Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K39/00—Feeding or drinking appliances for poultry or other birds
  • A01K39/02—Drinking appliances
  • A01K39/0213—Nipple drinkers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K1/00—Housing animals; Equipment therefor
  • A01K1/02—Pigsties; Dog-kennels; Rabbit-hutches or the like
  • A01K1/035—Devices for use in keeping domestic animals, e.g. fittings in housings or dog beds
  • A01K1/0356—Feeding or drinking devices associated with cages
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K7/00—Watering equipment for stock or game
  • A01K7/02—Automatic devices
  • A01K7/06—Automatic devices actuated by the animal
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
  • Y10T137/0318—Processes
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
  • Y10T137/8593—Systems
  • Y10T137/86389—Programmer or timer

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an automatic watering system for animals.
• Such systems are used in animal breeding and pet shops, including laboratory animal facilities, where the large number of animals makes automatic watering essential.
• a problem in this area concerns the quantity of liquid (water in general) to be distributed to the animals by drinking point, this amount depending on the variable number of animals present in the different cages to feed, the type of animals and of their weight.
• pigeon water distribution systems comprising a solenoid valve controlling the emptying, rinsing and filling of a tank with fresh water .
• This type of system has the disadvantage of not offering enough flexibility as to the volumes distributed, to deliver a specific amount of water to a single tank common to several animals, without allowing to adjust the distribution rate.
• an automatic watering device comprising a buffer volume interposed between the pipette and the pipe and a volume of air in communication with the outside of the device and interposed between the pipe and the buffer volume to avoid the risk of contamination of the water distribution network by the pipettes.
• This device which therefore makes it possible to deliver animals water at atmospheric pressure, is directly connected to a pipe and comprises an adjustment device for adjusting the flow rate of supply of the buffer volume in liquid.
• the communication of the volume of air with the outside allows that in case of maladjustment of the device for adjusting or blocking the pipette, the water is discharged outside the device and possibly to the outside of the cage.
• this device has the disadvantage of presenting a risk of waste if this maladjustment and clogging were to occur.
• the adjustment of the adjustment device is not necessarily easy depending on the number and / or type of animals present in the various cages fed by the device.
• this device has the disadvantage of having a pipette with a risk of leakage and which is not universal in the sense that it is not suitable for all types and all ages of animals.
• this type of device does not allow to determine in advance the periods of the day during which the water will be delivered.
• a final problem in the field of automatic watering systems for animals is that pipettes are often the cause of leaks and floods, for example due to the fact that the animals dropping deposit foreign bodies (for example pieces of food or litter) inside the end of the pipette which then remains open. Thus, even the most elaborate pipettes can cause cages to flood because drops fall inside the cage.
• the present invention is aimed primarily at solving the problems of flexibility in the volumes of water distributed and the safety of animals in the face of contaminations and floods.
• the present invention therefore aims to overcome some disadvantages of the prior art by providing a programmed intermittent automatic watering system allowing great flexibility in the volumes distributed to different cages fed by the system, to eliminate the risk of contamination of the network to eliminate the risk of waste, to determine the times of the day during which water will be delivered and including a universal pipette suitable for all types and ages of animals, limiting the risk of leakage and capping and avoiding flooding cages in case of leakage.
• a programmed intermittent automatic watering system for the supply of liquid to at least one cage or set of cages, comprising at least one pipe supplying liquid at least one automatic watering device for animals comprising a drinking pipette accessible to animals, a buffer zone interposed between the pipette and the pipe and a means of controlling the flow interposed between the pipe and the buffer zone, means of the buffer zone ensuring, by a volume of air in communication with the outside of the device, a discontinuity between the volume of liquid contained in the buffer zone and the liquid contained in the pipe, characterized in that the pipe is provided with at least one solenoid valve controlled by at least one generator generating , for opening and / or closing of the solenoid valve, pulses at intervals and durations programmed according to the volume of the buffer zone and a range of flow rates of the flow control means of each of the watering devices, the flow control means and the duration of opening of the solenoid valve being adapted to each other, according to the maximum quantity of liquid to be delivered and adjusted to deliver
• the programmer comprises input means for programming the durations and intervals of the pulses.
• the programmer comprises display means for checking the durations and intervals of the programmed pulses.
• the buffer zone comprises a means of maintaining the liquid level of the buffer zone below a threshold, regardless of the regulated flow rate.
• the means of maintaining the liquid level of the buffer zone below a threshold is a nozzle made on the envelope of the drinking device, located above the buffer zone and at a distance of the lower orifice determined as a function of the desired useful volume for the buffer zone, this nozzle also constituting the communication of the volume of air with the outside of the watering device allowing the buffer zone to be at atmospheric pressure and allowing the evacuation outward liquid in case of excessive filling of the buffer zone.
• the means for adjusting the flow entering the buffer zone is achieved by a needle screwed into a threaded hole drilled on the outer surface of the buffer zone and opening into an inlet conduit of the watering device by which the liquid opens into the buffer zone, the needle being provided with a seal and completely or partially closing this inlet duct.
• the means for adjusting the flow rate entering the buffer zone is produced by a membrane regulator comprising at least one fluid passage in which at least two membranes are placed, at least one of which is movable and displaceable. direction of the other under the action of an adjusting screw accessible from the outside so as to close more or less said passage opening into an inlet conduit of the drinking device through which the liquid opens into the buffer zone .
• the membrane of the membrane control device is flexible, so as to allow a fine adjustment of the flow.
• the pipette has two ends, a first end of which is formed by an inlet tube opening on a main tube whose inner diameter is greater than that of the inlet tube, the shoulder between these two tubes thus forming a seat on which is disposed a spring pushing a ball towards the second end of the pipette, the ball and the spring being free in the main tube and having dimensions substantially identical to those of the main tube, the second end of the pipette having a housing, said ball seat, of shape and dimensions complementary to those of the ball, opening on the outside and in which the ball is held by the spring.
• the ball seat is attached to the main tube of the pipette by the cooperation between a thread of the main tube and a tapping of the ball seat, or vice versa.
• the inner diameters of the inlet tube of the pipette and the opening of the ball seat outwardly have substantially the same dimensions.
• the drinking device comprises, near its upper end, an upper liquid inlet duct, this upper duct being closable by the flow control means and provided with a means for fixing and connection to the pipeline.
• a filter is interposed between the pipe and the drinking device, so that the liquid entering the buffer zone of the drinking device is filtered.
• a non-return system is interposed between the pipe and the drinking device, to maintain the pressure in the pipe and prevent it from draining.
• the filter is an absolute filter, so that the liquid entering the buffer zone of the drinking device is sterile.
• the means for connecting and fixing the drinking device to the pipe is a threaded tube on its outer surface intended to cooperate with a corresponding threaded hole present on the supply pipe.
• the tube for fixing the drinking device to the feed pipe forms with the longitudinal axis of the buffer zone an angle of between 0 ° and 90 °.
• the tube for fixing the drinking device to the feed pipe is arranged vertically, the watering device then being fixed under the supply pipe.
• the tube for fixing the watering device to the pipe is disposed horizontally, the watering device being fixed on a side wall of the supply pipe.
• the drinking device comprises, near its lower end, a lower liquid outlet duct, this lower duct communicating with the pipette and comprising a means for fixing and connecting the drinking pipette.
• the means for fixing and connecting the watering pipette consists of a threaded bore intended to cooperate with an inlet tube of the pipette, threaded on its outer surface, so as to allow the attachment of the drinking pipette on the drinking device.
• the arrangement of the watering pipette by the attachment and connection means of the watering pipette is adapted to the species of animals to be watered.
• the tapped bore is of horizontal axis.
• the threaded bore is of vertical axis.
• the tapped bore is of oblique axis with respect to the longitudinal axis of the buffer zone, the two axes forming an angle of between 0 ° and 90 °.
• the outer surface of the body of the pipette is frustoconical, the diameter of the body at the second end of the body being less than its diameter at the first end.
• the cage comprises, in its wall, a hole of diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the body of the pipette and through which the latter enters the cage.
• a recovery device is disposed under the drinking device.
• the recovery device has substantially a funnel shape having a flared portion disposed under the drinking device and a discharge end opening into a discharge pipe for the collection of liquid.
• the flared portion of the recovery device has a diameter substantially greater than the dimensions of at least one lower end of the drinking device.
• the recovery device comprises a channel disposed under the drinking device, forming a slope relative to the horizontal and whose lower end opens into a discharge pipe for the collection of liquid.
• the dimensions of the channel are greater than the dimensions of at least one lower end of the drinking device.
• FIG. 1 represents a view from the rear of an embodiment of the system according to the invention
• FIG. 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the watering device of the system according to the invention
• FIG. 3 represents a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of the watering device of the system according to the invention.
• FIG. 4 shows a sectional view along a vertical plane of a portion of the drinking system according to one embodiment of the invention.
• the present invention relates to a programmed intermittent automatic watering system, for the supply of liquid to at least one cage (7) or set (6) of cages (7) comprising a device (1) for drinking water on which the animals come to drink.
• the system naturally includes at least one pipe (2) from a collective network or a private network or tank according to the desired quality and quantity.
• the liquid contained in the pipe (2) is usually water but it can naturally be replaced by any other type of liquid if the need was felt.
• the term "water” will therefore be used hereinafter as an example.
• the present system makes it possible to supply water to a set (6) of cages (7) for which the quantities of water to be delivered per day have been determined beforehand. The system allows these quantities to be delivered automatically without requiring the systematic intervention of a person in charge of maintenance of the cages.
• the pipe (2) is provided with at least one solenoid valve (8) controlled by at least one programmer (9) generating pulses at intervals and programmed durations, for the opening and / or closing the solenoid valve (8).
• the programmer is arranged to generate programmed pulses according to the volume that can be stored in the drinking devices (volume stored in a so-called buffer zone of the device) and a range of flow rates of the flow control means (5) of each of the drinking devices (1).
• the person in charge of the maintenance can program the periods of the day during which the animals have to drink and program the duration of the opening of the solenoid valve (8) according to the quantity which must be delivered to the during each of these periods and according to the capacity of the buffer zone of the devices and the range of flow that their flow control means (5) possesses.
• the flow control means (5) and the opening times of the solenoid valve are adapted to each other, depending on the maximum quantity of liquid to be delivered, and are adjusted to deliver a quantity of liquid determined at each of the devices (1) for watering each opening of the solenoid valve (8), the buffer zone of the devices (1) for watering may contain a volume greater than this determined amount.
• the programmer (9) comprises input means (90) for programming the durations and intervals of the pulses.
• the programmer is controlled by a computer system, such as a conventional computer for example, on which the person in charge of maintenance can program the durations and intervals of the pulses for the different days, for example according to the quantity of animals contained in each cage (7) for the coming days.
• the scheduler may be configured in advance so that the maintenance person only has to enter the volumes to be dispensed for each of the cages (7) regardless of the intervals and durations, or corresponding calculations.
• the current invention allows different embodiments with respect to programming the programmer (9) controlling the opening and / or closing of the solenoid valve (8) and the embodiments given herein should be considered as illustrative and not limiting because it is known to those skilled in the art to program a programmer (9) allowing different configurations that can be modified by the users.
• the term pulses should be understood in the broad sense, the programmer possibly delivering different types of signals adapted to different types of solenoid valve.
• the programmer (9) includes display means (91) for the maintenance person to verify the entered parameters of pulse durations and time intervals between the pulses.
• the term solenoid valve can be extended to any type of remotely controllable valves and solenoid valves responding to different types of signals from outside the valve, whether electric or not.
• FIG. 1 represents an overall view of the system supplying a set of cages (7) mounted on a rack (6), for example seen from the rear.
• This representation is schematic and illustrative, the assembly (6) of cages (7) can naturally be supported by any device and have any provision, the essential being that at least one pipe (2) come feed the cages (7).
• Each of the cages (7) is provided with a device (1) for automatic watering animals, particularly visible in Figures 2 and 3.
• the devices (1) for watering are advantageously arranged outside the cages ( 7) but the invention allows them to be arranged inside because the system according to the invention makes it possible to avoid the flooding of the cages (7), even in case of leakage, in particular thanks to the nozzle (4).
• Each of these watering devices (1) comprise an animal drinking pipette (3) and a buffer zone interposed between the pipette (3) and the pipe (2).
• This buffer zone makes it possible to avoid the risks of contamination of the distribution network during any regurgitation of the animals in the device (1) watering.
• the buffer zone is isolated from the rest of the network by means of the buffer zone ensuring, by a volume of air in communication with the outside of the device, a discontinuity between the volume of liquid contained in the buffer zone and the liquid contained in the pipe (2).
• Each of the watering devices (1) also comprises a flow control means (5) interposed between the pipe
• This flow control means (5) is adapted to the opening times of the solenoid valve as a function of the maximum quantity of liquid to be delivered and adjusted to deliver a quantity of liquid determined at each opening of the solenoid valve (8). , whose duration is adapted to the flow range of the means (5) for adjusting the flow rate and the volume of the buffer zone (which may contain a volume greater than this determined quantity).
• the means of the buffer zone providing the discontinuity consist of a nozzle (4) made on the envelope of the watering device (1), located above the buffer zone and at a distance of lower orifice (10) determined according to the desired working volume for the buffer zone.
• This nozzle (4) also constitutes the communication of the air volume located above the buffer zone with the outside of the watering device (1) and allows the buffer zone to be at atmospheric pressure.
• this nozzle (4) may according to the embodiments consist, for example, simply in a drilling of the wall of the device (1) or in a pipe extending outwardly of the cages (7), for example until 'to a recovery device or a harvesting tank.
• this nozzle (4) is also a means of maintaining the liquid level of the buffer zone below a threshold, regardless of the set flow and allows the evacuation of the liquid to the outside in case of excessive filling the buffer zone, for example during a leak of the means (5) for adjusting the flow rate or insufficient consumption of liquid by the animals between two openings of the solenoid valve (8).
• the watering device (1) may comprise a removable buffer zone, consisting for example of a removable tank that can be changed so as to be adapted to different types of animals that may be present in the cages (7).
• the capacity of the buffer zone between the pipette (3) and the nozzle (4) can be changed at lower cost, depending on the species of animals to be watered, without having to change the entire device.
• the means (5) for adjusting the flow rate entering the buffer zone is produced by an adjusting device (5), such as a needle, for example, screwed into a threaded hole (50). ) pierced on the outer surface of the buffer zone.
• the means (5) for regulating the flow rate entering the buffer zone may be produced by a membrane regulator comprising at least one fluid passage in which at least two membranes, at least two of which are placed, are placed. one is movable and movable towards the other, under the action of an adjusting screw accessible from the outside, so as to close more or less said passage opening in an inlet duct of the watering device; where the liquid flows into the buffer zone.
• Membranes of the membrane control device may be flexible, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, so as to allow a fine adjustment of the flow.
• the term needle (5) will be used here to denote any type of flow control means (5) because this embodiment is the simplest but it must be obvious that the embodiments of this adjustment means are only given for illustrative purposes and that any type of means (5) for adjusting the flow rate entering the buffer zone sufficiently accurately can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.
• This adjusting device (5) or needle (5) is thus placed to be accessible from the outside, for example as shown in Figure 1.
• the position of the needle (5) and the nozzle (4) may vary in height and laterally depending on the desired arrangement and arrangement within the assembly (6) of cages (7), as visible for example by comparing Figures 2 and 3 with Figure 4.
• the needle (5) opens into an inlet conduit (11) of the drinking device (1) through which the liquid opens into the buffer zone.
• the needle (5) is provided a seal (52) to prevent leakage of liquid from the inlet conduit and, depending on the screwing, the needle (5) completely or partially closes the conduit (11) input.
• the threading and tapping, respectively, of the needle (5) and the hole (50) may have been provided so that the stroke of the needle extends between a position where it does not close at all the conduit (11). ) and a position where he completely closes it.
• the drinking device (1) is provided with a so-called universal pipette.
• This pipette (3) is called universal because it allows animals of all types and all ages to drink.
• This pipette (3) comprises a body comprising two ends, a first end is formed by an inlet tube (34) opening on a main tube whose inner diameter is greater than that of the inlet tube.
• the shoulder thus formed between these two tubes is a seat (33) on which is disposed a spring (30) which pushes a ball (31) mounted in the main tube to the second end of the pipette (3).
• the spring (30) and its seat (33) have an inside diameter which is greater than the inside diameter of the inlet tube (34) of the pipette (3), which produces a vein of continuous liquid between the inlet of the pipette and its outlet.
• the ball (31) and the spring (30) are free in the main tube and have dimensions substantially identical to those of the main tube.
• the second end of the pipette (3) that is to say the outlet end, comprises a housing, said seat (32) ball, of shape and dimensions complementary to those of the ball (31) and leading to the outside.
• the ball (31) is held in its ball seat (32) by the spring (30) compressed between the ball (31) and the seat (33) of the spring.
• the spring pushes the ball (31) into its seat (32) and closes the pipette but it is common for a drop remains attached to the tip of the pipette (3), which facilitates the adaptation of animals to this type of drinking trough.
• the ball seat (32) is attached to the main tube of the pipette (3) by cooperation (35) between a thread of the main tube and a tapping of the ball seat (32), or vice versa.
• This removable attachment allows easy assembly and easy change of the spring (30) or the ball (31) and minimizes production costs.
• the inner diameters of the inlet tube (34) of the pipette (3) and the opening of the ball seat (32) outwardly have substantially the same dimensions.
• these inner shapes and dimensions of the pipette allow the water to form a continuous stream inside which flows perfectly when the ball (31) is moved in translation or rotation.
• the watering device (1) comprises, close to its upper end, a conduit (11) for upper liquid inlet closable by the means (5) for adjusting the flow, as mentioned above.
• this inlet duct (11) is provided with a fixing means and connection to the pipe (2).
• This connecting means and fixing the device (1) for watering the pipe (2) is a tube (12), threaded on its outer surface, extending the conduit (11) input and intended to cooperate with a hole tapped (20) corresponding present on the supply line (2).
• the attachment tube (12) of the device (1) for watering to the supply line (2) can be arranged vertically, the device (1) for watering being then fixed under the pipe d (2), to be disposed horizontally, the drinking device (1) being fixed on a side wall of the supply pipe (2) or form with the longitudinal axis of the buffer zone an angle between 0 ° and 90 °.
• the connection of the drinking device to the pipe may comprise a flexible tube for positioning the watering device n ' anywhere in the cage relative to the pipe.
• the means for connecting and fixing the device (1) for watering the pipe (2) may be provided with a quick coupling facilitating the assembly and disassembly of the connecting means on the pipe (2).
• the flexible tube may be provided with a quick connector, at one end or both, to facilitate its connection to the pipe (2) on the one hand and / or the device (1) for watering 'somewhere else.
• a filter is interposed between the pipe (2) and the upper inlet duct (11) of the liquid, so that the liquid entering the buffer zone of the watering device (1) is filtered.
• This filter may be an absolute filter, so that the liquid entering the buffer zone of the drinking device (1) is sterile.
• a non-return system may be interposed between the pipe (2) and the watering device (1), to maintain the pressure in the pipe (2) and prevent it does not drain. This system or non-return device may, for example, be disposed between the pipe (2) and the means (5) for adjusting the flow rate.
• the watering device (1) comprises, near its lower end, a lower liquid outlet duct (10), this lower duct (10) communicating with the pipette (3) and comprising a fixing and connecting means the drinking pipette (3).
• the means for attaching and connecting the drinking pipette (3) consists of a tapped bore (100) intended to cooperate with an inlet tube (34) of the pipette (3), threaded on its outer surface, so as to allow the fixation of the drinking pipette (3) on the device (1) for watering.
• This threaded bore (100) may be of horizontal axis as shown in the figures or be of vertical axis or oblique axis with respect to the longitudinal axis of the buffer zone, the two axes forming an angle between 0 ° and 90 °.
• the flow control means (5) may, depending on the embodiments chosen, deliver a flow in the form of drops or continuous thread, although the drip avoids the risk of contamination of the water network.
• a multi-drop system in which the output of the means (5) for adjustment (opening into the buffer zone) will comprise a device having a plurality of holes, in the manner of a colander, so as to deliver several drops at the same time.
• Such a multi-drop system has the advantage of making it possible to deliver a higher flow rate than one drop at a time, while maintaining the discontinuity between the buffer zone and the upstream network.
• a continuous stream of water may, however, be chosen because germs capable of raising a current are rare and they may be stopped by the presence of an absolute filter upstream of the means (5) for controlling the flow rate.
• the continuous net will therefore systematically be associated with an absolute filter so as to avoid any contamination of the network by germs that may raise this net.
• This means (5) of flow control can naturally be calibrated and graduated although those conventionally used include a number of turns preventing effective graduation.
• the adjustment will be more or less easy depending on the type of means (5) for adjustment, such as a needle (5) or a device (5) membrane adjustment for example, whether single-drop or multi -drop.
• the system comprises removable elements and the means (5) for adjusting the drinking devices (1) can be tested by dismounting the buffer zone and replacing it with a graduated cylinder or a burette or other graduated container.
• the efficiency of the system can be easily tested by operation, to check the quantities actually delivered during one or more openings of the solenoid valve (8).
• the solenoid valves often have a so-called continuous position, in which they remain permanently open. This property can be used to test the system without disassembling it. Indeed, it suffices for this to empty the buffer zones of the devices and to put the valve in the open position continuously and wait for the determined normal opening time of the valve to see drip the nozzle (4) lateral which reflects an overflow buffer zone.
• the nozzle (4) drips at the end of the determined duration, the device functions correctly whereas if it drops before the duration, it means that the flow is too important and that it is necessary to regulate the medium (5). )) or to check the device (1) and if the nozzle does not drip at all, it means that the device (1) is clogged and must be checked.
• the invention provides a possible use of other types of pipettes known from the prior art, but some of the known pipettes of the prior art are not suitable for the present invention because they require a liquid pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure. . However, some pipettes of the prior art may operate at atmospheric pressure and may be used although they may leak because they do not include sealing means such as that achieved by the spring (30) of the pipette (3). ) described here, which is particularly effective.
• the invention makes it possible to have only one programmer (9) for a set of cages (7) but it also provides that several programmers (controlling several solenoid valves) can be used in parallel for the watering of animals, for example when the system is intended to feed a large number of cages or when the different animals have very different daily consumptions.
• the invention provides that the devices (1) watering can have different sizes and therefore their buffer zone have different capacities, so that different devices (1) for watering can be used and deliver quantities adapted to the consumption of animals.
• Means (5) for adjusting the flow rate of these devices Different sizes may also have different flow rates so as to ensure adequate filling of the buffer zone.
• the duration of opening of the solenoid valve that is to say the duration of the water distributions during the day may be adapted to the size of the buffer zone of the devices (1) supplied and the flow range means (5) for adjusting these devices (1) or be adapted to the sizes of buffer zones and flow ranges, in the case of the use of devices (1) watering different sizes.
• the system can deliver the animals the quantities of water needed when they need it.
• the programmer (9) can be configured to enter only part or all of the parameters and can display the result by cage or even be configured to automatically calculate the best setting while requiring the entry of a limited number of parameters .
• the system includes a safety device, protecting the animals against flooding of their cage.
• This security device may in fact comprise several devices complementary to each other.
• a first security means may be realized in some embodiments by the outer shape of the pipette (3). Indeed, in these embodiments, the outer surface (36) of the body of the pipette (3) is frustoconical, the diameter of the body at the second end of the body being less than its diameter at the first end.
• the frustoconical shape of the body of the pipette (3) allows any drops (G) of liquid coming out of the pipette flows along the slope described by the outer surface (36) of the pipette body (3), to the outside of the cage (7). It will be understood that other embodiments of the pipette body may have the same effect and it is not necessary that the entire outer surface of the pipette is frustoconical.
• the cage (7) may comprise, in its wall, a hole (70) of substantially greater diameter. the diameter of the body of the pipette (3) and through which the latter enters the cage (7).
• This hole (70) is intended for the passage of the pipette body but may be provided to allow the passage of drops sliding on the frustoconical pipette body to the outside of the cage.
• This hole (70) may for example be substantially oblong or have an enlargement on its lower part, so as to let the drops.
• this hole may be part of the safety device and cooperate with the frustoconical body to ensure that drops leaking from the pipette are discharged to the outside.
• a recovery device or a harvesting tank may be provided in the system, in particular for harvesting any drops (G) that would have leaked from the vent or nozzle (4) of the device (1). watering (via a pipe or not), but also to collect the drops that would have leaked from the pipette and that would have descended the slope of the lower surface of the pipette.
• the security device may therefore include, in some embodiments, a device (23) for recovery disposed under the device (1) for watering.
• This recovery device will collect the drops (G) evacuated and can guide them to a discharge pipe and / or a collection tank.
• the recovery device (23) may comprise a channel disposed under the device (1) for watering and forming a slope relative to the horizontal. The lower end of the trench can lead into a pipe (21) for evacuation liquid collection (or directly into a collection tank).
• the dimensions of the channel will be greater than the dimensions of at least one lower end of the device (1) for watering, so that the drops (G) can fall from anywhere of the device (1).
• the invention may include liquid recovery devices in many other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or even that the safety device does not include a harvesting device to the extent that the device safety guides the drops far enough from the cages so that they do not fall into or into the cages at a lower level.
• the recovery device (23) has substantially a shape funnel comprising a flared portion disposed under the drinking device (1) and a discharge end opening into an evacuation pipe (21) for the collection of liquid, as particularly visible in Figure 4. It will be noted that the recovery device (23) resembles a funnel but its shape is arranged to fit on the discharge pipe, or even to at least partially match the shape of the discharge pipe.
• This device (23) of recovery may of course comprise a flared portion and an exhaust end (24) without having a funnel shape.
• the recovery device (23) can be fixed to the evacuation pipe (21), for example by means of a collar or lugs (25) forming a clamp for snapping the device (23). recovery device on the evacuation pipe (21).
• the discharge end of the recovery device (23) is inserted into a hole (22) in the wall of the evacuation pipe (21) and the tilting of the recovery device (23). in the direction of the pipe (21) allows the claws (25) to snap onto the pipe (21).
• the flared portion of the recovery device (23) has a diameter substantially greater than the dimensions of at least one lower end of the drinking device (1).
• the device (23) for collecting the drops (G) that would fall from the device (1) at any location below it may comprise a portion coming into contact with at least a portion of the lower surface of the device (1) to allow drops to go down in the device (23) recovery.
• the discharge end (24) of the recovery device (23) may naturally consist of a pipe opening into the discharge pipe (21) or directly into a collection tank.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
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• Animal Husbandry (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Birds (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Feeding And Watering For Cattle Raising And Animal Husbandry (AREA)
• Housing For Livestock And Birds (AREA)
• Spray Control Apparatus (AREA)

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• 2006
  • 2006-09-22 FR FR0608324A patent/FR2906108B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-09-21 WO PCT/FR2007/001548 patent/WO2008037882A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2007-09-21 EP EP07848277A patent/EP2063702A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-09-21 US US12/438,962 patent/US20100126588A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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