Rotatable flange for a water monitor

A rotatable apparatus for a fluid-directing device, comprising:

• a flange assembly having a stationary portion, a rotatable portion disposed in the stationary portion, and a duct extending through the stationary and rotatable portions, the duct being adapted to convey fluid flowing therethrough, the fluid entering the duct through the stationary portion and exiting the duct through the rotatable portion;
• at least one generally cylindrical bearing intermediate the stationary portion and the rotatable portion, the bearing being a hollow piece having a circular sidewall, open ends, and a retaining lip at one end;
• a water-driven turbine having a water jet passage, a rotatable water wheel and a rotatable output shaft coupled to the water wheel, the water jet passage being in communication with the duct and receiving a drive portion of the flowing fluid, the drive portion being directed at the water wheel and causing the water wheel to rotate, the rotation of the water wheel causing the output shaft to rotate;
• an output crank coupled to the output shaft, the output crank having a plurality of apertures;
• a first linkage having a first end and a second, opposing end, the first end being rotatably coupled to a select aperture of the output crank;
• a rocker arm having a first end and a second, opposing end;
• and
• a second linkage, the second linkage comprising a first linkage member and a second linkage member, the first and second linkage members each having a first and a second opposing end, the first and second linkage members being spaced apart from and generally parallel to one another, forming a clevis,
• the second end of the first linkage being rotatably coupled to both the first end of the rocker arm and the first ends of the first and second linkage members, the second end of the rocker arm being rotatably attached to the stationary portion, the second ends of the first and second linkage members being rotatably coupled to the rotatable portion,
• the first linkage being movable in a first oscillatory pattern, and
• a major portion of the first and second linkage members overlapping the first linkage for at least a portion of the first oscillatory pattern,
• the rotatable portion being movable from a first sweep end to a second sweep end in a determinable second oscillatory pattern, and a sweep angle formed between the first sweep end and the second sweep end ranging to about 165 degrees, the oscillation angle of the rotatable portion depending upon the distance of the select aperture from the output shaft.

A method for distributing fluid, comprising the steps of:

• providing a flange assembly having a stationary portion;
• disposing a rotatable portion disposed in the stationary portion, forming a duct extending through the stationary and rotatable portions, the duct being adapted to convey fluid flowing therethrough, the fluid entering the duct through the stationary portion and exiting the duct through the rotatable portion;
• placing a water-driven turbine in communication with the duct, an output shaft of the turbine being rotatable by fluid flowing in the duct;
• coupling an output crank coupled to the output shaft;
• providing a first linkage having a first end and a second, opposing end, the first end being rotatably coupled to the output crank;
• providing a rocker arm having a first end and a second, opposing end;
• and
• providing a second linkage, the second linkage comprising a first linkage member and a second linkage member, the linkage members each having a first and a second opposing end;
• rotatably coupling the second end of the first linkage to both the first end of the rocker arm and the first ends of the linkage members;
• rotatably attaching the second end of the rocker arm to the stationary portion;
• and
• rotatably coupling the second ends of the linkage members to the rotatable portion,
• the first linkage being movable in a first oscillatory pattern, and
• a major portion of the first and second linkage members overlapping the first linkage for at least a portion of the first oscillatory pattern,
• the rotatable portion being movable from a first sweep end to a second sweep end in a determinable second oscillatory pattern, and a sweep angle formed between the first sweep end and the second sweep end ranging to about 165 degrees.