FLOW DEVIATING DEVICE OF A STATIC SPRINKLER

Abstract: Flow deviating device of a static sprinkler consisting of a U-stirrup (8) with downward flanges (15) and with a central hole (9) surrounded by shapings (10, 11) to be engaged on corresponding shapings surrounding the nozzle (3) of the sprinkler (1) and consisting of articulated baffle fins (13) on the lateral edges of the stirrup (8) and fitted with devices regulating their opening so that by changing the position of these baffle fins (13) the water jet is modified from circular, as produced by the sprinkler, to practically semicircular, rectangular or any other intermediate shape to irrigate areas with a given dimension.

Description: This Patent relates to a flow deviating device of a static sprinkler so as to ensure a rational usage of the sprinkler in limited areas. Nowadays there are several types of sprinklers and in particular hydrodynamic and static sprinklers. Hydrodynamic sprinklers are characterized by a gradually revolving compact water jet, are used to irrigate extensive cultivated areas and are consisting of several reciprocal moving parts. Static sprinklers on the other hand have no reciprocal moving parts and distribute the water in a continuous and uniform way by centrifugal action and are employed to irrigate limited areas. This Patent relates to these static sprinklers consisting essentially of an upside down truncated cone body with a closed bottom and upper nozzle for water outlet. The pressurized water is radially let in from below so as to create a circular motion which accelerates while rising inside the body so that the water leaves the upper nozzle fan-wise and finely sprayed. This static sprinkler thus creates a uniformely distributed sprinkling on a circular area having the sprinkler at the center. The diameter of the watered area is changed by changing the amount of water supply or its pressure but this area still remains circular. Therefore this static sprinkler has the disadvantage of not permitting to direct the irrigating flow. At present it is impossible to water flower-beds without wetting paths or adjacent cultivations, it is impossible to irrigate areas near walls, it is impossible to irrigate hothouses uniformely because the circular jet also wets what should not be wetted or sprinkles too much in some areas and too little in other areas. This Patent aims to eliminate this disadvantage of static sprinklers. For this purpose a flow deviating device is provided which, mounted on the sprinkler, permits to change the area to be irrigated at will, progressively transforming it from circular to semicircular until acquiring an almost rectangular shape. This flow deviating device essentially consists of a support with a central hole, which is engaged on the nozzle of the sprinkler and which has two opposite hinged lateral fins adjustable at will. These fins deviate the flow until the desired irrigation area is covered. The invention in question is illustrated for exemplification purpose in the enclosed drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a lateral and partial cross-sectional view of a static sprinkler with modified nozzle for the installation of the flow deviating device, Fig. 2 shows a top view of the sprinkler illustrated in figure 1, Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal side view of the sprinkler according to the Patent, Fig. 4 shows a central longitudinal cross-sectional view of the deviating device illustrated in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 shows a front view of the deviating device illustrated in Fig. 3, Fig. 6 shows a top view of the deviating device illustrated in fig. 3, Fig. 7 shows a lateral and partial cross-sectional view of the sprinkler fitted with deviating device, Figures 8, 9 and 10 are exemplifying usages of the sprinkler fitted with deviating device. With reference to said Figures, the sprinkler has an upside down truncated cone body 1 with a closed bottom 2 and upper outlet nozzle 3. A central spindle 4 extends from the bottom tapering towards the nozzle 3 and a tangential pipe 5 is employed for water supply. As known, the water supplied by pipe 5 rotates inside the body 1 of the sprinkler and while moving upwards it accelerates its rotational motion until it leaves the nozzle as a uniform and continuous circular jet. According to the Patent the area around the nozzle 3 has a special configuration apt to receive the device which can be easily removed. These shapings have for exemplification a hollow cylindrical section 6, with a slightly upward bent inner flange 7. The deviating device requires a support, preferably a U-stirrup 8 with downward flanges 15, which has a central hole 9 surrounded by shapings for the installation on the sprinkler. These exemplified shapings have a hollow cylindrical section 10 which externally covers the cylindrical section 6 of the sprinkler and a second hollow cylindrical section 11 is provided to cover this section 6 internally resting against the flange 7 of the sprinkler. Therefore the deviating device is mounted on the sprinkler by removable jointing of the shapings which may however be different from those described and illustrated for exemplification. Mobile fins 13 are provided on both lateral flat edges of the support 8, these fins being hinged on the swivels 12, which have side arms 14 facing the external side surfaces of the flanges 15 and the stirrup 8. Said arms have inner friction devices acting against the surface of said flanges 15 and for exemplification having a pin 16 engaging into a corresponding series of recesses or knurlings 17 on the surface of the flanges 15. Consequently the mobile fins 13 may rotate around the swivels 12 and be steadily positioned at various angles by the interaction of the pins 16 and the recesses 17. These baffle fins 13 may thus be placed in a low, high or otherwise slanting position thus deviating the circular water flow which may therefore be changed at will. In Figs. 5 and 6 the fins 13, shown in continuous lines, are in their maximum closing position, whereas fins 13' shown in dot lines are in their maximum opening position. In Fig. 8 the fins 13 of the deviating device are lowered and practically do not interfere with the circular water jet which remains unchanged. Conversely, in Fig. 9 one of the fins 13 is lifted and the water jet becomes practically semicircular because the water jet range from the sprinkler is short on the side where the fin is up. Fig. 10 for example shows the sprinkler with both fins up in which case the sprinkled area practically becomes rectangular. Obviously, depending on the angle of one or both fins, it is therefore possible to regulate the range and configuration of the sprinkler jet according to the need. According to the Patent, the inner surface of the baffle fins 13 has one or more grooves 18 which may be either vertical or slightly raking; such grooves 18 aim to prevent water splashes, i.e. to prevent the water coming out of the nozzle with a centrifugal circular motion from accumulating on one side of the fin thus inducing it to sprinkle as radially as possible. Water splashes may also be eliminated by a hollow shaped inner surface of the fins. Obviously the fins which are here illustrated in a rectangular shape may also take other shapes, like trapezoid, whereas the shape of the support may vary as long as it guarantees the mobile installation on the sprinkler and regulation of the baffle fins. The swivels 12 are suitably mounted on metal deviating devices, whereas such swivels may be eliminated in the case of plastic deviating devices and fin mobility may be guaranteed by a weakened line directly obtained by melting.

Claims: 1. Flow deviating device of a static sprinkler, in which said sprinkler has an upside down truncated cone hollow body (1) with bottom (2), upper nozzle (3) and tangential supply pipe (4), characterized by the fact that it consists of a support (8) with a central hole (9) provided with shapings (10, 11) for mobile engagement in corresponding shapings (6, 7) of the sprinkler (1) and it is consisting of two mobile baffle fins (13) mounted on opposite sides of said support (8) by swivels (12), in which said fins (13) are fitted with devices (14, 15, 16, 17) regulating their movement, so that by opening or closing of the said fins (13), it is possible to modify the sprinkler jet from circular to semicircular, to rectangular or any other intermediate shape. 2. Deviating device as described in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the support has a U-stirrup shape (8) with downward flanges (15) in which the said support has hinging swivels (12) of the baffle fins (13) on its flat longitudinal edges. 3. Deviating device as described in claim 1, characterized by the fact that, for its engagement on the sprinkler, shapings of the sprinkler (1) nozzle (3) are provided, which consist of a hollow cylindrical section (6) fitted with an inner slightly upward curved flange (7), while shapings of the stirrup (8) hole (9) of the deviating device are also provided consisting of an external cylindrical section (10) and an inner hollow cylindrical section (11) so that during installation the cylindrical section (6) of the sprinkler enters by friction between the cylindrical sections (10, 11) of the deviating device while the inner cylindrical section (11) of the deviating device is resting on the sprinkler flange (7). 4. Deviating device as described in claim 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that positioning of the fins (13) is obtained by pin expansions (16) located in the side arms (14) of the fins (13) and by holes or knurlings on the outer surface of the stirrup (8) flanges (15). 5. Deviating device as described in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the inner surface of the fins (13) is hollow or has one or more grooves (18) which may be either vertical or raking, in order to prevent water splashes and obtain a homogeneous deviated flow. 6. Deviating device as described in claim 1, characterized by the fact that if made of plastic it will have a weakened line, instead of the swivels (12), obtained by melting so as to ensure an articulated movement of the baffle fins (13).

Inventors: ROSSI, PIETRO
Applicants: IPIERRE SIROTEX S.P.A.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B05B1
IPC codes: B05B1