WO2017080688A1

WO2017080688A1 - An animal drinking system

Info

Publication number: WO2017080688A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/067196
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emer COONEY
Original assignee: Muinin Teoranta
Priority date: 2015-11-13
Filing date: 2016-07-19
Publication date: 2017-05-18
Also published as: IE20150405A1

Abstract

The invention is a stand-alone automated animal drinking system, which integrates a drinking unit (1) which is designed to provide a water supply for individually-housed livestock (for example, horses, cattle, dogs or cats), integrated with an intelligent mechanism for monitoring and assessing water intake by each animal. The system comprises at least one drinking well (3) to hold water, as well as one sensor (17) for water flow or water level, to be connected to at least one control unit to interpret flow or level data. Such data may be analysed automatically using a web-based analytics platform, and alerts are provided to managers in particular circumstances, e.g. if animals drink too much or too little according to predefined parameters, or if water leaks occur.

Description

"AN ANIMAL DRINKING SYSTEM"

Many automated mechanisms have been devised to offer more efficient ways of providing water to animals and livestock generally, when compared with stand-alone buckets or containers. Automated systems do not, however, typically facilitate the accurate measurement of water consumption by livestock. This is problematic, because farmers, veterinarians and livestock managers need to know that their livestock are drinking adequate amounts of water, for health and performance reasons. For example, if horses do not drink adequately, they are at risk of developing disorders such as impaction colic, which can be fatal, and/or costly to treat. Inadequate water consumption can also negatively impact upon equine performance, whereas excessive water consumption by horses can be symptomatic of a range of equine illnesses which need to be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. There are, therefore, both cost and welfare incentives for ensuring that animals are drinking adequate amounts of water.

Several solutions have been developed which, using various means, aim to address this problem, and which bear some similarities with the invention presented in this application.

DE10220730 consists of an animal drinking device with means for determining the amount of water drunk by an animal, using an 'actuating element'. This 'actuating element', when activated by an animal, releases drinking water, and the total amount of water consumed by such animal is then calculated using the total amount of time that the actuating element remains open. In real-world situations, this mechanism may be error-prone, because water pressure in agricultural environments can vary, depending upon whether mains, gravity feed or pump-fed systems are installed. Variance in the type of system which is installed can lead to variance between the amount of water which may have passed through the activation element during the measured time period under varying water pressures. It would be difficult to accurately calculate the total amount of water which has passed through the actuating element based only on the time the element was open.

CN 201398382Y describes an intelligent drinking trough, which is intended mainly for use in swine breeding farms. This utility model describes an integrated measurement of feed and water intake for pigs, which are collectively housed. Water and feed is released when triggered by each individual animal, which is identified by a tagging recognition system. Feeding and drinking data for such animals are measured using flow sensors. This information, along with other variables, are wirelessly transmitted to the cloud via a digital wireless tranceiver. Data is analysed, and alarms are sent to managers in the event that anomalies in animal feeding or drinking behaviour are detected, allowing early detection and management of diseases. The document is unclear as to how the system achieves its purpose, leaving much to the skilled person to determine for themselves. Importantly, the system described is designed for use in grouped or herd feeding or drinking situations, but is not designed or suitable for individually-housed animals, such as horses, and is not suited for use in individual stables or stalls, where horses are typically kept. It is not a suitable solution for the equine industry, for example, based upon the traditional design of equine stables and stalls.

US2007/0125307 describes an apparatus which is designed for accurately dispensing, monitoring, quantifying and controlling liquids provided to one or more animals. This mechanism consists of an electronic smart metering device which can be added or retrofitted to existing automated drinking systems, which does not include a mechanism within its design to provide water to livestock. It therefore essentially consists of a smart meter for livestock, rather than a device which provides water to livestock.

None of the above devices monitor leaks in the system, which might otherwise give false and misleading data about the water intake and drinking habits of the animals to whom water is being provided.

There therefore exists a need for an animal drinking system, wherein individual animals have their water intake monitored over various timescales, and wherein unusual drinking behaviour in animals may be noted, and wherein leaks in the system may also be noted and distinguished from drinking episodes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the invention is a stand-alone automated animal drinking system, which integrates a drinking unit which is designed to provide a continuous water supply for individually-housed livestock (for example, horses, cattle, dogs or cats), integrated with an intelligent mechanism for monitoring and assessing water intake by each animal. The system comprises at least one drinking well to hold water, as well as one sensor for water flow or water level, to be connected to at least one control unit to interpret flow or level data. The control unit may also have a display means to display the data collected. It may also have a means which transmits such data to a storage system or a mobile device, including via a wireless tranceiver. Such data is analysed automatically using a web-based analytics platform, and alerts are provided to managers in particular circumstances, e.g. if animals drink too much or too little according to predefined parameters, or if water leaks occur.

According to the invention, there is provided an animal drinking system, defining a drinking well for water, and a water monitoring means for monitoring the amount of water in the well, and for producing a signal indicative of the amount of water in the well, and a control means configured to compute the volume of water in the well and to display the level of water at predefined time periods. Suitably the water monitoring means is a water level sensor which is located within the well of the drinking system.

This embodiment of the invention can be used when travelling with livestock or can simply be placed in an animal's pen, stable, kennel or the like. In a particular embodiment in the drinking system can be fitted in the pen, stable or kennel. According to this embodiment , there is provided an animal drinking system, defining a drinking well for water, a water inlet port configured for coupling to a water supply, a water flow or water level monitoring means, and for producing a signal indicative of the flow rate or level of water to the well, a control means configured to compute volume or flow of water to the well from the signal produced by the monitoring means, the control means being responsive to the computed volume or flow of water delivered to the well during any one of respective predefined time periods.

Suitably the housing is provided with a water reservoir which is connected at one end to a water inlet port which may be coupled to the water supply and a water outlet port through which water is delivered to the well. In this embodiment the control means may be located in the water reservoir.

The control means incorporates an algorithm which is responsive to a sequential set of predefined time periods, each of which is representative of a distinct scenario, which arises as a result of the information which is received by the control unit from sensors during each respective predefined time period.

For example, during the first predefined time period, which may be in the order of hours, if water flow does not occur or the water level does not change, this is indicative of a lack of water intake by an animal. During the second predefined time period, if there is a constant flow of water which exceeds that predefined time period, this is indicative of a leak or malfunction in the drinking system. At the end of a third predefined time period, which is typically in the order of minutes, the control unit transfers information relating to the computed volume of water delivered to the well, and information is transferred from a variety of sensors, for example, temperature sensors, to a suitable storage device which may comprise, for instance, a USB device or SD card, or to a mobile device via a wireless tranceiver. A fourth predefined time period is identified, during which the total volume of water delivered to the well displayed upon a display screen, and at the end of which the total volume displayed returns to zero. A fifth predefined time period is identified which dictates the maximum amount of time a display screen remains lit, after which it turns off to save power if not reactivated, preferably using a button. If water flow through the inlet port is detected at any time using the flow monitoring device, this represents a flow, or drinking event which is recognised by the control unit. Upon completion of a flow or drinking event, which is taken to represent an animal drinking, the computed flow volume is written to a data storage device located within the drinking system, or to a mobile device via the wireless transceiver.

Similar calculations may be made based on the volume of water in the drinking well, rather than the flow of water through the well to assess how much water is being drunk by the animal.

The water flow monitoring means may take the form of a water level sensor or a solenoid, in some embodiments or it may be a flow meter, a weight sensor or pressure sensor.

In one aspect of the invention, if there is no water flow or no change in the level of water in the well, detected during the first predefined time period, an alert signal is generated. Preferably, the first alert signal comprises a human sensory perceptible alert signal, and preferably, the first human sensory perceptible alert signal comprises an aurally perceptible signal.

In another aspect of the invention the first human sensory perceptible alert signal comprises a visually perceptible signal. In one aspect of the invention the control means is responsive to the signal produced by the monitoring means, being indicative of water flow or level during any one of respective second predefined time periods for producing a second alert signal indicative of a water leak. In another aspect of the invention the second alert signal comprises a human sensory perceptible signal, which preferably, is an aurally perceptible signal.

In another aspect of the invention the second human sensory perceptible alert signal comprises a visually perceptible signal.

In one aspect of the invention, the drinking system comprises additional sensors, such as, for example, temperature and water quality sensors.

In another aspect of the invention a storing means is provided for storing information from sensors, for example, temperature sensors, and the computed volumes of water delivered to the well during each of a plurality of respective third predefined time periods, the stored volumes and information being time stamped to indicate the respective ones of the third predefined time periods to which the stored volumes relate. Preferably, the control means is configured so that at the end of each third predefined time period the computed volume of water delivered to the well during that third predefined time period is written to the storing means.

In another aspect of the invention the third predefined time periods run consecutively one after the other.

In one aspect of the invention an output means is provided for outputting data relating to the volume of water monitored by the water monitoring means, and preferably, the output means comprises a visual display means, which preferably, comprises a visual display screen, which ideally, comprises a display screen of varying design. The visual display means may, preferably, be manually activated, and may be manually activated by a button operated switch.

In a further aspect of the invention, the electronic or digital display screen is configured for displaying the computed volume of water delivered to the well immediately after an expired fourth predefined time period. Advantageously, the control means is configured to write the computed volume of water for each fourth predefined time period to the storing means. Advantageously, at the end of each fourth predefined time period, the display screen is reset to zero and the subsequent fourth predefined time period begins. Preferably, the fourth predefined time periods run consecutively, one after another.

In one aspect of the invention the control means is configured for computing the total volume of water delivered to the well immediately at the end of a recorded flow event, representative of a drinking event, and preferably, the computed volume of water during each drinking event is time stamped and is stored in the storing means. Advantageously, the control means is configured to write the computed volume of water for each drinking event to the storing means. In one aspect of the invention the visual display means is configured to hibernate after a fifth predefined time period has expired, unless it is manually or electronically reactivated.

In one aspect of the invention, the control means is configured to disregard flow or volume information if a reset button is manually or electronically activated. This situation represents, for example, cleaning of the drinking system.

In one aspect of the invention a first communicating means is provided for communicating the control means with a storage device, and preferably, the storage device consists of an SD card. In another aspect of the invention a second communicating means is provided for wirelessly communicating the control means with a remote computing system, and preferably, for communicating the control means with a cloud computing system.

In one aspect of the invention the second communicating means comprises a wireless transmitter.

In another aspect of the invention the second communicating means comprises a wireless receiver, and advantageously, the second communicating means comprises a wireless transceiver for facilitating two-way communication between the control means and the remote computing system.

In one aspect of the invention, each individual control unit contained within each individual drinking system is capable of connecting with others, to produce a network of devices which are linked together via wireless communication.

Preferably, the water monitoring means and the control means are integral with the animal drinking system, and advantageously, the water monitoring means and the control means are housed in the animal drinking system.

Preferably, the first and second communicating means are housed in the housing of the animal drinking system, and advantageously, the visual display means is located in the housing of the animal drinking system.

In one aspect of the invention the water monitoring means comprises a flow meter.

In another aspect of the invention a monitoring means is provided for monitoring the level of water in the drinking well, and preferably, a control valve is located between the inlet port and the well for controlling the supply of water to the well. In some embodiments the well may have a reservoir with an inlet port and an outlet port, and in those embodiments the control valve is responsive to the monitoring means for isolating the outlet port from the inlet port in response to the level of water in the drinking well reaching a predefined level. Advantageously, the monitoring means and the control valve are provided integral with the animal drinking system, and preferably, are located in the housing of the animal drinking system. Ideally, the monitoring means and the control valve comprise a single unit.

In another aspect of the invention a main isolating valve is provided between the inlet port and the outlet port for selectively isolating the outlet port from the inlet port.

Preferably, the main isolating valve is provided integral with the animal drinking system, and preferably, is located in the housing of the animal drinking system. In another aspect of the invention the water inlet port is controlled to limit the amount of water provided to the drinking well either manually or remotely via an electronic signal transmitted via a wireless tranceiver.

Preferably, a drain outlet is provided from the drinking well, and advantageously, a closure valve is provided for closing the drain outlet. Advantageously, the closure valve comprises a manually operable ball valve.

Suitably the drinking system is provided with sensors which can measure water quality parameters. Such parameters include pH, the presence of organic pollutants, mineral levels and chlorine levels to name a few.

The drinking system may further be provided with a means to feed supplements into the water supply. Such supplements include electrolytes, mineral supplements, rehydration supplements and nutritional supplements. Preferably the drinking system is provided with water filters which can be used to remove unwanted materials in the water supply or to adjust the components in the water, or water parameters generally. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of an animal drinking system according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the drinking system of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the drinking system of Fig. 1 partially from the side and the rear thereof,

Fig. 4 is an underneath plan view of the drinking system of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the drinking system of Fig. 1 on the line V-V of

Fig. 1 with components of the drinking system removed,

Fig. 6 is a cutaway perspective view of the drinking system of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a cutaway side elevational view of the drinking system of Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a cutaway exploded perspective view of the drinking system of Fig. 1, Fig. 9 is a block representation of one embodiment of a control circuit for use with the drinking system of the invention, and

Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating data flow through the control circuit of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 8 thereof, there is illustrated one embodiment of an animal drinking system according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The animal drinking system 1 is suitable for mounting on a wall or other support in an animal enclosure, and is particularly suitable for mounting in a corner of an animal enclosure, for example, in a stall of an animal house, such as, for example, in a stall of a stable for one or more horses. The animal drinking system 1 in this embodiment of the invention is of plastics material and is formed by rotational moulding, although it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the animal drinking system 1 may be of any suitable material, for example, sheet metal, such as, for example, stainless steel, and where the animal drinking system 1 is of plastics material, the drinking system may be formed from the plastics material by any suitable plastics forming process, for example, injection moulding, blow moulding and the like. The animal drinking system 1 comprises a housing 2 within which a drinking well 3 for water is formed. An open mouth 5 in the housing 2 provides access to the drinking well 3 to facilitate drinking of water from the drinking well 3 by an animal. The open mouth 5 to the drinking well 3 is sized to accommodate the muzzle of an animal. A water reservoir 6 is formed in the housing 2 adjacent the drinking well 3, and is separated from the drinking well 3 by a weir 7 over which water flows into the drinking well 3 from the water reservoir 6.

A control valve 8 is located in the water reservoir 6 and terminates in a water outlet port 10 through which water is delivered into the water reservoir 6 for in turn to flow over the weir 7 into the drinking well 3. The control valve 8 comprises an integral monitoring means for monitoring the level of water in the water reservoir 6, and in turn the water level in the drinking well 3 for controlling and maintaining the water level in the water reservoir 6 and in turn in the drinking well 3 at a first predefined level, which typically is a level above the weir 7, but which is at a level to minimise splashing of water through the open mouth 5 during drinking by an animal from the drinking well 3.

A water flow monitoring means, namely, a flow meter 17 is connected to the control valve 8 by a conduit 14. The flow meter 17 defines a water inlet port 15, which is configured for connecting the animal drinking system 1 to a water supply, for example, a mains water supply, or any other suitable water supply. Accordingly, water is delivered from the inlet port 15 through the flow meter 17, and in turn through the conduit 14 to the control valve 8 for supplying to the drinking well 3. The flow meter 17 is configured to monitor the flow of water delivered through the conduit 14 to and through the outlet port 10 to the water reservoir 6 and in turn the drinking well 3, and to produce electrical signals indicative of the monitored flow of water.

A control means, in this embodiment of the invention a control circuit 18, which is illustrated in Fig. 9, and will be described in more detail below, is housed in a sub- housing 19 in the housing 2, and reads the electrical signals from the flow meter 17. The control circuit is configured to produce data indicative of the volume of water delivered through the outlet port 10 to the drinking well 3 as will be described below. A visual display means, in this exemplary embodiment of the invention an electronic or digital display screen 20, is provided in the housing 2 for displaying volume of water delivered to the drinking well 3 as will be described below.

A manually operated isolating valve 12 is located in the conduit 14, and is configured for isolating the outlet port 10 from the inlet port 15.

A drain outlet 22 is provided from the drinking well 3, for draining the drinking well 3 during cleaning and maintenance thereof, and a closure means for closing the drain outlet when draining is not required. In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, a closure valve is provided which comprises a manually operable ball valve 23, which closes the drain outlet 22.

Referring now to Fig. 9, a block representation of the control circuit 18 is illustrated. The control circuit 18 comprises a microcontroller 30 which controls operation of the control circuit 18 and reads the electrical signals from the flow meter 17, which are indicative of the rate of volume flow of water through the outlet port 10 to the drinking well 3. The microcontroller 30 is configured to compute the volume of water flowing through the flow meter 17 from the signals produced by the flow meter 17. The microcontroller 30 is programmed to determine the volume of water flowing through the flow meter 17 at the end of first and third predefined time periods, and after a flow event.

The microcontroller 30 is programmed to compute the volume of water which has flowed through the flow meter 17 during each of a plurality of the respective first predefined time periods. If at the end of any one of the first predefined time periods the computed volume of water during that first predefined time period is indicative of the absence of drinking from the drinking system 1, the microcontroller 30 is programmed to produce a first alert signal, and to activate a first alerting means for producing the first alert signal a human sensory perceptible signal, which in this embodiment of the invention comprises a light emitting diode 32 for producing a visually perceptible signal to indicate that during that first predefined time period, an animal has not taken water from the drinking system 1. The first predefined time period may be any suitable time period, however, in this embodiment of the invention the first predefined time period is set at six hours. Thus, during any period of six hours if the microcontroller determines that the computed volume of water which flowed through the flow meter 17 during that first predefined six-hour time period was effectively zero volume, the microcontroller 30 powers up the light emitting diode 32 to indicate the absence of drinking by an animal from the drinking system 1. The duration of the first predefined time period is selectable, and is selected depending on the animal, and is further selected to be of such duration that if the animal fails to take a drink in that first predefined time period, it may be indicative of a condition in the animal which may require attention. A sensor may further be included which indicates the presence or absence of an animal, so that the absence of drinking data is not misinterpreted in the absence of an animal. The microcontroller 30 is also programmed to continuously read signals from the flow meter 17, and if during any second predefined time period the signals produced by the flow meter 17 are indicative of continuous flow of water through the flow meter 17, the microprocessor 30 is programmed to produce a second human sensory perceptible alert signal to indicate a leak or a malfunction of the drinking system 1. In this embodiment of the invention the microcontroller 30 operates the light emitting diode 32 to indicate the presence of a leak or a malfunction of the drinking system 1. The microcontroller 30 is programmed to operate the light emitting diode 32 continuously to indicate the absence of drinking from the drinking system 1, and to operate the light emitting diode 32 to flash intermittently to indicate the presence of a leak or a malfunction of the drinking system 1. The second predefined time period may be any suitable time period, but is longer than the normal period during which an animal would take a drink from the drinking system 1. In this embodiment of the invention the second predefined time period is set at five minutes. Thus, if at the end of any five-minute period signals from the flow meter 17 are indicative of continuous flow of water through the flow meter 17 for that five-minute period, the

microcontroller 30 operates the light emitting diode 32 to intermittently flash, thereby indicating the presence of a leak or a malfunction of the drinking system 1.

The microcontroller 30 is also programmed to compute information from sensors, and the volume of water which flowed through the flow meter 17 during each of a plurality of the respective third predefined time periods at the ends of the respective third predefined time periods, and to store the computed sensor information and volumes at the ends of the respective flow events, and to time and date stamp the stored volumes. The storing means, which typically would be a suitable memory, such as a random access memory or any other suitable memory, may be configured in the microcontroller 30, or be in communication with the microcontroller 30. At the end of each third predefined time period, information from sensors and the volume of the water which flowed through the flow meter 17 during that third predefined time period is time and date stamped and written to the storing memory. The third predefined time periods may be of any suitable duration, but typically, are of a duration of the order of seconds, for example, at five or ten-second intervals, and depend on the powering of the drinking system 1, whether by battery or by mains electricity. In this embodiment of the invention the third predefined time periods run consecutively one immediately after the other.

The microcontroller 30 is also programmed to compute the volume of water which flowed through the flow meter 17 during each of the respective flow or drinking event, immediately after the completion of that flow or drinking event. Having computed the volume of water which flowed through the flow meter 17 at the end of each flow event, the microcontroller 30 writes the computed volume in a memory.

A first push button switch 35 is provided in the housing 2, and the microcontroller 30 is programmed to read the output from the first push button switch 35. In response to activation of the first push button switch 35, the microcontroller 30 activates the electronic or digital display screen 20 to display the stored volume of water which flowed through the flow meter 17 during the immediately previous flow or drinking event. The microcontroller 30 is also programmed to deactivate the electronic or digital display screen 20 after a fifth predefined time period, which typically, would be in the range of 30 seconds to 60 seconds, in order to minimise power consumption.

A second push button switch 36 is also provided in the housing 2, and the

microcontroller 30 is programmed to read the output from the second push button switch 36, and in the event of the second push button switch 36 being activated, the microcontroller 30 resets the time, at which each fourth predefined time period is to commence, to the time at which the second push button switch 36 is activated. For example, the fourth predefined time periods have been originally set to run from midnight of one night to midnight of the following night, in the manner already described. If one wished to alter the time at which each fourth predefined time period commences, for example, if one wished to set the time at which each fourth predefined time period commenced to 8.00 a.m., the second push button switch 36 would be activated at the time at which the fourth predefined time periods are to commence, namely, 8.00 a.m. The microcontroller 30 is thereby programmed to reset the time of commencement of each fourth predefined time period to the time of activation of the second push button switch, in this example 8.00 a.m., so that the fourth predefined time periods run from 8.00 a.m. on one day to 8.00 a.m. the following day.

A first communicating means, namely, a USB port 38 is provided in the housing 2 and is coupled to the microcontroller 30 for facilitating communication between the microcontroller 30 and an external computing device, for example, a mobile phone, a laptop, a tablet computer or any such computer, in order to facilitate uploading and downloading data to and from the microcontroller 30. The microcontroller 30 is also configured to allow programming of the microcontroller 30 by such an external computer coupled to the microcontroller 30 through the USB port 38.

In this embodiment of the invention a second communicating means, namely, a wireless transceiver 40 is located in the housing 2 for communicating the

microcontroller 30 wirelessly with a remote computing system, for example, a cloud computing system. The microcontroller 30 in this embodiment of the invention is configured to upload the time stamped computed volumes of the water which flowed through the flow meter 17 during the respective third predefined time periods, or after a flow or drinking event.

It is envisaged that data containing the time stamped computed volumes during the respective third or fourth predefined time periods, or after a flow or drinking event, may be processed by a cloud computing system, and a graphical representation of the flow of water through the flow meter 17 over, for example, each fourth predefined time period or drinking event, or over periods of longer or shorter duration is prepared. The graphical representation of the volume of water flowing through the flow meter is downloadable to a suitable computing device, for example, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a personal computer or the like. As well as the graphical representation of the volume flow of water through the flow meter 17 being prepared, other data may also be prepared in tabular form by the cloud computing system relating to the volume flow of water through the flow meter 17. This data in tabular form may also be downloadable to a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a personal computer or the like.

It will, however, be appreciated that while it is advantageous to provide the wireless transmitter/receiver 40 to facilitate communication between the microcontroller 30 and a remote computing system, for example, a cloud computer, in certain

embodiments of the drinking system according to the invention, the wireless transceiver may be omitted.

Referring now to Fig. 10, the data flow through the microcontroller is illustrated. As can be seen from Fig. 10, signals from the flow meter 17 are read by the

microcontroller 18. If the first push button 35 is activated, the microcontroller 18 activates the electronic or digital display to display the volume of water which flowed through the flow meter 17 during a flow or drinking event, or in the immediately previous fourth predefined time period. If the second push button switch is activated, the microcontroller resets the commencement times of the respective fourth predefined time periods. The microcontroller 18 activates the light emitting diode in the event that an alarm condition has been detected by the microcontroller. As discussed above, if the alarm condition is indicative of the absence of drinking from the drinking system, the microcontroller 18 powers up the light emitting diode continuously, and if the alarm condition is as a result of leaking or a malfunction of the drinking system, the light emitting diode 32 is activated to intermittently flash.

Data from the microcontroller 18 is transferred through the wireless tranceiver to an external computer or a router which may be connected to the internet. Additionally, data from the microcontroller 18 is uploaded through the wireless transceiver 40 to a wireless receiver connected to the internet. This data, if it is received from block 50 or block 51, is processed in the cloud computing system which is prepared in graphical form and tabulated form in block 52 by the cloud computing system.

Additionally, alert signals may also be retransmitted by block 53 from the cloud computing system to be received by a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a personal computer, a tablet computer or any other such computing devices which would indicate either the absence of drinking from the drinking system or a leak or a malfunction of the drinking system. The drinking system 1 is configured to be powered either by mains electricity or by a battery, which may be a rechargeable or a non-rechargeable battery.

In use, the animal drinking system 1 is mounted on a wall or other suitable support structure in an animal enclosure. A mains or other suitable water supply is coupled to the inlet port 15 defined by the flow meter 17. The ball valve 23 is coupled to a suitable drainage system for draining water from the drinking well 3 to waste. With the ball valve 23 in the closed state, and the isolating valve 12 in the open state, water is supplied to the animal drinking system 1 and the animal drinking system 1 is ready for use. The microcontroller 18 monitors signals produced by the flow meter 17 and operates as already described in computing the volume of water which flows through the flow meter. If during any first predefined time period, in this case of six hours duration, signals from the flow meter 17 are indicative of the absence of drinking from the drinking system 1, the light emitting diode 32 is powered on continuously, thus indicating the absence of drinking. If during any second predefined period, which in this case is of five minutes' duration, signals from the flow meter 17 are indicative of continuous flow of water through the flow meter, the microcontroller 18 operates the light emitting diode 32 to intermittently flash, thus indicating a water leak or a malfunction of the drinking system 1. To activate the electronic or digital display screen 20 to display the volume of water delivered to the drinking well 3 of the drinking system 1 during a flow or drinking event, or during the immediately preceding fourth predefined time period of twenty- four hours duration, the first push button operated switch 35 is activated. If it is desired to reset the time of commencement of the fourth predefined time periods, the second push button switch 36 is activated at the time at which it is desired that the fourth predefined time period is to commence.

Data may be uploaded or downloaded to and from the microcontroller 30 through the USB port 38, or via a bluetooth device and data at the end of the third or fourth predefined time periods, or after a flow or drinking event, is uploaded to the cloud computing system through the transceiver 40.

The advantages of the invention are many. A particularly important advantage of the invention is that by virtue of the fact that the drinking system 1 comprises a flow meter and a microcontroller, delivery of water to the drinking system is continuously monitored, and in cases where the drinking system is provided in a stall occupied by a single animal, the drinking activity of the animal can be monitored continuously throughout consecutive twenty-four-hour periods, and in the event that an animal fails to take a drink during the first predefined time periods, which in this case is set at a period of, for example, six hours, an alert is provided to indicate the absence of drinking of water by the animal. Needless to say, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the preceding description of the present embodiment of the invention that the drinking system has many other advantages. While the animal drinking system has been described as being of a particular shape, construction and of a particular material, the drinking system may be of any other shape, construction and material.

It will also be appreciated that other suitable means for providing the alert signals may be provided, for example, as well as or instead of the light emitting diode, a buzzer or other such sounding device may be located in the housing of the drinking system. Additionally, or alternatively, the alert signal may be uploaded to the cloud computing system, and subsequently downloaded to a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a personal computer or any other suitable electronic device capable of wirelessly receiving the alert signal.

It will also be appreciated that while a particular type of control valve with integral water level monitoring has been described, any other suitable control valve for controlling the level of water in the drinking system may be provided.

While the flow meter has not been described in specific detail, any water flow monitoring means may be used, and such water flow monitoring means will be well known to those skilled in the art. In this embodiment of the invention the flow meter is of the vane type where a rotor having a plurality of radially extending vanes is located in the water stream and is rotated by the action of the flow of water in the water stream. Such flow meters typically produce an electronic pulse signal on each revolution or on each predefined part of a revolution, and the volume flow is proportional to a revolution or a predefined part of a revolution of the rotor. Thus, by counting the pulse signals outputted by the flow meter, the microcontroller can compute the volume of water flowing through the flow meter. Needless to say, any other suitable type of flow meter may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

While the microcontroller has been described as being programmed to produce specific types of data, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the microcontroller may be programmed to produce any suitable or desired type of data.

It will be appreciated that while specific durations of first, second, third, fourth and fifth predefined time periods have been described, the first, second, third, fourth and fifth predefined time periods may be of any suitable durations. Additionally, it is envisaged that some or all of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth predefined time periods may be user selectable.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described, which may be varied in construction and detail. In particular the drinking system may be a standalone unit which can be used without connection to a water supply, when an animal is housed where there is no public water supply, or when the animal is travelling. In other embodiments the level of water in the drinking well is measured, rather than the flow of water into the well. In still further embodiments of the drinking system can be supplied as a retrofit unit, which can be fitted into an existing animal housing which has a water supply.

Claims

1. An animal drinking system, comprising

a drinking well for water,

a water monitoring means for monitoring the flow of water delivered to the well or the level of water in the well, and for producing a signal indicative of the amount of water in the well , and

a data control means configured to compute volume of water in the well from the signal produced by the water monitoring means, the control means being responsive to the computed volume of water in the well during any one of respective predefined time periods, and being configured to cause an alert signal when the water profile during any predefined time period is outside a predefined parameter or range.

2. The drinking system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a water inlet port configured for coupling to a water supply, and a water flow or water level monitoring means for producing a signal indicative of the flow rate to or the level of water in the well.

3. The drinking system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising a water reservoir which is connected at one end to a water inlet port which may be coupled to a water supply, and at the other end to a water outlet port through which water is delivered to the well, the control means being located between the inlet port and the outlet port.

4. The animal drinking system according to claim 1, wherein the control means incorporates an algorithm which is responsive to a sequential set of predefined time periods, each of which is representative of a distinct scenario, which arises as a result of the information which is received by the control unit from sensors during each respective predefined time period.

5. The animal drinking system of any of any preceding claim wherein the control means is responsive to the signal produced by the monitoring means being indicative of a lack of flow of water through the water flow monitoring means or the lack of change in the level of the water in the well, during any one of respective first predefined time periods for producing a first alert signal indicative of a lack of water intake by an animal.

6. The animal drinking system of any preceding claim wherein the control means is responsive to the signal produced by the monitoring means being indicative of a continuous flow of water through the water flow monitoring means or an overfull water level, during any one of respective second predefined time periods for producing a second alert signal indicative of a water leak.

7. The animal drinking system of claim 5 or 6 wherein the first or the second alert signal comprises a human sensory perceptible signal.

8. The animal drinking system of claim 7 wherein the first or second alert signal is an aurally perceptible signal, or a visually perceptible signal.

9 The animal drinking system of any preceding claim wherein a storing means is provided for storing the computed volumes of water delivered to the well during each of a plurality of respective third predefined time periods, the stored volumes being time stamped to indicate the respective ones of the third predefined time periods to which the stored volumes relate.

10 The animal drinking system of claim 9 wherein the control means is configured so that at the end of each third predefined time period the computed volume of water delivered to the well during that third predefined time period is written to the storing means.

11 The animal drinking system of any preceding claim wherein the drinking system includes additional sensors, preferably temperature sensors, or water quality sensors.

12. The animal drinking system of any preceding claim herein the control means is configured for storing the total volume of water delivered to the well during each of a plurality of respective fourth predefined time periods, and preferably, the computed volume of water during each fourth predefined time period is stored in the storing means.

13. The animal drinking system of claim 12 wherein, at the end of each fourth predefined time period the computed volume of water delivered to the well during that fourth predefined time period is displayed and written over the computed value of the volume of water delivered to the well during the immediately previous fourth predefined time period.

14. The animal drinking system of any preceding claim wherein water flow into the well or a reduction in water level in the well is detected and recognised by the control unit as a single flow event which represents a drinking event by an animal.

15. The animal drinking system of claim 14 wherein the computed volume of water delivered to the well is written to the storage means at the end of each flow event.

16. The animal drinking system of any preceding claim wherein an output means is provided for outputting data relating to the volume of water monitored by the water monitoring means.

17. The animal drinking system of claim 16 wherein the output means comprises a visual display means.

18. The animal drinking system of claim 17 wherein the visual display means is configured for displaying the computed volume of water delivered to the well during the immediately expired fourth predefined time period.

19. The animal drinking system of any of claims 16 to 18 wherein the visual display means remains activated for the duration of a fifth predefined time period, after which it is deactivated to save power, and reactivated when required using a button.

20. The animal drinking system of any of claims 16 to 19 wherein the computed volume of water delivered to the well is displayed at the end of each flow or level change or event.

21. The animal drinking system of any preceding claim wherein a first communicating means is provided for communication between the control means and an external computer.

22. The animal drinking system of any preceding claim wherein a second communicating means is provided for wirelessly communicating between the control means and a remote computing system.

23. The animal drinking system of any preceding claim wherein the control units within each individual drinking system are capable of connecting with other drinking system units, to produce a network of devices which are linked together via wireless communication

24. The animal drinking system of any preceding claim wherein one or more of the water monitoring means, the control means, the first and second communicating means or the visual display means are integral with the animal drinking system.

25. The animal drinking system of any preceding claim wherein the water monitoring means comprises a flow meter, a water level sensor, a weight sensor or a pressure sensor.

26. The animal drinking system of claims 3 to 25 wherein a control valve is located between the inlet port and the outlet port for controlling the supply of water to the outlet port.

27. The animal drinking system of claim 26 wherein the control valve is responsive to the monitoring means for isolating the outlet port from the inlet port in response to the level of water in the drinking well reaching a predefined level.

28. The animal drinking system according to any of claims 3 to 27 wherein a main isolating valve is provided between the inlet port and the outlet port for selectively isolating the outlet port from the inlet port.

29. The animal drinking system of any preceding claim wherein a drain outlet is provided from the drinking well.

30. The animal drinking system of claim 29 wherein a closure valve is provided for closing the drain outlet.

31. The animal drinking system of any of claims 2 to 30 in which the water inlet port is controlled to limit the amount of water provided to the drinking well.