GB2433406A

GB2433406A - Sprinkler having conical outlet

Info

Publication number: GB2433406A
Application number: GB0525762A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Edward Moyes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-19
Filing date: 2005-12-19
Publication date: 2007-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-19
Also published as: GB2433406B; GB0525762D0

Abstract

A sprinkler 1 comprises a cylinder 2 having an annular wall 11 between top and bottom ends 12,15. A fluid inlet 4 is situated at the annular wall 11 and is off centre from a longitudinal axis of the cylinder 2. The inlet 4 is at a tangent to the annular wall 11 of the cylinder 2 and is at the bottom end 15 of the cylinder 2 above the base 3. The top end 12 is cone shaped and is inclined inwardly into the cylinder 2, and the top end 12 has a single aperture 13 at its centre forming a fluid outlet. The sprinkler may be formed from a moulded plastics material.

Description

A SPRINKLER

The present invention relates to a sprinkler. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a sprinkler for use in watering a lawn.

Sprinklers used for lawns produce moving jets of water to water a large area. Problems with such sprinklers are that the moving parts are likely to break or wear out and the jets are likely to get blocked in time.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate the aforementioned problems.

The invention consists in a sprinkler, comprising: a cylinder having an annular wall between first and second ends, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a longitudinal axis, the inlet being situated at the annular wall and being off centre from the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, the first end being substantially cone shaped and being inclined inwardly into the cylinder, and the first end having a single aperture at the centre of the substantially cone shaped first end forming the outlet.

With the invention, there are no moving parts.

The invention is able to transform a continuous flow of liquid via the dynamics and construction of the sprinkler into a continuous discharge of droplets forming a pattern similar to rain. The discharge can be varied by altering the supply of liquid to the sprinkler. By varying the geometry of the substantially cone shaped first end or spray plate in relation to one or both of an angle of approach or incline of the cone and size of the aperture, an almost infinite pattern of spray and droplet size can be produced.

Preferably the inlet is at a tangent to the annular wall of the cylinder.

Preferably the in let is substantially at the second end of the cylinder.

The cylinder may have a base extending beyond the cylinder. The base enables the sprinkler to be supported without the need for a spike to be inserted into, say, a lawn.

The sprinkler may comprise a moulded unitary piece of plastics material containing at least the first end, the annular wall, the inlet and the outlet. The moulded unitary piece of plastics material may also contain the base.

The second end may be attached to the annular wall and may also be attached to the underside of the base.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way example, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a schematic part sectional elevational view of the sprinkler according to one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic bottom view of the sprinkler of Figure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a sprinkler 1 has an upright cylindrical main body 2 extending from a circular base 3.

An inlet 4 to the cylindrical body 2 is at a tangent to the vertical annular wall 11 of the body 2 and forms a supply tube 4 on top of the base 3. The base 3 has a gap 5 underneath the length of the supply tube 4 and the supply tube 4 has ribbing 6 extending from the base 3. The supply tube 4 extends beyond the base 3 and has a conventional hose fitting 7 at its distal end. The base 3 also has a downwardly projecting skirt 8. In addition a disc 10 is attached to the underside of the base 3 and forms the bottom or second end 15 of the cylindrical body 2.

The annular vertical wall 11 of the cylindrical body 2 is between the bottom end 15 and a top end 12 which is to be known henceforth as a spray plate 12. The spray plate 12 is cone shaped and is inclined inwardly into the cylindrical body 2. There is a single aperture 13 at the centre of the cone shaped spray plate 12 which forms an outlet or nozzle from the cylindrical body 2. An annular ridge 14 is formed on the outer surface of the spray plate 12 around a rim of the aperture 13 and the ridge 14 is inclined inwardly into the aperture 13.

In use, a hose is connected to a water supply such as an outside tap and to the hose fitting, and the water supply is turned on. Water from the water supply enters the inside of the cylindrical body 2 via the tangential supply tube 4 and contacts the inside surface of the annular wall 11 of the cylindrical body 2.

The centrigual force of the tangentially supplied water causes the water to rise up inside the cylindrical body 2. Upon striking the underside of the spray plate 12, the water escapes via the nozzle aperture 13 and is dispersed into a myriad of droplets.

The spray of droplets may be simply adjusted by increasing or decreasing the flow of water supplied.

In a preferred embodiment the droplets can cover an area up to 8 metres in diameter.

Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. A dosing system of powder or a solution can be attached to the sprinkler in order to form a fertilizing system. The sprinkler can be used to dispense dosed fluids over a controlled area. The sprinkler may be of any suitable size to suit various applications. In the case of an agricultural application the sprinkler may be increased in size from that required for a garden lawn and may be mounted on a trolley which is moved by continuous motion across a field to be irrigated or otherwise dosed. The droplet size can be adjusted to obtain maximum benefit so that the field absorbs water rather than be flooded by water. This can be achieved by a combination of droplet size possibly determined by adjusting the rate of fluid supply and rate of motion across the field.

A further control over the spread and droplet size may be achieved by regulating the flow of fluid supply.

There is no restriction in having the sprinkler operating in an inverted or upside down position. This may be particularly useful where there is restricted space such as inside a greenhouse.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A sprinkler, comprising: a cylinder having an annular wall between first and second ends, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a longitudinal axis, the inlet being situated at the annular wall and being off centre from the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, the first end being substantially cone shaped and being inclined inwardly into the cylinder, and the first end having a single aperture at the centre of the io substantially cone shaped first end forming the outlet.

2. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet is at a tangent to the annular wall of the cylinder.

3. The sprinkler as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the inlet is substantially at the second end of the cylinder.

4. The sprinkler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sprinkler comprises a moulded unitary piece of plastics material containing at least the first end, the annular wall, the inlet and the outlet.

5. The sprinkler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cylinder has a base extending beyond the cylinder.

6. The sprinkler as claimed in claims 4 and 5, wherein the moulded unitary piece of plastics material includes the base.

7. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the second end is attached to the underside of the base.

8. The sprinkler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second end is attached to the annular wall.

9. A sprinkler constructed substantially as hereinbefOre described with reference to the accompanying drawings.