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
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
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
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