Automatic watering installation

A watering installation, wherein there is a movable carriage provided with at least a motor element, at least a front wheel and at least a nozzle for throwing water, said nozzle being connected to a coupling device on said carriage for coupling the nozzle in sequence to a plurality of water outlet mouths incorporated in a stationary water circuit which includes a water supply pipe provided with said outlet mouths distributed at spaced points along its length, and said carriage comprising guide means for guiding the carriage to follow along with respect to said pipe, retractable abutment means mounted on said carriage in a location near to said pipe, said retractable abutment means being held in a first position on said carriage for bumping against each of said mouths for stopping the carriage with said coupling device in alignment with the respective mouths, operating means on the carriage for moving said coupling device into coupling relationship with the aligned mouth, and acutating means on the carriage for causing said operating means to move said coupling device into engagement with said aligned outlet mouth and for releasing said abutment means for movement into a retractable second position, said water supply pipe being distributed on the area to be watered, and said pipe having its ends connected together for defining a closed circuit along which the carriage is guided.

A watering installation, wherein there is a movable carriage provided with at least a motor element, at least a front wheel and at least a nozzle for throwing water, said nozzle being connected to a coupling device on said carriage for coupling the nozzle in sequence to a plurality of water outlet mouths incorporated in a stationary water circuit which includes a water supply pipe provided with said outlet mouths distributed at spaced points along its length, and said carriage comprising guide means for guiding the carriage to follow along with respect to said pipe, retractable abutment means mounted on said carriage in a location near to said pipe, said retractable abutment means being locked in a fixed position on said carriage for bumping against each of said mouths for stopping the carriage with said coupling device in alignment with the respective mouths, operating means on the carriage for moving said coupling device into coupling relationship with the aligned mouth, and actuating means on the carriage for causing said operating means to move said coupling device into engagement with said aligned outlet mouth, said nozzle being mounted vertically on the carriage and having water spray jet means at its upper end and having said coupling device at its lower end, said nozzle being movable up and down on said carriage, said operating means being arranged for moving said nozzle up and down on said carriage, and said actuating means causing the unlocking of said abutment means when said coupling device is moved into engagement with said outlet mouth for allowing the carriage again to proceed when said coupling device has been uncoupled from the outlet mouth.

An automatic watering installation for watering an area of ground comprising a water supply pipe distributed on the area to be watered and being arranged in an endless loop for providing a closed circuit along which the carriage is guided, said water supply pipe having outlet mouths at spaced points therealong, a self-propelled watering carriage for watering said area of ground, said carriage having a plurality of wheels, two of said wheels being a pair or rear wheels straddling said water supply pipe for travelling along the water supply pipe from one of said outlet mouths to another, at least one of said wheels being a front wheel which is steerable, nozzle means for spraying water, coupling means connected to said nozzle means for engaging with the respective outlet mouths for feeding water from the outlet mouth to said nozzle means for watering the ground, operating means for engaging and disengaging the coupling means with the respective outlet mouths, guide means at the front of the carriage for steering the front wheel for guiding the carriage to follow along said closed circuit, retractable abutment means mounted near the rear of said carriage midway between and near said rear wheels, said abutment means being mounted in a location near to said pipe, said coupling means also being mounted near the rear of said carriage midway between and near said rear wheels, locking means for locking said abutment means in an extended position for bumping against each of said mouths for positively stopping said carriage with said coupling means in alignment with the respective mouths, retaining means on the carriage engageable with the respective mouths for preventing the carriage from moving backwards, operating means on the carriage for engaging and disengaging the coupling means with the aligned mouth, actuating means on the carriage for causing said operating means to move and said coupling means into engagement with the aligned mouth, means for unlocking said locking means for allowing retraction of said abutment means, said operating means for engaging and disengaging said coupling means including a first electric motor for moving said coupling means down or up on the carriage, a second electric motor on the carriage for driving it along said closed circuit from one outlet mouth to the next, a battery on the carriage for energizing said motors, and switch means for deenergizing the second motor during the time that the coupling means is engaged with the aligned mouth.

A watering installation, wherein there is a movable carriage provided with at least a motor element, at least a front wheel and at least a nozzle for throwing water, said nozzle being connected to a coupling device on said carriage for coupling the nozzle in sequence to a plurality of water outlet mouths incorporated in a stationary water circuit which includes a water supply pipe provided with said outlet mouths distributed at spaced points along its length, and said carriage comprising guide means for guiding the carriage to follow along with respect to said pipe, retractable abutment means mounted on said carriage in a locatin near to said pipe, said retractable abutment means being lockable in a fixed position on said carriage for bumping against each of said mouths for stopping the carriage with said coupling device in alignment with the respective mouths, operating means on the carriage for moving said coupling device into coupling relationship with the aligned mouth, a blade pivotally mounted on the carriage, a return spring associated with said blade for holding it in an extended position with one of its edges in an inclined position with respect to the respective outlet mouths for coming in contact with an approaching one of said outlet mouths, whereby the pressure of the approaching outlet mouth against said inclined edge serves to depress the blade against the force of its return spring, said blade returing to its extended position behind the outlet for retaining the outlet against said abutment means, and actuating means on the carriage for causing said operating means to move said coupling device into engagement with said aligned outlet mouth and for causing said abutment means to become unlocked when said coupling device has engaged said mouth.