US2393091A

US2393091A - System for irrigation

Info

Publication number: US2393091A
Application number: US366267A
Authority: US
Original assignee: KATHERINE DE LACEY MULHALL
Current assignee: KATHERINE DE LACEY MULHALL; KATHERINE DE LACEY-MULHALL
Priority date: 1940-11-19
Filing date: 1940-11-19
Publication date: 1946-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1963-01-15

Description

Jan. i5, 1946. P. D

SYS

Filed Nov. 19,l 1940 E LAcY-MULHALL. 2,393,091

ATTORNEY Jan. 1,5, n1946. P. DE L AcY-MULHALL. 2,393,091

SYSTEM Fon IRRIGATI'N Filed Nov. 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 57 l' VN WHY "ww infill/71.

null/Illia BY M0 ATTORNEY Jan. 15, 1946.

` P; DE LAcYMuL||ALL SYSTEM FoR IRRIGATION Filed Nov. 19,

4 sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOK ATTORNEY Jan- "15, 1946- P. DE LACYMULHALL 2,393,091

SYSTEM FOR` IRRIGATION Filed Nov. 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 15, 1946 VaIVe seat 4 arranged in the 'bof-.

ejected from these members II and I2. They can conveniently be fastened in place from the inside of the top portion 1, since this top portion 1 is releasably connected to the hollow body 8, as by the aid of the threaded portion I3.

The hollow body 8 is formed with an annular bottom flange I4, as well as a downwardly directed central sleeve. I5 through which the water enters into the body '8. The central sleeve I5 is preferably mounted forrotation in the top cover I5 of the casing 5. For this purpose the top cover IS can be provided with a vertical extension I1, and an apertured top flange I8 through which the sleeve I5 extends.

In order to form a protecting apron around the sprinkler head, a tubular extension I9 is provided, fastened as by threads at its lower end to the exterior of the cover I6. This apron I9 can be provided with an appropriate upper ange 2E! arranged to be ush with the top 1 of the sprinkler when the sprinkler is in the retracted position shown in Fig. 1.

The sprinkler head can, if desired, be urged upwardly by the pressure of the water passing through the aperture 6 into themechanism.v In this way it is possible, while the sprinkler is inactive, to have it lowered below the turf if the sprinkler is used on a golf course or similar grounds; and to rise or pop up in order to clear the grass when it is in use. To permit this rise, the sleevel I5 is further guided within a sleeve or hub 2 I, as by the aid of a lower iiange V22 extending around the bottom edge of the sleeve I5. A sealing washer 23 can be placed inside the annular space 24 between members I5 and 2l. washer 23 is restrained against removal by the top flange I8 of the extension I1. The washer 23 can be assembled inside of sleeve member 2I prior to the joining of sleeve I5 in the bottom of the sprinkler head 8. The water acts against the flange 22 to raise it so that the entire sprinkler head is elevated and'within the limits prescribed by the ange I8. n y

Furthermore, a-mechanism is provided for rotating the entire sprinkler head Ywhen, water enters through the aperture 6. For this purpose the water serves to rotate a bucket wheel 25. This bucket wheel `is shown most lclearly in Fig, 10. It is joined to a hub 26 rotatably mounted kupon a vertical stub shaft 21 extending throughrthe hub 26. The bucket wheel is geared to the sprinkler head 8 for driving it in a manner 4to be hereinafter described. Water is iedin the proper direction to actuate bucket'wheel 25'by the provision of a nozzle structure or wheel 28, shown in detail in Figs. 11 and l2. This nozzle structure. is held tightly against' rotation within the casing`5, and is urged against a shoulder 29 Drovided bya fitting 38. This fitting 36 is formed integrally with the valve seat member 4, and is threaded into conduit 3 I. This conduit 3l in turn is joined in fluid tight relationship with the conduit I by v'the aid ofV an appropriate coupling structure 32.

The nozzle Vmember 28 is conned against shoulder 29v by a `spacer ring`33 placed above it. This ring canbe al split resilient band frictionally engaging the interior of casing 5.V Furthermore, this nozzle structure includes a downwardly extending socket member 34 in which the extension 35; off bucket wheel 25 is rotatable. The shaft 2 1 is also supported within the downwardly extendingvportion 34.'

The nozzle member'28 shown in this instance Y as having an upper and lower'portion 36 and 31' respectively,deiining in this instance six nozzle openings 38 having anv axis oblique to the top surface of the nozzle structure 28. The nozzle structure 28 is made in two parts, so that it may be formed of appropriate castings, and to make it possible to remove the cores required to form the nozzle apertures 38. Furthermore, the planes of division 39 between the upper and lower plates 36 and 31 around the nozzle apertures 38, are substantially transverse to the axes of the apertures so that accurate abutting surfaces can be This c# formed between the two plates 36 and 31 around these apertures.

It is apparent that Water passing through aperture 6 emerges above the nozzle structure 28 adjacent the periphery of this nozzle structure and acts to rotate the Wheel 25 by pressure against th'e buckets 4B. This motion is reduced so as to impart a comparatively slow rate of rotation of sprinkler head 8, as by the use of planetary gearing.

For example, the bucket wheel 25 can be provided with an upper flange 4I. This iiange can carry a planetary pinion 42 on a stub shaft 43.

, This planetary pinion 42, at its lower portion, acts on a stationary internally toothed wheel 44 Whereby a positive rotation of pinion 42 is obtained.V

This wheel 44 is held rmly against rotation between spacer rings 33 'and 45 in contact with Vthe interior cylindrical surface of casing 5. The

upper portion of pinion 42 meshes with a rotatable internal gear Wheel 46. This gear wheel has a diierent number of teeth than the stationary Wheel 44. For example, if gear wheel 44 has thirty-'one teeth and gear wheel 45 has thirtytwo teeth, it is obvious that bucket wheel 25 must rotate thirty-two times in order to drive wheel 45 through one revolution. e

Th'e wheel 45 is provided with a hub 41 as well as a sleeve 48 which extends downwardly to rest upon an annular shoulder 49, formed as a boss on the top flange 4I of bucket wheel 25. Hub 41 is freely rotatable on post 21.

In order further to reduce the speed of the said system, a planetary gearing is provided between wheel 46 and sleeve I5. vThus wheel 46 can support a planetary pinion 50 freely rotatable on a stationary stub shaft in a manner entirely similar to the support of this planetary pinion 42. The lower portion of this planetary pinion meshes with a stationary internal gear 5I shown in this instance as urged against the spacer ring 45. The upper portion of the planetary pinion' 5B meshes with a wheel52. In this case also, the ratio of reduction may be ofthe order of one to thirty-two. The wheel 52 is arranged to be placed in driving relation with respect to the sleeve I5, as by the aid of a yoke or spokes 53 joined to the hub 54. In this hub the shaft 21 can be threaded, so that this shaft is rotated by wheel 52. All of the

hubs

54, 51 and 26 are arranged one above the other. The sleeve 2I is shown as joined to the top flange 55 of wheel '52, and is rotatable within the extension I1. The sleeve I5 is provided with slottedv arms 5E through which the yoke 53 passes, thereby providing a driving connection to sleeve I5 for either the retracted position shown,

or the upwardly projected position of the head r8.*

It should also be noted that the sleeves ZI, 48 and boss 49 form a continuous central opening for the,` egress of water f rom'the bucket wheel 25 into and through the interior'of sleeve I5. `Also;

the top flanges, such as 4IA and 55, for the gears,

The edge of.

entry rclucti wf nozzle 3 and ff@ arem h less than thexa're of the there is in 'inieasein 'pressurefwithi I ie head `*THevalve closure vis sn'own as formed of a yielding'lne'njlber, Vsuch as'rubloenhm o 'fer alleati Slyfasb'ythe aid of a cup''thradedoverf the head 5 1; `r In `order further to migliaia the' valve ciou es in piace, @plate 59 caribe piacediithe i masias we atrofia center of the olosure m'ernber'and'lld 'in' plae 'T "open andclose the Valve, utiliaation is made forms one part 'of a fluidpist'of'oberatng in a' anopposite snoullen 63 to com lne anjexpansilqle hllwg'fildingpiston ring B." The "should'r's terror cyundricar*extension as as by the" aid of Vthe "radial 4aber?, uresfV 66 'in said `rneinloe r '155.55` Fluid pressure is prmitted'to'enterth'e hollow'.u

lealing to tli'einterio of conduit @f I-andfnwardly to"t1e"spacev defined by the structure iandlieat 51.' This fluid `pressure Serves 1f/ epancilfthering`Y pistowstructure is formed bythe vpiston ringl',`v`

operating' just as ring G4; andconned between a shoulder Manda flange'l.` The shoulder .89lis shoe/nas'formed/.externally 4of the sleeve 'l i de mulieatsatl each end withiverticalgpaseaeeuay Thus theylinder Spaaeltie ,in Commun 'l l, This larger piston "structure,y istadapt extensies? i 12?.. inside Ot, thefdeeeadine sleeveed ,to c'oo erate inside ot a cylinderY 111 havin aamtted undetnealth theJpiston VstrMetlife. from..

Conduit 3 .I 'the AYvalve Closure will bei ureedle# rarely by'uid Pressureaeainst its-Seat 4 andthe-...g

valve doses.: Thiais; que t@ 'the fact thatlthere,

isagreaterarea.subiectedita the liquidipressure acting, .upwardly clothe assonatea piston ,Strlicdefheadlsbyway'fan aperture TL ThisQref-H cess is -provilige'1 wtlli, a tapered vaperture'19,` in which is a rotatable controlvtaper valve plug 80 This :Valve plee-1S,- mae@ in. tuidttignt relatan:

passageway-1514s; interrupted moet alimentent with thaherizentalipassaefef Way. ,fornlelin theC boss, that.a.G.C Q I,1rn0dailS plus* ThiLS, I he rizltfali passageway, .Bt co;

@a wending-.upwardly intothef'ylnder, chamber? f Mg.; The passag'eWay 85 isconnetedasby al 1 o zontalazi'al recess 8l; with .theA-.pasbge ,1,8'.. Thus when 'foluguis rotated to aline portf wthtrie,`

transversfelpsageway

85,7,liquil*und er pressA4 e `A c; pass througlilapertures85; '86, 8l angl. finto the chamber, 14,1 f

For. the f position 'of the plug, 8@ shownf inil Figs 1, e'flarid 5, .the interipaiofgchambee 1a is c n,-. nectei` to a conduit, 89T. t* Conduite, 89.. is shownas COiDQC'Bd-I t0. a threaded Letzline.01210.11J .nipple 9&2 '-lte- ,bQSSgiexterldine-fromihe'ove l, anteriorbfzihiegbessfl ,in www C0. i nected withl the annular` grooveH l9,?,-riisposed arounltnetapered plug 'Ihis -aI i -nular grpo e 82is .th us in continuous conneetionwiththe cou-, duit 89. A through port 93 is prQV-dedifoLfQrm-f ing a connection betWeen'this annular groove S2 andan axial aperture ed; This axial aperture isz', in Iturn'in communication with av transverse portg'formed in plugl 89; Thisvtransverse port/951' (gLBXisShQu/n as alined with vthe horizontalg; patslgeiaysi ,CQYelmj Thpaageways in communication withthe vuprightfpasswaget Itiis `furthermorei apparent-that when taperegw plug 8S isrotatecl in a.counterololgwisqdiigeee tion as viewed in Figa 5,.th e port Sgcanbe plage@ out. of alinement .with passageway -9 6,; tl1ereloy. n terrupting. i thisl communication; and. at fthessamef. y time port @cane-be alineorwithpassageway IBB-atm.

provide communication from the passageway 15 ito the cylinder space 14.

1 The conduit 89 is furthermore in continual communication vwith a control cylinder 91, as by the aid of the aperture 98 in cover 18, and the aperture 99 in the bottom of the cylinder 91. Aperture 98 is in continuous communication with the annular space 92 of the tapered plug 80.

In order to open the valve closure 3, the plug 89 must be rotated to the position shown in Fig.

l. In this position the liquid pressure from conduit 3| is no longer eiective to urge the pistons connected to the closure 3 upwardly. However, fluid pressure may yet be active through conduit 89, recess 92, port 93, aperture 94, port 95, and passageways 88, to hold the valve closed. As soon as fluid pressure in conduit 89 is released, however, the fluid pressure in conduit 3| is effective to urge the closure 3 downwardly and the valve opens. The fluid pressure conditions existing in conduit 89 can be made dependent upon the position of a preceding sprinkler head valve in the system. This pressure can thus be maintained until the preceding valve closes; and immediately thereafter the pressure is released and the valve closure 3 can move downwardly. The

`manner in which this pressure, is controlled in conduit 89 will be described hereinafter.

'The control cylinder 91 is adapted to control the position of taper plug 80 so that these fluid pressures can be eiective to cause the valve to open or close. Operating in cylinder 91 is the control piston, including the piston head 100 having a rod IOI. This rod is guided for vertical movement in the cylinder head |02. The piston head is threaded into a flanged sleeve |03 having 'a horizontal flange |04. Between head |00 and flange |04 an expansible piston rirg |05 can be confined, subjected at its interior to the pressure existing in chamber 91. This isaecomplished by the aid of Va radial aperture |00.

Joined to the rod |0| as by the aid of a pin |01 vis a square rod |08. This square rod is guided in a square aperture |09 of a bracket IIO. This bracket ||0 is shown as fastened to the exterior of the valve body as by bolts (Fig. 2). By the aid of a system of links and levers, square rod |08 is joined to the plug 80 for rotating it. Thus carried by the rod |08 is a collar I |2, fastened to the rod |08, as by a through pin II3. A horizontal extension ||4 is supported on collar ||2 and is pivotally joined to a link 5. 'Ihis link in turn is pivoted to arm IIS joined to plug 80. Rotation of plug S0 .by movement of link |I5 is 'permitted by the provision of aY slot |I1 in theboss 84.

It is aparent that when the rod |08 moves upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2, the plug 80 is rotated in a clockwise direction. A corresponding downward movement of rod |08 causes a counterclockwise rotation of the plug 80, to place cylinder 14 into communication with conduit 3|, and to interrupt communication from cylinder space 14 to conduit 89.

YThe upward movement of the piston structure I00f|03 is obtained by liquid pressure entering cylinder 91 from .conduit 89; or alternatively an upward mechanical force can be utilized to pull rod |08. For this purpose rod |08 may be provided with an eye end IIB..` A tension spring ||9 however, tends Yto pull the rod y|08 downwardly. For this purpose the spring II9 is disposed around the rod |08 and is enclosed in a hollow pipe-like member |20.` This member forms virtually an extension of the guide member asoaoe'f Y IIO. Lower end I2I of spring ||9 is anchored into the -m'ember |20. The upper end is anchored as shown at |22 to the rod |08.

While the rod |08 is held in the elevated position shown, fluid pressure is prevented from entering cylinder 14 through passage 15. However, after a certain number of revolutions of the sprinkler head 8, the latch |23 is released and. spring I|9 serves to return the piston structure |00-I03 to its lowermost position, and fluid pressure is then available to close the valve.

To prevent reverse rotation of ratchet Wheel |30, a holding pawl |4I can be provided on pin` |26. l

By referring to Figs. 1 and y1'7, the manner in which the sprinkler heads are operated in se-` quence can now be described. In Fig. 1'1 it is seen that conduit I can be joined as by an upright pipe |42 to a common header |43. Disposed along the header |43, Which can run underground, is a number of upright pipes |44, |45, etc. for conducting liquid under pressure to a number of sprinkler head stations 8, |46, |41, etc. The mechanism operating each of the sprinkler heads is indicated in a diagrammatic fashion. The sprinkler head 8 is shown as inactive, andthe sprinkler head at station |48 is indicated as open, succeeding stations being closed.

Let us assume that sprinkler head 8 is in the closed position and that it is desired to start its operation. In the closed position, liquid pressure is eective in cylinder chamber 14 to urge the piston structure (labeled as |48 in Fig. 1'1) up-` wardly. For the present, it may be assumed that conduit 89 is vented to atmosphere. The sprinkler head 8 can thus be made active by pulling efe', AThe vttlize and sprll nderj. .erss.lir stepper conduit |50: This 'ii'd'connection is theaiinular space 's telier" conduit I raise ariston 'stru'cjh ssipjiiiiklei head' 8" rei tenista iheetive peeitidh; This decide" as, :stated before, after a certain lunibei of revolutionsoij' the sprinkler head; The pistdh s truetuie|o1o '|us thehietu'riislte the pesitieii shewhi'n Fig. 17', and there' is' an interruption thefsuiply erliqdid under pressure te the stepper e'ohdit 5|l`; Iiistead the stepper' conduit |50 is o'p to atiosg pher'ethrougli l'ort |49', annular'passageway |53, port |54, cylinder chamber 9'1, anda iidrt' |5 5 through cap I 2, Accordingly, the closure'3f is deprssdbyiiqi'd pressure in conduit and s ti `This eiid'itisnis i1- lus ated'in'Fig-17.

sich als teiihm' betet-fies afiive, @stepper ehhdiiit |s 'o eiipplied with liquid undef piessureto prepare for the opening ojger'ation" of-valve closure 3 v ai;.stationv 47 @i ,relieleei.SSt@ iiih'e Same as .nientio d heretofore in connection with valve closlf' ed f Y sprinkler; hfe'ed et Stfii (|46, afte. bei'e active for adeinite period, releasesV the rod |08', causing a rotation o f taper plug 8 0 and`- liquid pressure uis tl'ferlf effeA tiveto Close c1osure Y3 ihr eeereseegewav T51- 'ilie Siaiin |46, then .returns i0 the Pesfiioe illustrated@ the sprihklr heee-. lt As: seems-this.. curs. liq'uid pressure is relieved in stepper conduit |50', and station |41 @meridianen- .f

.Aimant Sie-tiens in euesi es .desired den be operated in the in anner described, Itis possible te restart theycle. before @he @relais fully cc1i| 1plet ed. 4 Thi/'s caneasily igeecjle 755| bro- Vlg-banch line t0 anipf 1511? J 9i' 06h:- duits leading beek to the rsusprihkleehed, the' formshown in Figtf 1 7-,f the station |-47 has its stepper conduit |50" provided with a.

sleeve' |51" slotted-as indicated iat; sie? fer When. such astatio1i succeeding' static'irf'lllHfis operated; siirinklerhead' 'issii-nultan'eoilsly operated, 'as' heretofore described, and ajlievwy cycle or wave of ep'er'atien begins. Tisinew eyele=,f-when' it" reaches thefst'atiori' M1 causes a 'third v"cycle to' be' 'started'. This series 'can'V becorne'feffectivf-fras'longta's desired: but a lilit-n'iay'be placed thereoil'a's ibi' the aid of'a needlevaiv rriechanisri' |51 inY een-duit |565? r discharging inte` a tiltingV measuring* `bfu'cletI This lo'ucket,` when' sufficiently loaded; tilts* and operates a valve-'1 seein conduit |56," t'interrupt communication" from stepperednduit tdthenriitetdtien.; This interruption-'is effective 'o'nlvja-fter th"bu'cket"| 5 8 is 'loaded sufficiently; yand by a' propeifdegre'eiiofi opening ofn'ee'dle" valve |51 this' can be' effective only afte'r'a'l certainv numberoficycles of 'operatio'n's f the sir'inkler'head.

Although n'inllal meetns'fr Starting the first Valv is' indicated, it, sapp'arent thtlt11e-l10'd 08 caribe arranged 'to be 'operated automatically' inresponse to deniteconditins', suclasrh'umi-j ity and temperature.

Iii the form showiijiiiLFi'g." l, the pop'piighp ofy the sprinkler .headl S" is provided" forU Witlfref. spectto the stationary 'casin'g .I'ritlie" f'rnjif shown 'in Fig.' 16, the entire' casing'ii 'can' bferaisfed by. fluid -pr'essure in conduit `instead ofrrieifely the head- 1.`V This ',isac'complislie'd' bil providing' casingeiwith a. downwardly extendingtelesconing he accommodation ete; guide' pin.. |59. Tliisguidje pin |59- eiitends'. throi'l'gh' thel ubxvardlydire'cted .branch |651' efzeonddit" 'en which head site comm'odated. Itl i'sapparentI th'at'fliquidf-pressure' ini ciiiuliitIA- Wil'llat-vori the bbtt'm lwersrfac'e of thesleeve |51 to raiseit, sircelqu'id'pres'sui'e is available' underneath the casing'l Itiefnot'eesential that the sprinkler heads be rotated continuouslyinV one' direction'.a In the'. forni shown in Figs. 13,-- 14"ai1dl5 th'e' sprinkler head `8 is`- shown so arranged that' it-reverscsjits direction of`rotation after each' half' orict'hfer fraction of a revolution.

In'this fermof the.inveiitio, the casing is s b sttute`d for casig'. 5`. The' sprinkler' body |62"corr'es ponds to sprinkler hody 8.' It is, however,v restrained against'u'pward movement, it

being the intention, in' this form, toraise` the Whole casing. |61 as illustrated in Fig. 16.

Tli'e'tri of thecasing i6! is formed by a. supe elemental threaded e: teii.f--,ic nV les. This extension hasla downwardly' c lirectedV tubular guide H54` and an upper flange {65' in which the sleeve |65 vj c'iined to the body. |62', can berotated. In addition to the top' internal gear 52, a bevel'gear 6"| sho'wfn, guided for rotary movementv as by its hule` |68' inside of the guide |64. This bevel gear is provided' Withspols |69 joined to hub l'jfl;y vvhich is fastenedto trie'shaftv 21. Spokes |69" are` inechanically coupled to the sleeve' |55', so that rotation ofv bevel gear I 61' in either directieh wil'liiiipart ietatieh te the Sprinkler body This rdtdtieh is eireeted alternately ih espe'- site' directions. One of these directions is secured by' a series of gearing. Thus the vinternal gear (corresponding to gear 52 of Fig. 1') is provided at its upper surface with a mutilated'l bevel gear |12?. 'I'his bevelV gearing extends for onehalf revolution, as indicated most clearly in Fig.

14. As the bevel gear |12 rotates in a counter clockwise direction, as indicated by arrow |13 of Fig. 14, it carries gear |61 around with it. This is accomplished by the aid of alatch |14 pivoted on a pin |15 on gear wheel |12. This latch is urged by gravity to the position indicated in Fig, 15, so that an abutting surface |16' can cooperate with an abutment |16 depending downwardly from the hub |11 of the bevel gear |61. The abutment |16 is shown in Fig. 13 as having been advanced to a point corresponding to the axis of' a small bevel pinionv|11; and in Fig. l5, the abutment |16 has not yet reached that position.

During that portion of the revolution of mutilated Agear |12 during which it is out ofv mesh with bevel pinion |11', the drive between gear |12 and abutment |16 is effective. However, as soon as mutilated gear |12 is about to enter into engagement with the bevel pinion |11', the latch |14 is depressed out of contact with abutment |16, as by the aid of the stationary collar |16. This stationary collar |18 acts upon a cam surface |19 at the forward end of latch |14, and depresses it at its forward end. In this way, the latch |14 passes underneath the abutment |16. At the same time, bevel pinion |11 is rotated by the mutilated gear |12. This pinion, being in continual mesh with bevel gear |61 serves to drlveit in a clockwise direction for a half revolution, corresponding to the angular extent of the mutilated gear |12. At the end of the half revolution, the latch |14 again engages abutment |16, which has been brought back a half revolution in a clockwise direction, by the rotation o`f gear |61, to a line diametrically opposite to the aids ciy bevel pinion |11; that is, at the right hand side of the shaft 21 as viewed in Fig. 14. For the next half revolution, therefore, the movement is again counterclockwi'se, as illustrated in Fig. 14, until latch |14 is again disengaged by the stationary member |18. The clockwise rotation for a half revolution is then repeated.

The alternate half revolutions continue aS lont',f as the sprinkler is active. As before, the sprinkler head |62 can be provided witha depression similar to depression |40 in Fig. 6 to actuate the releasing mechanism once during each half revolution.

What is claimed is:

l. In a system of the character described: a series of liquid discharge means; means for supplying each of said discharge means with liquid under pressure; a series of valves respectively associated with the discharge means for con-A trolling the passage of liquid thereto, said series of valves having at least a first valve and a second valve; means provided for each valve and actuated by the pressure of the liquid for urging the respective valve to closed position; means forming a passage for the liquid under pressure to the means provided for the second valve for urging said second valve to closed position; means responsive to the closing of the iirst valve for interrupting said passage; means forming a vent port; said passage being placed in communication with said port by the closing of said flrst valve to relieve the pressure in said connection to permit the second valve to open; and a device for causing said liquid pressure actuated means for urging the second valve to closed position, to close said second valve substantially immediately upon the conclusion of a limited interval.

2. In a system of the character described: a series of liquid discharge means; means for supplying each of said discharge means with liquid under pressure; a series of valve structures respectively associated with-said discharge means for controlling the passage of y liquid thereto, there being at least a first valve structurev and a second valve structure in said series of valve structures, each of said valve structures including a main valve closure, -a main fluid pressure cylinder, an auxiliary control cylinder, and a piston in each cylinder; means for causing the pressure of the liquid in the main cylinder of the second valve structure to urge the main valve closure toward closed position; a control valve operated by the piston in the auxiliary cylinder of the second valve structure; means forming a conduit connecting said'control valve to the first main valve structure, as Well as to the main fluid pressure cylinder for the second valve structure; means forming a vent port; said conduit being so arranged that, when the first `main valve structure is open, said conduit is supplied with liquid under pressure; and, when the first main valve structure is closed, said conduit is vented through said port; and means connecting said control cylinder for the second valve structure with said conduit, ywhereby said control valve, associated with the second main valve structure, operates to connect the main valve cylinder of the second main valve structure to the conduit upon opening of the first' main valve structure, so as to permit the second main Valve structure to open when the first main valve structure is closed.

3. In a system of the character described, a

series of liquid discharge valves adapted to opery ate in sequence and to have a cycle of operation, means for supplying said valves with liquid under pressure, valve mechanism associated with each valve for controlling the discharge of liquid thereby, said valve mechanism including means whereby the liquid pressure from the supply means is effective to close the valve, as well vas means to open the valve and means to cause said liquid pressure to close the valve after a limited interval, means to cause the valve of a beginning device to open and initiate acycle of operation, and means whereby the closing of each valve will relieve theliquid pressure on the valve of the next succeeding device to 'cause vsaid valve to open.

4. In a system of the character described, a series of liquid discharge valves adapted to operate in sequence and to have a cycle of (operation, means for supplying said valves with liquid under pressure, valve mechanism associated with each valve for controlling the discharge of liquid thereby, said valve mechanism including means whereby the liquid pressure from the supply means is effective to maintain the valve closed, as well as means to open the valve and means to close the valve after a predeterminedv interval, means to cause the valve of a beginning device to open and initiate a cycle of operation, means whereby the closing of each valve will relieve the fluid pressure on the valve of the next succeeding device to cause said valve to open, and means whereby the closing of at least one of said valves preceding the end valve, will also relieve the iiuid pressure on the valve of -a preceding device to cause said last mentioned valve to open, whereby a second cycle of operations is initiated before the termination of the first cycle.

5. In a system of the character described, a series of liquid discharge valves adapted to operate in lsequence and to have a cycle of operation, means for supplying said valves with liquid under pressure, valve mechanism associated with each valve for controlling the discharge of liquid thereby, said valve mechanism including means Whereby the liquid pressure from the supply means is eiective to maintain the valve closed, and means whereby the pressure of the supply means is effective to open the valve upon relief of pressure from the means for maintaining the valve closed, means to relieve said valve from said liquid pressure to permit the valve to open, including means forming a port associated with the valve in the preceding device, and adapted to be opened by the closing of the said valve in the preceding device, and a connection between said port and the means whereby the liquid pressure from the said supply means maintains the said succeeding valve closed.

6. In a system of the character described, a series of liquid discharge valves adapted to operate in sequence and to have a cycle of operation, means for supplying said valves with liquid under pressure, valve mechanism associated with each valve for controlling the discharge of liquid thereby, said valve mechanism including a closure, and a piston directly connected to the closure adapted to be actuated to close the valve by the liquid pressure from the supply means, a pilot valve including a passage to control said pressure on the piston, means forming a port adapted to be controlled by a preceding discharge valve to place the port in communication with said supply means or to permit pressure to be discharged from the port, and a conduit connecting said port and said passage.

7. In a. system of the character described, a series of liquid discharge valves adapted to operate in sequence and to have a cycle of operation, means for supplying said valves with liquid under pressure, valve mechanism associated with each valve for controlling the discharge of liquid thereby, said valve mechanism including a closure, and a piston directly connected to the closure adapted to be actuatedv to close the valve by the liquid pressure from the supply means, and means vactuated by another discharge valve of said series for controlling the pressure on said piston.

8. In a system for irrigation, a series of valves each comprising a single movable closure element, means for supplying each of said valves with liquid under pressure, means whereby the said liquid urges each of the valves to closed position, means operated by the closing of a preceding Valve to release said pressure and thereby cause the succeeding valve to open, and means to cause said pressure to close said succeeding valve after a limited interval.

9. In a system for irrigation, a series of valves, means for supplying said valves with liquid under pressure, each of said valves including means whereby said liquid is effective to urge the valve to closed position, as well as means to cause the valve to open, means to actuate the opening means of the beginning valve of the series to cause said Valve to open and initiate a cycle of operations, in which cycle all lthe valves are opened and closed, means to cause the liquid pressure to close said beginning valve after a predetermined period of discharge, means operated by the closing of said beginning valve to release the liquid pressureholding the succeeding valve closed, thereby causing said succeeding valve to open, means to cause the liquid pressure to close said succeeding valve after a limited period of discharge, and supplemental means operated by the discharge from one of the valves to terminate the operation of the series after any desired number of cycles.

10. In a system of the character described, a plurality of main valves adapted to be serially opened and closed, and controlling the passage of iluid under pressure, each of said valves having a closure, as well as means associated with the closure for urging the closure toward open position, and a fluid pressure operating mechanism associated with each valve, including a pressure operated valve mechanism, a. pair of conduits adapted independently to conduct iluid pressure to the respective valve operating mechanism for urging the closure to closed position, each of said conduits being valved, means operated upon the opening of a preceding main valve to close one of said conduits and to open the other, said other conduit having a port controlled by movement of the closure of said preceding valve to admit fluid under pressure to said other conduit only when said closure is in open position and to vent said other conduit when said closure is in closed position, to release the fluid pressure from the operating mechanism of the succeeding valve to permit the succeeding valve to open, and means ensuring the return of the conduits to initial condition upon a completion of a. period of discharge of the corresponding main valve.

KATHERINE DE LACY-MULHALL. Administratria: of the Estate of Patrick De Lacy- Mulhall, Deceased.