be splayed apart, to allow the "lips" to pass up the outsides of the conduit.

Referring now to Figure 5, the conduit 10 is shown fitted with a nipple drinker, which is of a slightly different construction to that shown in Figure 1, in that it has a relatively long stem 62. The internal arrangement of the drinker, is such that each time a bird pecks at the stem 62, a valve member which includes the stem rocks, to lift part of the valve member off a valve seat, thereby allowing water to escape through the nipple drinker. In other respects, and particularly so far as concerns the present invention, the nipple drinker is identical with that shown in Figure 1, in that it has a screwthreaded portion (not shown) which engages in the bottom portion of the conduit 10, and a hexagon head portion which occupies a position just below the conduit 10.

A cup 66 similar to the cup 24 is suspended below the conduit 10, by a bracket 68 identical with the bracket 28 shown in Figure l.

When the cup is to be fitted, its bracket 68 is threaded over the hexagon head of the nipple drinker, and engaged against the underside of the conduit. The clip 50 is then threaded over the nipple drinker (this is possible because the bottom of the clip is entirely open) and the "lips" are allowed to engage with the top edges of the conduit as shown in Figure 5, thereby causing the bracket 68 to be nipped tightly against the underside of the conduit. It will be appreciated therefore, that the action of the clip 50 is identical with the action of the clip 30 shown in Figures 1 and 2, the essential difference being that this clip 50 is manufactured from wire rather than from plastics material.

Figure 6 shows a somewhat simplified form of wire clip 70, which has bottom portions 72 and 74, upright limbs 76 and 78 for engagement with one side of the conduit 10, and an inverted "V" formation 80 for engagement with the opposite side of the conduit. There are small joggles 82, at the upper ends of the limbs 76 and 78, to provide an effective "lip" for engagement with the top side of the conduit.

As shown in Figure 7, the arrangement is very similar to that which is shown in Figure 5, excepting that the clip 70 only has one "lip" formed by the two joggles 82, so that it is somewhat easier to fit this clip on to the conduit, and to remove it therefrom, when it is necessary to remove the cup.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A cup drinker, as herein defined, having a clip adapted to embrace the conduit and to nip a bracket, secured to the cup, on to the conduit, whereby the cup is adapted to be suspended from the conduit by means of the clip.

2. A cup drinker as claimed in Claim 1, in which the clip and bracket are so arranged that the cup is adapted to be suspended from the conduit solely by the clip.

3. A cup drinker as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the clip has a formation such that the water outlet device passes through it when the drinker is secured to a conduit.

4. A cup drinker as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the clip is resili ent and is constructed so that it must be distended against its inherent resilience to engage it on the conduit.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. four upright legs 42a, 42b, 42c and 42d one at each corner of the base. Each of the legs 42 is of approximately the same height as the depth of the conduit 10, and the spacing between any pair of adjacent legs 42 is approximately equal to the width of the conduit 10. Each of the legs is also formed with an inturned cap 43 at its upper end. As shown in Figure 3, the clip 40 is attached to a conduit 10, with the legs 42d and 42c engaging on one side of the conduit, and the other two legs 42a and 42b, engaging on the other side of the conduit. It will be appreciated, that the clip is used to nip the bracket of a cup to the underside of the conduit, in exactly the same manner as illustrated in Figure 1. However, as shown in Figure 3, the clip 40 can also be fitted to a conduit 100 passing at right angles to the conduit 10, so that in that case, the legs 42a and 42d engage on one side of the conduit, and the legs 42b and 42c engage on the other side of the conduit. Hence, the clip illustrated in Figure 3 is somewhat more versatile than that which is shown in Figures 1- and 2. It will be appreciated, that each of the legs 42 possesses sufficient resilience, to enable it to pass up the outside of the conduit 10 or 100, with its cap 43 outside the width of the conduit, but as soon as the clip arrives at the position of use, its cap will snap over the top edge of the conduit. In Figure 4, there is illustrated an alternative form of clip 50, which is made of wire bent into a formation such that it has "U"shaped end sections 52 and 54, two of the limbs of these end sections being joined by a "lip" 56, and the other two limbs being joined by a "lip" 58. Each of the "lips" comprises a shallow "U"-shaped section, disposed in a horizontal plane. The spacing between the limbs of each of the "U"-shaped end sections 52 and 54 is equal to the width of a conduit 10 and the depth from the bottom member of the "U"-shaped section 52 or 54 to the underside of the "lips" 56 and and 58 is equal to the depth of the conduit. The wire clip 50 has some resilience, so that the limbs of each "U"-shaped end section 52 and 54 can be splayed apart, to allow the "lips" to pass up the outsides of the conduit. Referring now to Figure 5, the conduit 10 is shown fitted with a nipple drinker, which is of a slightly different construction to that shown in Figure 1, in that it has a relatively long stem 62. The internal arrangement of the drinker, is such that each time a bird pecks at the stem 62, a valve member which includes the stem rocks, to lift part of the valve member off a valve seat, thereby allowing water to escape through the nipple drinker. In other respects, and particularly so far as concerns the present invention, the nipple drinker is identical with that shown in Figure 1, in that it has a screwthreaded portion (not shown) which engages in the bottom portion of the conduit 10, and a hexagon head portion which occupies a position just below the conduit 10. A cup 66 similar to the cup 24 is suspended below the conduit 10, by a bracket 68 identical with the bracket 28 shown in Figure l. When the cup is to be fitted, its bracket 68 is threaded over the hexagon head of the nipple drinker, and engaged against the underside of the conduit. The clip 50 is then threaded over the nipple drinker (this is possible because the bottom of the clip is entirely open) and the "lips" are allowed to engage with the top edges of the conduit as shown in Figure 5, thereby causing the bracket 68 to be nipped tightly against the underside of the conduit. It will be appreciated therefore, that the action of the clip 50 is identical with the action of the clip 30 shown in Figures 1 and 2, the essential difference being that this clip 50 is manufactured from wire rather than from plastics material. Figure 6 shows a somewhat simplified form of wire clip 70, which has bottom portions 72 and 74, upright limbs 76 and 78 for engagement with one side of the conduit 10, and an inverted "V" formation 80 for engagement with the opposite side of the conduit. There are small joggles 82, at the upper ends of the limbs 76 and 78, to provide an effective "lip" for engagement with the top side of the conduit. As shown in Figure 7, the arrangement is very similar to that which is shown in Figure 5, excepting that the clip 70 only has one "lip" formed by the two joggles 82, so that it is somewhat easier to fit this clip on to the conduit, and to remove it therefrom, when it is necessary to remove the cup. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A cup drinker, as herein defined, having a clip adapted to embrace the conduit and to nip a bracket, secured to the cup, on to the conduit, whereby the cup is adapted to be suspended from the conduit by means of the clip.

5. A cup drinker as claimed in Claim 4,

in which the clip is moulded in a plastics material possessing an inherent resilience adequate to allow for the necessary distending action.

6. A cup drinker as claimed in Claim 4, in which the clip is made from wire possessing an inherent resilience adequate to allow for the necessary distending action,

7. A cup drinker as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the clip has four legs disposed at the corners of a square, so that any two adjacent legs can be fitted either on the same side of the conduit (in which case the other two legs will fit on the other side of the conduit) or on opposite sides of the conduit (in which case, each of the two legs will have a respective one of the other two legs with it on one side of the conduit).

8. A cup drinker as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the conduit is of rectangular cross-section, and the clip is adapted to embrace the bottom side and the two upright sides of the conduit, and has a formation resisting movement off the conduit in a direction perpendicular to the bottom side.

9. A cup drinker as claimed in Claim 8, in which the formation resisting movement off the conduit comprises a lip engaging over at least one ede portion of the top side of the conduit.

10. A cup drinker as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, in which the bracket is in the form of a basket "handle" (i.e. inverted "U" shape) with a hole in its upper part through which the water outlet passes.

11. A cup drinker as claimed in Claim 10, in which the lower ends of the limbs of the bracket are threaded through slots in the wall of the cup itself, in order to secure the bracket to the cup.

12. A cup drinker as herein defined, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A cup drinker as herein defined, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.

14. A cup drinker as herein defined, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 and S of the accompanying drawings.

15. A cup drinker as herein defined, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.