US3341133A

US3341133A - Liquid discharge

Info

Publication number: US3341133A
Application number: US469676A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr John O Hruby; Wayne W Frempter
Original assignee: Rain Jet Corp
Current assignee: Rain Jet Corp
Priority date: 1965-07-06
Filing date: 1965-07-06
Publication date: 1967-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-12

Description

P 12, 1967 J. o. HRUBY.ETAL 3,341,133

LIQUID DISCHARGE Filed July 6, 1965 United States Patent 3,341,133 LIQUID DISCHARGE John 0. Hruby, Jr., and Wayne W. Frempter, Burbank, Calif., assignors to Rain Jet Corporation, Burbank, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 6, 1965, Ser. No. 469,676 15 Claims. (Cl. 239-598) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to the art of discharging v liquids in a spray of discrete droplets. More particularly, this invention relates to liquid discharge devices having no moving parts and which produce a spray of liquid droplets over a wide area.

United States Patent 3,082,961, issued on Mar. 26, 1963, to John O. Hruby, In, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention,.discloses a liquid discharge device which relies upon the reverberationof a mixture of liquid and air in a chamber of the device to produce a pulsating discharge of liquid and air through an outlet opening from the chamber. Devices in accord with this patent have many areas of utility such as, by Way of example rather than limitation, in nuclear fallout washdown systems, industrial nozzles, sewage aeration nozzles, and lawn sprinklers. In many of these applications, such as in sewage aeration nozzles, the principle benefit provided by devices in accord with Patent 3,082,961 is that eflicient aeration of the liquid discharged is provided by a device having no moving parts; uniform distribution of the discharged liquid over a selected area is not necessary in most cases. On the other hand, where a device in accord with Patent 3,082,961 is to be used as a lawn sprinkler, for example, it is desired, for obvious reasons, that the liquid discharged be distributed as uniformly as. possible over a selected area of the lawn.

It has been discovered that devices constructed in accord with the illustrations of Patent 3,082,961 do not produce a uniform distribution of liquid over an' area adjacent the device. We have found that by suitably contouring the edges of, the outlet opening from the interior chamber of reverberation-type liquid discharge devices as are shown in the above-mentioned patent, the pattern of liquid discharge from such devices may be controlled appreciably.

In particular, we have found that the distribution of discharged liquid over an area proximate the device is improved with respect to the distribution of liquid over areas more remote from the device. I

Generally speaking, this invention provides a liquid discharging and distributing device 7 comprising a body defining an interior chamber having spaced ends. One end of the chamber defines a liquid inlet opening into the chamber. The body defines walls for the chamber and an outlet opening laterally from the chamber. The outlet opening is spaced from the ends of the chamber and has a minimum area which is greater than the area of the inlet opening. The outlet opening has peripheral boundary surfaces which are configured and arranged so that the minimum area of the outlet opening is defined at a selected location laterally of the chamber and produces a characteristic distribution pattern in liquid emitted from the device through the outlet opening.

Preferably, the outlet opening is defined by relieving the chamber wall at the exterior of the body along at least a portion of the periphery of the outlet opening.

The above-mentioned and other features of the invention are more fully set forth in the following detailed description of the invention, which description is presented in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with a portion thereof broken away, of a liquid discharging and distributing device according to this invention; 7

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a device according to FIG. 1 installed in a lawn as a component of a lawn sprinkling system;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of another liquid discharging and distributing device according to this invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation view of another device according to this invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view of another device according to this invention; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

' FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate a water discharging and distributing device 10 according to this invention. Device 10 is particularly adapted for use as a sprinkling head in an underground lawn sprinkling system for lawn 11 (see FIG. 3). The device includes a body 12 defining an interior chamber 13 having

opposite end surfaces

14 and 15 spaced apart along an axis 16 of the chamber by the length of the chamber. Body 12 defines walls 17 of the chamber. One end of the body is externally threaded as at 18 so that the body is adapted to be connected in liquid flow relation to a liquid supply duct such as a riser pipe in an underground lawn sprinkling system.

In device 10 the chamber is defined by a tubular body and is of right circularly cylindrical configuration; end

surfaces

14 and 15 are disposed normal to the axis of the chamber. The body, except to the extent hereinafter noted, provides chamber walls of uniform thickness. It is to be understood, however, that device 10 is referred to merely as a presently preferred embodiment of this invention particularly illustrative of the benefits provided by this invention. Workers skilled in the art to which this invention relates will appreciate that chamber 13 need not be of right circularly cylindrical configuration (e.g., it may be barrel-shaped or square), that the end surfaces of the chamber need not be normal to the elongate extent of the chamber, and that the Walls of the chamber need not be of uniform thickness. It is preferred, however, that the inner surfaces of the chamber walls be smoothly contoured along the length of the chamber. I

End surface 14 of chamber 13 is defined by a plug 20 fixedly mounted in the body. The plug defines a fluid inlet opening 21 into the chamber. The body, at a location spaced between the end surfaces of the chamber, defines an outlet opening 22 laterally of the chamber through the chamber walls. The outlet opening has a minimum area (preferably the area of the outlet opening at the inner surfaces of the chamber walls) greater than the area of the inlet opening;

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, outlet opening 22 has a greater extent transversely of the chamber than it does along the length of the chamber. It will be apparent from an examination of FIGS. 6 and 7, however, that this characteristic of device 10 is not essential to all embodiments of this invention since the outlet opening of the device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has a greater extent along the chamber than transversely of the chamber.

' Where the outlet opening is wider than it is long, as in device 10, it is preferred, for best liquid discharging performance, that the inlet opening to the chamber be located eccentrically of the axis of the chamber. In device 10, inlet opening 21 is located eccentric of chamber axis 16. The entire area of the inlet opening is located within the cylinder defined by the interior surfaces of chamber walls 17. For best performance of device as a lawn sprinkler head, inlet opening 21 is centered toward the outlet opening on the radial plane through the chamber which bisects the transverse extent of outlet opening 22.

Outlet opening 22 has inner and outer

lower edges

25 and 26, respectively. The inner lower edge of the opening is defined by the intersection of the inner surfaces of body 12 with the opening. Edge 26 lies between the inner and outer surfaces of the body and is defined by relieving the exterior of the body toward the chamber along an inclined surface 27 which extends around the body between the ends of the outlet opening. Between

edges

25 and 26 the outlet opening has a wall surface 28 which is inclined upwardly at an angle of about 30 relative to chamber axis 16. Surface 28 is circularly cylindrical concave toward the upper end of the chamber.

Edges

25 and 26 are parallel to each other.

The outlet opening has inner and outer

upper edges

30 and 31, respectively, defined by the inner and outer surfaces of body 12. An upper wall surface 32 of the outlet opening extends between

edges

30 and 31.

Inner edges

25 and 30 are parallel to each other along their entire extent, and surface 32 is a circularly cylindrical surface parallel to surface 28. Preferably surfaces 27 and 32 are normal to each other, but this relation is not essential to successful practice of the invention.

Outlet opening 22 has

end surfaces

33 and 34 which are coplanar radially of chamber 13. It should be understood, however, that the coplanar relation of

surfaces

33 and 34 is a special case and exists only where the outlet opening extends 180 around body 12. Devices have been built which are similar in all respects to device 10 except that the outlet openings extend 90 around the body; in such devices the end surfaces of the outlet openings are radial of the chamber and normal to each other.

FIG. 3 shows device 10 installed in the surface of a lawn 11. The device is vertically mounted to the upper end of a riser pipe (not shown) in an underground lawn sprinkling system. When water is supplied to the device, the device operates to discharge discrete droplets uniformly over a semicircular area 35; the device is located at the midpoint of the diameter of the area. The device operates to produce a pulsating discharge of water droplets. The droplets emerge from the device in a fan-shaped array, but the plane of the fan shaped array flutters or pivots randomly about an imaginary horizontal axis within the device. As a result of the random flutter action, the discharged water droplets are distributed uniformly over area 35. It is believed that the random flutter action of device 10 is produced by an interaction, akin to reverberation or resonance, of air and water within the portion of chamber 13 which lies above outlet opening 22. It is believed that water introduced into the chamber through inlet opening 21 compresses a quantity of air in the upper portion of the chamber as operation of the device is first commenced. This pocket of air acts as a baffie and causes the plane of the fan shaped droplet array to assume a given altitude relative to body 12. The trapped air pocket, however, is not stable and moves about in the chamber. Further, the air pocket changes volume and periodically breaks down only to be re-established substantially immediately by air drawn into the chamber through the outlet opening. These alterations in the condition of the air pocket take place rapidly, and thus the altitude of the plane of the discharged droplet array relative to body 12 is rapidly varied. Thus, the discharge from the device is violent, and its violence produces the discrete droplets referred to above. In fact, the flutter in the discharged pattern is so violent that the planar nature of the droplet array at any instant is more theoretical than actual; the characterization of the droplet array as planar has been made merely for the purposes of description and explanation of the operation of device 10.

If the outer extent of the lower edge of outlet opening 22 were not relieved or cut-away as described above, the distribution of water droplets in outer portion 35a of area 35 would be heavier than the distribution of droplets in inner portion 35b of area 35 proximate device 10. The relief of the lower edge of the outlet opening, however, improves the distribution pattern over area 35 so that the distribution of water droplets in area 35b is more nearly equal to the distribution of water droplets in area 35a.

FIG. 4 illustrates a water discharge device 40 which includes a cylindrical tubular body 41 defining an internal chamber 42 having spaced end surfaces, only the upper end surface 43 being shown. The chamber has a lower end surface defined by a plug (not shown, but see FIG. 2) within the body. The plug defines an inlet opening to the chamber which is smaller in area than an outlet opening 44 provided through body 41 laterally from chamber 42. The extent of the outlet opening 44 which extends along the body is centered about a plane which extends normal to the elongate extent of chamber 42. The outlet opening has semicircularly configured ends 45 and parallel upper and

lower surfaces

46 and 47, respectively, which lie normal to the axis of chamber 42. The upper and lower surfaces of the outlet opening are spaced from the end surfaces of the chamber. The exterior surfaces of body 41 around the lower peripheral extent of the outlet opening are relieved as at 48 so that the body has a reduced wall thickness immediately adjacent the lower peripheral surface of the outlet opening.

Device 40 is like device 10, in that it has exaggerated flutter-type discharge characteristics downwardly from the outlet opening. As noted above, the flutter provided in the discharge from device 10 is accentuated in a downward direction by the relief of the lower edge of outlet opening 22.

Another liquid discharging and distributing device 50 according to this invention, shown in FIG. 5, includes a circular tubular body 51 defining an internal chamber 52. The upper end of the tubular body is closed by a plug 53 which is secured to the body by screws 54 or the like. The plug defines an upper surface 55 of chamber 52. The chamber has a lower surface (not shown) defined by a similar plug which also defines an inlet opening to the chamber. As with devices 10 and 40, the inlet opening to chamber 52 is smaller in cross-sectional area than an outlet opening 56 from chamber 52. Outlet opening 56 is of the same general configuration and orientation relative to the axis of chamber 52 as is outlet opening 44 relative to chamber 42. Opening 56, however, has parallel upper and

lower surfaces

57 and 58 which extend from the inner to the outer surfaces of the body. The equivalent of a relief in the exterior surface of the body adjacent the outlet opening is provided by a thin-walled tubular insert or mask member 59 which is disposed along the inner surface of the chamber walls adjacent opening 56. The insert is located in the chamber so that its upper edge 60 is positioned a selected distance toward surface 57 from surface 58 so that the effective area of the outlet opening from the chamber is greater than the area of the inlet opening to the chamber.

Each of

devices

10, 40, and 50 has the characteristic that the outlet opening thereof extends generally transversely of the interior chamber of the device. In such devices, it is preferred that each transverse edge of the outlet opening be located from the adjacent chamber and surface a distance no less than one-quarter of the maximum transverse dimension of the chamber. In other words, in the case of device 10, the lower end

upper edges

25 and 30 of outlet opening 22, at their closest proximity to end

surfaces

14 and 15, respectively, are spaced from the end surfaces by a distance at least as great as one-quarter the diameter of chamber 13. Such a relation of the outlet opening to the end surfaces of the chamber assures sufiicient reverberation action of liquid introduced into the chamber to produce the desired flutter in the pattern of the liquid droplets discharged from the device.

Another liquid discharging and distributing device 65 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Device 65 includes an elongated tubular body 66 having a circularly cross-sectional configuration defining an internal chamber 67. The body is externally threaded as at 68 adjacent one end thereof to adapt the body for connection to a liquid supply duct. Internally of the body and adjacent the threaded end there of is a plug 69 which has formed axially therethrough a cylindrical inlet opening 70 to chamber 67. The other end of the body is closed by a plug 71. Plugs 69 and 71 define end surfaces 72 and 73 of the chamber, respectively. Chamber 67 communicates with the exterior of the device through an outlet opening 74 which extends longitudinally of the body between ends 75 and 76 spaced from the adjacent end surfaces of the chamber. Outlet opening 74 has a greater extent longitudinally of the body than it does transversely of the body. The outlet opening has side wall surfaces 77 and 78 which diverge from each other (see FIG. 7) an amount greater than the arc subtended by the gap between the intersections of

surfaces

77 and 78 with the inner surfaces of body 66. Accordingly, it is seen that the exterior surfaces of body 66 adjacent the longitudinal edges of outlet opening 74 are relieved toward the chamber.

Device 65 is useful as a sewage aeration nozzle and, in operation, preferably is disposed so that the axis of chamber 67 is horizontal and so that opening 74 is disposed above the axis of the chamber. The relief of the side Walls of outlet opening 74 assures that the discharge of the device oscillates over a wide angle so that maximum aeration of the discharged liquid device is provided.

From the foregoing it is apparent that this invention provides an extremely eflicient yet remarkably simple liquid discharging device which has many areas of utility. The device is useful where uniform distribution of discharged liquid over a wide area is desired, and it is also useful Where aeration of the discharged liquid is most desired. These advantages and benefits are provided in a device having no moving parts.

The foregoing description has been presented by reference to certain embodiments of the invention in order that the invention may be clearly understood, rather than by way of limiting the invention. Workers skilled in the art to which the invention relates Will appreciate that variations may be made in the structures described without departing from the scope of the invention or from the following claims which define the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid discharging and distributing device comprising a body defining an inner chamber having ends spaced from each other by the length of the chamber, a liquid inlet into the chamber at one end thereof, the body having outer wall surfaces and defining inner wall surfaces for the chamber and a liquid outlet opening therethrough laterally from the chamber, the outlet opening being spaced along the length of the chamber from the ends thereof and having a minimum area greater than the area of the inlet opening, the outlet opening having peripheral boundary surfaces conlfigured and arranged so said minimum area of the outlet opening is defined at a selected location laterally of the chamber inwardly toward the chamber inner wall surfaces from said body outer wall surfaces and produces a characteristic distribution pattern of liquid emitted therefrom.

2. A liquid discharging and distributing device comprising a body defining an inner chamber having enc' spaced from each other by the length of the chamber,

liquid inlet opening into the chamber at one end therecv. the body having outer wall surfaces and defining inne Wall surfaces for the chamber and a liquid outlet oper ing therethrough laterally from the chamber, the outle opening being spaced along the length of the cham-be from the ends thereof and having a minimum area greate than the area of the inlet opening, the body along a least a portion of the periphery of the outlet openin being relieved along the outer wall surface so the outle opening has a boundary surface in said portion of lesse extent laterally from the chamber inner wall surface th-a1 the outlet opening boundary surfaces over the remainde of the periphery of the outlet opening.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said minimun area of the outlet opening is defined at the intersectior of the chamber inner wall surfaces with the boundar surfaces of the outlet opening.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the outle opening boundary surfaces adjacent the ends of th chamber are parallel to each other and are inclined out wardly of the. chamber toward the other end of 11 chamber.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the exterioi of body along the boundary surface disposed toward th one end of the chamber is relieved toward the chambe1 so that said boundary surface has a lesser extent laterally of the chamber than the boundary surface adjacent the other end of the chamber.

6. A device according to claim 3 wherein the outlel opening has a greater extent along the length of the chamber than it has transversely of the chamber.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the chambel has a circularly cylindrical configuration and the outlet opening boundary surfaces which extend along the chamber diverge from each other proceeding radially outwardly of the chamber by an angle exceeding the arc subtended by said surfaces at the inner surfaces of the chamber walls.

8. A liquid discharging and distributing device comprising a body defining an inner chamber having ends spaced from each other by the length of the chamber, the body being adapted adjacent one end of the chamber and externally thereof for connection in liquid flow relation to a liquid supplyduct, a liquid inlet opening into the chamber at the one end thereof, the body defining walls for the chamber and a liquid outlet opening laterally from the chamber, the outlet opening being spaced along the length of the chamber from the ends thereof and having a minimum area greater than the area of the chamber inlet opening, the chamber wall at the exterior of the body along at least a portion of the periphery of the outlet opening being relieved.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the outlet opening has a greater extent transversely of the chamber than it has along the length of the chamber.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the inlet opening is located eccentric of the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein the inlet opening is centered toward the outlet opening on a plane longitudinally of the chamber which bisects the extent of the outlet opening transversely of the chamber.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the ends of the chamber are spaced from the nearest extent of the outlet opening a distance at least as great as onet'ourth the maximum transverse dimension of the chamber.

13. A liquid discharging and distributing device comprising a body defining a circularly cylindrical inner chamber having spaced ends, the body being adapted adjacent one end of the chamber and externally of the chamber for connection in liquid flow relation to a liquid supply duct, the one end of the chamber defining a liquid nlet opening into the chamber eccentric of the axis of he chamber, the body defining walls for the chamber tnd an outlet opening laterally from the chamber, the )utlet opening being spaced along the length of the cham- Jer from the ends thereof and having a minimum area greater than the area of the inlet opening, the outlet )pening having a greater extent circumferential-1y of the :hamber than longitudinally of the chamber, the outlet )pening having boundary surfaces adjacent the ends of he chamber which are parallel to each other and are nclined outwardly of the chamber toward the other end )f the chamber, said boundary surfaces being circularly :ylindrical and concave toward the other end of the cham- 381', the exterior of the body along the extent of the Joundary surface disposed toward the one end of the :hamber being relieved toward the chamber to define a :urface intersecting said boundary surface and lying nornal to the boundary surface disposed toward the other and of the chamber.

14. A device according to claim .13 wherein the outlet Jpening boundary surfaces are inclined to the axis of the :hamber at an angle of substantially 30.

15. A liquid discharging and distributing device comprising a body defining an inner chamber having ends spaced from each other by the length of the chamber, a liquid inlet into the chamber into the chamber at one end thereof, the body defining walls for the chamber and an outlet opening laterally from the chamber, the outlet opening being spaced along the length of the chamber from the ends thereof, a mask member disposed along the inner surface of the chamber walls adjacent the outlet opening, in fixed relation to the body, the mask member being positioned so that it partially closes the outlet opening but provides an outlet opening having a greater effective area than the inlet opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,380,769 6/1921 Carlson 239-598 2,785,005 3/1957 Thompson 239598 X 2,990,120 6/1961 Reynolds 239-204 X 3,022,016 2/1962 Shrewsbury 239597 X 3,082,961 3/1963 Hruby 239598 M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

V. M. WIGMAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A LIQUID DISCHARGING AND DISTRIBUTING DEVICE COMPRISING A BODY DEFINING AN INNER CHAMBER HAVING ENDS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER BY THE LENGTH OF THE CHAMBER, A LIQUID INLET INTO THE CHAMBER AT ONE END THEREOF, THE BODY HAVING OUTER WALL SURFACES AND DEFINING INNER WALL SURFACES FOR THE CHAMBER AND A LIQUID OUTLET OPENING THERETHROUGH LATERALLY FROM THE CHAMBER, THE OUTLET OPENING BEING SPACED ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE CHAMBER FROM THE ENDS THEREOF AND HAVING A MINIMUM AREA GREATER THAN THE AREA OF THE INLET OPENING, THE OUTLET OPENING HAVING PERIPHERAL BOUNDARY SURFACES CONFIGURED AND ARRANGED SO SAID MINIMUM AREA OF THE OUTLET OPENING IS DEFINED AT A SELECTED LOCATION LATERALLY OF THE CHAMBER INWARDLY TO-