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

Abstract: A watering or drinking device for small animals includes a drinking valve member actuatable by the animal, an adjustable flow control valve member responsive to actuation of the drinking valve member to limit maximum flow from the device, and a mechanism for adjusting the position of the flow control valve member to fully closed, partially open, or fully open positions. The device includes upper and lower threadedly interconnected hollow fittings having a resilient, compressible apertured diaphragm entrapped in a space therebetween. The upper and lower fittings include upper and lower valve seats, respectively, cooperating with the upper and lower valve members, respectively and the lower valve member has an actuator stem extending downwardly through the hollow lower fitting.

Abstract: A liquid isolator to prevent cross-contamination in the supply of liquid to and between animal racks. The isolator comprises cylindrical concentric tubes arranged to form a liquid storage chamber, a standpipe in the chamber, and a liquid entry tube within the standpipe. Near their upper ends, a liquid transfer port is provided between the standpipe chamber and the liquid storage chamber. An air lock is formed between the liquid transfer port and the level of any liquid in the storage chamber. The air lock isolates liquid in the standpipe chamber from the liquid in the storage chamber. Check valves are also provided in a liquid inlet at the top of the isolator and a liquid outlet at the bottom of the isolator, thus to prevent back flow through the isolator.