Animal Drinker With Buoyant Float Regulating Water Level

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automated poultry drinking troughs are overly complex and prone to mechanical issues such as sticking valve mechanisms, leading to either water cessation or overflow, which are undesirable.

Innovation Solution

An animal drinker design featuring a base tray connected to an interior fluid reservoir via a passageway, with an upper reservoir and a buoyant float pan and float stop that regulate fluid flow, preventing overflow and ensuring consistent water levels in the trough.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If automated valve mechanisms are used to control water flow, then water level control is improved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to sticking parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater level controlVSAvoidvalve mechanism reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex automated valve mechanisms with a simple buoyant float system that automatically controls water flow through buoyancy forces. The float rises with water level and mechanically blocks the outlet when the predetermined level is reached, eliminating sticking valve parts while maintaining automatic water level control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The drinker system is designed to self-regulate water flow using the buoyant float that automatically rises and falls with water levels. The system serves itself by using the water's own buoyancy force to control the outlet, requiring no external automation or complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If complex automated devices are used, then water level regulation is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to multiple moving parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater level regulationVSAvoidassembly simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The drinker is divided into simple, separable components: base tray, upper reservoir, buoyant float, and outlet. Each component is straightforward to manufacture and assemble, with the float being a simple buoyant object that requires no complex fabrication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design uses simple, inexpensive components that are easy to manufacture and replace if needed. The buoyant float is a basic object that can be made from simple materials, eliminating the need for expensive, complex automated devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Measurement precision

If valve mechanisms are used to control flow, then water level control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid level controlVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Complex valve mechanisms are replaced with a simple buoyant float system that uses basic physical principles of buoyancy and displacement. The float mechanically blocks the outlet through simple rise and fall motion, eliminating complex valve components while maintaining precise fluid level control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The design uses a simplified model of water level control based on ancient float-based systems rather than modern complex valves. The buoyant float copies the essential function of level sensing and control through a time-tested, simple mechanical approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design simplifies maintenance, reduces spillage, and self-regulates fluid levels, providing a reliable and easy-to-assemble solution for intermittent and automatic water provision to poultry.

Implementation Method 1

A buoyant float pan is positioned in the interior fluid reservoir of the base tray

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

A float stop is positioned between the float pan and the outlet of the upper reservoir to stop the flow of fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical blocking: Valve

Data Source

PatentUS8826859B1Animal drinker
Publication Date: 2014.09.09 MANNA PRO PRODUCTS LLC
  • US8826859B1 patent drawing
  • US8826859B1 patent drawing
  • US8826859B1 patent drawing

AI summary

An animal drinker includes a base tray that is defined by an exterior drinking trough connected to an interior fluid reservoir by a passageway. The trough and the interior fluid reservoir are maintained at a consistent fluid level. An upper reservoir stores fluid above the interior reservoir and is in fluid communication therewith by an outlet positioned at the bottom. A buoyant float pan is positioned in the interior fluid reservoir of the base tray. A float stop is positioned between the float pan and the outlet of the upper reservoir to stop the flow of fluid from the upper reservoir to the interior fluid reservoir at a predetermined level.