IL31931A - Water sprinkler - Google Patents

Description

WATEfi SPRIHKLEB This invention relates to a water sprinkler which is suitable for general purposes but particularly- useful for the low level watering of orchards and the like.

· In the irrigating of orchards it is desirable to I limit the amount of water sprayed on to the foliage ! as far as possible if the water has a high salt ! content, and this has resulted in a so called "under t tree" watering. However flood irrigation is undesirable 0. for many reasons, particularly because of the salt ; i content, and one of the objects of this invention is j I to provide a sprinkler which will throw a low trajectory j ! -1968 spray and thereby limit the amount of water thrown on to . I t the foliage of a tree. This feature is achieved by means ! 5. of ^a^.sprinkler having an oscillating paddle in the jet stream, the oscillating paddle having upper and lower wings thereon. These wings will function to channel the stream of water under the influence of the paddle.

When land is to be irrigated by spray irrigation 0. systems one of the costs involved is the cost of t building up sufficient pressure to operate a spray, j the cost being a direct function of pressure, and it therefore becomes desirable to provide a sprinkler which will operate effectively under a wide range of pressures, . including a comparatively low pressure of say about fifteen pounds per square inch or even less. This is achieved in this invention, by the feature of a sprinkler having , a jet and an oscillatory paddle in the jet stream, the oscillatory paddle being hinged intermediate its ends.

If the paddle is hinged intermediate its ends it can be very simple and light, and need not necessarily have a high mass which is sometimes considered desirable for sprinklers of the knocker type. A light paddle hinged intermediate its ends will tend to vibrate at high speed but use can still be made of knocker means to assist in the rotation of the sprinkler head.

In its simplest form the invention consists of . a water sprinkler having a mounting sleeve, a hollow stem, co-operable means on the stem and on the mounting sleeve retaining the stem and mounting sleeve together for relative rotational movement, a hollow body secured 68 to the stem, a hollow nozzle secured at an angle to the · body -and forming with the stem and body a water flow conduit, an oscillating paddle pivoted to the body in alignment with but displaced from the nozzle to be in the jet stream thereof, a primary ramp face on the paddle between the pivot pin and the nozzle, a secondary . ramp face on the paddle extending beyond the pivot pin from the nozzle, and upper and lower wings on the paddle.

Much effort has been made heretofore with sprinklers to obtain what is considered an ideal pattern of distribution. An ideal pattern is believed to possess · a substantially even distribution for most of the radius of the spray, the distribution tapering off at the outer end of the radius of the spray so that areas of over watered ground do not occur where the patterns of spray overlap. This further feature can be achieved in this invention by providing, in the oscillatory- paddle, a compound curve so that the spray is formed firstly by a primary ramp face and secondly by a . secondary ramp face. Further ramp faces can also be introduced if desired.

In irrigation one of the major losses which occurs is due to "misting" of the spray, that is breaking the -3-1968 spray up into excessively . small drops, and to avoid this the invention may include as a still further feature of the upper wing being a continuing upper wing (to prevent misting), and with the lower wing on the paddle becoming part of a complex curvo near the tip to encourage progressive diffusion of water spray the cross section of . the paddle including a smooth curve between the wings, so that the water leaving the paddle will tend to be in the form of large drops.

Another of the problems which is encountered with water sprinklers of the oscillating paddle type is the difficulty in attaining a stable condition, particularly if the paddles are the type which is to throw a low -8-1968 trajectory, and a still further object of this invention is to provide a paddle which will be effective notwithstanding wide dimensional variations which can exist under production . conditions, or wide variations of pressure in water supply.

A. still further object is to provide a paddle which will be effective for sprinkler jets of varying dimension, so that the characteristics of a sprinkler, say for example high volume to low volume or high pressure to low pressure, can he varied by merely changing the nozzle without the need to change the paddle.

The invention may include as a further feature a paddle having a primary ramp and a secondary ramp spaced therefrom, the space between the primary and secondary ramp allowing a free throw of water therethrough during part of the oscillatory movement of the paddle. It is found with a paddle of this type particularly when pivoted intermediate its ends, that an excellent spray can be formed having even distribution characteristics notwithstanding wide variation in paddle dimensions jet size or the like. The "window" space between the ramps, by allowing free passage of the stream for a short while, allows the sprinkler to have a greater throw than for a paddle having a continuous ramp surface.

Two embodiments of the invention are described hereunder in some detail with reference to and are illustrated in the accompany±ng drawings, in which:- Pig. 1 is a plan view of a sprinkler according to a first embodiment, Pig. 2 is a central elevational section of the sprinkler of Pig. 1 , Pig. 3 is an enlarged section of the paddle taken on line 3-3 of Pig. 2, Pig. is a section on line of Pig. 3, Pig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Pig. 3, Pig. 6 is a partly sectioned elevation of a sprinkler according to a second embodiment, Pig. 7 is a partly sectioned enlarged plan of the paddle taken on line 7-7 of Pig. 6, Pig. 8 is an end view of the paddle from line 8-8 of Pig. 7, and Pig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Pig. 7.

According to the first embodiment of Pigs. 1 , 2, 3 , and 5 , a water sprinkler 10 is formed with a rotational body 1 1 which is arranged to rotate relatively to a threaded mounting sleeve 12, the rotational body 11 . having thereon an arm 13 carrying a pivot pin 1½ about 33 which a paddle pivots in an oscillatory motion.

The threaded mounting sleeve 12 is provided with an outer thread arranged to screw into a complementary fitting 19 , the sleeve 12 engaging over an adjustable stem 20 which . is threadably engaged at its upper end by a complementary thread in the rotational body 11 . The adjustable stem 20 is provided with a plurality of low friction washers 21 (for example polytetrafluoroethylene) above and below the threaded sleeve 12, and a spring 22 reacts between the » rotational body 11 and the sleeve 12 , the spring surrounding the adjustable stem and urging downwardly on the top washer 21 . This then applies a frictional engagement between the washers and the stem, and the friction can be adjusted by screwing the adjustable stem further into or out . of the rotational body.

The rotational body 1 1 is in the form of an elbow and is provided with an internal thread at its outlet end 25 , the outlet end being angled upwardly, at about twelve to thirty degrees to the horizontal, when the stem is vertical, and the threaded aperture therein retains the threaded end of a nozzle 26. Apertures of the rotational "body lie in the same vertical plane, but the jet is provided with an orifice 27 which is off centre to increase_ (or decrease) paddle reaction.

The arm 13 extends forwardly in front of the nozzle 26, and the depending pivot pin 1 is disposed to one side of the jet stream when the sprinller is operating, and the end of the arm 13 has a depending lug 30 which constitutes a stop for the -paddle 15· The pivot pin 14 which depends from the arm pivotally supports a paddle 33 which is small in dimension and light in weight, but the paddle extends forwardly and rearwardly of the pivot pin to provide a secondary ramp aCe 3 and primary ramp face 35 respectively. The primary ramp face 35 is arranged at an angle different from that of the secondary ramp face 34. However the cross-section of the paddle includes a lower wing 37 which is substantially horizontal and an upper wing 38 v/hich is sloped upwardly at about twenty degrees to the horizontal on the primary ramp but approximately at right angles to the secondary ramp, and a smooth curve therebetween, so that water issuing from either ramp face will tend to have its droplet size determined by the space inbetween the wings and the radius of curvature.

Thus if the spacing and radius of curvature is arranged to be slightly larger than the maximum size droplet which can normally "be formed, the drop size of the water issuing can he retained substantially large and "misting" of the spray substantially avoided.

With many sprinklers there is a tendency to over water at the locality of the sprinkler stand, and the configuration of the oscillating paddle includes a slightly dished rear end, (the primary ramp face 35 as viewed in Pig. 5) this giving a gentler approach of the jet stream along the paddle and in turn forming a fewer number of back drops.

In operation the jet of water strikes the primary ramp face 35 (nearest the jet) causing a diversion of the stream, and at the same time creating a reaction force on the paddle to move it about its pivot arm away from the .stream. As the stream is diverted this allows the other end to enter the stream from the jet, and the secondary ramp face is then driven back out of the stream by the reaction until it strikes the adjustable stop.

This process repeats, and for example frequencies in the order of two thousand oscillations per minute can be achieved without misting of the stream, but this in turn provides a very even distribution of the water. For example a co-efficient of uniformity in the order of eighty five per cent has been achieved. Rotation of the sprinkler is achieved firstly by the reaction to diversion of the jet stream, and secondly by the oscillating paddle striking the stop.

The second embodiment of Pigs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 is of a sprinkler which will remain effective notwithstanding wide tolerance variations in sprinkler parts.

According to this embodiment a sprinkler 41 of the oscillating paddle type is provided with a rotational · body 42 having a lov/er stem 43 surrounded by a threaded mounting sleeve 44 adapted to threadably engage a stand pipe or fitting, as in the first embodiment.

The rotational body 42 is provided with a yoke shaped arm 47 having an upper portion 48 and a,lower portion 49 » 10 . the upper and lower portions containing between them a threaded jet aperture which threadably retains a jet 50, the jet in this embodiment being concentric throughout its length.

The upper portion of the yoke shaped arm 47 is I 15. provided at its swinging end (that is the end distant -8-1968 from the threaded sleeve) with an abutment member 53 which projects downwardly and between the abutment member and the threaded sleeve is a boss 54 extending both upwardly and downwardly of the upper portion 48 , and is aligned with an |20. upwardly projecting pivot 55 on the lower portion 49. A pivot aperture extends through the boss and pivotally engages an upstanding pivot pin 57 on an oscillatory paddle 58 , the pin 57 functioning as an upwardly projecting spring retaining pin which is provided with a transverse |25 slot 60, and this engages a formed end on a helical spring 61 .

An adjustable cap 63 fractionally engages the upwardly projecting portion of the boss 54, the adjustable cap also having a spring retaining slot 64 in an internal depending spigot 65 which engages the other end of the spring 61 , and by this means spring tension is applied to the upstanding pivot on the oscillatory paddle 58 urging the paddle to return to the influence of the stream.

· The lower portion is provided with the pivot pin 55 » which is an upstanding pin which engages in a depending hearing member 67 on the oscillatory paddle 58 , the lower pivot pin 55 being of conical shape so that a small area of contact exists between the inner end of . the bearing member and the pivot pin, this reducing danger of seizing of the bearing in the event of dirt being washed thereinto. 68 The paddle 8 itself is of general curved form, and . is provided with a primary ramp face 70 and a secondary . ramp.face 7 · The primary ramp face is of U-section (Pig. 8) having a compound curve of such dimension that droplets of water tend to be broken up into large size so that they carry well away from the sprinkler when the sprinkler is in operation. The secondary ramp face 71 can also be of . slightly curved form, but is of less importance and can if desired be flat. An upper wing 73 extends between the primary and secondary ramp faces, the*upper wing functioning to limit the upward divergence of the spray emanating from the sprinkler. A" lower wing 7^- is of somewhat . similar shape to the upper wing, but in this embodiment reduces in width towards the secondary ramp to facilitate an even spread of spray close to the sprinkler. A. web 76 joins the upper and lower wings for part of their length, but between the web and the secondary ramp is a space designated 77, conveniently termed "a window", through which the spray can pass during part of the traverse of the oscillatory paddle as it oscillates* The primary ramp face is moved by reaction out of the line of the stream and can swing clear as far as the pre-set spring tension will allow. This diverts the stream, allowing the secondary ramp to be swung across the stream line. The spring reaction returns the paddle until the secondary ramp intersects the stream and the reaction then drives the paddle against its stop giving a positive driving impact. As this second action occurs the primary ramp is forced into the stream, diverting it and the action then repeats.

In this embodiment the axis of oscillation of the paddle intersects the axis of the jet along which the water flows so that the water in flowing outwardly from the jet will cause the paddle to oscillate, and to still further facilitate the geometry of the device, the axis of the trajectory of the spray emanating from the jet also intersects the leading edge of the primary ramp and the trailing edge of the secondary ramp, although this positioning is not critical. J The paddle can be returned by having an angled pin on the paddle web protruding far enough so that either it or the secondary ramp is in contact with the stream so deleting the spring.

A brief consideration of this embodiment will indicate that the invention is exceedingly simple hut it is -8-1968 found in practice to result in a spray unit which is most useful under a wide range of practical conditions.

The device can conveniently be formed from moulded plastics · material, and can therefore be mass produced at low cost. I

Claims (11)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. . A water sprinkler having a mounting sleeve, a hollow stem, co-operable means on the stem and on the mounting sleeve retaining the stem and mounting sleeve together for relative rotational movement, a hollow body-secured to the stem, a hollow nozzle secured at an angle to the body and forming with the stem and body a water flow oonduit, an oscillating paddle pivoted to the body in alignment with but displaced from the nozzle to be in the je stream thereof , a primary ramp face on the paddle between the pivot pin and the nozzle , a secondary ramp face on the paddle extending beyond the pivot pin from the nozzle, and upper and lower wings on the paddle,

2. · A water sprinkler according to claim 1 wherein the slope of the primary ramp face includes a compound curve having a smooth cross-sectional curve between the wings.

3. A water sprinkler according to claim 2 wherein the slope of the secondary ramp face also includes a oompound curve having a smooth cross-sectional curve between the wings.

4. A water sprinkler according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a head on the lower end of the stem, washers on the stem abutting the shoulder of the head, and a spring surrounding the stem urging the head into engagement with the washers.

5. · water sprinkler having a mounting sleeve, a hollow stem projecting through the mounting sleeve, a head of one end on the one end of the stem retaining the mounting sleeve to the stem, a hollow body secured to the other end of the stem, a nozzle in the hollow body, an arm projecting from the hollow body having a depending pivot pin adjacent its end and an abutment at its end, an oscillatory paddle pivoted on the pivot pin, the paddle being in alignment with but displaced from the nozzle to be in the jet stream thereof, the end of the paddle nearest the nozzle having upper and lower wings and a primary ramp face between the upper and lower wings, the end of the paddle more distant from the nozzle having a secondary face between the said upper and lower wings, the ramp faces of the paddle being at such an angle relative to the jet stream that when the primary ramp face is in the jet stream, it causes diversion of the stream thereby creating reaction forces on the paddle to move it in one direction until the secondary ramp face is in the jet stream, whereupon the secondary reaction foroe urges the primary ramp face baok into the jet stream.

6. A water sprinkler, according to claim 5 wherein the upper wing of the primary face slopes upwardly but the lower wing is substantially horizontal.

7. A water sprinkler according to claims 5 and 6 wherein the nozzle threadably engages the body and contains an eccentrio orifice adjustable relative to the paddle by rotation of the nozzle.

8. A water sprinkler according to any one of jthe preceding claims vherein the primary ramp face \ secondary ramp face are continuous. \

9. A water sprinkler according to claims 1 to 7 . therein the primary ramp face and secondary ramp face ure discontinuous but are interconnected by said wings.

10. Δ vater sprinkler constructed substantially According to theembodiment described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in Pigs. lt 2, 39 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A water spnnkler constructed substantially according to the embodiment described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated' in Figs. 6, 7, 8 P.O. Box 33116 Tel Aviv Attorneys for Applicant,