초록 ▼

A thermally controlled drinking water system for animals having a thermally insulated cabinet containing a water reservoir, a water bowl, a vapor-compression refrigeration water-cooling system, and an electric water heating system, maintains the drinking water at an optimal temperature in both hot w

A thermally controlled drinking water system for animals having a thermally insulated cabinet containing a water reservoir, a water bowl, a vapor-compression refrigeration water-cooling system, and an electric water heating system, maintains the drinking water at an optimal temperature in both hot weather and freezing weather conditions. The reservoir stores at least five days of water and automatically maintains the water bowl in a constantly filled condition through a water supply conduit and visual indicator indicates when the reservoir water level is getting low. The evaporator coil of the cooling system is engaged with the water bowl in heat exchange relation and electrical heating elements are engaged in heat exchange relation with the water bowl and reservoir. Cooling and heating operations are controlled by an ambient air temperature sensor on the cabinet exterior and a water temperature sensor on the side wall of the water bowl.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A thermally controlled drinking water system for animals, comprising: a thermally insulated housing containing a water reservoir and a drinking water bowl;a vapor-compression refrigeration system including a compressor disposed in said housing, a condenser coil connected with said compressor disp

1. A thermally controlled drinking water system for animals, comprising: a thermally insulated housing containing a water reservoir and a drinking water bowl;a vapor-compression refrigeration system including a compressor disposed in said housing, a condenser coil connected with said compressor disposed on the exterior of said housing, a refrigerant evaporator coil connected with said condenser coil and said compressor, and an expansion device disposed between said condenser coil and said evaporator coil, said evaporator coil engaged in heat exchange relation with said drinking water bowl for cooling water contained therein;an electric water heating system disposed in said housing including an electrical heating element engaged in heat exchange relation with said drinking water bowl for heating water contained therein;an ambient air temperature sensor on the exterior of said housing for sensing ambient exterior temperature conditions operatively connected with said vapor-compression refrigeration system operational during periods of hot weather to activate said refrigeration system upon sensing ambient temperature above a preset high temperature to cool water in said drinking water bowl, and a water temperature sensor operatively connected with said drinking water bowl and said vapor-compression refrigeration system to deactivate said refrigeration system upon the water in said bowl reaching a preset desired temperature so as to maintain water in said drinking water bowl below a preset high temperature; andsaid water temperature sensor operatively connected with said drinking water bowl and said electric water heating system operational during periods of cold weather to activate said electric heating element upon sensing a water temperature below a preset low temperature to heat water in said drinking water bowl, and to deactivate said heating element upon the water in said drinking water bowl reaching a preset desired temperature so as to maintain water in said drinking water bowl and said water reservoir above a preset low temperature;said vapor-compression refrigeration system, said electric water heating system, said ambient air temperature sensor and said water temperature sensor connected through control circuitry with an electrical power supply. 2. The thermally controlled drinking water system according to claim 1, wherein said electric water heating system has a first electrical heating element engaged in heat exchange relation with said drinking water bowl for heating water contained therein, and a second electrical heating element engaged in heat exchange relation with said water reservoir for heating water contained therein. 3. The thermally controlled drinking water system according to claim 2, wherein said water temperature sensor is operatively connected with said drinking water bowl and said water reservoir to activate said first and second electric heating elements upon sensing a water temperature below a preset low temperature to heat water in said drinking water bowl and said water reservoir, and to deactivate said first and second heating elements upon the water in said drinking water bowl reaching a preset desired temperature. 4. The thermally controlled drinking water system according to claim 1, wherein said water reservoir has a volume sufficient to contain from about 3 to about 5 gallons of water, and is connected with said drinking water bowl through a water supply conduit so as to automatically maintain said drinking water bowl in a filled condition;said water supply conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the interior of said reservoir tank and a second end disposed in said drinking water bowl such that upon the water level in said drinking water bowl dropping below said second end, air enters said reservoir through said water supply conduit allowing water to flow into said drinking water bowl, and upon the water level reaching said second end, air is preventing from entering said reservoir so as to maintain the water supply in the bowl at a constant level. 5. The thermally controlled drinking water system according to claim 4, further comprising: a water level switch mounted in said reservoir at a lower end thereof operatively connected with light emitting diodes on the exterior of said housing through said control circuitry to visually indicate a low water level condition in said reservoir. 6. The thermally controlled drinking water system according to claim 1, further comprising: a tip-over switch operatively connected with said control circuitry to shut off power supplied to the drinking water system upon sufficient angular displacement. 7. The thermally controlled drinking water system according to claim 1, further comprising: a ground fault safety breaker connected with said control circuitry. 8. The thermally controlled drinking water system according to claim 1, further comprising: a grounding rod connected with said control circuitry. 9. The thermally controlled drinking water system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical power supply is connected with said control circuitry by an armored power cable. 10. A thermally controlled drinking water system for animals, comprising: a thermally insulated housing containing a drinking water bowl;a vapor-compression refrigeration system including a compressor disposed in said housing, a condenser coil connected with said compressor disposed on the exterior of said housing, a refrigerant evaporator coil connected with said condenser coil and said compressor, and an expansion device disposed between said condenser coil and said evaporator coil, said evaporator coil engaged in heat exchange relation with said drinking water bowl for cooling water contained therein;an electric water heating system disposed in said housing including an electrical heating element engaged in heat exchange relation with said drinking water bowl for heating water contained therein;an ambient air temperature sensor on the exterior of said housing for sensing ambient exterior temperature conditions operatively connected with said vapor-compression refrigeration system operational during periods of hot weather to activate said refrigeration system upon sensing ambient temperature above a preset high temperature to cool water in said drinking water bowl, and a water temperature sensor operatively connected with said drinking water bowl and said vapor-compression refrigeration system to deactivate said refrigeration system upon the water in said bowl reaching a preset desired temperature so as to maintain water in said drinking water bowl below a preset high temperature; andsaid water temperature sensor operatively connected with said drinking water bowl and said electric water heating system operational during periods of cold weather to activate said electric heating element upon sensing a water temperature below a preset low temperature to heat water in said drinking water bowl, and to deactivate said heating element upon the water in said drinking water bowl reaching a preset desired temperature so as to maintain water in said drinking water bowl and said water reservoir above a preset low temperature;said vapor-compression refrigeration system, said electric water heating system, said ambient air temperature sensor and said water temperature sensor connected through control circuitry with an electrical power supply. 11. The thermally controlled drinking water system according to claim 10, further comprising: a tip-over switch operatively connected with said control circuitry to shut off power supplied to the drinking water system upon sufficient angular displacement. 12. The thermally controlled drinking water system according to claim 10, further comprising: a ground fault safety breaker connected with said control circuitry. 13. The thermally controlled drinking water system according to claim 10, further comprising: a grounding rod connected with said control circuitry. 14. The thermally controlled drinking water system according to claim 10, wherein said electrical power supply is connected with said control circuitry by an armored power cable.