Animal watering trough

Abstract

The present invention relates to an animal waterer (1) comprising a tank (2) and a lid (5) connected by removable connecting means (9). The connecting means (9) comprise an eye-shaped threaded rod (91) cooperating with a locking nut (92) after passing through a through-hole (13) extended by a lateral opening (14). According to the invention, the waterer includes stop means (93) arranged to prevent the extraction of said eye-shaped threaded rod (91) from the through-hole (13) in the tightening position of the locking nut (92). Furthermore, the rim of the lid and the rim of the tank, which are in contact due to the tightening of the locking nut (92), are structured to allow the lid (5) to pivot on the tank (2) in said tightening position of the locking nut (92). Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Animal watering trough Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of agriculture.

[0002] It relates more particularly to drinking troughs used for supplying water to livestock, and in particular to isothermal drinking troughs. State of the art

[0003] Isothermal waterers are designed to provide animals with water whose temperature is adapted to the seasons, and in particular a temperature sufficient to avoid freezing in winter, and cool in summer.

[0004] As described in document EP-0 753 250, such drinking troughs may include a lower part forming a tank, and an upper part forming a lid, which lid includes at least one circular opening for the passage of the muzzle of animals for the purpose of drinking the water stored in the tank.

[0005] The drinking trough incorporates means of water supply; and each circular opening of the lid can be associated with a retractable sealing ball by pressing the muzzle of the animals.

[0006] The drinking trough further includes suitable means for removably connecting the tank and the lid, after matching their respective edges.

[0007] Such drinking troughs require frequent cleaning and it is therefore advantageous to have quick removable means of connection between the tank and the lid.

[0008] In the drinking trough of document EP-0 753 250 the corresponding means of connection between the tank and the lid comprise threaded rods with eye, mounted to pivot by rotation of their eye around a pivot axis fixed to one of the elements between the tank and the lid; the threaded rod cooperates with a closing nut, after passing through a passage hole provided in the other of the elements between the tank and the lid.

[0009] This passage orifice is extended by a lateral opening arranged to allow the threaded rod to enter the passage orifice, and to exit it, by a tilting movement around its pivot axis.

[0010] In a first embodiment, a plurality of such removable connecting means are distributed around the entire perimeter of the drinking trough to allow complete removal of the cover.

[0011] However, opening the cover, particularly for cleaning or maintenance operations, requires its complete deactivation, which takes some time, and is not always easy to achieve.

[0012] In a second possible embodiment, the removable connecting means in question are provided in two numbers on one side of the cover, and the opposite side is provided with a hinge structure.

[0013] But the direction of opening of the lid is then imposed, which can cause problems depending on the environment of the drinking trough and in particular in the presence of obstacle(s) nearby, and also depending on the positioning of the water supply. Presentation of the invention

[0014] The present invention aims to provide a technical solution facilitating the opening and closing of the lid of such drinking troughs, by giving the possibility of completely removing the lid or configuring it in "pivoting" mode; and, in the latter case, by allowing the drinking trough to have several possible opening directions for the associated lid.

[0015] For this purpose, the animal waterer according to the invention is of the type comprising a lower part forming a tank whose upper opening is delimited by a tank rim, and an upper part forming a lid, delimited by a lid rim,

[0016] which lid includes at least one opening for the passage of the animals' muzzles for the purpose of drinking water stored in said tank,

[0017] the lid rim being intended to align with the tank rim to close the upper opening of the latter,

[0018] said tank and said lid being connected by removable connecting means,

[0019] at least some of said connecting means comprising an eye-threaded rod, tilting mechanism achieved by rotating its eye around a pivot axis and fixed to one of the elements, namely the tank and the lid.

[0020] which threaded rod cooperates with a locking nut after passing through a passage hole provided in the other of the elements between the tank and the lid,

[0021] which passage hole is delimited - by a support rim against which said locking nut rests, and - by an opposite rim, called the rod entry rim,

[0022] which passage orifice is extended by a lateral opening arranged to allow said threaded rod to enter said passage orifice, and to exit it, by a tilting movement around said pivot axis,

[0023] and in accordance with the invention, the drinking trough includes stop means arranged to prevent the extraction of said threaded rod from the opening in the lid, and through the lateral opening, in the so-called tightening position of the closing nut,

[0024] and the lid rim as well as the tank rim, in contact due to the tightening of the locking nut, are structured to allow the lid to pivot on the tank, around the pivot axis, in said locking nut tightening position.

[0025] Such a structure makes it possible to obtain a drinking trough comprising a tank and a lid:

[0026] - whose lid can be held pivoting on the tank (by a system of hinge), and also,

[0027] - whose lid and tank can be completely separated from each other.

[0028] Other non-limiting and advantageous features of the drinking trough according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are as follows:

[0029] - the stop means may include:

[0030] (a) an orifice housing provided at the level of the orifice stem entry edge passing through, and

[0031] (b) a stop member, provided on said threaded eye rod and complementary said orifice housing, which stop member is arranged to enter said orifice housing when said closing nut is screwed onto said eye threaded rod, thus locking said eye threaded rod relative to the cover, in the so-called tightening position of said closing nut;

[0032] - the stop means may include:

[0033] (a) a nut housing provided at the level of the bearing edge of the orifice passage, and

[0034] (b) the locking nut, complementary to said nut housing, which nut of The closure is arranged to enter the nut housing when screwed onto the eye-shaped threaded rod, thus ensuring the locking of the eye-shaped threaded rod relative to the cover, in the so-called tightening position of the closure nut;

[0035] - to provide a choice of the opening direction of the lid: the drinking trough includes two opposing sides which extend parallel to each other, and the removable means of connection are at least two on each of said two opposing sides;

[0036] - the pivot axis is integral with the tank and the passage orifice is provided in the lid;

[0037] - the locking nut is a wing nut or locking knob type nut, to manual screwing / unscrewing (without requiring any tools);

[0038] - the stop member is in the form of a circular disc extending in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said threaded eye rod, and the orifice housing has a complementary circular shape;

[0039] - the lid rim and / or the tank rim includes a sealing structure peripheral crushable, which joint structure is in a crushed configuration in the so-called tightening position of said nuts;

[0040] - the lid rim and the tank rim each comprise a structure of peripheral crushable seal, which peripheral seal structures of said lid and tank edges are laterally offset from one another, and which seal structures are in a crushed configuration in the so-called nut tightening position;

[0041] - the pivot axis is mounted in a housing chamber, with its two ends housed in lateral chamber openings,

[0042] the pivot axis has a possibility of axial movement,

[0043] and the drinking trough includes removable means for locking the axial movement of the pivot axis;

[0044] - one end of the pivot axis includes an axial extension which extends to within a lateral chamber accessible from the outside and delimited by two walls, a first chamber wall traversed by said axial extension, and a second chamber wall arranged opposite it,

[0045] the removable means for locking the axial movement of said pivot axis being constituted:

[0046] (a) by the free end of said axial extension which comes to abut against said second chamber wall, and

[0047] (b) by a removable pin designed to be able to be inserted into an opening reception provided in said axial extension, and to then constitute a stop cooperating with said first chamber wall.

[0048] Of course, the various features, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Detailed description of the invention

[0049] In addition, various other features of the invention become apparent from the attached description made with reference to the drawings which illustrate one, non-limiting, embodiment of the invention and where:

[0050] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a possible embodiment of an animal waterer according to the invention, here with its lid in the closed position on the tank;

[0051] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the drinking trough illustrated in [Fig.1], here with its lid in the open position, by pivoting on one of its sides;

[0052] [Fig.3] is yet another perspective view of the drinking trough illustrated in [Fig.1], here with its lid in the open position, by pivoting on another of its sides;

[0053] [Fig.4] is an enlarged, perspective view, which details one of the means of connection between the tank and the lid of the drinking trough illustrated in figures 1 to 3;

[0054] [Fig.5] is a cross-sectional view of the means of connection between the tank and the lid;

[0055] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of the threaded eye rod constituting the means of connection of figures 4 and 5, shown in isolation with the associated nut.

[0056] The animal waterer 1 illustrated in figures 1 to 3 has a general parallelepiped shape with a horizontal square or rectangular section.

[0057] This drinking trough 1 comprises a lower part forming a tank 2, the upper opening 3 of which is delimited by a tank rim 4, and an upper part forming a lid 5, delimited by a lid rim 6.

[0058] The internal volume of tank 2 incorporates water supply means, not shown.

[0059] The lid 5 includes an opening 7 for the passage of the animals' muzzles in order to drink water stored in the tank 2.

[0060] In alternative embodiments, the cover 5 may include several openings 7.

[0061] In a conventional manner, the opening 7 of the lid 5 is associated with an internal sealing ball 8, which closes it when there is a sufficient level of water in the tank 2, and which the animals can retract by pressing their muzzle against it when they want to drink.

[0062] The lid rim 6 is intended to correspond with the tank rim 4 to close the drinking trough 1, as illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0063] The drinking trough 1 further includes removable connecting means 9 (detailed in figures 4 to 6), arranged around its perimeter, for locking the lid 5 onto the tank 2.

[0064] At least one connecting means 9 is provided on two opposing sides 10, 11 of the drinking trough which extend parallel to each other.

[0065] More particularly, at least two connecting means 9 are provided on the two opposing sides 10, 11 of the drinking trough which extend parallel to each other.

[0066] Here, no means of connection 9 is provided on the other two sides of the drinking trough 1.

[0067] Each connecting means 9 comprises an eye rod 91, mounted to pivot by rotation of its eye around a pivot axis 12 here integral with the tank 2; and this eye rod 91 cooperates with a closing nut 92, after passing through a passage 13 provided in the cover 5.

[0068] The eye rod 91 comprises a threaded rod 911, one end of which is provided with a thread 912 to cooperate with the associated nut 92, and the other end of which is provided with an eye (or ring or bushing) 913.

[0069] As can be seen in figures 4 and 5, the passage orifice 13, provided here in the cover 5, is delimited - by a support rim 131 against which the nut 92 rests, and - by an opposite rim 132, called the rod entry rim 132.

[0070] Between the support edge 131 and the rod entry edge 132, the passage orifice 13 is extended by a lateral opening 14 arranged to allow the threaded rod 911 to enter the passage orifice 13, and to exit it, by a tilting movement around the pivot axis 12, for the opening and closing operations of the cover 5.

[0071] According to the invention, the drinking trough 1 includes stop means 93 arranged to prevent the extraction of the threaded rod 911 from the passage orifice 13 of the cover 5, in the so-called tightening position of the closing nut 92, and in particular to prevent this extraction perpendicular to the axis of the threaded rod 911, through the lateral opening 14.

[0072] These stop means 93 can be provided at one or both ends of the passage orifice 13.

[0073] More particularly, these stop means 93 can be provided at the end of the passage orifice 13 which is located near the pivot axis 12, and preferably also at the other end of the passage orifice 13.

[0074] In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, stop means 93a are provided at the lower end of the passage orifice 13 (in particular at the level of the rod entry edge 132 of the passage orifice 13), and stop means 93b are provided at the upper end of the passage orifice 13 (in particular at the level of the support edge 131 of the passage orifice 13).

[0075] Stop means 93a:

[0076] As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the inlet rim of the rod 132 of the passage orifice 13 includes an orifice housing 15, and the threaded rod 911 includes a stop member 16, complementary to this orifice housing 15, which stop member 16 is arranged to enter the orifice housing 15 when the closing nut 92 is screwed onto said threaded rod 911, thus locking said threaded rod 911 relative to the cover 5, in the so-called tightening position of the closing nut 92.

[0077] Stop means 93b:

[0078] Also in Figures 4 and 5, the support rim 131 of the passage orifice 13 includes a nut housing 17, complementary to the locking nut 92; and this The locking nut 92 is arranged to enter the nut housing 17 when it is screwed onto the threaded rod 911, thus reinforcing the locking of the threaded rod 911 relative to the cover 5, in the so-called tightening position of the locking nut 92

[0079] This provides effective locking of the threaded rod 911 at both ends of the passage orifice 13, when the locking nut 92 is tightened.

[0080] In one embodiment, only the stop means 93a provided at the level of the rod entry edge 132 of the passage orifice 13 can be provided.

[0081] But the presence of the stop means 93b provided at the level of the support edge 131 of the passage orifice 13 remains preferable.

[0082] The lid rim 6 and the tank rim 4, in contact due to the tightening of the locking nut 92, are structured to allow the lid 5 to pivot on the tank 2, around the pivot axis 12, in said tightening position of the locking nut 92.

[0083] In particular, sufficient slopes, drafts or spacing are provided between the opposite edges 4, 6 of the tank 2 and the cover 5 so as not to hinder the pivoting maneuvers of the cover 5 around its pivot axis 12.

[0084] We then understand:

[0085] - that the lid 5 can be locked onto the tank 2 when all means of link 9 are activated, with the locking nuts 92 in the tightening position;

[0086] - that the lid 5 can be completely separated from the tank 2 when all the The connecting means 9 are deactivated, with the locking nuts 92 in the loosened position; and also

[0087] - that the lid 5 can be kept pivoting on the tank 2, this when all the Linking means 9 on one of the two opposing sides 10, 11 are deactivated, while linking means 9 on the other of the two opposing sides 10, 11 remain activated.

[0088] The connecting means 9 which remain activated constitute a hinge system allowing the corresponding pivoting of the lid 5, in opening and closing, this in relation to the stop system(s) 93 and with the adapted conformation of the edges of the tank 2 and lid 5 in contact.

[0089] The opening and closing operations of the cover 5 are then particularly simplified because all the connecting means 9 do not need to be activated / deactivated.

[0090] It should also be noted that the opening of the cover 5 can be made at the operator's choice, on the side 10 or on the side 11 of the drinking trough, the opposite side forming a hinge, this for example depending on the positioning of the drinking trough on the site and the ease of access to one or the other of its sides 10 or 11.

[0091] In an alternative embodiment, the retaining means 9 can be reversed on the tank 2 and the lid 5, i.e. the pivot axes 12 can be provided integral with the lid 5, with the threaded eye rods 91 which lock onto the tank 2 provided with the passage holes 13, by means of the closing nuts 92.

[0092] The locking nut 92 here has a cylindrical shape which cooperates with a nut housing 17 of complementary circular shape.

[0093] The locking nut 92 is a quick-release, manually tightening / loosening type nut. For this purpose, this locking nut 92 may include an upper extension 921 adapted for gripping (for example, adapted to obtain a butterfly nut or a tightening knob).

[0094] Two variants of upper extensions 921 are illustrated in the accompanying figures, one in particular in [Fig.4] comprising two lateral extensions, and the other in particular in [Fig.6] comprising four lateral extensions.

[0095] The stop member 16 can be of any suitable shape, made in one piece with the threaded rod 911 or added and fixed to the latter for example by welding.

[0096] The stop member 16 may be spherical, in the shape of a portion of a sphere, of planar polyhedral or circular shape, or other.

[0097] In the illustrated embodiment, the stop member 16 is in the form of a disc or circular washer extending in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said threaded rod 911, attached and fixed by welding.

[0098] The orifice housing 15 provided in the cover 5 has a shape complementary to that of the stop member 16, here a circular shape.

[0099] Unscrewing the locking nut 92 disables the stop means 93b by extracting them from the nut housing 17. And separating the cover 5 from the tank 2 disables the stop means 93a by extracting the stop member 16 from the orifice housing 15.

[0100] As can be seen in [Fig.4], in particular, the pivot axis 12 of the connecting means 9 is mounted in a receiving chamber 21 of the cover 2, with its two ends housed in lateral orifices of chamber 22.

[0101] This pivot axis 12 has a possibility of axial movement, and removable means are provided for locking this axial movement.

[0102] More specifically, as illustrated in [Fig.4], one end of the pivot axis 12 includes an axial extension 121 which extends within a lateral chamber 23 of the tank 2, accessible from the outside and delimited by two walls: a first chamber wall 231 crossed by said axial extension, 121 and a second chamber wall 232 arranged opposite.

[0103] The removable means for locking the axial movement of the pivot axis 12 are hereby constituted:

[0104] - by the free end 121a of the axial extension 121 which comes to abut against the second wall of chamber 232, and

[0105] - by means of a removable pin 24, designed to be inserted into an opening reception 25 provided in said axial extension 121, and to then constitute a stop cooperating with the first chamber wall 231.

[0106] It is understood that the pin 24 locks the axial movement of the pivot axis 12, and that its removal from the orifice 25 allows the axial movement of the pivot axis 12 and the dismantling of the threaded eye rod 91.

[0107] The drinking trough 1 further includes a system of seal(s) between the tank 2 and the lid 5 to ensure sealing in the position of the lid 5 closed.

[0108] Thus, the lid rim 6 and / or the tank rim 4 includes a peripheral crushable sealing structure, which sealing structure is in a crushed configuration in the tightening position of the closing nuts 92.

[0109] In a preferred embodiment, the lid rim 6 and the tank rim 4 each comprise a peripheral crushable sealing structure, respectively 61 and 41, which are laterally offset from each other, and which sealing structures 61, 41 are in a crushed configuration in the tightening position of the closing nuts 92.

Claims

1. Demands Animal watering trough (1), of the type comprising a lower part forming a tank (2) the upper opening (3) of which is delimited by a tank rim (4), and an upper part forming a lid (5), delimited by a lid rim (6), which lid (5) includes at least one opening (7) for the passage of the muzzle of animals for the purpose of drinking water stored in said tank (2), the lid rim (4) being intended to correspond with the tank rim (6) to close the upper opening (3) of the latter, said tank (2) and said lid (5) being connected by removable connecting means (9), at least some of said connecting means (9) comprising a threaded eye rod (91), mounted to pivot by rotation of its eye (913) about a pivot axis (12) integral with one of the elements among the tank (2) and the lid (5),which eye-threaded rod (91) cooperates with a locking nut (92) after passing through a through-hole (13) formed in the other element, namely the tank (2) and the lid (5), which through-hole (13) is delimited - by a support rim (131) against which said locking nut (92) bears, and - by an opposite rim, called the rod entry rim (132), which through-hole (13) is extended by a lateral opening (14) arranged to allow said eye-threaded rod (91) to enter said through-hole (13) and to exit it by a tilting movement about said pivot axis (12), characterized in that it comprises stop means (93; 93a, 93b) arranged to prevent the extraction of said eye-threaded rod (91) from the through-hole (13) of the lid (5), and through the lateral opening (14), in the so-called tightening position of said locking nut (92),the lid rim (6) and the tank rim (4) in contact due to the tightening of said locking nut (92), being structured to allow said lid (5) to pivot on said tank (2), around, said pivot axis (12), in said tightening position of said locking nut (92).

2. Waterer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said stop means (93 a) comprise: - an orifice housing (15) provided at the level of the inlet edge of the rod (132) of the passage orifice (13), and - a stop member (16), provided on said threaded eye rod (91) and complementary to said orifice housing (15), which stop member (16) is arranged to penetrate said orifice housing (15) when said closing nut (92) is screwed onto said threaded eye rod (91), thus locking said threaded eye rod (91) relative to the cover (5), in the position said closing nut (92) is tightened.

3. Watering trough (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said stop means (93b) comprise: - a nut housing (17) provided at the level of the support edge (131) of the passage orifice (13), and - the closing nut (92), complementary to said nut housing (17), which closing nut (92) is arranged to penetrate into the nut housing (17) when screwed onto the threaded rod (911), thus ensuring the locking of the threaded rod with eye (91) relative to the cover (5), in the so-called tightening position of the closing nut (92).

4. Watering trough (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises two opposing sides (10, 11) which extend parallel to each other, said removable connecting means (9) being of at least two on each of said two opposing sides (10, 11).

5. Watering trough (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said pivot axis (12) is integral with the tank (2) and said passage orifice (13) is provided in said lid (5).

6. Watering trough (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said closing nut (92) is a nut of the type butterfly nut or tightening knob, with manual screwing / unscrewing.

7. A drinking trough (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said stop member (16) is in the shape of circular pellet extending in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said threaded eye rod (91), said orifice housing (15) having a complementary circular shape.

8. Waterer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said lid rim (6) and / or said tank rim (4) comprise a peripheral crushable seal structure (41, 61), which seal structure (41, 61) is in a crushed configuration in the so-called tightening position of said closing nuts (92).

9. Waterer (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said lid rim (6) and said tank rim (4) each comprise a peripheral crushable sealing structure (41, 61), which peripheral sealing structures (41, 61) of said lid rims (6) and tank rims (4) are laterally offset from each other, and which sealing structures (41, 61) are in a crushed configuration in the so-called tightening position of said closing nuts (92).

10. Drinker (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said pivot axis (12) is mounted in a receiving chamber (21), with its two ends housed in lateral chamber orifices (22), in that said pivot axis (12) has a possibility of axial movement, and in that said drinker (1) includes removable locking means (121, 24) of the axial movement of said pivot axis (12).

11. A drinking trough (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that one end of said pivot axis (12) comprises an axial extension (121) extending within a lateral chamber (23) accessible from the outside and delimited by two walls (231, 232), a first chamber wall (231) through which said axial extension (121) passes, and a second chamber wall (232) arranged opposite it, the removable means for locking the axial movement of said pivot axis (12) being constituted: - by the free end of said axial extension (121) which abuts against said second chamber wall (232), and - by a removable pin (24) designed to be able to be inserted into a receiving orifice (25) provided in said axial extension (121), and to then constitute a stop cooperating with said first chamber wall (231).

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