초록 ▼

A breather cap assembly is provided which is configured to be connected to a stand-tube used in a watering system. When the watering system is in normal operation, the breather cap assembly is configured to allow for air to flow between the outside the assembly and the stand-tube. The breather cap a

A breather cap assembly is provided which is configured to be connected to a stand-tube used in a watering system. When the watering system is in normal operation, the breather cap assembly is configured to allow for air to flow between the outside the assembly and the stand-tube. The breather cap assembly also provides for structure which acts as a baffle to minimize the introduction of foreign material from outside the breather cap assembly into the stand-tube. When the watering system is in flushing operation, the breather cap assembly is configured to seal off the stand-tube in order to minimize the possibility of water leaving the stand-tube. The breather cap assembly further also provides for structure which acts as a baffle to collect and retain a majority of any water that does leave the stand-tube during a flushing operation.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A watering system comprising: a watering line which is configured to receive water from a source;a pressure regulator which is configured to regulate a pressure of the water within the watering line;a plurality of nipple drinkers which are operatively associated with the watering line in order to

1. A watering system comprising: a watering line which is configured to receive water from a source;a pressure regulator which is configured to regulate a pressure of the water within the watering line;a plurality of nipple drinkers which are operatively associated with the watering line in order to provide water for drinking therefrom;a hollow stand-tube having a free end, the hollow stand-tube configured to hold water therein, the hollow stand-tube being operatively associated with the watering line; anda breather cap assembly associated with the hollow-stand tube, the breather cap assembly comprising: a body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and an aperture which extends through the upper and lower portions of the body, the lower portion being connected to the hollow stand-tube proximate to the free end thereof;a seal having an aperture provided therethrough, the seal being positioned within a portion of the aperture which extends through the lower portion of the body such that the aperture of the seal is in fluid communication with a portion of the aperture which extends through of the upper portion of the body;a cap which surrounds the upper portion of the body and which is secured to the lower portion of the body, the cap being positioned relative to the body to define a passageway between an outer surface of the body and an inner surface of the cap, and wherein the passageway allows for air flow therethrough such that air can flow from outside of the breather cap assembly, between the cap and the body, into and through the portion of the aperture which extends through e-f the upper portion of the body, into and through the aperture of the seal, and into the hollow stand-tube, and vice-versa; anda valve which is positioned within the hollow stand-tube and which is configured to float in the water within the hollow stand-tube, the hollow stand-tube, in conjunction with the valve, providing a visual indication of the water pressure in the watering line at the location of the hollow stand-tube via a height of the water in the hollow stand-tube, the valve further being configured to seal the aperture of the seal in order to minimize the possibility of water escaping out of the hollow stand-tube when the height of the water within the hollow stand-tube rises, thereby further preventing air flow between an outside of the breather cap assembly and the hollow stand-tube. 2. The watering system as defined in claim 1, wherein when the valve seals the aperture of the seal, the valve wedges the seal into a generally pyramidal shape to create a seal between the valve and the seal and between the seal and the body. 3. The watering system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a connector, the connector having a first end portion which is configured to be secured to the lower portion of the body and a second end portion which is configured to be secured to the hollow stand-tube proximate to the free end thereof. 4. The watering system as defined in claim 3, wherein an interior surface of the lower portion of the body is threaded, wherein an exterior surface of the first end portion of the connector is threaded, and wherein the interior surface of the lower portion of the body and the exterior surface of the first end portion of the connector are threadedly engaged to one another. 5. The watering system as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the body is generally V-shaped in configuration in order to collect any water that may have escaped through the aperture of the seal prior to the valve sealing off the aperture when the height of the water within the hollow stand-tube rises. 6. The watering system as defined in claim 5, wherein the cap has a flange extending inwardly therefrom toward the upper portion of the body, the flange being provided to minimize water from exiting the breather cap assembly that may have escaped through the aperture of the seal prior to the valve sealing off the aperture when the height of the water within the hollow stand-tube rises, to redirect such water to the upper portion of the body, and to minimize the possibility of material from outside the breather cap assembly entering the hollow stand-tube. 7. The watering system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cap has a flange extending inwardly therefrom toward the upper portion of the body, the flange being provided to minimize the possibility of material from outside the breather cap assembly entering the hollow stand-tube. 8. The watering system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cap has a flange extending inwardly therefrom which engages a portion of the upper portion of the body. 9. The watering system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cap and the body are releasably secured to one another. 10. The watering system as defined in claim 9, wherein the body has at least one helical thread and at least one flange extending outwardly from the lower portion thereof, and Wherein the cap has at least one helical thread extending inwardly therefrom and at least one extension portion extending downwardly therefrom, the at least one helical thread of the cap being configured to move along and over the at least one helical thread of the body until the at least one flange of the body is stopped from further movement by the at least one extension portion of the cap.