Patent Application
20050087622
The present invention relates to a wobbling sprinkler head and especially to a wobbling sprinkler head for use in irrigation systems and the like.
There have been a number of wobbling sprinkler heads used in the past in which the water distribution head of the sprinkler, instead of being rotated in a smooth rotation or instead of following one of the other sprinkler patterns, has a water distribution head which wobbles in a rotating fashion to provide a more even distribution of water. In the Clearman patents, U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,368 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,594, a control pattern wobbling sprinkler is provided in which a rotating sprinkler head has a wobbling water distribution head mounted on the end thereof which has a plurality of vanes formed in the wobbling portion of the head to force a wobbling motion which results from the loose connection between the distribution head and the supporting arm of the sprinkler head. In the sprinkler of these two patents, a base is provided for ground support and a rotating sprinkler head has the end of the rotating arm bent at an angle so that the loosely attached wobbling head tilts groundward when not being used. Upon initiation of water under pressure to the head, the head is already in a cocked position and forces a rotating action which causes a wobbling rotation of the water head portion. In the J. M. Hait patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,648, an irrigation system is provided in which the sprinkler head has a rotating stream of water issuing therefrom but allows a deflection head to move back and forth. In J. O. Hruby, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,034,728, a lawn sprinkler is shown which has a centrally disposed and vertically extending stem which is made to rotate by the action of the water passing through the sprinkler. The stem is loosely mounted and has an uneven deflecting portion to produce a rotating action of the spray. In the M. S. Aubert patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,400, a dishwashing machine has a rotary wobbling spring head which is driven by the water momentum to wobble the head in a dishwasher.
In Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,960, a wobbling irrigation sprinkler head includes a magnet for the initial tilt in a wobbling irrigation sprinkler head for use on a self-propelled mechanical moving irrigation system, such as a center pivot field irrigation system, having the wobbling sprinkler head facing downward from the water supply conduit. This sprinkler head produces a wobbling motion as a result of the nozzle directing water onto a deflector pad having a predetermined shape with water deflecting grooves which rotates and wobbles the water deflecting head. A magnet is mounted in the sprinkler head base to attract a ferric metal washer mounted in the wobbling deflecting head to tilt the wobbling water deflector head relative to the base to cock the deflector head to initiate the wobbling in the deflector head.
In Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,927 for a Wobbling Sprinkler Head, a wobbling irrigation sprinkler head is for use on a self-propelled mechanical moving irrigation system, such as a center pivot field irrigation system, in which the sprinkler heads face downward from the water supply conduit. This sprinkler head produces a wobbling motion as a result of the nozzle directing water onto a deflector pad having a predetermined shape with water deflecting grooves which cause a rotation and wobbling of the water deflecting head. The wobbling motion is produced by a wobble mechanism which has a pair of interacting wobble generating members, one mounted on the water deflecting head and the other mounted on the sprinkler body to keep the water deflection head titled at an angle to the water exiting the water nozzle. The interaction of the protruding members forces the deflection head to start wobbling as the deflection head rotates and maintains the wobble. The water deflection head is blocked from the center axis position to keep the water deflecting surface at an angle to the stream of water being emitted from the nozzle.
One of the problems that occurs with commercial wobble sprinkler heads is the vibration created in the sprinkler head by the wobbling action which can result in wear and premature failure of a wobbling sprinkler head. The present invention is a wobbling sprinkler head which dampens the vibration in the sprinkler head. A water deflection head is rotated by a stream of water from a water nozzle.
In Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,440, the interaction of a pair of wobble generating members forces the water deflection head to start wobbling as the deflection head rotates. The water deflection head is prevented from the center position by the interacting wobble generating members to keep the water deflecting surface at an angle to the stream of water being emitted from the nozzle. Once the deflection head starts rotating, the protruding members do not touch since the circle of rotation is outside a stationary wobble generating member. A predetermined mass is removably attached to the sprinkler head along the base of the sprinkler head to dampen vibrations in the sprinkler head generated by the wobbling deflector head. The mass is removably attached to allow for the change of the mass depending upon the operating conditions of the sprinkler head.
In the present invention, a wobbling sprinkler head has a wobbling deflector located below the nozzle and is weighted to counterbalance the deflector head and reduce vibration.
A wobbling sprinkler head has a sprinkler head main frame having a nozzle base having a nozzle therein and at least one arm extending therefrom supporting a deflector supporting base. The nozzle base is attached to a water supply and has a water inlet for directing water through the nozzle. A water deflector head has a shaft movably attached to the deflector supporting base and a water deflecting surface attached to one end of the shaft and positioned to deflect water being emitted from the nozzle. The water deflecting surface has a predetermined shape to cause movement of the water deflector head responsive to water being directed thereagainst. The shaft has a counterbalancing weight on the other end thereof. The water deflecting surface has a protrusion extending therefrom and extends adjacent one side of the nozzle base to thereby tilt the water deflecting head to one side of the nozzle output to thereby cause the water deflector head to wobble responsive to water directed thereagainst from the nozzle. The shaft has a spool bushing between the ends thereof and rides in a deflector base opening. The deflector base opening is large enough to allow the shaft to tilt and wobble during rotation. The water deflection head has a wobbling motion while distributing water from the sprinkler head and at the same time dampens vibrations with the counterweight. The water deflecting surface and the counterweight are removably attached to the shaft by a threaded connection or the like so that the counterweight can be easily changed.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the written description and the drawings in which:
Referring to
The sprinkler head 12, as seen in
The sprinkler head of the present invention utilizes a tripod frame with three supporting arms 20. It allows a deflector head to wobble on a spool bushing mounted to a shaft mounted in a deflector support base and having a counterweight on the bottom of the shaft supporting the deflector pad or surface. Startability is substantially enhanced by extending the apex of the deflector pad upwardly beyond the end of the nozzle housing to create an interference between the water deflector head and the nozzle housing to force the assembly into a tipped position to assure that the water deflector head starts its rotation and wobble. Once the rotation is initiated, the upwardly extending protrusion is no longer in contact with a nozzle housing. Vibration is substantially reduced by counterbalancing of the rotational forces of the water deflector head and is accomplished by adjusting the counterweight 33. Also varying the distance of the counterweight from the rotation point allows a single weight to balance the water deflection head in a variety of flow ranges.
It should be clear at this time that an improved wobbling irrigation sprinkler head has been provided which uses a wobbling deflector head mounted below the nozzle and which counterbalances the head with a weight mounted to one end of a shaft having the wobbling deflecting pad mounted to the other end of the shaft. The shaft is supported with a spool bushing riding in an opening in the deflector head supporting base. However, the present invention is not to be construed as limited to the forms shown which are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
