Patent
Wastewater spray distribution apparatus
| العنوان: | Wastewater spray distribution apparatus |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 12076,740 |
| تاريخ النشر: | September 03, 2024 |
| Appl. No: | 17/963512 |
| Application Filed: | October 11, 2022 |
| مستخلص: | A wastewater spray distribution apparatus is operative to distribute wastewater produced by a sewage treatment system (10) onto a ground level (22) through operation of sprayers (118, 260). The exemplary sprayers include a manifold (142, 262) that includes outlet nozzles (158, 264) that can be readily removed and replaced. The exemplary manifold further includes interior areas bounded by surfaces that slope continuously downward from the outlet nozzles to the manifold inlet to assure the draining of water therefrom. Each of the nozzles include a base (140) which includes brake (207). A brake is provided in each nozzle and is adjustable to provide brake force to limit rotational movement produced by the thrust of water passing from the outlet nozzles to assure that the sprayer operates at the appropriate rotational speed. Alternative arrangements include manifolds including fixed or adjustable flaps and radially outwardly adjustable arms to adjust rotational properties. |
| Inventors: | Spray Heads, LLC (Alliance, OH, US) |
| Assignees: | SPRAY HEADS, LLC (Alliance, OH, US) |
| Claim: | 1. Apparatus comprising: a rotatable water distribution sprayer including a base, wherein the base includes a body, wherein the body includes a generally cylindrical internal cavity, wherein the cavity extends along an axis, wherein the body includes an outlet body end, wherein the outlet body end includes an outlet body end opening, a hub, wherein the hub extends in the cavity and is rotatable about the axis within the cavity, wherein the hub includes a nipple end, wherein the nipple end extends axially outside the body through the outlet body end opening, and is configured to be releasably engageable with a manifold inlet of a manifold including at least one outlet nozzle that is radially disposed from the axis, wherein the hub includes an axial passage therethrough, wherein the axial passage fluidly extends from within the cavity through the nipple end, a brake, wherein the brake is in operative connection with the hub and operative to apply a selectively variable brake force that resists rotation of the hub in a hub rotational direction, wherein water discharge from the at least one outlet nozzle is operative to produce a rotational force operative to overcome the brake force and cause the hub and manifold to rotate in the hub rotational direction. |
| Claim: | 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the hub includes an annular, radially extending disc rotor portion, wherein the disc rotor portion is housed within the cavity, wherein the disc rotor portion includes a radially extending rotor wall, a stator, wherein the stator is positioned in rotationally fixed operative connection with the body, wherein the stator includes an annular friction disc portion, wherein the friction disc portion is in abutting engagement with one radially extending rotor wall, a spring, wherein the spring is operative to bias the disc portion and the rotor wall toward abutting engagement, wherein the biasing force is selectively variable and operative to cause the selectively variable brake force. |
| Claim: | 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the body further includes a rotatable cap, wherein the cap is selectively axially positionable relative to the body responsive to cap rotation from outside the body, wherein the brake force is variable responsive to changes in axial position of the cap. |
| Claim: | 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: an annular rotatable threaded member, wherein rotation of the threaded member about the axis is operative to cause an axial force to be applied to the hub, wherein the axial force varies with variation of rotational position of the threaded member, wherein the brake force is increased with increased axial force. |
| Claim: | 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: an annular rotatable threaded member, wherein rotation of the threaded member about the axis is operative to cause an axial force to be applied to the hub, wherein the axial force increases with rotation of the threaded member in a first rotational direction and decreases with rotation of the threaded member in a second rotational direction opposed of the first rotational direction, wherein the brake force is increased with increased axial force. |
| Claim: | 6. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: an annular rotatable threaded member, wherein rotation of the threaded member about the axis is operative to cause the threaded member to axially move relative to the hub, wherein axial movement of the threaded member relative to the hub is operative to vary an axial force applied to the hub, wherein the axial force varies with the axial position of the threaded member relative to the hub, wherein the brake force is increased with axial movement of the threaded member in a first direction relative to the hub and decreased with axial movement of the threaded member in a second direction opposed of the first direction relative to the hub. |
| Claim: | 7. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: an annular rotatable threaded member, wherein the hub axially extends through the annular rotatable threaded member, wherein the body includes an outer cavity portion, wherein the outer cavity portion includes a threaded outer cavity end, wherein the annular rotatable threaded member includes an outer annular threaded portion, wherein the outer annular threaded portion is in threaded engagement with the threaded outer cavity end, wherein rotation of the threaded member about the axis is operative to cause the threaded member to axially move relative to the hub and the body, wherein axial movement of the threaded member is operative to vary an axial force applied to the hub, wherein the axial force varies with the axial position of the threaded member relative to the hub, wherein the brake force is increased with axial movement of the threaded member in a first axial direction relative to the hub and decreased with axial movement of the threaded member in a second axial direction opposed of the first axial direction relative to the hub. |
| Claim: | 8. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: an annular rotatable threaded member, wherein the hub axially extends through the annular rotatable threaded member, wherein the body includes an outer cavity portion, wherein the outer cavity portion includes a threaded outer cavity end, wherein the annular rotatable threaded member includes an outer annular threaded portion, wherein the outer annular threaded portion is in threaded engagement with the threaded outer cavity end, wherein the rotatable threaded member includes an outer face, wherein the outer face includes at least one of a tool engagement recess and a tool engagement projection, wherein the annular rotatable threaded member is selectively rotatable via tool engagement with the at least one tool engagement recess or tool engagement projection, wherein rotation of the threaded member about the axis is operative to cause the threaded member to axially move relative to the hub and the body, wherein axial movement of the threaded member is operative to vary an axial force applied to the hub, wherein the axial force varies with the axial position of the threaded member relative to the hub, wherein the brake force is increased with axial movement of the threaded member in a first axial direction relative to the hub and decreased with axial movement of the threaded member in a second axial direction opposed of the first direction relative to the hub. |
| Claim: | 9. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: the manifold, wherein the manifold includes an interior area, the manifold inlet, wherein the manifold inlet is engaged with the nipple end of the hub, the at least one outlet nozzle, wherein the manifold inlet and the at least one outlet nozzle are in fluid communication through the manifold interior area. |
| Claim: | 10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the hub further includes a slinger, wherein the slinger is in fixed operative connection with the hub and is axially disposed from the outlet body end opening and extends continuously radially outward from the hub to beyond the outlet body end opening. |
| Claim: | 11. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: the manifold, wherein the manifold includes an interior area, the manifold inlet, wherein the manifold inlet is engaged with the nipple end of the hub, a first outlet nozzle, a radially extending arm portion, wherein the radially extending arm portion extends radially fluidly intermediate of the axis and the first outlet nozzle, wherein the first outlet nozzle is disposed radially from the axis a radial arm distance, wherein the radial arm distance is selectively variable, wherein the manifold inlet and the first outlet nozzle are in fluid communication through the radially extending arm portion. |
| Claim: | 12. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: the manifold, wherein the manifold includes an interior area, the manifold inlet, wherein the manifold inlet is engaged with the nipple end of the hub, a first outlet nozzle, a radially extending arm portion, wherein the radially extending arm portion extends radially fluidly intermediate of the axis and the first outlet nozzle, wherein the first outlet nozzle is disposed radially from the axis a radial arm distance, wherein the radial arm distance is selectively variable, a radially extending rotatably movable adjusting rod, wherein the adjusting rod is operative to movably engage the radially extending arm portion, wherein the adjusting rod is rotatably accessible from outside the manifold such that rotation of the adjusting rod is operative to change the radial arm distance between the axis and the first outlet nozzle, wherein the manifold inlet and the first outlet nozzle are in fluid communication through the radially extending arm portion. |
| Claim: | 13. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: the manifold, wherein the manifold includes an interior area, the manifold inlet, wherein the manifold inlet is engaged with the nipple end of the hub, the at least one outlet nozzle, wherein the manifold inlet and the at least one outlet nozzle are in fluid communication through the manifold interior area, an external flat engaging projection, wherein the flat engaging projection is configured to engage a proximal end of a flap, wherein a distal end of the flap is selectively positionable outwardly relative to the axis. |
| Claim: | 14. Apparatus comprising: a rotatable water distribution sprayer including: a base, wherein the base includes a body, wherein the body includes an internal cavity, wherein the internal cavity extends along an axis, wherein the body includes an outlet body end, wherein the outlet body end includes an outlet body end opening, a hub, wherein the hub extends in and is rotatable about the axis within the internal cavity, wherein the hub includes an axially extending nipple end, wherein the nipple end extends outside the body through the outlet body end opening, and is configured to be releasably engageable with a manifold inlet of a manifold including at least one outlet nozzle, wherein the hub includes a fluid passage therethrough, wherein the fluid passage extends between the internal cavity and the nipple end, a brake, wherein the brake is in operative connection with the hub and is operative to apply a selectively variable brake force that resists rotation of the hub in a hub rotational direction, wherein water that flows from the nipple end of the hub and that is discharged from the at least one outlet nozzle is operative to produce a rotational force in excess of the brake force that is operative to cause the hub to rotate in the hub rotational direction. |
| Claim: | 15. The apparatus according to claim 14 and further including: at least one axially movable member, wherein the axially movable member is in operative connection with the hub, wherein axial movement of the axially movable member relative to the hub is operative to change the brake force applied to the hub. |
| Claim: | 16. The apparatus according to claim 14 and further including: an annular threaded member, wherein the annular threaded member is selectively axially positionable relative to the hub responsive to axial rotation of the annular threaded member relative to the hub, wherein rotation of the annular threaded member is operative to vary the brake force applied to the hub. |
| Claim: | 17. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the hub includes an annular radially outward extending disc rotor portion, wherein the disc rotor portion is housed within the cavity, wherein the disc rotor portion includes a radially extending rotor wall, a stator, wherein the stator is positioned in rotationally fixed operative connection with the body, wherein the stator includes an annular friction disc portion, wherein the friction disc portion is in abutting engagement with the radially extending rotor wall, an annular rotatable threaded member, wherein the annular rotatable threaded member is in operative connection with the hub, wherein rotation of the annular rotatable threaded member is operative to vary the axial force acting between the radially extending rotor wall and the annular friction disc portion. |
| Claim: | 18. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the hub includes an annular, radially extending disc rotor portion, wherein the disc rotor portion is housed within the cavity, wherein the disc rotor portion includes a radially extending rotor wall, a stator, wherein the stator is positioned in rotationally fixed operative connection with the body, wherein the stator includes an annular friction disc portion, wherein the friction disc portion is in abutting engagement with the radially extending rotor wall, a spring, wherein the spring is operative to bias the disc portion and the rotor wall toward abutting engagement, an annular rotatable member, wherein the annular rotatable member is in operative connection with the hub, wherein rotation of the annular rotatable member is operative to change the biasing force applied by the spring, whereby the brake force is varied. |
| Claim: | 19. The apparatus according to claim 14 and further including: an annular rotatable threaded member, wherein rotation of the threaded member about the axis is operative to cause an axial force to be applied to the hub, wherein the axial force increases with rotation of the threaded member in a first rotational direction and decreases with rotation of the threaded member in a second rotational direction opposed of the first rotational direction, wherein the brake force is increased with increased axial force. |
| Claim: | 20. The apparatus point of claim 14 and further including: the manifold, wherein the manifold includes an interior area, the manifold inlet, wherein the manifold inlet is engaged with the nipple end of the hub, the at least one outlet nozzle, wherein the manifold inlet and the at least one outlet nozzle are in fluid communication through the manifold interior area. |
| Patent References Cited: | 3066871 December 1962 Born 3592388 July 1971 Friedlander 5190644 March 1993 Wisniewski 5497799 March 1996 Shenk 11471899 October 2022 Debro |
| Primary Examiner: | Ganey, Steven J |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Jocke, Ralph E. WALKER & JOCKE |
| رقم الانضمام: | edspgr.12076740 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| الوصف غير متاح. |