Irrigator with an oscillating arm

• US 5,562,247 A
• Filed: 10/11/1994
• Issued: 10/08/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Claber SpA
• Original Assignee: Claber SpA
• Inventors: Roman, Gianfranco
• Primary Examiner(s): WELDON, KEVIN P
• Application Number:
  US08/321,301
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 239/563, 239/98, 239/240-242, 239/237, 239/381, 239/DIG. 1, 239/97, 239/98, 239/263, 239/566
• US Class Current: 239/240
• 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

Abstract

An irrigator comprises an oscillating arm (1) formed by a hollow cylinder provided with a longitudinal succession of holes (8) suitable for passage of an irrigation liquid. An operation unit (6) oscillates the arm about its own axis. A cylindrical sleeve (9) is inserted coaxially and rotatably in the oscillating arm, and has thereon at least one surface groove (11) for channeling the irrigation liquid whereby the irrigation liquid is emitted through the holes in the arm aligned with the surface groove. The sleeve has a terminal section (13) and a remaining section (12), and the groove (11) has a terminal groove section in the terminal section of the sleeve and a remaining groove section in the remaining section of the sleeve. The terminal section (13) of the sleeve is rotatable with respect to the remaining section (12) of the sleeve, to allow the terminal groove section to be staggered with respect to the remaining groove section for controlling the flow of irrigation liquid from the oscillating arm.

Claims

1. An irrigator comprising:

an oscillating arm, the oscillating arm comprising a hollow cylinder provided with a longitudinal succession of holes suitable for passage therethrough of an irrigation liquid;

an operation unit operable by the irrigation liquid suitable for oscillating the arm about its own axis;

a cylindrical sleeve inserted coaxially and rotatably in said oscillating arm, the sleeve having at least one surface groove thereon for channeling the irrigation liquid whereby the irrigation liquid is emitted through holes in the arm aligned with the surface groove, the sleeve having a terminal section and a remaining section, the groove having a terminal groove section in the terminal section of the sleeve and a remaining groove section in the remaining section of the sleeve;

wherein the terminal section of said sleeve is rotatable with respect to the remaining section of the sleeve, to allow the terminal groove section to be staggered with respect to the remaining groove section for controlling the flow of irrigation liquid from the oscillating arm.

2. An irrigator according to claim 1, wherein said groove has a helical shape.

3. An irrigator according to claim 1, wherein said groove is formed whereby the groove extends for along a first portion of the surface of the sleeve as right-hand helix and along an adjacent second portion of the surface of the sleeve as a left-hand helix.

4. An irrigator according to claim 1, wherein said terminal section of the sleeve is coupled to said remaining section of the sleeve by means of an elastic notched coupling, and is integral with a hand grip to allow its manual rotation with respect to the remaining section.

5. An irrigator according to claim 1, further comprising means operable by the irrigation liquid for determining a relative location of the sleeve inside the arm.