Collective drinking device for animals

Abstract

The invention relates to a collective drinking device (1) for animals such as cattle, horses or the like, the device comprising a drinking trough (2) defining a container (3) and comprising automatic water supply means (4). The container (3) is characterised in that it is defined by at least one series (S1; S2) of at least two drinking bowls (B1, B2) of which a first drinking bowl (B1) is connected to the automatic water supply means (4) and of which a second drinking bowl (B2) is connected to the first drinking bowl (B1) via an intercommunication channel (8) open at an upper face (13) of the drinking trough (2).

Description

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Description Title of the invention: Collective drinking trough device for animals

[0001] The present invention relates to a collective watering device for animals, such as cattle, horses or others, comprising a watering body to which automatic water supply means are connected.

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of collective watering devices for animals, intended to be installed in livestock buildings, more particularly in which these animals, in particular cattle, are kept in free stalls.

[0003] There are different types of animal waterers depending on the environment in which they live. For example, we know of individual watering devices, often in the form of a drinking bowl, installed, for example, in individual boxes or stalls. Such watering devices are individually connected to water supply means. They can be equipped with a float valve designed to maintain a constant water level in the drinking bowl or with a lever-operated valve operated by the animal. In the latter case, the animal controls the opening of the valve by pressing the lever with its snout.

[0004] Collective drinking trough devices are known, in particular from document WO2009 / 034239 A1. While the drinking troughs installed in grazing areas are often in the form of a large circular or semi-circular trough, the collective drinking trough devices installed in or near livestock buildings usually comprise a trough of generally rectangular and elongated shape, hence their common name of channel drinking trough. It will be noted that in document WO2009 / 034239 A1 embodiments are described comprising several troughs connected in a row one behind the other. More precisely, a trough comprises lateral end walls at the level ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ in which intercommunication holes are provided, allowing this connection between two trays arranged in the extension of one another by means of the connecting means, in this case a flexible connecting end piece and collars.

[0005] Although the tank can be made of synthetic material, for example by rotational molding, it is most frequently made of folded and welded stainless steel sheet, which naturally has an anti-snagging characteristic. In practice, this tank has a base of a certain length from which extend the front and rear longitudinal walls, as well as the end side walls. The base can be equipped with a drain plug, towards which it is defined as slightly sloping, so as to facilitate the flow of water and the cleaning of the tank.

[0006] It is common for animals to have food residues, straw or other material, left in their mouths and on their snouts when they go to drink, which end up falling back into the water trough. In this regard, it has been observed that, compared to individual water troughs, more deposits form in collective water troughs, requiring more frequent cleaning.

[0007] It was in the context of a first inventive approach that the origin of this frequent accumulation of deposits in collective drinking troughs was sought. It was thus found that the food falling back into an individual drinking trough during a drinking session tends to be reingested at least in large part immediately during this drinking session or progressively during the following drinking sessions, so that these deposits do not tend to stagnate or accumulate.

[0008] This phenomenon does not occur as effectively in the case of collective waterers. Their tank is sized to allow several animals to be watered simultaneously. However, it is very common for a smaller number of animals to come and drink at the same time, not to mention that their watering rhythm is not identical. As a result, large amounts of food leftovers that fall back into the waterer during a drinking session are not immediately re-ingested, or even during subsequent drinking sessions, and gradually form deposits. These are the cause of developments ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ bacteria which not only make the water less appetizing, but can be harmful to animals.

[0009] This makes it easy to understand why it is essential to regularly empty and clean these state-of-the-art collective drinking troughs. Such cleaning is not only a hassle for farmers, but also results in significant excess water consumption.

[0010] Moreover, due to its large size for simultaneous access by several animals, the tank of these known collective waterers has a water capacity more than necessary for watering these animals. This inevitably results in a significant quantity of water being thrown away during each cleaning cycle.

[0011] One solution to these problems would be to replace collective drinking fountains with series of individual drinking fountains, which would obviously require the same number of individual connections to the water supply network. At the same time, although the taps in this type of drinking fountain are generally reliable, the cases of malfunction and the risks of leaks related to these taps are necessarily greater. Consequently, increasing the number of drinking fountains and therefore taps leads to increasing the costs, the risks of intervention and the maintenance requirements of such individual drinking fountains.

[0012] It was as part of an inventive approach that a collective drinking trough was imagined, allowing several animals to be accommodated simultaneously and comprising only one water supply tap, combining, at the same time, the advantages of individual drinking troughs.

[0013] Thus, the invention relates to a collective watering device for animals, such as cattle, horses or other animals, comprising a watering body comprising an upper face at the level of which a container is defined and comprising automatic water supply means, this collective watering device being distinguished in that the container is defined by at least one series of at least two drinking bowls each comprising, at the level of the upper face of the watering body, an opening sized to allow the watering of one animal at a time, a first of these drinking bowls being connected to said automatic water supply means and a second bowl ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ drinking trough is connected to the first drinking bowl through an intercommunication channel open on the upper face of the drinking trough body.

[0014] According to the invention, a drinking bowl comprises a peripheral wall connected by a rounding to a bottom, preferably designed in a concave shape.

[0015] Advantageously, the drinking trough body comprises at one end said automatic water supply means, the series of at least two drinking bowls extending in the same alignment or not from this end.

[0016] According to the invention, the container is defined by at least two series of at least two drinking bowls connected in series to each other through intercommunicating channels open on the upper face of the drinking body and of which at least one first drinking bowl of each series is connected to said automatic water supply means.

[0017] Advantageously, the drinking trough body comprises, in a middle part, said automatic water supply means, each of the two series of at least two drinking bowls extending in the same alignment on either side of these automatic water supply means.

[0018] The advantages arising from the present invention consist in that the collective drinking device provides access to water simultaneously to several animals, knowing that only one animal can drink through a drinking bowl with dimensions adjusted to it, avoiding any excessive deposit.

[0019] Furthermore, these drinking bowls being connected to each other by means of an intercommunicating channel in which a flow of water circulates at each drinking, this avoids the stagnation of food product debris in these channels. Finally, this debris is systematically brought back to the bottom of one of the drinking bowls and is therefore largely reingested as the drinking progresses, significantly spacing out the emptying and cleaning cycles.

[0020] Other aims and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which follows relating to exemplary embodiments given for informational and non-limiting purposes. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

[0021] Understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawings in which:

[0022] [FIG.1] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective illustration of a collective drinking trough device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0023] [FIG.2] Figure 2 illustrates schematically in perspective three other embodiments of this collective drinking trough device;

[0024] [FIG.3] Figure 3 schematically represents a section of a drinking trough device according to one of the embodiments visible in Figure 2;

[0025] [FIG.4] Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the collective drinking trough device equipped with anti-lapping means;

[0026] [FIG.5] Figure 5 illustrates the collective drinking trough device according to an embodiment similar to that shown in Figure 4.

[0027] As shown in the figures of the attached drawings, the present invention relates to a collective drinking trough device 1 for animals.

[0028] This collective drinking trough device 1 comprises a drinking trough body 2 comprising at an upper face 13 a container 3, to which automatic water supply means 4 are connected.

[0029] Advantageously, these automatic water supply means 4 are, preferably, of the float valve type designed to maintain a constant reference water level in the container 3 of the drinking device 1. In short, when the water level in the container 3 drops below the reference level during a drinking by one or more animals, a float 5 acts on a lever 6 to control the opening of a tap 7 connected to a water supply network. Conversely, when the water in the container 3 reaches the predefined reference level, the action of the water on the float 5 has the consequence of closing the tap 7.

[0030] According to the invention, the container 3 is defined by at least one series S1 of at least two drinking bowls B1, B2 each comprising, at the level of the face ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ upper 13 of the watering body 3, an opening O sized to allow the watering of one animal at a time.

[0031] In short, this opening O of a drinking bowl is of a section adapted to that, depending on the case, of the muzzle or the snout corresponding to the type of animal for which the collective drinking device 1 is intended.

[0032] Thus, this section of the opening O preferably has an inscribed diameter of between 200 millimeters and 350 millimeters, or even 400 millimeters maximum.

[0033] Furthermore, a first drinking bowl B1 is connected to said automatic water supply means 4, while a second drinking bowl B2 is connected to the first drinking bowl B1 through an intercommunication channel 8 open on the upper face 13 of the drinking trough body 2.

[0034] According to a first embodiment visible in Figure 1, the drinking trough body 2, advantageously of generally elongated shape, comprises at one end 9 said automatic water supply means 4, the series S1 of at least two drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4… extending in the same alignment X from this end 9. It should be noted in this regard that the invention is not limited to this configuration of drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4, aligned these being capable of extending differently behind each other, for example in a circle or in eclipse.

[0035] According to other preferred embodiments of the invention, visible in figures 2 to 5, the container 3 is defined by at least two series S1, S2 of at least two drinking bowls B1, B2, B3… connected in series to each other by intercommunication channels 8^open on the upper face 13 of the drinking trough body 2 and of which at least a first drinking bowl B1 of each series S1, S2 is connected to said automatic water supply means 4.

[0036] Advantageously, the drinking trough body 2, preferably of generally elongated shape, comprises, in a middle part 10, said automatic water supply means 4, each of the two series S1, S2 of at least two drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4….extending in the same ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ alignment X or not on either side of this middle part 10 and of these automatic water supply means 4.

[0037] As already indicated above, the drinking trough body 2 has an elongated shape and preferably also comprises at least one front face 11 and one rear face 12, surmounted by the upper face 13 at the level of which the drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4 are arranged, depending on the case of one or more series S1, S2, as well as the intercommunication channels 8 connecting together the drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4 of a series S1, S2. These intercommunication channels 8 are therefore open at the level of the upper face 13 of the drinking trough body 2.

[0038] At this upper face 13 there may also be provided, as appropriate, at one end 9 of the drinking trough body 2 or at a middle part 10 of the latter, a housing 14, in the form of a cavity, for receiving the automatic water supply means 4. To this housing 14 is connected the first drinking bowl B1 of the series or series S1, S2 of drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4. This connection may be in the form of a supply conduit or may advantageously take the form of an intercommunication channel 15 open at said upper face 13 of the drinking trough body 2.

[0039] Returning to the shape of the drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4 and as already indicated above, they have an opening O at the level of the upper face 13 of the drinking trough body 3 which is sized to allow the watering of one animal at a time.

[0040] A drinking bowl B1, B2, B3, B4 also comprises a peripheral wall P connected to the bottom 17 by a rounded portion 17a as seen in figure 3.

[0041] In an advantageous embodiment, this rounding 17a extends substantially from the peripheral wall P towards the center of the bottom 17, giving the latter a concave, substantially hemispherical or semi-ovoid shape. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

[0042] According to yet another particularity of these drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4, their peripheral wall is truncated in shape, narrowing from the opening O towards the bottom 17.

[0043] These drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4 are also preferably of round or ovoid cross-section. However, they may be of polygonal cross-section, in particular square, while respecting the condition that their opening O at the level of the upper face 13 of the drinking trough body 3 is sized to allow the watering of one animal at a time. Thus, this cross-section, possibly polygonal, preferably has an inscribed diameter of between 200 millimeters and 350 millimeters, or even 400 millimeters maximum.

[0044] Note that in such a configuration of bowls with a polygonal section, the peripheral wall has sides connected by rounded edges, with a radius at least equal to one centimeter, preferably greater than two centimeters.

[0045] As visible in the sectional representation of figure 3, the bottom 16 of the intercommunication channels 8 communicates, preferentially, with the bottom 17 of the drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4.

[0046] Advantageously, the bottom 18 of the intercommunication channel 15 communicates with the bottom 17 of the first drinking bowl B1 of a series S1, S2 and the bottom 19 of the housing 14.

[0047] According to an advantageous embodiment: • the bottom of the drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4 of a series S1; S2, • the bottom 16 of the intercommunication channels 8 which connect them • and the bottom 18 of the intercommunication channel 15 are on the same horizontal plane, or even form a slight downward slope from the housing 14 in the direction of the most distant drinking bowl B2; B3; B4.

[0048] Taking into account that the automatic water supply means 4 have the function of maintaining a constant water level in the container 1 and therefore the drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4, the preceding configuration makes it possible to supply ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ jointly each of these drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4 at each opening of the tap 7.

[0049] This level concordance of the bottoms 16, 17, 18 also makes it possible to ensure a flushing effect between the drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4, avoiding the stagnation of debris, in particular in the intercommunicating gutters 8, 15.

[0050] According to the invention, the drinking bowl B2; B3; B4 furthest from said automatic water supply means 4 comprises draining means 21. It should be noted that the flushing effect described above also promotes the evacuation of debris during draining and cleaning operations. For example, such draining means 21 may be defined by a drain plug in the bottom 17 of this drinking bowl B2; B3; B4.

[0051] The flushing effect and the emptying of the container 3 of the drinking device 1 gain in quality when the bottoms 16, 17, 18 are slightly sloping downwards from the housing 14 towards the furthest drinking bowl B2; B3; B4.

[0052] Preferably, the bottom 16; 18 of an intercommunication channel 8; 15 is designed to be sufficiently wide, for example greater than 0.5 cm, to be able to reach it with at least one finger of one hand and to easily push back debris, or even any deposits in these channels 8, 15, during cleaning operations.

[0053] According to an advantageous embodiment, the automatic water supply means 4 and the section 20 of the interconnecting channels 8, 15 are dimensioned to convey to each drinking bowl B1, B2, B3, B4 a flow of water in relation to the flow of water likely to be ingested by the animals in the event of simultaneous drinking from each of these drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4.

[0054] It should be noted that this flow rate of water capable of being delivered by the automatic water supply means 4 does not necessarily have to be equal to the maximum flow rate of water capable of being taken from the container 3, in the event of simultaneous drinking from each of the drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4 included in the drinking device 1. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

[0055] In addition, the channels 15, 8, if they can be of identical section 20, they can still be of different sections. Thus, the section of the channel 15 connecting the housing 14 and the first drinking bowl B1 of a series S1 can possibly be larger than the section of the channel 8 connecting this first bowl B1, to the following bowl B2, or even compared to the section of all the following channels.

[0056] Likewise, the interconnecting channels 8 between the drinking bowls may all be of identical section, or of different sections.

[0057] As shown in the various figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, the rear face 12 of the drinking trough body 2 can define a face for attachment and fixing to a support such as a wall. By way of example, a attachment rim 22 has been illustrated extending this rear face 12 above the upper face 13 and comprising openings 23 for the passage of fixing members, for example screws. The lower edge 22A of this rear face 12 can also define a attachment rim by being provided with openings for the passage of fixing screws or quite simply by being inserted into at least one attachment rail having been previously fixed to the wall.

[0058] Obviously, this drinking device is not necessarily intended to be fixed to a vertical support. It can also be positioned on a support structure allowing it to be positioned resting on the ground anywhere in a breeding area.

[0059] Figures 2 to 5 show the housing 14 receiving the automatic water supply means 4 closed by a cover 24 preventing animals from accessing it, this cover 24 however being removable to be able to access these automatic water supply means 4 and to allow maintenance and cleaning operations. In particular, this cover 24 can be pivotally mounted on the drinking trough body 2, above the housing 14 and equipped with locking means adapted to cooperate with complementary locking means that the drinking trough body 2 comprises. Advantageously, this cover 24 can also be subjected to elastic means capable of automatically returning it to a closed position at each unlocking command. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

[0060] Regarding this housing 14, it can be of a similar shape to the bowls, in the sense that it is of circular, ovoid or polygonal section, its peripheral wall connects the bottom of this housing by rounded parts avoiding the stagnation of debris in the angle between this bottom and this peripheral wall. Here again this rounded part has a radius greater than one centimeter, preferably greater than two centimeters. This bottom of the housing 14 and the bottom 18 of the intercommunication channel 15 are advantageously in the same horizontal plane, or even form a slight downward slope from the housing 14 towards the first drinking bowl B1.

[0061] The drinking trough body 2 can be made of different materials. It can be cast, or it can be made of sheet metal, particularly stainless steel, by die-forging and / or mechanical welding. It can also be made of synthetic material, possibly composite, by injection molding, thermoforming, lamination, or even rotational molding.

[0062] Advantageously, at least the walls of the drinking bowls B2; B3; B4, or even the intercommunication channels 8 and / or 15 and / or the walls of the housing 14 comprise a surface treatment, for example by polishing and / or application of a material with low surface tension, to avoid at least limiting the adhesion of debris and other dirt along these walls.

[0063] In the case of a design made of synthetic material, the drinking trough body 2 is preferably equipped with anti-lapping means 25 and / or anti-nibbling means 26.

[0064] Said anti-lapping means 25 can be designed, on the upper face 13 of the drinking trough body 2, by a metal rim 27 bordering the drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4, extending slightly above these drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4.

[0065] As for the anti-nibbling means 26, they can adopt different embodiments depending on the part of the drinking trough body 2 to be protected. Thus, metal blades 28 can reinforce the edges of the gutters 8, 15. For the same purpose, in front of the front face 11, or even the lateral sides 29, a protective bar 30 can extend which prevents nibbling ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ of the drinking trough body 2 at the height of the angle between the upper face 13 and said front face 11, or even these lateral sides 28. Such a bar 30 essentially makes it possible to protect the drinking trough device 1 against impacts.

[0066] In the case of installation on a support structure for the installation of the drinking trough device 1, not against a wall, but centrally, this protective bar 30 can surround the drinking trough body 2.

[0067] When the drinking trough device 1 is intended to be fixed against a wall, its upper face 13 advantageously forms an inclined plane, slightly descending, from the rear face 12 towards the front face 11, so as to facilitate the evacuation by sliding of debris possibly falling on this drinking trough device between the bowls B1, B2, B3, B4. For this same purpose, in the case of a central installation, this upper face 13 can define two inclined planes descending, starting from a longitudinal median plane. ^

Claims

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^^^^ Claims

1. Collective watering device (1) for animals, such as cattle, horses or the like, comprising a watering body (2) comprising an upper face (13) at which a container (3) is defined and comprising automatic water supply means (4), characterized in that the container (3) is defined by at least one series (S1; S2) of at least two drinking bowls (B1, B2) each comprising, at the upper face (13) of the watering body (2), an opening (O) sized to allow the watering of one animal at a time, a first drinking bowl (B1) being connected to said automatic water supply means (4) and a second drinking bowl (B2) being connected to the first drinking bowl (B1) through an intercommunication channel (8) open on the upper face (13) of the drinking trough body (2).

2. Collective drinking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening (O) has a section comprising an inscribed diameter of between 200 millimeters and 400 millimeters, preferably between 200 and 350 millimeters.

3. Collective drinking device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a drinking bowl (B1, B2, B3, B4) has a bottom (17) to which a peripheral wall (P) is connected by a rounded portion (17a) extending from said peripheral wall (P) towards the center of the bottom (17), giving the latter a concave, substantially hemispherical or semi-ovoid shape.

4. Collective drinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral wall (P) of a drinking bowl (B1, B2, B3, B4) is of truncated cone shape, narrowing from its opening (O) towards its bottom (17).

5. Collective drinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drinking body (2) comprises at one end (9) said automatic feeding means in ^. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^^^^ water (4), the series (S1) of at least two drinking bowls (B1, B2, B3, B4) extending in the same alignment or not from this end (9).

6. Collective drinking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the container (3) is defined by at least two series (S1, S2) of at least two drinking bowls (B1, B2, B3, B4) connected in series to each other through an intercommunication channel (8) open on the upper face (13) of the drinking trough body (2) and of which at least a first drinking bowl (B1) of each series (S1, S2) is connected to said automatic water supply means (4) arranged in a middle part (10) of the drinking trough body (2).

7. Collective drinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drinking body (2) has an elongated shape and comprises at least one front face (11) and one rear face (12), surmounted by the upper face (13) at the level of which the drinking bowls (B1, B2, B3, B4) of one or more series (S1, S2) are arranged, as well as the intercommunicating channels (8) connecting together the drinking bowls (B1, B2, B3, B4) of a series (S1, S2).

8. Collective drinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the level of the upper face (13) of the drinking body (2) is arranged a housing (14), in the form of a cavity, for receiving the automatic water supply means (4), to this housing (14) being connected the first drinking bowl (B1) of the series or series (S1, S2) of drinking bowls (B1, B2, B3, B4).

9. Collective drinking device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the first drinking bowl (B1) of a series (S1; S2) is connected to the housing (14) through an intercommunication channel (15) open at the level of said upper face (13).

10. Collective drinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom (16) of the intercommunication channels (8) communicates with the bottom (17) of the drinking bowls (B1, B2, B3, B4).

11. Collective drinking device (1) according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the intercommunication channel (15) comprises a ^. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^^^^ bottom (18) which communicates with the bottom (17) of the first drinking bowl (B1) of a series (S1, S2) and with the bottom (19) of the housing (14).

12. Collective drinking trough device (1) according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that: • the bottom (17) of the drinking bowls (B1, B2, B3, B4) of a series (S1; S2), • the bottom (16) of the intercommunicating channels (8) which connect them • and the bottom (18) of the intercommunicating channel (15) are slightly downwardly sloping from the housing (14) towards the most distant drinking bowl (B2; B3; B4).

13. Collective drinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drinking bowl (B2; B3; B4) furthest from the automatic water supply means (4) comprises emptying means (21)

14. Collective drinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drinking body (2) is equipped with anti-lapping means (25) and / or anti-nibbling means (26).

15. Collective drinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drinking body (2) is made of metal, by casting or sheet metal, in particular stainless steel, by stamping and / or mechanical welding.

16. Collective drinking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the drinking body (2) is made of synthetic material, possibly composite, by injection molding, thermoforming, lamination or even rotational molding.

17. Collective drinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the walls of the drinking bowls (B2; B3; B4) have a surface treatment, for example by polishing and / or application of a low surface tension material. ^.

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