Segmented Watering Disc for Poultry with Compartmentalized Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing poultry watering systems, particularly those using trigger pin devices, face issues with water retention and distribution, leading to spillage and health risks due to bacterial growth in wet manure, as previous disc designs are ineffective for larger birds like turkeys and fail to provide a comfortable drinking experience.
Innovation Solution
A watering disc with an outer rim and upper surface featuring alternating concave and convex sections to create individual compartments for water retention, secured to a trigger pin via a snap-fit connection, and accompanied by catch cups to prevent spillage, ensuring birds can drink comfortably and reducing floor wetting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional trigger pin is used without a disc, then the device is simple and easy to manufacture, but water spills onto the floor and creates health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The disc is segmented into multiple compartments separated by radial walls, creating individual water retention zones that prevent spillage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The disc acts as an intermediary component between the trigger pin and the water flow, capturing and retaining water on its surface to prevent it from spilling onto the floor
2Quantity of substance
If a small disc is used like in the '138 patent, then the device is simple, but it is ineffective for turkeys as it does not provide enough water or attract them
Solution Approach 1:
The disc features an extended rim that protrudes beyond the main body, creating an additional dimension for water retention and increasing the effective water-holding capacity without significantly increasing the disc's footprint area
3Quantity of substance
If a large disc with extended rim is used, then more water is retained and visibility is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The disc is segmented into multiple compartments by radial walls, which efficiently utilizes the extended rim area for water retention while maintaining structural simplicity through repetitive geometric patterns
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the disc have different functions: the central area provides structural support and attachment to the trigger pin, while the extended rim with compartments provides water retention and visibility, optimizing each region for its specific purpose
4Reliability
If compartments are added to the disc, then water is retained better and spillage is reduced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The disc is formed as a single integrated piece with compartments created during molding, avoiding the need for separate assembly steps and maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving effective water retention through the compartmented structure
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 disc design effectively retains water for turkeys, reduces spillage, and maintains a clean environment by providing individual compartments for each bird, attracting them with visible beaded water and preventing splashing, thus enhancing poultry health and growth performance.
Implementation Method 1
water flows down the trigger pin, down the extension and onto the upper surface of the knob such that a quantity of water is held thereon by cohesive forces and natural surface tension
Implementation Method 2
a quantity of water is held thereon by cohesive forces and natural surface tension
Implementation Method 3
The upper surface defines a plurality of separators and a plurality of individual compartments in an alternating manner about a circumference of the watering disc... Each individual compartment is substantially formed in a concave manner and are configured to receive and retain water
Data Source
AI summary
A watering disc for use in a nipple assembly of a watering line system has an outer rim portion and an upper surface extending inwardly from said outer rim portion to an aperture provided through a center of the watering disc. The upper surface defines a plurality of separators and a plurality of individual compartments in an alternating manner about a circumference of the watering disc. The plurality of separators generally extend from proximate the center of the watering disc to the outer rim portion in order to define each individual compartment between the outer rim portion and two adjacent separators. Each individual compartment is substantially formed in a concave manner and are configured to receive and retain water from the watering line system. The watering disc is formed of plastic and has reflective particles integrally formed therein for attracting poultry to the watering disc.