.The present invention relates to a self-watering sys¬ tem for animal enclosures as defined in the preamble to claim 1. Self-watering systems of this type are used in cowsheds, pigsties and the like, thus enab- ling the animals to obtain fresh drinking water under reasonably hygienic conditions whenever they want it. Self-watering systems are used for different kinds of animals, for example for pigs kept in a pigsty. Self- watering systems for animals are to be found in var- ious forms, but they are normally designed for the watering of a single or merely quite few animals, in that the water from the system's drinking valve nor¬ mally runs directly down into the trough. When, for example, the animals involved are pigs in a sty, the usual practice is to mount one drinking valve for every three pigs in the sty. It is normal that one,preferab¬ ly the lowest, of the so-called facing-work pigs on a pigsty is water-bearing, thus enabling self-watering valves to be mounted directly upon said pipe.

The self-watering system according to the present in¬ vention is characteristic in that it is provided with more than one outlet for drinking water.

What is achieved herewith is, for example, that one self-watering valve per pigsty can be sufficient, even though there are many pigs in the sty, and at the same time still ensure calm between the pigs, also during feeding.

With the embodiment of the watering system as defined in claim 2, a very practical system from the utiliza¬ tion point of view is achieved, in that the whole of the feeding trough can be watered at one time. Natur-

ally, the construction must be of a robust nature, so that it can stand up to the influence brought to bear .upon it by the animals.

With the embodiment of the system as defined in claim 3, what is achieved is that the animal which is thir¬ sty, i.e., the animal which activates the drinking valve, does not obtain sufficient water to drink by one activation, and will therefore again release a portion of water at the drinking valve. It is thus ensured that the other pigs in the sty receive an ample supply of drinking water, hereby preventing dis¬ quiet and fighting around the drinking water.

Employing the embodiment of the system as defined in claim 4, so that water comes out of the actual activ¬ ation nipple on the drinking valve, and that it is at this point that the least water is released, the thir¬ sty pig is encouraged more quickly to ^* activate the drinking nipple further in order to obtain more water.

With the embodiment of the system as defined in claim 5, a very practical system is provided which is easily mounted on the facing-work pipes across the trouσh in that, for example, the drinking valve is placed at a mid-point along the stall with the watering pipes ex¬ tending on either side of it, said pipes being arrang-. ed, for example, parallel with and secured to the fac¬ ing-work pipes themselves.

Employing the embodiment of the system as defined in claim. 6, it becomes much easier to distribute the am¬ ount of water correctly by adjusting the nozzles, or by replacing the nozzles with other nozzles in accord- ance with requirements.

A self-watering system for an animal enclosure in ac¬ cordance with the invention is shown in the accompany¬ ing drawing, where

Fig. 1 shows the self-watering system mounted on a water supply pipe, the whole seen from the side, and

Fig. 2 shows the same self-watering system, but seen from the front.

In the drawing is shown a water supply pipe 4 which can, ^' for example, be a facing-work pipe in a pigsty. At the point on the water supply pipe where the self -watering system is desired to be mounted, a suitable hole is drilled for the drinking valve 1, whose insert 5 is placed in the water supply pipe 4. The insert 5 can contain a sieve or other filter to remove the lar¬ ger impurities from the water, or merely comprise an ordinary water connection to the drinking valve 1. In the embodiment shown the drinking valve 1 is pro¬ vided with two watering pipes 2 which are arranged on each side of the drinking valve 1. The drinking valve is also provided with an activating nipple 3 which opens for the water for as long as it is activated, for example by a pig wishing to drink. The drinking valve also has a second water connection possibility, namely the water connection end 6, which can be used if the watering system is to be employed in a pigsty having no water-bearing facing-work pipes, but where an ordinary connection to the normal water supply in¬ stallation has to be made. Fig. 2 shows how the water¬ ing pipes 2 are provided with outlet holes 7 or 8. These outlet holes can be either quite ordinary holes drilled in the watering pipe 2, or they can comprise

inserted nozzles of various types.

When an animal, for example a pig, wishes to drink, it will activate the nipple 3, thereby opening the water supply which through the watering pipe 2 will flow out through the nozzles 7, 8. The drawing shows schematic¬ ally how the water flows out of the outlet holes 7, 8, in that the water is shown flowing from only some of the holes for the sake of clarity. The thirsty animal can thus drink the water which flows out of the outlet holes and runs down into the trough. It is quite common for the other animals in the sty to become thirsty, merely upon hearing the sound of the out-flowing wat¬ er, which in a normal pigsty often results in scuff- ling and disquiet when one pig wants to drink. With the self-watering system according to the present in¬ vention, these situations are avoided, the reason be¬ ing that the thirsty pig releases water. hrough sever¬ al outlet holes, thus providing sufficient drinking water for the other pigs in the sty. By making the watering pipes 2 sufficiently long, e.g. long enough to cover the whole trough not only is the water supply plentiful.- or .all, .but_ ample. ^" opportunity is provided for all the animals to get to the water and drink.

Moreover, a plentiful supply of drinking water for all the animals is ensured if the system is arranged in such a manner that the water flowing from all the out¬ let holes is not of equal amounts. Particularly if the system is arranged in such a way that the least water flows from the outlet holes nearest to the activation nipple 3, one can ensure that the thirsty pig repeat¬ edly activates the nipple to obtain water enough there where it stands. The thirsty pig thus provides a plen- tiful supply of water for the other pigs.

Instead of merely drilling holes in the watering pipe 2, said holes thus comprising outlet holes for drink¬ ing water, various ^* types of nozzles can be mounted in the watering pipe. This provides greater possibilities not only of adjusting the amount of water, but also of adjusting the manner in which the water runs out. If the nozzles mounted in the watering pipe disperse the water more than when the water merely runs out of drilled holes, the inconveniences of dust are much fewer -when-the .animals -are ^' being fed, in that a better moistening of the feedstuff is achieved. This requires, of course, that at least one of the pigs activates the nipple 3 during the feeding, but it is also naturally possible for the person feeding the pigs to activate the nipple for a .short period of time, thereby moist¬ ening all the feedstuff in the trough at one time.

The drinking-water _^ outlet hole which provides less water than the other outlet holes can be located in the activation nipple 3 itself. One can thus be quite sure that the thirsty pig wanting to drink is the one which receives least water, at any rate at the begin¬ ning.

Naturally, the self-watering system must be of robust construction, depending on the kind of animals being kept in the relevant enclosure. If a pigsty is invol¬ ved, it is very practical for the nipple to be provi¬ ded with two watering pipes, one on each side of the drinking valve. The watering pipes are thus arranged parallel with the facing-work pipes of the pigsty, and are thereby easy to fasten direct to the facing -work pipes. The watering pipes are secured with strong clamps, bolts and the like.

The number and the size of the outlet holes for drink¬ ing water with which the watering pipe is to be provi¬ ded will also depend on the kind of animals using the relevant enclosure. Where pigsties are concerned, one outlet hole for every approx. 5-7 cm has proved to be suitable. The watering pipes 2 can consist of ordinary pipes in which an appropriate number of holes of suit¬ able size comprise the outlet holes for drinking _ _ water.

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