Abstract: A protective housing is provided which entirely encloses an impact drive irrigation sprinkler to prevent adjacent vegetation from interfering with normal operation of the sprinkler and to minimize damage due to vandalizing. In the case of pop-up type sprinklers, a lower portion of the housing is tapered to enhance the ability of the sprinkler to move axially through vegetation, such as ivy and the like, and the housing is arranged to entirely enclose the sprinkler in all operating and non-operating positions.

Abstract: In a method of watering use is made of a watering apparatus comprising a pressure vessel and a spray device and to which water is supplied through a hose. The pressure vessel discharges intermittently the water supplied thereto, and the watering apparatus is caused to move along a given path while utilizing the energy stored in the water. The number of drive pulses per unit of time to a drive means associated with the watering apparatus is preferably determined by the number of pulses delivered per unit of time from the pressure vessel. The drive pulses may be supplied to the drive means simultaneously as the pressure vessel is supplied with water after delivering a pulse, to increase the pressure in said vessel. The watering apparatus is caused to move reciprocatingly along a path having two ends, the direction of drive being switched at the ends of the path.

Abstract: A drip irrigation system comprising a thin walled thermoplastic conduit having an axially directed thick wall portion, discrete, substantially flat emitter units being heat welded to axial spaced apart locations of an inner surface of said thick wall portion adjacent outlet apertures formed in said thick wall portion, the emitter units being preferably provided with an elastomeric membrane exposed to the throughflow pressure in the conduit for the purpose of stabilizing the output rate of each emitter unit vis-a-vis possible flow pressure variations in the conduit.

Abstract: A sheet applicator particularly suitable for bag-making machines comprises suction members controlled by a three-way valve to apply a vacuum to them at a sheet withdrawing station and atmospheric pressure when they have been reciprocated to a sheet releasing station. The valve comprises a first chamber communicating with atmospheric pressure and a second chamber of larger diameter than the first communicating with a source of vacuum, the chambers being alternately connected to the suction members by a valve plate displaceable between the chambers to close one of them and open the other. A spring acts on the valve plate with a force insufficient to displace it when it is closing the said second chamber but sufficient to hold it closed when it is closing the first chamber. Actual displacement of the valve plate is effected by a valve rod therefor striking abutments at the sheet withdrawing and sheet releasing stations.

Abstract: In a drip level irrigation emitter unit having flow restricting means, a control mechanism, inlet and outlet control chambers of the control mechanism, resiliently flexible membrane sealingly separating the control chambers, the membrane being displaceable with respect to the flow restricting means, the inlet and outlet chambers respectively communicating with an inlet and an outlet of the flow restricting means, the outlet chamber being formed with an outlet aperture of substantially smaller area than that of the membrane, the arrangement being such that upon the liquid pressure in the inlet chamber exceeding the liquid pressure in the outlet chamber by a predetermined amount, the membrane flexes elastically towards the outlet aperture so as to define, with a rim of the aperture, a restricted outflow path thereby limiting variations in the outflow rate.

Abstract: A irrigation system for automatically irrigating an agricultural area having a plurality of fields for producing various crops includes a central station and a plurality of remote stations located in the fields. A computer with associated peripherals in the central station is loaded with an irrigation program defining a predetermined schedule for delivery of pre-established quantities of water to each field, the delivery of water can further be dependent on environmental conditions such as wind speed, temperature, humidity, and other factors. The computer via a communication path, such as a radio channel or three-wire circuit, sends coded command messages to selected remote stations for activating valves and pumps for delivering the pre-established quantities of water to the respective fields and continuously interrogates the remote stations for flow meter, water-pressure meter, environmental conditions and alarm information to diagnose proper operation and to monitor the delivery of water.

Abstract: A sheet feeding assembly for separating and feeding sheet material one by one by means of a reversely rotatable separation roller or a stationary friction separation roller. There is further provided a sheet protective roller of which the dimension is substantially equal to that of the separation roller. The protective roller is rotatable freely from the separation roller so that the relative movement of the protective roller may remain unchanged with respect to the feed roller when in use.

Abstract: A mist generator capable of attachment to a garden hose having a throttling valve for controlling the volume of water discharged and a nozzle including a wedge shaped opening defining an angular surface against which the water discharged will impact to cause the water to break into a mist of tiny droplets having low impact capabilities.

Abstract: A fuel injector for air-compressing, direct-injection internal combustion engines. The injector essentially comprises a nozzle body, a hollow nozzle needle which is axially displaceable therein, and a second nozzle needle which is displaceable within said hollow nozzle needle. The two nozzle needles are controlled in such a way that in the lower speed and/or load range of the internal combustion engine, initially only one nozzle needle opens to release one or some of the spray holes, while the full fuel injection, which may be in different directions, occurs only at full load by opening the other nozzle needle. One of the spray holes is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the injector, and in the closed and partly opened state of the injector, a pin of the second nozzle needle extends into this hole with clearance.

Abstract: A spreader which is for fertilizer or seed is adapted to be carried by a three-point hitch of a tractor, the spreader having two side-by-side hopper portions, each hopper portion having eight triangular-shaped wall parts terminating in a circular flat part through which the shaft of an underlying ejector disc distributor extends and connects to an agitator which is rotated in each hopper portion. A variable sized opening is provided in each flat part and such openings are commonly controlled by a lever at the front of the spreader within reach of the tractor's operator. Each hopper portion is funnel shaped and centrally under the spreader between such funnel shaped portions a transmission is mounted on the frame of the spreader, such transmission being in a casing which is adapted to receive, via a shaft extending therefrom, the power take-off shaft of a tractor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile liquid distributing apparatus comprising a quasi-constant flow supply device a variable flow distributing device, and liquid transfer means interconnecting the two devices. A flow regulating means is included in the transfer means and a regulation device acts on the regulating means and comprises comparison means. The latter receive, on one hand, a signal from means for measuring a magnitude which is a characteristic of the flow of the liquid in the transfer means and, on the other hand, a reference signal from means for measuring the speed of the apparatus through means for transforming between the speed and said magnitude. The means measuring the characteristic magnitude is constituted by a flow measuring means and the transforming means are constituted by means for applying a coefficient of proportionality. The invention is of particular interest in applications in the agricultural field.

Abstract: Showerhead apparatus includes a deformable washer and a metering orifice to provide a substantially constant flow of aerated water over a wide range of pressures of the water supply line.

Abstract: An apparatus for individually conveying printed products arriving in an imbricated product stream, comprising a number of driven controlled grippers revolving and guided in a closed path of travel for engaging the leading edge of the printed products. The gripper drive contains means for temporarily restraining the grippers. The gripper drive has at least one continuously driven sluice for the cycled recall of the restrained or stopped grippers. Operatively associated with the sluice is an endless revolving conveyor element equipped with entrainment members engaging the trailing edge of the products, the entrainment members being provided at a uniform spacing at the conveyor element. The conveyor element, as concerns the entrainment members, is driven in cycle with the sluice and opposite in sense to the sense of rotation or revolution of the grippers. There is also provided an infeed device having a drive operatively coupled with the drive of the sluice by a synchronous control.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a reversible turbine-driven sprinkler head which includes a vaned turbine motor for rotatably driving a nozzle. The turbine is unresponsive to the norml flow of fluid through the sprinkler head to the nozzle. Switchable deflection means are included for deflecting the flow of fluid through the body against the turbine to cause rotation thereof in either of two directions. By deflecting the fluid flow to cause the turbine to rotate in one direction, the nozzle is rotated in one direction. By switching the direction of fluid deflection to cause the turbine to flow in the opposite direction, the nozzle is rotated in the opposite direction. Adjustable means are provided for setting the positions relative to the rotation of the nozzle whereat the deflection of the fluid flow is reversed, whereby the nozzle is caused to repeatably oscillate between a first and a second position.

Abstract: A vibration responsive mechanism having a weight suspension rod pendulum which falls in response to the vibration of a base body. The mechanism comprises a responsive disc secured to said rod normally and coaxially and support balls which contact with and bear against the periphery of the disc, individual set of radial guide races having a biasing means biasing the supporting balls in a centripetal direction and a circular opening through which the responsive disc can pass in a vertical direction and a guide skirt being flared from the inner periphery of a circular opening. This mechanism can be actuated in response not only to horizontal vibration but also to vertical vibration.

Abstract: A sheet workpiece having an edge bent over on one face of the workpiece towards the center of the workpiece is continuously displaced in a transport direction over a flat support surface that lies against the other face of the workpiece at the bent-over edge. Compressed air is blown from a guide in a flow direction extending transverse to the transport direction, outwardly from the workpiece center, and generally parallel to the surface so as to blow this bent-over edge flat. A plurality of nozzles inclined slightly downwardly toward the surface and backwardly in the transport direction may be employed, as a single elongated nozzle producing a band-shaped current of air may be used, or a plurality of nozzles spread out in a two-dimensional array. Such a flow of air may also be directed from both faces at the workpiece edge in order to flatten out this edge no matter which way it is bent over.

Abstract: A stream rotor sprinkler having a rotatable nozzle assembly for discharging a stream of fluid, and a rotatable plurality of deflectors mounted to the sprinkler surrounding the nozzle assembly. A water-driven motor impeller is activated by fluid flow through the sprinkler and rotates an attached rotor. The nozzle assembly is integrally attached to the rotor and is rotated thereby. The nozzle assembly includes an annular skirt at its lower end; the deflectors also have an integrally attached annular skirt which is in horizontal concentric relationship with the nozzle assembly skirt. A transmission is mounted to the sprinkler so as to be positioned between the deflector skirt and the nozzle assembly skirt. The transmission is driven by the rotation of the nozzle assembly skirt and in turn rotates the deflector skirt.

Abstract: A distribution duct for a reactor which can be easily fabricated. The duct has an elongated back plate and an elongated perforated front plate made up of flat segments separated by elongated angular breaks, and two flat marginal edge portions on the opposite sides thereof, the marginal edge portions being in flush engagement with, and secured to the back plate adjacent to the sides thereof, the flat segments defining with the back plate a flow chamber.

Abstract: A fuel injector valve has a nozzle housing with a bore therethrough having an outlet end in communication with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The bore has a seating surface at its lower end which seats an annular ring. The annular ring has a central aperture therethrough with a seating surface at its lower open end. The aperture receives a plunger sized to leave a space between the edges of the aperture and the plunger surface. The plunger has a flanged lower section and is spring biased upwardly to have the flanged lower section contact the seating surface of the ring. The upward biasing force also forces the ring to abut the seating surface of the nozzle housing. The fluid under pressure enters the nozzle housing and forces the plunger and annular ring downward.

Abstract: A boom-type spraying apparatus which is automatically leveling during usage in spraying materials adjacent highway fixtures such as guard rails, the apparatus provides a means for automatically controlling the level of the spraying apparatus regardless of changes in lateral or vertical movement of the vehicle carrying the reservoir of material, the spraying apparatus including preferably two boom arms which are pivotally secured to a vehicle, the boom arms preferably each include an inner end and an outer end which telescope with respect to one another and are spring biased to allow this telescoping movement, the apparatus further including a roller construction at the outer end of the boom arm which is mounted upon a spindle at the end of the boom arm such that as the vehicle travels along the road the roller will follow the guard rail therealong and as such will hold the spraying conduit and spraying head in the proper orientation for application adjacent the guard rail, the roller configuration may include