Animal Watering Valve Bite-Resistant Shield Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal watering valves are difficult to disassemble for cleaning and maintenance, and they allow animals to unintentionally leave bedding material in the actuated position, leading to improper valve operation.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a housing with a downstream guard and upstream cap, featuring a bite-resistant shield that prevents animals from lodging the valve stem in its actuated position and a valve cartridge assembly with an elastomeric diaphragm and perforations for water flow, along with various shield configurations to prevent debris entry and water reentry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a movable elastomeric boot shield is used to prevent animals from stuffing bedding material into the valve, then protection against debris is improved, but the shield is still susceptible to being torn by animal teeth and stuffed bedding therebetween
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane shield that covers the valve stem and extends into the longitudinal bore. This membrane is designed to be resilient and adaptable, allowing it to deflect when animals interact with it while maintaining its protective function. The flexibility enables the shield to conform to the valve stem and prevent bedding material from being stuffed into the valve mechanism, yet remains durable enough to withstand animal contact without tearing.
2Strength
If the housing is designed as a single integrated unit, then structural strength is improved, but disassembly for cleaning and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the housing into multiple separable components, including a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and a removable membrane shield. These segmented components can be easily disassembled from one another, allowing access to internal parts for cleaning and maintenance while maintaining structural integrity when assembled. The segmentation enables the membrane shield to be removed independently for cleaning without disassembling the entire housing structure.
3Ease of operation
If the valve stem is directly accessible from the downstream end, then animal actuation is improved, but animals can force materials between the valve stem and guard to lodge the valve in actuated position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flexible membrane shield as an intermediary element between the animal and the valve stem. This membrane covers the valve stem and extends into the longitudinal bore, allowing animals to interact with it to actuate the valve while preventing them from forcing bedding material or other objects between the valve stem and the guard. The membrane translates animal interaction into valve actuation while blocking harmful material insertion.
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 solution enhances ease of assembly, maintenance, and cleaning while preventing animals from accidentally actuating the valve with bedding material, ensuring reliable operation and preventing water backflow.
Implementation Method 1
The elastomeric diaphragm is disposed in the bore upstream of the valve seat and includes perforations or the like for allowing water to pass therethrough
Implementation Method 2
The valve stem head is clamped between the diaphragm and the valve seat
Data Source
AI summary
An animal watering valve that includes a housing having an internal bore having an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet. The housing includes a downstream guard and an upstream cap. The valve is actuated by deflecting a valve stem, located in the bore and accessible by the animal, to open a valve within the housing. The valve may be located in a valve cartridge retainable in the housing in a snap-fit manner. A bite-resistant shield cooperates with the valve stem to act as a barrier that prevents an animal from forcing materials between the valve stem and the guard and lodging the valve stem in its deflected or actuated position.