Abstract: A hose end pattern sprinkler has a sprinkler housing supported on a base with a hose end coupling for connecting a garden type hose to a water inlet of the housing, a pressure regulator having an inlet pressure balanced valve member which is adjustable externally of the housing for controlling the pressure of water flowing within the housing, a variable leaf spring stator for shaping water flow from the pressure regulator into a variable width stream in response to the water pressure, a water driven turbine including an impeller wheel having turbine vanes positioned to be impinged with water flowing past the variable leaf spring, a rotatable nozzle having an outer drive gear and triangular bottom nozzle inlets having apexes converging in a center bore, and an annular pattern plate of ring configuration having an internal gear, the plate being operable externally of the housing for moving the plate beneath the associated nozzle inlets with the pattern plate having a plurality of different configured pattern or

Abstract: An improved sprinkler of the type adapted to rotate and create a redefined horizontal spray pattern around it. A rotating turbine drives a cylindrical nozzle assembly having a plurality of nozzle openings therein. The nozzle openings deliver streams of water of variable length and volume. A pattern defining disk is used to continuously and proportionately expose the nozzle openings to the source of pressurized water according to a preset function of the instantaneous rotational position of the nozzle opening as the cylindrical member turns to create the spray pattern. The nozzle openings supply a relatively constant volume of water to all portions of the pattern.

Abstract: A water pressure controlled indexing means for an irrigation sprinkler system in which a plurality of pilot valves, each operating an associated sprinkler or group of sprinklers is provided, has a ratchet wheel including a plurality of ratchet teeth and which is associated with one of the pilot valves to control pilot valve operation in response to ratchet position of rotation, a pawl positioned by mounting means advancing the ratchet wheel tooth by tooth increments of advancement, water pressure responsive means for moving the pawl in a forward stroke and spring biasing means for normally moving the pawl in a return stroke of a given amount when system pressure is lowered a predetermined amount which is above a given value, a tooth gap provided on the ratchet wheel for defeating continued rotation thereof while said pawl is continued in driving strokes in response to system pressure drops above said given value and override means including an additional spring means normally holding the pawl against an overr

Abstract: A stream rotor sprinkler has a rotating spray head and a crown configured stream deflector positioned about the spray head to deflect water spray from a nozzle in the spray head wherein the deflector is moved in an eccentrically revolving and rotating motion relative to the sprinkler housing and spray head in response to spray head rotation imparted by a cam on the spray head which engages an inner race on the deflector with the deflector and housing having a loose gear interconnection, circular internal and external gears on the housing and deflector having different numbers of teeth and mating in an arcuate engagement during eccentrical revolving of the deflector.

Abstract: A fluid pressure activated mechanism in a rollable side wheel irrigating device allows gravity to maintain the sprinkler head portion of the device perpendicular or level to the ground as the device is rolled in position, and prevents nozzle pressure from moving the sprinkler head once fluid has entered the irrigation device after it has been positioned. The side wheel irrigating device includes an irrigation conduit within a horizontally-disposed axle member attached to two wheels. The conduit extends through the axle at its mid-point and routes irrigating fluid to a gravity-biased sprinkler conduit supporting a sprinkler head. The mechanism is attached between the two conduits, with the mechanism being rigidly attached to the irrigation conduit. The sprinkler conduit is attached to an annular hub and allowed rotative and translative movement in the mechanism housing. Prior to fluid of sufficient pressure entering the mechanism housing, the sprinkler conduit is free to rotate under the force of gravity.

Abstract: An improved check valve for a backflow preventing valve of the type having an inlet passage, an intermediate chamber, and an outlet passage, includes a stationary valve port fluidly communicating with the intermediate chamber, a movable contoured valve seat for sealing the port, and a valve closing apparatus in rolling engagement with the valve seat and responsive to the pressure differential thereacross. The valve closing apparatus urges the valve seat to a valve closed position and includes a stationary shaft, a pair of rollers, and a spring. The spring biases the rollers against the contoured valve seat to thereby effect the closure of the seat member against the valve port. An improved exhaust valve is also provided and includes a balanced valve member providing a path between the intermediate chamber and the atmosphere when in a valve open position. The balanced valve member is resiliently biased between a valve seat and a moveable diaphragm.

Abstract: A low capital investment system for irrigating a relatively large area field, comprising a mobile base, and a sprinkler mounted on the base and adapted to accumulate water from a water supply and to intermittently discharge accumulated water in an irrigating stream over the field. Apparatus is provided for propelling the base in a back and forth movement traversing a field, and for generally reversing the water discharge direction each time the direction of travel is reversed. The sprinkler includes a novel, resiliently expandable reservoir construction for accumulating relatively large volume, intermittent bursts, and a drive system which also provides relatively short range, continual irrigation. Separate sprinkler units can be used on a field concurrently, or a single unit can be moved over successive areas of a field until the whole field has been covered.

Abstract: An irrigation system and method is disclosed having a water supply source for providing water under pressure to a plurality of dispensing devices located at spaced locations. The irrigation system and method comprises a distribution conduit grid in fluid communication with the water supply source and defining a closed conduit loop, thereby providing water flow upon demand within the distribution conduit in more than one direction. The distribution conduit grid is composed of arterial members formed in a closed conduit loop for supplying water to a plurality of dispensing conduit members, each dispensing conduit member having its ends interconnected between two spaced locations on the arterial conduit members, thereby providing water flow into the dispensing conduit members from more than one direction. The dispensing devices are mounted on the dispensing conduit members in water supply relation. The dispensing devices are operated between open and closed positions by a water operated pilot valve.

Abstract: A low capital investment system for irrigating a relatively large area field, comprising a mobile base, and a sprinkler mounted on the base and adapted to accumulate water from a water supply and to intermittently discharge accumulated water in an irrigating stream over the field. Apparatus is provided for propelling the base in a back and forth movement traversing a field, and for generally reversing the water discharge direction each time the direction of travel is reversed. The sprinkler includes a novel, resiliently expandable reservoir construction for accumulating relatively large volume, intermittent bursts, and a drive system which also provides relatively short range, continual irrigation. Separate sprinkler units can be used on a field concurrently, or a single unit can be moved over successive areas of a field until the whole field has been covered. The system may also be combined with a center pivot device to irrigate land that would otherwise be unused.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved apparatus for injecting additives into a stream of fluid passing through the apparatus. The apparatus has a housing adapted for connecting to a source of fluid and to an external source of additive and also has an outlet through which the intermixed fluid and additive pass. Fluid entering the housing drives a turbine means, which converts the movement of the fluid into a rotary force. The turbine means is connected to a transmission means which changes the high-speed, low-torque rotary force produced by the turbine means to a rotary force having slower speed but higher torque. The transmission means drives a positive displacement pump means which draws additives from the external source into the fluid passing through the apparatus at a rate which is determined by the speed at which the turbine means rotates.

Abstract: A part-circle sprinkler having a sprinkler head incorporating a nozzle continually oscillates between two positions. The sprinkler head is connected to a transmission driven by an impeller The impeller is driven by a reversible stator which can direct a plurality of channelized streams of water against either side of the blades of the impeller and thereby cause the impeller, sprinkler head and nozzle to rotate in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction. The reversing stator is controlled by a resilient switching arm operated by adjustable fingers on the exterior of the sprinkler head, which set its limits of rotation. As each limit of rotation is reached, one finger exerts a torque on the switching arm. The torque causes the arm to twist until it exerts sufficient force on the reversing stator to overcome the force of the water on the stator vanes and thus reverse the direction of the stator. The sprinkler head then rotates in the opposite direction, which brings the other finger toward the switching arm.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a sprinkler head for use in drip irrigation systems. Irrigation fluid entering an inlet is directed through a path comprising a plurality of pressure dropping chambers before emerging through irrigation tubings connected to outlet openings from where the irrigation fluid emerges at a low pressure drip irrigation flow rate. In the preferred embodiment disclosed, the pressure dropping chambers comprise a plurality of series interconnected vortices disposed within stacked plates. The entire assembly can be disassembled for cleaning purposes. The assembly further incorporates an integral pressure regulator for performing an initial step decrease in the pressure of the irrigation fluid before the fluid enters the multiple chambered pressure dropping path. The integral pressure regulator is adjustable and calibrated in gallon per hour flow rates.

Abstract: A low capital investment system for irrigating a relatively large area field, comprising a mobile base, and a sprinkler mounted on the base and adapted to accumulate water from a water supply and to intermittently discharge accumulated water in an irrigating stream over the field. Apparatus is provided for propelling the base in a back and forth movement traversing a field, and for generally reversing the water discharge direction each time the direction of travel is reversed.The sprinkler includes a novel, resiliently expandable reservoir construction for accumulating relatively large volume, intermittent bursts, and a drive system which also provides relatively short range, continual irrigation. Separate sprinkler units can be used on a field concurrently, or a single unit can be moved over successive areas of a field until the whole field has been covered. The system may also be combined with a center pivot device to irrigate land that would otherwise be unused.

Abstract: A stream rotor sprinkler having a rotatable nozzle assembly for discharging a stream of fluid, and a rotatable plurality of deflectors mounted to the sprinkler surrounding the nozzle assembly. A water-driven motor impeller is activated by fluid flow through the sprinkler and rotates an attached rotor. The nozzle assembly is integrally attached to the rotor and is rotated thereby. The nozzle assembly includes an annular skirt at its lower end; the deflectors also have an integrally attached annular skirt which is in horizontal concentric relationship with the nozzle assembly skirt. A transmission is mounted to the sprinkler so as to be positioned between the deflector skirt and the nozzle assembly skirt. The transmission is driven by the rotation of the nozzle assembly skirt and in turn rotates the deflector skirt.

Abstract: An accumulator-distributor for gathering a quantity of water under pressure and rapidly discharging the quantity of water in bursts whereby large agricultural areas can be watered from a low volume source of irrigation water is shown. An expandible chamber is provided having a flexible diaphragm as one wall thereof. Bias means carried by the flexible diaphragm are adapted to exert a pressure upon the valve member closing the outlet opening from the chamber an amount insufficient to retract the valve member against the differential pressure of the accumulated water acting on the valve member. A second member is adapted to contact and lift the valve member from the valve seat at the point of maximum expansion of the chamber whereby the differential pressure is removed from the valve member and the bias means is able to rapidly withdraw the valve member completely from the outlet opening from the chamber to allow the rapid and complete expulsion of the accumulated water therein in an optimal manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a center pivot irrigation system including a plurality of span units, each having a drive carriage having a hydraulically driven motor means for operating associated carriage wheels in response to hydraulic fluid supplied thereto under pressure through hydraulic fluid lines from a source thereof, is operated by supplying hydraulic fluid at a selectable value of constant volume fluid flow to the system to drive the system at a selectable average speed about its center pivot, the flow rate of fluid to individual motor means of individual span units which are ahead or behind of a predetermined relative alignment with the other span units being varied in response to changes in angularity sensed between adjacent span units in both forward and backward directions relative to the direction of travel of the system about its center pivot while the constant volume fluid flow through the system is being maintained at a selectable constant flow rate.

Abstract: A self-propelled center pivot irrigation system has individual span units each one of which has at least one or more fluid conduits, and at least one or more power frames for propelling the span unit, each power frame has at least one or more drive wheels, a drive motor, and transmission means connecting the drive motor to the drive wheels to transmit power from the drive motor to the drive wheels, the transmission means has an input drive gear, intermediate planetary gear speed reduction means and an output shaft for connection between the drive motor output shaft and the power frame drive wheels to provide a low friction, speed reducing, torque increasing drive for the power frame drive wheels from the drive motor.

Abstract: An improved fluid spray head for sprinkler apparatus is disclosed adjustable both as to the flow rate of fluid to the discharge orifices and the precipation rate over the ground area sprayed, and particularly adapted to spray a specifically shaped non-circular area. The spray head has a plurality of circumferentially-spaced discharge orifices having cross-sectional areas equally proportional to the square of the distance that their respective spray streams are desired to travel whereby the perimeter of the ground area sprayed defines the preselected shape and receives a substantially uniform coverage of fluid.

Abstract: A center pivot irrigation system has a plurality of self-propelled articulated span units mounting interconnected sections of water carrying conduit, each span unit has motor means and motor control means for regulating the operation of the associated motor means to maintain the span units in a pre-determined relative alignment in a vertical plane revolving about a vertical line at the center pivot of the system; the control means has angularity sensor means which is connected between span units for sensing in a substantially horizontal plane changes in angularity between the span units relative to the desired revolving vertical plane.