EP1850967A1

EP1850967A1 - Multi-function watering sprinkler head

Info

Publication number: EP1850967A1
Application number: EP06707900A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erme Magris; Alladino Borghese
Original assignee: Uniflex Utiltime SpA
Current assignee: UNIFLEX SpA
Priority date: 2005-02-23
Filing date: 2006-01-30
Publication date: 2007-11-07
Also published as: WO2006089830A1; ITPN20050006U1

Abstract

Multi-function watering sprinkler head comprising a fluid supply duct (2) and a plurality of fluid flow-paths adapted to be supplied by said supply duct (2) so as to deliver differentiated jet patterns, a selection mechanism (3) being provided to fluidly connect said supply duct (2) with said various fluid flow-paths in a selective manner; said selection mechanism (3) comprises a plurality of shut-off valve members (4) adapted to slide axially between a position in which the flow of fluid is completely shut off, and a position in which the fluid is capable of flowing fully and freely through valve seats (5), said valve seats (5) being provided so as to extend in a parallel direction relative to the supply duct and are arranged around said supply duct.

Description

MULTI-FUNCTION WATERING SPRINKLER HEAD

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a watering sprinkler head of the multi- function kind for use in the irrigation of gardens and the like.

Multifunction-type watering sprinklers are usually constituted by a spray head housed in an appropriately contoured accommodation body, and comprise nozzles for issuing a jet of liquid, i.e. water under pressure.

Usually, the spray head of a multi-function watering sprinkler is provided with a perforated surface that produces a diffuse, i.e. shower-like jet, and two or more nozzles having different diameters enabling different jet patterns to be obtained (i.e. a straight jet, a fanlike spreading jet, an atomized jet, etc.) according to the particular kind or pattern of irrigation required. Usually, the selection of the various kinds of jets of a multifunction watering sprinkler is done by accordingly rotating a ring nut, which the sprinkler head is provided with. By rotating such a ring nut, in fact, the nozzles corresponding to the required kind of jets are selectively opened and closed.

However, a substantial drawback that is generally found in watering sprinkler heads of the above described kind lies exactly in the fact that, during switching over from a jet pattern to a different one, there occurs a transient condition in which water tends to leak outside in correspondence to the adjustment ring nut. In view of doing away with this drawback, the need therefore arises for the adjustment ring nut to be provided with a special seal ring. Furthermore, owing to the flow of water under pressure being diverted from a nozzle to the other one quite abruptly, the need also arises for sealing O-rings to be provided so as to ensure water-tightness of each single nozzle. Since these O-rings are subject to rubbing, i.e. frictional stress due to the water pressure, they must be of a special type so as to prevent them from being ejected from their accommodations.

These drawbacks are solved by the US patent No. 6,739,523, which discloses a multi-function spray head comprising an accommodation with an inlet flow-path for the water flow, a chamber, a first outlet flow-path for the water flow, a selector, a plurality of channels, and a plurality of water issuing ports. The inlet flow-path and the first outlet flow-path communicate with the chamber, the first outlet flow-path communicates with the selector, and each channel communicates with both the selector and the water issuing ports. A flow control valve is arranged in the chamber and is capable of being actuated to adjust the pressure of the water flow along the first outlet flow-path, whereas the selector is adapted to be actuated to select at least one of the channels for the fluid to pass therethrough.

Sprinkler heads of the type known from the disclosure in the above- cited US patent No. 6,739,523 are found to be particularly complicated from a construction point of view, as well as scarcely effective from a functional point of view.

In particular, when changing from a jet pattern to a different one, there intervene transient phases during which water is practically supplied at the same time to various flow channels, which in turn supply this water to nozzles of differing diameters, and this results in an indistinct jet being issued, which is practically formed by the combination of the jet patterns produced by the nozzles that are supplied by the respective channels.

An additional disadvantage of such sprinkler heads derives from the fact that selecting the required jet pattern by the user proves scarcely effective and rather unreliable.

It therefore is a main purpose of the present invention to provide a multi-function watering sprinkler head that is capable of doing away with the above-cited drawbacks and disadvantages of prior-art spray heads.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi-function watering sprinkler head of the above cited kind, which is simple in its construction and reliable to use, as well as capable of being manufactured at fully competitive costs.

A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi- function watering sprinkler head of the above cited kind, which is provided with a selection mechanism that, further to being as effective and reliable as possible, is simple and convenient to use by the user.

According to the present invention, these aims, along with further ones that will become apparent from the following description, are reached in a multi-function watering sprinkler head incorporating the characteristics as recited in the appended claims 1 et seq.

Anyway, features and advantages of the multi-function watering sprinkler head according to the present invention may be more readily understood from the description that is given below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a side elevational cross-sectional view of a multi-function watering sprinkler head according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a plan bottom cross-sectional view of the watering sprinkler head shown in Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the watering sprinkler head according to the present invention;

- Figure 4 is a further perspective cross-sectional view of the watering sprinkler head according to the present invention;

- Figure 5 is a further perspective cross-sectional view of the watering sprinkler head according to the present invention.

With reference to the above-noted Figures, the watering sprinkler head capable of delivering differentiated jet patterns according to the present invention, as generally indicated at 1 in the Figures, comprises a supply duct 2 and a plurality of fluid flow-paths adapted to be supplied by the supply duct 2 so as to deliver differentiated jet patterns; a selection mechanism 3 is furthermore provided to fluidly connect the supply duct 2 with the various fluid flow-paths in a selective manner. This selection mechanism 3 comprises a plurality of shut-off valve members 4 adapted to slide axially between a position in which the flow of fluid is completely shut off, and a position in which the fluid is capable of flowing fully and freely through valve seats 5, wherein said valve seats 5 are provided in a parallel arrangement relative to the supply duct 2 and are situated around said supply duct 2.

The selection mechanism 3 comprises a cam actuator 6 that is rotatably associated to the supply duct 2.

Such cam actuator 6 is adapted to rotate about the supply duct 2 so as to selectively displace said valve members 4 into the fluid flow position thereof.

The sprinkler head comprises, at a front portion thereof, i.e. in the direction of delivery of the jets, a front wall 7 that extends in a substantially perpendicular manner relative to the supply duct 2 and is adapted to form, jointly with the supply duct 2 and the valve seats 5, a flow chamber 8. Via the shut-off valve members 4, this chamber is fluidly connected with a plurality of delivery ducts 9, 10, 11, 12, wherein each one of these ducts is specially provided to be used in view of producing a peculiar jet pattern (i.e. a straight jet, a fanlike spreading jet, an atomized jet, etc.).

The valve seats 5 are provided in the sprinkler head so as to extend in a parallel direction relative to the supply duct 2 and be arranged around the latter. The shut-off valve members 4 are comprised of cylindrical bodies adapted to be received in the respective valve seats 5 and slidably displace between a full fluid-flow shut-off position, in which they sealingly occupy said valve seats, and a full fluid-flow passage position, in which an interstice is created between said shut-off valve members 4 and the respective valve seats 5, so as to prevent fluid from passing between the flow chamber 8 and the delivery ducts 9, 10, 11, 12 or enable fluid to pass therebetween, respectively. The valve members 4 comprise a central portion 13 having a smaller diameter, at the ends of which there are provided heads 14, 15 having a larger diameter, which are adapted to slidably engage the valve seats 5. In detail, each valve member comprises a first head 14 having a larger diameter, which is adapted to sealingly slide along a guide section 16 provided in the valve seats 5, and furthermore comprises a second larger-diameter head 15 that is adapted to sealingly engage a fluid supply section 17, which is provided in the valve seats 5 in correspondence to a flared surface 18 connecting the supply section 17 with a larger-diameter section 19 of the valve seat 5. In an advantageous manner, the heads 14, 15 support sealing rings 20 of the O-ring type.

Elastic means 21 are provided in the sprinkler head in correspondence to the valve seats 5 for biasing the valve members 4 into the full fluid-flow shut-off position thereof, so as to prevent fluid from passing between the flow chamber 8 and the delivery ducts 9, 10, 11, 12. These elastic means 21 are provided inside the larger-diameter section 19 of the valve seats 5, between the front wall 7 and the second head 15 of the valve members 4. The elastic means 21 are so arranged as to engage, on one side, the front wall 7 in correspondence to appropriate recesses 22 provided in the latter and, on the opposite side, the second head 15 of the valve members 4 in correspondence to an engagement element 23 projecting from the second head 15. In an advantageous manner, the elastic means 21 comprise helical springs arranged so as to abut against the front wall 7 of the sprinkler head and adapted to engage said engagement element 23 of the second head 15, in such a manner as to bias the sealing ring 20 against the flared surface 18 and prevent fluid from passing therethrough. It can be readily appreciated that the pressure of the fluid existing in the larger- diameter section 19 of the valve seat 5 contributes to the sealing effect by urging the second head 15 of the valve member 4 against the supply section 17.

The cam actuator 6 is adapted to selectively press the valve members 4 against the front wall 7 in opposition to the biasing force exerted by the elastic means 21 , so as to move the second head 15 away from the supply section 17, thereby enabling fluid to pass therethrough.

The cam actuator 6 comprises a sleeve 24, which is rotatably associated to the supply duct 2 and is provided with an annulus 25, which is adapted to selectively engage the valve members 4, and an actuating knob 26 that is accessible on the outside of a contoured body 27 accommodating the sprinkler head. Said annulus 25 defines an annular groove 28 adapted to accommodate counterchecks 29 that extend from the first head 14 of the valve members 4. The annulus 25 further comprises a plurality of steps 30 protruding from the annular groove 28 and provided at appropriate angular positions of said groove. As a result of the rotation of the cam actuator 6, these steps 30 are adapted to selectively engage the counterchecks 29 so as to press the valve members 4 into the fluid passage position thereof. In the embodiment being described, the steps 30 are advantageously provided in correspondence to determined angular positions of the annular groove 28, so that each step 30 is adapted to act upon a single mating element 29 at a time. This step 30 is adapted to press the valve member 4 towards the front wall 7 against the biasing action of the elastic means 21 , thereby moving the second head 15 of the valve member 4 away from the fluid supply section 17 of the valve seat 5 and enabling an interstice to be formed between the sealing ring 20 and the flared surface 18 accordingly. This interstice will then enable fluid to pass between the middle smaller-diameter portion 13 of the valve member 4 and the supply section 17 of the valve seat 5, thereby supplying the delivery ducts 9, 10, 11, 12. The steps 30 are furthermore arranged so that, regardless of the rotational position of the cam actuator 6 selected by the user, i.e. in any such position whatsoever, at least a valve member 4 is set in the fluid passage position thereof.

Readily apparent is also the fact that, from the full fluid shut-off position to the full-on or fluid passage position thereof, the valve member 4 displaces axially in an opposite direction with respect to the fluid passage direction inside the valve seat 5.

In a manner generally known as such in the art, the delivery ducts 9, 10, 11, 12 are provided with nozzles having different diameters enabling differentiated jet patterns to be obtained accordingly.

The front wall 7 has two slits 31 that are communicating with at least one of the delivery ducts 12, and a perforated surface 32 arranged on the front side of the sprinkler head and associated to the front wall 7 so as to produce a diffuse, i.e. shower-like jet.

The way in which the selection mechanism works is as described below.

The supply duct 2, according to the flow-path indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, conveys the water flow up to the flow chamber 8 and, from this chamber, on to the larger-diameter section 19 of the valve seat 5. In the full fluid shut-off position determined by the biasing action of the elastic means 21 and the same pressure of the fluid exerted upon the valve members 4, the second head 15 of the valve member 4 sealingly engages, by means of the O-ring, the flared surface 18 of the valve seat 5, thereby preventing fluid, i.e. water from flowing into the delivery ducts 9, 10, 11, 12. The rotation of the cam actuator 6 about the supply duct 2, as performed by the user with the help of the knob 26 in accordance with the desired jet pattern to be selected, enables the steps 30 of the annular groove 28 to be selectively brought in correspondence to the counterchecks 29 of the first head 14 of the valve member 4. By so engaging said counterchecks 29, the steps 30 cause the valve members 4 to slide towards the front wall 7 into the fluid passage or full-open position, in which the second head 15 is spaced away from the supply section 17 of the valve seat. The interstice that is in this way created between the sealing ring 20 and the flared surface 18 enables the water flow to pass between the valve seat 5 and the middle portion 13 of the valve member 4, thereby supplying the delivery ducts 9, 10, 11, 12.

Fully apparent from the above description is therefore the ability of the present invention to effectively reach the aims and advantages cited afore, through the provision of a multi-function watering sprinkler head that is particularly simple from a construction point of view.

Another peculiar advantage of the present invention lies in the provision of a multi-function watering sprinkler head that is provided with a selection mechanism that, further to being as effective and reliable as possible, is simple and convenient to use by the user.

It will anyhow be also appreciated that the multi-function watering sprinkler head according to the present invention, so as described and illustrated above, may be subject to a number of modifications and be embodied in a number of different manners without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the materials used for the various component parts of the inventive sprinkler head, as well as the shapes and the sizing thereof, may of course be each time so selected as to more appropriately fit the particular applications and requirements.

Claims

1. Multi-function watering sprinkler head comprising a fluid supply duct (2) and a plurality of fluid flow-paths adapted to be supplied by said supply duct (2) so as to deliver differentiated jet patterns, a selection mechanism (3) being provided to fluidly connect said supply duct (2) with said various fluid flow-paths in a selective manner, characterized in that said selection mechanism (3) comprises a plurality of shut-off valve members (4) adapted to slide axially between a position in which the flow of fluid is completely shut off, and a position in which the fluid is capable of flowing fully and freely through valve seats (5), said valve seats (5) being provided so as to extend in a parallel direction relative to the supply duct (2) and are arranged around said supply duct (2).

2. Watering sprinkler head according to claim 1 , characterized in that said selection mechanism (3) comprises a cam actuator (6) that is rotatably associated to said supply duct (2), said cam actuator (6) being adapted to rotate about said supply duct (2) so as to selectively displace said valve members (4) into the fluid-flow position thereof.

3. Watering sprinkler head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said valve members (4) comprise a middle portion (13) having a smaller diameter, at the ends of which there are provided heads (14, 15) having a larger diameter, which are adapted to slidably engage the valve seats (5).

4. Watering sprinkler head according to any of the preceding claims or combination thereof, characterized in that a first one (14) of said heads is adapted to sealingly slide along a guide section (16) provided in the valve seats (5), and a second one (15) of said heads is adapted to sealingly engage a fluid supply section (17) provided in the valve seats (5).

5. Watering sprinkler according to any of the preceding claims or combination thereof, characterized in that said heads (14, 15) support seal rings (20).

6. Watering sprinkler head according to any of the preceding claims or combination thereof, characterized in that elastic means (21) are provided in the sprinkler head in correspondence to the valve seats (5) for biasing the valve members (4) into the full fluid-flow shut-off position thereof, so as to prevent fluid from passing between the flow chamber (8) and the delivery ducts (9, 10, 11, 12).

7. Watering sprinkler head according to any of the preceding claims or combination thereof, characterized in that said elastic means (21) are provided inside the valve seats (5) so as to engage the front wall (7) and the second head (15) of the valve members (4).

8. Watering sprinkler head according to any of the preceding claims or combination thereof, characterized in that said elastic means (21) comprise helical springs arranged so as to abut against the front wall (7) and adapted to engage an engagement element (23) of the second head (15), in such a manner as to bias the seal ring (20) against a flared surface (18) provided between the supply section (17) and a larger-diameter section (19) of the valve seats (5).

9. Watering sprinkler head according to any of the preceding claims or combination thereof, characterized in that said cam actuator (6) comprises a sleeve (24), which is rotatably associated to the supply duct (2) and is provided with an annulus (25) that is adapted to selectively engage the valve members (4).

10. Watering sprinkler head according to any of the preceding claims or combination thereof, characterized in that said cam actuator (6) comprises an actuating knob (26) that is accessible on the outside of a contoured body (27) accommodating the sprinkler head.

11. Watering sprinkler head according to any of the preceding claims or combination thereof, characterized in that said annulus (25) defines an annular groove (28) adapted to accommodate counterchecks (29) that extend from the first head (14) of the valve members (4).

12. Watering sprinkler head according to any of the preceding claims or combination thereof, characterized in that said annulus (25) further comprises a plurality of steps (30) protruding from the annular groove (28) and provided at appropriate angular positions of said groove, said steps (30) being adapted, as a result of the rotation of the cam actuator (6), to selectively engage the counterchecks (29) so as to press the valve members (4) into the fluid passage position thereof.

13. Watering sprinkler head according to any of the preceding claims or combination thereof, characterized in that said front wall (7) has at least one slit (31) that communicates with at least one of the delivery ducts (12), and a perforated surface (32) arranged on the front side of the sprinkler head and associated to the front wall (7) so as to produce a diffuse, i.e. shower-like jet.