Abstract: An animal watering valve includes a housing having an upstream end, a downstream end, a bore extending therebetween, a valve element and a valve actuator located at least in part in the bore, and a plug disposed within the bore upstream of the valve element. The plug includes a lattice structure extending along a length of the plug. The valve element may be a diaphragm disposed within the bore to separate the bore into upstream and downstream portions. The valve actuator has a stem with a stem body extending downstream from a stem head and through an outlet of the housing. The diaphragm includes a sealing surface with first and second annular ridges and a groove disposed therebetween. A stem hat having a cap and disk is coupled to a downstream end of the stem. The disk extends radially from the stem at a location upstream of the outlet.

Abstract: An animal watering valve includes a housing having an upstream end, a downstream end, a bore extending therebetween, a valve element and a valve actuator located at least in part in the bore, and a plug disposed within the bore upstream of the valve element. The plug includes a lattice structure extending along a length of the plug. The valve element may be a diaphragm disposed within the bore to separate the bore into upstream and downstream portions. The valve actuator has a stem with a stem body extending downstream from a stem head and through an outlet of the housing. The diaphragm includes a sealing surface with first and second annular ridges and a groove disposed therebetween. A stem hat having a cap and disk is coupled to a downstream end of the stem. The disk extends radially from the stem at a location upstream of the outlet.

Abstract: A water docking system for an animal cage and rack system including a latch mechanism and a leakproof coupling. The latch mechanism includes a latch catch which is movable 1) from an unlatched position in which it is disengaged from the cage and permits removal of the cage from the rack 2) to a latched position holding the cage in its docked position. The latch also provides an indicator for indicating when the latch is in an unlatched position and the cage is not properly docked. The coupling may comprise either a friction-fit quick-connect coupling, an active locking quick-connect coupling, or a passive locking quick-connect coupling. A male fitting of the coupling is designed to prevent leakage by sequentially engaging two internal seals of the female fitting so as to first seal against the female fitting and then open an internal valve element of the female fitting. The sealing elements may be formed from distinct seals or spaced portions of a combined seal.

Abstract: An animal watering valve, of the type actuated by radially deflecting a valve stem, has a deflectable elastomeric boot which is less susceptible to sticking or clogging than movable shields but which at the same time prevents or at least inhibits bedding material or other foreign materials from being jammed against the valve stem and locking the valve in its open position. The boot is very pliable--being relatively thin and made from an elastomeric material having a hardness of only about 5 Durometer Shore A. The boot preferably is formed from a unitary elastic cup-shaped member including a cylindrical body portion, a peripheral ring disposed at the upstream end of the body portion and attaching the boot to an interior surface of the valve housing, and a membrane covering the downstream end of the body portion. A central aperture is formed in the membrane for receiving a tail of the valve stem.

Abstract: A sanitary fitting provides a fluid-tight seal between the fitting and the axial end of the tube coupled to the fitting, thereby eliminating crevices between the end of the tube and the sealing point of the fitting and consequent fluid accumulation and potential bacteria growth. The fitting preferably includes a body having a recessed outer end, an elastomeric seal disposed in the recess in the body, a gripping ring slidable into a stepped notch formed in the outer end of the body, and a locking mechanism which grips the tube and which draws the tube into a position in which its end sealingly engages the seal and causes the seal to sealingly engage an annular shoulder of the body. The gripping ring, body, and tube interact to provide very high retention forces permitting the fitting to withstand fluid pressures on the order of several thousand psi.

Abstract: A cage and rack system includes at least one cage, a shelf, and a water docking system that holds the cage in the position on the shelf in which a cage-mounted animal watering valve is coupled to a water manifold so as to assure the supply of water to the watering valve without leakage. The water docking system includes a latch mechanism and a coupling. The latch mechanism includes a latch catch which is movable 1) from an unlatched position in which it is disengaged from the cage and permits removal of the cage from the rack 2) to a latched position holding the cage in its docked position. The coupling may comprise either a friction-fit quick-connect or a locking quick-connect coupling and includes a male fitting and a female fitting. The male fitting is designed to prevent leakage by sequentially engaging two internal seals of the female fitting so as to first seal against the female fitting and then open an internal valve element of the female fitting.

Abstract: A sanitary fitting provides a fluid-tight seal between the fitting and the axial end of the tube coupled to the fitting, thereby eliminating crevices between the end of the tube and the sealing point of the fitting and consequent fluid accumulation and potential bacteria growth. The fitting preferably includes a body having a recessed outer end, an elastomeric seal disposed in the recess in the body, a gripping ring slidable into a stepped notch formed in the outer end of the body, and a locking mechanism which grips the tube and which draws the tube into a position in which its end sealingly engages the seal and causes the seal to sealingly engage an annular shoulder of the body. The gripping ring, body, and tube interact to provide very high retention forces permitting the fitting to withstand fluid pressures on the order of several thousand psi.