WATER SPRINKLER HAVING COUNTER MEANS FOR AN OSCILLATING DISTRIBUTING TUBE OF UNIFORM SPEED

• US 3,567,122 A
• Filed: 07/16/1969
• Issued: 03/02/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fred W. Kufrin, George L. Congdon
• Original Assignee: Fred W. Kufrin, George L. Congdon
• Inventors: Congdon, George L., Kufrin, Fred W.
• Application Number:
  US04/842,123
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• US Class Current: 239/69
• 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: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

A water sprinkler having an oscillating water tube that moves with a uniform velocity through an arc of adjustable length, including means for counting the number of oscillations of the distributing tube and depositing a predetermined amount of water per unit area of ground regardless of water pressure or the length of oscillatory swinging movement of the water tube. The means for oscillating the tube insures that it moves with uniform speed and insures that a known density of water deposit can be programmed regardless of the pressure of the water or area of ground to be covered.

Claims

1. A fluid sprinkler comprising, a housing having a fluid inlet, shutoff valve means in said fluid inlet and shiftable between fluid shutoff and fluid flow positions, a fluid-distribution tube mounted on said housing for oscillation through an arcuate path, drive means connected to said tube for moving the latter in said oscillating arcuate path, counting means actuated by movement of said tube and including a movable member having a fluid flow portion and a fluid shutoff portion, said shutoff valve means engageable with said movable member portions, and adjustable means for setting said counting means to permit oscillatory movement of said tube through a predetermined number of oscillations after which said movable membEr has moved to present its said fluid shutoff portion to said valve means to permit the latter to shift and shut off the flow of fluid.

2. A sprinkler as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said counting means includes a rotatable shaft which is settable by said adjustable means, and said movable member is a cam wheel fixed on said shaft and having a notch in its periphery which defines said shutoff portion, and said valve means includes a shiftable rod engageable in said notch to shut off fluid flow, and a ratchet drive means connected between said tube and said shaft.

3. A sprinkler as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that said ratchet drive means includes a pawl shifted by movement of said tube, a ratchet wheel engaged by said pawl and rotated thereby, a counter disc mounted on said rotatable shaft and having teeth thereon, said ratchet wheel also having a tooth for engagement with said counter disc teeth whereby the ratchet wheel rotates said shaft through said counter disc.

4. A fluid sprinkler comprising, a housing having a fluid inlet, shutoff valve means in said fluid inlet and shiftable between fluid shutoff and fluid flow positions, a fluid-distributing tube mounted for oscillation, drive means connected to said tube for oscillating the latter, counting means connected with said tube and movable in response to an oscillation of said tube, said counting means engageable with said shutoff valve means to permit said valve means to shift and shut off the flow of fluid after a predetermined number of oscillations of said tube, and adjustable means for setting said counting means to permit oscillatory movement of said tube through a predetermined number of oscillations.

5. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 4 further characterized in that said counting means includes a rotatable shaft which is settable by said adjustable means, and also includes a cam wheel fixed on said shaft and having a notch in its periphery, and said valve means includes a shiftable rod engageable in said notch to shut off fluid flow, and a ratchet drive means connected between said tube and said shaft.

6. The sprinkler set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that said ratchet drive means includes a pawl shifted by movement of said tube, a ratchet wheel engaged by said pawl and rotated thereby, a counter disc mounted on said rotatable shaft and having teeth thereon, said ratchet wheel also having a tooth for engagement with said counter disc teeth whereby the ratchet wheel rotates said shaft through said counter disc.

7. A fluid sprinkler comprising a housing having a fluid inlet, a fluid-distributing tube mounted on said housing for oscillation through an arcuate path, a fluid driven wheel connected to said tube for moving the latter in said arcuate path, said wheel being in fluid-receiving communication with said fluid inlet, directional flow valve means connected with said tube and actuated by movement of said tube for causing reversal of movement of said fluid driven wheel and consequently said tube, counting means connected with and actuated by movement of said tube, said counting means including a movable member having a fluid flow portion and a fluid shutoff portion, shutoff valve means in said fluid inlet and shiftable between fluid shutoff and fluid flow positions, said shutoff valve means having a connection with said movable member, and adjustable means for setting said counting means for oscillatory movement of said tube through a predetermined number of oscillations, after which said movable member has moved to present its said fluid shutoff portion to said connection with said valve means to permit the latter to shift and shut off the flow of fluid.

8. A sprinkler as set forth in claim 7 further characterized in that said counting means includes a rotatable shaft which is settable by said adjustable means, and said movable member is a cam wheel fixed on said shaft and having a notch in its periphery which defines said shutoff portion, and saiD valve means includes a shiftable rod engageable in said notch to shut off fluid flow, and a ratchet drive means connected between said tube and said shaft.

9. A sprinkler as defined in claim 8 further characterized in that said ratchet drive means includes a pawl shifted by movement of said tube, a ratchet wheel engaged by said pawl and rotated thereby, a counter disc mounted on said rotatable shaft and having teeth thereon, said ratchet wheel also having a tooth for engagement with said counter disc teeth whereby the ratchet wheel rotates said shaft through said counter disc.

10. The sprinkler as described in claim 9 further characterized in that said pawl is mounted on a second shaft for oscillation therewith, and said directional flow valve means includes a shiftable switch bar mounted on said second shaft for causing reversal of said fluid-driven wheel when said second shaft reaches the end of its oscillatory movement in either direction.