US 4,119,275 A · Fluid spray head and method adapted to spray specific pattern

Abstract

An improved fluid spray head for sprinkler apparatus is disclosed adjustable both as to the flow rate of fluid to the discharge orifices and the precipation rate over the ground area sprayed, and particularly adapted to spray a specifically shaped non-circular area. The spray head has a plurality of circumferentially-spaced discharge orifices having cross-sectional areas equally proportional to the square of the distance that their respective spray streams are desired to travel whereby the perimeter of the ground area sprayed defines the preselected shape and receives a substantially uniform coverage of fluid. In a preferred embodiment, the spray head includes an inner tubular member which telescopes within an outer tubular member to provide the simultaneous adjustment of the size of the discharge orifices and wherein the inner tubular member is made radially thinner so as to be more pressure expandable under fluid pressure to thereby tighten the fluid seal between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member. Methods for constructing and operating a fluid spray head adapted to spraying a specific pattern or shaped area are also disclosed.

Claims13

Dependent claims

In a fluid spray head for spraying an area disposed radially about the head comprising a substantially tubular body having an axial passageway open at one end and adapted at that end for communication with a source of pressurized fluid, being closed at its other end, and having a plurality of circumferentially-disposed discharged orifices wherein each orifice sprays a segment of the area, the improvement for spraying an irregularly shaped area with a proportionally matching irregularly shaped spray pattern comprising:

said plurality of discharge orifices being of different cross-sectional areas related to the horizontal distance from the spray head to the edge of the spray pattern segment sprayed by the respective orifice whereby the respective spray streams of said orifices travel for different horizontal distances identically proportionally related to their respective positions in the spray pattern.

A sprinkler apparatus including a fluid spray head comprising:

a substantially tubular pressure expandable outer member having an axial passageway being open at both ends, being adapted at one end for communication with a source of pressurized fluid, and having internal bulkhead means for restricting the flow of fluid through the passageway;
a substantially tubular pressure expandable inner member having a cap and an open tubular end, fluid-tightly, slidably engaging within the other end of said outer member, said tubular end having skirt means for being effectively more pressure expandable than said outer member whereby the slidable engagement between the tubular end and the outer member becomes more fluid tight under conditions of higher fluid pressure within said passageway, and having a plurality of circumferentially-disposed substantially triangularly-shaped discharge orifices having a predetermined size whose cross-sectional areas are chosen such that the relative cross-sectional areas of said orifice openings are all proportional in the same amount to the square of the distance that their respective spray streams are required to travel whereby the perimeter of the ground area sprayed defines a preselected shape and the ground area sprayed receives a substantially uniform coverage of fluid;
said outer member having an upper annular edge extending across said orifices to define the bases of said triangularly-shaped orifices;
means for axially adjusting said cap relative to the annular edge of said outer member for varying the effective cross-sectional area of said orifices without altering the relative geometric proportions thereof;
and
flow adjusting means for variably adjusting the restriction of fluid flow by said bulkhead means, said means being operated by rotating said inner member relative to the bulkhead means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluid spray head and method adapted to spray specific pattern

Life of this patent

Fluid spray head and method adapted to spray specific pattern

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13