Bridgeless rotary sprinkler

120953/3

Bridgeless rotary sprinkler

Dan Mamtirim

ύ’Ί’ΰΟΟ H

The inventors: : o Wiitton

Yoel ZURItzhak KANTOR

Yiunp pnm C.102083 - 1 -

ROTARY SPRINKLER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of rotary sprinklers and more specifically it is concerned with the kind having a rotary distributingmember for irrigating a circular pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the following description and claims the term "distributionmember" refers to a rotatable outlet deflector nozzle adapted for emitting theirrigation water, while establishing reactionary force components forrotating thereof. Such distribution members are at times referred to also as"rotatable or rotary distributors", "swivels", "reaction swivels", etc.

Typically, rotary sprinklers are divided into two categories,namely sprayers and sprinklers. Sprayers, typically have essentially lowflow rate and short irrigation range. The high speed of revolution of thedistribution member causes atomization of the water jet into fine spray,which lacks the energy to reach longer distances. The second category, - 2 - referring to sprinklers, is suitable for use with essentially high-flow ratesand provides higher irrigation range than sprayers.

It is well known that excessive irrigation of plants and inparticular of plantlets, is harmful and even fatal for plants. In particular,the problem of excessive irrigation occurs in greenhouses, where ventilationand evaporation are relatively low.

Some rotary sprinklers comprise a bridging member forsupporting the rotary distribution member at its upper end. However, thebridging member in such sprinklers is an obstacle for the water emittedfrom the distribution member, whereby a full circular path is not obtained.Even more so, in many designs of sprinklers dripping occurs below thesprinkler which without suitable draining means might be harmful for theplants.

In another type of rotary sprinkler there is no bridging member.However, in such sprinklers the rotary distribution member is mounted overa rotary shaft rotating within the nozzle, the lower end of the shaft beingconnected to a drive mechanism, typically being a hydraulic turbine or balldriven mechanism.

The drawback of such an arrangement is that it requires theadditional drive mechanism, which generates some friction, resulting insome loss of revolution speed of the distribution member. Even more so,such drive mechanisms are vulnerable to mechanical faults caused, inparticular, as a result of dirt or insects entering into the drive mechanism.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved rotary sprinkler, being a combination of a sprayer and a sprinkler,wherein a relatively fine water spray is emitted to an essentially high rangeand wherein the above referred to drawbacks are essentially reduced or overcome. - 3 -

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a rotarysprinkler comprising: a body member fitted with a water inlet for coupling to a waterirrigation supply, and an outlet nozzle at an end of a stem member verticallyprojecting from said body; a swivel distribution member rotatably articulated to said stem memberand formed with at least one deflection surface being in streamcommunication with said outlet nozzle; said at least one deflection grovebeing adapted for generating a tangent reaction force imparting rotarymotion to said distribution member.

By a preferred embodiment, said at least one deflection surfaceis a deflection grove which still preferably is an open duct extending fromadjacent said outlet nozzle of said body member.

Typically, the distribution member comprises two or moredeflection groves, oriented such that the tangent reaction forces generatedby said surfaces are in the same direction. Preferably, said deflection grovesare symmetrical, however, according to a specific application, the deflectiongroves may be asymmetric so as to emit water at different angles thusensuring improved water precipitation.

By still a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stemmember is formed with a radially projecting ring, and said swiveldistribution member comprises a downward projecting portion adapted forreceiving said stem member with a shoulder adapted for snappingengagement with the radial ring of said stem member. Typically, thedownward projecting portion of said swivel distribution member comprisestwo essentially vertical slits for imparting it some elasticity.

By one application, the downward projecting portions of saidswivel distribution member comprises one or more openings for wash-out 120953/2 -4- of dirt and insects.

By another application of the present invention the rotarysprinkler is a pop-up type sprinkler, wherein said swivel distributionmember is vertically displaceable over the stem member between a first,retracted position in which it engages an opening of said outlet nozzle,while said distribution member is at rest, and a second, extracted positionin which it disengages from said opening to swivel about said stem, saidswivel distribution member being vertically displaced by axial componentsof water flow reaction forces.

Preferably, in accordance with any of the above arrangements,there is provided a friction reducing member intermediate said swiveldistribution member and said stem member. By a preferred application, saidfriction reducing member is a spacer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding, the invention will now be described, bya non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1A is partially sectioned isometric view of a first embodiment ofa sprinkler in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. IB is a longitudinal cross-section of the sprinkler seen in Fig. 1A;Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the body member seen in Figs. 1A and IB;

Fig. 3 is a side view along arrow ΙΠ in Fig. IB, of the distributionmember only;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of the distribution memberalong line IV-IV seen in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the distribution member seen in Figs.3 and 4; - 5 -

Fig. 6A is a longitudinal cross-section of a second embodiment of arotary sprinkler according to the present invention fitted with a frictionreducing member;

Fig. 6B is an isometric view of the friction reducing member seen inFig. 6A;

Fig. 7A is a longitudinal cross-section of a pop-up rotary sprinkler, inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, thesprinkler in its retracted position;

Fig. 7B is a longitudinal cross-section of the sprinkler seen in Fig. 7Ain its extracted position;

Fig. 7C is a cross-section along line VII-VII in Fig. 7B;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section along line VII-VII in Fig. 7B of a differentembodiment wherein the deflection surfaces intersect with one another at anangel; and

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal cross-section of another application of thedistribution member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Attention is first directed to Figs. 1A and IB of the drawingsillustrating a first embodiment of a rotary sprinkler in accordance with thepresent invention. The sprinkler comprises a body member generallydesignated 10 and a distribution member generally designated 12 rotatablyarticulated to the body member 10 as will hereinafter be explained in detail.As can further be seen in Fig. 2, the body member 10 consists of a lowerportion 14 for connecting to a water supply line (not shown) by any knownmanner, and a water inlet 16 for ingress of irrigation water. A stem portion18 vertically extends from the lower portion 14 with a lumen 19 formed atits upper end with an outlet nozzle 20. The stem portion 18 is formed alsowith an annular radial projection 22 having a slanting upper surface 24 and 120953/3 an essentially horizontal and flat bottom surface 26.

The lower portion 14 is further formed with two radially projecting shoulders 28 for improving grasping, of the sprinkler while’connecting to a water supply line (not shown).

As seen in the assembled position of Figs. 1A and IB, there is an interstice 21between the outlet nozzle 20 of body 10 and a bottom end of deflection groove 56(see Fig. 4).

Figs. 3-5 of the drawings are directed to the swivel distributionmember 12 generally having T-like shape. The distribution member isformed with a central cylindric cavity 32 and a vertical through-cut 34which divides leg portion 30 into segments 36 and 38. Eaph of the legsegments 36_and 38 is formed with an ppening 40 having a bottom surface42 and a circular projection 44 encircling cavity 32. A head portion 48 of the distribution member 12 consists of twolateral projections 50 and 52 each formed with a deflection groove 56 whichin feet is an open duct curved in a manner so as to deflect an axial jet ofwater into anjessentially radial direction generating a tangent reaction force .for imparting rotary motion to the distribution member 12.

It should be appreciated that the vertical cuts 34 render the leg.segments 36 and 38 some flexibility and that die diameter of the cylindriccavity 32 corresponds with the external diameter of die stem portion 18 ofbody member 10. Furthermore, it should be noted diat the stem portion 18corresponds in height with the length of cavity 32 as will hereinafterbecome apparent

Assembling the rotary sprinkler is merely by mounting the swiveldistribution member 12 over the stem portion 18 of body member 14,whereby a snap-type engagement is established therebetween, with thebottom surface 26 of the annular projection 22 bearing against the circularprojection 44 of the distribution member 12, as can best be seen in Figs. 1Aand IB, thus preventing axial displacement of distribution member 12 withrespect to body member 10.

The arrangement is such diat water ingressing via water inlet 16 120953/2 .,-7- flows via the lumen 19 of the stem member IS and ejects via outlet nozzle20, where it encounters the symmetric deflection grooves 56, whereby it isdivided into two streams, each of which emits from .the distribution memberas a stream of droplets, entailing swiveling of the distribution member 12.

The essentially high speed of revolution of the deflection member 12 resultsin essentially large sized droplets reaching essentially long distances ascompared with a static sprayer having a similar flow rate.

The open deflection grooves 56 which serve as fluid ducts are easyto manufacture and easy to clean as compared with closed, tubular conduits.Additionally, there is no problem of insects, which may occlude such“conduits. Even more so, using an open duct allows improved control ofwater precipitation.

Further attention is now directed to Figs. 6A and 6B, in whichanother embodiment of a rotary sprinkler in accordance with the presentinvention is illustrated, and in which, for the sake of clarity, the sameelements as in the previous embodiment are indicated by the same referencenumbers.

As seen in Fig. 6A, body member 10 is similar to the bodymember 10 described with reference to the previous embodiment. However,in order to prevent friction between the rotating member 12 and bodymember 10, there is provided an intermediate friction reducing member 60,which can be seen in detail in Fig. 6B. The friction reducing member 60has a ring portion 62 having an internal diameter suitable for mounting overthe projection 22 of shank 18 of the body member 10, and for looselyrotating over the lower portion of shank 18. The friction reducing member60 further comprises two upwardly extending legs 64 each provided with atapering end 66 having lateral projections 68 with an essentially flat bottomsurface. The length of legs 64 corresponds with the distance of surface 42of distribution member 12 from a lowermost surface thereof (indicted in 120953/2 8 -

Fig. 4 as H), whereby upon inserting legs 64 through opening 34 of thedistribution member 12, the lateral projections 68 snappingly engage overthe surfaces 42 of the distribution member, as seen in Fig. 6A.

The assembled distribution member 12 is than mounted over theshank 18 of body member 10 as explained in connection with the previousembodiment, whereby the lower surface 26 of annular projection 22 ofshank 18 bears against the annular projection 44 of the distribution member12, preventing axial displacement of distribution member 12 with respectto body member 10. The arrangement is such that the friction reducingmember actually serves as a spacer for preventing friction of the rotatingmember 12 over the shank 18 owing to pressure exerted by the rotatingmember 12 over the shank.

Further reference is now made to Figs. 7A-7C of the drawings,illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention which is designedas a pop-up sprinkler, differing from the previous embodiments only in therotary distribution member 76. As seen in these Figs, the distributionmember 76 comprises two deflection grooves 78 meeting at an essentiallyflat surface 80 continuously extending with through -cuts 77, as can beseen also in Fig. 7B.

Similar to the embodiment described.with reference to Figs. 1-5,the distribution member 76 comprises an opening 82. However, thisopening has a height h which is greater than the height of correspondingopening 40 in distribution member 12 of Figs. 1 to 5, whereby thedistribution member 76 is displaceable between a first, retracted position,as seen in Fig. 7A, wherein the surface 80 of rotating member 76 closinglyrests over outlet nozzle 20 of the body member 10 and a second, extractedposition (seen in Fig. 7B), wherein the surface 80 disengages from theoutlet nozzle 20.

It should readily be understood that the axial displacement of thedistribution member 76 occurs as a result of a liquid jet immersing from - 9- 120953/3 outlet nozzle 2© and encountering surface 8© of the distribution member 76.However, upon closing the liquid supply, the distribution member maintainsits retracted position seen in Fig. 7A, whereby outlet nozzle 20 is practicallyclosed, thus preventing dirt and insects fronnblocking the lumen 19.

Figure 8 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view along line VH-VH in Fig. 7B of a further application wherein the deflection grooves 90 and92 intersect at an angle along line 94, which line is an apex line extendingessentially horizontally. This arrangement allows larger manufacturingtolerances, whereby performance of the sprinkler will not be effected evenif the intersecting line is not symmetrically disposed with respect to theoutlet nozzle (20 in Fig. 7B).

In Fig. 9 of the drawings die distribution member 96 is formedwith two deflection grooves 97 and 98 which grooves are asymmetricallydisposed within the deflection member, whereby water precipitation isimproved.

It is readily understood that the teaching of die present applicationis applicable, mutalis mutandis, to other arrangements of distributionmembers, e.g. such having more than two distribution surfaces, and othertypes of engagement between the distribution member and the bodymember. It will also be appreciated that the sprinkler according to thepresent invention may be a pop-up type sprinkler received within a fixedhousing as known per-se.