Abstract:
A system for deflecting and distributing liquid from a liquid source is provided. The system comprises a deflector turbine element incorporated at one end of a cylindrical rotor which encloses at least a portion of the nozzle and is guided coaxially along the nozzle by at least one guide ring. The turbine element fixed to the rotor cylinder further comprises at least one diagonal groove configured to receive and deflect the liquid. The rotor or spindle element is configured to spin relatively freely around the nozzle (hollow shaft) and is allowed to reposition up or down along the nozzle shaft limited by the force of the water jet in one direction and a repelling magnetic force in the opposite direction.

Description:
Priority is claimed from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/901,562, filed Feb. 14, 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a device for distributing a stream of water or other liquid in a desired orderly spray in a manner that will conserve a volume of the fluid expelled over an area per unit time. In particular, the device is configured to control a flow of a liquid such as water through a reliable mechanism suitable for spreading relatively small amounts of the liquid without need for a frictional thrust bearing and without interference to the dispersal pattern from a rotor-retaining frame or member. 
     Sprinklers of various types and sizes are used in a number of environments. One common example is a sprinkler system of the type used to water a lawn. The challenge in watering a lawn is, of course, to achieve a relatively even dispersion of water from a point source. Different sprinklers surmount this obstacle using different methods. One simple example of a sprinkler system is the spinning rotor turbine type of sprinkler. In this type of sprinkler, an axial jet of water is emitted from an axial nozzle and is intercepted and deflected laterally in all directions by a spinning rotor which is rotatably mounted on a thrust bearing that is in concentric alignment with the axial nozzle. 
     In such devices, the flow of water therefrom produces a reactive force that turns the water-dispersing rotor to evenly distribute the water. Such systems operate fairly well for many applications, especially in environments where there is little chance of unwanted debris entering into the rotor thrust bearing, and where it is not particularly disadvantageous for a sprinkler or a shower head to miss one or more sections within the area pattern due to interference from the rotor&#39;s retaining bridge or frame member. 
     Unfortunately, such prior art water dispersion and sprinkler systems require a thrust bearing and also a frame or a bridge surrounding a portion of the rotor to maintain the rotor in position. These thrust bearings are susceptible to malfunction due to trapped debris and the rotor-retaining members interfering with the passing water stream emitted from the spinning rotor. Such interference creates one or more areas in the dispersal pattern that are either dry or under-watered. These prior art devices are also less than optimal in locations where an abundance of small insects are present which might clog the bearing, or in applications such as shower heads and even greenhouse sprinklers where one might find a swath of unwatered seedlings. Also, the larger volume of water required to overcome thrust bearing friction to rotate the rotors in prior art designs is often more water volume than is desired for a given area, such as is often the case with steep hillsides that are susceptible to wasteful water runoff. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment of the invention, a method and device for deflecting and distributing water from a source is provided. The device includes a fixed, linearly-extending nozzle of cylindrical configuration, formed with a through-going bore for expelling a liquid jet of water along the longitudinal axis thereof. A cylindrical, free-spinning rotor subassembly is mounted external to, and concentric with the nozzle. The rotor has at least one deflecting groove configured at a distal end of the cylindrical rotor to receive and deflect the water jet stream laterally, and thereby wet the surrounding areas. 
     In the preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, the rotor subassembly “floats”, i.e., is suspended by use of a magnetic bearing composed of at least two opposing-polarity ring magnets. A first ring magnet is affixed to the distal end of the nozzle. A second ring magnet is affixed to the distal end of the rotor. The device is configured to operate with the first ring magnet acting to oppose the second ring magnet such that a force is directed upon the rotor in a direction generally equal and opposite to that of the force generated by the water flow. 
     The major portion of the rotor subassembly is a simple cylinder, larger in diameter than the nozzle, and arranged concentrically about the nozzle. More specifically, the rotor may be loosely fitted coaxially around the nozzle (shaft) and thus may freely spin and move axially along the nozzle, in one direction constrained by force from the impinging water jet, and constrained from the other direction by force from the magnetic fluid of the opposing magnet pair. The turbine portion of the rotor is a press-fitted element on one end of the cylinder at a distal end of the device and is made with an axially-extending inlet configured to receive the vertical liquid stream and deflect it laterally, to thereby wet the surrounding areas. Thus, in one aspect, the invention relates to a sprinkler device for distributing a liquid stream, comprising: an elongated stationary nozzle having a longitudinal axis; an elongated rotor partially enclosing the nozzle, moveable in opposite axial directions along the axis, and rotatable relative to the axis; at least one deflector turbine attached to a downstream end of the rotor; at least one set of magnets within the rotor, attached to the nozzle and the rotor, respectively, and maintaining the rotor axially spaced from the stationary nozzle; wherein liquid emitted from the nozzle passes through the deflector turbine; and further wherein the deflector turbine is formed such that the liquid stream causes the deflector turbine and rotor to rotate about the axis. 
     In another aspect, the invention relates to a sprinkler assembly comprising: a fixed, elongated nozzle; a substantially cylindrical rotor at least partially enclosing the nozzle and having a liquid deflector at one end thereof, the rotor moveable both axially and rotatably relative to the nozzle; a pair of guide rings located within the rotor, the guide rings having openings through which the nozzle passes, one of the guide rings comprising a first magnet; and a second magnet fixed to the nozzle and located axially between the guide rings, with like poles of the first and second magnets facing each other. 
     The preferred but nonlimiting embodiments of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. These embodiments depict the novel and nonobvious methods and systems of this invention shown in the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings include the following figures, with like numerals indicating like parts. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a water deflection subassembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a water deflection subassembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a water deflection subassembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the water dispersing turbine portion of the rotor assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In one exemplary but nonlimiting embodiment of the invention, a reliable water deflection subassembly is disclosed that can be used to disperse water or other liquids (or solids or gases, or solids and gases combined as in the case of seed distribution devices) without interference from a rotor-supporting bridge. In order to do so, a channeled water-diverting rotor is employed, having one or more grooves disposed on its deflecting surface. As an axial liquid jet issues from the nozzle and contacts the deflecting surface, the rotor is caused to spin on its longitudinal axis. The rotor may be suspended in a relatively frictionless environment by use of opposing ring magnets. As a result, neither a conventional frictional thrust bearing nor a rotor-retaining bridge are required or used. As the rotor spins, water contacting the turbine is deflected from the rotor at different angles, and the water is thereby dispersed without interference from a rotor-retaining bridge. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a water deflection subassembly  10 . As illustrated, the water deflection subassembly  10  comprises a hollow rod-like nozzle (or nozzle shaft)  12 , two opposing ring magnets  18 ,  20 , a cylindrical rotor (or “rotor sleeve” or “rotor cylinder”)  26  with a deflector turbine  28  formed at or inserted in one end, and a guide ring  22 . 
     A deflector turbine  28  may be pressed into a distal end of the rotor cylinder  26  and is located just below the outlet of the nozzle  12  which represents the point source of water that should be dispersed. The deflector turbine  28  includes one or more outlet passages that are arranged to cause rotation of the rotor cylinder  26  as liquid is emitted from the outlet orifices of the deflector turbine  28 . The rod-like nozzle  12  is preferably fixed along the central axis of the subassembly  10  such that the initially emitted water jet flows along the central axis of the subassembly  10 . Of course, in other embodiments, the deflected liquid need not be water, but may be any of a number of liquids. For example, the liquid may comprise biological broths or liquid chemicals undergoing heat-generating reactions that may be advantageously cooled or oxidized as they form droplets dispersed through the air. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the liquid flowing from the water jet is propelled by gravity. However, in other embodiments, a variety of pumps or other means for moving water against gravity may be used to propel the water towards the water deflection subassembly  10 . 
     The rod-like nozzle  12  loosely guides the externally floating rotor cylinder  26  which is coaxially suspended around it. The inside diameter of the rotor guide ring  22  and the rotor-attached ring magnet  18  fixed within the rotor subassembly, are of larger diameter than the nozzle diameter, allowing the rotor cylinder  26  to spin freely and floatingly along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle shaft. The rotor cylinder  26  is thus allowed a range of axial motion along the nozzle shaft  12 , restrained within limits from one direction by the force of the opposing magnet pair and restrained from the other direction by the force of the impinging water stream. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the deflector turbine  28  is attached at a distal end of the rotor cylinder  26  and hangs suspended just below the nozzle opening. The rotor cylinder  26  may be constructed from any of a number of rigid materials and has an inside diameter greater than the nozzle shaft  12  such that the rotor  26  accommodates the ring magnet  18  and the guide ring  22  as described above. 
     As noted above, the rotor cylinder  26  contains the guide ring  22 , the ring magnet  18 , and the deflector turbine  28 . The guide ring and deflector turbine may be constructed of the same or different materials as the rotor cylinder, and are preferably constructed from a rigid or semi-rigid material having a relatively low coefficient of friction. The guide ring  22  and ring magnet  18  may also be centered about the same axis and concentric about the nozzle  12 . As illustrated, the guide ring  22  and rotor-attached ring magnet  18  have identical internal and external radii and are concentric about the same longitudinal axis. Of course, more or fewer rings may be used in other embodiments. For example, in another embodiment a third ring may be used to provide further security for the nozzle shaft  12  and deflector turbine  28 . 
     In another embodiment, the rotor cylinder  26  may not be a separate element but may be formed integrally with guide rings and deflector turbine  28 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the deflector turbine  28  is attached to a lower end of the cylinder  26  of the rotor subassembly and guide ring  22  and ring magnet  18  are fixed along the inside axis of rotor cylinder  26  thus guiding the rotor  26  along the nozzle  12  and allowing the rotor  26  to spin freely about the nozzle. 
     The rotor  26  may also be constructed from any of a number of rigid materials and has a length greater than the distance between the retaining rings. 
     As illustrated, the ring magnet  18  has its south pole facing downwards, and its north pole facing upwards. Of course, these polarities may be otherwise disposed in other embodiments. The ring magnet  18  may comprise any of a number of magnetic materials well known to those of skill in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the ring magnet  18  comprises a neodymium magnetic material. 
     The ring magnet  18  is attached to the interior of the rotor cylinder  26 , but may also be attached at various other locations, more or less proximal to the deflector turbine  28 . 
     Located along the nozzle  12  below the concentric ring magnet  18  fixed inside the cylinder, another ring magnet  20  may be fixed along the nozzle  12 , and oriented to oppose the magnet  18  attached to the rotor. Thus, the rotor subassembly is lifted upwards and the deflector turbine  28  hangs suspended just below the nozzle opening. 
     The opposing magnet pair allows the rotor cylinder  26  and deflector turbine  28  to remain suspended with relatively little friction impeding their spinning. 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 1  will now be described in operation. In an inactive state, opposing magnetic forces between the two ring magnets  18 ,  20  suspends the cylindrical rotor  26  coaxially around the nozzle  12 , and the water deflector turbine  28  of the rotor hangs just below opening of the nozzle  12 . 
     When water is emitted from the nozzle  12 , it contacts the deflector turbine  28  as shown. The water then flows along the deflecting channels in the turbine, and the weight of the water (and the force with which the water contacts the angled walls of the deflector turbine) spins the rotor cylinder  26 . Since the deflecting channels of the deflector turbine  28  are oriented diagonally along the deflector turbine, the force from the water may also impart a tangential component to the deflector turbine  28 , thus spinning the rotor  26  about the nozzle  12 . 
     As soon as the water starts to contact the deflector turbine  28 , the rotor also experiences an additional downward force, and thus the rotor cylinder  26 , attached guide ring  22 , attached ring magnet  18  and deflector turbine  28  are reoriented to a lower position along the vertical axis of the nozzle  12  relative to its inactive state. 
     As rotor  26  spins on its longitudinal axis about the nozzle  12 , the water flowing from the nozzle  12  is deflected off the rotor via the deflector turbine  28  and is thereby distributed at various angles around the subassembly  10 . Since the function of a thrust bearing is accomplished by the repelling force between the nozzle-attached magnet  20  and the rotor-attached magnet  18 , a conventional thrust bearing is not employed, and no rotor-supporting member is required. In other words, when operating, there is no bearing engagement at either end of the rotor. As a result, debris sand and/or insects are much less likely to interfere with the rotation of the rotor, and, because only a relatively small amount of friction is experienced, very little water flow is required to drive the simple deflector turbine. In addition, water droplets are not sheared into smaller spray droplets by thrust bearing friction, and the water stream is able to travel further in a lateral direction because less deflection of the stream is required to move the floating rotor. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates yet another embodiment of a water deflection subassembly  10 . As illustrated, the water deflection subassembly  10  may comprise a rod-like nozzle  12 , two opposing ring magnets  18 ,  20 , a cylindrical rotor  26  with a deflector turbine  28  inserted at one end and a second guide ring  22 . 
     An additional ring magnet  47  is fixed to the interior surface of the rotor  26  and also acts to guide the rotor axially along the rod-like nozzle  12 . Ring magnet  47  opposes ring magnet  20  from the opposite direction, thus preventing rotor  26  from seating against nozzle  12  while subassembly  10  is at rest. This configuration ensures a very low friction environment during startup of subassembly  10 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates yet another embodiment of a water deflection subassembly  10 . In this embodiment, the deflector turbine  28  has only one lateral fluid outlet rather than two or three or more, making this configuration more adaptable to distributing a fluid in a partial circle pattern if desired. In other embodiments deflector turbine  28  may have any number of outlets. 
     Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. It also is contemplated that various aspects and features of the invention described can be practiced separately, combined together, or substituted for one another, and that a variety of combinations and sub-combinations of the features and aspects can be made that still fall within the scope of the invention. Moreover, the different elements of these subassemblies  10  may be constructed from a number of different suitable materials well known to those of skill in the art, including rustproof metallic surfaces, polymeric surfaces, ceramics, and other materials. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.