Patent ID: 7819339

Claim:
A self-governing spray apparatus, comprising: a supply of pressurized fluid; a spinning apparatus connected to the supply having an axis of rotation and at least one nozzle, the nozzle at the end of a moment arm pivoting about the axis of rotation, the nozzle forming a spray pattern, the spray pattern directed substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, wherein pressurized fluid flowing through the spinning apparatus causes rotation thereof; and a hinged member swinging from the moment arm, the hinge axis parallel to the axis of rotation, the location of the hinged member proximate to the nozzle such that its extent intersects the spray pattern, the mass and wetted area of the hinged member sufficient for the centrifugal force acting thereon to swing the hinged member into interference with the spray pattern, the interference deflecting the spray by an amount variable with the centrifugal force, the amount of deflection responsive to variations in the pressure, whereby a preferred speed of rotation is governed.