Rectangular Pattern Rotary Sprinkler With Segmented Nozzle Orifice
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sprinklers often produce circular or part-circular water distribution patterns, which may not be optimal for certain irrigation needs, and lack the ability to create a long, narrow rectangular pattern efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The sprinkler system incorporates a modified stream deflector that shapes the water stream into a rectangular pattern by dividing the nozzle orifice into three sections, with two side sections receiving full-energy streams and a middle section receiving a reduced-energy stream, interacted with a rotary distributor to achieve a substantially rectangular wetted area, allowing for adjustability and proportional pattern size modification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If conventional circular nozzles are used, then the sprinkler structure is simple, but the water distribution pattern cannot create long narrow rectangular shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle orifice is divided into three distinct sections: two side sections that receive full-energy streams and a middle section that receives reduced-energy stream. This segmentation allows each section to contribute differently to forming the rectangular pattern, with the side sections creating the length and the middle section creating the width, thereby achieving the desired rectangular shape without requiring a completely complex nozzle design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the nozzle orifice are given different flow characteristics. The side sections have full-energy flow to create the longitudinal extent of the rectangle, while the middle section has reduced-energy flow to create the transverse width. This local differentiation of flow quality enables the formation of a rectangular pattern by exploiting the natural variation in stream energy across the orifice.
2Area of stationary object
If flow rate is increased to maintain pattern size, then the rectangular pattern becomes larger, but the proportionality between length and width is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the flow rate parameters differently for different sections of the orifice. By controlling the flow rate through the three sections independently (with the middle section having reduced flow rate), the system can maintain the proportional relationship between the length and width of the rectangular pattern even when the overall pattern size needs to be adjusted. This allows the pattern to scale proportionally without distorting its rectangular geometry.
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
This design effectively creates a long, narrow rectangular water distribution pattern, offering adjustability and ensuring proportional length and width while maintaining efficient water distribution, even when the pattern size is reduced.
Implementation Method 1
The rotor plate is formed with a plurality of curved, generally radial grooves that cause the rotor plate to rotate when impinged upon by a hollow, generally cone-shaped stream emitted from the nozzle
Implementation Method 2
A coil spring is located axially between a flange at the upper end of the stem and an arc adjustment ring at the upper end of the base. This coil spring biases the rotor plate, shaft, nozzle, deflector and stem to a retracted position relative to the base
Implementation Method 3
The rotor plate may incorporate a viscous damping mechanism to slow its rate of rotation
Data Source
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AI summary
A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler body (12) supporting a nozzle body (26) and a water distribution plate (18) supported on a shaft (20) downstream of said nozzle body, said water distribution plate (18) provided with a plurality of grooves shaped to redirect a stream emitted from said nozzle body (26) and to cause the water distribution plate (18) to rotate when struck by the stream; a stream deflector (232) supported within said sprinkler body and surrounded said nozzle body (26); wherein said nozzle body (26) and said stream deflector (232) cooperate to produce a substantially rectangular wetted pattern area.