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EP-4740729-A1 - DRINKING TROUGH FOR AN ANIMAL

EP4740729A1EP 4740729 A1EP4740729 A1EP 4740729A1EP-4740729-A1

Abstract

A drinking trough (100) for an animal, such as a cow, the drinking trough comprising a receiving space (101) arranged for receiving a liquid (104), preferably water, wherein the receiving space is provided with an access opening (102) for allowing the animal to access the receiving space, an emitter unit (200) arranged for emitting UV radiation (201), preferably UV-C radiation, a cover arrangement (300) comprising a cover element (500) arranged for being above, below or at least partially provided below a surface of the liquid in the receiving space, during use, when the liquid is received by the receiving space, wherein the emitter unit is provided at a side of the cover element facing towards a bottom of the receiving space.

Inventors

  • EBBERS, JOHAN MARTIN WILHELMUS

Assignees

  • Ebbers Metalworks B.V

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251008

Claims (15)

  1. A drinking trough (100) for an animal, such as a cow, the drinking trough (100) comprising: - a receiving space (101) arranged for receiving a liquid (104), preferably wherein the liquid (104) is water, wherein the receiving space (101) is provided with an access opening (102) for allowing the animal to access the receiving space (101); - an emitter unit (200) arranged for emitting UV radiation (201), preferably UV-C radiation; - a cover arrangement (300) comprising a cover element (500), wherein the cover element (500) is arranged for being provided above, below or at least partially below a surface (105) of the liquid (104) in the receiving space (101), during use, when the liquid (104) is received by the receiving space (101), wherein the emitter unit (200) is provided at a side of the cover element (500) facing towards a bottom of the receiving space (101).
  2. The drinking trough according to claim 1, wherein the drinking trough comprises a UV absorbing material and/or liner for absorbing UV radiation emitted, during use, by the emitter unit, wherein the UV absorbing material and/or liner is provided in the receiving space and/or wherein a wall (106) delimiting the receiving space (101) is provided with the UV absorbing material and/or liner.
  3. The drinking trough according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drinking trough comprises a liquid inlet (401) and/or a liquid outlet (402), wherein the liquid inlet (401) is arranged for allowing liquid (104) to enter the receiving space (101) and wherein the liquid outlet (402) is arranged for allowing removal of the liquid from the receiving space (101), preferably wherein at least one of the liquid outlet (402) and the liquid inlet (401) is positioned below the cover element (500).
  4. The drinking trough according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the emitter unit is provided at a position that, during use, is at or below the surface of the liquid, preferably below the surface of the liquid.
  5. The drinking trough according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the emitter unit comprises two or more emitter units (201, 202) arranged for emitting UV radiation (201).
  6. The drinking trough according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the emitter unit is arranged for emitting light at a wavelength in the range of 100 to 280 nm, preferably 180 to 280 nm, more preferably 200 to 280 nm.
  7. The drinking trough according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover element has a density higher than the liquid in the receiving space.
  8. The drinking trough according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover element is arranged for absorbing and/or reflecting UV radiation emitted, during use, by the emitter unit, preferably arranged for absorbing and/or reflecting UV-C radiation.
  9. The drinking trough according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, during use, an upper surface of the cover element encloses a sharp angle with the surface of the liquid, preferably, wherein the sharp angle is at least 1 degree.
  10. The drinking trough according to claim 9, wherein the upper surface of the cover element is curved in a direction away from the surface of the liquid.
  11. The drinking trough according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover element is arranged for being moved, by the animal, towards the bottom of the receiving space.
  12. The drinking trough according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drinking trough comprises fastening means for fastening the emitter unit and/or cover arrangement to a wall of the drinking trough.
  13. The drinking trough according to claim 12, wherein the fastening means are arranged for allowing to lift the emitter unit and/or cover arrangement above the surface of the liquid.
  14. A kit of parts for a drinking trough (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: - an emitter unit (200) arranged for emitting UV radiation (201), preferably UV-C radiation; - a cover arrangement (300) comprising a cover element (500), wherein the cover element (500) is arranged for being provided above, below or at least partially below a surface (105) of the liquid (104) in the receiving space (101), during use, when the liquid (104) is received by the receiving space (101).
  15. The kit of parts according to claim 14, further comprising a liner for absorbing UV radiation emitted, during use, by the emitter unit, wherein the UV absorbing liner is provided in the receiving space.

Description

The present invention pertains to a drinking trough for an animal, such as a cow. Drinking troughs for animals are present in many, if not all, places where animals are kept. Animals such as, but not limited to, cows have access to these drinking troughs in order to provide them with the necessary drinking water. These drinking troughs come in a multitude of shapes and sizes but can be generalized as having a receiving space arranged for receiving a liquid. When the animal drinks from a drinking through it is highly desired that the water is clean, i.e. without a substantial amount of contamination such as bacteria or the like. Clean drinking water is beneficial to the animal. Having clean drinking water promotes water as well as food intake and prevents illness. Hence, clean and healthy drinking water is pertinent in view of production (e.g. milk production) and animal health. Within the context of the present disclosure, clean and healthy drinking water is to be understood as drinking water with a relative low concentration of contamination from bacteria or the like. Drinking water in drinking troughs is typically of low quality due to the growth of microorganisms such as, but not limited to, bacteria, viruses, fungi, molds, and other pathogens, in said drinking water. The microorganisms are introduced e.g. via the air or by the animal and can multiplate quickly, especially when temperatures of the water and/or surroundings are high, for example during summertime. Furthermore, drinking water may be contaminated at the source e.g. due to the presence of microorganisms in the water pipes that supply water to the drinking trough. An objective of the present invention is to provide clean and healthy drinking water for an animal, such as a cow. The problem may thus be formulated as the provision of clean drinking water for an animal, such as a cow. The object of the invention is achieved by the means according to the invention and as further elucidated in the description below. Drinking trough for an animal In a first aspect of the invention, provided is for a drinking trough for an animal, such as a cow, the drinking trough comprising: a receiving space arranged for receiving a liquid, preferably wherein the liquid is water, wherein the receiving space is provided with an access opening for allowing the animal to access the receiving space;an emitter unit arranged for emitting UV radiation, preferably UV-C radiation;a cover arrangement comprising a cover element (500), wherein the cover element (500) is arranged for being provided, above, below or at least partially below a surface of the liquid in the receiving space, during use, when the liquid is received by the receiving space, wherein the emitter unit is provided at a side of the cover element facing towards a bottom of the receiving space. The drinking trough according to the invention comprises a receiving space arranged for receiving a liquid, preferably wherein the liquid is water, wherein the receiving space is provided with an access opening for allowing the animal to access the receiving space. More specifically, the access opening allows the animal to reach liquid present in the receiving space for drinking purposes. The drinking trough according to the invention further comprises an emitter unit arranged for emitting UV radiation, preferably UV-C radiation. Highly advantageously, the emitter unit according to the invention eliminates microorganism contaminants in the water by emitting UV radiation, thereby providing for clean and healthy drinking water. In other words, the emitter unit according to the invention disinfects the drinking water due to the emission of UV radiation. When used in accordance with the invention, eliminating a microorganism refers to killing, inactivating, halting growth or the like. This may be achieved due to damaging of the DNA, by the UV radiation, of the microorganism. Elimination of microorganisms using ultraviolet irradiation may also be referred to as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI). UVGI is a disinfection technique employing ultraviolet (UV) light, particularly UV-C (180 to 280 nm), to kill or inactivate microorganisms. In a preferred embodiment, the emitter unit according to the invention emits UV-C radiation. UV-C radiation (e.g. 180 to 280 nm) is highly advantageous as it is known to efficiently eliminate microorganisms such as bacteria, i.e. UV-C is germicidal. In an embodiment, the emitter unit according to the invention emits UV-B radiation. In another embodiment, the emitter unit according to the invention emits UV-A radiation. In another embodiment, the emitter unit according to the invention emits UV-A radiation (315 to 400 nm), UV-B radiation (280 to 315 nm), UV-C radiation (100 to 280 nm), far-UVC radiation (200 to 235 nm), or a combination thereof. Whilst the germicidal effect of UV-C radiation is well understood and often used, UV-B and/or UV-A radiation can be used to eliminate microorgan