초록 ▼

The invention provides an improved miniature spray device (100) for providing uniform water distribution over a designated area surrounding the device (100). The spray device (100) comprises a spray plate (130) which is provided with a water dispersion surface (131) which is preferably cone shaped,

The invention provides an improved miniature spray device (100) for providing uniform water distribution over a designated area surrounding the device (100). The spray device (100) comprises a spray plate (130) which is provided with a water dispersion surface (131) which is preferably cone shaped, a water outlet (120) for directing a stream of water from a pressurized source towards a central region of the spray plate (130), a support frame (150) for holding the spray plate (130) in spaced apart relation to and in alignment with the water outlet (120), wherein the water dispersion surface (131) is provided with flow deflection means (132, 133, 134) for changing the direction of flow of the water as it flows over the surface (131) to produce a substantially uniformly distributed spray pattern.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A spray device for spraying water over a designated area, said device including: a spray plate including a central water impingement region and a water dispersion surface extending away from said central region and formed as a downwardly facing, substantially cone-shaped, recess in the spray plat

1. A spray device for spraying water over a designated area, said device including: a spray plate including a central water impingement region and a water dispersion surface extending away from said central region and formed as a downwardly facing, substantially cone-shaped, recess in the spray plate, said central region having a center;a liquid outlet to direct a stream of liquid from a pressurised source towards the central region of the spray plate to impinge there-against; anda support frame to maintain the spray plate in spaced apart relation to and in alignment with the liquid outlet, characterised in that the water dispersion surface includes flow deflection means to change the direction of flow of the water as it flows over the water dispersion surface to produce a substantially uniform spray pattern from the spray plate and thereby provide uniform water distribution over the designated area, wherein the flow deflection means includes a plurality of depressions formed in the water dispersion surface, the plurality of depressions being arranged in circular rows, each circular row having a pitch circle centred on a vertical central axis passing through the spray plate, the depressions in any one row being staggered with respect to the depressions in an adjacent row, the depressions being closed-bottom depressions positioned at different distances from the center of the spray plate, the depressions in each said row being equally spaced and overlap with adjacent depressions in an adjacent row in both circumferential and axial directions. 2. The spray device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cone shaped surface has a flattened vertex region which forms said central water impingement region of the spray plate. 3. The spray device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closed-bottom depressions are of a circular shape. 4. The spray device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closed-bottom depressions are of an elliptical shape. 5. The spray device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closed-bottom depressions are of a non-regular shape. 6. The spray device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closed-bottom depressions have sharp edges. 7. The spray device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support frame supports the spray plate directly above the liquid outlet. 8. The spray device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spray device is formed as a moulded plastic unitary item. 9. The spray device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the downwardly facing substantially cone-shaped recess in the spray plate defines an included angle of 90°. 10. The spray device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the depth of the closed-bottom depressions is varied depending on the flow rate of the spray device. 11. A spray device for spraying water over a designated area, said device including: a spray plate including a central water impingement region and a water dispersion surface extending away from said central region and formed as a downwardly facing, substantially cone-shaped, recess in the spray plate, said central region having a center;a liquid outlet to direct a stream of liquid from a pressurised source towards the central region of the spray plate to impinge there-against; anda support frame to maintain the spray plate in spaced apart relation to and in alignment with the liquid outlet, characterised in that the water dispersion surface includes flow deflection means to change the direction of flow of the water as it flows over the water dispersion surface to produce a substantially uniform spray pattern from the spray plate and thereby provide uniform water distribution over the designated area, wherein the flow deflection means includes a plurality of depressions formed in the water dispersion surface, the plurality of depressions being arranged in three circular rows, each circular row having a pitch circle centred on a vertical central axis passing through the spray plate, the depressions in any one row being staggered with respect to the depressions in an adjacent row, the depressions being closed-bottom depressions positioned at different distances from the center of the spray plate, wherein the depressions in each row being approximately hemispherical and the depressions in the outer row being larger than those in each of the inner and intermediate rows. 12. The spray device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the support frame supports the spray plate directly above the liquid outlet. 13. The spray device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spray device is formed as a moulded plastic unitary item. 14. The spray device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the downwardly facing substantially cone-shaped recess in the spray plate defines an included angle of 90°. 15. The spray device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the depth of the closed-bottom depressions is varied depending on the flow rate of the spray device. 16. The spray device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cone shaped surface has a flattened vertex region which forms said central water impingement region of the spray plate.