Abstract:
The present invention is directed towards a water bubbler sprinkler head for a drop hose to produce bubbling water to reduce the destructive force of the water landing on the surrounding land.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to irrigation systems and especially to a water bubbler sprinkler head for an irrigation sprinkler system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present water bubbler sprinkler head is especially adapted for use in mechanically moved irrigation systems which are commonly used throughout the United States for irrigating agricultural lands. Generally, wheeled line irrigation systems include a plurality of wheeled towers supporting a linear water conduit in a manner that the wheeled towers and water conduit can be moved through an agricultural field for changing the position of irrigation sprinklers coupled to the water conduit. One end of the water conduit is coupled to a water main or well and sprinkler heads are mounted in spaced alignment along the water conduit between the wheeled towers. The current practice in these irrigation systems is to connect the drop hoses from the water main to the field below with the ends thereof having sprinkler heads attached thereto for distributing the irrigation water adjacent the crops. 
         [0003]    A LEPA irrigation system (Low Energy Precision Application) is used in these systems to reduce the destructive forces of the water in order to prevent damage and erosion to the furrow and adjacent crops. LEPA irrigation products currently commonly bounce the water spray off different surfaces until the water is directed towards the ground. The water directed towards the ground in this manner has less energy but is still sprayed towards the ground and contains enough energy to erode furrows, wash out seeds and compact the soil. 
         [0004]    The present invention is directed towards a water bubbler sprinkler head for a drop hose to produce bubbling water to reduce the destructive force of the water landing on the surrounding land. Prior art sprinklers that utilize bubbler devices may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,438 for a furrow irrigation bubbler device and spray head conversion assembly utilized therewith. A bubbler attachment allows for the conversion of a spray head to a furrow bubbler in the drop tube of an irrigation system. The Pescetto U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,234 teaches an adjustable bubbler sprinkler head while the von Lutzow U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,805 teaches a bubbler type sprinkler head. U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,026 to Lockwood is for a bubbler head structure for irrigation systems and has a water passageway and an air passageway Air is drawn through the air passageway and mixed with the water in a mixing chamber. 
         [0005]    The present bubbler sprinkler head eliminates the destructive energy from sprayed irrigating water by mixing the water with air bubbles prior to the water hitting the ground in a drop line of a central irrigation system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A bubbler sprinkler head for an irrigation sprinkler system has a sprinkler head frame with a base connectable to a water supply and has a plurality of arms extending therefrom. A nozzle is attached to the sprinkler head frame for receiving water passing therethrough. A bubbler attachment is attached to the sprinkler head frame arms at a predetermined distance from the nozzle output. The bubbler attachment has a bubbler tube positioned axial alignment with the nozzle outlet for receiving water dispensed from the nozzle along with air drawn into the water steam from the space between the nozzle and said bubbler tube. A mixing chamber which may be a bowl having overflow walls is positioned below the bubbler tube outlet for receiving and mixing water and air from said bubbler tube outlet. The mixing chamber has overflow walls for dispensing the mixed water and air thereover, so that an irrigation system bubbler sprinkler head can generate bubbling water for irrigating an area adjacent thereto. The space between said nozzle and bubbler tube is open to atmosphere. The mixing chamber is generally bowl shaped and has walls for the overflow of bubbling water therefrom. The bubbler tube is formed of orifice plate having an opening therein with a short tube extending from the opening. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the written description and the drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bubbler sprinkler head in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the bubbler sprinkler head of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded sectional view of the bubbler sprinkler head of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the bubbler sprinkler head of  FIGS. 1 through 3  illustrating the flow of water therethrough; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the bubbler attachment of the bubbler sprinkler head of  FIGS. 1 through 4 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the bubbler attachment of the bubbler sprinkler head of  FIGS. 1 through 4 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0014]    The present invention is for a water bubbler sprinkler head for use in an irrigation system. The irrigation water bubbler  10 , as shown in the drawings, especially in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , has a sprinkler head frame  11  having a threaded connection  12  for attaching to a water line or hose. The frame has a water passageway  13  going therethrough and has a plurality of arms  14  extending therebelow. The frame  11  has a sprinkler nozzle  15  mounted therein at the end of the passageway  13  for directing water therefrom. The bubbler attachment  16  is attached to the base  17  of the arms  14 . The water bubbler attachment  16 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , has a plurality of attaching snaps  18  for attaching the bubbler attachment to the arms  14  base  17 . The bubbler attachment  16  has a circular tray portion  20  having a plurality of support members  21  extending therefrom and attached to support the Circular wall  22 . 
         [0015]    The bubbler attachment  16  is formed with a plate  23  having an opening or orifice  24  therein, as seen in  FIG. 5 . A tube  25  extends from the plate  23 , as seen in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0016]    As more clearly seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , a spacer member  29  is attached to the water bubbler attachment  16  and has a mixing chamber  26  attached to the bottom of the water bubbler attachment and beneath the spacer  29 . The mixing chamber  26  has snap connectors  27  thereon for attaching the mixing chamber to the water bubbler attachment  16 . In  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the frame arms  14  base ring  17  has grooved areas  27  for attaching the water bubbler attachment  16 . 
         [0017]    The operation of the water bubbler sprinkler head  10 , as more clearly seen in  FIG. 4 , has the water entering the passageway  13  from a water main line drop hose. Water is fed through the nozzle  15 , as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 4 , and passes through an opening space  28  that is open to the atmosphere. The water coming out of the nozzle  15  is directed toward the axially aligned orifice  24  and through the tube  25 . It is directed through the tube  25  and into the mixing chamber  26 . The water entering the orifice  24  and the tube  25  draws air into the water stream, as shown by the air bubbles of  FIG. 4 . Both water and air are directed into the mixing chamber  26  where it is thoroughly mixed to form water bubbles, or water with air bubbles therein, which are then forced up through the bottom of the spacer  29  and through the bubbler attachment and over the wall  30  of the bubbler attachment. The bubbling water spills over the wall  30  and out onto the ground below, such as into a furrow. Energy in the water is substantially reduced by the bubbling water overflowing the wall  30 . 
         [0018]    The bubbler attachment  16 , plate  23  with the orifice  24  is shaped similar to the orifice plate but with the extending tube  25  extending from the opening  24 . The water in the water bubbler attachment is passed from the nozzle  15  through an enlarged or atmospheric area  28  and into the orifice  24 . It pulls air from the atmosphere thereinto which is thoroughly mixed and bubbled in the mixing chamber  26 . 
         [0019]    It should be clear at this point that an irrigation water bubbler has been provided which has proved effective in producing bubbling water which is fed indirectly from the mixing chamber over a wall where it falls gently onto the ground. However, the present invention should not be construed as limited to the forms shown which are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.