Sprinkler irrigation system and apparatus for direction a stream of

Abstract

A method of directing a source of water under pressure, which may vary within a wide range of pressures above a predetermined minimum pressure, at a substantially constant rate of flow into the atmosphere for purposes of sprinkler irrigation which comprises the steps of communicating the source of water under pressure with an inlet of a sprinkler body having an outlet in flow communicating relation with the inlet, providing an annular member of resilient material within the outlet having a discharge orifice defining opening therethrough, and allowing the water under pressure flowing through the inlet in communication with the resilient annular member to deform the resilient annular member an amount proportional to the amount such water pressure is in excess of the predetermined minimum pressure and by such deformation to reduce the size of the opening an amount proportional to the deformation to thereby cause the water flowing through the opening to be defined as a stream entering the atmosphere with a cross-sectional size and velocity which vary inversely with respect to each other such that a substantially constant amount of water per unit time is contained in the stream entering the atmosphere throughout the range of pressure variation in the source and a sprinkler head and sprinkler irrigation system embodying such method.