Patents by Inventor Samuel C. Walker
Samuel C. Walker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9440250Abstract: A pop-up irrigation device for use in a low pressure irrigation device is described. The device has a housing, a riser partially extensible from the housing and a nozzle body removably attached to an end of the riser in a non-threaded manner, such as using a snap-fit. One, two or more connection tubes or ports may extend laterally from the housing and can each be configured to be connectable to flexible irrigation tubing. An annular cap can be attached to the open end of the housing and may include an annular, radially-inward extending seal. The closed end of the housing may include a depending stake with a plurality of blades to facilitate mounting of the housing relative to the ground.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Samuel C. Walker, Donald B. Clark, Rowshan Jahan
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Patent number: 9327297Abstract: A specialty nozzle is provided having a pattern adjusment valve that may be adjusted to irrigate a substantially rectangular irrigation area. The nozzle may be further adjusted to irrigate three different substantially rectangular irrigation areas. The nozzle functions as a three-in-one left strip nozzle, right strip nozzle, and side strip nozzle. The strip irrigation setting may be selected by pressing down and rotating a deflector to directly actuate the valve. The nozzle may also include a flow reduction valve to set the size of the rectangular irrigation areas and may be adjusted by actuation of an outer wall of the nozzle. Rotation of the outer wall causes a flow control member to move axially to or away from an inlet.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventor: Samuel C. Walker
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Patent number: 9314952Abstract: A nozzle is provided having a low precipitation rate and uniform fluid distribution to a desired arcuate span of coverage. The nozzle has an inflow port having a shape corresponding to the desired arc of coverage and a size for effecting a low precipitation rate. The nozzle also has a deflector surface with a water distribution profile including ribs for subdividing the fluid into multiple sets of fluid streams. There are at least two fluid streams for distant and close-in irrigation to provide relatively uniform distribution and coverage. The nozzle may be a unitary, one-piece, molded nozzle body including a mounting portion, an inflow port, and a deflector portion. There is also provided a mold assembly and method for forming a unitary, one piece nozzle body.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Samuel C. Walker, Vahik Nazaryan
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Patent number: 9295998Abstract: A specialty nozzle is provided having a pattern adjustment valve that may be adjusted to irrigate a substantially rectangular irrigation area. The nozzle may be further adjusted to irrigate two different substantially rectangular irrigation areas. The nozzle functions as a three-in-one left strip nozzle, right strip nozzle, and side strip nozzle. The arcuate length may be adjusted by pressing down and rotating a deflector to directly actuate the valve. The nozzle may also include a radius adjustment valve that may be adjusted by actuation of an outer wall of the nozzle. Rotation of the outer wall causes a flow control member to move axially to or away from an inlet.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2012Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Lee James Shadbolt, John Austin Brennan, Samuel C. Walker
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Patent number: 9174227Abstract: A nozzle for an irrigation sprinkler is provided, where the nozzle includes a sealing pad for reducing the distance relative to a seal of an irrigation device when the nozzle is in a retracted position to restrict the entry of grit and other debris into the irrigation device.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: David Eugene Robertson, Samuel C. Walker
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Patent number: 9156043Abstract: A rotary sprinkler is provided herein capable of providing automatic matched precipitation to arc adjustments. Sprinklers herein includes an arc setting assembly or mechanism that enables reversing, part-circle operation or, in some cases, full-circle operation with automatic matched precipitation coupled to the arc setting mechanism operable to effect automatic matched precipitation based on adjustments to the arc of rotation of the nozzle turret.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventor: Samuel C. Walker
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Patent number: 9138768Abstract: A pop-up irrigation device for use in a low pressure irrigation device is described. The device has a housing, a riser partially extensible from the housing and a nozzle body removably attached to an end of the riser in a non-threaded manner, such as using a snap-fit, or in a threaded manner. One, two or more connection tubes or ports may extend laterally from the housing and can each be configured to be connectable to flexible irrigation tubing. Ribs may extend from the housing to facilitate retention when buried. An annular cap can be attached to the open end of the housing and may include an annular, radially-inward extending seal. The closed end of the housing may include a depending stake with a plurality of blades to facilitate mounting of the housing relative to the ground.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2010Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Rowshan Jahan, Donald B. Clark, Samuel C. Walker
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Patent number: 9079202Abstract: A variable arc sprinkler head or nozzle may be set to numerous positions to adjust the arcuate span of the sprinkler. The nozzle may include an arc adjustment valve having two portions that helically engage each other to define an opening that may be adjusted at the top of the sprinkler to a desired arcuate length. The arcuate length may be adjusted by pressing down and rotating a deflector to directly actuate the valve. The nozzle may also include a radius reduction valve that may be adjusted by actuation of an outer wall of the nozzle. Rotation of the outer wall causes a flow control member to move axially to or away from an inlet.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Samuel C. Walker, John Austin Brennan, Alberto Carrillo Maloof
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Publication number: 20150144815Abstract: An irrigation valve has a valve body with an inlet passage, an outlet passage, a valve seat intermediate the inlet passage and the outlet passage and a control chamber exit or bypass passage terminating in a surface that defines a portion of the outlet passage, the valve body including at least one of a recess and a rib for hindering clogging of the bypass passage. Related methods for hindering clogging of the control chamber or exit bypass passage are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2013Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicant: Rain Bird CorporationInventor: Samuel C. Walker
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Patent number: 8925837Abstract: A variable arc sprinkler head or nozzle may be set to numerous positions to adjust the arcuate span of the sprinkler. The sprinkler head includes an arc adjustment valve having two portions that helically engage each other to define an opening that may be adjusted at the top of the sprinkler to a desired arcuate length. The arcuate length may be adjusted by pressing down and rotating a deflector to directly actuate the valve. The sprinkler head may include a lock-out feature to prevent adjustment. A method of irrigation is also provided involving moving the deflector between an arc adjustment position and an operational, irrigation position. The sprinkler head may also include a flow rate adjustment valve that may be adjusted by actuation of an outer wall of the sprinkler. Rotation of the outer wall causes a flow control member to move axially to or away from an inlet.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Samuel C. Walker, Steven Brian Hunnicutt
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Publication number: 20140263757Abstract: A nozzle is provided having a low precipitation rate and uniform fluid distribution to a desired arcuate span of coverage. The nozzle has an inflow port having a shape corresponding to the desired arc of coverage and a size for effecting a low precipitation rate. The nozzle also has a deflector surface with a water distribution profile including ribs for subdividing the fluid into multiple sets of fluid streams. There are at least two fluid streams for distant and close-in irrigation to provide relatively uniform distribution and coverage. The nozzle may be a unitary, one-piece, molded nozzle body including a mounting portion, an inflow port, and a deflector portion. There is also provided a mold assembly and method for forming a unitary, one piece nozzle body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Samuel C. Walker, Vahik Nazaryan
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Patent number: 8789768Abstract: A variable arc sprinkler may be set to numerous positions along a continuum to adjust the arcuate span of the sprinkler. The sprinkler includes a nozzle body and a valve sleeve that helically engage each other to define an arcuate slot that may be adjusted at the top of the sprinkler to a desired arcuate span. The sprinkler may include a flow rate adjustment device that may be adjusted by actuation or rotation of an outer wall portion of the sprinkler. Rotation of the outer wall portion may cause a throttle control member to move axially to or away from an inlet, or may cause one or more restrictor elements to open or close, to control the flow rate of the sprinkler.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Steven Brian Hunnicutt, Samuel C. Walker, Rowshan Jahan
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Patent number: 8740177Abstract: An irrigation valve has a valve body with an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and a valve seat intermediate the inlet passage and the outlet passage. A diaphragm includes a valve seat engaging portion that cooperates with the valve seat to control flow through the valve. The valve seat and the valve seat engaging portion of the diaphragm are offset relative to the inlet passage to improve flow through the valve to reduce pressure and energy loss.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventor: Samuel C. Walker
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Patent number: 8651400Abstract: A variable arc sprinkler nozzle is provided for distribution of water through nearly any adjustable arcuate span. The nozzle includes one or more arcuate slots formed by the helical engagement of spiral surfaces of a deflector and a nozzle body. A user may rotate a portion of the nozzle body to select the arcuate span of the one or more slots. A matched precipitation rate feature is adjustable to proportion the amount of water directed to the deflector depending on the extent of the arcuate span. Further, edge fins on the deflector and nozzle body channel water flow at the two edges of the distribution arc to increase the throw radius and to provide fairly uniform water distribution at the edges of the arc.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Samuel C. Walker, Steven D. Geerligs
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Publication number: 20140027526Abstract: A specialty nozzle is provided having a pattern adjustment valve that may be adjusted to irrigate a substantially rectangular irrigation area. The nozzle may be further adjusted to irrigate two different substantially rectangular irrigation areas. The nozzle functions as a three-in-one left strip nozzle, right strip nozzle, and side strip nozzle. The arcuate length may be adjusted by pressing down and rotating a deflector to directly actuate the valve. The nozzle may also include a radius adjustment valve that may be adjusted by actuation of an outer wall of the nozzle. Rotation of the outer wall causes a flow control member to move axially to or away from an inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Inventors: Lee James Shadbolt, John Austin Brennan, Samuel C. Walker
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Publication number: 20140027527Abstract: A specialty nozzle is provided having a pattern adjusment valve that may be adjusted To irrigate a substantially rectangular irrigation area. The nozzle may be further adjusted to irrigate three different substantially rectangular irrigation areas. The nozzle functions as a three-in-one left strip nozzle, right strip nozzle, and side strip nozzle. The strip irrigation setting may be selected by pressing down and rotating a deflector to directly actuate the valve. The nozzle may also include a flow reduction valve to set the size of the rectangular irrigation areas and may be adjusted by actuation of an outer wall of the nozzle. Rotation of the outer wall causes a flow control member to move axially to or away from an inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: Rain Bird CorporationInventor: Samuel C. Walker
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Publication number: 20140014738Abstract: A rotary sprinkler is provided herein capable of providing automatic matched precipitation to arc adjustments. Sprinklers herein includes an arc setting assembly or mechanism that enables reversing, part-circle operation or, in some cases, full-circle operation with automatic matched precipitation coupled to the arc setting mechanism operable to effect automatic matched precipitation based on adjustments to the arc of rotation of the nozzle turret.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Inventor: Samuel C. Walker
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Publication number: 20130334340Abstract: A variable arc sprinkler head or nozzle may be set to numerous positions to adjust the arcuate span of the sprinkler. The nozzle may include an arc adjustment valve having two portions that helically engage each other to define an opening that may be adjusted at the top of the sprinkler to a desired arcuate length. The arcuate length may be adjusted by pressing down and rotating a deflector to directly actuate the valve. The nozzle may also include a radius reduction valve that may be adjusted by actuation of an outer wall of the nozzle. Rotation of the outer wall causes a flow control member to move axially to or away from an inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Inventors: Samuel C. Walker, John Austin Brennan, Alberto Carrillo Maloof
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Publication number: 20130334332Abstract: A nozzle for an irrigation sprinkler is provided, where the nozzle includes a sealing pad for reducing the distance relative to a seal of an irrigation device when the nozzle is in a retracted position to restrict the entry of grit and other debris into the irrigation device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Inventors: David Eugene Robertson, Samuel C. Walker
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Patent number: 8567696Abstract: A unitary nozzle body is provided for use with an irrigation device, such as a pop-up irrigation device.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Rain Bird CorporationInventors: Samuel C. Walker, Donald B. Clark, Rowshan Jahan