GB2220373A

GB2220373A - A watering system

Info

Publication number: GB2220373A
Application number: GB8907003A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-06-22
Filing date: 1989-03-28
Publication date: 1990-01-10
Also published as: GB8907003D0; GB2220373A8

Abstract

Localised water delivery is facilitated by the use of a water supply line 1 fitted with a number of water outlets 2. The outlets are specifically designed to allow single jet, fan tail or rose pattern output or adjustable water output depending on the specific watering requirements, and are attached to the water supply line by external means 4. The attachment means may be a helical coil 4A engaging lateral projections 3 attached to or integral with the outlet. The coil may extend into a support spike. <IMAGE>

Description

"Waterinq System" This invention relates to a watering system.

In recent years low cost garden hoses, unions, junctions and sprinklers have become more widely available resulting in an increase in the use of watering systems, particularly for horticultural use.

Sprinkler systems have been commonly used; however, they do not discriminate between areas which need watering and those which do not, resulting in the wastage of water resources.

A more controllable system providing more localised water delivery was required resulting in the use of garden hoses with water outlets located at suitable intervals along their length; thus providing a larger number of water outlets each of which watered a smaller area.

However these systems raise as many problems as they solve due to the ease with which the water outlets are dislodged, either by changes in water pressure or by movement of the hose, which can also lead to blockage of the outlets.

An even greater drawback of these systems is the damage caused to the hose by the use of water outlets, which are either barbed and pushed into the hose, or else threaded and screwed into the hose. The damage is normally caused by high water pressures or sudden changes in water pressure causing the outlets to be ejected and resulting in the barbs or threads ripping the hose.

According to the present invention there is provided a garden watering system comprising a water supply line fitted with a number of water outlets, located at intervals along its length, which are held in place on the water supply line by external means of attachment.

The invention allows a choice of outlets to be inserted and removed, and retained in position against changes in water pressure.

Preferably, the water outlets incorporate a smooth barb free base, so that the water outlets may be removed from the water supply line without causing damage.

Preferably, a number of different water outlets may be included providing a number of different watering patterns including single jet, fan tail, rose pattern and an adjustable output.

Preferably the water outlets include appendages which lie in contact with the supply line when the water outlets are in situ, said appendages being formed either by a twist of wire received by a groove in the body of the water outlet or from lugs moulded to the water outlet during manufacture.

Preferably, the external means of attachment is in the form of a long wire, one end of which is twisted into coils to form a helix, which helix is twisted over the appendages to the water outlets, securing the appendages, and by them the water outlets to the water supply line.

The word "wire" is used herein to denote an elongate member of metal or plastic or any other suitable deformable material.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section of a water supply line and water outlet, with an external means of attachment in place; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the arrangement of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of a second embodiment of the water outlet in position on a supply line; Fig. 4 is a plan view of three different outlet patterns of holes at the top of each of interchangeable water outlets; Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the watering patterns provided by the water outlets shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-section of another embodiment of a water outlet position on a supply line.

In the preferred embodiment a garden watering system is provided, comprising a number of smooth based barb free water outlets 2 fitted to a water supply line 1 and securely located by external means of attachment 4.

The water outlets 2 may be cylindrical or may taper towards the top where a diaphragm 6 is located. The diaphragm 6 for each water outlet 2 is drilled with one, five, or ten holes enabling single jet, fan tail and rose pattern water output respectively, depending on the specific watering requirements as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

All of the above water outlets 2 are interchangeable without causing damage to the water supply line 1, due to the fact that they are not barbed. The water outlets 2 may be colour coded, according to the number of holes in their diaphragms 6, for ease of use.

The base 5 of the water outlet 2 is received by an accurately sized hole drilled into the water supply line 1, the hole being 10% to 30% smaller than the base of the water outlet 2, to ensure a water-tight fit without damage to the water supply line 1.

The hole in the water supply line 1 is produced using a drill and appropriately sized drill bit.

In the embodiment of Figs 1 and 2, a shallow groove 8 is located near the base of the water outlet 2, which receives a single coil of wire 3, preferably spring quality stainless steel, one end of which lies along the water supply line 1 while the other end is curled into a finger grip 3A to facilitate easy removal of the water outlet 2.

The water outlets 2 are secured in position by the use of a wire stand 4 one end of which is twisted onto one and a half widely spaced turns forming a helix 4A. The space between the turns is sufficiently large to enable the helix 4A to be forced over any part of the water supply line 1. The diameter of the helix 4A is large enough for it to slip along the water supply line 1. However, when it is twisted over wire 3 it will grip it tightly to the water supply line 1, thus securing the wire 3 and by it the water outlet 2 to the water supply line 1.

This also permits adjustment of the angle of the water outlet 2 through 3600 orthogonally to the direction of the water supply line 1.

The other end of the wire stand 4 is a straight length of wire which is used either to pin the water supply line 1 to the ground or to fix it to the top of a pole or cane 12 as shown in Fig. 5, so as to locate the water supply line 1 securely and prevent it moving under changing water pressure.

The embodiment of Fig. 2 is similar to the previous embodiment except that the water outlet 2 is fitted with an adjustable water deflector means 9 in place of the drilled diaphragm 6. The adjustable water deflector means 9 is similar in shape to a countersunk screw head and is attached to a spring 10, which is received by a suitably machined internal thread 11 in the body of the water outlet 2.

The flow rate and pattern of the water emitted by the water outlet 2 is dependent on the position of the deflector 9, which is adjusted by scewing the spring 10 into or out of the body of the water outlet 2. This is achieved by the use of a screwdriver which fits a standard sized groove 14 in the head of the water deflector 9.

In the embodiment of Fig. 6 the water outlets are manufactured with integral moulded lugs 13, which fulfil the role of the wire 3 in the first embodiment.

When the system is first used, the water supply line 1 with suitably located water outlet 2 is laid throughout the area to be watered and a valve, in the open position, is located in the open end of the water supply line 1. The water supply is then switched on and the valve is closed as the water pressure in the water supply line 1 quickly builds up water is forced out of the outlets 2. Thereafter the valve is kept closed and the system is ready for operation.

The supply line 1 may conveniently be of conventional flexible plastics hose. Alternatively, rigid plastics pipe or other forms of conduit may be used.

Claims

1. A watering system comprising a water supply line fitted with a number of water outlets, located at intervals along its length, which are held in place on the water supply line by external means of attachment.

2. A watering system according to Claim 1, in which each water outlet includes a body which, in use, extends substantially perpendicular to the supply line, and appendages projecting substantially at right angles to the water outlet body to lie in contact, in use, with the water supply line.

3. A watering system according to Claim 2, in which the appendages of each water outlet are formed by a twist of wire, received by a groove in the body of the water outlet, the ends of the wire lying along and in contact with the water supply line, when the water outlet is in situ.

4. A watering system according to Claim 2, in which said appendages of each water outlet are moulded lugs, the bases of which lie along and in contact with the water supply line, when the water outlet is in situ.

5. A watering system according to any of Claims 2 to 4, in which said means of attachment engages said water outlet's appendages to secure water outlets to the water supply line.

6. A watering system according to Claim 5, in which said attachment means comprises a length of wire one end of which is twisted to form a helix having turns spaced such that the helix can be pushed over the water supply line at any point and twisted over the appendages.

7. A watering system according to Claim 6, in which the other end of said length of wire is used to secure the water supply line to the ground or to an upright.

8. A watering system according to any preceding Claim, in which at least some of the water outlets include an outlet in the form of an aperturate diaphragm, the system including water outlets having diaphragms of a number of aperture patterns to provide a number of different water output patterns, which can be selected to meet specific watering requirements.

9. A watering system according to any of Claims 1 to 7, in which at least some of the water outlets comprise an internal screw thread formed in said body, and a water deflector means including a member engaging said screw thread to allow adjustment of the position of the deflector means with respect to the body, whereby the flow rate and pattern of water emitted by the outlet may be adjusted.

10. A watering system according to any preceding Claim, in which each water outlet incorporates a smooth barb free base, which can be inserted into and removed from an aperture in the water supply line without causing it any damage.

11. A watering system according to any preceding Claim in which the attachment means, is in the form of a wire twisted into a helix the diameter of which is accurately dimensioned so as to hold the water supply line in place securely, while allowing it to be rotated through 3600 orthogonal to its length.

12. A watering system according to any preceding Claim in which a supply line comprises a hose or pipe.

13. A watering system according to any preceding Claim, in which the outlets are colour coded for ease of use and interchangeability.

14. A water outlet for use with a conduit in a watering system, the water outlet comprising a body having a first portion which in use passes through the wall of the conduit and a second portion which in use is external of the conduit; the first portion having a smooth barbless exterior for removable insertion in a bore through the conduit wall; and the exterior of the second portion being adapted to provide engagement by an external means of attachment to the conduit.

15. A watering system substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

16. A water outlet, for use in a watering system, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figs 1 and 2 or Fig. 3 or Fig. 6 of the drawings.