Collective watering device for animals

Abstract

Collective drinking device for animals The invention relates to a collective drinking device (1) for animals, such as cattle, horses or the like, comprising a drinking body (2) defining a container (3) and comprising automatic water supply means (4). Advantageously, the container (3) 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 said automatic water supply means (4) and of which a second drinking bowl (B2) is connected to the first drinking bowl (B1) through an intercommunicating channel (8) open at an upper face (13) of the drinking body (2).. Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Collective watering 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. Thus, individual watering devices are known, often in the form of a drinking bowl, installed, for example, in boxes or individual stalls. Such watering devices are individually connected to water supply means. They can be equipped with a float valve intended to maintain a constant water level in the drinking bowl or with a lever-operated valve operated by the animal. In short, in the latter case, the animal controls the opening of the valve by pressing the lever with its snout.

[0004] Collective watering devices are also known. While the watering devices installed in grazing areas are often in the form of a large circular or semi-circular trough, the collective watering devices installed in or near livestock buildings usually have a generally rectangular and elongated trough, hence their common name of canal watering trough.

[0005] While this 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. Specifically, this tank has a base of a certain length from which longitudinal front and rear walls extend at the periphery, as well as the end side walls. The base can be equipped with a drain plug towards which it is defined as a slight slope, so as to promote the flow of water and the cleaning of the tank.

[0006] It is common, when animals go to drink, for food residues, straw or other, to remain in their mouths and on their snouts, 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 within the framework 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 the individual drinking trough during a drinking tend to be reingested at least largely immediately in that drinking or gradually over subsequent drinkings, so that these deposits do not tend to stagnate or accumulate.

[0008] This phenomenon does not occur as effectively in the case of collective watering troughs. These are generally adapted to accommodate a given number of animals simultaneously. It is very common, however, for a smaller number of animals to come and drink at the same time, not to mention that their drinking rhythm is not identical. This means that significant food remains that fall back into the watering trough during a drinking are not immediately re-ingested, nor even during subsequent drinkings, and gradually form deposits. These are the cause of bacterial developments which not only make the water less appetizing, but can also be harmful to the animals.

[0009] It is therefore understandable why it is essential to regularly empty and clean these collective drinking troughs. Such cleaning is not only restrictive for breeders, but also results in significant overconsumption of water.

[0010] One solution to this problem would be to replace the collective drinking troughs with series of individual drinking troughs, which would obviously require as many individual connections to the water supply network. At the same time, although the taps of this type of drinking trough are generally reliable, the cases of malfunction and the risks of leakage linked to these taps are necessarily greater. Consequently, multiplying the number of drinking troughs and therefore taps leads to multiplying the costs, the risks of intervention and the maintenance requirements of such individual drinking troughs.

[0011] It is within the framework 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.

[0012] Thus, the invention relates to a collective watering device for animals, such as cattle, horses or other, comprising a watering body defining a container 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, a first drinking bowl of which is connected to said automatic water supply means and a second drinking bowl of which is connected to the first drinking bowl through an interconnecting channel.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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 and of which at least one first drinking bowl of each series is connected to said automatic water supply means.

[0015] 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.

[0016] The advantages arising from the present invention consist in that the collective drinking device provides access to water simultaneously to several animals, knowing that each animal can drink through a drinking bowl with dimensions adjusted to it, avoiding any excessive deposit.

[0017] In addition, 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 takes place, spacing out the emptying and cleaning cycles significantly.

[0018] 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.

[0019] Understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawings in which:

[0020] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a schematic perspective illustration of a collective drinking trough device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] illustrates schematically in perspective three other modes of creation of this collective drinking trough device;

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] schematically represents a section of a device of a drinking trough according to one of the embodiments visible in [Fig.2];

[0023] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] illustrates an embodiment of the collective drinking trough device equipped with anti-lapping means;

[0024] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] illustrates the collective drinking trough device according to a method of rea similar to that shown in [Fig.4].

[0025] As shown in the figures of the attached drawings, the present invention relates to a collective drinking trough device 1 for animals.

[0026] This collective drinking trough device 1 comprises a drinking trough body 2 defining a container 3, to which automatic water supply means 4 are connected.

[0027] 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 falls 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.

[0028] According to the invention, the container 3 is defined by at least one series SI of at least two drinking bowls B1, B2, a first drinking bowl B1 of which is connected to said automatic water supply means 4 and a second drinking bowl B2 of which is connected to the first drinking bowl B1 through an interconnecting channel 8.

[0029] According to a first embodiment visible in [Fig. 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 one another, for example in a circle or in eclipse.

[0030] According to other preferred embodiments of the invention, visible in figures 2 to 5, the container 3 is defined by at least two series SI, S2 of at least two drinking bowls B1, B2, B3... connected in series to each other by intercommunication channels 8 and of which at least one first drinking bowl B1 of each series SI, S2 is connected to said automatic water supply means 4.

[0031] 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.

[0032] As already indicated above, the drinking trough body 2 has an elongated shape and comprises at least one front face 11 and one rear face 12, surmounted by an 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 SI, S2, as well as the intercommunication channels 8 connecting together the drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4 of a series SI, S2. These intercommunication channels 8 are therefore open at the level of the upper face 13 of the drinking trough body 2.

[0033] At this upper face 13, a housing 14 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, 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 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.

[0034] As visible in the sectional representation of [Fig.3], the bottom 16 of the intercommunication channels 8 communicates, preferentially, with the bottom 17 of the drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4.

[0035] 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.

[0036] According to an advantageous embodiment: • the bottom of drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4 of a series SI; S2, • the bottom 16 of the intercommunication gutters 8 which connect them • and the bottom 18 of the intercommunication channel 15 are on the same horizontal plane, or even forming a slight downward slope from the housing 14 in the direction of the furthest drinking bowl B2; B3; B4.

[0037] 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 jointly supply each of these drinking bowls B1, B2, B3, B4 each time the tap 7 is opened.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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. By way of example, such draining means 21 may be defined by a drain plug in the bottom 17 of this drinking bowl B2; B3; B4.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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 easily push back debris, or even any deposits in these gutters 8, 15, during cleaning operations.

[0042] According to an advantageous embodiment, the automatic water supply means 4 and the section 20 of the intercommunicating 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.

[0043] 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 that the drinking device 1 comprises.

[0044] 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 SI can possibly be greater 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.

[0045] Similarly, the intercommunication channels 8 between the drinking bowls may all be of identical section, or of different sections.

[0046] As appears in the various figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, the rear face 12 of the drinking trough body 2 can define a face for hooking and fixing on a support such as a wall. By way of example, a hooking 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 hooking rim by being provided with openings for the passage of fixing screws or quite simply by being inserted into at least one hooking rail having been previously fixed to the wall.

[0047] Obviously this drinking device is not necessarily intended to be fixed on 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.

[0048] 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 water trough body 2, above the housing 14 and equipped with locking means adapted to cooperate with complementary locking means that the water trough body 2 comprises. Advantageously, this cover 24 can also be subjected to elastic means capable of automatically returning it to a position closed at each unlock command.

[0049] The drinking trough body 2 can be designed in different materials. Thus it can be made from a foundry, just as it can be made from sheet metal, in particular stainless steel, by die-casting and / or mechanical welding. It is also possible to design it in synthetic material, possibly composite, by injection molding, by thermoforming, by lamination, or even by rotational molding.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] As for the anti-nibbling means 26, they can adopt different forms of embodiment according to 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 the drinking trough body 2 from being nibbled 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] When the drinking 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 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 drinking device (1) for animals, such as cattle, horses or other, comprising a drinking body (2) defining a container (3) 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) of which a first drinking bowl (B1) is connected to said automatic water supply means (4) and of which a second drinking bowl (B2) is connected to the first drinking bowl (B1) through an intercommunicating channel (8) open at an upper face (13) of the drinking body (2).

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

3. Collective drinking trough device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (3) is defined by at least two series (SI, S2) of at least two drinking bowls (Bl, B2, B3, B4) connected in series to each other through an intercommunicating channel (8) and of which at least a first drinking bowl (Bl) of each series (SI, S2) is connected to said automatic water supply means (4) arranged in a middle part (10) of the drinking trough body (2).

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

5. Collective drinking trough device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that at the level of the upper face (13), a housing (14) is provided, in the form of a cavity, for receiving the automatic water supply means (4), to this housing (14) being connected the first drinking bowl (Bl) of the series or series (S1, S2) of drinking bowls (Bl, B2, B3, B4).

6. Collective drinking device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the first drinking bowl (Bl) 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).

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

8. Collective drinking trough device (1) according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the intercommunication channel (15) comprises a bottom (18) which communicates with the bottom (17) of the first drinking bowl (Bl) of a series (S1, S2) and with the bottom (19) of the housing (14).

9. Collective drinking trough device (1) according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that: • the bottom (17) 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 slightly downwardly sloping from the housing (14) towards the furthest drinking bowl (B2; B3; B4).

10. 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)

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

12. 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.

13. Collective drinking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the drinking body (2) is made of synthetic material, possibly composite, by injection molding, by ther- molding, by lamination, or even by rotational molding.

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