| 摘要 |
<p>An apparatus is disclosed which is adapted to conduct water from a source of water to a water consumer which is moveable relative to said source. More particularly, watering apparatus is disclosed suited for watering large areas of ground. Developments within the farming industry have resulted in increased requirements for the artificial watering of agricultural ground and a number of proposals have been submitted as to how relatively large surfaces of ground can be watered artificially using water sprays. One such proposal suggests the use of a large number of spray devices mounted on a network of pipes, which network may be permanently in place or only temporarily in place. Other proposals incorporate tractordriven or tractor-carried pipes or hoses provided with water sprays. Selfpropelling apparatus have also been proposed, in which the water pipes are carried on a plurality of sequentially arranged wheels which are arranged to move parallel to a mains water-pipe or circularly around a water hydrant which may be permanent fixture or which may be moveably arranged. All of the previously proposed systems have serious drawbacks. The present invention is based on the concept of using two substantially identical, extendible and collapsible pipe-systems arranged to conduct water from a water source, for example a water mains or a water hydrant, to a water-consumer, for example one or more water sprays. Each system of pipes is constructed of a number of substantially rigid pipes and a plurality of pipe-coupling devices which pivotally connect the pipes at the ends thereof in a manner to permit water to flow from pipe to pipe through the coupling devices. The system of pipes is held together by holding means and is carried above the surface of the ground by supporting means. The use of two pipe-systems enables substantially the same flexibility to be obtained as that obtained with hoses, whilst at the same time eliminating a number of the disadvantages encountered with hoses. By connecting one end of respective pipe-systems to a water hydrant and the other ends of said system to a water spray, and by extending and collapsing the pipe-systems, the water spray can be moved reciprocatingly over a surface to be watered.</p> |
