Precision Watering Method and Apparatus

Abstract

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.

1 . An apparatus for watering animals, said apparatus comprising:
 at least one control unit executing at least one algorithm;   at least one flow measurement device coupled to said control unit for measuring at least one flow of at least one of liquid;   wherein said algorithm utilizes data collected from said measurement device to quantify at least one of said liquids consumed by at least one of said animals.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , said apparatus further comprising:
 at least one flow control device coupled to said control unit for controlling at least one of said flows of at least one of said liquids;   wherein said flow control device limits at least one quantity of at least one of said liquids consumed by at least one of said animals.   
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , said apparatus further comprising:
 at least one purge mechanism coupled to said control unit;   wherein said algorithm utilizes data collected from said purge mechanism to increase at least one accuracy of at least one of said quantities of at least one of said liquids consumed by at least one of said animals.