Cable Driven Sprinkler With Water Wheel Propulsion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile sprinkler systems are often overly complex and prone to getting stuck or creating messes, especially in uneven terrain, due to their design relying on rotation, pulleys, gears, wheels, or cables for propulsion.
Innovation Solution
A cable-driven sprinkler system utilizing an exposed water wheel coupled to a gearbox, which winds up a cable with an adjustable spray nozzle, featuring a releasable take-up wheel and an externally triggered latching valve for precise water shut-off, ensuring efficient irrigation and easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional mobile sprinkler designs use rotation, pulleys, gears, or cables for propulsion, then the sprinkler can cover large areas, but the device becomes overly complicated and prone to getting stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes complex propulsion mechanisms (pulleys, gears, multiple cables) and retains only the essential cable-winding function. The water wheel and gearbox are extracted as the core driving system, eliminating unnecessary intermediate components that caused complexity and reliability issues in prior art.
Solution Approach 2:
The water wheel serves dual functions: it drives the cable-winding mechanism for mobility and simultaneously powers the spray nozzle for irrigation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate drive systems and simplifies the overall device architecture while maintaining large area coverage capability.
2Ease of operation
If wheel-driven sprinklers are used to propel the device, then mobility is achieved, but the device becomes easily stuck and creates messes in uneven terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional wheel-based mechanical propulsion with a cable-winding system driven by a water wheel. This substitution eliminates the need for complex differential drives and suspension mechanisms, allowing the sprinkler to be pulled along the ground rather than driven over it, thereby preventing getting stuck in uneven terrain.
3Ease of operation
If cable or rope systems are used to pull the sprinkler along, then propulsion is achieved, but the system becomes difficult to use and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cable-winding function with the water wheel drive system. The water wheel, already present for water distribution, is coupled to the cable-winding mechanism, eliminating the need for separate propulsion systems. This integration simplifies the overall structure while maintaining ease of operation through water pressure-driven automation.
4Reliability
If a shutoff valve mechanism is added to control water flow, then precise water cutoff is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutoff valve is designed to be automatically actuated by the cable-winding mechanism itself. As the cable winds up and pulls the sprinkler along, the knot naturally engages the valve linkage, causing the valve to close without requiring separate control systems. This self-actuating design achieves precise water cutoff while minimizing added complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a simple, effective, and reliable method for watering large areas by ensuring a crisp water cutoff, reducing leakage, and allowing easy reset, while maintaining stability and avoiding complex mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
an exposed water wheel that is coupled to a gearbox. The water wheel is driven by an adjustable spray nozzle
Implementation Method 2
moves a spring-loaded internal flap into the flow of water into the frame. The flow of water catches the internal flap, rapidly moving it to the closed position and holding it there with water pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A cable driven irrigation device has a frame that acts as a manifold to supply a sprinkler head and a separate spray nozzle. The frame is supplied with an externally triggered latching valve. The valve is held in the open position by a spring and has an internal flap that enters the flow of water through the valve when the external trigger is moved. The water flow moves the flap to the closed position and holds it there until the water pressure is removed. The spray nozzle dispenses water onto an exposed turbine which drives a gearbox. The gearbox is coupled to a spool which can wind up a cord. The spool being wound is what pulls the sprinkler along. A knot near the end of the cord engages the external trigger to stop the flow of water into the frame.