Abstract: A memory wire actuated control valve comprises a memory wire actuator operatively coupled to a fluid control valve. The memory wire actuator includes a housing having an interior cavity enclosing an electrical platform assembly, an activation wire and a transfer mechanism. The activation wire is formed of a shape memory alloy, often called a “memory wire” or “muscle wire.” The activation wire is electrically connected to the electrical platform and mechanically coupled to the transfer mechanism. The actuator is activated by conducting electrical current through the activation wire causing the wire to contract thereby actuating the transfer mechanism. The transfer mechanism is operable coupled to the fluid control valve such that actuated and de-actuating the transfer mechanism open and closes the valve.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A pop-up sprinkler unit includes an outer cylindrical fixed housing for subsurface mounting, with a riser reciprocally mounted in a central bore of the housing for extending up through a portion of the soil. A radially retractable and expandable resilient plastic containment ring is mounted at an outlet end of the housing and engages an annular inner shoulder of the housing for retaining a coil spring and the riser in the bore. The containment ring is split to enable expansion and retraction. It has a first height throughout a first portion of its circumference and a second lower height throughout a second portion of its circumference to enable overlap during insertion of the ring into the upper end of the fixed housing. This configuration eliminates a gap at the split when the ring is in its retaining position, thereby preventing debris from entering the bore of the housing and preventing complete extension and/or retraction of the riser.

Abstract: A diaphragm-type control valve for irrigation systems has a solenoid operated pilot valve assembly. The solenoid includes a housing having a generally cylindrical bore with an open end, an energizeable coil surrounding the bore, a ferrous plunger reciprocally mounted in the bore and having an end extending from the open end of the solenoid housing, the plunger moveable between an extended position and a retracted position, and an elastomeric sealing cap mounted on the plunger end and having a central portion for sealingly engaging a valve seat and a peripheral portion sealing the bore around the plunger.

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.

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.

Abstract: A sprinkler unit having a system of nozzles for a wide range of conditions, comprises a housing having an inlet for connecting to a source of water, an outlet, a passage connecting the inlet to the outlet, the outlet having a nozzle receiving socket, a nozzle for detachably mounting in the outlet, a latching device in the socket for latching engagement with the nozzle for retaining the nozzle in the socket.

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.

Abstract: An adjustable pressure check valve comprises a generally cylindrical body having a throughbore communicating with an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends thereof, an annular valve seat in the throughbore, a valve member having a sealing surface for engagement with the seat disposed in the bore for movement into and out of engagement with the seat, a compression spring disposed in the throughbore for biasing the valve member into engagement with the seat, and an adjusting member for adjusting the biasing force of the spring on the valve member.

Abstract: A rotary stream sprinkler unit comprises a body having a water flow passage in which is disposed a flow control unit having a variable restriction in a passage to one or more arcuate passages configured to control the volume and pressure of a primary stream delivered to a rotary distributor head rotatably mounted at the outlet of the housing for dividing each primary stream into a plurality of final streams and rotating each of the final streams through a selected arc during the rotation of the rotary head.

Abstract: An irrigation controller for use with a plurality of electrically or hydraulically activated valves for automatically regulating time, location and duration of irrigation. An indexing rotary switch or rotary hydraulic pilot valve sequentially activates the valves. Adjustable timing units for each of the valves determines the dwell time of the rotary switch or valve on each valve. Hour and day timer wheels determine the days and time of day for the start of the rotary switch or valve. Each day and hour wheel contains two concentric circles of two or three position pins allowing selection from a multitude of combinations to achieve any possible watering desired. Interchangeable seven and six day wheels allow the controller to be utilized both for selection of given days of the week and alternate or every third day watering. A day wheel adjuster allows either the seven or six day wheel to be used with the hour wheel without any changes being required in the gearing between the wheels.