Water distribution methods and systems for livestock shipping containers on a shipping vessel
Water distribution systems and methods for continuously supplying drinking water to one or more shipping containers holding livestock throughout the duration of a shipment.
1. A water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel comprising:
a. at least two shipping containers, each shipping container adapted for transporting livestock, wherein the interior of each shipping container comprises a substantially vertical sidewall space in the interior of the shipping container and a substantially horizontal overhead space in the interior of the shipping container, and wherein at least one boundary of the substantially vertical sidewall space is formed from a vertical partition that comprises a series of vertical spaced members spaced to provide livestock access to at least one water bowl in the substantially vertical sidewall space, and wherein each shipping container further comprises a horizontal catwalk mounted on the vertical spaced members above the at least one water bowl in the substantially vertical sidewall space;
b. a ballast tank in the shipping vessel having drinking water stored therein;
c. a ballast pump in communication with the ballast tank;
d. an intermediate water storage tank which receives drinking water pumped from the ballast tank by the ballast pump;
e. at least one delivery line providing communication between each shipping container and the intermediate water tank for continuously supplying water to the at least one water bowl in each shipping container;
f. a circulation pump for continuously circulating drinking water through the at least one delivery line; and
g. a return line for returning circulated water from the shipping containers to the intermediate tank.
2. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said delivery lines feeds at least two shipping containers in series.
3. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said delivery lines branches into at least two supply lines which feed the at least two shipping containers in parallel.
4. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 wherein the at least two shipping containers each comprise a livestock storage area and a feed storage area formed from, wherein the feed storage area comprises the substantially vertical sidewall space and the substantially horizontal overhead space in the interior of the shipping container, and wherein each shipping container comprises water troughs located in the substantially vertical sidewall space of the feed storage area.
5. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 further comprising at least two supply lines connected to the delivery line in parallel for supplying water to shipping containers in parallel.
6. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 5 wherein the supply lines deliver water from the delivery line to individual shipping containers.
7. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 6 wherein each supply line is connected to the delivery line through a shutoff valve wherein individual supply lines can be shut off without effecting the supply of water to the remaining supply lines.
8. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 wherein the delivery line further comprises an insulated material.
9. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 wherein each shipping container comprises a feed partition dividing the interior of each shipping container into a livestock area and a feed storage area, the feed storage area comprising the substantially vertical sidewall space and the substantially horizontal overhead space, wherein the feed partition comprises the vertical partition and a horizontal partition.
10. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 wherein the at least one delivery line supplies drinking water to nose operated water bowls within each of the at least two shipping containers.
11. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 wherein the at least two shipping containers are configured for housing livestock while being loaded onto the shipping vessel.
12. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 further comprising a second circulation pump.
13. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel livestock according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate water storage tank is located within a shipping container.
14. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate water storage tank comprises a bladder.
15. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 further comprising a manifold in communication with the intermediate water storage tank for running more than one delivery line or more than one supply line to the shipping containers.
16. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 further comprising a common electrical power source.
17. The system water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 16 further comprising a transformer for stepping down the voltage of the electrical power source.
18. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 16 wherein each shipping container includes a transformer.
19. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 16 wherein the electrical power source: comprises at least one of: a gas powered generator, a solar powered generator, or a hydrogen generator.
20. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 16 wherein each container includes a control box for receiving electrical power, and wherein an array of containers are supplied electrical power in parallel.
21. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 16 wherein each container includes a control box for receiving electrical power, and wherein an array of containers are supplied electrical power in series.
22. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 wherein the water source is one selected from the group consisting of: a shipping container with a bladder, a tank within a container, and a modified ballast tank.
23. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 further comprising a manifold for receiving water from the water source though a delivery inlet line.
24. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 wherein the at least one delivery line comprises a plurality of delivery lines connected to a manifold for connecting the water supply to a plurality of shipping containers or groups of shipping containers.
25. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 24 wherein each of the delivery lines supply a plurality of shipping containers.
26. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 25 further comprising individual supply lines connected to the delivery line at shut off valves.
27. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 26 wherein the shut off valves are configured for shutting off individual supply lines.
28. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 26 wherein the supply lines are connected to individual shipping containers.
29. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 26 wherein the supply lines supply water to rows of shipping containers.
30. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate water storage tank comprises a water tank stored within a shipping container on the vessel.
31. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the substantially vertical sidewall space in each container extends from the bottom of the container to the top of the container.
32. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 1 , wherein each shipping container comprises a feed partition separating the interior of each shipping container.
33. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 32 wherein a catwalk is affixed to the feed partition of each shipping container.
34. The water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel according to claim 33 wherein the at least one water delivery line is in fluid communication with at least one nose operated water bowl located in the substantially vertical sidewall space of each container.