US436406A

US436406A - Water-sprinkler

Info

Publication number: US436406A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1890-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1907-09-16

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheetn 1.

W. M. ECOLES. WATER SPRINKLER.

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W, M. ECOLES. WATER SPRINKLER'.

No. 436,406. Patented Sept. 16. 1890.

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W. M. ECOLES. WATER SPRINKLER.

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y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM M. ECCIIES, OF'S'FQLOUIS, MISSOURI.

WATER-SPRINKLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,406, dated September 16, 1890.

Application filed April 7, 1890. Serial No. 346,962. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLTAM M. ECOLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis,in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in VVatenSprinklers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to Water-sprinklers; and 1t consists, first, in means for utilizing a fixed and continuous quantity of compressed air or other yielding substance confined in an air-tight reservoir to force water from a waterreservoir; second, it consists in means for utilizing the water-pressure in water-mains to force the water from portable watenreservoirs for sprinkling and other purposes; third, it further consists in means for securing approximately uniform pressure on the water in the portable water-reservoir during its entire discharge from the same 5 fourth,`it also consists in means for forcing water by approximately equable pressure from a portable water-reservoir onto a street or the ground a greater distance than could be done by force of its own gravity without extra draft on the team, and, fifth, it further consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The objects of my invention are, first, to secure uniform pressure on the water in a portable water-reservoir during the entire discharge of the water therefrom; second, to util` ize the pressure of water which it has in streetmains to expel it from aportable water-reservoir onto a street or the ground; third, to expel water from a water-reservoir by means of a fixed and continuing quantity of compressed air confined in an air-chamber; fourth, to expel the water from a portable Water-reservoir over the street with approximately the same pressure which it has in the water-mains and by which it is forced into the reservoir, and, fifth, to expel water from a portable water-reservoir into the street, without increasing the draft of the truck carrying the same, with suficient force to throw the water a greater distance than it could be thrown by its own gravity. I attain these objects by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure I is a side elevation of my sprinkler. Fig. II is an end elevation of the same. Fig.

III is a vertical section of the sprinkler drawn on line 3 3, Fig. IV. Fig. IV is a plan view of the sprinkler. Fig. V is a side elevation of one of the sprinkling-nozzles detached from the sprinkler. Fig. VI is a plan view of the same. Fig. VII is a longitudinal section of the nozzle, its connecting-pipe and valve, drawn on line VII VII in Fig. VIII. Fig.

VIII is a longitudinal section drawn on line VIII VIII in Fig. VII.

A is the running-gear of a four-wheeled truck, consisting of frame, arched side sills A, front and hind axles A2 G, and fifth-wheel A4, all mounted on wheels and adapted to carry a water-reservoir and air-reservoir and mechanism connected therewith.

B is a water-reservoir made of uniform diameter on the inside. It is securely fastened, preferably in an upright position, to the running-gear A in any suitable manner and is placed near the ground, in order that the weight may be near the ground, and in order that the sprinkling-nozzles may also be near the ground, so as to throw the water beneath passing vehicles, and not onto them. This Water-reservoir is provided with an inlet t, communicating with the interior of the Water-reservoir and situated near the bottom of the same and adapted to be connected. with a street Water-main of ordinary water-works by an ordinary connecting-hose, whereby the water from street-mains can flow into the waterreservoir B.

b is an ordinary checlcvalve situated in the body of the inlet l), operating to prevent the Water from flowing out of the reservoir through the inlet l), but which will permit it to flow in through the same. The water-reservoir is also providedwith two outlet-pipes C C, which connect the sprinkling-nozzles with the water-reservoir and lmake an open connection between the interiors of the nozzles and the interior of the reservoir, so as to permit the iiow of water from the reservoir into and through the sprinklingnozzles. The Whole bottom of the water-reservoir B is preferably made of one piece of cast-iron, having the neck of the inlet cast integral therewith, as shown. connected interiorly with the reservoir B near the bottom, and to each of vthese outlets at their outer ends is fastened a con necting-pipe IOO A. To the other arm of this double-crank lever E is pivotally connected a crank-rod E at one end and at the other end the crank-rod is connected to the free end of the crank-lever F, which is secured to the end of a treadlerod- F', journaled in the front part of the running-gear A. This treadle-rod is bent out, so as to form a treadle f for the driver to operate the valves with by pressure of the foot on the foot-treadle.

N is a sprinkling-nozzle having a neck N and a mouth N2. The neck is adapted to screw over the end of the connecting-pipe C', and is provided with a set screw S, which serves to hold the nozzle N in any fixed position on the connecting-pipe C. The mouth of this nozzle is made by extending the walls of the neck into disk-shaped walls having the lips slightly separated at their rear and side portions when attached to the connectingpipes C in place on the sprinkler, operating to throw the water out under pressure in a .thin and approximately horizontal sheet.

This nozzle is rendered adjustable by the setscrew S, and may be turned at pleasure on the connecting-pipe C', so as to direct the sheet of Water low or high, asdesired, or deflect it from ahorizontalcourse. This rotatable adjustment of the nozzle enables the operator to direct that part of the sheet of water which passes out at the side of the nozzle and which is directed toward the curb of the street either high or low, to suit the pressure on the water and direct the sheet of water just to the curb yand no further. By driving in the middle of the street and by thus adjusting the nozzles to suit the pressure which may happen to be in the street-mains where the machine is being used he will be enabled to sprinkle from curb to curb and not throw the water on the sidewalk, which is very desirable in a sprinkler.

The rear portion of the frame of the running-gear has a jaw-shaped attachment d, adapted to encompass a movable box g, which moves up and down between the jaws and through which the hind axle G passes. Inserted between this box and the base of the j aW-shaped attachment a is a rubber spring s to relieve the axle from jar. Inserted between the lower part of this block and the brace-bar H is another rubber spring s', which prevents the rebound.

The interior of the water-reservoir Bis provided with a piston or pressure head P, lit-ting the interior of the water-reservoir and packed with a hydraulic packing p, which renders the pressure-head water-tight as it moves up and down in the interior of the water-reservoir. This hydraulic packing p consists of a strip of leather, which surrounds the head and has its lower edge pressed out against the side of the water-reservoir by the pressure of the water against its inside surface, so as to prevent the water' from passing up between the side of the reservoir and the outside of the leather. The lower edge of the periphery of the piston-head is rounded oft', sopas to facilitate the outward pressure of the water against the packing. This piston or pressure lead is provided with a piston-rod P securely connecting it with another smaller pistonhead1. This smaller piston-head is also provided with an air-tight packing p', which packing is preferably made of'leather and in construction like the packing p. This piston-head is adapted to move up and down in its air-tight cylinder J in unison with the piston-head P. This cylinder J is made of metal with a smooth bore, and is preferablyy incased within the air-reservoir K which surrounds it. Its interior communicates with the interior of the reservoir K by open connections or holes h, near the top of the same, sufiiciently large and numerous to allow a free passage ot' compressed air or other iiuid from the interior of the reservoir into the cylinder .I as the piston-head1)2 descends, and a free passage of the same compressed air back from the cylinder P2 to the interior of the airreservoir K as the piston-head p2 ascends. This air-reservoir is supplied with an inletpipe T, provided with appropriate means for attaching a hose on its outer end, and with a common leather check-valve T on its inner end, and serves to make an open communication between an ordinaryiair-pump and the interior of the air-reservoir and allow compressed air to pass into the reservoir and retain it there. It is also provided with an ord inary pressure-gage M, which communicates with the interior of the air reservoir and serves to register the pressure of air in said air-reservoir. This air-reservoir is held securely to the top ot' the water-reservoir by tierods V V, which pass through projections or lugs on the top plate of the air-reservoir K, and down the outside of the reservoir,through the side pieces A of the running-gear A, and through similar lugs or projections V2 V2 on the bottom plate ot the water-reservoir B. These rods not only serve to hold the two reservoirs together, but by means of nuts n and collars n', the one below and the other IOC:

IIO

above the side piece A on the rods V V, serve to hold the two reservoirs in place on the running-gear.

O is seat for the driver.

When the operator desires to sprinkle, he presses his foot on the pedal f and opens the valve D, through the medium of the system pressure-head P as the pressure of air per square inch on it is desired to be greater than the resistance of the Water per square inch is on the pressure-headP; but any variation in the diameter or superficial 'areas of the respective pressure-heads may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

, The object of making the piston-heads of different diameters is to secure, as near as pcsble, a uniform pressure on the Water of the Water-reservoir as the piston-head P descends Withoutbeing compelled to make the air-reservoirs K and .I too large and cumbersome. It is obvious that the greater the difference between the capacity of the ai r-reservoir K to hold compressed air and the capacity of the cylinder J for the same purpose -the less will be the difference between the pressure on the Water when the piston is at the top and when it is at the bottom of the Water-reservoir. The compressed air then displaced by the throw of the piston-head P2 mustbe relatively small in proportion to the Whole body of air used to secure the least possible variance between the pressure With the piston at the top and that with the piston at the bottom of the Water-reservoir, or when it is full and almost empty. For this reason the air-reservoir K is made of much larger dimensions than the cylinder or smallair-reservoirJ. I prefcrto make the larger one about six feet long and about four feet in diameter and the smaller one about six feet long and eighteen inches in diameter, and use these relative sizes With a Water-reservoir about six feet long and four feet in diameter. Then the air-reservoirs are constructed of about the above relative dimensions and they are charged with a body of compressed air, the compressed air will exercise, through the medium of the piston-heads, a pressure on the Water of approximately the same number of pounds to the square inch when the Water-reserveir is about empty as when it is full. l

The relative dimensions of the reservoirs, as above stated, Will cause a near enough uniform pressure on the Water for all practical purposes; but the uniformity may be in creased by making the air-reservoir K relatively larger than the cylinder J. It is obvious, therefore, that the piston-head P2 can be increased in diameter to the full size of the piston-head P, if the air-reservoir is correspondingly increased in its capacity, Without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is also obvious that the piston-head P2 can be connected With the piston P by gear niechanism or lever attachment, and the two reservoirs set side by side, whereby the pistonhead P2 will only move a portion of the distance along the cylinder J during the time the piston-head P moves the Whole distance down the Water-reservoirWithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

NOW to use my sprinkler, first fill the airreservoir with compressed air to a pressure of air that will give a pressure on the pistonhead P a little less than the pressure in the street Water-mains from which you desire to take the Water. Then from the connection With the street Water-main and the inlet-pipe l1.'

turn the Water into the Water-reservoir B, and the pressure of the Water in the Water-main being greater than the resistance of the airpressure on the piston-head P, the pistonhead P will rise until the Water-reservoir is filled with Water and the piston-head P has risen to the top of the water-reservoir. The water then is shut off and the connection between the street Water-main and the inletpipe is severed, and the sprinkler is ready to go on the street. When the operator opens the valve D with his foot, the Water rushes out through the sprinkling-nozzle with a pressure slightly less than the pressure in the street water-main from which it was taken, and-.Will continue to so flow with approximately uniform pressure until the pistonhead P has reached the bottom and t-he Water has been all expelled from the water-reservoir Without any loss of compressed air. The process can again be repeated with the same effect as before. All the operator has to do is to see to it that the pressure of air in the air-reservoir Will offer a less resistance per square inch on the piston-head P than the pressure per square inch in the street Watermain from which he desires to take the Water, and of sufficient pressure to expel the Water from the center of the street to the curb. Thus it is evident that the pressure in the Water-main is readily and successfully utilized in expelling the Water from the Waterreservoir onto the street or ground, Without any extra draft or work for the team, by using a confined yielding cushion of compressed air or other elastic fluid Within which to store the .pressure in the street Water-mains by adapting it to cause the compressed air to yield as the Water is forced into a Water-res-- ervoir.

By this device I have alight and cheap and durable compressed-air spring Which takes up the pressure in the street Water-mains as the Water is forced into the Water-reservoir and causes the same pressure to act upon the water to force it out of the reservoir with approximately the same force With Which it entered, and by this device, also, is secured the approximately uniform pressure on the Water during its entire flow from the Water-res ervoir, both of which are very essential in a sprinkler.

Now what I claim, and for whichI askLetters Patent of the United States to be granted to me, is-

l. A Water-sprinkler consisting of a Waterreservoir provided With a sprinkling nozzle or nozzles for the egress of Water, a pistonhead IIO adapted to move to and fro within said Water-reservoir, an air-reservoir containing a confined body of compressed air or other yielding substance, a piston-head adapted to move to and fro Within said air-reservoir, and suitable mechanism connecting said two piston-heads, whereby they are caused to move in unison with each other and operate to force the Water out of the-Water reservoir through the sprinkling-nozzle With approximately the same force with which it was forced into the Water-reservoir, for the purposes set forth.

2. In a Water-sprinkler, the combination, with a water-reservoir having nozzles Which communicate with the interior of said reser- Voir, of an air-reservoir adapted to receive and confine a body of air or other elastic substance, a piston-head for said Water-reservoir, and a connection between the air-reservoir and the said piston-head, whereby the pistonhead is normally forced against the volume of Water Within the said water-reservoir, for

the purpose shown and described.

3. In a water-sprinkler, two air-tightreservoirs adapted to hold a confined bodyot compressed air or other elastic substance, one being smaller than the other, and having their interiors communicating with each other vby an open passage-Way, the smaller one being provided with a piston-head adapted to move within it, in combination with anotherreservoir adapted to hold Water under pressure and provided with a piston-head mov-ably arranged therein and connected to the firstmentioned piston-head by a piston-rod, and with a Water-nozzle having its interior communicating with the interior of the Waterreservoir, all combined and operating to discharge Water out of the Water-reservoir through the nozzle with approximately the same force When the reservoir is about empty as when it is full.

4. In a Water-sprinkler, the combination of a Water-reservoir mounted upon a runninggear and adapted to hold water, a Water-nozzle communicating interiorly with said Waterreservoir, an inlet-opening communicating interiorly with said Water-reservoir and adapted to admit Water from the Water-mains in streets into the water-reservoir under pressure, a movable head situated Within said reservoir and adapted to recede therein with the advance of the incoming water into the reservoir, and means for resist-ing said receding movement of the head, whereby the Water is expelled out of said reservoir th rough the nozzle with approxi mately the same force with which the entrance of the Water into said reservoir was resisted, for the purposes set forth.

5. In a street-sprinkler, the combination of an air-tight reservoir in which is stored a fixed q uan tity of air or other analogous elastic iiuid, a Water-reservoir having a movable head, a connection between the head and air-reser- Voir,`an inlet-opening in the Water-reservoir beneath the said head for receiving Water under pressure to force the said head against the said air-pressure, and outlet-nozzles communicating with the interior of the reservoir below the said movable head, substantially as described.

WILLIAM M. EccLEs. Attest:

FRANCIS VALL, F. A. SIEFERT.