AU733999B2

AU733999B2 - Agricultural and garden spraying or sprinkling devices

Info

Publication number: AU733999B2
Application number: AU51842/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Tony Holmes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-15
Filing date: 1998-01-12
Publication date: 2001-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-12
Also published as: AU5184298A

Description

i 1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 TONY HOLMES

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Agricultural and garden spraying or sprinkling devices 999.9 9 *999 9 99 The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 4, 11 2 Agricultural and garden spraying or sprinkling devices Introduction The present invention relates generally to the field of agricultural garden spraying or sprinkling devices and in particular, the invention provides a movable base for a wobbling head sprinkler.

Background to the Invention Wobbling head sprinklers are known, which provide even water distribution over the range of the sprinkle head and large droplet size which results in improved performance in windy conditions. Such wobbling head sprinklers operate well in fixed installations with rigid delivery systems but in movable applications, the wobbling head causes spike style bases to vibrate out of the ground while bases that merely rest on the surface must have significant mass or large dimensions in order to provide adequate stability to prevent lawn damage due to vibration of the sprinkler or walking of the sprinkler.

Summary of the Invention .:According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a water ~sprinkler base for mounting a wobbling sprinkler head, the base having a ".head mounting port and an integral water delivery system to the head :mounting port and including a water chamber providing communication S 20 between a water inlet and the head mounting port, the water chamber having an internal volume which is wider and longer than it is high when the base is oriented with the head mounting port upper most, whereby the water chamber fills with water during use to add stability to the sprinkler and is 0arranged be emptied when not in use.

25 In a preferred embodiment, a wobbly sprinkler head s fitted to the sprinkler base.

000o a preferred embodiment of the invention, the water chamber is provided with a removable cap enabling additives, such as a soluble fertiliser, to be inserted into the water chamber for release during spraying.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of disbursing and watering in a soil additive including the step of placing a quantity of additive to be disbursed into a chamber in a sprinkler, the chamber providing a communication between an inlet and a wobbling sprinkler head of a sprinkler unit, and supplying water to the inlet of the sprinkler unit whereby the water chamber is caused to shake by motion of the wobbling head to facilitate dissolving of the additive material and the chamber having an internal volume which is wider and longer than it is high.

The preferred embodiment includes two interconnected pipes defining the extremities of the base of the sprinkler unit, the pipes forming a chamber and at least part of their length defining a water supply path Next text on page 3 :o o .o 'oo• i •o ooo e 3 between an inlet and the wobbler head mounted in a take-off point in one side of one of the pipes. Preferably, the pipes are in the shape of a T with the inlet located in the base of the T and the wobbling head mounted part way along the base of the T. In the preferred embodiment, a screw cap is located in one end of the pipes for insertion of additive to the chamber formed by the pipes. The location of the cap at one end of the cross piece of the T shaped base facilitates the use of solid rods, pellets or balls of additive loaded along the cross piece of the T.

Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention;: and Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention Referring to Figures 1 2, an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in which a wobbling sprinkler head 11 is mounted on a base generally indicated by an arrow 12 and including a snap-on hose connector screwed onto a 20mm bsp thread on a 20mm slip fitting to thread conversion piece 14. The conversion piece 14 is cemented on to a 25mm to 20 20mm reducing bush 15 with pvc pipe cement which is in turn cemented into a 25mm slip fitting 16 with 20mm internally threaded take-off 17. The take-off fitting has cemented into it, a connecting piece of 2511mm pipe 18, the other end of which is cemented into the centre portion 21 of a 25mmn T slip fitting 19 with the T fitting 19 and the take-off fitting 16 substantially abutting.

The two ends 22, 23 of the cross piece of the T fitting 19 each have a length of 25mm pipe 24, 25 cemented into them and the pipe lengths 24, are sealed at their outer ends by 25nim caps 26, 27 cemented onto the pipe lengths.

In an alternative embodiment, one or both of the cap fittings 26, 27 may be replaced by a fitting with a screw closure.

In use, a hose connected to the water supply is attached to the snapon hose connector 13 and the water turned on, causing the base to fill with water and provide water to the wobbling spray head fitting 11. The water in the base 12, provides additional mass to stabilise the spray fitting 11 which wobbles under the pressure of the water passing through it. The wobbling 4 head 11 has a nozzle 31 which directs a jet of water onto the underside of a deflector 32 provided with a central cone 33 and a number of radial grooves 34. Water pressure on the deflector 32 causes it to rotate or wobble such that the grooves 34 direct sprays of water in constantly changing directions. The sprays of water ejected from the head have a large droplet size and low trajectory making the sprinkler effective in windy conditions.

A further advantage that can be obtained from the sprinkler of the present invention is that the base can be loaded with an additive such as fertiliser, soil wetting agent or other advantageous additive such that the additive is carried through the spray head 11 in solution. Turbulence within the base and agitation caused by the wobbling head assist in dissolving the additive. If the sprinkler is to be used to distribute an additive, it is desirable to locate a gauze filter element at the inlet of the sprinkler head 11 to prevent solid particles from being drawn into the head and blocking the nozzle 31 of the head 11.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to S. 20 be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

o* .o

Claims

1. A water sprinkler base for mounting a wobbling sprinkler head, the base having a head mounting port and an integral water delivery system to the head mounting port and including a water chamber providing communication between a water inlet and the head mounting port, the water chamber having an internal volume which is wider and longer than it is high when the base is oriented with the head mounting port upper most, whereby the water chamber fills with water during use to add stability to the sprinkler and is arranged be emptied when not in use.

2. .The water sprinkler base of claim 1, wherein the length and width of the internal volume of the chamber extend for substantially the length and wisth of the base.

3. The sprinkler base of claim 1 or 2, wherein the water chamber is provided with a removable cap closing a port arranged to enable insertion of additives into the water chamber for release during spraying.

4. The sprinkler base of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the chamber includes two interconnected pipes defining the extremities of the base of the sprinkler S.unit.

The sprinkler base of claim 4, wherein the pipes form the entire 20 chamber. 0

6. The sprinkler base of claim 4 or 5, wherein at least part of the length of the interconnected pipes defines a water supply path between an inlet and the wobbler head.

7. The sprinkler base of claim 3, 4,5 or 6, wherein the head mounting 25 port is mounted in a take-off point in one side of one of the pipes.

8. The sprinkler base as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the pipes are in the shape of a T.

9. The sprinkler base of claim 8, wherein the inlet is located in the base of the T.

10. The sprinkler base of claim 8 or 9, wherein the head mounting port is located part way along the base of the T.

11. The sprinkler base as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a screw cap is located in one end of the pipes and arranged for insertion of additive to the chamber formed by the pipes.

12. The sprinkler base of claim 11, wherein the screw cap is located at one end of the cross piece of the T shaped base. 6 12. The sprinkler base of claim 11, wherein the screw cap is located at one end of the cross piece of the T shaped base.

13. A water sprinkler comprising the sprinkler base as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a wobbling sprinkler head mounted in the head mounting port,

14. A method of disbursing and watering in a soil additive including the step of placing a quantity of additive to be disbursed into a chamber in a sprinkler, the chamber providing a communication between an inlet and a wobbling sprinkler head of a sprinkler unit, and supplying water to the inlet of the sprinkler unit whereby the water chamber is caused to shake by motion of the wobbling head to facilitate dissolving of the additive material and the chamber having an internal volume which is wider and longer than it is high.

The method of watering as claimed in claim 14, substantially as hereinbefore described.

16. The sprinkler substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. The sprinkler base substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this twenty-third day of March 2001 •TONY HOLMES Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: o F.B. RICE CO.