Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A fluid absorbent assembly includes a fluid absorbent material located in an animal cage or in a liner inserted into the cage. The fluid absorbent material may comprise or be combined with a material that absorbs or neutralizes noxious vapors. A fluid permeable animal support structure may be located over the fluid absorbent material. The fluid absorbent material, which may be contained in a pad, may be contained in a housing that also forms the animal support structure. In the event of a drinking valve leak or other fluid leak within the cage, the fluid absorbent material expands and raises any animals located within the cage.

Abstract: An animal water supply system includes disposable containers such as plastic bags that can be supplied in bulk in sterile form and filled under a change hood or other sanitary environment using a filling machine located in the sanitary environment. The containers preferably comprise plastic bags configured to be suspended from a hanger of a bag filling machine. The machine's hanger is preferably configured to support a plastic bag during both bag filling and the subsequent insertion of a watering valve into the bag. The bag is further configured to permit its placement in or on a conventional cage while protecting the tearable material of the bag from the animal. If desired, a liner can be provided to further protect and support the bag or other container on a wire bar lid.

Abstract: An animal watering valve has an elastomeric diaphragm disposed in a bore of a housing upstream of a valve seat and having apertures formed therethrough for the passage of water. A valve stem has a head clamped between the diaphragm and the valve seat and a tail that is laterally deflectable to move the valve stem head relative to the diaphragm from a seated position. Upon moving it to an unseated position, the valve stem head pivots relative to the valve seat to permit water to flow out of the valve. At least portions of the flow aperture outlets in the diaphragm are located radially inwardly of and axially upstream of the upstream surface of the valve stem head.

Abstract: An animal water supply system includes disposable containers such as plastic bags that can be supplied in bulk in sterile form and filled under a change hood or other sanitary environment using a filling machine located in the sanitary environment. The containers preferably comprise plastic bags configured to be suspended from a hanger of a bag filling machine. The machine's hanger is preferably configured to support a plastic bag during both bag filling and the subsequent insertion of a watering valve into the bag. The bag is further configured to permit its placement in or on a conventional cage while protecting the tearable material of the bag from the animal. If desired, a liner can be provided to further protect and support the bag or other container on a wire bar lid.

Abstract: An animal watering valve has an elastomeric diaphragm disposed in a bore of a housing upstream of a valve seat and having apertures formed therethrough for the passage of water. A valve stem has a head clamped between the diaphragm and the valve seat and a tail that is laterally deflectable to move the valve stem head relative to the diaphragm from a seated position. Upon moving it to an unseated position, the valve stem head pivots relative to the valve seat to permit water to flow out of the valve. At least portions of the flow aperture outlets in the diaphragm are located radially inwardly of and axially upstream of the upstream surface of the valve stem head.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing the water supply manifold assures adequate alignment of the apertures at each water supply location by forming a single through-hole entirely through the header tube at each water supply location for the insertion of a water supply tube through the thus-formed apertures in the header tube. A preferred method includes forming a plurality of through-holes completely through a piece of a cylindrical tube stock at axially-spaced locations along the tube stock, thereby forming a header tube having at least two rows of apertures in which each aperture is aligned with another, circumferentially opposed aperture. A supply tube is inserted through a pair of circumferentially opposed apertures such that opposed ends of each supply tube protrude beyond said header tube. A fitting is mounted over each end of said supply tube.

Abstract: A water supply manifold can be manufactured easily and inexpensively while simultaneously providing an improved connection of manifold components to one another. The water supply manifold, or at least each section thereof, includes (1) a header tube that is configured to extend longitudinally along a support surface such as a shelf and (2) fittings that are mounted on the header tube in a spaced-apart relationship relative to one another. In a preferred embodiment in which the water supply manifold is intended for use in an animal water supply system, two opposed fittings may be provided on opposite sides of the header tube at each water supply location so as to permit two rows of cages to be mounted back-to-back on each shelf of a cage and rack system. In this case, a single supply tube may extend completely through the header tube at each water supply location and receive a respective fitting at each of two outlet ends thereof.

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: A flood prevention system for a ventilated cage includes a self-sealing drain valve that opens automatically to prevent the cage from flooding if a water supply valve or water bottle leaks. A preferred drain valve is mounted in the floor of the cage and includes a perforated drain cup, a perforated seal cup, and a drain seal, all held together by a connector such as a rivet. The perforated drain cup extends above the bottom surface of the cage a small amount, and the perforated seal cup extends downwardly from the drain cup to present a valve seat. The drain seal preferably comprises a diaphragm of a resiliently flexible material which normally abuts the valve seat. However, if the water supply valve or water bottle leaks sufficiently for water to accumulate in the perforated drain cup, the weight of the accumulated liquid forces the drain seal away from the valve seat to permit the water to drain away from the cage.

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.

Abstract: An animal watering valve has a diaphragm and a domed valve stem head which provide improved control of the forces applied to the domed valve stem head and which interact to reduce the actuating forces necessary to open the valve by increasing the mechanical advantage of the valve stem/diaphragm combination. The diaphragm and valve stem also interact with each other and with an associated elastomeric ring to provide improved centering of the valve stem on the diaphragm and to permit flow rates through the valve to be adjusted without adversely affecting valve operation. An elastomeric cup shaped shield may also be employed and, if provided, imparts reduced resistance to valve stem deflection and inhibits accumulation of fluid in areas which may be contaminated.

Abstract: An animal watering system employs self-locking type quick connect couplings to couple internal watering valves in the cages serviced by the system to an external water manifold, The self-locking quick connect couplings prevent unintentional disconnection of the individual watering valves from the manifold but can be readily disconnected by operating a decoupler which may comprise a trigger or a cable, The watering valve has a deflectable elastomeric shield 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 into the space between the valve stem and the valve housing and locking the valve in its open position, The valve also has a stem which is dimensioned to inhibit unintended valve opening, and a valve element employing a specially designed valve seat and a diaphragm which cooperate with the head of the valve stem so as to assure free flow of water through the valve even i