Abstract: A poultry watering system includes a fluid conduit integrally formed with a pair of depending flanges. Each flange has a retention ledge depending therefrom and extending toward the other flange. A plurality of openings are provided in the fluid conduit. A flat sealing surface is disposed about the openings. A plurality of poultry drinkers including securement arms are provided. An O-ring is disposed about the top of each drinker. The drinkers are positioned between the flanges such that the inlet of the drinker extends through the opening and the O-ring is adjacent the sealing surface. The drinker is then rotated such that the retention arms are disposed above the ledges. In this manner, the drinker is secured to the fluid conduit and the contact between the O-ring and the sealing surface forms a water-tight seal around the opening.

Abstract: A trigger-type drinker for poultry and small animals including a water retaining disc at the free end of the trigger pin is disclosed. The disc is generally flat with an upturned lip around the perimeter thereof. A residual water drop or water leaking from the drinker runs down the trigger pin and collects on the disc, contained by the lip. The disc allows several drops of water to collect at the bottom of the pin. The increased amount of water on the pin assists in attracting birds to the drinker. When the bird actuates the drinker, the disc tilts toward the bird, thereby causing the water to run across the surface of the disc and into the bird's mouth. Thus, the disc assists in directing more water to the bird.

Abstract: A nipple-type drinker for fowl and small animals with a self-contained valve assembly that can be inserted in and removed from the drinker as a single unit is disclosed. The drinker includes a valve chamber with a metering pin, valve member, and valve seat therein. The valve seat is a metal, annular member that is press-fit into the valve chamber. When the seat is positioned in the chamber it prevents the metering pin and valve member from falling out. Thus, a self-contained valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly is telescopically mated with a housing as a single unit. The housing includes a trigger pin and-an outlet for fluid. The housing further includes a stop that works in conjunction with a lip in the valve chamber to align the valve seat when the drinker is assembled.

Abstract: A trigger-type drinker for poultry and small animals including a water retaining disc at the free end of the trigger pin is disclosed. The disc is generally flat with an upturned lip around the perimeter thereof. A residual water drop or water leaking from the drinker runs down the trigger pin and collects on the disc, contained by the lip. The disc allows several drops of water to collect at the bottom of the pin. The increased amount of water on the pin assists in attracting birds to the drinker. When the bird actuates the drinker, the disc tilts toward the bird, thereby causing the water to run across the surface of the disc and into the bird's mouth. Thus, the disc assists in directing more water to the bird.

Abstract: A poultry watering system is provided having a support conduit integrally formed within a flange extending from and integrally formed with a fluid conduit. That flange further includes a snap-fit connection to a hanger bracket which also mounts a two wire anti-roosting device. The fluid conduit also includes saddle flanges retained via snap-fit which shield the saddles and associated drinker devices from run off. When so retained, the saddles penetrate the fluid conduit and permit fluid flow to the drinker devices. The fluid conduit, its flanges and the support conduit can be extruded as a unitary element from PVC plastic materials while other materials can be employed for the saddle and drinker devices to minimize costs without loss of system effectiveness in performance. Additional stability of the system may be attained (if necessary) by housing a stabilizing member in the support conduit.

Abstract: An automatic flushing system for poultry watering systems is provided which includes a bypass of the upstream pressure regulator, self sealing caps for the stand pipes and a readily disassembleable automatic flush valve at the end of the supply line. A shut-off valve in the bypass is provided which is actuatable manually or automatically in response to a timer, environmental sensor or water condition sensor. The automatic flush valve opens in response to a predetermined pressure level and connects the supply line to a drain hose. The automatic flush valve can include an end cap which is removable from the flush valve and which facilitates cleaning of the valve and supply line. The self sealing caps prevent leakage out of the standpipes and are especially formed to prevent blow-outs of the seal. Where multiple pressure regulators are used in the supply line, additional automatic flush valves can be positioned in a bypass line around those regulators.

Abstract: A metering pin is provided having two portions of different external configuration, each of which portions are insertable into the fluid flow path for restricting fluid flow under different actuating conditions. These two portions can be dimensioned to be readily retrofit into various existing nipple drinkers according to the configuration of the drinker inlet. The specific dimensions of each portion relative to the drinker inlet can be selected according to desired flow rates at different levels of poultry growth.

Abstract: A poultry watering system is provided which is connected together by interlocking brackets, each overlaying one of the fluid conduit and support pipe, and a drinker saddle which interlocks with the bracket overlaying the fluid conduit. The support pipe bracket provides a connection element to join the watering system to a conventional suspension and elevation apparatus. The fluid conduit bracket can releasably interlock with the support pipe bracket to maintain the fluid conduit and support pipe in fixed relation, as in a floor system for raising poultry. Independent of the support pipe bracket, the fluid conduit bracket can releasably interlock with the drinker saddle to fix the fluid conduit within that bracket and simultaneously locate watering devices, such as nipple drinkers, at desired locations along the fluid conduit.

Abstract: A poultry watering system is provided having a support conduit integrally formed within a flange extending from and integrally formed with a fluid conduit. That flange further includes a snap-fit connection to a hanger bracket which also mounts a two wire anti-roosting device. The fluid conduit also includes saddle flanges retained via snap-fit which shield the saddles and associated drinker devices from run off. When so retained, the saddles penetrate the fluid conduit and permit fluid flow to the drinker devices. The fluid conduit, its flanges and the support conduit can be extruded as a unitary element from PVC plastic materials while other materials can be employed for the saddle and drinker devices to minimize costs without loss of system effectiveness in performance.

Abstract: A flushing system for poultry watering systems is provided which includes a by-pass of the upstream pressure regulator, self sealing caps for the stand pipes and an automatic flush valve at the end of the supply line. A shut-off valve in the by-pass is provided which is actuatable manually or automatically in response to a timer, environmental sensor or water condition sensor. The automatic flush valve opens a response to a predetermined pressure level and connects the supply line to a drain hose. The self sealing caps prevent leakage out of the standpipes and are especially formed to prevent blow outs of the seal. Where multiple pressure regulators are used in the supply line, additional automatic flush valves can be positioned in a by-pass line around those regulators.

Abstract: A separate U-shaped safety lock is provided for use with a trigger drinker utilizing a bayonet type coupler. In poultry and small animal trigger drinker watering systems the U-shaped safety lock restricts telescopically interfitting components from rotation. The lock is inserted through one component and partially surrounds a boss on a second component to prevent both clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the components relative to one another. The safety lock can break upon reaching a pre-determined torque.

Abstract: A watering device for fowl and small animals utilizing a trigger drinker with a shield surrounding the trigger pin. The shield is conically shaped with a bottom portion having a greater diameter than the top portion. The bottom of the shield is slightly below the bottom of the trigger pin to prevent incidental bumping by poultry and other animals. A plurality of struts connecting the bottom circular section to the circular drinker housing on top form the sides of the conical shaped shield. The sides are substantially open to allow chickens to view the trigger pin from all directions. The novel device prevents inadvertent bumping, and trains birds to activate a trigger drinker from below the trigger pin while allowing visibility of the trigger pin from substantially all directions.

Abstract: A separate U-shaped safety lock is provided for use with a trigger drinker utilizing a bayonet type coupler. In poultry and small animal trigger drinker watering systems the U-shaped safety lock restricts telescopically interfitting components from rotation. The lock is inserted through one component and partially surrounds a boss on a second component to prevent both clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the components relative to one another. The safety lock can break upon reaching a pre-determined torque.

Abstract: A watering device for fowl and small animals utilizing a trigger drinker with a shield surrounding the trigger pin. The shield is conically shaped with a bottom portion having a greater diameter than the top portion. The bottom of the shield is slightly below the bottom of the trigger pin to prevent incidental bumping by poultry and other animals. A plurality of struts connecting the bottom circular section to the circular drinker housing on top form the sides of the conical shaped shield. The sides are substantially open to allow chickens to view the trigger pin from all directions. The novel device prevents inadvertent bumping, and trains birds to activate a trigger drinker from below the trigger pin while allowing visibility of the trigger pin from substantially all directions.

Abstract: A gate valve is provided which includes a body having exterior catches and a handle with resilient latches integrally formed with the valve stem to snap lock over the catches on the body when the valve is closed. The gate valve closes and locks simultaneously to cut off flow through a passage by a single axial motion and is unlocked to open the valve by rotational motion. Further, when the resilient latches snap over the catches, the operator hears an audible snap thereby assuring the operator that the valve is securely locked in the closed position. The gate valve body is preferably formed by ultrasonic welding of two identical half members.

Abstract: A trough drinker is provided which is detachably secured to the exterior of the supply line separately from and operably associated with a detachable trigger drinker or nipple drinker. The trough drinker includes a vertically extending stem, an elongated housing disposed about the stem and closely separated therefrom, a trough portion extending about the circumference of the housing for retaining water, a base skirt radially extending from the lower portion of the stem, an annular flange extending from the upper portion of the housing, and a spring biasing arrangement to move the flange upward when a predetermined level of fluid is present in the trough. The trigger drinker or nipple drinker is longitudinally offset from the trough drinker along the supply line such that the upward movement of the flange causes the trigger drinker or nipple drinker to be actuated and fluid to flow into the trough over the exterior surface of the housing.

Abstract: A trough drinker is provided which is detachably secured to the exterior of the supply line separately from and operable associated with a detachable trigger drinker. The trough drinker includes a vertically extending stem, an elongated housing disposed about the stem and closely separated therefrom, a trough portion extending about the circumference of the housing for retaining water, a base skirt radially extending from the lower portion of the stem, an annular flange extending from the upper portion of the housing, and a spring biasing arrangement to move the flange upward when a predetermined level of fluid is present in the trough. The trigger drinker is longitudinally offset from the trough drinker along the supply line such that the upward movement of the flange causes the trigger drinker to be actuated and fluid to flow into the trough over the exterior surface of the housing. The trigger drinker is separately detachable from the supply line without removing the trough drinker.

Abstract: A cage anchor is provided, for supporting a drinker unit, having a retaining portion which receives a plurality of wire elements, these wire elements forming a portion of the poultry case enclosure, and retains these wire elements in a cooperating orientation so as to restrict motion of the drinker unit with respect to the cage enclosure. The retaining portion includes U-shaped slots for receiving at least two mutually intersecting wire elements. One of these wire elements is retained in its respective slot by a blocking pin passing through the open end of that slot. The other wire elements is retained by the cooperation of opposing slots engaging different lengths.