Nutating Sprinkler Head Fluid Distribution Cage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sprinkler heads in irrigation systems fail to achieve a uniform and random distribution of fluid droplets effectively, leading to excessive evaporation and instability in fluid distribution patterns.
Innovation Solution
A nutating sprinkler head design featuring a fluid delivery tube with a constricting nozzle, a fluid distribution cage that nutates due to fluid impact, and resilient cushions to enhance friction and prevent spinning, ensuring a dynamic and uniform fluid distribution pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional sprinkler heads are used, then fluid distribution is provided, but the distribution is not uniform and random, leading to excessive evaporation
Solution Approach 1:
The sprinkler head incorporates a nutating (rocking) motion mechanism that dynamically changes the spray direction and distribution pattern. The body rocks back and forth around a central axis, creating time-varying spray patterns that achieve more uniform fluid distribution across the target area and reduce localized evaporation losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The sprinkler head employs periodic nutating motion that rocks the spray stream in a regular back-and-forth pattern. This periodic action creates alternating spray zones that cover different areas over time, resulting in more uniform overall distribution and reduced evaporation by ensuring consistent coverage rather than stationary concentrated streams.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional sprinkler heads are used, then fluid distribution is provided, but the distribution pattern is unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The sprinkler head uses controlled dynamic nutating motion rather than static positioning. The rocking mechanism creates a stable yet time-varying distribution pattern that maintains consistency in its motion characteristics while achieving uniform coverage through the systematic variation of spray angles and positions over time.
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 design achieves a more uniform and randomized fluid distribution, reducing evaporation and enhancing stability by initiating a nutating motion in the fluid distribution cage, which continuously alters the fluid pattern and prevents excessive evaporation.
Implementation Method 1
a stream of fluid from a fluid delivery tube strikes a fluid distribution cage, which causes the cage to rotate and tilt simultaneously
Implementation Method 2
resilient cushions to enhance friction and prevent spinning
Data Source
AI summary
A sprinkler head for irrigation having a sprinkler body. The sprinkler body surrounds a fluid delivery tube. The sprinkler body includes an upper plate and a lower plate. A and exits out the fluid nozzle. A fluid distribution cage is positioned on the sprinkler body and around the fluid delivery tube. The fluid distribution cage has one or more arms connecting an upper plate and a lower plate. The lower plate is configured to direct fluid sprayed onto it from the fluid delivery tube. When fluid is sprayed on the lower plate the upper plate begins to nutate around the fluid delivery tube between the upper sprinkler body plate and lower sprinkler body plate. The upper and lower sprinkler body plates have races configured for receiving one or more resilient cushions positioned on the upper plate of the fluid distribution cage. The upper cage plate or the lower sprinkler body plate has one or more projections positioned such that the fluid distribution cage hangs at an angle to facilitate initiation of nutation of the fluid distribution cage.