WATERING SYSTEM FOR TURKEYS

Abstract

A watering system for turkeys includes a channel assembly and a pipe assembly covered and supported by the channel assembly. A hangar is wrapped around the channel assembly and the pipe assembly and is secured to itself above the channel assembly. The hangar is secured to an assembly for raising of lowering the watering system. The hangar is also wrapped and secured around a previously installed anti-roost wire. Nipple assemblies are connected to the pipe assembly and provide the turkeys with access to the water within the pipe assembly when the birds trigger the nipple assemblies. Catch cup assemblies are secured to the channel assembly and have first and second catch basins. The first catch basin is provided below one of the nipple assemblies and the second catch basin is provided below an adjacent nipple assembly. The catch basins are thus positioned to catch water from the nipple assemblies.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are described in detail hereinbelow. The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a watering system of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a pipe member included in the watering system;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a channel member included in the watering system;

FIG. 4 is a end view of the channel member;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the channel member taken from circle 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bracket member included in the watering system;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a pipe coupling member included in the watering system;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the pipe coupling member;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the pipe coupling member taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an insert coupling included in the watering system;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the insert coupling;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a pipe coupling assembly included in the watering system;

FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating the watering system being hung from a ceiling of a poultry house by a cable assembly;

FIG. 14 is an alternative side view illustrating the watering system being hung by a cable assembly;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are perspective views of a hangar member included in the watering system;

FIG. 17 is a first side view of the hangar member;

FIG. 18 is a second side view of the hangar member;

FIG. 19 illustrates birds, namely turkeys, standing on a floor and drinking from the watering system;

FIG. 20 is a side view of a nipple assembly included in the watering system;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the nipple assembly taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is an end view of a portion of the watering system illustrating the connection of the channel member, the pipe member, the nipple assembly, and a catch cup assembly;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a contact ball included in the nipple assembly;

FIG. 24 is a side view of the contact ball;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the contact ball taken along line 25-25 of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a side view of a portion of the watering system illustrating the connection of the channel member, the pipe member, the nipple assembly, and the catch cup assembly;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a double catch cup of the catch cup assembly;

FIG. 28 is a top view of the double catch cup;

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the double catch cup taken along line 29-29 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the double catch cup taken along line 30-30 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the double catch cup taken along line 31-31 of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a support member of the catch cup assembly;

FIG. 33 is a front view of the support member;

FIG. 34 is a rear view of the support member;

FIG. 35 is a first side view of the support member; and

FIG. 36 is a second side view of the support member.

Claims

1. A watering system for providing water to birds comprising: an elongated channel assembly;an elongated pipe assembly for receiving the water, said elongated pipe assembly being at least partially covered and supported by said elongated channel assembly;first and second spaced apart nipple assemblies connected to said elongated pipe assembly, each said nipple assembly configured to provide the birds with access to the water within said elongated pipe assembly when the birds trigger said nipple assemblies; anda catch cup assembly secured to said elongated channel assembly, said catch cup assembly having a first catch basin which is positioned below said first nipple assembly in order to catch water from said first nipple assembly when the birds trigger said first nipple assembly, said catch cup assembly further having a second catch basin which is positioned below said second nipple assembly in order to catch water from said second nipple assembly when the birds trigger said second nipple assembly.

2. The watering system as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated pipe assembly includes first and second pipe members having first and second ends and a pipe coupling assembly, said pipe coupling assembly configured to receive and seal therein in a water-tight manner said second end of said first pipe member and said first end of said second pipe member.

3. The watering system as defined in claim 2, wherein said elongated channel assembly having first, second and third leg members connected to one another at a junction such that said elongated channel assembly is generally Y-shaped in configuration, said elongated channel assembly having first and second flange members extending therefrom, said first flange member extending from said second leg member generally toward said third leg member and defining a first slot provided between said second leg member and said first flange member, said second flange member extending from said third leg member generally toward said second leg member and defining a second slot provided between said third leg member and said second flange member.

4. The watering system as defined in claim 3, wherein said pipe coupling assembly has first and second extensions, said first extension configured to be inserted into said first slot of said elongated channel assembly and said second extension configured to be inserted into said second slot of said elongated channel assembly such that said elongated channel assembly at least partially supports said elongated pipe assembly.

5. The watering system as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said nipple assemblies has a valve saddle which is secured to said elongated pipe assembly, said valve saddle having first and second extensions, said first extension configured to be inserted into said first slot of said elongated channel assembly and said second extension configured to be inserted into said second slot of said elongated channel assembly such that said elongated channel assembly at least partially supports said elongated pipe assembly.

6. The watering system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second catch basins are generally oval-shaped in configuration.

7. The watering system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second catch basins have bottoms which have at least one raised portion.

8. The watering system as defined in claim 1, wherein each said nipple assembly includes a generally spherical contact ball having an aperture extending therethrough from a generally flat top thereof to a generally flat bottom thereof and a valve pin extending downwardly from said elongated pipe assembly and into at least a portion of said aperture, said contact ball and said valve pin configured to be triggered by the birds in order to provide them with water from the elongated pipe assembly.

9. The watering system as defined in claim 1, further including at least one hangar having a bottom member and first and second extension members extending from opposite ends of said bottom member, said bottom member is wrapped around at least a portion of said elongated channel assembly and at least a portion of said elongated pipe assembly, said first and second extension members being configured to be secured to one another above said elongated channel assembly and to be secured to a cable assembly such that said watering system can be raised or lowered via said cable assembly.

10. The watering system as defined in claim 9, wherein said first and second extension members are further configured to be secured to one another around a previously installed anti-roost wire provided above said elongated channel assembly, said hangar defining a boundary for unimpeded movement of said anti-roost wire.

11. The watering system as defined in claim 1, wherein said catch cup assembly further includes first and second support members and a middle member, said middle member being provided between, and connected to, each of said first and second catch basins, said first support member being secured to a first side of said elongated channel assembly and to said middle member proximate to a first end thereof, said second support member being secured to a second side of said elongated channel assembly and to said middle member proximate to a second end thereof.

12. The watering system as defined in claim 11, wherein said first support member has at least one flange member which extends inwardly therefrom upon which a first portion of said elongated channel assembly is positioned, and wherein said second support member has at least one flange member which extends inwardly therefrom upon which a second portion of said elongated channel assembly is positioned.

13. A watering system for providing water to birds comprising: an elongated channel assembly;an elongated pipe assembly for receiving the water, said elongated pipe assembly being at least partially covered and supported by said elongated channel assembly; andat least one hangar having a bottom member and first and second extension members extending from opposite ends of said bottom member, said bottom member being wrapped around at least a portion of said elongated channel assembly and at least a portion of said elongated pipe assembly, said first and second extension members being configured to be secured to one another above said elongated channel assembly and to be secured to a cable assembly such that said watering system can be raised or lowered via said cable assembly.

14. The watering system as defined in claim 13, wherein said first and second extension members are further configured to be secured to one another around a previously installed anti-roost wire provided above said elongated channel assembly, said hangar defining a boundary for unimpeded movement of said anti-roost wire.

15. The watering system as defined in claim 13, further comprising first and second spaced apart nipple assemblies connected to said elongated pipe assembly, each said nipple assembly configured to provide the birds with access to the water within said elongated pipe assembly when the birds trigger said nipple assemblies.

16. The watering system as defined in claim 15, further comprising a catch cup assembly secured to said elongated channel assembly, said catch cup assembly having a first catch basin which is positioned below said first nipple assembly in order to catch water from said first nipple assembly when the birds trigger said first nipple assembly, said catch cup assembly further having a second catch basin which is positioned below said second nipple assembly in order to catch water from said second nipple assembly when the birds trigger said second nipple assembly.

17. The watering system as defined in claim 16, wherein said first and second catch basins are generally oval-shaped in configuration.

18. The watering system as defined in claim 16, wherein said first and second catch basins have bottoms which have at least one raised portion.

19. The watering system as defined in claim 15, wherein each said nipple assembly includes a generally spherical contact ball having an aperture extending therethrough from a generally flat top thereof to a generally flat bottom thereof and a valve pin extending downwardly from said elongated pipe assembly and into at least a portion of said aperture, said contact ball and said valve pin configured to be triggered by the birds in order to provide them with water from the elongated pipe assembly.

20. A watering system for providing water to birds comprising: an elongated channel assembly;an elongated pipe assembly for receiving the water, said elongated pipe assembly being at least partially covered and supported by said elongated channel assembly;at least one hangar having a bottom member and first and second extension members extending from opposite ends of said bottom member, said bottom member being wrapped around at least a portion of said elongated channel assembly and at least a portion of said elongated pipe assembly, said first and second extension members being configured to be secured to one another above said elongated channel assembly and to be secured to a cable assembly such that said watering system can be raised or lowered via said cable assembly;first and second spaced apart nipple assemblies connected to said elongated pipe assembly, each said nipple assembly configured to provide the birds with access to the water within said elongated pipe assembly when the birds trigger said nipple assemblies; anda catch cup assembly secured to said elongated channel assembly, said catch cup assembly having a first catch basin which is positioned below said first nipple assembly in order to catch water from said first nipple assembly when the birds trigger said first nipple assembly, said catch cup assembly further having a second catch basin which is positioned below said second nipple assembly in order to catch water from said second nipple assembly when the birds trigger said second nipple assembly.