Rotary Sprinkler with Static Biasing Control Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rotary sprinklers lack the ability to efficiently adjust irrigation patterns and liquid distribution to accommodate varying irrigation needs, particularly in areas requiring specific directional control and uniform water coverage.
Innovation Solution
A rotary sprinkler design featuring a static biasing control base and dynamic control elements, including a flow regulator and liquid deflector mechanism, which allow for adjustable nozzle settings and rotational control of the irrigation head, enabling variable flow rates and deflection angles to suit specific irrigation patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional rotary sprinklers use fixed nozzle settings, then the structure is simple, but the ability to adjust irrigation patterns and liquid distribution is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control elements including a flow regulator arm and liquid deflector arm that can change position during operation. These arms are biased by spring elements and controlled by cam-follower mechanisms that translate rotational movement into positional changes, enabling the sprinkler to dynamically adjust flow rate and deflection angle throughout its rotation cycle to create variable irrigation patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional components: a static biasing control base containing biasing elements, dynamic control elements within the irrigation head (flow regulator arm, liquid deflector arm), and transmission mechanisms (cam-follower, gear elements). This segmentation allows independent adjustment and optimization of each component while maintaining overall system functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sprinkler head rotates freely in all directions, then coverage area is maximized, but irrigation control in specific directions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different control characteristics to different parts of the rotation cycle. The cam-follower mechanism is positioned and configured to engage with specific portions of the cam profile at specific rotational positions, enabling localized control of flow rate and deflection angle for specific directional sectors. This allows irrigation to be enhanced in desired directions while suppressed or eliminated in unwanted directions.
3Productivity
If the flow rate is increased to cover larger areas, then irrigation coverage is improved, but water distribution uniformity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic variation of flow rate and deflection angle during the rotation cycle through the cam-follower mechanism. As the irrigation head rotates, the cam profile causes periodic engagement and disengagement of the flow regulator arm and liquid deflector arm, creating alternating high-flow/long-range and low-flow/short-range discharge patterns. This periodic modulation ensures uniform water distribution across the entire coverage area by compensating for the inverse-square law of spray dispersion.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary sprinkler comprises a rotatable irrigation head with one or more nozzles, associated with liquid feed lines, which extend thereto from a sprinkler base housing, and further comprises a static biasing control base located below the irrigation head, e.g. between the sprinkler base housing and the irrigation head. The sprinkler can comprise a flow regulator arm, whose movement, at least indirectly, results in reducing the cross-sectional area of liquid flow towards at least one of the nozzles, and a flow deflector arm configured to interfere with a liquid jet discharged from at least one of the nozzles in order to affect the angle and range of the liquid jet. The static biasing control base can comprise an array of biasing elements, which can bias a cam follower configured to rotate together with the irrigation head and transfer its rotational displacement to the flow regulator arm and flow deflector arm, e.g. through respective gear elements. The gear elements can be adjusted to control a ratio between the extent of deflection of the two arms due to the rotation of the cam follower. The rotatable irrigation head can comprise a cover for preventing exposure of the dynamic control elements to the exterior of the sprinkler.