WO1988007321A1

WO1988007321A1 - Watering apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1988007321A1
Application number: PCT/AU1987/000146
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Kodet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-03-27
Filing date: 1987-05-22
Publication date: 1988-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-27

Abstract

A system for spraying fluid such as water onto an agricultural plot, said system comprising a first carriage mounted fluid dispersion means (7) which in use travels along a track (1) extending the length of said plot, a second carriage (3) mounting a reel (11) and a flexible hose (12) means for conveying said fluid from a supply to said dispersion means (7) wherein said hose (12) extends from a supply (14) through a loop around said reel (11) and connects to said dispersion means (7) and in use said second carriage (3) moves in relation to the first carriage (2) in a manner whereby said hose (12) is maintained in a substantially taut and kink-free configuration irrespective of the position of said carriage along said track (1).

Description

WATERING APPARATUS

This invention relates to watering systems for agricultural plots or gardens etc.

The watering of such areas is typically accomplished throug the use of sprinkler systems which are mounted at fixed locations above the plants. While these existing systems are to some degree satisfactory they have a number of disadvantages. For example to ensure that adequate water reaches all the plants it is necessary that the spray patterns of adjacent nozzles overlap to some extent. This of course wastes water and can damage those plants which receiv an oversupply of moisture. Also it is difficult to accuratel control the spray patterns of fixed nozzles to prevent water being applied needlessly to portions of the plot which may be temporarily bare of plants.

It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate th aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly this invention discloses a fluid dispersion system for an agricultural plot or garden said system comprising; a first carriage mounted fluid dispersion means which in use travels along a track, extending the length of said plot or garden, a second carriage mounting a reel and a flexible hose means for conveying fluid from a supply to said dispersion means wherein said hose extends from the supply through a loop around said reel and connects to said dispersion means and in use said second carriage moves in relation to the first carriage in a manner whereby said hose is maintained in a substantially taut and kink-free configuration irrespective of the position of said carriage along said track.

Preferably the track is located above the level of the plants so that the water can be directed downwardly onto them as the spray nozzles move from one end of the plot to the other. It is al so preferred that the f irst and second carriages move along the same track.

Two currently preferred embodiments of this invention will now^' be described with reference to the attached illustration in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view in perspective of one form of the system which is adapted for attachment to overhead supports in a greenhouse or the like,

Figures 2a to 2c shows schematic side views of the system of figure 1 in operation,

Figure 2d shows a cross-sectional view along the lines A-A of figure 2a, and

Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of this invention.

Referring f irst to figure 1 the system may comprise a set of parallel overhead rail s 1 with a set of wheeled carriages 2 and 3 mounted thereon . Although in this case for the purpose of il lustration the tracks are fixed by means of hangers 3A to the internal roof beams of a building any other type of support may be used for either indoor or outdoor appl ication With this embodiment the carriage 2 is constructed from ligh weight aluminium tubing and consists of tr iangul ar end frame 4 which are linked by cross -members 5 . The whole assembly is suspended from four flanged wheel s 6 which are adapted to run along the top of the rails 1 . Below the frames a horizontal bar 7 i s fitted with nozzles 7A for directing a water spray 7B downwardly .

Carriage 3 s imil arly runs on a set of four flanged wheels 8 but has a s impler frame consisting basically of two horizontal members 9 for mounting the wheel s and cross piece 10 . This carr iage carries a hose reel 11 for a purpose to be described later . in use carriage 2 moves along the length of the tracks 1 and the water spray is thus distributed evenly over an agricul¬ tural plot or garden disposed directly below (not shown). Pressurised water is provided to the nozzles by means of a flexible hose 12 which extends from a flange 13 on one side of the carriage 2, around reel 11 on carriage 3 and back to a fixed point 14 on one of the rails from where it may be connected to a supply hydrant or the like. The hose is supported along it's length by sets of open hooks 15. The shape of these hooks is best shown in figure 2d. They comprise lower and upper portions 15A and 15B. The lower portion 15A cradles that segment of the hose 12A which leads directly from the supply point 14 and is thus stationary with respect to the rails 1. The upper portion 15B cradles the segment of hose 12B which extends between the carriages 2 and 3. This portion thus moves with respect to the rails and rollers 15C may therefore be fitted on this part of the hooks In order to receive these segments of hose from the adjacent hook portions 15A and 15B the reel 11 is preferably skewed at an acute angled to the horizontal.

As mentioned earlier the carriages 2 and 3 are moveable back and forth along the length of the track 1 and with the present embodiment this is accomplished by an arrangement of cables 16 and pulleys 17 driven from an electric motor 18 at one end of the track. The mechanism is such that carriage 3 moves simultaneously with carriage 2 but at half the speed. The result of this novel arrangement (as shown in figures 2a, 2b and 2c) is that the supply hose is always maintained substantially taut and therefore free of kinks and tangles between the fixed supply point 14 and the moveable carriage 3 irrespective of the position of said carriage. Wear on the hose is thus reduced and a potentially major source of break¬ down eliminated.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in figure 3 where trie rails are mounted on a vertical post or wall 19. In thi case support members 20 are bolted to the wall and one of the rails 22 is fixed to the top end thereof in a vertical 'configuration while the lower one 23 is horizontal. The weight of the carriage 24 and spray bar 25 is thus carried in the manner of a cantilever by sets of wheels 26, 27 and 28 which bear against the inner and outer sides 29 and 30 as well as an upper surface 31 of the rails.

Although nσt shown in the illustrations a light or mechanical sensing means may also be incorporated into the system to conserve water by automatically terminating the spray and/or travel of the carriages when a plant free area of plot is encountered below the nozzles.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiments described provides a novel and unique watering apparatus for agricultural or horticultural installations. Clearly however the invention is not limited to the particulr examples disclosed as a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a man skilled in the art. For example the shape and construction of the carriages and/or track may be modified according to the requirements of any particular application. The invention is also not restricted to the illustrated cable and pulley arrangement for propelling the carriages as alternative equivalent mechanical or hydraulic systems may be used. Furthermore this concept may even be adapted for the spraying or dispersion of fluids in other industrial installations.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A system for spraying fluid such as water onto an agricultural plot, said system comprising a first carriage mounted fluid dispersion means which in use travels along a track extending the length of said plot, a second carriage mounting a reel and a flexible hose means for conveying said fluid from a supply to said dispersion means wherein said hose extends from the supply through a loop around said reel and connects to said dispersion means and in use said second carriage moves in relation to the first carriage in a manner whereby said hose is maintained in a substantially taut and kink-free configuration irrespective of the positio of said carriage along said track.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the track is located above the level of the plot so that the fluid can be directed downwardly onto said plot as the dispersion means moves from one end thereof to the other.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second carriages move along the same track.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said track comprises a set of parallel overhead rails.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second carriage moves simultaneously with said first carriage but at half the speed.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first and second carriages are moved along said track by an arrangement of cables and pulleys driven from a stationary motor at one end of the track.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein a light or mechanical sensing means is incorporated into the system to conserve fluid by automatically terminating the spray and/or rravel of the carriages when plant free areas of said plot are encountered below said dispersion means.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first carriage is constructed from light weight aluminium tubing and consists of triangular end frames which are linked by cross-members, said end frames being suspended from flanged wheels adapted to run along the top of said track.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said track comprises a set of parallel rails which are mounted one below the other on a vertical support member and the weight of said first and second carriages is carried on said rails in the manner of a cantilever.

10. A system for spraying fluid such as water onto an agricultural plot, said system being substantially as described, herein with reference to figures 1, 2a, 2b and 2c or figure 3.