ANIMAL DRINKER

DISTRIBUTEUR D'EAU POUR ANIMAUX

English Abstract

An animal watering drinker has a tank having end
walls with drinking well pockets. A top wall unit mounted
on the tank has a continuous baffle surrounding a float
valve assembly and bosses closing the backs of the
pockets. Lids pivotally mounted on the top wall unit
normally close the tops of the drinking well pockets.

Claims

14
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS
FOLLOWS:
1. An animal drinker comprising: tank means
having generally upright wall means and a bottom wall
surrounding a chamber for accommodating water, means for
supplying water to the chamber, said wall means having
upright side walls and end walls, said end walls having
drinking well pockets open to the chamber and top of the
end walls for accommodating water, top wall means mounted
on the upright wall means covering said chamber, said top
wall means having downwardly directed baffle means
surrounding the means for supplying water to the chamber
extended into the chamber and spaced inwardly from the
upright side walls and above the bottom wall whereby water
is located between the baffle means and upright walls and
in the drinking well pockets, said baffle means having a
bottom edge located below the normal level of the water in
the chamber, said baffle means including boss portions
extended into the drinking well pockets providing back
walls of the drinking well pockets, said water flowing from
the means for supplying water to the chamber under the
baffle means into the drinking wells pockets, means
securing the top wall means to the upright wall means, lid
means for closing the drinking well pockets, and means
pivotally connecting the lid means to the top wall means
whereby the lid means normally close the tops of the
drinking well pockets and an animal can lift the lid means
to provide access to the water in the drinking well
pockets.

2. The drinker of Claim 1 wherein: said tank
means has an inner plastic shell, an outer plastic shell,
and space between said shells, and foam plastic insulation
means in said space.
3. The drinker of Claim 1 wherein: the tank means
is a one-piece seamless structure having an inner plastic
shell, an outer plastic shell and a space between said
shells made by a rotational molding process, and foam
plastic insulation means filling the entire space between
said shells.
4. The drinker of Claim 1 wherein: said end walls
each have first and second inside walls laterally spaced
from each other on opposite sides of each drinking well
pocket, each of said boss portions having upright surfaces
located adjacent said first and second inside walls to
substantially block the flow of air from the drinking well
pocket into the chamber.
5. The drinker of Claim 1 wherein: the top wall
means including the baffle means and boss portions have an
inner plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and space
between said shells and foam plastic insulation means in
said space.
6. The drinker of Claim 5 wherein: the inner and
outer plastic shells are a seamless one piece structure
made by a rotational molding process.
7. The drinker of Claim 5 wherein: said end walls
each have first and second inside walls laterally spaced

16
from each other on opposite sides of each drinking well
pocket, each of said boss portions having upright surfaces
located adjacent said first and second inside walls to
substantially block the flow of air from the drinking well
pocket into the chamber.
8. The drinker of Claim 1 wherein: said tank
means has a first inner plastic shell, a first outer
plastic shell, and space between said shells, foam plastic
insulation means in said space, said top wall means
including the baffle means and boss portion having second
inner plastic shell, a second outer plastic shell, and
space between said second shells, and foam plastic
insulation means in the space between said second shells.
9. The drinker of Claim 8 wherein: said tank
means and said top wall means are seamless one piece
structures made by a rotational molding process.
10. The drinker of Claim 8 wherein: said end
walls each have first and second inside walls laterally
spaced from each other on opposite sides of the drinking
well pocket, each of said boss portions having upright
surfaces located adjacent said first and second inside
walls to block the flow of air from the drinking well
pocket into the chamber.
11. An animal drinker comprising: tank means
having generally upright wall means an a bottom wall
surrounding a chamber for accommodating water, means for
supplying water to the chamber, said wall means having

17
upright side walls and an end wall, said end wall having a
drinking well pocket open to the chamber and top of the end
wall for accommodating water, top wall means mounted on the
upright wall means covering said chamber, said top wall
means having downwardly directed baffle means surrounding
the means for supplying water to the chamber extended into
the chamber and spaced inwardly from the upright side walls
and above the bottom wall whereby water is located between
the baffle means and upright side walls and in the drinking
well pocket, said baffle means having a bottom edge located
below the normal level of the water in the chamber, said
baffle means including a boss portion extended into the
drinking well pocket, said water flowing from the means for
supplying to the chamber under the baffle means into the
drinking well pocket, means securing the top wall means to
the upright wall means, lid means for closing the drinking
well pockets, and means movably connecting the lid means to
the top wall means whereby the lid means normally closes
the top of the drinking well pocket and an animal can lift
the lid means to provide access to the water in the
drinking well pocket.
12. The drinker of Claim 11 wherein: said tank
means has an inner plastic shell, an outer plastic shell,
and space between said shells, and foam plastic insulation
means in said space.
13. The drinker of Claim 11 wherein: the tank
means is a one-piece seamless structure having an inner

18
plastic shell, an outer plastic shell and a space between
said shells made by a rotational molding process, and foam
plastic insulation means filling the entire space between
said shells.
14. The drinker of Claim 11 wherein: said end
wall has first and second inside walls laterally spaced
from each other on opposite sides of the drinking well
pocket, said boss portion having upright surfaces located
adjacent said first and second inside walls to
substantially block the flow of air from the drinking well
pocket into the chamber.
15. The drinker of Claim 11 wherein: the top wall
means has an inner plastic shell, an outer inner plastic
shell, and space between said shells, and foam plastic
insulation means in said space, and said tank means has an
inner plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and space
between said shells, and foam plastic insulation means in
said space.
16. The drinker of Claim 15 wherein: said tank
means and said top wall means are seamless one piece
structures made by a rotational molding process.
17. An animal drinker comprising: tank means
having generally upright wall means and a bottom wall
surrounding a chamber for accommodating water, means for
supplying water to the chamber, said wall means having
upright side walls and end walls, said end walls having
drinking well pockets open to the chamber and top of the

19
end walls for accommodating water, top wall means mounted
on the upright wall means covering said chamber, said top
wall means having downwardly directed baffle means
surrounding the means for supplying water to the chamber
extended into the chamber and spaced inwardly from the
upright side wall means and above the bottom wall whereby
water is located between the baffle means and upright side
wall means and in the drinking well pockets, said baffle
means having a bottom edge located below the normal level
of the water in the chamber, said baffle including portions
extended across the back of the drinking well pockets
providing back walls of the drinking well pockets, said
water flowing from the means for supplying water to the
chamber under the baffle means into the drinking well
pockets, means securing the top wall means to the upright
wall means, lid means for closing the drinking well
pockets, and means pivotally connecting the lid means to
the top wall means whereby the lid means normally close the
top of the drinking well pockets and an animal can lift the
lid means to povide access to the water in the drinking
well pockets.
18. The drinker of Claim 17 wherein: the tank
means is a one-piece seamless structure having an inner
plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and a space between
said shells made by a rotational molding process, and foam
plastic insulation means filling the entire space between
said shells.

19. The drinker of Claim 17 wherein: the top wall
means including the baffle means has an inner plastic
shell, an outer plastic shell, and space between said
shells, and foam plastic insulation means in said space.
20. The drinker of Claim 19 wherein: the inner
and outer plastic shells are a seamless one-piece structure
made by a rotational molding process.
21. An animal drinker comprising: tank means
having generally upright wall means and a bottom wall
surrounding a chamber for accommodating water, means for
supplying water to the chamber, said wall means having
upright side walls and an end wall, said end wall having a
drinking well pocket open to the chamber and top of the end
wall for accommodating water, top wall means mounted on the
upright wall means covering said chamber, said top wall
means having downwardly directed baffle means surrounding
the means for supplying water to the chamber extended into
the chamber and spaced inwardly from the upright side walls
and above the bottom wall whereby water is located between
the baffle means and upright side walls and in the drinking
well pocket, said baffle means having a bottom edge located
below the normal level of the water in the chamber, said
baffle means including a portion extended across the back
of the drinking well pocket providing a back wall of the
drinking well pocket, said water flowing from the means for
supplying water to the chamber under the baffle means into
the drinking well pocket, means securing the top wall means

21
to the upright wall means, lid means for closing the
drinking well pocket, and means movably connecting the lid
means to the top wall means whereby the lid means normally
closes the top of the drinking well pocket and an animal
can lift the lid means to provide access to the water in
the drinking well pocket.
22. The drinker of Claim 21 wherein: the tank
means is a one-piece seamless structure having an inner
plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and a space between
said shells made by a rotational molding process, and foam
plastic insulation means filling the entire space between
said shells.
23. The drinker of Claim 21 wherein: the top wall
means has an inner plastic shell, an outer plastic shell,
and space between said shells, and foam plastic insulation
means in said space, and said tank means has an inner
plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and space between
said shells, and foam plastic insulation means in said
space.
24. The drinker of Claim 23 wherein: said tank
means and said top wall means are seamless one-piece
structures made by a rotational molding process.
25. An animal drinker comprising: tank means
having generally upright wall means and a bottom wall
surrounding a chamber for accommodating water, means for
supplying water to the chamber, said wall means having
upright side walls and end walls, said end walls having

-22-
drinking well pockets open to the chamber and the top of
the end walls for accommodating water, top wall means
mounted on the upright wall means covering said chamber,
said top wall means having downwardly directed baffle means
surrounding the means for supplying water to the chamber
extended into the chamber and spaced inwardly from the
upright side walls and above the bottom wall whereby water
is located between the baffle means and the upright side
walls and in the drinking well pockets, said baffle means
having a bottom edge located below the normal level of the
water in the chamber, said baffle means including portions
extended across the back of the drinking well pockets
providing back walls of the drinking well pockets, said
water flowing from the means for supplying water to the
chamber under the baffle means into the drinking well
pockets, means securing the top wall means to the upright
wall means, and means normally closing the upper portions
of the drinking well pockets adapted to be movable by an
animal to provide access to the water in the drinking well
pockets.
26. The drinker of Claim 25 wherein: the tank
means is a one-piece seamless structure having an inner
plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and a space between
the shells made by a rotational molding process, and foam
plastic insulation means filling the entire space between
said shells.
27. The drinker of Claim 25 wherein: the top wall

-23-
means including the baffle means has an inner plastic
shell, an outer plastic shell, and spaced between said
shells, and foam plastic insulation means in said space.
28. The drinker of Claim 27 wherein: the inner
and outer plastic shells of the top wall means are a
seamless one-piece structure made by a rotational molding
process.
29. An animal drinker comprising: tank means
having generally upright wall means and a bottom wall
surrounding a chamber for accommodating water, means for
supplying water to the chamber, said wall means having
upright side walls and an end wall, said end wall having a
drinking well pocket open to the chamber and top of the end
wall for accommodating water, top wall means mounted on the
upright wall means covering said chamber, said top wall
means having downwardly directed baffle means surrounding
the means for supplying water to the chamber extended into
the chamber and spaced inwardly from the upright side walls
and above the bottom wall whereby water is located between
the baffle means and upright side walls and in the drinking
well pocket, said baffle means having a bottom edge located
below the normal level of the water in the chamber, said
baffle means including a portion extended across the back
of the drinking well pocket providing a back wall for the
drinking well pocket, said water flowing from the means for
supplying water to the chamber under the baffle means into
the drinking well pocket, means securing the top wall means

-24-
to the upright wall means, and means normally closing an
upper portion of the drinking well pocket adapted to be
movable by an animal to provide access to the water in the
drinking well pocket.
30. The drinker of Claim 29 wherein: the tank
means is a one-piece seamless structure having an inner
plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and a space between
said shells made by a rotational molding process, and foam
plastic insulation means filling the entire space between
said shells.
31. The drinker of Claim 29 wherein: the top wall
means has an inner plastic shell, an outer plastic shell,
and spaced between said shells, and foam plastic insulation
means in said space, and said tank means has an inner
plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and space between
said shells and foam plastic insulation means in said
space.
32. The drinker of Claim 31 wherein: said tank
means and top wall means are seamless one-piece structures
made by a rotational molding process.

Description

~Q1766~
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention pertains to water drinkers for
providing an outdoor source of drinking water for animals.
The water drinkers have insulated tanks and tops with
movable lids to prevent freezing of water within the tanks
in cold environmental conditions.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Stock drinkers have been constructed with tanks
insulated with foam or other insulated materials for
keeping the water from freezing during the winter months
and cool during the summer months. Examples of aminal
drinkers having foam plastic insulated walls are shown in
U.S. Patent 3,745,977 which issued to M. W. Martin on July
17, 1973, U.S. Patent 4,100,885 which issued to L. E.
Kapplinger on July 18, 1978, U . S . Patent 4,343,264 which
issued to K. L. Schafer and M. L. Peterson on August 10,
1982, and U.S. Patent 4,395,974 which ssued o K. L.
Schafer and M. L. Peterson on August 2, 1983. The8e
animal drinkers have inner and outer plastic walls
reinforced with glass fibers. The walls are separately
made and secured together. Foam plastic is then injected
into the space between the inner and outer walls. This
manufacturing procedure is labor intensive and expensive.
Tank-type watering devices have drinking wells
closed with a movable covers or lids. The animal raises a
lid to provide access to the water in the drinking well.
Float valve assemblies are used to automatically maintain
the level of the water in the tank. The float valve
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2017~
`_,
assemblies are isolated from the drinking wells with
baffles that extend downwardly from the inside of the top
wall of the watering devices into the water therein. The
baffles extend transversely between the side walls of the
tank. The baffles act as guides for directing convection
circulation of water in the tank.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The invention is directed to an animal watering
apparatuæ or drinker for animals such as hogs, cattle,
sheep, horses and the like. The drinker has a tank having
heat insulated walls of plastic foam insulation sandwiched
between seamless plastic shells made by a rotational
molding process. The tank has an end wall with a drinking
well pocket open to the chamber of the tank and the top of
the end wall. A top wall unit having heat insulated walls
of foam plastic insulation sandwiched between seamless
plastic shells closes the top of the chamber of the tank.
The top wall unit is made by a rotational mold process.
The top wall unit has downwardly directed continuous
baffle extended into the chamber and spaced inwardly from
the upright walls of the tank and above the bottom wall 80
that water is located between the baffle and the upright
wall means of the tank. The baffle has a bottom edge
located below the normal level of the water in the chamber
and a bo~s extended into the drinking well pocket. The
bo~s close~ the back of the pocket and prevent~ air from
flowing into the chamber. A float valve assembly is
located within the chamber below the top wall unit. The
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"~ 2017662
float valve assembly is connected to a water supply pipe
extended upwardly through a tube connected to the bottom
wall of the tank. The float valve assembly operates to
maintain a selected level of water in the chamber and
drinking well pocket. A lid pivotally mounted on the top
wall unit normally closes the top of the drinking well
pocket. An animal moves the lid to an open position to
provide access to the water in the drinking well pocket.
The lid will return to its closed position when the animal
moves away from the drinking well pocket. The insulation
of the tank and top wall unit and the normal circulation
of the water within the chamber and drinking well pocket
prevents the freezing of the water in the cold weather
environments without the use of an outside energy such as
heaters.
A preferred embodiment of the drinker has a tank
with generally upright side walls joined to a horizontal
bottom wall and upright end walls surrounding a chamber
for accommodating water. The end walls have drinking well
pockets open to the chamber and the top of the end walls.
Each end wall has first and second inside walls laterally
spaced from each other on opposite sides of the drinking
well pocket. The tank has seamless inner and outer
plastic shells made by rotational molding process. The
space between the shell~ is filled with heat or
temperature insulation material, such as urethane or like
foam plastic to insulate the tank. A top wall unit is
mounted on the side walls and the end walls to cover the
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`_ 2017~62
chamber. The top wall unit has a downwardly directed
continuous baffle containing insulation material that
extends into the chamber and is spaced inwardly from the
upright side walls and above the bottom wall 80 that water
is located between the baffle and the upright side walls
and in the pockets. The baffle has a bottom edge that is
located below the normal level of the water in the
chamber. Bosses on the top wall unit extend into the
drinking well pockets to provide the back walls for the
dr;nk;ng well pockets. The bosses have upright surfaces
located in surface engagement with the first and second
inside walls of the end walls to block the flow of air
from the pockets into the chamber. The top unit has an
enclosed space accommodating a float valve assembly
operable to maintain a level of water in the chamber and
pockets. The float valve assembly is mounted on an
upright pipe extended through a tube connected to the
bottom wall of the tank. A plurality of fasteners
releasably connect the top wall unit to the tank. Lids
extend over the top of the end wall~ to close the top of
the drinking well pocket~. Hinges pivotally connect the
lids to the top wall unit ~o that an animal can lift the
lid and drink water from the drinking well pockets. When
the animal leaves the drinker the lids will automatically
return to their closed positions over the top of the
dr;nk;ng well pockets.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the animal
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~76~62
drinker of the invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the animal drinker
of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the left
end of the animal drinker of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4
of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line
5-5 of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6
of Figure 4;
Figure 7 i~ a sectional view taken along line 7-7
of Figure 4;
Figure 8 i8 a top view of the tank of the animal
drinker of Figure 1;
Figure 9 is a bottom view of the cover and lids of
the animal drinker of Figure 1; and
Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the
tank, cover and lids of the animal drinker of Figure 1.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawing, there is shown an animal
watering apparatus or drinker indicated generally at 10
used to provide fresh water for animal~, such as cattle,
hogs, sheep, horses and the like in an outdoor environment
under cold weather condition~. Animal drinker 10 has a
generally rectangular open top tank indicated generally at
11 having an internal chamber 12 for accommodating a
supply of water 13. The top of tank 11 is closed with a
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2a~7~6~
top unit indicated generally at 14. Top unit 14 ~upports
lids 16 and 17 that normally cloRe drinking well pockets
18 and 19 in opposite ends of tank 11. The animals lift
lids 16 and 17 to provide access to the water in drinking
well pockets 18 and 19.
Drinker 10 is supported on a concrete ~lab 21 or
floor in the feed lot. An underground water pipe Z2
extends upwardly through ~lab 21 and the bottom of tank 11
into chamber 12. A upright tube 23 has a lower end
threaded into a threaded hole 24 in the bottom of tank 11.
Water pipe 22 extends upwardly through tube 23. The upper
end of pipe 22 is connected to a float valve as~embly 26
located under top unit 14 for controlling the ~upply of
water to chamber 12 and drinking well pockets 18 and 19.
Float valve a~embly 26 ha~ an arm 27 connected at its
outer end to a float 28 which re~ts on the ~urface of
water 13. A~ the level of water 13 drop~ below a
pre~elected level, float 28 move~ downwardly with arm 27
to open valve 26 so that water is discharged into chamber
12. As the water level rises float 28 move~ upwardly to
clo~e valve 26 and thereby regulate the level of water 13
in chamber 12 below float valve a~sembly 26. Float valve
assembly 26 can be any of the usual float valves used in
tank~ to control the level of water in the tanks.
Example~ of float valves are shown in U.S. Patent
3,835,882 which i~ued to B. A. Barker and R. L. Daggett
on September 17, 1974, and U.S. Patent 4,395,974 which i~e
to K. L. Schafer and M. L. Peterson on August 2, 1983.
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201 7662
Tank 11 has generally upright side walls 29 and 31
joined to a horizontal bottom wall 32. Upright end walls
33 and 34 complete the tank. The lower portions of end
walls 33 and 34 have outwardly directed flanges 36 and 37
provided with side notches 38 and 39 for accommodating
fasteners for securing the drinker to slab 21. The walls
of tank 11 have an outer ~hell 41 and an inner shell 42.
The space between the inner and outer 8hells 41 and 42 is
filled with a temperature insulation core 43, such as foam
plastic including but not limited to urethane, polystyrene
foam and the like. The inner and outer shells 41 and 42
and flanges 36 and 37 are a one piece seamless unit made
by a rotational molding process. The insulation core 43
is introduced into the space between shells 41 and 42
after the molding process has been completed. The core
plastic material, such as urethane foam, reacts within the
space to fill the entire space with foamed plastic. The
seamless double wall construction of the tank prevents
water leakage and provides strength and durability to the
entire tank.
As shown in Figure 8, end wall 34 has an upright
inside walls 44, 46, and 47 forming drinking well pocket
18. Walls 44, 46, and 47 have an upper generally U-shaped
lip 48 that extends upwardly and inwardly adjacent the
upper front and sides of drinking well pocket 18. The
opposite end 33 of tank 11 has inside walls 49, 51 and 52
forming dr~ nk~ ng well pocket 19. The upper portions of
walls 49, 5O and 52 have a U-shaped lip 53 that extends
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- 20 1 76~2
upwardly and inwardly toward top unit 14.
As shown in Figures 5 and 8, ~ide wall 29 has a
upper inwardly directed shoulder 54 supporting a seal 56.
An upwardly directed rib 57 is located outwardly of
shoulder 54. Shoulder 54 and rib 57 have opposite
transverse ends that extend to lips 48 and 53. Side wall
31 has an inwardly directed shoulder 58 8upporting a seal
59. An upwardly directed rib 61 is located outwardly of
shoulder 58. Opposite transverse ends of shoulder 58 and
rib 61 are joined to ends of lips 48 and 53.
Top unit 14 has a top wall 62 closing the top of
tank 11. Top wall 62 has a downwardly directed generally
rectangular baffle indicated generally at 63, surrounding
an enclosed space 76 for accommodating float valve
a~sembly 26. Baffle 63 has generally parallel side baffle
wall~ or members 64 and 66, a~ shown in Figure 5, spaced
inwardly from the inside shell 42 of tank 11. The spaces
67 and 68 between baffle member~ 64 and 66 and the inner
surfaces of side walls 29 and 31 of tank 11 accommodate
air and water which provides additional insulation for the
water below space 76 and float valve a~sembly 26. Small
holes 75 in baffle 63 located above the high or full water
level allow air to flow into and out of space 76.
Referring to Figure 4, baffle 63 has end baffle
members 69 and 72 that extend acro~ the back of drinking
well pockets 18 and 19. End baffle member 69 has a
generally rectangular boss 71 that extends into drinking
well pocket 19. As seen in Figure 7, bo.~s 71 extends into
_9 _

2017C62
-
drinking well pocket 19 forming the back wall of drinking
well pocket 19. Opposite sides of boss 71 are located in
engagement with inside walls 49 and 52 to prevent air from
flowing into spaces 67 and 68 adjacent side walls 64 and
66 of baffle 63 and thereby maintain the temperature
insulating characterisics of the air and water in spaces
67 and 68. As seen in Figure 9, end baffle member 72 has
an outwardly directed bos~ 73. Boss 73 extends into
dr; nk; ng well pocket 18 to close the rear of drinking well
pocket 18 and providing a back wall for the pocket. The
opposite sides of boss 73 engage the inside walls 44 and
47 to prevent air from flowing into spaces 67 and 68 to
maintain the insulation features of the air and water in
spaces 67 and 68. Bosses 71 and 73 also position top unit
14 on tank 11. Top unit 14 is keyed onto tank 11 with
bosses 71 and 73.
Baffle 63 has a continuous generally rectangular
lower edge 74 located above bottom wall 32 80 that water
can circulate under baffle 63 from chamber 12 into
drinking well pockets 18 and 19. Top unit 14 has a first
inside section 77 that rest~ on seal 56 and a second
inside section 78 that rests on seal 59. Outwardly
directed side edges 79 and 81 ; oined to sections 77 and 78
respectively rest on the tops of sribs 57 and 61 of side
walls 29 and 31. A plurality of bolts 83 extended through
holes 82 secure top unit 14 to tank 11. Bolts 83 hold the
inside sections 77 and 78 in a tight sealing relation with
seals 56 and 59 to minimize the 1088 of heat from the
-10-

2017~62
water in chamber 12 and the entrance of cold outside air
into the interior of the drinker.
Top unit 14 is a seamless one piece structure
having an outside shell 84 and an inside shell 86. A
temperature or heat insulation core 87, such as urethane
or polystyrene foam and the like, i9 located between
shells 84 and 86. Shells 84 and 86 are rotationally
molded as a one piece unit. The temperature insulation
core 87, such as urethane foam, is injected into the space
between shells 84 and 86 to complete top unit 14. The
entire space between shells 84 and 86 is filled with the
foam plastic of in8ulation core 87.
Referring to Figure 2, top unit 14 has a generally
rectangular first extension 88 located between inwardly
directed ears 89 and 91 of lid 16. A transverse pivot rod
92 pivotally connects ears 89 and 91 to extension 88 so
that lid 16 can be moved upwardly to open the top of
drinking well pocket 18. The upper edge of lid 16 engages
the top of extension 88 when lid 16 is open to prevent lid
16 from falling back unto top wall 62. The outer edge of
lid 16 projects outwardly from end wall 34 and supports a
generally U-shaped member 93, such as a metal channel, to
protect lid 16 from the animals. A plurality of fasteners
94, such as rivets, bolts and the like, secure member 93
to lid 16. As seen in Figure 4, lid 16 has an enlarged
downwardly directed bottom section 96 which contains
temperature insulation material that fits into the top of
drinking well pockst 18 to reduce heat loss of the water
-1 1 -

`- 2017662
in the drinking well pockets.
Top unit 1~, as seen in Figure 2, has a second
outwardly directed extension 97 opposite extension 88
located between ears 98 and 99 of lid 17. A transverse
pivot rod 101 pivotally connects lid 17 to extension 97.
The upper edge of lid 17 engages the top of extension 97
when lid 17 is open to prevent lid 17 from falling back
unto top wall 62. The outer lower edge of lid 17 has a
transverse U-shaped member 102, such as a metal channel,
located about the end of lid 17 which projects outwardly
from end wall 33. A plurality of fasteners 103 secure
member 102 to lid 17. As seen in Figure 4, lid 17 has a
downwardly directed enlarged bottom section 104 that
extends into the top of drinking well pocket 19 to reduce
the heat loss of the water from drinking well pocket 19.
Water is drained from chamber 12 through drain
holes 106 and 107 in the bottom of ~ide wall 29 shown in
broken lines in Figure 8. Returning to Figure 1,
removeable plugs 108 and 109 fit into holes 1 o6 and 107 to
retain water in chamber 12.
Tank 11 and top unit 14 are separate seamless
one-piece units that are made by a rotational mold proce~s
and are subsequently filled with an insulated material,
such as foam plastic. Lids 16 and 17 are pivotally
mounted on extensions 88 and 97 with pivot rods 92 and
101. As shown in Figure 10, top unit 14 is assembled onto
tank 11 by moving the top unit down as indicated by the
arrows 111 into the chamber 12 to enclose the float valve
-12-

2~l76s2
assembly 26 within the space 76 under top unit 14. Baffle
63 extends downwardly into chamber 12 with the bottom wall
74 thereof spaced above the bottom wall 32 of the tank.
The baffle side walls 64 and 66 are laterally spaced from
the adjacent walls of the tank so that water is free to
circulate around the outside of baffle 63 to minimize heat
loss from the water within chamber 12. As shown in Figure
4, tube 23 functions as a water overflow pipe as well as a
pas~age for accommodating water inlet pipe 22. Air can
flow through holes 75 in baffle 63 and also flow through
pipe 23 into and out of space 76 during the time that the
water level in chamber 12 drops. Also, excess air in
chamber 76 is free to flow through pipe 23 back into the
ground below slab 21. The air pressure in space 76 is
substantially the same as ambient air pressure so that the
air in space 76 does not effect the level of water in
chamber 1 2.
While there has been shown and described a
preferred embodiment of the animal drinker of the
invention it is understood that changes in the structure,
materials, and arrangement of the structure can be made by
those skilled in the art without departing from the
invention. The invention is defined in the following
claims.

Representative Drawing