Distributor Continuously Moves During Spraying Patents (Class 239/206)
  • Patent number: 6814305
    Abstract: A reversible, adjustable arc sprinkler head includes a sprinkler body incorporating a fixed nozzle; a spray plate mounted for rotation in one or the other of two opposite directions about a first axis arranged coaxially with a stream emitted from the nozzle, and for back and forth tilting motion about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the spray plate having a pair of substantially parallel grooves for selectively receiving the stream, depending on a direction of tilt of the spray plate; and a shift lever formed with an aperture sized to receive the stream. The shift lever is mounted at one end for rotation about a third axis parallel to the first axis, and is enabled to shift the stream from one of the pair of grooves to the other of the pair of grooves to thereby reverse the direction of rotation of the spray plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Townsend
  • Patent number: 6742720
    Abstract: A spray application system is disclosed having an enclosure with a spray chamber, a spray applicator within the chamber, and a liquid barrier such as a sprayed water curtain, within the chamber, upstream or downstream of the spray applicator. The water is preferably sprayed downward to create a vacuum for drawing the treating substance downward into the liquid barrier. The liquid barrier preferably does not contact the workpieces that instead pass overhead. Independent pressure gauges and flow regulators may be used for the upstream liquid barrier, the downstream liquid barrier, and the spray applicator. The chamber may have a roof section that is secured to a beam or other process line support, and the walls may be suspended from the roof section. The roof section may have an opening running across its length to allow hangers from an overhead processing line to pass through the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Safe Foods Corp.
    Inventor: Gary Nolen
  • Patent number: 6736334
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a riser having a lower end for receiving a pressurized fluid and a nozzle that is mounted at an upper end of the riser for rotation about an axis. A turbine is mounted for rotation inside the riser. A drive mechanism connects the turbine to the nozzle so that rotation of the turbine by the pressurized fluid rotates the nozzle. The sprinkler includes mechanisms for preventing over-spinning of the turbine when the pressurized fluid is air or a mixture of air and water. Damage to the turbine drive shaft or its bearings due to over-spinning of the turbine is thereby avoided. In one version of the sprinkler, the over-spinning prevention mechanism applies a brake force to the turbine. In another version of the sprinkler, the over-spinning prevention mechanism re-directs air or a mixture of water and air around the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Hunter, William D. Holton, Loren W. Scott
  • Patent number: 6732950
    Abstract: An improved gear drive sprinkler has a pop-up spray head adapted for adjustable part-circle or full circle operation to deliver irrigation water over a selected terrain area. The sprinkler includes a pop-up riser; a gear drive transmission mounted within the riser includes a water-driven turbine for rotatably driving a speed reduction gear train, which in turn rotatably drives the spray head. A reverse assembly includes an upper trip unit defining an individually adjustable pair of end trip stops, and a lower shift mechanism including a shiftable director plate having first and second sets of angularly oriented jet nozzles for respective alignment with turbine jet ports for respectively driving the water-driven turbine and the gear train in a forward-drive or a reverse-drive direction. The upper trip is coupled to the director plate by an elongated trip rod which shifts the director plate between forward-drive and reverse drive positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Ingham, Jr., Jerry D. Lawyer, Charles D. Lemme, Michael A. McAfee, Derek M. Nations, Matthew S. Prucinsky, David E. Steimle
  • Publication number: 20040050958
    Abstract: A rotary sprinkler having an adjustable arc segment whose angular extent and absolute direction relative to the ground are represented by an arc indicator, which arc indicator may comprise a band whose visible length represents the angular extent and whose position on the sprinkler points to the direction. The sprinkler may have the arc segment adjusted by a movable arc limit stop that is coupled to a toggle member only at drive reversal, and the sprinkler may be converted to full circle operation by raising the arc limit stop relative to a cooperating trip tab. A buckling spring assembly used to shift the drive comprises a compression spring held between two spaced pivot members, and the drive can be built in continuous and intermittent drive versions by replacing a few normal rotary gears with multilated gears. A friction clutch having asymmetric teeth for smooth operation prevents damage to the drive during forced nozzle rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Jeff McKenzie, Chad Philip McCormick, Peter Janku
  • Publication number: 20040046047
    Abstract: A reversible, adjustable arc sprinkler head includes a sprinkler body incorporating a fixed nozzle; a spray plate mounted for rotation in one or the other of two opposite directions about a first axis arranged coaxially with a stream emitted from the nozzle, and for back and forth tilting motion about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the spray plate having a pair of substantially parallel grooves for selectively receiving the stream, depending on a direction of tilt of the spray plate; and a shift lever formed with an aperture sized to receive the stream. The shift lever is mounted at one end for rotation about a third axis parallel to the first axis, and is enabled to shift the stream from one of the pair of grooves to the other of the pair of grooves to thereby reverse the direction of rotation of the spray plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Roy Townsend
  • Patent number: 6648241
    Abstract: A life extending, pop-up sprinkler comprising a riser pipe, a collar, a pop-up shaft with a threaded head, an O-ring, a weight, and a spray insert. The riser pipe is threaded at both ends. The lower threads are designed to mate with the specially threaded cavity in the sprinkler head body. Threaded onto the upper threads is the collar, which has a opening, having a hexagonal (or other shaped) cross-section, in its upper web. Sliding inside this opening is the cylindrical pop-up shaft which has a mating, outer, hexagonal (or other matching shaped) cross-section. The O-ring is slipped over the lower end of the shaft and a cylindrical (or other shaped) weight is screwed onto the lower end of the shaft. Both the O-ring and the weight are of larger diameters than the shaft so as to preclude leakage. The upper end of the shaft terminates in a cylindrical pop-up head which is also larger in diameter than the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Irving Doshay
  • Patent number: 6629648
    Abstract: An adjustable riser for adjusting the elevational position of an irrigation sprinkler with respect to the surrounding ground level and/or with respect to the height of surrounding vegetation to be irrigated. The riser includes a movable cartridge within an internal bore of a housing having a plurality of catches outwardly projecting from the exterior wall of the cartridge and adapted to resiliently snap into or out of notches carried on the inner wall surface of the bore movably supporting the cartridge. The sprinkler is carried on a tube for discharging water while the opposite end of the tube includes an impact plate against which water pressure from the supply impinges. Upon impact, the tube with the sprinkler is forced upward within a housing against expansion of a spring, which normally urges the tube and sprinkler into a storage position within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventor: Steven Jones
  • Publication number: 20030042327
    Abstract: An adjustable stator is mounted in the lower end of a pop-up sprinkler riser and includes a vertically extending frame portion and a pair of valve portions that extend horizontally from an upper end of the frame portion. A coil spring is squeezed between a lower end of a drive subassembly and a mandrel mounted in a lower end of the frame portion. The mandrel and the frame portion have mating projections which allow the vertical position of the mandrel to be adjusted. This adjusts the downward biasing force exerted by the coil spring against the frame portion and the valve members carried thereby. This varies the pressure of a water stream flowing past a turbine in the riser, and the speed of rotation of the turbine which in turn changes the speed of rotation of a nozzle driven by the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Matthew G. Beutler, Michael L. Clark
  • Patent number: 6502764
    Abstract: A pop-up sprinkler is provided with an internally mounted and upwardly open debris cup for capturing debris such as dirt and pebbles falling into the sprinkler, to prevent such debris from contacting and interfering with an internally mounted rotary drive mechanism. The sprinkler includes a housing or case carrying a pop-up riser with a spray head thereon for projecting a stream of irrigation water over surrounding terrain and vegetation. The rotary drive mechanism includes a water-driven element such as a turbine coupled by a reduction gear unit or the like for rotatably driving the spray head in a manner sweeping the projected water stream over the surrounding terrain and vegetation. The debris cup is mounted within the sprinkler case generally at a lower end of a nozzle passage formed in the riser, and generally overlying the water-driven element, in a position to capture and retain debris falling into the sprinkler case through the nozzle passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Samuel C. Walker
  • Patent number: 6494386
    Abstract: A sprinkler head housing encloses, supports, and provides access to a sprinkler head in order to allow maintenance and access to the sprinkler head. The sprinkler head housing includes a top and a wall descending therefrom. The sprinkler head housing can accommodate sprinkler heads having differently sized diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Ocean Test Equipment. Inc.
    Inventor: John I. Banu
  • Patent number: 6491235
    Abstract: A top serviceable pop-up sprinkler includes a main cylindrical outer housing having a female threaded inlet at a lower end thereof A spring biased tubular riser is mounted inside the outer housing for vertical reciprocation through an opening in an upper end of the outer housing. A nozzle is fixed in a nozzle head rotatably mounted at an upper end of the riser for ejecting a stream of water. The nozzle is rotated over an adjustable arc by a conventional turbine, gear drive and arc adjustable reversing mechanism. A valve actuator component assembly, including a pilot valve, solenoid and pressure regulator is mounted in a generally rectangular component housing that is connected to the side of the cylindrical outer housing. A lid of the component housing aligns with, and effectively forms a part of, a circular ground support flange that extends horizontally from the upper end of the outer housing. The riser opening is eccentrically located in the circular ground support flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren W. Scott, Phillip A. Hope
  • Publication number: 20020179733
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes an outer housing having a lower end connectable to a source of pressurized water and a riser that is vertically reciprocable within the outer housing between extended and retracted positions when the source of pressurized water is turned ON and OFF. A nozzle is mounted at an upper end of the riser for rotation about a vertical axis. A Pelton turbine is mounted inside the riser for rotation about a horizontal axis, as distinguished from a vertical axis. A drive mechanism connects the turbine to the nozzle so that when the source of pressurized water is turned ON the resulting rotation of the turbine by the pressurized water will rotate the nozzle. The turbine as well as a gear train reduction and a bevel gear reversing mechanism are assembled inside a self-contained clam-shell drive subassembly before being inserted into the riser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Michael L. Clark
  • Patent number: 6478237
    Abstract: A dirt-resistant bearing system for a sprinkler unit with a rotatable turret having a central shaft extending into a support channel formed within an inner housing. The central shaft may be formed with a relatively upper shaft portion and a relatively lower shaft portion, and the support channel may be formed with an upper channel region and a lower channel region. A first bearing and sealing assembly may be fitted substantially around an outer perimeter of the upper shaft portion and in communication with the upper channel region, and a second bearing and sealing assembly may be fitted substantially around an outer perimeter of the lower shaft portion and in communication with the lower channel region. Another aspect of the invention provides a sprinkler head with a fitted serrated seal assembly. The fitted seal assembly may include an outer case having an interior region, and a pop-up sprinkler head turret mounted on a riser sleeve slidably mounted within the interior region of the outer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Virtual rain, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Michael Kearby, Joseph U. Han, Giles A. Kendall, Derick C. Wright
  • Patent number: 6457656
    Abstract: A pop-up sprinkler includes an outer housing having an inlet passage and an inlet for connection to a source of pressurized fluid. A riser is mounted in the housing for moving from a normally retracted position to an operative extended position in response to fluid pressure. A pressure responsive inlet valve assembly is mounted in the outer housing adjacent the inlet passage and includes a valve seat and a valve member. The inlet valve assembly further includes a velocity control disc that is biased into engagement with the valve seat. The velocity control disc initially meters inlet fluid for limiting a rate of opening of the valve member for controlling flow of fluid through the inlet and extension of the riser to the extended position. The velocity control disc is made of an elastomeric material and is deflectable radially inwardly to accommodate debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Loren W. Scott
  • Patent number: 6438766
    Abstract: A swimming pool bottom flushing device comprising a tubular supporting arrangement attached to a pipe arranged at the bottom of a swimming pool, and a water ejector nozzle axially fitted into said supporting arrangement in a rotatable, vertically shiftable arrangement. This device is characterized in that the nozzle is formed by an open-ended tubular body provided at least with one opening in its periphery and fitted with a tubular, rotationally positionable plug peripherally provided with openings of different diameters provided to selectively face the openings of the tubular body in order to control the outflow of the water jet being ejected for the flushing of the swimming pool bottom. The top plug is selectively secured by means of a bayonet attachment into a number of positions when fitted to the tubular body of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Sacopa, S.A.
    Inventors: Joan Capdevila Arnau, Armand Puiggros Roig
  • Patent number: 6364217
    Abstract: A reversing gear drive system is provided in an irrigation sprinkler for reversibly shifting the direction of rotation of a sprinkler spray head for back and forth part-circle rotation between adjustably set end limits, to sweep an outwardly projected stream of irrigation water through a predetermined arcuate pattern to irrigate a surrounding terrain area and associated vegetation. The reversing gear drive system includes a gear carrier having first and second output gears driven rotatably in opposite directions. A shift mechanism is provided for shifting the gear carrier between forward-drive and reverse-drive positions with the first and second output gears alternately engaged with a ring gear for rotatably driving the spray head in opposite directions. The shift mechanism includes a shift lever and a reverse trip spring for engaging arcuately spaced limit stops mounted for rotation with the spray head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventor: George H. Lockwood
  • Patent number: 6357668
    Abstract: A life extending, pop-up sprinkle comprising a riser pipe, a collar, a pop-up shaft with a threaded head, an o-ring, a weight, and a spray insert. The riser pipe is threaded at both ends. The lower threads are designed to mate with the specially threaded cavity in the sprinkler head body. Threaded onto the upper threads is the collar, which has a opening, having a hexagonal (or other shaped) cross-section, in its upper web. Sliding inside this opening is the cylindrical pop-up shaft which has a mating, outer, hexagonal (or other matching shaped) cross-section. The O-ring is slipped over the lower end of the shaft and a cylindrical (or other shaped) weight is screwed onto the lower end of the shaft. Both the O-ring and the weight are of larger diameters than the shaft so as to preclude leakage. The upper end of the shaft terminates in a cylindrical pop-up head which is also larger in diameter than the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventor: Irving Doshay
  • Patent number: 6332581
    Abstract: A sprinkler nozzle for a rotary sprinkler comprises two water flow passages extending therethrough, namely an upper passage and a parallel lower passage. The upper passage includes a straight, substantially cylindrical bore having stream straightening vanes, the upper passage watering radially outer portions of the watered pattern. The lower passage comprises a diffuser that reduces the energy of the water flowing into the lower passage by providing an expanded volume, namely a volume having a greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the inlet. The water exits the diffuser through an outlet which includes a rear edge that forms an impact surface against which a portion of the boundary layer flow is directed. This impact surface is arch shaped and deflects the intercepted portion of the boundary layer flow from the top to the bottom of the lower passage. The boundary layer flow is then dumped onto a lower ramp of the outlet of the lower passage which lower ramp is downwardly inclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Douglas E. Chin, Chad P. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20010028004
    Abstract: A dirt-resistant bearing system for a sprinkler unit with a rotatable turret having a central shaft extending into a support channel formed within an inner housing. The central shaft may be formed with a relatively upper shaft portion and a relatively lower shaft portion, and the support channel may be formed with an upper channel region and a lower channel region. A first bearing and sealing assembly may be fitted substantially around an outer perimeter of the upper shaft portion and in communication with the upper channel region, and a second bearing and sealing assembly may be fitted substantially around an outer perimeter of the lower shaft portion and in communication with the lower channel region. Another aspect of the invention provides a sprinkler head with a fitted serrated seal assembly. The fitted seal assembly may include an outer case having an interior region, and a pop-up sprinkler head turret mounted on a riser sleeve slidably mounted within the interior region of the outer case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Don Michael Kearby, Giles A. Kendall, Joseph U. Han, Derick C. Wright
  • Patent number: 6260770
    Abstract: A rotary sprinkler comprising a stationary housing, a distribution member rotatable with respect to said housing, a stationary fluid supply member being in flow communication with an inlet port of the housing and with the distribution member, and a sealing assembly, the sealing assembly comprises at least one sealing ring made of an essentially hard, abrasion resistant material, wherein one face of the sealing ring is rotationally fixed with respect to either the distribution member or one of the stationary housing and fluid supply member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventors: Arnon Epstein, Yoel Zur
  • Patent number: 6227455
    Abstract: A pop-up sprinkler has a diaphragm-type valve in the lower end thereof which is actuated by a remote pilot valve. The pilot valve may be either solenoid actuated, or hydraulically actuated by a suitable valve actuator component. In a first embodiment an upwardly opening valve actuator component assembly housing communicates with a hollow wire and hose housing. The wire and hose housing connects to the side of the cylindrical outer body of the sprinkler to position a lid of the valve actuator component assembly housing at surface level, but outside a circular ground support flange connected to the sprinkler body. In a second embodiment, the housing is situated so that the lid effectively forms part of the circular ground support flange. The valve actuator component assembly housing may contain, for example, a pilot valve coupled to a solenoid, and a regulator. The pilot valve and regulator are connected through hoses to the sprinkler body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren W. Scott, Phillip A. Hope
  • Patent number: 6209801
    Abstract: A dirt-resistant bearing system for a sprinkler unit with a rotatable turret having a central shaft extending into a support channel formed within an inner housing. The central shaft may be formed with a relatively upper shaft portion and a relatively lower shaft portion, and the support channel may be formed with an upper channel region and a lower channel region. A first bearing and sealing assembly may be fitted substantially around an outer perimeter of the upper shaft portion and in communication with the upper channel region, and a second bearing and sealing assembly may be fitted substantially around an outer perimeter of the lower shaft portion and in communication with the lower channel region. Another aspect of the invention provides a sprinkler head with a fitted serrated seal assembly. The fitted seal assembly may include an outer case having an interior region, and a pop-up sprinkler head turret mounted on a riser sleeve slidably mounted within the interior region of the outer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Virtual Rain, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Michael Kearby, Joseph U. Han, Giles A. Kendall, Derick C. Wright
  • Patent number: 6186413
    Abstract: An improved inlet control valve is provided for controlling water inflow to an irrigation sprinkler, wherein the inlet control valve exhibits improved tolerance to passage of small grit and debris. The inlet control valve includes a valve member normally engaging a valve seat to prevent water inflow to the irrigation sprinkler, and adapted for movement to a modulated open position to permit water inflow to the sprinkler at a regulated pressure. The valve member carries a flow restrictor disposed upstream from the valve seat to produce, when the valve member is in the open position, a first pressure drop which cooperates with a second pressure drop between the valve seat and valve member to regulate the water inflow pressure. The inclusion of the upstream flow restrictor and the associated first pressure drop effectively reduces the magnitude of the second pressure drop across the valve seat and thereby permits the valve member to open with an increased clearance relative to the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Anthony Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Lawson
  • Patent number: 6182909
    Abstract: A rotary drive sprinkler has a nozzle assembly having a recess in a cylindrical housing for receiving a cylindrical nozzle selection disc having a plurality of nozzle openings. The cylindrical nozzle selection disc is rotatable to place one of its nozzle openings in an exit flow passage in the cylindrical housing. An arc set indicating and setting mechanism is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventors: Carl L. C. Kah, Jr., Carl L. C. Kah, III
  • Patent number: 6155493
    Abstract: A closed-case impact sprinkler unit having an outer case and an internally positioned riser sleeve that is upwardly extendable into a pop-up position. The riser sleeve may be formed with an external surface that is complimentary to the internal surface of the outer case to prevent the introduction of debris into the interior region of the outer case when the riser sleeve is in a pop-up position. The sprinkler unit may further include a closed-case turret assembly rotatably mounted on the riser sleeve that includes a fluid outlet and a compact impact sprinkler arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Virtual rain, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Michael Kearby, Giles A. Kendall, Joseph U. Han, Derick C. Wright
  • Patent number: 6152651
    Abstract: An apparatus for raising a component of an underground sprinkler including a hydraulic actuator in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source normally associated with an underground sprinkler system, and operably connected to a base of the underground sprinkler. The hydraulic pressure provided by the pressurized fluid source is used to drive the hydraulic actuator and adjust the level of the base of the underground sprinkler within the ground. In a particular embodiment, the hydraulic actuator includes a hydraulic cylinder and a wand in fluid communication with the pressurized water source. The wand is inserted into the ground around the sprinkler base, thus fluidizing the ground and allowing the operator to more easily move the sprinkler base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: EPAC, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Glidewell, Leo T. Effenberger
  • Patent number: 6050502
    Abstract: A pop-up rotary sprinkler with adjustable arc limits has a memory arc mechanism separate from its arc adjustment and head reversing mechanisms for automatically returning the head to oscillation between its pre-set sector limits should its head be twisted or held against normal rotation by a vandal. The sprinkler may optionally include a throttling valve for substantially reducing the flow of water from the nozzle in the head until the head has rotated back within its pre-set arc limits. The amount of water that would otherwise be sprayed onto walkways and highways, for example, is greatly reduced, thereby eliminating safety hazards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike Clark
  • Patent number: 6050500
    Abstract: An adjustable riser is provided for coupling an irrigation sprinkler to a water supply line, wherein the riser is adapted for quick and easy longitudinal adjustment to variably select the elevational position of the sprinkler relative to ground level. The adjustable riser comprises a pair of telescopically interfitting inner and outer riser tubes coupled respectively to the sprinkler and to the water supply line. The inner riser tube has a keyway formed on the exterior surface thereof, and the outer riser tube carries at least one key protruding into and engaged with the keyway. In the preferred form, the keyway comprises at least one recessed channel defined by an axially spaced succession of part-circumferential segments interconnected at opposite ends by axial segments extending in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Anthony Manufacturing Corp. Industrial Products Division
    Inventor: Mark M. Ensworth
  • Patent number: 6042021
    Abstract: A pop-up rotary sprinkler with adjustable arc limits has an arc adjustment tool engaging member slideably mouted in a guide sleeve in the head of the sprinkler that has a progressively narrowing diameter. The member includes a radially expandable and contrastable collet at the upper end thereof and a pinion gear at a lower end thereof for engaging the teeth of a bull gear for setting at least one of the end limits of the desired arc. When the tool is inserted into the member, it moves downwardly, and a pair of flanges of the tool are locked into slots in the collet. The tool cannot be removed until it is pulled upwardly to permit the collet to expand radially to allow the flanges of the tool to be pulled past a ring at the upper end of the collet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike Clark
  • Patent number: 6039268
    Abstract: An arc marking system is provided for a sprinkler that waters an arc, either a full circle arc or a part circle arc. The system includes a plurality of arc indicators provided on the top of the nozzle assembly. Each arc indicator is adjacent an arc indicia such that each arc indicator represents a different arc that this sprinkler is capable of watering. After ascertaining the arc that a particular sprinkler can water, the arc information can be marked on the nozzle assembly by cutting off the arc indicator that is adjacent the numeral that represents the number of degrees covered by the arc. Thus, the arc information is added to the top of the sprinkler where it can be easily seen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Grundy, James T. Wright
  • Patent number: 5992760
    Abstract: A sprinkler device for distributing water comprising a body, a nozzle, a nozzle housing rotatably and slidably mounted in the body, a fluid flow interrupter for intermittently redirecting the stream of fluid exiting from the nozzle, an interrupter drive, a flow control assembly including a free floating valve for controlling water flow to the sprinkler head, reversing mechanism for reversing the direction of movement of the nozzle housing, and a nozzle positioning system for controlling sprinkler rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Virtual Rain, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Michael Kearby, Giles A. Kendall, Joseph U. Han, Derick C. Wright
  • Patent number: 5975430
    Abstract: A sprinkler device has a helical track and a tracking element coupled between a reciprocating piston and a rotating head or nozzle to convert the reciprocal linear motion of the piston to rotation motion of the head or nozzle. A sprinkler housing defines a chamber for receiving the reciprocating piston. A sprinkler head is rotatably disposed on the housing and has a shaft extending into a cavity of the piston. The helical track is formed in the exterior surface of the shaft. Water is channeling into the chamber causing the piston to move in a linear direction. A tracking element formed on the piston engages the track and forces the shaft, and thus the head, to rotate. A return mechanism is coupled to the head and engages a valve to control the channeling of the water about the piston, causing the piston to reciprocate. An adjustable valve controls the flow of the water about the piston, and thus the rotational speed of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Aspen Earth
    Inventor: Donald R. Larsen
  • Patent number: 5927607
    Abstract: A pop up sprinkler unit includes a housing having an inlet including a passage for connecting to a source of fluid such as water or air, a pressure responsive inlet valve assembly including a valve seat surrounding the inlet, a valve member having annular sealing normally biased into engagement with the seat, and a velocity control disc mounted on the valve member and extending into the passage at the inlet, the velocity control disc metering initial inlet fluid for controlling the rate of opening of the valve for controlling flow of fluid through the valve to a nozzle and extension of a riser to an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
    Inventor: Loren W. Scott
  • Patent number: 5899386
    Abstract: An adapter is provided for converting an irrigation sprinkler from an open case impact drive rotor to a closed case drive rotor, without requiring disinterment or replacement of a sprinkler case having the drive rotor housed therein. The conversion adapter comprises a generally cylindrical adapter sleeve for installation into the sprinkler case following lift-out removal of the open case drive rotor upon disengagement of a lock member such as a snap ring. The exterior surface geometry of the adapter sleeve is shaped to define a gap between the adapter sleeve and the top of the sprinkler case sufficient to permit re-engagement of the lock member to retain the adapter sleeve within the sprinkler case. The interior surface geometry of the adapter sleeve is shaped to receive and support the closed case drive rotor which is retained therein by an additional lock member such as a snap ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Anthony Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Wayne M. Miyasato, Michael R. Deater, Kenneth J. Moorehead
  • Patent number: 5871156
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler of the type having an inlet control valve is provided with a removable valve seat formed integrally with an inlet filter screen. The valve seat is positioned to engage a valve head to normally prevent water inflow to a sprinkler case, whereas the filter screen prevents entry of small rocks and other particulate debris into the sprinkler case when the inlet control valve is open. The valve seat is removable from the top of the sprinkler case, without requiring disconnection of the case from a water supply line, to permit flushing of collected debris or to permit replacement of a damaged valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Anthony Manufacturing, Co.
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Lawson
  • Patent number: 5868316
    Abstract: A system of multi-colored sprinkler nozzles are molded simultaneously in a multi-cavity mold and emerge from the mold in an interconnected rack of multiple nozzles having nozzles of multiple units with common characteristics identified by common color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
    Inventor: Loren W. Scott
  • Patent number: 5845849
    Abstract: A sprinkler comprises a turbine rotor (64) and a nozzle means (20) driving the latter, the water jets emerging from the nozzle means (20) as fanned jets so that the water impinges the surface area to be irrigated at a relatively small distance away from the sprinkler also under high pressure. The nozzle means (20) is mounted rotatably to enable differing sectors or sectors differing in size to be irrigated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Gardena Kress + Dastner GmbH
    Inventor: Lothar Mitzlaff
  • Patent number: 5823440
    Abstract: A sprinkler unit comprises a housing having an inlet for connecting to a source of water, a rotating head mounted in an upper end of the housing and including an outlet for distributing a stream of water outward from the housing, a passage connecting the inlet to the outlet, and a pressure responsive inlet valve including a damper mounted in the passage at the inlet, the damper controlling the rate of opening of the valve for controlling flow of fluid through the valve to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Mike Clark
  • Patent number: 5711486
    Abstract: A pop-up sprinkler unit for mounting beneath the surface of a soil formation includes an outer cylindrical housing for subsurface mounting, with an inner housing carrying a nozzle and drive turbine reciprocally mounted in the outer housing for extending up through a portion of the soil and pressure responsive seals disposed between the inner and outer housings for sealing at predetermined pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Clark, Roger Wilby, Kyle Capen
  • Patent number: 5702056
    Abstract: A sprinkler comprises a hollow box, a first casing and a second casing covering the hollow box, a telescopic pipe disposed in the hollow box longitudinally, and a sprinkling disk disposed on the telescopic pipe. The telescopic pipe has an outer pipe, a first middle pipe in the outer pipe, a second middle pipe in the first middle pipe, and an inner pipe in the second middle pipe. The sprinkling disk has a lower disk and an upper disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Ho-M Yang
  • Patent number: 5676315
    Abstract: A sprinkler nozzle for use in irrigation having an inlet, an outlet and a flow passage extending between the inlet and the outlet. The outlet and the flow passage each have near stream and far stream portions and the nozzle is unpartitioned between the near stream and far stream portions so that a single stream can be emitted from the outlet. The far stream and near stream portions of the flow passage are configured to provide higher velocity less turbulent flow through the far stream portion of the outlet than through the near stream portion of the outlet. The nozzle includes a peripheral wall which has a main body and a hood with the hood being radially offset from the main body to form an opening. The nozzle is received in a bore and nozzle mounting structure of a spray head for a sprinkler. The hood has an abutment partly defining the opening which is engageable by a tool for withdrawing the nozzle from the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: James Hardie Irrigation, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Han
  • Patent number: 5641122
    Abstract: A pop-up sprinkler including an outer housing defining a water inlet, an inner housing which is raised automatically in response to the supply of water under at least a predetermined pressure, a water driven turbine disposed within the inner housing and driven by water entering the sprinkler via the water inlet, a reducing gear disposed within the inner housing and driven by the water driven turbine and having an output shaft fixed against rotation with respect to the inner housing, whereby operation of the water driven turbine causes the reducing gear to rotate relative to the housing, and a rotatable water outlet fixed to the reducing gear for rotation together therewith relative to the inner housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Inventors: Uri Alkalai, Moshe Gorney
  • Patent number: 5620141
    Abstract: A sprinkler (10) includes a tubular housing (12) and a cover (14) fastened with each other. A smaller internal sleeve (70) has a similar configuration with the housing (12) and is generally positioned within the housing (12). The sleeve (70) includes a plurality of inlets (82) in the wall. A rotor (40) having radial blades (48) positioned circumferentially at intervals, is disposed in the sleeve (70) and is adapted to be impacted to rotate by the flow from the inlets (82) of the sleeve (70). A hollow spindle (52) which can be slidably moved along the axis of the rotor (40), is designedly actuated by the rotary movement of the rotor (40) and also generally in a synchronous rotation with the rotor (40). Such spindle (52) can be pushed by the water pressure to have the nozzle head (54) extend upward and exposed in an exterior for water dispersal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Inventor: Jung-Li Chiang
  • Patent number: 5456411
    Abstract: A sprinkler system for distributing water from a source substantially evenly over an area of terrain comprises a body defining a passage having an inlet connected to an outlet extending at an angle to the inlet, and at least one nozzle detachably mounted in the outlet and having an indicator tab visible from above for indicating at least one of the arc, spacing and precipitation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren W. Scott, Bradley M. Lousberg
  • Patent number: 5423486
    Abstract: A pop-up sprinkler unit for mounting beneath the surface of a soil formation includes an outer cylindrical housing for subsurface mounting, with an inner housing carrying a nozzle and drive turbine with a protective sleeve of a grit resistant material reciprocally mounted between the inner and outer housings for extending with the inner housing up through a portion of the soil for deflecting grit from between the sleeve and housing when the inner housing and sleeve is retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin J. Hunter
  • Patent number: 5415130
    Abstract: A sprinkler head comprising a strong, rigid body with removable top cap and having a smooth exterior surface absent flanges and sharp corners which might injure a cow. The body bottom includes an opening and threads for attaching a liquid supply pipe. Inside the body is a replaceable protective liner cup containing a rotary drive motor for rotating a movable nozzle having non-extending spray orifices at an upper side end. During operation, the nozzle is moved upward through a close-fit opening in the top cap by liquid pressure. The nozzle is also smooth, and is arranged to be able to be pressed downward during operation to reduce injuries, and to provide a self-cleaning action. The self-cleaning is enhanced by vibrations from the drive motor and the position of the orifices relative the top cap. The drive motor which rotates the nozzle, preferably includes replaceable parts at wear points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Inventor: Alan C. Brackett
  • Patent number: 5383600
    Abstract: A vandal resistant part circle gear driven sprinkler having a plastic pop-up assembly including a nozzle housing rotatably mounted to a non-rotatable pop-up stem within which a reversible gear drive mechanism is mounted. A slip clutch is provided for mounting the reversible gear drive mechanism within the stem to prevent relative rotation during normal sprinkler operation, but which permits the mechanism to rotate relative to the stem whenever an external torque above a preselected level is applied to the nozzle housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Anthony Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Steven Verbera, Timothy C. Sexton
  • Patent number: 5375768
    Abstract: A sprinkler unit for distributing water from a source over an area of terrain comprises a tubular housing having an inlet connected by a passage to an outlet, a distributor head mounted at the outlet for rotation about an axis for distribution of water via a nozzle, a turbine wheel disposed in the housing passage and operatively connected for driving the distributor head, and a turbine stator assembly having a passage including a throttling device for controllably directing a first portion of water to the turbine wheel, and a pressure responsive valve for controllably diverting a second portion of the water around the turbine wheel in proportion to the pressure thereof for maintaining the speed of the turbine substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Hunter Industries
    Inventor: Michael L. Clark
  • Patent number: RE35037
    Abstract: A sprinkler having a nozzle for directing a desired flow of water therefrom, the sprinkler having a water turbine drive device for rotating the nozzle in response to water passing through the sprinkler; the sprinkler has a seal between its cover and housing and with a pop-up riser, the nozzle being mounted in a rotatable nozzle housing connected to the water turbine drive device; a deflector is mounted in the nozzle housing for moving into and out of the water flow from the nozzle, the deflector being connected to a pivotally mounted arm with a cam follower actuated by a cam on the top of the riser; a modified sprinkler has two flow passages therethrough to a primary nozzle being directed through the water turbine drive device while the flow to the secondary nozzle is through a valving device to produce a predetermined contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Inventor: Carl L. C. Kah, Jr.