EP1957202B1 - Sprinkling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sprinkling device, in particular for irrigating garden areas.

For sprinkling of garden areas with crops, ornamental plants, turf, etc. are in particular square sprinklers with about a horizontal axis oscillating swivel nozzle assembly or circular or sector sprinkler with about a vertical axis rotatable nozzle assembly in use. The acted upon by such sprinklers surfaces are limited to elementary geometric shapes rectangle, circle or circle sector, so that in real case a wetted surface aberrant shape, possibly with the use of several spaced sprinklers is possibly approximately gleichreb even. Aspect ratio at the square sprinkler or sector angle at sector sprinkler and range of the output from the nozzle assembly beam assembly, which may include one or more bundled or fanned water jets, can be adjustable.

For uniform irrigation irregularly bounded surfaces, it is from the US Pat. No. 6,402,048 B1 known to bring about 45 ° against a vertical axis of rotation by means of a first controllable motor in certain angular positions and to actuate a flow control valve by means of a second controllable motor. The angle of rotation and the valve position determine the point of impact of the jet emitted by the nozzle in the area to be wetted. The control of the two motors is carried out by a programmable computer time variable, so that the point of impact of the beam can cover the entire surface, while also partial areas can be left out. A simplified programming of the computer can be done by entering vertices of a polygon as area boundary.

From the DE 10 2005 049 503 A1 a system for irrigation irregular surfaces is known in which a jet nozzle by means of two controllable motors aligned horizontally and vertically in predetermined angular positions and in addition by means of another motor, the flow rate is variably adjustable by a regulating valve. An irregular surface can also be specified here by a plurality of discrete points of the surface edge line. The impact point is moved in a zigzag course between boundaries of the surface to be wetted, whereby the course of the surface edge line between adjacent given points can be determined by interpolation.

Other such irrigation systems with horizontally and vertically controllable alignment of a nozzle and controllable flow rate are z. B. from the WO 02/060236 A1 and the WO 2006/060465 A2 known.

In the irrigation systems that can be controlled by a plurality of parameters, a learning mode preceding the irrigation mode can be provided, during which the desired impact positions of the emitted beam are set and the control parameters assigned thereto are stored in a programmable control device. The sprinkler systems, which can be controlled by several parameters, are very flexible with regard to the surface shapes and irrigation density and can also be used for quasi-point-casting individual plants, but require the user in the Lemphase a considerable effort and require a lot of time to sweep a surface with the point of impact of the beam ,

The WO 2004/064498 A1 describes a sprinkler system with multiple sprinklers on a branched pipe system. In the common service section before the branch, a control element is inserted, which influences the flow velocity of the water flowing to the sprinklers after control signals of a system computer. The system computer also controls shut-off valves to select one of the multiple sprinklers.

In Scripture US 5 248 093 A1 there is described a sprinkler which, by means of the tapping of a complex mechanical matrix, emits a jet of water emanating from a nozzle onto an irrigation surface of irregular contour. For this purpose, the nozzle of the sprinkler rotates about an axis perpendicular to the irrigation surface, wherein the azimuthal deflection of the nozzle is controlled during its circulation via the mechanical matrix. In an alternative embodiment of the irrigation device, it is proposed to replace the azimuthally movable nozzle by a nozzle unit consisting of three individual nozzles, for which purpose the restriction is accepted to irrigate only circular irrigation areas.

In order to irrigate any contour of a sprinkling area and also be able to estimate this contour between individual known, predeterminable points via an interpolation, is in the patent US Pat. No. 5,280,854 A1 proposed to provide a circular sprinkler with an integrated electronic control device which includes a programmable memory. By means of the control device, a nozzle rotating about an axis perpendicular to the sprinkling surface is varied during its revolution with respect to its azimuthal deflection. The nozzle emits a highly concentrated projectile-like jet of water that appears on a small circular spot on the sprinkling surface. In this way, a targeted limitation of the irrigation area possible, so that even running within the sprinkling area sidewalk can be spared by a sprinkling.

The invention has for its object to provide a further advantageously constructed irrigation device and a method for irrigation unevenly bounded surfaces.

Solutions according to the invention are described in the independent patent claims. The dependent claims contain advantageous refinements and developments of the invention.

The combination of a controllable by an electronic control device for irrigation irregularly bounded surfaces with a nozzle arrangement with a plurality of individual nozzles, which simultaneously emit several individual beams of a multi-beam arrangement, and with an integrated into the sprinkler housing upstream of the nozzle assembly arranged regulating valve proves to be particularly advantageous.

The nozzle arrangement with a plurality of individual nozzles makes it possible in a particularly advantageous manner to spray an angular segment over a large variation range of the range of the beam arrangement, whereby an angular segment extends from the nozzle arrangement over the range associated with the respective angular position to the edge of the surface to be frosted. The range of the beam arrangement is dependent on the angular position range of the farthest reaching single beam. While sprinkling an angle segment by means of a single nozzle optionally with subsequent beam-influencing elements the spray pattern and a sprinkling uniform over the radial extent is satisfactory only over a small range of variation of the range, the nozzle arrangement with a plurality of individual nozzles allows a much larger range of variation of the range, in particular by assigning individual jets to different radial sprinkling sections.

It is particularly advantageous to align the individual nozzles in a fixed vertical angular position with respect to the axis of rotation, with the individual beams preferably forming a diverging beam when emerging from the individual nozzles. As a result, additional drive means for a variable vertical orientation and their control can be omitted by the control device and both the mechanical complexity and the consumption of electrical energy can be kept low.

Due to the simultaneous irrigation of the entire radial extent of an angle segment up to the boundary of the surface of a nozzle arrangement, preferably with a plurality of individual nozzles eliminates the range variation of an approximately punctiform Beregnenden beam by flow variation or vertical nozzle rotation within a rotational angle position, so that the irrigation of a surface done much faster can and control effort is eliminated.

The nozzle arrangement is advantageously uniform, ie pivoted about the vertical axis of rotation at a substantially constant rotational speed, wherein the drive for the pivoting movement preferably takes place via a drive device through which at least a portion of the water flowing to the nozzle arrangement flows. The drive device may in particular contain a turbine wheel acted upon by the flowing water and a gear arrangement. This eliminates the consumption of electrical Power for an electric servomotor for the rotation angle adjustment. The current angular position of the nozzle assembly may, for. B. be provided via a rotation angle sensor of the controller available.

By fixed with respect to the axis of rotation vertical angle of the nozzle assembly without vertical electromotive adjustment and / or by the water-flowed drive means without electromotive adjustment of the angular position and / or within a rotational angle position substantially constant adjustment of the actuating means without radial Abfahren with a punctual beam results Particularly low consumption of electrical power in the operation of the irrigation device, so that a rechargeable accumulator device can be designed as an electrical energy source and a solar cell assembly for their charging with a small footprint.

By interpolating intermediate values from a second number of distinguishable angular positions, it is particularly easy to describe surfaces with largely arbitrary contours with little effort with a good approximation by a larger first number of distinguishable angular positions and associated control values and to uniformly apply the beam arrangement. In particular, the number of control values to be programmed in by a user can be kept small and substantially lower than the total number of angular positions of the nozzle arrangement that can be programmed by the user in a setting phase or lemphasis.

The interpolation of control values in angular positions without programmed control values from adjacent angular positions with programmed control values is advantageously carried out according to one or more interpolation instructions specified in the control device. Advantageously, the interpolation rule such that the final impinging points of the beam arrangement are related to the interpolated and interpolated programmed control values on an elementary simple geometric curve, e.g. B. a straight line or a circular arc. Such an interpolation rule can easily be set up with the help of the trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan, ...). In a preferred embodiment, only an interpolation rule directed to a straight line as a locus of the range end points is used. Curved sections of a surface contour can then be approximated by a series of straight sections. The restriction to an interpolation rule, which is directed to a straight line as a locus of the beam assembly end points, is particularly obvious to the user and easy to handle.

The different angular positions for the control device are advantageously given by uniform angular increments of a maximum of 6 degrees, in particular a maximum of 4 degrees about the axis of rotation. The rotation of the nozzle arrangement is advantageously carried out continuously uniformly, in particular via a drive through which at least part of the water flowing to the nozzle arrangement flows, in particular with a turbine wheel and a gear. The rotation angle information is advantageously provided by a rotational angle sensor arranged in the nozzle arrangement as an electrical signal for the control device.

The adjustment of the range of the jet arrangement delivered by the nozzle arrangement by the control device in accordance with the control value programmed or interpolated at the respective current angular position advantageously takes place via a regulating valve in the feed path of the water flowing to the nozzle arrangement. Advantageously, the maximum adjustable effective valve cross section is smaller than the nozzle cross section of the nozzle arrangement, in a nozzle arrangement with a plurality of individual nozzles smaller than the sum of the nozzle cross sections of the plurality of individual nozzles. The regulating valve may in particular be a floating disc valve. The regulating valve is advantageously integrated in the housing of the sprinkler. The current setting of the regulating valve can advantageously be determined or monitored by a further sensor arrangement, which may be a rotary potentiometer in a simple design, for example.

The programming of a control value is advantageously carried out by the fact that in a certain angular position of the nozzle assembly, the user via a first control element, the position of the regulating valve is influenced so that the emitted beam arrangement occupies the desired range up to the contour of the surface to be wetted. If, in the user's opinion, the desired range is set correctly by means of the regulating valve via the first operating element, the user initiates the programming of a control value corresponding to the achieved valve position into a programmable control value memory, for example via a second operating element. First and second control can advantageously be structurally combined in an element with at least two different operating options, eg. B. a knob with additional axial tactile function.

The controls are integrated in an advantageous embodiment in the housing of the sprinkler function. This advantageously allows the user to stop the nozzle assembly in an angular position by hand in a setting phase until the desired range is set via the operating elements and a control value is programmed. In another embodiment, locking means for locking the nozzle assembly may be provided in an angular position. The range adjustment and programming of a control value can of course also be done during the continuous further rotation of the nozzle assembly.

In another embodiment with a rotatable nozzle arrangement via an electrically controllable motor, a specific angular position can also be set in a targeted manner during the adjustment phase and maintained until the programming of a control value.

The control device with the memory for the control values is advantageously integrated in the housing of the irrigation device.

The integrated into the housing of the sprinkler electrical components are preferably supplied from an equally integrated into the housing of the sprinkler electrical energy storage with electrical energy. The energy store is preferably a repeatedly rechargeable accumulator. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, a solar cell arrangement is provided in or in the housing of the irrigation function, via which the accumulator is charged.

The interpolated control values can be determined in a first advantageous embodiment after completion of a setting phase for all angular positions without programmed control value in a one-time calculation process and written to the control value memory in addition to the programmed control values. In another advantageous embodiment, the interpolated control values can also be continually recalculated.

Particularly advantageous is a spray pattern generated by the nozzle arrangement with jet nozzles emerging from individual nozzles, in which the individual jets are adjustable in all rotational angle settings of the nozzle arrangement and for all Ranges lie substantially in a common vertical plane and have different ranges from each other. Preferably, the individual jets at the nozzle exits divergent and intersecting at a greater distance.

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 also at the largest adjustable range, ie 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 Irrespective of the variably adjustable range of the beam pattern, determined by the range of the widest individual beam, individual beams are essentially preserved with varying range of the beam pattern. 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 oppose within the nozzle arrangement in different relative positions, also with respect to the axis of rotation but the projections of the emitted rays onto the surface to be frosted all point in the same direction of the common vertical plane.

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 range of the beam arrangement, the overlap of rays is given and is ongoing.

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.

Fig. 1

eine zu beregnende Fläche in Draufsicht,

Fig. 2

die Fläche nach Fig. 1 mit anderer Regnerposition,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt durch eine bevorzugte Ausführung einer Beregnungsvorrichtung,

Fig. 4

eine Beregnungsvorrichtung der in Fig. 3 skizzierten Art in einem abdeckbaren Bodenschacht.

Fig. 5

ein Schema einer Beregnungsvorrichtung mit veränderlich steuerbarer Reichweite,

Fig. 6

ein Strahlbild in unterschiedlichen Reichweiteneinstellungen,

Fig. 7

eine schematische Überkreuzung zweier Einzelstrahlen,

Fig. 8

einen Ausschnitt mit einer Düsenanordnung.

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. The invention is illustrated below with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the figures still in detail. Showing:

Fig. 1

a surface to be covered in plan view,

Fig. 2

the area after Fig. 1 with other sprinkler position,

Fig. 3

a section through a preferred embodiment of a sprinkler,

Fig. 4

a sprinkler of the Fig. 3 sketched kind in a coverable bottom shaft.

Fig. 5

a schematic of a sprinkler with variably controllable range,

Fig. 6

a spray pattern in different range settings,

Fig. 7

a schematic crossover of two individual beams,

Fig. 8

a section with a nozzle arrangement.

In Fig. 1 is to be wetted surface BF outlined with a peripheral surface contour FK, which has several straight contour sections and an arc section in the example. Within the area a sprinkler RV is arranged, which is periodically continued to rotate completely around the axis of rotation. The irrigation device includes one around the im essential vertical axis of rotation DA rotatable nozzle assembly, which emits water in the form of a beam assembly with one or more, bundled or fanned rays. In the plan view, the beam direction extends from the axis of rotation radially outward.

The rotation about the axis of rotation is assumed to be substantially uniformly continuous. With regard to an angle orientation direction NW which is oriented arbitrarily a priori, the orientation of the nozzle arrangement or the beam direction of the beam arrangement assumes periodically progressive angles of rotation during rotation, which are denoted by W1 and W2 for two beams R1 and R2. The rotational angle position of the nozzle assembly relative to a relative to the surface BF fixed sprinkler housing is continuously by means of a rotation angle sensor in resolution steps WA of z. B. 2 degrees and provided for a control device. The size of the resolution steps and the rotational range of the nozzle arrangement, which may advantageously be adjustable in a sector sprinkler, determine a first number of distinguishable rotational angle positions. Some angular positions are shown as radial lines from the sprinkler to the surface contour.

The user can, for. B. via a remote control or advantageously on the side facing away from the jet array of the nozzle assembly located directly on the sprinkler, the range of the emitted beam arrangement specifically change.

In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle assembly in any angular position is sustainable, preferably by holding by hand by the user. Advantageously, an overload clutch is inserted between a drive unit and the nozzle arrangement for this purpose.

The user selects along the surface contour FK distinctive points as vertices of a polygon surrounding the surface BF, which describes the actual contour FK with sufficient accuracy for the user. A curve can advantageously be approximately described by several straight sections. The selected vertices are in Fig. 1 denoted by E1 to E9.

The user adjusts the range of the beam registration in a setting phase for each angular position of the nozzle arrangement in which the beam direction is directed to such a corner point, wherein the coincidence of the range is directly visually controllable, and programs a respective control value corresponding to the respective range the respective angle of rotation in a memory of a control device. In rotational intermediate positions with orientations of the nozzle arrangement between adjacent vertices no range adjustment by the user needs to be done, so that with only a few settings, the entire surface is sufficiently accurate writable. Ranges are labeled R1, R2 ....

After execution of all selected vertices with setting the respective desired range and programming the corresponding control value in a control value memory, the adjustment phase is completed and in the control value memory is a second number, in the example nine, of value pairs of angular position and control value before.

In a later operating phase with unchanged position and orientation of the housing of the sprinkler, in which the nozzle assembly is rotated continuously about the axis of rotation by means of a drive device, the control device sets a control value for each rotational angle position distinguishable in the control device by means of the rotational angle sensor Actuator for changing the range of the emitted beam arrangement ready. In addition to the small number of rotational angle positions W1, W2,... For the selected corner points E1, E2,..., The number of distinguishable rotational angle positions also includes a typically much larger number of rotational angle intermediate positions. The correct value of the control value of the actuator can be advantageously set or monitored using a position sensor for the actuator.

While the user has programmed control values for the small number of rotational angle positions to the corner points E1, E2,..., The control device generates control values for the intermediate positions by interpolation. The interpolated control values can be continuously regenerated or preferably calculated and stored once at the end of the adjustment phase.

The generation of interpolated control values to Drehwinkelzwischenstellüngen takes place in such a way that the ranges to lying between two adjacent vertices intermediate positions are all on a straight line between the two vertices. A reaching to the point Ei range Ri in a rotational angle intermediate position Wi between the rotational angle positions W1, W2 is then calculated as a function of ranges R1, R2 and angles W1, W2 to adjacent vertices E1, E2. $$\mathrm{Ri}\left(\mathrm{wi}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{function}\left(\mathrm{R}\mathrm{1}\mathrm{.}\mathrm{R}\mathrm{2}\mathrm{.}\mathrm{W}\mathrm{1}\mathrm{.}\mathrm{W}\mathrm{2}\right)$$

When determining the interpolated control values, it must also be taken into account that the relationship between the control value and the range can be non-linear and, if appropriate, a characteristic function must be taken into account, which depends on the design of the sprinkler with the control Actuator depends on the individual case and is specified by the manufacturer as a function curve in the control device for interpolation and thus does not need to be considered separately by the user. Instead of a calculation formula, the interpolation rule and / or a characteristic function can also be stored as a table.

The sprinkler may additionally advantageously comprise a user-selectable mode of operation in which the range is advantageously adjustable independently of the angular position and by the user, such that the function of a circular or sector sprinkler with adjustable irrigation radius is provided.

In Fig. 1 is considered a sprinkler, a circular sprinkler with periodically continued rotation over 360 degrees. The area BF of Fig. 1 could also with a z. B. arranged at the corner point E7 sector sprinkler, which sweeps only a sector of about 240 degrees of E8 via E1 to E6 and is advantageously rotated alternately clockwise and anticlockwise, are irrigated, as in Fig. 2 outlined. Advantageously, the irrigation device is operable both for continuous rotation in the manner of a circular sprinkler and for reciprocating in the manner of a sector sprinkler.

Fig. 2 shows an advantageous embodiment of a sprinkler according to the invention. A housing BG is advantageously set up with a substantially flat base GF on a footprint SF, in particular ground and advantageously by additional anchoring elements, such as. B. pegs on this positionally fixed. Via a hose coupling SK, inlet channel ZL in the housing BG and a dirt filter FI water comes to an electrically controllable regulating valve RE, which preferably designed as a rotatable disc valve. About a servomotor SM, the flow cross-section of the disc valve between a closed position and a maximum open position can be varied. After the regulating valve, the water flows through a drive device AE to a nozzle arrangement DU. From the drive device is in Fig. 3 For the sake of clarity, only the receiving chamber is shown, in which typically a turbine wheel driven by a part of the water flowing to the nozzle arrangement and a multistage speed-reducing gear is arranged.

The nozzle arrangement DU advantageously comprises a plurality of individual nozzles which emit a beam arrangement SA with a plurality of bundled individual beams. Advantageously, the sum of all nozzle cross sections is greater than the maximum passage cross section of the regulating valve RE. The throw of the farthest single beam of the beam assembly is understood as the range of the beam assembly. The nozzle arrangement DU is formed in a relative to the housing BG about a substantially vertical axis of rotation DA rotatable sprinkler head DK, which is coupled to the transmission output of the drive device, preferably via an overload clutch.

A device SS for variably setting an angle sector can be provided between the sprinkler head DK and the stationary housing BG, by means of which a swiveling range of the rotatable sprinkler head DK about the axis of rotation DA can be set by the user. Such a sector adjustment as such is well known. The sprinkler head is then pivoted in operation between the sector boundaries back and forth.

During operation, a rotational angle sensor DS generates sensor signals for an electronic control device SE for determining the current rotational angle position of the sprinkler head or the nozzle arrangement DU formed thereon a housing-fixed reference direction. The sprinkler head is advantageously designed in the form of a downwardly open bell or cup shape and surrounds the rotation angle sensor, which is thereby particularly well secured against contamination.

The control device SE, the rotation angle sensor DS and the servo motor SM are supplied from an accumulator or battery assembly BA with electrical energy. The control device and the regulating valve with servomotor are integrated in the housing BG.

A first control element BE1, which z. B. is designed as a knob, is also integrated into the housing and is electrically connected to the control device SE and / or servomotor SM that depending on the direction of rotation of the control element, the regulating valve further opened or closed and so the range of the beam assembly SA is affected. Preferably, the control element acts on the control device SE for changing a control signal to the servomotor. A second operating element BE2, by means of which one of the current valve position and thus the currently set range of the beam arrangement corresponding value of the control signal as a control value with assignment to the determined via the rotation angle sensor rotational position of the nozzle assembly is programmed into a memory of the controller can, for. B. be designed as a push button, which can be actuated by pressing the knob. The design of the control element is accessible in detail in many known variants. For example, instead of the rotary knob, a push-button arrangement with a push-button for increasing and a push-button for reducing the reach can be provided, which can also be designed in the form of a rocker.

In a setting phase, the sprinkler head with the nozzle assembly is brought under the action of the drive means or by the user by hand in a rotational angular position, in which the radial beam direction of the beam assembly SA to one of the vertices E1 to E7 after Fig. 1 is directed. In this rotation angle position, the user sets the desired range of the beam arrangement by means of the rotary knob BE1 and programs by means of the function of the second control element BE2 a control value associated with the set range with assignment to the value of the current rotation angle position known in the control device via the rotation angle sensor Control device. The sprinkler head can hereby be held by hand against further rotation. The overload clutch between the output of the drive device and sprinkler head prevents damage to the drive device by hand on the sprinkler head. For all selected vertices, a value pair of control value and angular position is programmed into the memory of the control device in a corresponding manner.

After completion of the adjustment phase, interpolated control values for rotational angle intermediate positions can additionally be determined in the control device from the programmed control values for a few selected rotational angle positions and stored in the memory of the control device. The end of the adjustment phase can be commanded by a user by a separate control element, by a special signaling of an existing control function for another function, by screwing the sprinkler head in an already processed angle range, etc. In the operating phase for irrigation of the surface BF, the sprinkler head with the nozzle assembly is continuously rotated by the drive means about the axis of rotation, for sweeping a full circle typically with the same direction of rotation, to sweep only a sector with at the sector boundaries respectively switched Rotation. During the rotation, the current rotation angle position can always be determined in the control device from the sensor signal of the rotation angle sensor. From the memory of the control device, an assigned by Einprorammieren or stored after interpolation control value for each angular position and controlled the servomotor in accordance with this control value to bring the regulating valve in a corresponding position and to effect a certain range of the beam assembly. The control values for rotational angle intermediate positions can also be determined continuously by interpolation instead of the one-time calculation and storage at the end of a setting phase. A position of the regulating valve corresponding to the control value can advantageously be adjusted or monitored via a rotary potentiometer DP coupled to the rotation of the regulating valve.

Fig. 4 shows a section through a further particularly advantageous irrigation device, in which a device of the type Fig. 3 housed in a shaft housing SG. The shaft housing is covered at the top by a hinged lid DE and is typically buried in the ground so that the manhole cover is approximately at the level of the surrounding soil. The supply line is here as bottom connection ZS from below via z. B. provided a laid in the ground pipe. The manhole cover is opened in a conventional manner automatically at supply of pressurized water via the supply line ZS to the irrigation device by a branch line SL leads to a movable punch SD, which in the vicinity of a lid hinge opening, z. B. against a closing acting return spring, acts on the manhole cover.

As an electrical energy source, a rechargeable accumulator AB is provided in this embodiment, which is advantageous in the manhole cover protected behind a window FE arranged solar cell SZ is charged. The combination of a rechargeable battery in the shaft and a solar cell in the manhole cover makes beneficial use of the fact that typically the irrigation device is not constantly in operation, but is usually out of operation over time, then closed by the automatic operation of the manhole cover and the solar cell Accumulator charges. The solar cell claimed in this arrangement not important for other functions surface area. The folding movement of the lid ensures that the window FE is not normally z. B. is covered by plants or foliage. If necessary, the accumulator can also be charged via an external charger.

The interpolation instructions or tables or sequence programs stored in memories in the control device are advantageously modifiable by an external programming device, so that newer versions for such stored information can be transferred to the control device.

The Fig. 5 schematically shows the preferred construction of an irrigation device for irrigating 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 a sector sprinkler with an 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.

The sprinkler arrangement is connected via a supply line ZL, z. B. connectable via 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 angular 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 as to achieve a rotational angle-dependent range of the jet arrangement emitted by the nozzle arrangement. 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. 6 shows schematically for a rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation DA nozzle assembly DU a spray pattern with six output from individual nozzles of the nozzle assembly 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 expansion, as for the beam S4H registered with RB4 with a distribution of the irrigation density around a maximum of 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 solar beams 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. The crossover of the beam paths introduces a disturbance of the solo beams, which results in a widening and leveling of the irrigation density relative 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. Since the ranges are monotone correlated with the flow rate, there is also an automatic adjustment of the amount of water applied to the range of the beam assembly.

In Fig. 6 There are three spray patterns at a maximum adjustable RH range Fig. 6 (A) in a minimum adjustable range RL in Fig. 6 (C) and a medium range RM in Fig. 6 (B) contrasted to illustrate the qualitatively 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. 7 is the beam behavior at a crossover of two beams SA, SB simplified sketched. 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. How out Fig. 6 As can be seen, occur in the course of a beam several such crossovers, so that cumulate the disturbances.

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. 8 an enlarged schematic section of a nozzle arrangement 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 applies, at least for the vast majority, preferably all of the individual beams, that a larger exit angle is correlated with the vertical with a greater range, as in the example Fig. 6 accepted.

The nozzle exits can, as in the example after Fig. 8 indicated, with respect to the axis of rotation DA counterposed to be positioned within the nozzle assembly, but are all in the same direction, in the sketch of the Fig. 8 directed 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 vast majority of 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)

1. Sprinkling apparatus with a sprinkler with a nozzle arrangement (DU) that can rotate through a predetermined angle range about an essentially vertical axis of rotation (DA) in sprinkler operation,
   with adjusting means for variable setting of the range (R) of a jet arrangement generated by the nozzle arrangement (DU),
   with an electronic control unit (SE) integrated in the housing of the sprinkler, containing a programmable memory, in which one control value corresponding to each range coordinated with a plurality of angle settings of the nozzle arrangement (DU) can be programmed for control of the adjusting means,
   and which actuates the adjusting means in sprinkler operation as a function of the angle setting of the nozzle arrangement (DU),
   characterised in that
   the nozzle arrangement (DU) contains several individual nozzles to generate individual jets of the jet arrangement
   and the adjusting means contain a regulating valve (RE) variably controllable by the control unit (SE)as a function of the angle setting for setting the range of the jet arrangement, which is integrated in the housing of the sprinkler.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the individual nozzles of the nozzle arrangement (DU) are oriented in a fixed angle setting relative to the axis of rotation (DA).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the individual jets (SA) emerge divergently from the individual nozzles.
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the rotating of the nozzle arrangement (DU) is uniform.
5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the rotating of the nozzle arrangement (DU) occurs via a drive unit (AE), through which at least part of the water flowing to the nozzle arrangement flows.
6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a rotation angle sensor (DS) is integrated in the housing of the sprinkler.
7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a storage battery is integrated in the housing of the sprinkler and a solar cell arrangement (SZ) charges the storage battery (AB).
8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the number of pairs of values which the user can program is less than the number of distinguishable rotation angle settings of the nozzle arrangement (DU) in the control unit (SE) and the control unit (SE) each time determines a control value for intermediate angle settings when no control value is programmed by the user by means of interpolation from neighbouring pairs of angle setting values in the direction of rotation of the nozzle arrangements (DU) and the programmed control value.
9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised by a programming unit with a first operating element by means of which a current control value for a current rotation angle setting (W1, W2) can be programmed in a setup phase.
10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the rotation angle setting (W1, W2) of the nozzle arrangement and/or the range can be influenced in the setup phase by means of an additional operating element.
11. Device according to claim 8 or 10, characterised in that the programming unit is integrated with the operating elements (BE1, BE2) in the housing of the sprinkler.
12. Method for operation of a sprinkler apparatus, wherein a nozzle arrangement (DU) comprising several individual nozzles to generate individual jets of the jet arrangement can rotate about an axis of rotation (DA) and the range (R) of a jet arrangement (SA) generated by the nozzle arrangement (DU) can be adjusted by means of a control unit (SE) in a given first number of distinguishable rotation angle settings, so that the nozzle arrangement (DU) rotates uniformly,
    the entire radial zone up to the particular assigned range (R) is uniformly irrigated by the jet arrangement (SA) in the different angle settings,
    characterised in that
    a higher flow rate through the nozzle arrangement (DU) is set for a longer range (R) than for a shorter range (R).
13. Method according to claim 12, characterised in that in a setup phase each time a control value for the range (R) is programmed into a memory for a second number of distinguishable rotation angle settings (W1, W2) that is significantly less than the first number and in an operating phase the range (R) in rotation angle settings with control values programmed in the setup phase uses these programmed control values and in other rotation angle settings (Wi) interpolated control values are used to set the range that are obtained by interpolation from programmed control values from neighbouring rotation angle settings (W1, W2) to the particular angle setting.
14. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that the interpolation is done by a protocol such that the end points (Ei) of ranges (Ri) corresponding to the interpolated control values lie on a straight line between two neighbouring end points (E1, E2) to programmed control values.

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