Fluidic Irrigation Nozzle Assembly for Long Throw Low Precipitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current irrigation nozzles struggle to achieve a long throw distance with low flow rate and high velocity droplets, leading to excessive precipitation rates and potential damage from water-hammer effects during system reactivation.
Innovation Solution
A fluidic irrigation nozzle assembly with a cylindrical housing and integrated fluidic oscillators, utilizing a Pressure Compensating Device and adjustable flow control to achieve low precipitation rates and robust radius control, while protecting against water-hammer effects through a ring-shaped holder and filter basket.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If non-fluidic fixed sprays are used to achieve long throw distance, then throw radius increases, but precipitation rate increases and droplet velocity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies fluidic oscillation principles using hydraulic forces to create a fluidic nozzle that oscillates the spray jet without mechanical moving parts. The fluidic oscillator uses the irrigation water itself to generate oscillating forces through fluid dynamics, creating a sweeping spray pattern that extends throw radius while maintaining low precipitation rates through improved distribution uniformity.
2Quantity of substance
If fluidic oscillators are used to achieve low precipitation rate and long throw, then spray distribution improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical oscillating mechanisms (motors, gears, rotating parts) with a purely fluidic oscillator that uses hydraulic forces and fluid dynamics to generate oscillation. This eliminates mechanical complexity while achieving the desired spray pattern and throw distance, as the fluid itself creates the oscillating motion through its flow characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluidic oscillator is designed to use the irrigation water flow itself to generate the oscillating motion, without requiring external power sources or mechanical actuators. The system serves itself by using its own operating fluid to create the oscillation, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining performance.
3Quantity of substance
If rotating parts and friction plates are used to achieve low precipitation rate, then spray distribution improves, but cost increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates all mechanical moving parts (rotors, friction plates, gears) by using a fluidic oscillator that relies purely on hydraulic forces and fluid dynamics. This substitution of mechanical systems with fluid-based systems removes wear-prone components, thereby improving reliability and reducing maintenance requirements while achieving the same low precipitation rate performance.
4Length of moving object
If high velocity droplets are generated to achieve long throw distance, then throw radius increases, but water-hammer effects increase during system reactivation
Solution Approach 1:
The fluidic oscillator creates a periodic, sweeping spray pattern that distributes water over time and space more evenly. This oscillating action prevents concentrated high-velocity water impacts that cause water-hammer effects, while still achieving long throw radius through the extended spray arc and improved distribution pattern across the irrigation area.
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 solution enables efficient irrigation with a precipitation rate of 1 in/hr or less and good spray distribution, maintaining cost-effectiveness and reliability by using fixed components, and effectively mitigates the risk of damage from water surges during system reactivation.
Implementation Method 1
fluidic oscillators are known in the prior art for their ability to provide a wide range of liquid spray patterns by cyclically deflecting a liquid jet
Implementation Method 2
The operation of most fluidic oscillators is usually characterized by the cyclic deflection of a fluid jet without the use of mechanical moving parts... characterized by the use of boundary layer attachment (i.e., the 'Coanda effect,' so named for Henri Coanda, the first to explain the tendency for a jet issuing from an orifice to deflect from its normal path
Implementation Method 3
the introduction of water into a system having trapped air in the lines presents a new challenge... This instantaneous impact created by the density difference between the remaining air void and wave of water generates excessive loads that can damage a fluidic nozzle insert... The impact force produced by the 'surge' turns out to be quite high, close to 30 lbf
Data Source
AI summary
A long throw Pop-Up Irrigation Nozzle assembly has no oscillating or rotating parts and includes a cylindrical body having a fluid inlet and a sidewall defining at least one fluidic circuit configured to generate a selected spray pattern when irrigation fluid flows through the body. In order to throw long distance, droplet velocity, droplet size and droplet initial aim angle determine the throw to provide a low precipitation rate (“PR”) for fluidic sprays. The nozzle assembly and method of the present invention achieve a PR of 1 in/hr or less and good spray distribution with a scheduling coefficient (“SC”) of about 1.5 without utilizing any moving components to provide a significantly more cost effective nozzle assembly, as compared to prior art rotator nozzles.