CA1183564A - Pattern sprinkler head - Google Patents
Pattern sprinkler headInfo
- Publication number
- CA1183564A CA1183564A CA000395167A CA395167A CA1183564A CA 1183564 A CA1183564 A CA 1183564A CA 000395167 A CA000395167 A CA 000395167A CA 395167 A CA395167 A CA 395167A CA 1183564 A CA1183564 A CA 1183564A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- water
- nozzle
- opening
- source
- pattern
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B3/00—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements
- B05B3/02—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements
- B05B3/04—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet
- B05B3/0409—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet with moving, e.g. rotating, outlet elements
- B05B3/0418—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet with moving, e.g. rotating, outlet elements comprising a liquid driven rotor, e.g. a turbine
- B05B3/0422—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements driven by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet with moving, e.g. rotating, outlet elements comprising a liquid driven rotor, e.g. a turbine with rotating outlet elements
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
- B05B15/70—Arrangements for moving spray heads automatically to or from the working position
- B05B15/72—Arrangements for moving spray heads automatically to or from the working position using hydraulic or pneumatic means
- B05B15/74—Arrangements for moving spray heads automatically to or from the working position using hydraulic or pneumatic means driven by the discharged fluid
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
- B05B1/26—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with means for mechanically breaking-up or deflecting the jet after discharge, e.g. with fixed deflectors; Breaking-up the discharged liquid or other fluent material by impinging jets
- B05B1/262—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with means for mechanically breaking-up or deflecting the jet after discharge, e.g. with fixed deflectors; Breaking-up the discharged liquid or other fluent material by impinging jets with fixed deflectors
Landscapes
- Nozzles (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT An improved sprinkler (20) of the type adapted to rotate and create a predefined horizontal spray pattern around it. A rotating turbine (34) drives a cylindrical nozzle (44) assembly having a plurality of nozzle openings (52) therein. The nozzle openings deliver streams of water of variable length and volume. A pattern defining disk (40) is used to continuously and proportionately expose the nozzle openings (52) to the source of pressurized water according to a preset function of the instantaneous rotational position of the nozzle opening (52) as the cylindrical member (44) turns to create the spray pattern. The nozzle openings (52) supply a relatively constant volume of water to all portions of the pattern.
Description
P ~ _ D
The present invention relates to irrigation sprinkler heads of the ro-tary type, and, more particularly, to sprinkler heads dispersing water at a constant precipita-tion rate according to a preselected pattern.
~ urbine driven pop-up sprinkler heads o~ the type shown in my U.S. Patent No. 2,909,325 provided a step increase in the art of irrigationO Previously, rotary sprinklers were o~ the impact driven type wherein a high velocity stream of water deflected a spring-loaded hammer which nudged the sprinkler in a rotary direction about a vertical pin-axis upon its return. Whereas such impact driven sprinklers emitted a high precipitation rate water 1~ stream in order to effect the necessary Eorces to cause rotation, the pop-up type sprinklers of my aEorementioned patent employed a small water turbine wheel rotating at relatively high speed to eEfect slow rotation of a sprinkler nozzle turret on top. Accordingly, the emitted stream or streams of water Erom one or more nozzle openings in the rotating turret could be such as to efEect a low precipitation rate of water dispersal to maximlze water penetration t:o the desired area while minimizing undesired water runoff In my later issued U.S. Patent No. 3,85~,664, I
disclosed improvements to such turbine driven sprinlclers.
In particular, a bulkhead was disposed between the common source of water under pressure and the plurality of nozzle openings contained in a rotating turret. Each oE the nozzles terminated iQ an opening wiping over the surface of the bulkhead as the turret turned. By providing openings in the bulkhead, the pathways to the nozzles were selec-tively opened and shut as a function of the direction in which the particular is instantaneously facing. In this manner, a preestablished on/oEf spray pattern was put into the sprinkler head~ However, the preestablished pattern was limited to circular arcs.
In pattern sprinklers, a rectangular shape is very often desirable, as most garden and landscape areas are on rectangular lots surrounding rectangular buildings. Known sprinkler heads creating a rectangular spray pat-tern are of the fixed and oscillating type. The fixed type, having a plurality of holes ~n the top, generally does not distribute water evenly over the entire area and tends to be of a high precipi-tation rate type. The oscillating type is large and is generally not suited to the permanent irrigation systems, but rather to connection to the end of a garden type hose for selective placement within an area to be watered on a time-by-time basis.
Furthermore, in those prior art sprinklers capable of watering a pre-established pattern, the size of the pattern is changed by increasing or decreasing the pressure of the water supplied to the sprinkler. By doubling the pressure, the area coverable by the prior art sprinklers increases by approximately four times. However, the gallonage discharged by the sprinkler nozzles only increases by a factor of 1.41 (the square root of 2).
Accordingly, the precipitation rate is greatly reduced when the prior art sprinklers are used to cover a larger area by increasing the pressure of the water supplled to the sprinklers.
Accordingly, it is the principal aim of the present invention to discharge water from a sprinkler head over a pre-selected pattern at a constant precipitation rate.
The present invention seeks to provide in an irrigation sprinkler head adapted for connecting to a source of pressurized water and havlng at least one nozzle which is revolved about a vertical axis by the flow of water between the connection to the water source and the nozzle to create a horizontal watering pat-tern from the water emitted from the nozzle, nozzle opening means for delivering a stream of water of variable volume and distance from said nozzle and means for continuously and pro-portionately exposing said opening means to said source of said pressurized water according to a present function of said nozzle's instantaneous rotation position as said sprinkler turns, whereby said sprinkler head will create a horizontal spray pattern of preset configuration and will supply a relatively constant volume of water to all portions of said pattern, the improvement wherein said nozzle opening means comprising: an opening for said nozzle shaped as a radial "V" cut from a plane parallel to said vertical axis of rotation to a plane normal to said axis and relative to a point exterior of said nozzle, with said V-shape oE said opening emitting a stream of water whose distance increases linearly with the exposed length of said opening means to said source of pressurized water and whose volume increases as the square of exposed length to supply a volume of water through said opening which increases as the square of distance of sa:id opening from said axis and with the radial shape of said opening directing said stream in a generally horizontal direction.
A constant precipikation rate is thereby maintained as the volume of water dispersed from the nozzle increases as the square of the distance of water must travel. The radial shape of the opening directs the stream of water passing therethrough in a ~- 3 -generally horizontal direction. The nozzle openinys are exposed to the source of pressurized water by a bulkhead positioned be-tween the openings and the water. The bulkhead has an opening defining the spray pattern to be produced.
The present invention is Eurther illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows an elevational view of a pop-up sprinkler according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the nozzle portion of the sprinkler shown in Figure l;
Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the nozzle of Figure 2, taken through the plane III-III;
Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the nozzle of Figure
The present invention relates to irrigation sprinkler heads of the ro-tary type, and, more particularly, to sprinkler heads dispersing water at a constant precipita-tion rate according to a preselected pattern.
~ urbine driven pop-up sprinkler heads o~ the type shown in my U.S. Patent No. 2,909,325 provided a step increase in the art of irrigationO Previously, rotary sprinklers were o~ the impact driven type wherein a high velocity stream of water deflected a spring-loaded hammer which nudged the sprinkler in a rotary direction about a vertical pin-axis upon its return. Whereas such impact driven sprinklers emitted a high precipitation rate water 1~ stream in order to effect the necessary Eorces to cause rotation, the pop-up type sprinklers of my aEorementioned patent employed a small water turbine wheel rotating at relatively high speed to eEfect slow rotation of a sprinkler nozzle turret on top. Accordingly, the emitted stream or streams of water Erom one or more nozzle openings in the rotating turret could be such as to efEect a low precipitation rate of water dispersal to maximlze water penetration t:o the desired area while minimizing undesired water runoff In my later issued U.S. Patent No. 3,85~,664, I
disclosed improvements to such turbine driven sprinlclers.
In particular, a bulkhead was disposed between the common source of water under pressure and the plurality of nozzle openings contained in a rotating turret. Each oE the nozzles terminated iQ an opening wiping over the surface of the bulkhead as the turret turned. By providing openings in the bulkhead, the pathways to the nozzles were selec-tively opened and shut as a function of the direction in which the particular is instantaneously facing. In this manner, a preestablished on/oEf spray pattern was put into the sprinkler head~ However, the preestablished pattern was limited to circular arcs.
In pattern sprinklers, a rectangular shape is very often desirable, as most garden and landscape areas are on rectangular lots surrounding rectangular buildings. Known sprinkler heads creating a rectangular spray pat-tern are of the fixed and oscillating type. The fixed type, having a plurality of holes ~n the top, generally does not distribute water evenly over the entire area and tends to be of a high precipi-tation rate type. The oscillating type is large and is generally not suited to the permanent irrigation systems, but rather to connection to the end of a garden type hose for selective placement within an area to be watered on a time-by-time basis.
Furthermore, in those prior art sprinklers capable of watering a pre-established pattern, the size of the pattern is changed by increasing or decreasing the pressure of the water supplied to the sprinkler. By doubling the pressure, the area coverable by the prior art sprinklers increases by approximately four times. However, the gallonage discharged by the sprinkler nozzles only increases by a factor of 1.41 (the square root of 2).
Accordingly, the precipitation rate is greatly reduced when the prior art sprinklers are used to cover a larger area by increasing the pressure of the water supplled to the sprinklers.
Accordingly, it is the principal aim of the present invention to discharge water from a sprinkler head over a pre-selected pattern at a constant precipitation rate.
The present invention seeks to provide in an irrigation sprinkler head adapted for connecting to a source of pressurized water and havlng at least one nozzle which is revolved about a vertical axis by the flow of water between the connection to the water source and the nozzle to create a horizontal watering pat-tern from the water emitted from the nozzle, nozzle opening means for delivering a stream of water of variable volume and distance from said nozzle and means for continuously and pro-portionately exposing said opening means to said source of said pressurized water according to a present function of said nozzle's instantaneous rotation position as said sprinkler turns, whereby said sprinkler head will create a horizontal spray pattern of preset configuration and will supply a relatively constant volume of water to all portions of said pattern, the improvement wherein said nozzle opening means comprising: an opening for said nozzle shaped as a radial "V" cut from a plane parallel to said vertical axis of rotation to a plane normal to said axis and relative to a point exterior of said nozzle, with said V-shape oE said opening emitting a stream of water whose distance increases linearly with the exposed length of said opening means to said source of pressurized water and whose volume increases as the square of exposed length to supply a volume of water through said opening which increases as the square of distance of sa:id opening from said axis and with the radial shape of said opening directing said stream in a generally horizontal direction.
A constant precipikation rate is thereby maintained as the volume of water dispersed from the nozzle increases as the square of the distance of water must travel. The radial shape of the opening directs the stream of water passing therethrough in a ~- 3 -generally horizontal direction. The nozzle openinys are exposed to the source of pressurized water by a bulkhead positioned be-tween the openings and the water. The bulkhead has an opening defining the spray pattern to be produced.
The present invention is Eurther illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows an elevational view of a pop-up sprinkler according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the nozzle portion of the sprinkler shown in Figure l;
Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the nozzle of Figure 2, taken through the plane III-III;
Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the nozzle of Figure
2, taken through the plane IV-IV; and Figure S shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the exposure of the nozzle opening to the water within the sprinkler of Figure 1 via the pattern bulkhead disposed - 3a -
3~
therein.
Referring more particularly to the drawings, Figure 1 shows an elevational view of a pop-up type sprinkler assembly, generally denoted 20. The specific improvement to a sprinkler of the present invention in its operating portion is primarily embodied in the pop-up type sprinkler assembly 20. A detailed description of such general assemblies can be seen in my aforementioned prior patent 3,854,~64. For purposes of the present invention, assembly 20 will be described only briefly. Inlet pipe 22 from a source of pressurized water leads into A closed sprinkler body 24. The body 24 has a cap 42 with a circular opening 23 in the top thereof through which a cylindrical member 28 is disposed capable of sliding vertically up and down l; through the circular opening 23. Cylindrical member 28 is biased in a downward direction by biasing spring 20 and by gravity. When pressurized water is introduced to the sprinkler body 24, cylindrical member 28 is forced upwardly through the circular opening 23 against the force of gravity and the biasing spring 26. When water pressure is turned off, cylindrical member 28 retracts once again into the body 24 through the circular opening 23. A cylindrical screen member 27 is disposed around cylindrical member 28 and has small openings to allow water to pass through but ko prevent the passage into the operating sprinkler mechanism oE particles sufficiently large as to Eoul the operating n~echanism.
Disposed within cyclindrical member 28 and moving in combination therewith is a turbine-gear motor drive, generally denoted 34. The bottom of cylindrical member 28 contains a stator 32 having a hole 30 through which water can pass and impinge upon an impeller 33 of the turbine-gear motor drive 34. ~s the impeller 33 is rotated by the water passing thoru~h the hole 30, a plurality of gears 3~ (not shown) attached thereto cause upper shaft 36 to be rotated slowly. Upper shaft 36 is attached to a generally ~3~
cylindrical nozzle assembly 44 according to the present invention, causing it to rotate. The nozzle assembly 44 rotates wi~hin a ring member 48 disposed benea~h the upper portion of the sprinkler body 24. The ring member 48 also engages the closing spring 26 and the screen 27 to maintain them in proper position within the sprinkler 20. ~ater passing around the turbine-gear motor drive 34 enters the nozzle assembly 44 and exits through the nozzle openings 52 to create emitted sprinkling water streams 56 as the nozzle assembly 44 rotates. The specific improve~ents of the present invention as incorporated within the known basic pop-up sprinkler mechanism will now be described.
From basic hydrodynamics, it is known that fluid pressure and distance are directly proportional, whereas lS flow rate (and corresponding volume) are in a square relationship to pressure. Thus, as the pressure of a stream of water is doubled, the volume oE water in the stream only increases by the square root oE two (1.41).
The only means of adjusting the sprinklers of the prior art to cover a larger area is to increase the pressure to the sprinkler head. Accordingly, if the pressure to a prior art sprinkler is doubled, the sprinkler head would throw water twice the distance. The amount of water from the sprinkler head, however, would only increase by 1.41. The 2S result is that larger patterns can only be watered at a lower preciptiation rate than smaller patterns with the prior art sprinklers.
As mentioned, the other problem with the prior art sprinklers is that the only type oE spray patterns coverable are rectangular spray patterns. The prior art sprinklers are not capable oE covering a nonrectangular spray pattern o~ arbitrary shape.
The present invention overcomes all of these limitations. Specifically, the nozzle assembly 44 is provided with a plurality of nozzle openings 52, as shown in more detail in Figures 2-S. As shown in Figure 2, each ~3~
~6--of the openings 52 is shaped in cross section to have a radial shape relative to a point exterior of the nozzle assembly 44. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, each of the nozzle openings 52 appears as a "V" shape relative to a plane normal to the axis of rotationO The noxzle assembly of the present invention produces a tight, well-knit plurality of streams due to the true arc curve oE the nozzle opening 52.
As shown in Figure ~, the nozzle assembly 44 is a generally cyldindrical element having a plurality of the nozzle openin~s 52. Attached to the nozzle assembly 44, via a screw 54 engaging a threaded opening 63 in the nozzle assembly 44, is a top cap 46. The top cap 46 limits the downward travel of the nozzle assembly 44 within the sprinkler body ~4 under the force of gravity and ~he closing spring 26. The cap 46 also has an integral helical toothed ring 60, as will be described hereinafter.
The nozzle assembly 44 can be a molded plastic part.
The one-piece molding of the present invention is to be contrasted with the nozzles of the prior art sprinklers which were two-part assemblies welded together.
Disposed beneath the nozzle assembly 44 is a bulkhead 40 having a spray pattern opening 39 therein, as shown in Figure 5. The bulkhead 40 is Eixedly mounted for non-2~ rotation in the sprinkler body 20 by means o-E a slot ~4 on the bulkhead 40 which engages a boss 62 extending outwardly Erom the inner housing 28. The bulkhead 40 rests upon a resilient sealing ring 38, which insures that all water passing Erom within the sprinkler body 20 to the environ-ment through the nozzle assembly 44 passes through thepattern opening 3g in the bulkhead 40.
The bulkhead 40 is preferrably of smooth, corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant metal such as stainless steel.
High strength, wear-resis-tant, graphite filled plastic has also been tried with some success. In operation, the spray pattern 39 in the bulkhead 40 direc~s the water from within ~ 3~
the sprinkler body 20 through the nozzle openings 52 as -the length o the nozzle openings 52 is instantaneously and continuously varied by the bulkhead 40.
With reference to Figure 5, one can easily envision how the exposed length of the nozzle openings 52 are changed as the nozzle assembly 44 rotates relative to the bulkhead 40. ReEerring to Figure 5, it is seen that the exposed length of the nozzle opening 5~ in the 9:00 o'clock position is significantly less than the e~posed length of the nozzle opening 52 in the 10:00 o'clock position. That is, the efective opening of each of the nozzles 52 is continuously varied as the nozzle assembly 44 rota-tes relative to the bulkhead 44. As a result, each oE the nozzle openings 52 will vary the projected distance oE
their associated water streams pro~ortionately to the length oE the exposed nozzle openings. Most importantly, the V shape of each of the nozæle openings (in a plane normal to the shaft 36) provides a volume of water which increases as the square oE the ]ength oE an exposure of the nozzle opening 52 via the bulkhead 44. That is, with reference to Figure 5, as the exposed length of the nozzle opening 52 in the 10:00 o'clock position is approximately twice the length of the exposed nozzle opening ~2 in the 9:00 o'clock position, the nozzle opening 52 in the 10:00 o'clock position will project a stream twice as Ear as the nozzle opening 52 in the ~:00 olclock position and ~ith four times the volume.
Accordingly, each nozzle emits a stream whose distance increases linearly with the length oE the exposed 3~ nozzle opening 52 and whose volume increases as the square of the exposed length of the nozzle opening 52. ThereEore, the limitation oE the prior art sprinklers in covering greater distances only by increasing the pressure, which effected a corresponding decrease in the volume metric flow rate has been overcome. The design oE the nozzle assembly 44 and the bulkhead 40 provides variable length streams o water at a constant volumetric ~low rate, thereby achieving a relatively uniform precipitation rate over the entire pattern to be watered. As should be obvious ~rom the foregoing, the spray pattern acheivable with the present invention can have any conEiguration employing straight or curved boundaries, or any combination thereof. A rectangu-lar spray pattern has ~een shown with the present invention only to make easier the explanation oE its operation.
The ~oregoing demonstrates the simplicity of the present invention and its eEfectiveness in not only in generatiny streams having a distance of throw directly proportional to the exposure of the nozæle opening to the water within the sprinkler body 24, but also in delivering the correct volume of water to each sector of the spray pattern.
It should be noted that an increase or decrease in the precipitation rate produced by the nozzle assembly 44 can be effected by changing the number of nozzle openings 52 in the cylindrical assembly 44. Prototypes of the ~0 invention have been made using 6, 9, 12 or 18 nozzle openings 52 to change the precipitation rate over the pattern to be covered. It has been found that 6 openings with ~ pounds of pressure will produce a uniform precipi-tation rate over a pattern which is 5 feet by 10 feet, while 18 openings with 30 pounds of pressure produces an even precipitation rate over a pattern of 25 ~eet b~ 55 feet. The precipitation rate is said to be constant insoEar as a 1.5 to 1 ratio oE precipiatation between the farther and closer areas oE the pattern is maintained.
Accordingly, the number of nozzles and the pressure of the water supply is selected according to the particular size of the pattern to be covered.
While the number of nozzle openings 52 may be changed to vary the precipitation rate produced by the nozzle assembly 52, it has been found that an optimum shape Eor each nozzle opening is as Eollows, with reEerence to Figure 35~
g 5. Dimension ~ is optimally on the order oE .015 inches, and dimension B is optimally 8 degreesO ~he radius o~
curvature of the curved portion oE the nozzle, (dimension C) in Figure 2 is approximately .6 inches.
~s noted above, difEerent pressures and different nozzle openings are used depending upon the si~e o~ the pattern to be covered. For correct operation oE the present invention, water at a relatively constant pressure must be supplied to the sprinkler body. In this regard, the inlet pipe 25 is preferrably connected to a pressure regulator to insure a uniform pressure. An internal pressure regulator may also be used with the invention.
The operation o~ the present invention is enhanced by the inclusion oE a generally helical toothed ring Z0 attached to the top cap 46 on the nozzle assembly 4~. This toothed ring, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, is usecl to deflect water Erom the nozzle openings 52 to an area closer to the sprinkler 20. The top cap 4~ is rotatable relative to the nozzle assembly 44 by way oE the screw 54 in the boss 63 Eormed within the nozzle assembly 44. By rotating the top cap ~6 downwardly, more of the teeth on the ring 60 are brought into contact with the emitted streams 5O to deflect them closer ~o the sprinkler 20.
The toothed ring finds application with large spray patterns and with corresponding high pressures in the sprinkler body to propel the streams to cover the patterns~
If the pressure is reduced to achieve a smaller pattern or area oE coverage, most of the water tends to fall in the outer perimeter of the pattern. Accordingly, by adjusting 3~ the helical toothed ring 60 downwardly, the teeth on the helical ring ~0 progressively encounters more of the emitted streams and deflects these streams to reduce the distance of throw. Thus, an increasing number of the streams can be pulled in to correct the distribution pattern that exists at low pressures. The toothed adjustment ring 60 is adjusted downward if there is not 33~
enough water close to the sprinkler 20 and is adjusted upward if there is too much water close to the sprinkler 20. ~s shown in cross section in Figure 2, the helical nature of the ring is ac`nieved by having smaller teeth 60a and larger teeth 60b on the ring.
The combination of the novel design oE the nozzle assembly 44 and the bulkhead 40 when combined with the helical toothed ring 60 acheives relatively uniform watering over a wide variety of spray patterns.
1~
therein.
Referring more particularly to the drawings, Figure 1 shows an elevational view of a pop-up type sprinkler assembly, generally denoted 20. The specific improvement to a sprinkler of the present invention in its operating portion is primarily embodied in the pop-up type sprinkler assembly 20. A detailed description of such general assemblies can be seen in my aforementioned prior patent 3,854,~64. For purposes of the present invention, assembly 20 will be described only briefly. Inlet pipe 22 from a source of pressurized water leads into A closed sprinkler body 24. The body 24 has a cap 42 with a circular opening 23 in the top thereof through which a cylindrical member 28 is disposed capable of sliding vertically up and down l; through the circular opening 23. Cylindrical member 28 is biased in a downward direction by biasing spring 20 and by gravity. When pressurized water is introduced to the sprinkler body 24, cylindrical member 28 is forced upwardly through the circular opening 23 against the force of gravity and the biasing spring 26. When water pressure is turned off, cylindrical member 28 retracts once again into the body 24 through the circular opening 23. A cylindrical screen member 27 is disposed around cylindrical member 28 and has small openings to allow water to pass through but ko prevent the passage into the operating sprinkler mechanism oE particles sufficiently large as to Eoul the operating n~echanism.
Disposed within cyclindrical member 28 and moving in combination therewith is a turbine-gear motor drive, generally denoted 34. The bottom of cylindrical member 28 contains a stator 32 having a hole 30 through which water can pass and impinge upon an impeller 33 of the turbine-gear motor drive 34. ~s the impeller 33 is rotated by the water passing thoru~h the hole 30, a plurality of gears 3~ (not shown) attached thereto cause upper shaft 36 to be rotated slowly. Upper shaft 36 is attached to a generally ~3~
cylindrical nozzle assembly 44 according to the present invention, causing it to rotate. The nozzle assembly 44 rotates wi~hin a ring member 48 disposed benea~h the upper portion of the sprinkler body 24. The ring member 48 also engages the closing spring 26 and the screen 27 to maintain them in proper position within the sprinkler 20. ~ater passing around the turbine-gear motor drive 34 enters the nozzle assembly 44 and exits through the nozzle openings 52 to create emitted sprinkling water streams 56 as the nozzle assembly 44 rotates. The specific improve~ents of the present invention as incorporated within the known basic pop-up sprinkler mechanism will now be described.
From basic hydrodynamics, it is known that fluid pressure and distance are directly proportional, whereas lS flow rate (and corresponding volume) are in a square relationship to pressure. Thus, as the pressure of a stream of water is doubled, the volume oE water in the stream only increases by the square root oE two (1.41).
The only means of adjusting the sprinklers of the prior art to cover a larger area is to increase the pressure to the sprinkler head. Accordingly, if the pressure to a prior art sprinkler is doubled, the sprinkler head would throw water twice the distance. The amount of water from the sprinkler head, however, would only increase by 1.41. The 2S result is that larger patterns can only be watered at a lower preciptiation rate than smaller patterns with the prior art sprinklers.
As mentioned, the other problem with the prior art sprinklers is that the only type oE spray patterns coverable are rectangular spray patterns. The prior art sprinklers are not capable oE covering a nonrectangular spray pattern o~ arbitrary shape.
The present invention overcomes all of these limitations. Specifically, the nozzle assembly 44 is provided with a plurality of nozzle openings 52, as shown in more detail in Figures 2-S. As shown in Figure 2, each ~3~
~6--of the openings 52 is shaped in cross section to have a radial shape relative to a point exterior of the nozzle assembly 44. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, each of the nozzle openings 52 appears as a "V" shape relative to a plane normal to the axis of rotationO The noxzle assembly of the present invention produces a tight, well-knit plurality of streams due to the true arc curve oE the nozzle opening 52.
As shown in Figure ~, the nozzle assembly 44 is a generally cyldindrical element having a plurality of the nozzle openin~s 52. Attached to the nozzle assembly 44, via a screw 54 engaging a threaded opening 63 in the nozzle assembly 44, is a top cap 46. The top cap 46 limits the downward travel of the nozzle assembly 44 within the sprinkler body ~4 under the force of gravity and ~he closing spring 26. The cap 46 also has an integral helical toothed ring 60, as will be described hereinafter.
The nozzle assembly 44 can be a molded plastic part.
The one-piece molding of the present invention is to be contrasted with the nozzles of the prior art sprinklers which were two-part assemblies welded together.
Disposed beneath the nozzle assembly 44 is a bulkhead 40 having a spray pattern opening 39 therein, as shown in Figure 5. The bulkhead 40 is Eixedly mounted for non-2~ rotation in the sprinkler body 20 by means o-E a slot ~4 on the bulkhead 40 which engages a boss 62 extending outwardly Erom the inner housing 28. The bulkhead 40 rests upon a resilient sealing ring 38, which insures that all water passing Erom within the sprinkler body 20 to the environ-ment through the nozzle assembly 44 passes through thepattern opening 3g in the bulkhead 40.
The bulkhead 40 is preferrably of smooth, corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant metal such as stainless steel.
High strength, wear-resis-tant, graphite filled plastic has also been tried with some success. In operation, the spray pattern 39 in the bulkhead 40 direc~s the water from within ~ 3~
the sprinkler body 20 through the nozzle openings 52 as -the length o the nozzle openings 52 is instantaneously and continuously varied by the bulkhead 40.
With reference to Figure 5, one can easily envision how the exposed length of the nozzle openings 52 are changed as the nozzle assembly 44 rotates relative to the bulkhead 40. ReEerring to Figure 5, it is seen that the exposed length of the nozzle opening 5~ in the 9:00 o'clock position is significantly less than the e~posed length of the nozzle opening 52 in the 10:00 o'clock position. That is, the efective opening of each of the nozzles 52 is continuously varied as the nozzle assembly 44 rota-tes relative to the bulkhead 44. As a result, each oE the nozzle openings 52 will vary the projected distance oE
their associated water streams pro~ortionately to the length oE the exposed nozzle openings. Most importantly, the V shape of each of the nozæle openings (in a plane normal to the shaft 36) provides a volume of water which increases as the square oE the ]ength oE an exposure of the nozzle opening 52 via the bulkhead 44. That is, with reference to Figure 5, as the exposed length of the nozzle opening 52 in the 10:00 o'clock position is approximately twice the length of the exposed nozzle opening ~2 in the 9:00 o'clock position, the nozzle opening 52 in the 10:00 o'clock position will project a stream twice as Ear as the nozzle opening 52 in the ~:00 olclock position and ~ith four times the volume.
Accordingly, each nozzle emits a stream whose distance increases linearly with the length oE the exposed 3~ nozzle opening 52 and whose volume increases as the square of the exposed length of the nozzle opening 52. ThereEore, the limitation oE the prior art sprinklers in covering greater distances only by increasing the pressure, which effected a corresponding decrease in the volume metric flow rate has been overcome. The design oE the nozzle assembly 44 and the bulkhead 40 provides variable length streams o water at a constant volumetric ~low rate, thereby achieving a relatively uniform precipitation rate over the entire pattern to be watered. As should be obvious ~rom the foregoing, the spray pattern acheivable with the present invention can have any conEiguration employing straight or curved boundaries, or any combination thereof. A rectangu-lar spray pattern has ~een shown with the present invention only to make easier the explanation oE its operation.
The ~oregoing demonstrates the simplicity of the present invention and its eEfectiveness in not only in generatiny streams having a distance of throw directly proportional to the exposure of the nozæle opening to the water within the sprinkler body 24, but also in delivering the correct volume of water to each sector of the spray pattern.
It should be noted that an increase or decrease in the precipitation rate produced by the nozzle assembly 44 can be effected by changing the number of nozzle openings 52 in the cylindrical assembly 44. Prototypes of the ~0 invention have been made using 6, 9, 12 or 18 nozzle openings 52 to change the precipitation rate over the pattern to be covered. It has been found that 6 openings with ~ pounds of pressure will produce a uniform precipi-tation rate over a pattern which is 5 feet by 10 feet, while 18 openings with 30 pounds of pressure produces an even precipitation rate over a pattern of 25 ~eet b~ 55 feet. The precipitation rate is said to be constant insoEar as a 1.5 to 1 ratio oE precipiatation between the farther and closer areas oE the pattern is maintained.
Accordingly, the number of nozzles and the pressure of the water supply is selected according to the particular size of the pattern to be covered.
While the number of nozzle openings 52 may be changed to vary the precipitation rate produced by the nozzle assembly 52, it has been found that an optimum shape Eor each nozzle opening is as Eollows, with reEerence to Figure 35~
g 5. Dimension ~ is optimally on the order oE .015 inches, and dimension B is optimally 8 degreesO ~he radius o~
curvature of the curved portion oE the nozzle, (dimension C) in Figure 2 is approximately .6 inches.
~s noted above, difEerent pressures and different nozzle openings are used depending upon the si~e o~ the pattern to be covered. For correct operation oE the present invention, water at a relatively constant pressure must be supplied to the sprinkler body. In this regard, the inlet pipe 25 is preferrably connected to a pressure regulator to insure a uniform pressure. An internal pressure regulator may also be used with the invention.
The operation o~ the present invention is enhanced by the inclusion oE a generally helical toothed ring Z0 attached to the top cap 46 on the nozzle assembly 4~. This toothed ring, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, is usecl to deflect water Erom the nozzle openings 52 to an area closer to the sprinkler 20. The top cap 4~ is rotatable relative to the nozzle assembly 44 by way oE the screw 54 in the boss 63 Eormed within the nozzle assembly 44. By rotating the top cap ~6 downwardly, more of the teeth on the ring 60 are brought into contact with the emitted streams 5O to deflect them closer ~o the sprinkler 20.
The toothed ring finds application with large spray patterns and with corresponding high pressures in the sprinkler body to propel the streams to cover the patterns~
If the pressure is reduced to achieve a smaller pattern or area oE coverage, most of the water tends to fall in the outer perimeter of the pattern. Accordingly, by adjusting 3~ the helical toothed ring 60 downwardly, the teeth on the helical ring ~0 progressively encounters more of the emitted streams and deflects these streams to reduce the distance of throw. Thus, an increasing number of the streams can be pulled in to correct the distribution pattern that exists at low pressures. The toothed adjustment ring 60 is adjusted downward if there is not 33~
enough water close to the sprinkler 20 and is adjusted upward if there is too much water close to the sprinkler 20. ~s shown in cross section in Figure 2, the helical nature of the ring is ac`nieved by having smaller teeth 60a and larger teeth 60b on the ring.
The combination of the novel design oE the nozzle assembly 44 and the bulkhead 40 when combined with the helical toothed ring 60 acheives relatively uniform watering over a wide variety of spray patterns.
1~
Claims (3)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In an irrigation sprinkler head adapted for connecting to a source of pressurized water and having at least one nozzle which is revolved about a vertical axis by the flow of water between the connection to the water source and the nozzle to create a horizontal watering pattern from the water emitted from the nozzle, nozzle opening means for delivering a stream of water of variable volume and distance from said nozzle and means for continuously and proportionately exposing said opening means to said source of said pressurized water according to a present function of said nozzle's instantaneous rotation position as said sprinkler turns, whereby said sprinkler head will create a horizontal spray pattern of preset configuration and will supply a relatively constant volume of water to all portions of said pattern, the improvement wherein said nozzle opening means com-prising:
an opening for said nozzle shaped as a radial "V" cut from a plane parallel to said vertical axis of rotation to a plane normal to said axis and relative to a point exterior of said nozzle, with said V-shape of said opening emitting a stream of water whose distance increases linearly with the exposed length of said opening means to said source of pressurized water and whose volume increases as the square of exposed length to supply a volume of water through said opening which increases as the square of distance of said opening from said axis and with the radial shape of said opening directing said stream in a generally horizontal direction.
an opening for said nozzle shaped as a radial "V" cut from a plane parallel to said vertical axis of rotation to a plane normal to said axis and relative to a point exterior of said nozzle, with said V-shape of said opening emitting a stream of water whose distance increases linearly with the exposed length of said opening means to said source of pressurized water and whose volume increases as the square of exposed length to supply a volume of water through said opening which increases as the square of distance of said opening from said axis and with the radial shape of said opening directing said stream in a generally horizontal direction.
2. The irrigation sprinkler head of claim 1, wherein said sprinkler head further comprises:
a plurality of nozzles, each having the aforesaid radial "V"
cut opening, whereby as said plurality of nozzles are rotated, said exposing means individually varies the amount of said opening means exposed to said source of water in direct proportion to the distance said nozzles must propel their streams instantaneously in said spray pattern, with said opening means providing a volume of water to said spray pattern proportional to said amount of said opening means exposed to said source of water.
a plurality of nozzles, each having the aforesaid radial "V"
cut opening, whereby as said plurality of nozzles are rotated, said exposing means individually varies the amount of said opening means exposed to said source of water in direct proportion to the distance said nozzles must propel their streams instantaneously in said spray pattern, with said opening means providing a volume of water to said spray pattern proportional to said amount of said opening means exposed to said source of water.
3. The irrigation sprinkler head of claim 2 wherein:
each of said nozzles with the aforesaid nozzle opening comprises said radial "V" cut in a cylindrical member endwise communicating with said source of water.
each of said nozzles with the aforesaid nozzle opening comprises said radial "V" cut in a cylindrical member endwise communicating with said source of water.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US24162581A | 1981-03-09 | 1981-03-09 | |
| US241,625 | 1981-03-09 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1183564A true CA1183564A (en) | 1985-03-05 |
Family
ID=22911487
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000395167A Expired CA1183564A (en) | 1981-03-09 | 1982-01-29 | Pattern sprinkler head |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS57162658A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU552704B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1183564A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3208442A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2501074B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2094181B (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3404565C2 (en) * | 1983-05-07 | 1987-02-19 | Chemowerk Bayern GmbH Fabrik für Kunststoffbehälter, 8801 Schnelldorf | Distribution system for drop-shaped distribution of liquid media |
| US5630551A (en) * | 1995-05-30 | 1997-05-20 | Forcier; Mitchell D. | In-ground reciprocating sprinkler |
| US7566012B2 (en) * | 2007-03-08 | 2009-07-28 | Yuan Mei Corp. | Multi-functional sprinkling apparatus structure |
| RU2456088C1 (en) * | 2011-03-15 | 2012-07-20 | Государственное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Кемеровский технологический институт пищевой промышленности" | Sprayer intake |
| CN105999600A (en) * | 2016-07-12 | 2016-10-12 | 快达消防科技有限公司 | Shower nozzle for deck |
| CN115606479A (en) * | 2022-10-13 | 2023-01-17 | 无锡义帆工程建筑有限公司 | Landscape engineering construction is with irrigating structure |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2745698A (en) * | 1953-05-04 | 1956-05-15 | Daniel O Norland | Rotating sprinkler |
| US3575347A (en) * | 1969-03-11 | 1971-04-20 | Gates Rubber Co | Adjustable sprinkler |
| DE2153184A1 (en) * | 1971-10-26 | 1973-05-03 | Efrudec Vertriebsgesellschaft | CONNECTING A LAWN GUN TO A WATER PIPE |
| US4019686A (en) * | 1975-05-27 | 1977-04-26 | Florencio Neto Palma | Water sprinkler operated by regularly varying water pressure |
| US4281793A (en) * | 1979-06-25 | 1981-08-04 | Dewitt Robert E | Water sprinkler with flat plate pattern control |
-
1982
- 1982-01-29 CA CA000395167A patent/CA1183564A/en not_active Expired
- 1982-02-05 AU AU80222/82A patent/AU552704B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1982-02-05 GB GB8203415A patent/GB2094181B/en not_active Expired
- 1982-03-08 JP JP57036328A patent/JPS57162658A/en active Pending
- 1982-03-09 DE DE19823208442 patent/DE3208442A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1982-03-09 FR FR8203958A patent/FR2501074B1/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2094181B (en) | 1985-03-27 |
| JPS57162658A (en) | 1982-10-06 |
| DE3208442A1 (en) | 1982-10-21 |
| FR2501074B1 (en) | 1987-01-16 |
| GB2094181A (en) | 1982-09-15 |
| AU552704B2 (en) | 1986-06-19 |
| AU8022282A (en) | 1982-09-16 |
| FR2501074A1 (en) | 1982-09-10 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20020305 |