Abstract: A valve body has a larger bore and a smaller bore defining a transverse valve seat; and a plug closes the larger bore, the inner end confronting the valve seat and defining a radially enlarged valve chamber. The valve closure member comprises an enlarged head seating on the valve seat and an integral stem projecting from the discharge end of the valve. The plug has an axial recess opening toward the valve seat; and a control member comprises an enlarged head and an integral stem. A helical biasing spring is received over the control member stem; and the stem and spring are received within the plug recess to permit free axial movement over the valve closure member and free compression and expansion of the spring. The control member, which engages the closure member head to seat the closure member, has small lateral clearance with associated parts to severely restrict lateral movement of the control member and of the spring.

Abstract: A parallel array of a lower elongated plastic water pipe, an intermediate elongated compression member, and an upper tensioned cable is supported at the ends by rigid end support members. Animal operated drinker valves, mounted within upward opening cups, are disposed in longitudinally spaced relation on the upper face of the water pipe. The entire apparatus is suspended from an overhead support by the end supports. Intermediate spacer brackets maintain the spaced relation of the pipe, compression member, and tensioned cable. Where the cable functions as an anti-roost cable for poultry, additional cable supports are mounted on the compression member and secured to the cable to maintain the spacing of these two members. In alternative form an elongated support bar of V-shaped cross-section is maintained in contiguous relation with the pipe by spaced clamps, to serve as an additional anti-sag support for the watering unit.

Abstract: A drinker line consists of an assembly of prefabricated drinker sections of standardized construction. Each section includes a length of PVC pipe with a PVC pipe coupling attached to one end. A stiffening support consists of strips of sheet metal broken along its longitudinal center line to form a 60.degree. V-shaped cross section. The stiffening support includes a support bar of that construction, disposed contiguous to the pipe with the pipe partially nesting in the channel of the support, and the bar being slightly shorter than the pipe to allow for mounting of couplings at both ends of the pipe. A short bridging bar of the same stiffening construction is nested with the support bar at the coupling end of the pipe in overlapping relation with the support bar, and extending beyond the coupling end of the assembly for nesting relation with the support bar of an adjacent drinker section after assembly.