A hinged water valve (26) for use in a watering (38, 46) system (50) of a poultry house includes rigid sight tubes (20) connected with hinged water valves (26). Each hinged valve (26) includes a valve body (28) with a valve cap (30) hinged to the valve body (28) with at least one hinge pin. The valve (26) permits flow of water into the sight tube (20) when the sight tube (10) is in its upright operational condition but prohibits flow of water toward the sight tube (20) when the sight tube (20) is pivoted to a substantially horizontal cleaning condition. An internal plunger (32) interacts with an internal seat (36) of the valve body (28) in a sealing manner. A biasing spring (40) urges the plunger (32) into contact with the internal seat (36) of the valve body (28) but with the valve cap (30) in the upright condition, the stem (50) forces the plunger (32) away from the internal seat (36) opening a flow passage (41).

A breather cap assembly configured to be connected to a stand-tube used in a watering system. When the watering system is in normal operation, the breather cap assembly is configured to allow for air to flow between the outside the assembly and the stand-tube. The breather cap assembly also provides for structure which acts as a baffle to minimize the introduction of foreign material from outside the breather cap assembly into the stand-tube. When the watering system is in flushing operation, the breather cap assembly is configured to seal off the stand-tube in order to minimize the possibility of water leaving the stand-tube. The breather cap assembly further also provides for structure which acts as a baffle to collect and retain a majority of any water that does leave the stand-tube during a flushing operation.

An improved, self-balancing water distribution system uses siphon characteristics to maintain negative pressure within the water system and to enable distribution of water to one or more distribution points, such as drinker lines with drinker nipples, at a controlled pressure, for consumption by poultry. The system includes water conduit connected to and configured to distribute water from a water supply reservoir to the one or more distribution points. The water level of the water supply reservoir is used to control the water pressure within the system. A vacuum apparatus is connected to the water conduit to remove entrapped air within the system to help maintain negative pressure within the conduit and throughout the system.

A fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from an automatic water source to animals housed in cages in high density caging systems may comprise a fluid delivery valve assembly, wherein the fluid delivery valve assembly is adapted to be coupled to the automatic water source to facilitate the provision of fluid to animals housed in the cages. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise a valve body and end cap, which may be joined together, that define a fluid channel. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise sealing elements, a spring element, and an interior stem disposed at least in part in the fluid channel to open and close the fluid channel.

A drinker assembly includes an inlet portion configured to interface with a fluid supply, a drinker tip removably coupled to the inlet portion, the inlet portion and the drinker tip defining a fluid-flow path within an interior of the inlet portion and the drinker tip, an interior surface of the drinker tip defining a sealing surface, a top pin disposed within the fluid-flow path of the inlet portion and drinker tip and at least partially extending into the inlet portion, a bottom pin disposed within the fluid-flow path of the inlet portion and drinker tip and at least partially extending through and out of the drinker tip and a sealing ball disposed between the top pin and the bottom pin and configured to directly abut against the sealing surface of the drinker tip for create a fluid-tight seal.

A hinged water valve (26) for use in a watering (38, 46) system (50) of a poultry house includes rigid sight tubes (20) connected with hinged water valves (26). Each hinged valve (26) includes a valve body (28) with a valve cap (30) hinged to the valve body (28) with at least one hinge pin. The valve (26) permits flow of water into the sight tube (20) when the sight tube (10) is in its upright operational condition but prohibits flow of water toward the sight tube (20) when the sight tube (20) is pivoted to a substantially horizontal cleaning condition. An internal plunger (32) interacts with an internal seat (36) of the valve body (28) in a sealing manner. A biasing spring (40) urges the plunger (32) into contact with the internal seat (36) of the valve body (28) but with the valve cap (30) in the upright condition, the stem (50) forces the plunger (32) away from the internal seat (36) opening a flow passage (41).

The present invention is an automatic chicken waterer within the pet feeding and watering field of inventions. The present chicken waterer is an improvement on automatic chicken waterers by enclosing the water inside a vertical reservoir, and automatically refilling the small volume with a commercially sourced combination float/fill valve that is connection directly to a pressure source. Water is automatically maintained inside the enclosed vertical reservoir by the construction of the assembly0-. Simplicity in this invention is the compact package construction, with a connection to a constant pressure source, without additional pressure regulation or flow control components. The relatively small reservoir is plumbed to feed multiple poultry nipples spaced sufficiently to allow multiple users concurrently. The semi sealed, frequently refilled reservoir provides fresh and hygienic water to users

A fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from an automatic water source to animals housed in cages in high density caging systems may comprise a flexible, non-metal, hose-type manifold line having a plurality of circular apertures and a plurality of injection molded plastic saddle fittings each configured to fit into an aperture. Each cage location may comprise two apertures opposite one other and two saddle fittings fit thereto. The saddle fittings may further comprise a U-shaped portion configured to fit around the flexible manifold line, an inward-facing protrusion sized and configured to penetrate and seal to an aperture, and one or more ribs to seal the aperture and/or grip the flexible manifold.

A system and process for low flow water monitoring in agriculture that measures water consumption at an individual bird/animal/plant level by weighing water in a controlled sealed environment. The system and process include a pressure regulation device fluidly connected to one or more reservoir tanks filled with water. The pressure regulation device is adjustable allowing for different output pressures suitable for many different agriculture applications.

Drip cups used in animal drinkers for beaked animals feature a cup body made of plastic material for accommodating a supply of water. The cup body has a bottom surrounded by an edging. Experience has shown that beaked animals cause damage to the plastics material of cup body with their beaks. Such damage by pecking can even cause the bottom, and thus the drip cup itself, to leak water. The invention proposes to position a graduated metal insert centered in the inside bottom of the cup body. The insert thereby reinforces the bottom of the cup body such that beaked animals are no longer capable of damaging the drip cup.