Sprinkler Magnetic Nutating Mechanism Prevents Stalling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nutating sprinkler heads often stall at startup or during operation due to the water distribution plate failing to tilt, resulting in a 'donut effect' where the wetted pattern is a solid ring around a dry center, lacking the uniform distribution intended by the nutating action.
Innovation Solution
A sprinkler head design incorporating a double-flanged spool with a nutating cage and water distribution plate, supported by a spindle with opposing magnets that create a repulsion force to maintain the plate in a non-tilted position at rest, and tilt it off-axis when water pressure is applied, allowing for consistent nutating motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional nutating sprinkler heads are used, then the sprinkler head structure is simple, but the water distribution plate fails to tilt reliably causing stalling and donut effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical tilt mechanisms (such as flexible struts or gravity-based systems) with a magnetic field-based system. Magnets are positioned to create magnetic forces that act on the water distribution plate, enabling reliable tilting motion without complex mechanical linkages. This substitution of mechanical systems with magnetic fields resolves the contradiction by providing dependable nutating action through non-contact forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary between the fixed components and the moving water distribution plate. The magnetic field serves as a mediator that transmits force without direct mechanical contact, allowing the plate to tilt and nutate reliably. This intermediary approach enables precise control of the tilting motion while avoiding the complexity of direct mechanical coupling.
2Reliability
If the water distribution plate is held in a tilted orientation, then uniform water distribution is achieved, but the sprinkler head requires additional components to maintain the tilt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical tilt-retention mechanisms with magnetic forces. The magnetic field continuously exerts force on the water distribution plate to maintain its tilted orientation during rotation, eliminating the need for mechanical struts, springs, or other retention devices. This substitution achieves consistent tilted orientation with minimal additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state or properties of the force application from mechanical contact to magnetic field interaction. By adjusting magnetic field strength and positioning, the system maintains the water distribution plate in a tilted orientation without requiring mechanical intervention. This parameter change from mechanical to magnetic force application reduces component complexity while ensuring reliable tilt maintenance.
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
Prevents stalling and ensures a uniform sprinkling pattern by maintaining the water distribution plate in a tilted orientation during rotation, effectively eliminating the 'donut effect' and ensuring reliable nutating action.
Implementation Method 1
the repulsion force between the magnets moves the cage and cage magnet along the spindle spool away from the spindle magnet
Data Source
AI summary
A sprinkler including a sprinkler head incorporating a nozzle; a spool fixed to the sprinkler head in proximity to the nozzle; a cage assembly loosely mounted on the spool, the assembly including a distribution plate at a first end of the assembly downstream of the nozzle and a first magnet at a second opposite end of the assembly upstream of the spool; a mounting element fixed to the assembly between the first and second ends, an inner edge of the mounting element loosely confined between upper and lower flanges of the spool; and a second magnet fixed to the sprinkler head, axially between the spool and the first magnet.