초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for accurately dispensing, monitoring, quantifying, and controlling liquids provided to one or more animals. In some embodiments, a standalone apparatus having a local user interface is coupled to a liquid source and drinking assembly to monitor, quantify, and control the liqu

A method and apparatus for accurately dispensing, monitoring, quantifying, and controlling liquids provided to one or more animals. In some embodiments, a standalone apparatus having a local user interface is coupled to a liquid source and drinking assembly to monitor, quantify, and control the liquid consumption of one or more specific animals. In other embodiments, multiple standalone apparatuses are each coupled to a liquid source and a respective drinking assembly to monitor, quantify, and control the liquid consumed through the respective drinking assembly. In this scenario, each of the standalone apparatuses shares one or more common remote user interface panels. In yet another embodiment, standalone apparatuses are networked to other standalone apparatuses. User workstations and central control panels resident on the watering apparatus network, or a third-party network interfaced to the network, allow liquid consumption to be monitored, controlled, and quantified both locally and remotely.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An apparatus for watering animals comprising: at least one control unit executing at least one algorithm; at least one flow measurement device coupled to said at least one control unit for measuring at least one flow of at least one liquid consumed by at least one of said animals; and

We claim: 1. An apparatus for watering animals comprising: at least one control unit executing at least one algorithm; at least one flow measurement device coupled to said at least one control unit for measuring at least one flow of at least one liquid consumed by at least one of said animals; and at least one purge mechanism coupled to said control unit; wherein said algorithm utilizes data collected from said at least one flow measurement device to quantify said at least one liquid consumed by said at least one of said animals; and wherein said algorithm utilizes data collected from said purge mechanism to increase at least one accuracy of at least one of said quantities of said at least one liquid consumed by said at least one of said animals. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one flow control device coupled to said at least one control unit for controlling at least one flow of at least one liquid consumed by at least one of said animals. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said at least one flow control device provides a feedback signal to said at least one control unit. 4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said at least one purge mechanism opens said at least one flow control device for a preset time period. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one totalizer coupled to at least one of the group consisting of said at least one control unit, said at least one flow measurement device, and combinations thereof. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one liquid pathway coupled to said at least one flow measurement device for receiving at least one liquid from a liquid source and providing said liquid to a drinking assembly. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising: at least one coupling coupled to said at least one liquid pathway for connecting said apparatus to at least one of the group consisting of said liquid source, said drinking assembly, and combinations thereof. 8. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising: at least one leak detection sensor coupled to said at least one control unit and said at least one liquid pathway. 9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said at least one purge mechanism purges air from said at least one liquid pathway. 10. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one interlock sensor coupled to said control unit for indicating at least one of the group consisting of connection of said apparatus to a liquid source, disconnection of said apparatus from said liquid source, connection of said apparatus to a drinking assembly, disconnection of said apparatus from said drinking assembly, a leak, and combinations thereof. 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said at least one interlock sensor includes at least one of the group consisting of a magnetic interlock sensor, an infrared interlock sensor, a mechanically-activated interlock sensor, and combinations thereof. 12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said algorithm indicates at least one of the group consisting of a high liquid flow condition, a low liquid flow condition, and combinations thereof based upon said data collected from said at least one flow measurement device. 13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said quantities of said at least one liquid consumed by said at least one of said animals is limited to at least one of the group consisting of a first quantity consumed during at least one dispensational period, a second quantity consumed during a drinking event, and combinations thereof. 14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus prevents said animal from performing a second drinking event until a predetermined time period lapses; and wherein said predetermined time period is measured from a conclusion of a first drinking event. 15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one purge mechanism is activated by at least one of said animals. 16. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one water sensor coupled to said at least one control unit. 17. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one user interface coupled to said at least one control unit for indicating at least one of the group consisting of a status, an alarm, and a totalized liquid consumption. 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said alarm is at least one of the group consisting of a per event consumption alarm, a per dispensational period consumption alarm, a system disabled alarm, a flow control device malfunction alarm, a control unit malfunction alarm, a communication failure alarm, a measured flow out-of-range alarm, a disconnection of said apparatus from a drinking assembly alarm, a disconnection of said apparatus from a liquid source alarm, and combinations thereof. 19. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one purge mechanism includes at least one of the group consisting of a water sensor, a second one of said at least one flow measurement device, and combinations thereof. 20. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one purge mechanism includes setting at least one value of said at least one algorithm to zero. 21. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one purge mechanism changes a value of at least one reset parameter of said at least one algorithm. 22. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first of said apparatus communicates with at least one of a second of said apparatus via a network. 23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said communication is bi-directional.