Abstract:
A sprinkling device includes a casing provided with control means and carrying internally two turbine wheels with a propeller and deflector and externally a rotary union for mounting onto a source of fluidic material under pressure and a nozzle which during operation can be made to move around in a plane between any two points and in either direction automatically while simultaneously discharging forwardly a stream of the fluidic material back and forth.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an automatic sprinkling device and more particularly to such a device that can be preset through control means for spraying a specific area during operation, whether being used for watering land or as a fire extinguisher and the like. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Automatic sprinkling devices have long been used either singly or collectively for various purposes such as watering land, extinguishing fires, etc. However, most of them do not have control means for presetting and covering a specific area during operation, while those which do are unreliable due to their inefficiency. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable and efficient automatic sprinkling device. 
     A particular object of the invention is to provide such a sprinkling device in combination with highly precised mechanical control means. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide such a sprinkling device of compact and relatively simple design. 
     The above objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a casing provided with control means and carrying internally two turbine wheels with a propeller and deflector and externally a rotary union for mounting onto a source of fluidic material under pressure and a nozzle which during operation can be made to move around in a plane between any two points and in either direction automatically while simultaneously discharging forwardly a stream of the fluidic material back and forth. 
     The casing includes two hollow circular members in the form of a tee and carries the nozzle at the top and the rotary union at the bottom. The propeller is located within the casing horizontal member and includes two blades each provided at one end with a stub shaft and disposed perpendicularly with respect to each other along a common axis, with the stub shafts extending into bearings concentrically provided at each end of the casing horizontal member. 
     The control means include a ring concentrically attached to one side of one of the propeller blades with its rim provided with four circular concave slots or recesses one of which receives a ball positioned on top of a spring-loaded vertical rod extending downwardly through the casing and provided at the bottom with a taut flexible element extending vertically downward through superposed stationary brackets attached to the casing. Stationary clips are mounted on the rotary union and carry interceptor screws that can be adjusted to timely interfere with the flexible element, thereby pulling down the rod and releasing from the checking action of the ball the ring. The smaller turbine wheel then rotates along with the propeller blades whose relative positions are thus gradually reversed while automatically reversing the direction of rotation of the casing. 
     The turbine wheels are of different diameters and concentrically mounted within the casing horizontal member both wheels lying in a common radial vertical plane, one mounted within the other. The two wheels are positioned between the propeller blades. Rotation of the ring is timed and effected only when released from the checking action of the ball by means of one of the turbine wheels (the smaller) which is rigidly attached to the propeller blades and thus subject to the checking action of the ball. 
     The other turbine wheel (the larger) is freely mounted to rotate around the outer periphery of the smaller turbine wheel and carries two flaps at its outer periphery which as they rotate obstruct periodically and partially the flow of fluidic material to the nozzle, thus causing the back and forth pattern of the stream of material being discharged from the nozzle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will become better understood to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in light of the drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing the components of a device in accordance with the present invention, with only the casing being shown in cross-section; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional vertical elevation view of a control ring vertically shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 1, with only the casing being shown in cross-section; 
     FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the casing of the device shown in FIG. 1 taken along the axis of the horizontal casing member; 
     FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken immediately above an upper bracket shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is an external elevation view taken from the right side of FIG. 1 with clips thereof removed; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the assembly of the propeller blades-turbine wheels-ring-stub shafts taken along the axis and across the radial line joining the tips of left blade shown in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 8 is an elevation view from the left side of the assembly shown in FIG. 7. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, the device includes a hollow T-shaped casing 1 including a vertical cylindrical member 6 connected to a horizontal cylindrical member 51 and carrying at the top a nozzle 3 and at the bottom a rotary union 50 which includes a stationary coupling 28 and a vertical rotary pipe 27 fitted with a seal 26 and concentrically connected to vertical member 6. Forming part of horizontal member 51 is a cover 4 concentrically mounted on one side thereof. Nozzle 3, here shown as being of the angle type, has a spout 38 connecting to the inside of member 51 via a port 39 and a recess 32 provided within member 51, port 39 having its axis lying in line with that of vertical member 6. 
     The external end surface of cover 4 and that of horizontal member 51 opposite to cover 4 are here shown respectively provided with radial serrations 5 and 36 to facilitate mounting of the device. A circular notch 35 around the outer periphery of member 51 may be also provided as shown merely to provide symmetrical outside configuration or appearance of the device. 
     Within member 51 and concentrically disposed along its horizontal axis are two turbine wheels 41 and 11 (the smaller wheel 41 being mounted within the larger wheel 11). Two blades 8 and 9 rigidly connected to wheel 41 and extending axially from opposite sides thereof in planes perpendicular to one another, thus forming a propeller, with the tips of the blades being spaced from the inner wall of member 51. Two stub shafts 31 are attached to respective blades 8 and 9 and extend into respective bearings 37 located at one side in cover 4 and at the other side in the end of the body of casing 1. 
     Turbine wheel 41 includes two parallel annular-shaped plates 42 spaced a distance apart and connected rigidly together by means of a plurality of curved vanes 40 disposed similarly to those of a so-called &#34;Francis&#34; or radial-flow turbine wheel. Rotatably mounted over the rims of plates 42 of wheel 41 is the larger turbine wheel 11 comprising two parallel annular-shaped plates 12 spaced a distance apart and rigidly connected together by means of a plurality of curved vanes 29 disposed similarly to those of wheel 41. The overall width of wheel 11 corresponds to that of wheel 41 with the outer periphery of each plate 12 bearing snugly against the inner wall of member 51. To prevent axial movement of wheel 11 the inner peripheral edge of each plate 12 may be tapered to engage into a V-shaped notch (not shown) provided around the outer periphery of each plate 42. 
     Radially mounted opposite each other along part of the outer periphery of each plate 12 and extending axially outwardly therefrom are two curved flaps 10 having their outer surfaces bearing snugly against the inner wall of member 51, flaps 10 being disposed axially opposite each other on wheel. The overall width and chord dimensions of flaps 10 substantially correspond respectively to the axial dimension of recess 32 and to the inside diameter of vertical member 6. 
     Part of the inside surface of vertical member 6 is inclined inwardly and upwardly from a point 53 on one side of the inner surface to a point 52 spaced from the opposite side inner surface. Such inclined surface has a width substantially equal to that of wheels 41 and 11 to form a deflecting flat surface 7 and a tongue 33 whose upper surface is part of the inner periphery of member 51. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, integrally formed with the axially outer end of blade 8 is an annular ring 2 having an outer periphery slidably fitting within the inner wall of member 51. Spaced around the outer periphery of ring 2 are a plurality of recesses or notches 30 formed therein, for example four notches as shown. 
     Extending downwardly beneath ring 2 through a nut 15 provided with a seal 17 and in line with ring 2 is a vertical spring-loaded rod 47 thrusting upwardly a ball 13 fitting snugly into one of the notches 30. The upward thrust of rod 47 is effected by means of a spring 16 mounted on rod 47 and within nut 15 securely screwed into a boss 14 forming part of casing 1. Fastened to the bottom end of rod 47 is a flexible element 46 in the form of a taut nylon cord extending vertically and downwardly through two superposed brackets 18 and 19 projecting outwardly from the base of vertical member 6, the bottom end of flexible element 46 being fastened to and underneath bottom bracket 19. 
     The top outer portion of stationary coupling 28 is circular with its surface provided with fine vertical serrations 43 and carries two superposed cicular clips 25 and 24 on which are mounted respectively arms 21 and 22 extending outwardly and upwardly as shown. On top of arm 21 is a threaded block 45 carrying an interceptor screw 20, whereas on top of arm 22 is a threaded block 44 carrying an interceptor screw 23. 
     Each of interceptor screws 20 and 23 is adjustable lengthwise and located at an elevation corresponding to the horizontal plane lying approximately at the center of the space between brackets 18 and 19. Clips 24 and 25 are split and provided with fine serrations on their inner peripheries interlocking with serrations 43 for positive setting yet each can be readily moved around coupling 28 for setting screws 23 or 20 in various desired positions. 
     In accordance with the present embodiment, the invention operates as follows: 
     Casing 1 is mounted in a substantially vertical position by means of coupling 28 onto a source of fluidic material under pressure (in this case, water). The water rushes upwardly through pipe 27 and vertical member 6 into horizontal member 51 and port 39 via recess 32 and out in the form of a jet through spout 38 of nozzle 3. 
     However, part of the water flowing toward nozzle 3 is deflected upwardly along surface 7 through vanes 29 of wheel 11 and vanes 40 of wheel, 41 and out lateral openings 48, 49 in wheel plates 42, to nozzle 3. Since wheel 11 is freely mounted on the rims of wheel 41, wheel 11 rotates (counterclockwise when viewed as shown in FIG. 3) along with flaps 10 under the pressure of the water, while wheel 41 stays stationary under the checking action of ball 13 thrusting upwardly into one of notches 30 of wheel 2. In addition, the pressure of the water acting on the propeller formed by blades 8 and 9 causes casing 1 along with nozzle 3 and thus the jet of water being discharged from spout 38 of nozzle 3 to rotate about the vertical axis of vertical member 6 due to the relative rotation between pipe 27 and coupling 28. However, as they rotate, the flaps 10 of wheel 11 obstruct periodically and partially the flow of water to nozzle 3 thereby causing a back and forth pattern of the jet of water being discharged from spout 38 of nozzle 3. 
     When flaps 10 are in the positions shown in FIG. 3, they simultaneously cover partially the area of flow of recess 32 and that of member 6, thereby restricting the flow of water which can only then find its way through vanes 29 and 40 to nozzle 3 resulting in a lesser pressure therein and thus causing the water to fall closer through a weaker jet from spout 38. However, as flaps 10 continue to rotate under the pressure of the water flowing through vanes 29 of wheel 11, they gradually uncover the areas of flow of both recess 32 and member 6, thereby causing the pressure within nozzle 3 to gradually increase and the jet of water being discharged from spout 38 to gradually fall further. 
     The direction of rotation of casing 1 depends on the relative positions of blades 8 and 9. When the blades are in the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the resultant horizontal pressure of the water flowing against each of them creates a couple causing casing 1 to rotate in a clockwise direction when viewed from the top. However when either of propeller blades 8 and 9 is vertical and the other horizontal as shown in FIG. 8, no couple is present and rotation of casing 1 would cease if it were not for wheel 41 which, when released from the checking action of ball 13, rotates both blades 8 and 9 forcing them into reversed propelling positions. 
     The reversal in position of blades 8 and 9 is effected as follows. Assuming that casing 1 is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 rotating clockwise (when viewed from the top), with interceptor screws 20 and 23 set as shown, flexible element 46 which also moves along with casing 1 will ultimately encounter interceptor screw 20 thereby forcing element 46 to flex laterally, thus pulling down rod 47 against spring 16 and causing ball 13 to drop down by gravity from bottom notch 30, thus releasing ring 2 and allowing smaller turbine wheel 41 to rotate blades 8 and 9 counterclockwise until blade 9 reaches a vertical position and blade 8 a horizontal position as shown in FIG. 8. At this precise moment, casing 1 ceases to rotate momentarily, then starts rotating again but counterclockwise as the positions of blades 8 and 9 are gradually reversed by further rotation of turbine wheel 41. During the reversal of blades 8 and 9, ball 13 bears against the rim of ring 2 under the pressure of spring 16 until encountering the next notch 30 into which ball 13 then snaps to lock blades 8 and 9 in their now fully reversed propelling positions. The direction of rotation of casing 1 is similarly reversed when flexible element 46 encounters interceptor screw 23. Continuous rotation of casing 1 can be effected by withdrawing both interceptor screws 20 and 23 so that they clear flexible element 46. 
     Although a specifically preferred embodiment of automatic sprinkling device according to the present invention has been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that various modifications to the specifically described and illustrated arrangements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.