Oscillating Sprinkler Head Recess Closure Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing square pop-up sprinklers face issues with incomplete opening or closing of the hinged lid due to vegetation, leading to potential incomplete closure and colonization by ants, as well as vulnerability to unauthorized operation by children.
Innovation Solution
The sprinkler head itself closes a recess in the cover surface, eliminating the need for lifting a cover and providing a more reliable closure, with the sprinkler head raised vertically by water pressure, reducing jet disturbances and allowing for adjustable jet patterns and protection against unauthorized operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hinged lid is used to cover the shaft opening, then the shaft can be closed when the sprinkler is at rest, but the lid cannot close completely due to vegetation interference
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the hinged lid from the system and replaces it with a recess in the cover surface that is closed by the sprinkler head itself. This extracts the problematic closing mechanism that was susceptible to vegetation interference and replaces it with a passive recess design.
Solution Approach 2:
The sprinkler head itself serves the dual function of both closing the recess when in the rest position and providing the spray function when activated. The sprinkler head's own structure is used to seal the opening, eliminating the need for a separate lid mechanism.
2Reliability
If a hinged lid is used to cover the shaft opening, then the shaft can be closed when the sprinkler is at rest, but the closing force is weak at positions opposite the hinge allowing ants to colonize
Solution Approach 1:
The hinged lid mechanism is completely removed and replaced with a recess design. This eliminates the fundamental flaw of uneven force distribution in hinged lids, as the recess design provides uniform closure around the entire perimeter without relying on hinge-based mechanical advantage.
3Ease of operation
If a hinged lid is used, then the shaft can be covered, but children can easily open it to change sprinkler settings
Solution Approach 1:
The recess in the cover surface acts as an intermediary barrier that allows the sprinkler head to seal the opening while preventing direct access to the sprinkler mechanism. The recess design maintains closure integrity while the sprinkler head's position controls access to adjustment features.
4Productivity
If the sprinkler is operated lowered in a shaft housing, then it can be concealed, but jet disturbances occur due to surrounding plant growth
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions the sprinkler operation from a lowered position within the shaft to a raised position above the cover surface. This dimensional change moves the spray mechanism out of the zone affected by surrounding vegetation, eliminating jet disturbances while maintaining the recessed closure design for aesthetic and protective purposes.
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 solution ensures reliable closure of the sprinkler head, reduces disturbances from surrounding vegetation, and protects against unauthorized changes, maintaining operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The sprinkler head is advantageously raised from the rest position to the operating position vertically above the cover surface, thereby avoiding or at least reducing jet disturbances by plant growth surrounding the shaft housing compared to square sprinklers operated lowered in a shaft housing. The sprinkler head is advantageously raised against a vertically restoring spring force under the effect of the water pressure applied to the square sprinkler.
Implementation Method 2
The sprinkler head is advantageously raised against a vertically restoring spring force under the effect of the water pressure applied to the square sprinkler. When the water pressure is gone, the sprinkler is pulled down into the idle position by the vertically restoring spring force.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4(A)~6
AI summary
The invention relates to an oscillating sprinkler arrangement comprising an oscillating sprinkler which is disposed in a shaft sunk in the ground, wherein the sprinkler head (RK), via a cutout (AU) in the cover surface (DF) of a cover (DE) which closes the shaft housing (SG) at the top, can be moved out of a lowered position into an operating position lying above the cover surface and back. For this purpose, in the lowered rest position of the oscillating sprinkler, the cutout in the cover surface is closed by the sprinkler head itself, which then forms a part of the upper face of the oscillating sprinkler arrangement with an outer surface having the nozzle arrangement (DA).