U.S. patent application number 13/750533 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-01 for in-ground, popup water sprinkler system for custom layouts.
This patent application is currently assigned to Crossan Intellectual Property Law, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Crossan Intellectual Property Law, LLC. Invention is credited to Robert E. DeWitt.
Application Number | 20130193225 13/750533 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48869412 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130193225 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DeWitt; Robert E. |
August 1, 2013 |
IN-GROUND, POPUP WATER SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR CUSTOM LAYOUTS
Abstract
A sprinkler system for lawns and landscaping is custom-fitted to
each particular lot or area to be irrigated. Each in-ground,
pop-up, rotating sprinkler head has a pattern defining plate fitted
therein having a central opening made therein, as by laser cutting,
solid particle deposition, or the like, the opening being congruent
with the area to be watered, as adjusted for any sloped portions of
the area. A pattern sampling aperture aligned with spray nozzles of
the sprinkler rotates about the opening in the defining plate,
feeding an amount of water to each radial line of the area about
the sprinkler sufficient to reach from the sprinkler position out
to the periphery. A speed control comprising a spring-biased cam
and an opposing turbine wheel in the water flow slows spray head
rotation at arc portions of longer water throw and speeds rotation
where the throw is shorter, thus to obtain substantially uniform
water coverage over all parts of the area served by each sprinkler
head.
Inventors: |
DeWitt; Robert E.; (Oswego,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Crossan Intellectual Property Law, LLC; |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Crossan Intellectual Property Law,
LLC
Chicago
IL
|
Family ID: |
48869412 |
Appl. No.: |
13/750533 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61591081 |
Jan 26, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/1 ;
239/201 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 12/124 20130101;
B05B 12/04 20130101; B05B 3/0454 20130101; A01G 25/16 20130101;
G01C 3/00 20130101; B05B 15/74 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
239/1 ;
239/201 |
International
Class: |
A01G 25/16 20060101
A01G025/16 |
Claims
1. A method for spraying water substantially evenly onto an
irregular, defined ground area from a sprinkler having at least one
spray nozzle and a custom-cut, internal pattern defining plate
corresponding to said defined ground area, the method comprising
the steps of: measuring said defined area from a point fixed with
respect to said area so as to define a periphery of said area, each
measurement including at least two of a distance, a relative
compass direction, and an up, down, or no slope associated with
portions of said periphery; creating a facsimile map of the area
with respect to said fixed point; manipulating the facsimile map to
include adjustments as for any slopes measured, and for any water
pressure and flow volume parameters known, to provide an
empirically accurate ground coverage pattern to be produced by said
sprinkler; making said map with said manipulations to form a
periphery of an opening of a pattern defining plate, installing
said plate into said sprinkler at said point within said area and
orienting the plate to correspond to the orientation of said area;
and applying pressurized water into said sprinkler in sufficient
volume to irrigate said area substantially uniformly over said area
by the sprinkler's spraying water along lines from the sprinkler
head to the periphery of said area.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sprinkler is a pop-up
sprinkler having at least one radially-extending, pattern sampling
slot sweeping about the opening of the thin pattern defining plate,
whereby the volume and distance of the resulting spray from a
nozzle governed by that slot corresponds at each compass direction
to the distance to the outer edge of the area to be sprinkled.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
measuring the water pressure in force per unit area at a water
source that will be used for said spray irrigation, and measuring
the maximum flow rate in gallons per minute at said water source,
whereby to allow customizing the pattern defining plate more
precisely in the step of manipulating the map for the expected
operating conditions of use.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixed point is located at
approximately a central point of the area.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixed point is within the
area but not at approximately a central point thereof.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sprinkler is adapted to
rotate more quickly as lines to portions of the periphery nearer to
the sprinkler are sprayed and more slowly as lines to portions of
the periphery farther from the sprinkler are sprayed.
7. An in-ground water sprinkler customized to spray an irregular
area of ground to be watered, the sprinkler comprising: a sprinkler
head set to rotate about a vertical axis and to spray water to said
area; a pattern defining plate fixed in said sprinkler and having
internal edges defining an opening which at least generally maps to
the irregular area to be watered; a pattern sampling aperture in a
plate in said sprinkler which rotates with the sprinkler head and
cooperates with the opening in the pattern defining plate to send a
flow of water through said sprinkler to said area in accordance
with said opening in the defining plate and said area; and a speed
control means for slowing the rotation of said sprinkler head in
angular portions of longer water throw to the periphery and for
allowing relatively faster rotation of said sprinkler head in
angular portions of shorter water throw to the periphery.
8. A water sprinkler as defined in claim 7, wherein the speed
control means comprises: a first opening in a plate fixed in the
sprinkler body with respect to the ground area, the opening forming
a stream of water impinging in a first circumferential direction on
an upper turbine wheel which turns to power a gear train for
turning the spray head of the sprinkler; a second opening in said
plate fixed in the sprinkler body, this opening forming a stream of
water impinging in an opposite circumferential direction on said
upper turbine wheel; a lower turbine wheel with angular blades set
in the flow of water through the sprinkler body for a pivoting
movement therein under the force of said flow of water; a cam
attached to the lower turbine wheel for pivoting therewith and
having a slightly inward-spiraling outer edge, the edge being
outward at one radial portion and inward at an opposite radial
portion of the cam at rest; and a torsion spring biasing the cam
and turbine in an oppositely-pivoting position from said plate
fixed in the sprinkler body, whereby when water flow is greater the
lower turbine and cam pivot in one direction, allowing the second
opening in the fixed plate to slow the upper turbine and spray head
rotation to provide more water in areas of greater water throw to
the periphery of the area to be watered, and when water flow is
lesser then the lower turbine and cam pivot opposite to said one
direction to avoid or limit flow through the second opening in the
fixed plate and thus to speed the upper turbine and spray head
through areas of lesser water throw.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date
priority of applicant's corresponding provisional patent
application, Ser. No. 61/591,081, filed Jan. 26, 2012.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to in-ground water sprinklers
and irrigation systems for residential and other landscaping
installations, and particularly to providing highly efficient
watering with (1) custom, geometrically accurate water coverage of
irregular areas, avoiding wetting of paving and structures, and (2)
laying down a uniform, controllable density of water coverage
(inches per square foot) over each and all of the irregular areas
being sprinkled, regardless of differences in area to be
watered.
BACKGROUND OF THE ART
[0003] Residential and commercial watering systems have been
devised which cover square and irregularly-shaped areas, but they
can be difficult to adapt to particular installations. The most
common irrigation devices still send water out in circular patterns
or arcs thereof, requiring installation of many sprinkler heads and
resulting in uneven application of water to the landscape, with
some portions receiving for instance four times the water of other
portions. Flat Plate Pattern Control U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,793, of
DeWitt, disclosed a spray head with adjustable settings of flat
plates about the periphery of the pattern for some on-site
customization. Hose End Pattern Sprinkler U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,391
disclosed a plate fabricated with multiple alternate, selectable
patterns for adaptation to several different yard layouts.
[0004] No known sprinkler system provides a simple, mechanical
means for delivering a uniform density of water coverage to
irregularly shaped areas of varying sizes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The current invention gathers topological information about
an irrigation spray area, for example a home lot to be irrigated,
and solves for even water distribution over each of several
partitioned areas of the lot in terms of compass angles, distances,
any slopes, and input perimeters of water pressure and maximum flow
rate. A water sprinkler system for such a defined area has custom
plates made and installed in a relatively small number of
vertical-axis sprinkler heads distributed about said area. Each
plate has an open area formed about the center axis, that is
generally congruent with the area to be sprayed from that head,
adapted specifically to the periphery and to any slopes and
obstacles in the area. This system provides uniform coverage of the
area to be watered, rather than uneven coverage and waste as with
conventional, arcuate area sprinkler heads.
[0006] According to the method of the invention, a known surveying
tool, termed a "Total Station Instrument", is used to map
significant features of the area to be irrigated and to determine,
from inputs of water pressure and volume flow available, the shape
of an opening to be cut into a pattern defining plate for each
sprinkler head. Then the time for spraying each zone can be
determined based on the water depth to be applied, taking into
consideration the soil type and vegetation present. Because many
fewer sprinkler heads are needed in this custom system,
installation costs are greatly reduced compared with conventional
systems, and water savings provide operating cost reductions and
environmental advantages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIGS. 1 and 2 show vertical cross-sections of a sprinkler
head of the present invention, in retracted and popped-up positions
for storage and use, respectively.
[0008] FIG. 3 shows a fixed, sample custom flat plate with a
rotating sampling aperture thereon, as provided in a sprinkler
head, according to the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 shows a plot of a layout of a customized sprinkler
system for a large lot with seven sprinkler zones in two groupings
to handle coverage around a house and driveway, as determined by a
central computer program used in the method of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 shows a plot of a layout of a second embodiment of
the present invention as applied to a smaller lot with four zones
about a house and driveway with a tree and shrubbery.
[0011] FIG. 6 shows a flow activated speed control according to one
facet of the present invention, including a pivoting cam that opens
or blocks a slowing counter-flow of water against a turbine wheel
that rotates the sprinkler head through a gear train (not
shown).
[0012] FIG. 7 shows in plan view the upper turbine wheel with the
motivating flows of water driving the gear train and thus
controlling the speed of rotation of the sprinkler head.
[0013] FIG. 8 shows in perspective view a turbine wheel for biasing
the speed control cam based on the variable flow of water through
the sprinkler body.
[0014] FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 show in plan view three of the positions
of the pivoting cam in the speed control device of the
invention.
THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] A water sprinkler system is provided that is custom-matched
to any regular or irregular lawn, garden, or other landscaped area,
which may have obstructions such as paved areas, buildings, trees,
and the like, so as to uniformly water the area with minimum
installation costs and operating expenses. The system features a
custom-made opening formed in a fixed pattern defining plate in
each sprinkler head, the opening being mapped and oriented to the
exact periphery of the area to be sprinkled, including adapting for
slopes in the terrain. That opening is sampled by an aperture in a
second, pattern sampling plate, which rotates in alignment with
spray nozzles in the head to throw streams of water along a line
from the sprinkler head position to the actual outer periphery of
the area at each compass point of the rotation, as determined by
the custom opening in the fixed pattern defining plate. A speed
control in the sprinkler head causes the nozzles to slow their
rotation while spraying portions of the area with longer water
throws, so that more water is provided where greater areas (i.e.,
longer radii) are being watered, to provide uniformity of water
coverage throughout the defined area.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a spray head 20 in a retracted, inactive
position as buried in ground 22 which is planted with grass 24 or
other ground cover. A fixed outer housing 26 is set into the ground
22 and connected underground to a source of selectively pressurized
water (not shown). An inner housing 28 is set slideably but not
rotatably within the housing 26, in water-tight connection thereto
about their peripheral walls to avoid leakage, as is well known,
for allowing the inner housing to pop up for use, as in FIG. 2. A
custom-made pattern defining plate 30 is fixed in the inner housing
28 and with respect to the outer housing 26, being oriented there
to the configuration of the lawn or landscaped area to be
irrigated, as described below. An upper portion 32 of the inner
housing 28 is set to rotate with respect to the outer and inner
housings 26, 28, carried by a pattern sampling disk 34 and a gear
train output assembly 36, which rotate together, driven by a
turbine wheel turned by the flow of water through the system in
operation, also as described below.
[0017] When irrigation water under pressure is introduced into the
outer body 26, that body floods as in FIG. 2 and the water "pops
up" the upper portion 32 of the inner housing 28 above the surface
of the ground 22 and vegetation 24. A nozzle array 40 emerges from
the outer housing 26 and is forced to a 45-degree angle atop the
upper portion 32 by the jets of water shooting from the nozzles.
The nozzles have bore sizes set for volume delivery proportional to
the delivery radius squared, so water jets travelling farther have
larger bores than those set for shorter throws. A pulse generator
of any conventional structure (not shown), arranged in the inner
housing 28, as below or upstream of the speed control 90 as below,
causes the jets from the nozzles 40 to sputter slightly, evening
out the water coverage along the line being watered from the
sprinkler to the periphery of the area.
[0018] When the flow of water from the source is shut off, as at
the end of a watering cycle, a pushdown spring (not shown) causes
the inner housing 28 and upper body 32 to retract into the outer
body 26; the nozzle array 40 is guided to a vertical position, as
in FIG. 1, upon such retraction. The spray head and water supply
system may be drained, or water in the system blown out with high
pressure air, for protection from freezing temperatures.
[0019] The custom pattern defining plate 30, as in FIG. 3, is cut
with a pattern defining aperture 50 adapted to the area and terrain
to be irrigated. This aperture 50 will generally be congruent to
the area to be watered, but with adjustments for elevated areas
(corresponding radii enlarged) and for depressed areas
(corresponding radii reduced) to adjust the distance of water throw
as compared to entirely flat areas. As in FIG. 3, a pattern
sampling aperture 52 is formed in the upper, rotating pattern
sampling plate 34, extending from near the axial center of the
sprinkler head to a maximum radius for water throw to the farthest
periphery of the area to be irrigated. For strength of the sampling
plate 34, the innermost portion of the sampling aperture is
preferably replaced with a minimum flow aperture 54 of
corresponding flow area, which is always unobstructed by the
pattern defining plate 30 and the aperture 50 therein. The pattern
defining plate 30 is fixed in the sprinkler inner and outer bodies
28, 26, with respect to the land area to be watered, while the
pattern sampling plate 34 and pattern sampling aperture 52 rotate
with the nozzle array 40.
[0020] The pattern defining plate 30 is custom prepared for the
land and particular zone of a water sprinkling system for which it
is adapted. An automated device such as a Total Station Instrument,
by any of a number of makers of such survey instruments, is used by
a qualified surveyor from as few as two setup points in the
landscape to be irrigated. The Total Station Instrument can shoot a
typical lot in just minutes, including the corner points of the
lot, house, driveway, etc., and the location of all obstacles such
as trees, tall bushes, entrance stoops, patios, underground
utilities, etc.
[0021] Layout of the entire sprinkler system, as in FIG. 4, would
include partitioning of the lot into zones for separate sprinkler
heads. This can be done manually but preferably is done
automatically by a central computer program, dependent on water
pressure and water volume available. This layout would include
specifying the most efficient locations for sprinkler heads in
terms of the minimum and maximum ranges of the sprinklers, and the
slopes, if any, in the terrain measured. A typical installation
layout is indicated in FIG. 4, where key shots of the lot, home,
obstacles, etc. are taken with any available Total Station
Instrument and transmitted to a central computer for analysis and
design of the sprinkler layout. For the large lot shown, seven
zones are suggested by the system, with installation points
indicated for seven sprinkler heads and dividing the zones into two
groups about the house and driveway for best use of the available
pressure and volume of water flows available. Each zone is arranged
so as to leave no unwatered places in the lawn while also avoiding
wetting the house and driveway. Thus a sprinkler head for Zone 1
would be installed at point 60, for watering the front yard and up
to part of the side of the house; a Zone 2 sprinkler head would be
installed at point 62, that for Zone 3 at 64, and that for Zone 4
at 66. Because of the size of the lot of FIG. 4, a second set of
watering zones is required to avoid loss of water pressure and
volume in the watering process; zones 5, 6, and 7 to the west of
the house are set up similarly by the central computer for
installation of sprinkler heads at positions 68, 70, and 72,
respectively. This second set of zones would be watered after
watering of zones 1-4 is completed.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows a smaller lot about a house, where the lot
needs only four zones for watering all of the yard. The Total
Station Instrument similarly is used to define the boundaries and
obstructions needed for planning, and the locations of four
sprinkler heads, 80, 82, 84, and 86 are determined. No overlap of
circular spray areas is provided, with the uneven coverage that the
older systems provide.
[0023] In this method of FIGS. 4 and 5, triangulation off the house
or other points in the original shooting locates a preferred
installation point for each sprinkler, for the feed lines, etc. The
only tools necessary are the Triangulation Map as in FIG. 4 and a
tape rule, for identifying the sprinkler head locations.
[0024] In most cases for average-sized lots, a Customized System
might include one pressure regulator, three or four sprinklers, a
matching number of control valves, rain and moisture sensors, etc.,
for optimum usage.
[0025] FIGS. 6 to 11 show internal arrangement and workings of
rotation drive controls for the sprinkler heads, including
particularly a speed control that is flow actuated. An upper
turbine wheel 90 is rotated by a flow of water through a port 92,
which is always open. The turbine 90 drives the gear train 42, in
FIGS. 1 and 2, and also rotates the upper, pattern sampling plate
34 together with the spray nozzles 40 in the upper body 32.
[0026] Speed control of rotation of the nozzle array 40 is effected
by a radially contoured cam 94 that selectively blocks and opens a
countervailing flow 96 of water via port 98 onto the turbine wheel
90 for slowing the turbine's rotation and thus also the speed of
the connected drive train 42. The pivotal position of the cam 94 is
determined by a clockwise pivoting force of the water flow on a
lower turbine wheel 95 acting in opposition to a counterclockwise
force of a torsional spring 99 acting between the cam 94 and a
nozzle plate 100 that is fixed in the inner body 28 of the
sprinkler This arrangement causes the cam plate 94 to pivot
clockwise as in FIG. 10 when the flow of water W through the
sprinkler is greatest and to return to its counterclockwise
position of FIG. 9 when such flow W is at a minimum, corresponding
to greatest and least flow volumes and thus to slowest and fastest
rotation of the spray head 40. That is, where the water throw is
the greatest, i.e., for sprinkling out to peripheries that are
farthest from the sprinkler head, the rotation is slowest, and vice
versa.
[0027] At the minimum spraying radius, the nozzle 98 on the right
in FIGS. 6 and 9-11 will be substantially blocked from flow as
shown in FIGS. 6 and 9. As the water throw and thus flow volume
increase, the cam 94 shifts clockwise toward the FIG. 9 position
under the force of the water flow on the vanes of the lower turbine
wheel 95, opening flow through the right-hand port 98 and slowing
rotation of the upper turbine 90 and thus slowing rotation of the
upper body 32 and the spray nozzles 40.
[0028] The cam 94 will pivot to the FIG. 11 position only upon
extreme conditions of water or air pressure and flow, as when the
system is being blown through with air to clear water from the
sprinkler heads, as, to winterize the system, and then the turbine
90 will stop rotating until the blowing stops and water is again
introduced under pressure.
[0029] Many variations may be made in the invention as shown and
its manner of use, without departing from the principles of the
invention as described herein and/or as claimed as our invention.
Minor variations will not avoid use of the invention.
* * * * *