AU2005201688B2

AU2005201688B2 - Improvements in or relating to irrigation means

Info

Publication number: AU2005201688B2
Application number: AU2005201688A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Colin Bruce Mcfadzean
Original assignee: Hansen Developments Ltd
Current assignee: Hansen Developments Ltd
Priority date: 2004-04-21
Filing date: 2005-04-21
Publication date: 2012-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-21
Also published as: NZ532441A; AU2005201688A1; CA2504669A1

Abstract

A strut (5) for use in connection with a sprinkler unit, said sprinkler unit comprising a housing (1) having a base portion (2) and a wall portion (3) extending upwardly of the base portion (2), said unit further including a sprinkler mounting means located within the housing and a sprinkler mounted thereon, in application the strut (5) extending from one side of the wall portion (3), above and over any moving parts of the sprinkler, and down to the opposite side of the wall portion (3). Figure 1 Figure 5

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to irrigation means, and more specifically, to improvements in or relating to irrigation sprinkler systems. 5 BACKGROUND ART To maximize the returns achievable through agricultural or horticultural endeavour it is often necessary to irrigate an area of land with water and/or water borne nutrients to maintain its productivity. In that regard it is known to use water sprinklers for irrigation. Such sprinklers vary significantly in form 10 and operation - from large high pressure "gun" irrigation systems mounted on wheeled irrigation units, to arrangements comprising a plurality of small, serially connected, low-volume, low-pressure sprinklers. The present invention relates to the later form of arrangement, examples of which can be found described in New Zealand Patent 331985 and published New Zealand 15 Patent Application 510282, the content of which patent specifications are incorporated herein by reference. It is relatively common for farmed animals such as sheep, cattle, goats or deer to continue to graze a paddock that is being irrigated using the low-pressure 20 type sprinkler systems of the type the present invention relates to. A particular problem noted with sprinkler arrangements of the type described in the two above mentioned patents is as regards the ability for animals to damage the sprinkler by inadvertently kicking or stepping onto or into the 25 sprinkler. Further, another problem with the systems to which the present invention is directed is that while the sprinkler housings described in these patent specifications have a degree of self righting ability, if the sprinkler housing rolls 30 over beyond a certain point there is the possibility that the housing can remain in a tipped or inverted position. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to go at least some way towards addressing the above problems. 1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first broad aspect of the invention there is provided a strut for use in connection with a sprinkler unit, said sprinkler unit comprising a housing having a base portion and a wall portion extending upwardly of the base 5 portion, said unit further including a sprinkler mounting means located within the housing and a sprinkler mounted thereon, in application the strut extending from one side of the wall portion, above and over any moving parts of the sprinkler, and down to the opposite side of the wall portion. 10 It is acknowledged that the terms "comprise", "comprises" and "comprising" may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, these terms are intended to have an inclusive meaning - i.e. they will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components which the use 15 directly references, but also to other non-specified components or elements. Optionally two struts can be provided per sprinkler unit, and can be either oriented in parallel spaced apart relationship to one another, or oriented perpendicular to one another, crossing over above any moving parts of the 20 sprinkler. Preferably each strut has a cross section configured and arranged to present minimal resistance to any jet of water ejected substantially radially outwardly by the sprinkler. 25 Desirably each strut is arcuate in shape, so as, in use, to form an arc from one side of the housing of the sprinkler unit, over the top of the sprinkler, and down to the other side of the housing. 30 Preferably each strut has ends adapted to fix to the housing of the sprinkler unit such as to avoid being inadvertently knocked over or out of position should an animal come into contact with the strut, or should the sprinkler housing be caused to roll over during movement of the system. 2 Conveniently each end of each strut is bent inwardly, and is adapted to lock into an aperture provided in the housing on opposite sides of the wall portion. Optionally and desirably guides are provided adjacent each aperture to maintain the strut in the vertical plane. 5 Desirably clip means are provided to engage with each end of the strut to and the sprinkler housing to lock the ends in position and prevent inadvertent dislodgement. 10 In a second broad aspect of the invention there is provided a sprinkler unit comprising a housing having a base portion and a wall portion extending upwardly of the base portion, said unit further including a sprinkler mounting means located within the housing and a sprinkler mountable thereon, and at least one strut extending from one side of the wall portion, above and over any 15 moving parts of the sprinkler, and down to the opposite side of the wall portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20 A preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a sprinkler unit according an embodiment of the invention; 25 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sprinkler unit of figure 1 in its operative layout; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the wall portion of the housing of a sprinkler unit according to the present invention showing the optional clips provided for locating the ends of the strut in position; 30 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the wall portion of the housing of figure 3; Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of a clip as shown in figures 3 and 4 locating the end of the strut in position on the housing; 3 Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of a prior art sprinkler unit showing the relative orientations of the sprinkler housing, sprinkler mount, and sprinkler; and 5 Figure 7 is a side elevation of a prior art sprinkler unit mounted to a water supply pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 10 Referring to the drawings, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a sprinkler protecting strut for use on a pod-like sprinkler unit, the unit having a housing as generally indicated at 1, sprinkler mounting means (of the general type indicated at 100 as shown in figure 6) located within the housing and a sprinkler mounted thereon (of the general 15 type indicated at 101 as shown in figures 6 and 7). The unit 1 has a base portion 2, and a top, annular wall portion 3. The using 1 tapers from the base portion 2 towards the upper most part of the wall portion 3, such that at the apex there is a small aperture 4 sized to in use enable a 20 sprinkler head (of the general type indicated at 102 as shown in figures 6 and 7) to protrude out there from. In the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 and 2 the base portion 2 and wall portion 3 are detachable from each other. This provides convenient access to 25 the housing interior for fitting the water supply pipeline (of the general type indicated at 103 as shown in figure 7) and mounting the sprinkler 101. Once fitted the base portion 2 and wall portion 3 may be reassembled, with the sprinkler head 102 passed through the aperture 4. 30 The base portion 2 is shaped to provide a stable platform to maintain the sprinkler housing 1 in an upright position, thereby ensuring in use efficient irrigation of the surrounding area. 4 A strut 5 engages with the wall portion 3, extending in an arc up and over the aperture 4, engaging again with the wall portion 3 on the opposite side of the aperture 4. 5 The arcuate shape of the strut 5 ensures that even if the housing 1 is knocked over by an animal, or during movement of a line of such sprinklers, the housing 1 will be encouraged to return to an upright position, or at least the moving sprinkler head will be prevented from coming into contact with the ground, and so will not be damaged. 10 Although the drawings illustrate a single strut 5, it is envisaged that two or more struts could be provide in parallel spaced apart relationship, or alternatively oriented at an angle, such as perpendicularly, to one another. 15 A key aspect of the invention is that the cross section of the or each strut 5 is configured and arranged to present minimal resistance to any jet of water ejected substantially radially outwardly by the sprinkler head in operation, thereby ensuring the irrigation water is evenly and efficiently spread. 20 As illustrated, each end 6 of the strut 5 bend inwardly, and lock into an aperture 7 on either side of the wall portion 3. Optionally and desirably guides 8 are provided adjacent each aperture 7 to maintain the strut 5 in the vertical plane. 25 Turning now specifically to figures 3 to 5, additional support and location of the ends 6 of the strut 5 to the wall portion 3 can be provided in the form of locating clips 9. Each clip 9 comprises a shaped strip 10 having an aperture 11 through which 30 an end 6 of the strut 5 can pass. A first end 12 of the strip 10 terminates in a lip 13 adapted to, in use, engage with and locate against the rim 14 of the aperture 4. 5 The second end 15 of the strip 10 includes means to fix it on the wall portion 3 adjacent the aperture 7. Conveniently said means comprises an aperture 16 in the end 15 through which a locating screw (not shown) can be inserted and fixed to the wall portion 3, thereby locking the end 15 in place. 5 To install the strut 5 a clip 9 is first threaded onto each end 6. The ends 6 of the strut 5 are then inserted into their respective apertures 7. Each clip 9 is then slid down the strut 5 to its respective end 6. The lip 13 of the first end 12 is then pressed into engagement with the rim 14 of the aperture 4. Finally, a 10 screw (not shown) is inserted through the aperture 16 in the end 15 of the clip 9 and screwed firmly into position, thus trapping the end 6 of the strut 5, together with an adjacent portion of the strut 5, between the clip 9 and the wall portion 3. 15 Preferably the strut is formed from either galvanized or stainless steel for strength and rigidity. However plastics material is also within the contemplation of the invention. It will be understood that the foregoing description and accompanying 20 drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the several parts, substitution of equivalent elements, arrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent materials, which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only to the 25 claims which follow. 6

Claims

1. A strut when used with a sprinkler unit, said sprinkler unit comprising a housing having a base portion and a wall portion extending upwardly of the base portion, said unit further including a sprinkler mounting means 5 located within the housing and a sprinkler mounted thereon, in application the strut extending from one side of the wall portion, above and over any moving parts of the sprinkler, and down to the opposite side of the wall portion. 10

2. Two struts when used with a sprinkler unit as claimed in claim 1 oriented in parallel spaced apart relationship to one another.

3. Two struts when used with a sprinkler unit as claimed in claim 1 oriented perpendicular to one another, crossing over above any said moving parts 15 of the sprinkler.

4. The strut as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strut has a cross section configured and arranged to present minimal resistance to any jet of water ejected substantially radially outwardly by the sprinkler. 20

5. The strut as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strut is arcuate in shape, so as, in use, to form an arc from one side of the housing of the sprinkler unit, over the top of any said moving parts of the sprinkler, and down to the other side of the housing. 25

6. The strut as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strut has ends adapted, in use, to fix to the housing of the sprinkler unit such as to avoid the strut being inadvertently knocked over or out of position should an animal come into contact with the strut, or should the sprinkler housing be caused to roll 30 over during movement of the system.

7. A sprinkler housing for a sprinkler unit, the housing having a base portion and a wall portion extending upwardly of the base portion, said unit further 7 including a sprinkler mounting means located within the housing and a sprinkler mountable thereon, said housing further including at least one strut as claimed in claim 6 extending, in use, from one side of the wall portion, above and over any moving parts of the sprinkler, and down to the 5 opposite side of the wall portion.

8. The sprinkler housing as claimed in claim 7 wherein each end of each strut is bent inwardly, and is adapted to lock into an aperture provided in the housing on opposite sides of the wall portion. 10

9. The sprinkler housing of claim 8 further including guides located adjacent each aperture to maintain the strut in the vertical plane.

10. The sprinkler housing of claim 9 further including clip means to engage 15 with each end of the strut and to the sprinkler housing to lock the ends in position and prevent inadvertent dislodgement.

11. A sprinkler housing according to claim 7 substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1 to 5 of the drawings. 8