WATER FLOW METERING DEVICE

• US 20120223153A1
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Partners In Innovation Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Partners In Innovation Ltd.
• Inventors: Helmsderfer, John, Ahr, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,597,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1654 about an axis parallel to the liquid passage in the stationary valve element
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/169 having three or more selectively effective outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/006 Pressure or flow rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/008 integrated in or attached to a discharge apparatus, e.g. a spray gun
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/622 ground-penetrating
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/625 designed to be placed on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0431 the rotative movement of the outlet elements being reversible B05B3/0445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/044 Tubular elements holding several outlets, e.g. apertured tubes, oscillating about an axis substantially parallel to the tubular element
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0477 the spray outlet having a reversible rotative movement, e.g. for covering angular sector smaller than 360°
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0481 Impact motive means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/06 by jet reaction , i.e. creating a spinning torque due to a tangential component of the jet
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/01 Spray pistols, discharge devicesB05B9/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

A water flow metering device for use as a handheld or ground-based sprinkler includes a device body having a water inlet, a water distribution head in fluid communication with the device body, and a flow pattern selector. The flow pattern selector is coupled to the water distribution head and meters the amount of water sprayed onto the surrounding area. The flow pattern selector includes indicia that provide flow rate information to an operator. A pressure control valve regulates the flow rate in accordance with the information provided by the flow pattern selector. The water flow metering device may also include a timing mechanism having a timer which closes the water supply after a set period of time. A pressure transducer or other flow rate measuring device may allow the timer to operate the device for a predetermined amount of water distribution in inches per hour.

Claims

1. A method for distributing water with a sprinkler device over a surface, comprising:

receiving an input from a user corresponding to a depth amount of water to distribute with a sprinkler device over a surface;

operating the sprinkler device for a duration, the duration based on at least the user-input depth amount and the volumetric flow rate of water that occurs through the sprinkler device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

regulating the volumetric flow rate of water through the sprinkler device in order to aid in the determination of the duration to operate the sprinkler device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring at least one of the pressure or speed of water delivered to the sprinkler device in order to determine the volumetric flow rate of water through the sprinkler device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating the depth per unit time of water distributed by the sprinkler device based on the volumetric flow rate of water through the sprinkler device.

5. A water flow metering device, comprising:

a device body comprising a water passage, the water passage comprising a water inlet and a water outlet;

a shut-off valve disposed within the water passage, the shut-off valve operable to block water flow between the water inlet and water outlet when closed;

a controller operable to open and close the shut-off valve;

a measuring device disposed within the water passage operable to communicate a measurement of water flowing through the passage to the controller; and

a depth selection device operable to receive input from a user corresponding to a depth value of water to distribute with a water distribution device in fluid communication with the water passage and to communicate the depth value to the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to

calculate a duration for the shut-off valve to remain open, the duration based at least on the measurement communicated from the measuring device and the depth value communicated from the depth selection device, and

close the shut-off valve after the calculated duration.

6. The water flow metering device of claim 5, further comprising:

an accumulator device operable to communicate amounts of natural rainfall to the controller.

7. The water flow metering device of claim 5, further comprising a flow pattern selection device operable to receive input from a user corresponding to one of a plurality of flow pattern settings for the water distribution device and communicate the selected flow pattern setting to the controller;

and

wherein the calculation of the duration is further based on the selected flow pattern setting communicated from the flow pattern selection device.

8. The water flow metering device of claim 7, wherein the water flow metering device is incorporated in a wand-style sprinkler, and the flow pattern selection device is a rotatable dial having a plurality of flow outlets sized for differing spray volumes per hour.

9. The water flow metering device of claim 7, wherein the water flow metering device is incorporated in a water pistol, and the flow pattern selection device is a rotatable dial having a plurality of flow outlets sized for differing spray volumes per hour.

10. The water flow metering device of claim 5, further comprising a flow angle selection device operable to receive input from a user corresponding to an angle value setting for the water distribution device and communicate the selected angle value setting to the controller;

and wherein the calculation of the duration is further based on the angle value setting communicated from the flow angle selection device.

11. The water flow metering device of claim 10, wherein the water flow metering device is incorporated in a rotating gear drive sprinkler, and the flow angle selection device is a pair of limiting brackets that limit the rotation of the gear drive sprinkler and modifies the spray volume per hour.

12. The water flow metering device of claim 10, wherein the water flow metering device is incorporated in an impulse head sprinkler, and the flow angle selection device is operative to limit the overall rotation of the impulse head sprinkler in one spray cycle to modify the spray volume per hour.

13. The water flow metering device of claim 10, wherein the water flow metering device is incorporated in an elongate oscillating sprinkler, and the flow angle selection device is a switch that limits the angle of oscillation of the oscillating sprinkler to modify the spray volume per hour.

14. The water flow metering device of claim 5, wherein the water flow metering device is incorporated in a whirling sprinkler.

15. A water flow metering device for use as a handheld or ground-based sprinkler, comprising:

a device body including a water inlet;

a water distribution head in fluid communication with the device body;

a pressure control valve disposed between the water inlet and the water distribution head, the pressure control valve operative to limit the pressure of the water entering the device body to a predetermined pressure; and

a flow pattern selector coupled to the water distribution head and operable to meter the amount of water sprayed onto the surrounding area, the flow pattern selector including indicia providing flowrate information to an operator in inches per hour based on the predetermined pressure.

16. The water flow metering device of claim 15, further comprising:

a timing mechanism including a timer configured to positively close the pressure control valve after a set period of time.

17. The water flow metering device of claim 16, wherein the timing mechanism further includes an accumulator device coupled with the device body, the accumulator device determining natural amounts of rainfall so that the timer may close the pressure control valve more quickly when more natural rainfall has occurred.

18. The water flow metering device of claim 15, wherein the pressure control valve is adjustable such that the predetermined pressure to which water entering the device body is limited can be changed to any one of a plurality of different pressures.

19. The water flow metering device of claim 18, wherein the indicia provides flowrate information in inches per hour for a plurality of the different pressures to which the control valve can be adjusted.

20. A device for measuring flow of water between a water source and a sprinkler having a particular distribution pattern, and for providing depth over time information to a user, the device comprising:

an inlet connector for connecting with a first hose section that is connected with the water source,

an outlet connector for connecting with a second hose section that is connected with the sprinkler,

a pressure gauge for measuring the pressure of water flowing through the device,

an information chart that provides indicia relating to pressure values, sprinkler distribution patterns, and depth distribution of water over time information, and

a chart interpretation tool for use with the information chart, the information chart and the chart interpretation tool being configured to identify depth over time information based on the pressure of water flowing through the device and the sprinkler'"'"'s distribution pattern.