Method and apparatus for converting pressurized low continuous flow to high flow in pulses

• US 5,507,436 A
• Filed: 02/24/1995
• Issued: 04/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gideon Ruttenberg
• Original Assignee: Gideon Ruttenberg
• Inventors: Ruttenberg, Gideon
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, KAREN MERRITT
• Application Number:
  US08/396,176
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 239/1, 239/99, 239/101, 239/276, 239/428.5, 239/533.13, 239/547, 239/570, 239/204, 239/412, 239/416.5, 239/524, 137/624.14, 137/853, 137/895, 251/4, 251/5, 251/342
• US Class Current: 239/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/086 with a resiliently deformable element, e.g. sleeve
• 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 3/16 driven or controlled by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid actuating a motor before passing to the outlet B05B3/0431, B05B3/0468, B05B3/0472 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7889 Sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86413 Self-cycling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87643 With condition responsive valve

Abstract

A device and method, especially adapted for operating sprinklers, shower heads etc. at low flow, converts low continuous liquid flow to a high intermittent and pulsating flow. The liquid is introduced at a controlled low rate of flow, such as by the use of a pressure-compensated dripper in a liquid supply line. The liquid then flows into a chamber which is somewhat expandable in volume. The pressure increases in the chamber while outflow of the liquid is restricted until pressure created by introduction of the liquid is sufficient to eject the fluid intermittently at a higher flow. This is achieved by utilizing a pressure-responsive valve in the liquid exit of the container. The valve has a preset pressure response designed for quick response to create a water hammer effect. The valve has openings which create a pumping effect to admix air or another liquid with the effluent stream. Sprinklers, shower heads, or any other spraying devices connected to this pulsator will spray liquids to a large designated area with only a very small fluid flow. A drip line connected to such a device may have very large openings, yet the flow through each such dripper can be very large. A preferred form of the pulsator is a pulsating valve in which the receptacle container and the other required elements for such a pulsating device are part of the valve itself.

Claims

1. A pulsating device having an inlet and an outlet for converting a continuous, relatively low, controlled fluid flow rate entering said inlet of said pulsating device to an intermittent and pulsating high rate of fluid flow ejected from said outlet of said pulsating device, comprising:

(a) an insert having an inlet, an outlet and an outer surface;

(b) an elastic tube which;

(1) normally surrounds and directly contacts at least a major portion of said insert,

(2) can be expanded away from said insert to form an expandable chamber between said outer surface of said insert and an inner surface of said elastic tube,

(c) said expandable chamber having (a) an inlet portion and (b) an outlet portion intermittently in fluid communication with said inlet and with said outlet of said insert,

(d) said inlet of said insert communicating with said inlet portion of said expandable chamber so that fluid flowing into said inlet of said insert will reach said inlet portion of said expandable chamber,

(e) said elastic tube, when in said normal state in direct contact with said insert, being shaped so that it directly closes said outlet portion of said expandable chamber so as to (1) prevent fluid communication between said inlet portion of said expandable chamber and said outlet portion of said expandable chamber, and (2) prevent flow of fluid out from said expandable chamber,

(f) said elastic tube, when partially expanded in response to fluid pressure within said inlet portion of said expandable chamber exceeding a first predetermined level, being shaped to form a fluid path between said inlet portion of said expandable chamber and said outlet portion of said expandable chamber,

(g) said elastic tube, when partially expanded, surrounding and being in contact with said insert in said outlet portion of said expandable chamber and thereby resisting flow of fluid out from said outlet portion of said expandable chamber to said outlet of said insert and thereby causing an increased pressure in said inlet portion of said expandable chamber, resulting in an additional expansion of said elastic tube and opening said outlet portion of said expandable chamber widely and quickly into communication with said outlet of said insert,

(h) said pulsating device thus ejecting fluid from said expandable chamber through said outlet of said insert at a high rate of flow so as to cause the volume and pressure of fluid within said expandable chamber to decrease and said elastic tube to close said outlet portion of said expandable chamber in response to decreased pressure, thereby to complete a cycle of an intermittent pulsating flow of fluid through said outlet of said pulsating device.

2. A pulsating device according to claim 1, further including a housing enclosing said insert and said elastic tube.

3. A pulsating device according to claim 2 wherein said elastic tube is also arranged to create a water hammer in response to said outlet portion of said chamber responding quickly and eject said fluid from said expandable chamber at increased pressure and velocity.

4. A pulsating device according to claim 2, further including an annular barb on said insert between said inlet and said outlet thereof, and wherein said elastic tube fully engages said annular barb when said elastic tube normally closes said outlet portion of said expandable chamber.

5. A pulsating device according to claim 2 wherein said elastic tube has a length and has different respective diameters and wall thicknesses at selected locations along said length.

6. A pulsating device according to claim 2, further including a flow control means connected to said inlet of said pulsating device for controlling said continuous low rate of flow of fluid into said inlet of said pulsating device.

7. A pulsating device according to claim 2, further including dripper means connected to said inlet of said pulsating device for controlling said continuous low rate of flow of fluid into said inlet of said pulsating device.

8. A pulsating device according to claim 2 wherein said pulsating device is normally closed but said elastic tube is arranged to open said device to commence said pulsating flow in response to pressure of said fluid in said expandable chamber exceeding a second predetermined level.

9. A pulsating device according to claim 8, further including a deflector affixed to said outlet for controlling the pattern of fluid ejected from said outlet.

10. A pulsating device according to claim 9 wherein said deflector is integral with said insert and is configured to control the distribution pattern of fluid ejected therefrom.

11. A pulsating device according to claim 8 wherein said fluid is water, and further including a plurality of drippers connected to be supplied with water from said outlet of said device.

12. A pulsating device according to claim 8, further including a spray head connected to said outlet of said device, whereby said device is configured as a liquid sprayer.

13. A pulsating device according to claim 12 wherein said spray head is a sprinkler.

14. A pulsating device according to claim 13 wherein said fluid is water, and further including a sheath for enclosing a plant, means for applying water at small application rates using said pulsating device, thus forming a fine layer of water in said sheath, and retaining said water on said sheath so that said water will be converted to ice when a freezing temperature is reached, thereby creating a protected zone about said plant.

15. A pulsating device according to claim 12 wherein said spray head is a mister, whereby said device is useful for cooling a surrounding volume.

16. A pulsating device according to claim 12 wherein said housing contains a plurality of openings for permitting fluid to flow through said openings out from a space inside said housing and surrounding said elastic tube.

17. A pulsating device according to claim 16, further including a second fluid in a space surrounding said housing such that said second fluid can enter said housing from said space surrounding said housing and be compressed and ejected at elevated pressure due to said elastic tube inside said housing expanding and contracting, whereby said device functions as a fluid pump.

18. A pulsating device according to claim 17, further including a pumping system in which water from a reservoir flows by gravity into said housing, whereby said water is mixed and ejected with the fluid that flows into said device through said inlet of said device, thereby pumping water from said reservoir.

19. A pulsating device according to claim 17, further including a pumping system in which water from a reservoir flows by gravity into said housing, through one of said openings and is ejected at elevated pressure through another one of said openings in said housing when said fluid is flowed into the inlet of said device so as to cause said device to pulsate.

20. A pulsating device according to claim 17 wherein said fluid is water, and further including a sprinkler head connected to said outlet of said pulsating device and means for ejecting mixed air and water through said sprinkler head.

21. A pulsating device according to claim 17 wherein said fluid flowing into said inlet of said pulsating device is water and said second fluid is liquid soap, thereby to provide a soaping device.

22. A pulsating device according to claim 17, wherein said housing defines a port and said elastic tube defines perforations which permit fluid that enters said device through its inlet to flow out through said perforations to the space within said housing surrounding said elastic tube and out through said openings in said housing so that when solid particles obstruct said perforations, said device operates as a pulsating valve ejecting said fluid and said solid particles out through said outlet, flushing and cleaning said device.

23. A pulsating device according to claim 1 wherein said fluid is water and further including means connected to said outlet of said device for controlling the distribution pattern of water ejected from said device.

24. A pulsating device according to claim 23 wherein said means for controlling the distribution pattern is a sprinkler by which a low rate of flow of water is sprayed intermittently over a large area in pulses, each having a high rate of flow, whereby said device is configured for irrigating plants.

25. A pulsating device according to claim 1, further including a self-cleaning, pulsating pop-up sprinkler, comprising:

an outer hollow cylindrical casing open at one end and having a fluid inlet at the other end,

a hollow cylindrical riser with a pulsating device and a hood positioned within said casing,

said riser being shorter in length than said casing and positioned therein to be spaced therefrom and concentric therewith,

a base of said riser having a cylindrical screen filter with a gasket positioned around said riser above said screen, and

an outlet fining, positioned within said casing at an intermediate point therein and shaped to be engaged by said gasket when said riser is in elevated position,

whereby fluid flowing into said inlet of said casing will flush said screen and cause said riser to rise until it contacts said outlet fitting, at which point said fluid will flow through said screen and riser to said pulsating device.

26. A pulsating device according to claim 1, further including a fluid distribution tube made of elastic material, said fluid distribution tube having a plurality of holes therein, said holes in said fluid distribution tube being made by piercing said fluid distribution tube, whereby no material is removed from said fluid distribution tube, so that said holes stay normally closed and open themselves in response to a deformation of said fluid distribution tube created by a stress in the elastic material of said fluid distribution tube in response to increased pressure of a fluid inside said fluid distribution tube.

27. A pulsating device according to of claim 26 in which said fluid is water, said fluid distribution tube has a predetermined length, and said holes in said tube are at a predetermined spacing along said length.

28. A pulsating device according to of claim 27 wherein said fluid distribution tube is connected to a source of water under pressure and is configured as a drip tube for irrigation of plants.

29. A pulsating device according to of claim 27 wherein said fluid distribution tube is connected to a source of water under pressure and is configured as a spray tube for wetting a designated arc adjacent said fluid distribution tube.

30. A pulsating device according to claim 27 wherein said holes are small enough for said fluid distribution tube to function effectively as a misting tube when connected to a source of water under pressure.

31. A pulsating device according to claim 27 wherein said fluid distribution tube has at least two ends, one of which is plugged, and another of which is connected to a supply of water under pressure.

32. A pulsating device according to claim 31 in which said fluid distribution tube is connected to said supply of water through a flow control device controlling the rate of flow of water into said fluid distribution tube.

33. A pulsating device according to claim 1 wherein said insert has a projecting annular ring therearound which divides said expandable chamber into said inlet and outlet portions.

34. A method for converting a continuous fluid flow at a low rate of flow to high intermittent pulsating flow at a high rate of flow, comprising:

(a) supplying fluid at a low controlled flow rate into a receptacle having a relatively low elasticity, said receptacle having an integral fluid inlet means and an integral fluid outlet means;

(b) establishing a body of said fluid under pressure in said receptacle;

(c) said integral fluid outlet means of said receptacle preventing outflow of said fluid from said receptacle until a predetermined pressure is achieved in said receptacle;

(d) said outlet means of said receptacle allowing said fluid to flow out from said receptacle through a resistance so as to force the pressure within said receptacle to increase and force said outlet means to become widely open;

(e) ejecting said fluid from said receptacle and through said resistance at a high rate of flow as a pulse while fluid continues to flow into said receptacle at said low controlled flow rate and, by ejecting said fluid, causing the pressure and the volume of fluid within said receptacle to decrease and allowing said outlet means to close and terminate one pulsating cycle,

(f) said supplying fluid being done with a liquid fluid,

(g) supplying said liquid at a constant continuous controlled rate to said receptacle and allowing said liquid to flow out of said receptacle through said outlet means until said pressure in said receptacle is diminished to a predetermined level,

(h) at the same time (1) restricting said outflow sufficiently to create a water hammer effect to generate a high pressure liquid pulse, and (2) quickly discontinuing emission of liquid until said pressure within said receptacle is again increased to said predetermined level, and

(i) repeating said sequence continuously for a desired period of time to produce said high intermittent pulsating flow.

35. A method according to claim 34 wherein said supplying fluid is done with water, and further including discharging said water adjacent to growing plants for irrigation purposes.

36. Apparatus for converting pressurized low continuous liquid flow to a high intermittent pulsating flow, comprising:

(a) a pressure container having low elasticity,

(b) means for supplying a continuous flow of liquid thereto at a controlled low flow rate, thereby to establish a pressurized body of liquid within said pressure container,

(c) a preset normally closed valve means connected to an outlet of said pressure container, said valve means remaining closed and preventing liquid from flowing out of said pressure container at a lower pressure and opening in response to a preset higher pressure within said pressure container to permit liquid to flow out of said pressure container, said valve means closing itself at said lower pressure,

(d) conduit means connected to an outlet of said preset valve means, and

(e) resistance means associated with said conduit means providing sufficient resistance to liquid flow through said conduit means to cause said preset valve means, when it opens, to become widely open, thus allowing liquid to be ejected from said pressure container a high rate of flow, thereby causing the volume and pressure of the liquid within said container to decrease and said preset valve means to close.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said preset valve means consists of an outer casing surrounding and spaced from a hollow insert having perforations in its side wall, an elastic sleeve covering tightly as outside of said insert and its perforations, additional perforations in said outer casing which are exposed to surroundings of said preset valve means, an expansion space between said outer casing and said sleeve, said expansion space permitting said elastic sleeve to expand into said expansion space when pressure within said insert is increased, thus allowing liquid to flow from said insert out through its perforations and then between as inside of said sleeve and said outside of said insert and out through said outlet of said valve means.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, further including means for surrounding said outer casing of said valve means with a fluid and including a quantity of said fluid together with said liquid flowing out of said pressure container.

39. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said pressure container is formed from a rigid material with low flexibility, such that pressure increase within said container will cause some deformation and thereby increase its volume while under pressure.

40. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said container is made of rigid material and includes trapped air in a secondary container therewithin.

41. Apparatus according to claim 36, further including means located within said pressure container for controlling said controlled low flow rate.

42. Apparatus according to claim 36, further including a small inside diameter tube connected to said outlet of said preset valve means for creating said resistance to liquid flow.

43. Apparatus according to claim 36, further including a long tube connected to said outlet of said preset valve means for creating said resistance to liquid flow.

44. Apparatus according to claim 36, further including a small orifice connected to said outlet of said valve means for creating said resistance to liquid flow.

45. Apparatus according to claim 36, further including an elevated spray nozzle connected to said outlet or said valve means by an elongated tube for creating said resistance to liquid flow.

46. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said pressure container is a length of flexible tubing having an inlet connected to a liquid supply means and an outlet connected to said valve means.

47. A normally open pulsating valve comprising:

(a) a casing defining an enclosed interior space therein;

(b) an inlet fitting extending through a part of said casing into said interior space, said inlet fitting defining a fluid inlet passage and a port, said fluid inlet passage and said port extending through and communicating with said interior space;

(c) an outlet fitting spaced apart from said inlet fitting and extending through a part of said casing into said interior space, said outlet fitting defining a fluid outlet passage extending therethrough and communicating with said interior space;

(d) an elastic tube located within said interior space defined by said casing, said elastic tube having an exterior surface and an interior with a path therethrough,

(e) a first end of said elastic tube being connected with said inlet fitting and a second end of said elastic tube being connected with said outlet fitting;

(f) said fluid inlet passage and said fluid outlet passage communicating with said interior of said elastic tube so as to form a path for fluid to proceed through said inlet fitting into said elastic tube, and through said interior of said elastic tube into said outlet fitting, all within said interior space defined by said casing; and

(g) means for supplying a quantity of fluid under pressure to both said port and said inlet passage defined by said inlet fitting;

(h) said elastic tube being long enough to develop a pressure drop along said path within said interior of said elastic tube, between said inlet fitting and said outlet fitting, during flow of fluid along said path, said pressure drop also creating a pressure difference between said interior of said elastic tube and a quantity of said fluid located in said interior space surrounding said exterior surface of said elastic tube;

(i) said elastic tube being smooth enough to collapse and flatten, closing said path through said interior of said elastic tube in response to said pressure drop and pressure difference, thus interrupting said flow of said fluid along said path intermittently.

48. An irrigation system, comprising:

(a) a source of pressurized liquid,

(b) a distributor for discharging said liquid intermittently therefrom, and

(c) a pulsator connected between said source and said distributor, said pulsator comprising;

(1) a pulsator inlet for receiving pressurized liquid therein from said source,

(2) a pulsator outlet for emitting said liquid in intermittent pulses to said distributor,

(3) a casing defining a cavity therein,

(4) a mounting member disposed in said cavity,

(5) elastomeric tube means, defining an expandable chamber therein and disposed between said casing and said mounting member, for movement from a normally contracted condition when said pressure of said liquid in said chamber falls below a predetermined level to an expanded condition when said pressure of said liquid in said chamber exceeds said predetermined level,

(6) flow control means between said pulsator inlet and said chamber for modulating said pressure of said liquid at said pulsator inlet to control said flow rate of said liquid into said chamber, and

(7) valve means, normally closed when said tube means is in its contracted condition and defined between said mounting member and said tube means, for intermittently opening to discharging liquid from said chamber through said pulsator outlet in said intermittent pulses at substantially regular frequencies and uniform discharges in response to said pressure of said liquid in said chamber intermittently exceeding said predetermined level.