Spray nozzle with adjustable arc spray elevation angle and flow
OwnerCarl L.C. Kah, JR., Carl L.C. Kah, IIIinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adjustable spray nozzle with adjustable arc of coverage as well as spray elevation angle and flow rate. A very simple adjustable arc of coverage spray nozzle configuration is also disclosed which may be easily assembled for a particular precipitation rate and/or range of coverage at a selected nominal pressure. Also disclosed is a simple fixed arc of coverage spray nozzle with selectable ranges for a particular precipitation rate.
Claims29
An adjustable spray elevation angle nozzle assembly comprising:
- a housing having an inlet attachable to a source of pressurized water and an outlet for dispensing a stream of water;
- an adjustable flow control element including a moveable spray elevation angle setting member in the path of the stream of water that is axially movable to adjust the elevation angle of the stream;
- a metering element located upstream of the outlet;
- and
- a mechanism coupled to the flow control element and the metering element which adjusts the metering element in conjunction with adjustment of the spray elevation angle setting member to maintain a substantially constant precipitation rate for different spray elevation angles.
An adjustable spray elevation nozzle assembly as in claim 3, further including:
- a metering plate mounted on the tubular portion,
- the metering plate having a plurality of circumferentially spaced metering orifices disposed axially therein,
- the metering plate being rotatable with the tubular portion to selectively place one of the orifices in the flow path between the housing inlet and outlet,
- the areas of the orifices being selected to maintain a substantially constant precipitation rate independent of the selected spray elevation angle.
An adjustable spray elevation nozzle assembly as in claim 4, wherein the radially extending shoulder is part of the metering plate.
An adjustable spray elevation nozzle assembly as in claim 4, further including a flow control valve located upstream of the metering plate, the valve being operable by an actuator independent of the adjustment of the spray elevation angle.
A spray nozzle assembly for an irrigation system comprising:
- a housing having an inlet opening for attachment to a source of pressurized water and an outlet opening for emitting a stream of water;
- and
- a flow control element mounted in the housing that cooperates with the outlet opening to define an emission pattern for the stream of water,
- wherein the flow control element includes a resilient retaining portion which cooperates with a complementary element inside the housing to retain the flow control element in place inside the housing, but is resiliently releasable from the complementary element to allow removal of the flow control element from the housing.
A spray nozzle assembly according to claim 11, wherein:
- the resilient retaining portion includes a lip extending radially outward, and the complementary element comprises a shoulder extending radially inward, the lip and the shoulder being configured and positioned such that the flow control element is restrained against axial movement in the downstream direction resulting from the force of water flowing through the housing.
A spray nozzle assembly according to claim 12, further including a relieved portion on the flow control element which allows radially inward movement of the lip to disengage it from the shoulder for removal of the flow control element.
A spray nozzle assembly according to claim 13, wherein the relieved portion is comprised of an axial slot, the upstream end of which forms a gap in the periphery of the lip, and extends in the downstream direction from the lip to allow the lip to be compressed out of engagement with the shoulder.
A spray nozzle assembly according to claim 11, wherein a portion of the flow control clement which cooperates with the outlet opening includes a sloping surface inwardly tapered toward an upstream end of the nozzle assembly to deflect the stream of water as it exits the opening, whereby the taper angle determines a water stream exit angle, and a spray range for the nozzle assembly, wherein the spray range is adjusted by installation of a flow control element having a desired taper angle.
A spray nozzle assembly according to claim 15, wherein the geometry of the sloping surface and the outlet opening are selected to provide a desired height for the outlet opening, thereby determining an outlet flow area.
A spray nozzle assembly according to claim 11, wherein a portion of the flow control element which cooperates with the outlet opening includes a sloping surface inwardly tapered toward an upstream end of the nozzle assembly to deflect the stream of water as it exits the opening, whereby a water stream exit angle, and a spray range for the nozzle assembly are determined by the taper angle of the flow control element and further including an adjustment mechanism for manually changing the taper angle.
A spray nozzle assembly according to claim 17, wherein the flow control element and the outlet opening include cooperating spiral surfaces, the flow control element being rotatable relative to the outlet opening to define the peripheral extent of the opening, and thereby to determine an arc of coverage of the nozzle assembly.
A spray nozzle assembly according to claim 18, wherein the portion of the flow control element which cooperates with the outlet opening is formed of a resilient body, and the adjustment mechanism is comprised of a member which is adjustable to apply a force to the resilient body to deform it to vary the taper angle.
A spray nozzle assembly according to claim 20, wherein the spiral surface of the flow control element is inwardly tapered toward an upstream end of the nozzle assembly to deflect the stream of water as it exits the opening, whereby a water stream exit angle, and a spray range for the nozzle assembly are determined by the shape of the flow control element installed therein.
A spray nozzle assembly according to claim 21, wherein the spray range is determined by installation of a flow control element having a desired taper angle.
A spray nozzle assembly according to claim 21, wherein the portion of the flow control element which cooperates with the outlet opening is formed of a resilient body, and the adjustment mechanism is comprised of a member which is adjustable to apply a force to the resilient body to deform it to vary the taper angle.
A flow control element for an irrigation system spray nozzle comprising:
- an upstream portion in the form of a hollow tubular member adapted to be removably installed in the body of a spray nozzle, and configured to provide a passage for delivering pressurized water to an outlet opening in the nozzle from which a stream of water is emitted;
- a downstream portion including a surface configured to cooperate with the outlet opening to define a emission pattern for the stream of water;
- and
- a resilient retaining portion adapted to cooperate with a complementary element inside the housing to retain the flow control element in place inside the housing,
- wherein the retaining portion is resiliently releasable from the complementary element to allow removal of the flow control element from the housing.
A flow control element according to claim 24, wherein:
- the resilient retaining portion includes a lip extending radially outward, and the complementary element comprises a shoulder extending radially inward, the lip and the shoulder being configured and positioned such that the flow control element is restrained against axial movement in the downstream direction due to the force of water flowing through the housing.
A flow control element according to claim 25, further including a relieved portion on the flow control element which allows radially inward movement of the lip to disengage it from the shoulder for removal of the flow control element.
A flow control element according to claim 26, wherein the relieved portion is comprised of an axial slot, the upstream end of which forms a gap in the periphery of the lip, and extends in the downstream direction from the lip to allow the lip to be compressed out of engagement with the shoulder.
A flow control element according to claim 27, wherein the surface which cooperates with the outlet opening includes a sloping surface inwardly tapered toward an upstream end of the nozzle assembly to deflect the stream of water as it exits the opening, whereby the taper angle determines a water stream exit angle, and a spray range for the nozzle assembly.
A flow control element according to claim 28, wherein the geometry of the sloping surface is selected to provide a desired height for the outlet opening, thereby determining an outlet flow area.
A flow control element according to claim 27, wherein a portion of the flow control element which cooperates with the outlet opening includes a sloping surface inwardly tapered toward an upstream end of the nozzle assembly to deflect the stream of water as it exits the opening, whereby a water stream exit angle, and a spray range for the nozzle assembly are determined by the taper of the flow control element, and further including an adjustment element which is movable to change the taper angle.
A flow control element according to claim 30, wherein the portion of the flow control element which cooperates with the outlet opening is formed of a resilient material, and the adjustment mechanism is formed of a member configured and positioned to adjustably deform the resilient material, and thereby to change the taper angle.
A flow control element according to claim 32, wherein the spiral surface of the flow control element is inwardly tapered toward an upstream end of the nozzle assembly to deflect the stream of water as it exits the opening, whereby a water stream exit angle, and a spray range for the nozzle assembly are determined by the shape of the flow control element installed therein.
An adjustable spray nozzle assembly for an irrigation system comprising:
- a body having an inlet configured and operable for attachment to a source of pressurized water and an outlet opening configured and operable for emitting a stream of water;
- and
- a deflector element mounted in the body such that a stream of water from the outlet deflects off the deflector element at an elevation angle out of the nozzle assembly;
- the deflector element further comprising a mechanism configured and operable for axial movement such that the elevation angle of the stream of water leaving the spray nozzle is adjusted.
The adjustable spray nozzle of claim 34, wherein the deflector element is made of a flexible material such that a deflector surface thereof that deflects the stream of water is mechanically adjustable to change the angle of elevation of the deflected stream of water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.