Float Pan Regulates Water Level in Animal Drinker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated poultry drinking troughs with multiple moving parts are prone to sticking, leading to either water cessation or overflow, making them unreliable and difficult to maintain.
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
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If automated valve mechanisms are used to control water flow, then water level control is improved, but device complexity and reliability deteriorate due to multiple moving parts prone to sticking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex automated valve mechanism entirely and replaces it with a simple float-activated ballcock system. The ballcock is directly connected to the float pan, eliminating intermediate moving parts and valve mechanisms that were prone to sticking, while maintaining automatic water level control through the float's buoyancy-driven movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The float pan automatically detects water level changes and activates the ballcock through direct mechanical connection, creating a self-regulating system. When water level drops, the float pan sinks and automatically opens the ballcock to refill; when water level rises, the float pan rises and automatically closes the ballcock, requiring no external control mechanisms.
2Extent of automation
If multiple moving parts are used for automatic water supply, then automation is improved, but ease of manufacture and maintenance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: the float pan for water level detection, the ballcock for flow control, and the reservoir for water storage. Each component is simple in design and can be manufactured independently using basic processes, facilitating easy assembly and manufacturing while maintaining automatic operation.
3Reliability
If float pan rises to stop flow, then overflow prevention is improved, but device complexity increases due to interaction between float pan and float stop
Solution Approach 1:
The float pan and ballcock are merged into a single integrated assembly where the ballcock is directly mounted on the float pan. As the float pan rises with increasing water level, it directly lifts the ballcock to close the inlet, eliminating the need for separate float stops or additional linkage mechanisms, thus preventing overflow while maintaining simplicity.
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 reduces maintenance requirements, minimizes spillage, and self-regulates fluid levels, providing a reliable and easy-to-assemble solution for automatic water provision to poultry.
Implementation Method 1
A buoyant float pan is positioned in the interior fluid reservoir of the base tray
Data Source
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.