Abstract: A sprinkler for watering a fixed spray pattern includes a flow conduit having a nozzle coupled thereto. A filter screen is held in place beneath the nozzle. The filter screen engages against a poppet type valve member of a flow shut off valve to space the valve member away from a valve seat to permit water flow through the flow conduit when the filter screen and nozzle are in place. If the nozzle is removed, the filter screen can move far enough upwardly, or can itself also be removed, that the valve member closes to shut off flow through the flow conduit. The flow shut off valve is located at a fixed distance from a reference point in the top of the flow conduit to permit the same sized screen to open the valve regardless of the overall length of the flow conduit. A flush cap used initially on top of the flow conduit in place of the nozzle, i.e.

Abstract: A planetary gear drive assembly for a rotary sprinkler includes a drive housing in which a planetary gear train is enclosed. A turbine located beneath one end of the drive housing rotates the gear train through a turbine shaft that extends into the drive housing. An output shaft extends out of the other end of the drive housing for rotating the nozzle assembly of the rotary sprinkler. The drive assembly includes an alignment means for causing the planetary gears in each stage of the gear train to self align the planetary gears relative to an internal ring gear on the drive housing as each stage is slid into the drive housing during assembly. The alignment means comprises a stepped extension on a forward edge of the ring gear that extends around only a portion of the circumference of the ring gear.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve has a resilient diaphragm that engages a valve seat. A line contact is formed between the diaphragm and the valve seat at or closely adjacent the outer diameter of the valve seat. This enhances the ability of the valve to seal under low fluid pressures. The diaphragm is reinforced by a plastic reinforcing member which is formed separately from the diaphragm. The reinforcing member and the diaphragm are inserted together in a press fit, and barbed posts on the reinforcing member hold the two together.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve has a diaphragm for sealing against a valve seat. The diaphragm includes two generally vertical annular lips extending upwardly and downwardly from a peripheral bead of the diaphragm. The bead is located at an interface between two mating portions of the valve with the lips received in annular channels located in the mating valve portions. The channels are configured relatively to the lips to bend the lips out of their normal, undistorted orientation to impose a biasing force on the lips tending to seal the lips in the channels.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve has a diaphragm for sealing against a valve seat. The diaphragm includes a bleed hole for passing fluid from one side of the diaphragm to the other. A debris arrestor comprising a one-piece flexible tag is inserted into the bleed hole by deforming the tag to pass therethrough. The tag after insertion expands to retain itself in the bleed hole.

Abstract: An improved valve includes an inlet, an outlet and a valve seat. A flexible diaphragm assembly seals against the valve seat. A bleed assembly extends into a pressure chamber located above the diaphragm for bleeding fluid pressure out of the chamber, thereby opening the valve. The bleed assembly includes a hollow tube inserted into a plastic plunger seat that is carried on the cap of the valve beneath the plunger of an actuating solenoid. Such a bleed assembly does not need a bleed tube having a precisely controlled length, and is not sensitive to flexure of the cap.