U.S. patent number 3,767,118 [Application Number 05/290,398] was granted by the patent office on 1973-10-23 for oscillating water sprinkler.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Burgess Vibrocrafters, Inc.. Invention is credited to Edwin L. Oberto, David E. Ryan, Jon C. Wiltberger.
United States Patent |
3,767,118 |
Oberto , et al. |
October 23, 1973 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
OSCILLATING WATER SPRINKLER
Abstract
The sprinkler manifold tube is driven in oscillation about its
axis by a hydro-mechanical system having only two moving mechanical
parts. A valve actuated at the adjustably predetermined end of each
sprinkler tube sweep switches the primary control streams of a
fluidic system to signal deflection of a secondary control stream
which merges with the controlled flow to fill at a steady rate the
chamber on one side of a paddle-piston which is fixed to the
sprinkler tube to drive the same. Simultaneously, water from the
other side of the paddle is sucked from the chamber by the
aspirating effect of the main flow of water to the sprinkler tube.
Switching the flow of the primary control stream effects reversal
of travel of the sprinkler tube without time dwell.
Inventors: |
Oberto; Edwin L. (Libertyville,
IL), Ryan; David E. (Grayslake, IL), Wiltberger; Jon
C. (Round Lake, IL) |
Assignee: |
Burgess Vibrocrafters, Inc.
(Grayslake, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
23115816 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/290,398 |
Filed: |
September 19, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/242; 137/834;
D23/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B
3/044 (20130101); Y10T 137/2229 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B05B
3/16 (20060101); B05B 3/00 (20060101); B05b
003/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/242,263,237,239,240,241 ;137/81.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Knowles; Allen N.
Claims
We claim:
1. In an oscillating water sprinkler having a base with a
horizontal sprinkler tube mounted therein for oscillating motion
about its axis and a water supply inlet, a fluid motor comprising a
chamber having a paddle-piston arranged therein drivingly secured
to the sprinkler tube, and means for providing and controlling the
flow of water to supply the sprinkler tube and said fluid motor,
said means comprising water supply channel means and water flow
control channel means, said supply channel means comprising a pair
of alternate water supply channels each connected at its inlet end
with the water supply inlet and at its outlet end with the
sprinkler tube, each said supply channel having a motor chamber
channel branching off therefrom at a fluidic interchange and
opening into said chamber, said control channel means comprising a
fluidic amplifier having a bistable interchange and alternate
control channels each connected with the water supply inlet through
one of two alternate valve ports, said control channel means also
having a motor chamber flow control channel connected at its inlet
end with the water supply inlet and dividing at the bistable
interchange of said amplifier into two branches terminating
respectively at said fluidic interchanges with which said motor
chamber channels are connected to complete a pair of secondary
fluidic valves controlling flow through said chamber channels into
said chambers, a mechanical valve arranged to switch the flow of
water through one or the other of said two valve ports, and means
for manipulating said mechanical valve in response to the angular
position of the sprinkler tube.
2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for
manipulating the mechanical valve comprises a set of stops mounted
upon the sprinkler tube for movement therewith.
3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the stops are
frictionally mounted and adjustable to adjustably predetermine the
limit of rotational movement of the sprinkler tube in each
direction of oscillation.
4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the motor chamber
is defined by planar end walls perpendicular to the axis of the
sprinkler tube, planar side walls extending between said end walls
substantially perpendicular thereto, and a cylindrical sweep wall
remote from and coaxial with said sprinkler tube.
5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the paddle-piston
is planar and extends radially from the sprinkler tube into the
motor chamber, said paddle-piston lying in a plane which includes
the axis of said sprinkler tube.
6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the paddle-piston
includes resilient sealing means extending between the three edges
of said paddle-piston remote from the sprinkler tube and the end
and sweep walls respectively of the motor chamber.
7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the paddle-piston
comprises a pair of plates and a sheet of rubber-like material
sandwiched therebetween, said plates being fastened to each other
and to the sprinkler tube, the edges of said rubber-like material
serving as squeegee sealing means.
8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and including means for
minimizing the by-passing of water from one side of the
paddle-piston to the other around the sprinkler tube.
9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the water supply
channels from vena contracta just upstream from the fluidic
interchanges whereby water is aspirated from the motor chamber on
one side of the paddle-piston while water is supplied under
pressure to said chamber on the other side of said paddle-piston
whereby the fluid motor is compound in its action.
10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sprinkler tube
comprises an open-ended middle sleeve and a nozzle manifold tube
connected with and extending from each end of said sleeve, said
sleeve being mounted in the base of the sprinkler and said manifold
tubes being entirely outside of the sprinkler base.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A great variety of lawn sprinklers has been devised and
manufactured. All are intended to distribute water as uniformly as
possible over a given lawn area at the rate at which the water will
soak into the ground. Some are simple sprinkler manifolds with no
moving parts, some provide for a multiplicity of streams from
nozzles which rotate about a vertical or a horizontal axis, and
many are adjustable to limit the area to be sprinkled at any given
setting. The constantly moving streams are preferable in that they
spread the water for a given location of the sprinkler over a
larger area for optimum absorption of the water by the soil. Since
sprinklers rotating about a vertical axis supply water to a
circular area while sprinklers which oscillate about a horizontal
axis serve a rectangular area, the latter is generally preferred
because the entire lawn can be uniformly supplied with water by
successively sprinkling areas with straight common boundaries.
To achieve improved certainty and continuity of operation and
uniformity of supply of water for a given setting, horizontal
oscillating sprinklers have become increasingly complex with
concomitantly increasing cost and mechanical failure
probability.
The object of the present invention is to provide a lawn sprinkler
having a minimum of moving parts and which is capable of supplying
a moving stream of water in amount uniform throughout an adjustably
predetermined area. A simple switching valve having only two
positions and required to control the flow of only small control
streams of water is shifted from one position to the other at each
end of the sweep of the sprinkler tube with instant return without
time dwell. Only the sprinkler tube itself with the driving
paddle-piston affixed thereto moves in addition to the control
valve. Other action in this dynamic sprinkler takes place in the
changing directions and rates of flow of the water itself in the
various channels provided for the operation of the sprinkler and
the supply of water to the sprinkler tube.
The achievements and advantages of the oscillating water sprinkler
of this invention will become more fully apparent as the
description thereof proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the oscillating water sprinkler of
the invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at the vertical plane
through the axis of the sprinkler tube.
FIG. 3 is an end view taken from the right of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a detailed view in cross section taken at the line 4 -- 4
of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a detailed view in cross section taken at the line 5 -- 5
of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line 6 -- 6 of FIG.
2.
FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views of the fluidic circuit control
plate for use in explaining the operation of the fluidic flow
control system.
FIGS. 9 and 10 are detailed views, in cross section, taken at the
lines 9 -- 9 and 10 -- 10, respectively, of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
As seen in FIG. 1, the sprinkler comprises a base including a
housing 1 having sides 2 and ends 3 mounted upon supporting legs 4.
Sprinkler tube 5, which may be essentially straight, comprises
middle sleeve 5a and nozzle manifold tubes 5b and 5c, the latter
being provided with rows of spaced nozzles 6 which may be
progressively increasingly tilted outwardly to provide a uniform
sprinkling pattern throughout the width of the rectangular lawn
area to be sprinkled for a particular setting of the sprinkler. The
ends of the sprinkler tube are closed by plugs advantageously
provided with pins 8 (FIG. 2) which may be used to clean out the
orifice of any nozzle that may become plugged or partially
obstructed in the course of use of the sprinkler.
An inlet snout 9 equipped with a hose coupling 10 projects through
the end 3 of the housing for connection of the water supply hose to
the sprinkler. Lever 11, mounted for movement back and forth about
its hub 12 and engagement by stops 13 and 14 is the activating
lever of the sprinkler tube oscillation control valve. Stops 13 and
14 are adjustable by manual manipulation of the handle ends 15 and
16. The stop assembly is affixed to the sprinkler tube sleeve 5a
and, when the predetermined end of a sweep in one direction is
reached, a stop engages the end of lever 11 and carries it to the
alternate position of this valve handle to switch a fluidic control
stream, as will be described in detail hereinafter, to effect
reversal of the direction of rotation of the sprinkler tube for the
return sweep with eventual engagement of the other stop with the
valve handle to continue the oscillating movement of the sprinkler
tube.
The fluidic system that controls and powers the oscillating
movement of the sprinkler tube and provides for the continuous
supply of water to the sprinkler tube is established by hydraulic
circuit plate 17 the configuration of which is shown in plan in
FIG. 6 and in vertical section in the assembly view of FIG. 2. As
is the general practice in fluidic amplifier circuits, the stream
channels are formed in this plate as open grooves rectangular in
cross section and closed or ported, as required, by seal plate 18.
A face plate 19, which in the embodiment illustrated serves also as
an end of the sprinkler housing, overlies the seal plate. The face,
seal and circuit plates are securely fastened together as by screws
20.
Sleeve 5a of sprinkler tube 5 passes through aligned holes in the
face, seal and circuit plates and also through the hub 21 of
enclosure 22 which defines fluid motor chamber 23 wherein
paddle-piston 24 is driven by water pressure in the chamber to
rotate sleeve 5a to which the paddle-piston is permanently affixed
to thus drive the sprinkler tube in rotary oscillation.
Circumferential flanges 25, which are integral with sleeve 5a, bear
axially against U-cup seals 26 which surround sleeve 5a, preventing
axial movement of the sprinkler tube in the assembly.
Paddle-piston 24 is provided with squeegee seals 24a (FIGS. 2 and
9) along the three sides that approach and slide by the walls of
chamber 23. These seals are provided by the edges of a sheet of
rubber sandwiched between the two vanes 24b and 24c one of which,
24b, is an integral part of sleeve 5a. The vanes 24b and 24c are
tightly fastened together with the rubber sheet 24a securely held
between them. Ribs 5d which project radially from sleeve 5a
minimize the by-passing of water from the pressure side to the
vacuum side of the motor chamber around sleeve 5a.
Adjustable stops 13 and 14 are frictionally sandwiched between
washers 27, 28 and 29, the latter being adjustably fastened to
sleeve 5a by means of a set screw 30. As has already been
mentioned, and as will be described in further detail below, the
stops 13 and 14 may be manually adjusted to determine the extent of
oscillation at each end of the sweep of the sprinkler tube.
Seal plate 18 is provided with four water inlet ports (FIG. 5);
namely, main stream port 31, left primary control stream port 32,
right primary control stream port 33, and motor chamber control
stream port 34. Each of these several ports is large enough to
permit the required flow of water passing therethrough from the
inlet manifold chamber 35 defined by the closure 36 which is a part
of face plate 19. While ports 31 and 34 are always open to the flow
of water, ports 32 and 33 are alternately opened and closed by a
gate valve 37 having arms 38 and 39 and a stem 40 to which the
valve lever 11 is secured. O-ring 41 seals the valve stem against
leakage of water under pressure in the manifold chamber 35.
FIG. 6 shows the plan of the hydraulic circuit plate 17, the
various interconnected channels providing for the various control
and supply streams of water which flow through the system. The
channel pattern of the circuit plate is symmetrical about the
vertical centerline. The main channel 42 comprises lower left and
lower right arms 42a and 42b, respectively, and upper left and
upper right arms 42c and 42d, respectively. The two arms of the
main channel open into manifold chambers 43 and 44 which
communicate with openings 45 in the walls of sprinkler tube sleeve
5a, completing connection from the hose coupling and inlet snout 9
to the sprinkler nozzles 6 through port 31 which permanently opens
into main channel 42. As will be seen, the main stream to the
sprinkler tube flows alternately through the left arm and right arm
of the main channel as the sprinkler tube oscillates alternately
back and forth.
During operation of the sprinkler, water also flows continuously
through port 34 into motor chamber control stream channel 46. This
channel divides at the bistable fluidic interchange 46c into a left
arm 47 and a right arm 48. Beyond the juncture of the open ends of
these channels with the respective arms of the main water supply
channel, motor chamber connecting channels 49 and 50 communicate
with chamber 23 on the respective sides of paddle-piston 24.
As is well known, the configuration and dimensions of the
interconnecting channels of the fluidic amplifier system must
provide the essential conditions of stream flow and intersection
and channel divergence at switch points to effect the desired flow
pattern. Recognizing that all channel walls are normal to the plane
of the view of the circuit plate of FIG. 6, the configuration of
the channels and their relative dimensions in the plane of the
section are shown. The different and varying depths of particular
channels will be specified as the description of the operation of
the fluidic system proceeds. Dimensions will be specified in inches
by way of example of the particular embodiment of the invention
herein described.
Main stream port 31, which is 1.000 by 0.300, opens into main
channel 42 which has a width of 0.300 tapering to a depth of 0.250
and converges to a width of 0.064 just downstream from its
intersection with the outlets of channels 47 and 48. The bottoms of
the end portions of the upper arms 42c and 42d of the main channel
slope downwardly as the side walls diverge to increase the cross
section of the main streams as they open into manifold chambers 43
and 44, the hydraulic effect being the recovery of a portion of the
pressure lost by the stream in passing through the circuit plate
channels.
Rising from the point of entry of water from port 34, 0.312
diameter, motor chamber control stream channel 46 converges at an
included angle of 14.degree. to a width of 0.094 at the point of
intersection with control channels 46a and 46b, then diverges at an
included angle of 30.degree. to divide in the formation of left and
right arms 47 and 48, respectively, of this control channel.
Channels 46a and 46b, width 0.062, and channel 46 have depths of
0.125, the end portions of arms 47 and 48 converging as indicated
with bottoms sloping downwardly to the level of the bottoms of the
main channel at their intersections therewith at which points the
width of these arms are 0.084.
Proceeding downstream from the intersection of arms 47 and 48 with
the main channel, the side walls diverge to the inlet ends of motor
chamber channels 49 and 50 which lead into the chamber.
The flow patterns during operation of the sprinkler will be
described in conjunction with the diagrammatic illustrations of
FIGS. 7 and 8. Functionally flowing streams of water are indicated
by stippling. For clarity, reference numerals already employed to
designate the various channels will sometimes be used to designate
the streams that flow through them. As is indicated by arrows 51,
FIG. 7 illustrates the flow pattern during the half cycle when the
paddle-piston 24 moves from right to left while FIG. 8 illustrates
conditions during the other half of the oscillation cycle.
During all times that the sprinkler is in operation, water entering
through port 31 is flowing to both arms 42a and 42b as supply
water. During the half cycle operation illustrated in FIG. 7, the
main stream indicated by arrow 52 supplies the sprinkler tube while
the stream indicated by arrow 53 is diverted by control stream 54,
at least in large part, to provide monostable flow through channel
50, as indicated by arrow 55, and through port 50a into motor
chamber 23. Stream 55 is the confluence of streams 53 and 54.
Stream 54 is a secondary control stream which is itself controlled
by primary control stream 56. The flow of stream 56 results from
the action of gate valve 37 in closing port 33 and opening port 32
to the inlet water manifold chamber 35. The impingement of control
stream 56 on stream 57 causes this stream to follow the right side
of the diverging walls of channel 46c to become secondary control
stream 54. The relatively shallow and narrow channels through which
the tributary streams eventuating in stream 55 flow, along with the
dimensions of channel 50, limit the volume rate of flow to that
required to effect the desired rate of movement of paddle-piston
24, taking into account the volume of chamber 23. At the same time,
stream 52 must be restricted to the degree that the continuing
supply of water under pressure to the sprinkler tube becomes
inadequate.
A feature of the fluidic system of the invention resides in the
fact that the fluid motor which drives the sprinkler tube in
oscillation is double acting. Pressure brought to bear against the
right side of paddle-piston 24 by the water flowing into the
chamber through port 50a exerts force in the direction of arrow 51
and, at the same time, suction is applied to the left side of the
paddle-piston due to the aspiration of water from the chamber
through port 49a and channel 49 (arrow 49b) by main sprinkler tube
supply stream 52 as it flows through the fluidic interchange
downstream from the vena contracta at the end of channel 42a. The
water so drawn from the left side of the chamber merges with the
main stream to flow to the sprinkler tube.
Adjustable stops 13 and 14 are carried in rotation by the sprinkler
tube as it sweeps back and forth about its axis. When, as a
consequence of the action just described, the moving
paddle-sprinkler tube-stop system has rotated to the point at which
stop 14 engages lever 11 of gate valve 37 (as indicated, for
example, in FIG. 3), further rotation of the system carries lever
11 to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. In doing so,
the valve is moved to its alternate position at which port 32 is
closed by valve arm 38 and port 33 is uncovered. The left side
motor chamber control stream 56 is thereby stopped and flow of the
alternative control stream 58 is initiated, providing the
flow-switching pulse. As is indicated in FIG. 8, the effect of thus
switching the flow of the primary control streams is to switch
motor chamber control stream 54 from channel 48 to channel 47 as is
indicated by arrow 59. With stream 54 no longer impinging upon
stream 53 to divert the latter into channel 50 and thence into the
motor chamber, stream 53 resumes its normal course through upper
right arm channel 42d as the main sprinkler tube supply. At the
same time, responsive to the force of motor chamber control stream
59, what had been during the previous half cycle of the oscillation
the main supply stream 52 for the sprinkler tube is largely
diverted to motor chamber channel 49 as indicated by arrow 60. The
net effect is to instantaneously reverse the direction of movement
of paddle-piston 24 to reverse the direction of rotation of the
sprinkler tube. As has already been explained, the mechanical
action results from the additive effects of pressure applied to the
left side of the paddle-piston and the suction to the right side as
a consequence of the aspirating action of main stream 53 flowing at
reduced static pressure past the open end of channel 50.
The flip-flop fluidic action described, as controlled by the
movement of the sprinkler tube acting through stops 13 and 14 and
switching valve 37, establishes and maintains the oscillating
rotary movement of the sprinkler tube. It will be noted that within
the extreme limits established by the maximum spread of stops 13
and 14, the limits of the back and forth sweeps of the sprinkler
tube are infinitely variable. The range is not confined to
symmetrical limits; the stops may be arranged to cover an area on
only one side of the sprinkler or for only a short distance on one
side with maximum throw to the other side, etc. Because the
reversing action of the fluidic system takes place while the tube
is still moving to complete a sweep, commencement of the return
sweep is essentially instantaneous with no appreciable dwell at the
point of reversal. Thus, excessive water supply to the outer limits
of the rectangular area covered by a given setting of the sprinkler
is avoided. Having no turbine wheels or gears, there is very little
inertia requiring any appreciable length of time for the system to
slow down and then accelerate to its normal sweep movement. Since
the rate of flow of the stream of water into the water chamber is
constant, movement of the paddle-piston and of the sprinkler tube
is uniform in angular velocity throughout the duration of each
sweep.
The oscillating sprinkler of this invention features complete
flexibility in use in that an infinite number of watering areas can
be predetermined by appropriate adjustment of the stops on the
sprinkler tube. All of the water flowing into the apparatus is
directed to and flows from the nozzle manifold tubes; no part of
the water is merely vented haphazardly from the sprinkler. High
speed oscillation is attainable with substantially no dwell at the
ends of the sweeps. Thus, natural rainfall is emulated with
resulting desirable soaking of the turf and soil.
* * * * *