EP1795267A1 - Sprinkler - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has an electronic control device with a programmable memory that controls an adjusting unit depending on a rotational angular position of a nozzle arrangement (DU) during sprinkling operation. The nozzle arrangement has a set of individual nozzles for releasing individual streams of a streaming arrangement. The adjusting device adjusts operating ranges of the streaming arrangement by a regulating valve (RE) that is variably controlled depending on the angular position and is integrated in a housing of a rain gun. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating a sprinkling apparatus.

Description

The invention relates to a sprinkler with variably adjustable range.

For irrigation of areas in the garden area in particular square sprinklers with horizontal pivot axis and circular or sector sprinkler with vertical pivot axis are common, the surfaces to be frosted are limited to simple geometric shapes.

For irrigation of surfaces deviating from such simple geometrical shapes, it is known to variably control the range of the jet pattern of the sprinkler in response to the angular position of the nozzle assembly about the vertical pivot axis using a circular or sector sprinkler. In practice, however, there are considerable problems here with regard to uniform irrigation.

By varying the range by variably controlling the flow of water through the nozzle assembly, particularly by means of an upstream controllable regulating valve, the jet pattern and the uniformity of the watering density are satisfactory only for a relatively small variable range of range. Increasing the pressure flow through the nozzle assembly will result in increasing uncontrolled spraying at the nozzle exit and in the jet path, decreasing the flow will cause the emitted jet to be laminar and will only irrigate a narrow radial section. Although it is known to provide different nozzles interchangeable at a circular or sector sprinkler for different radii of a circle or Kreissektorfläche to be surrounded, but this is not suitable for a radius change during the pivoting of the nozzle assembly.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved sprinkler, wherein during the pivoting of a nozzle assembly about a vertical axis, a change in the range of the spray pattern generated by the nozzle assembly by means of an electronic control device and controlled by this regulating valve upstream of the nozzle assembly with a uniform irrigation density of Surface is possible.

The invention is described in claim 1. The dependent claims contain advantageous refinements and developments of the invention.

By the intersection of individual beams, a disturbance of the beam path is introduced at the intersections, which leads to a widening of the water distribution of the single beam and thus to a uniform radial distribution of the discharged water. The multiple beams are typically not exactly in a plane, since only the slow rotational movement of the nozzle assembly about the vertical axis of rotation is a small deviation from a beam path in a plane. Furthermore, air movements act differently on the various individual beams and the individual beams are not concentrated as solo beams over the entire course and subjected to fluctuations. For the purposes of the invention, lying essentially in one plane is therefore to be understood as meaning that the several individual beams deviate so little from an imaginary common vertical plane that a mutual overlap of the beam paths with beam interferences occurs at the overlaps.

As a solo beam here and in the following, the fictitious situation of a single beam is understood without being influenced by the other beams.

Advantageously, the individual jets at the exit from the associated individual nozzles run largely laminar independently of the range set via the regulating valve, in particular even at the greatest adjustable range, ie. H. the largest adjustable flow rate. Laminar rays are particularly susceptible to wind and can be adjusted very precisely in their course as solo beams. In particular, the relative course of the individual beams remains essentially independent of the variably adjustable range of the beam pattern, determined by the range of the farthest individual beam, while the range of the beam pattern is varied. The laminar beam path is not retained as a solo beam over the entire beam path. The beam undergoes widening and division into partial beams, beam sections and drops of different sizes, so that even at the at least predominant overlaps no bundled laminar beams hit each other. An angle averaged over all overlaps between intersecting individual beams is advantageously at least 30 degrees.

The several individual jets advantageously have different angles of the beam directions against the axis of rotation at the nozzle exit, wherein preferably the individual jets in the vicinity of the nozzle outlets show a diverging beam as a jet pattern. Advantageously, at least for the vast majority, preferably all of the individual beams, that a smaller exit angle of the individual beam is correlated with the vertical with a shorter range than a single beam. At crossovers of two beams, advantageously at least one of the two beams is located on a falling portion of the beam curve. Advantageously, the smallest exit angle against the vertical axis of rotation is at least 6 degrees, in particular at least 9 degrees. The smallest exit angle is advantageously at most 20 degrees, in particular at most 15 degrees. The maximum exit angle is advantageously at most 60 degrees. The difference between the smallest and the largest exit angle is advantageously at least 30 degrees. Advantageously, the jet pattern comprises at least four individual beams. The individual nozzles of the nozzle arrangement are advantageously arranged in a row. The individual nozzles can be arranged within the nozzle arrangement in different relative positions, in a preferred embodiment also on opposite sides with respect to the axis of rotation, but the projections of the emitted beams onto the surface to be wetted all point in the same direction of the common vertical plane. The horizontal components of the movement of the emitted beams or the beam exit directions from the nozzle arrangement are advantageously all directed essentially parallel in the same radial direction.

Even with known Sprneranordnungen short overlaps of individual beams may occur, for. B. in a square sprinkler when swinging through the vertical axis containing the horizontal pivot axis, in which case a beam overlap but random, undesirable and disadvantageous, whereas selectively used in the invention to achieve a uniform irrigation density at a large adjustment of the range of the beam assembly, the overlap of rays is and continuously, ie given in all rotational positions of the nozzle assembly.

The radial sprinkling regions of the individual beams as solo beams are advantageously not mutually overlapping. Under irrigation range of a single beam as a single beam is understood, for example, the area within which the irrigation density at least a minimum, z. B. is 20% of the maximum irrigation density of this single beam.

The range of the spray pattern with uniform surface irrigation is advantageously by a factor of at least 2, in particular at least 3 changeable. The change of the range is advantageously carried out by changing the flow cross section of the regulating valve, wherein the maximum adjustable flow cross section of the regulating valve is advantageously smaller than the sum of the flow cross sections of all individual nozzles of the nozzle arrangement. The nozzle cross sections of the individual nozzles are advantageously at least partially different, whereby advantageously the jet with the greatest range can be assigned the largest nozzle cross section.

Fig. 1

ein Schema einer Beregnungsvorrichtung mit veränderlich steuerbarer Reichweite,

Fig. 2

eine zu beregnende Fläche,

Fig. 3

ein Strahlbild in unterschiedlichen Reichweiteneinstellungen,

Fig. 4

eine schematische Überkreuzung zweier Einzelstrahlen,

Fig. 5

einen Ausschnitt mit einer Düsenanordnung.

The invention is further illustrated by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the figures. Showing:

Fig. 1

a schematic of a sprinkler with variably controllable range,

Fig. 2

a surface to be covered,

Fig. 3

a spray pattern in different range settings,

Fig. 4

a schematic crossover of two individual beams,

Fig. 5

a section with a nozzle arrangement.

Fig. 1 shows schematically the preferred structure of an irrigation device for irrigation of irregularly bounded surfaces. A sprinkler arrangement RA has a nozzle arrangement DU which is rotatable relative to a housing of the sprinkler arrangement assumed to be stationary about a typically vertically oriented axis of rotation DA. The sprinkler arrangement can be operated as a circular sprinkler with continuous rotary motion or as sector sprinkler with alternating direction of rotation. The drive of the rotation of the nozzle assembly is preferably carried out by means of a turbine wheel driven by at least a portion of the water flowing to the nozzle assembly and a speed-reducing gear.

One of the rotational position of the nozzle arrangement um.die vertical axis of rotation dependent range of the beam assembly is advantageously stored as a pairwise assignment of digital values of rotational position and range in a memory of a structurally preferably associated with the sprinkler electronic control device. The current rotational position is advantageously detectable via a rotational angle sensor arrangement. The control device is advantageously programmable by the user, in particular by storing an association of rotational positions of the nozzle arrangement and ranges of the beam arrangement matched to the respective area to be wetted. In this case, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the programming of pairs of values assigned values of rotational position and range is carried out in such a way that the nozzle assembly from the user to a specific rotational position, in particular in the direction of a characteristic point, such as a corner, the contour of the surface to be wetted set and set the desired range in this rotational position and the value pair are stored. The setting of a certain rotational position and maintaining it to the setting of the desired range and storage of the value pair is preferably carried out by the nozzle assembly is stopped in its continuous rotational movement manually or by engaging an electronically activated mechanical lock. Controls for setting the range can be united in a first advantageous embodiment together with the control device structurally with the sprinkler arrangement. In another advantageous embodiment a spatially separated from the sprinkler control device may be provided, which is connected via a preferably detachable cable or via a wireless signal connection to the sprinkler arrangement or a structurally combined with this control device and the remote control of the programming process, optionally including stopping the rotation of the nozzle assembly, the setting of the desired range and the programming of value pairs allows. Preferably, only a few value pairs for rotational positions in the direction of characteristic points of the surface contour are programmed and the ranges to other rotational positions are derived by interpolation. The above features for programming the control means are also applicable to a sprinkler irrespective of the particular jet pattern with overlapping single jets.

The sprinkler arrangement is via a water-bearing supply line ZL, z. B. connectable with the inclusion of an irrigation computer with a water source, in particular a pump or a general water supply or lockable. When supply of standing under line pressure water through the supply line flows through this a regulating valve RE and a drive device AE and exits in the form of a plurality of individual jets from the nozzle assembly DU. The nozzle assembly is continuously rotated by the drive means about the axis of rotation DA, the sector rotor operation with alternating direction of rotation switching at the sector boundaries. The current angular position is continuously determined by means of an angle sensor signal SD of a rotational angle sensor DS in a control device SE. Depending on the instantaneous rotational angle position of the nozzle arrangement, the control device outputs a control signal SI to an actuator in the sprinkler arrangement which actuates the regulating valve and adjusts it so that a range of rotation of the jet arrangement emitted by the nozzle arrangement is achieved becomes. Advantageously, the maximum adjustable flow cross section of the regulating valve is smaller than the sum of the nozzle cross sections of all the individual nozzles of the nozzle arrangement.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an irregularly edged surface which is sprinkled with a sprinkler BV operated as a sector sprinkler with a rotation angle-dependent range RI (Wi) of the beam arrangement.

Fig. 3 shows schematically for a rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation DA nozzle assembly DU a spray pattern with six individual nozzles of the nozzle array emitted individual beams S1H, S2H, ... to S6H in a single position of a sprinkler to maximum range RH. The individual beams S1H through S6H are ideally drawn as undisturbed and concentrated focused beams throughout their trajectory to better illustrate beam parameters such as crossovers and ranges. The beams are all substantially in a common vertical plane, which preferably passes through the vertical axis of rotation DA.

The undisturbed course corresponds to the beam course of solo beams, ie the respective individual beams in the fictitious situation without other beams. Also for solo beams, the real beam path deviates from the continuous concentrated bundled form and, with increasing travel along the beam path, shows an expansion and a division, both in the radial direction and perpendicular to said common plane. -

While concrete ranges R1H to R6H are plotted for the simplified trajectories of the solo beams, the real solo beams show radial sprinkling ranges due to the beam broadening, as recorded for the beam S4H with RB4 with a distribution of the sprinkling density by a maximum the irrigation density. For example, such a radial irrigation area is defined as the area within which the irrigation density is at least 20% of the maximum irrigation density within the distribution. Advantageously, the irrigation zones following one another in the radial direction do not overlap, at least for the majority of the solo beams. In particular, nozzles can be used for the given, but small beam expansion of the solo beams, which achieve large and / or exactly selectable and adjustable ranges of the solo beams. Nozzles for defined beam shapes are known per se in large numbers. Rays with low beam expansion can, unlike single jets for the irrigation of said radial distance from the nozzle assembly, advantageously set without changing the beam shape in one and the same nozzle over a wide range by varying the flow rate variable.

For the undisturbed superimposition of all the solo beams would then result in an unsatisfactory uneven radial distribution of the irrigation density. Due to the crossing of the beam paths, a disturbance of the solo beams is introduced, which results in a widening and leveling of the irrigation density compared to the distributions associated with the individual solo beams.

Of particular advantage is that the individual beams can be changed as a solo beam by means of an upstream, common to all control valve control over a wide range of change in range, but maintained in the collective change the small expansion as a solo beam and the relative course to the other beams , As a result, it is advantageously possible to predetermine a basic distribution of the irrigation density with a few nozzles, which is leveled by the deliberately inserted disturbance of the beam paths through the crossovers. Because the ranges monotonically correlated with the flow rate, there is also an automatic adjustment of the amount of water discharged to the range of the beam assembly.

In Fig. 3, three jet images to a maximum adjustable range RH in Fig. 3 (A) in a minimum adjustable range RL in Fig. 3 (C) and a central range RM in Fig. 3 (B) are compared to the qualitatively to illustrate consistent jet images. For the sake of simplicity, the range of the furthest-reaching beam is entered as the range of the beam arrangement as a solo beam S6H or S6M or S6L without taking account of a distribution of the irrigation density and / or a jet disturbance.

Reducing the beamwidths typically also reduces the radial expansions of the sprinkling areas, as indicated by RB4H, RB4M and RB4L.

In Fig. 4 the jet behavior is simplified at a crossover of two beams SA, SB simplified. The bundled drawn rays are flattened and divided in real cases, so that the rays can penetrate mostly undisturbed. However, a part of the beams is deflected more or less at the crossover of the undisturbed beam path and forms a disturbance image, which may occur both as indicated by broken lines as small-scale scattering SS as well as in the form of an additional widening or division of the secondary rays. As can be seen from FIG. 3, several such crossings occur in the course of a beam, so that the disturbances accumulate.

The crossing angles WK at beam crossings are advantageously greater than 10 degrees. Advantageously, a mean crossover angle averaged over all crossovers is at least 30 degrees.

In Fig. 5 is an enlarged schematic section of a nozzle assembly is sketched with a beam arrangement with a plurality of exiting beams S1 to S6. Upon exit from the nozzle arrangement, the jet arrangement advantageously forms a diverging beam. The angles W1,..., W6 of the exit directions against the vertical direction of the axis of rotation DA are advantageously different for the individual beams. The smallest angle W1 is advantageously at least 6 degrees, in particular at least 9 degrees. Advantageously, the smallest angle is at most 20 degrees, in particular at most 15 degrees.

The largest exit angle W6 is advantageously at most 60 degrees. The difference between the largest exit angle and the smallest exit angle W6-W1 is advantageously at least 30 degrees.

The jets advantageously leave the individual nozzles substantially in a laminar jet form. For the ranges of the individual beams, at least for the vast majority, preferably all of the individual beams, a larger exit angle relative to the vertical is correlated with a greater range, as assumed in the example according to FIG.

The nozzle outlets may, as indicated in the example of FIG. 5, be positioned opposite the axis of rotation DA within the nozzle arrangement, but are all directed in the same direction, in the sketch of FIG. 5 to the left. The exit angles to the vertical are all inclined in the same direction against the vertical.

Advantageously, the individual nozzles have at least partially different nozzle cross sections for different flow rates in the various individual jets, wherein preferably at least for the majority of the individual jets, the nozzle cross section increases or at least does not decrease with an increasing range determined by the exit angle. Advantageously, the widest nozzle jet S6 is associated with the largest nozzle cross section.

The features indicated above and in the claims, as well as the features which can be seen in the figures, can be implemented advantageously both individually and in various combinations. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described, but can be modified in many ways within the scope of expert knowledge.

Claims (14)

Irrigation device with a rotatable about a vertical axis nozzle arrangement for generating a spray pattern whose range is variably adjustable by means of a control device and a controllable from this controllable upstream of the nozzle assembly regulating valve in response to the rotational angular position of the nozzle assembly, characterized in that the nozzle assembly includes a plurality of individual nozzles and generates correspondingly a plurality of individual beams, wherein the individual beams are substantially in one plane, have different ranges and overlap. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual jets at the nozzle exits have different angles to the vertical axis of rotation. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the smallest exit angle is at least 6 degrees, in particular at least 9 degrees. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the smallest exit angle is at most 20 degrees, in particular at most 15 degrees. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the maximum exit angle is at most 60 degrees. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the angular difference between the smallest and the largest exit angle is at least 30 degrees. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the average angle of the intersections is at least 30 °. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the individual jets form a diverging beam at the nozzle exits. Device according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that applies at least for the vast majority of individual beams that a smaller nozzle exit angle is associated with a shorter range than a single beam. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the irrigation regions of adjacent individual beams do not overlap as solo beams. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the individual beams leave the nozzle exits as laminar jets at a greater range. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the range of the jet pattern is variable by a factor of at least 2. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the plurality of individual nozzles have different nozzle cross-sections. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that applies at least for the vast majority of individual nozzles, that a larger outlet cross-section of the individual nozzle is correlated with a greater range of the associated beam.

Images