Patents by Inventor Steven E. CRAWFORD

Steven E. CRAWFORD 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).

  • Patent number: 11745207
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a pop-up deflector plate that is engageable with a brake assembly in an extended position. A brake module is secured to a sprinkler body and includes a rotatable connector coupled with the brake assembly. The pop-up deflector plate is disposed adjacent the nozzle and engages the rotatable connector in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NELSON IRRIGATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven E. Crawford, Andrew B. Hellie, Craig B. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11325147
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a pop-up deflector plate that is engageable with a brake assembly in an extended position. A brake module is secured to a sprinkler body and includes a rotatable connector coupled with the brake assembly. The pop-up deflector plate is disposed adjacent the nozzle and engages the rotatable connector in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: NELSON IRRIGATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven E. Crawford, Craig B. Nelson
  • Patent number: 11020756
    Abstract: A spool and wobbler assembly for a sprinkler includes a spool section with facing spool flanges on opposite sides of a spool core, where at least one of the spool flanges includes a circumferential rolling ledge. A wobbler cage including a wobbler ring is supported on the spool section, and a water deflector plate is coupled with the wobbler cage. An underside of the wobbler ring is provided with a circumferential rolling surface that engages the circumferential rolling ledge of the at least one spool flange. The rolling surface and rolling ledge provide for smoother orbital motion of the deflector plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: NELSON IRRIGATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: George L. Sesser, Craig B. Nelson, Andrew B. Hellie, Steven E. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20200331019
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a pop-up deflector plate that is engageable with a brake assembly in an extended position. A brake module is secured to a sprinkler body and includes a rotatable connector coupled with the brake assembly. The pop-up deflector plate is disposed adjacent the nozzle and engages the rotatable connector in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Steven E. Crawford, Andrew B. Hellie, Craig B. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20190344300
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a pop-up deflector plate that is engageable with a brake assembly in an extended position. A brake module is secured to a sprinkler body and includes a rotatable connector coupled with the brake assembly. The pop-up deflector plate is disposed adjacent the nozzle and engages the rotatable connector in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Steven E. Crawford, Craig B. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10399108
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a pop-up deflector plate that is engageable with a brake assembly in an extended position. A brake module is secured to a sprinkler body and includes a rotatable connector coupled with the brake assembly. The pop-up deflector plate is disposed adjacent the nozzle and engages the rotatable connector in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: NELSON IRRIGATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven E. Crawford, Craig B. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10239066
    Abstract: A sprinkler head includes a sprinkler body, a nozzle positioned within the sprinkler body, a fixed gear coupled with the sprinkler body, a wobbler cage supported on the sprinkler body, and a water deflector plate coupled with the wobbler cage and disposed downstream of the nozzle. A brake assembly is coupled with the water deflector plate for slowing a rotating and wobbling motion of the wobbler cage and the water deflector plate. The brake assembly includes a shaft extending through the water deflector plate and a brake gear disposed at an end of the shaft, where the brake gear is engageable with the fixed gear. Among other advantages, the design eliminates the use of large fixed strut framework that creates dry shadows in the water pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: NELSON IRRIGATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: George L. Sesser, Craig B. Nelson, Andrew B. Hellie, Steven E. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20180318852
    Abstract: A spool and wobbler assembly for a sprinkler includes a spool section with facing spool flanges on opposite sides of a spool core, where at least one of the spool flanges includes a circumferential rolling ledge. A wobbler cage including a wobbler ring is supported on the spool section, and a water deflector plate is coupled with the wobbler cage. An underside of the wobbler ring is provided with a circumferential rolling surface that engages the circumferential rolling ledge of the at least one spool flange. The rolling surface and rolling ledge provide for smoother orbital motion of the deflector plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: George L. Sesser, Craig B. Nelson, Andrew B. Hellie, Steven E. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20180147592
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a pop-up deflector plate that is engageable with a brake assembly in an extended position. A brake module is secured to a sprinkler body and includes a rotatable connector coupled with the brake assembly. The pop-up deflector plate is disposed adjacent the nozzle and engages the rotatable connector in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Steven E. Crawford, Craig B. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20170333924
    Abstract: A sprinkler head includes a sprinkler body, a nozzle positioned within the sprinkler body, a fixed gear coupled with the sprinkler body, a wobbler cage supported on the sprinkler body, and a water deflector plate coupled with the wobbler cage and disposed downstream of the nozzle. A brake assembly is coupled with the water deflector plate for slowing a rotating and wobbling motion of the wobbler cage and the water deflector plate. The brake assembly includes a shaft extending through the water deflector plate and a brake gear disposed at an end of the shaft, where the brake gear is engageable with the fixed gear. Among other advantages, the design eliminates the use of large fixed strut framework that creates dry shadows in the water pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: George L. Sesser, Craig B. Nelson, Andrew B. Hellie, Steven E. Crawford
  • Patent number: 9004097
    Abstract: A spool valve includes a housing having a spring-enclosing portion and a spool-enclosing portion aligned along a longitudinal axis. A spool is mounted for reciprocal axial movement in the housing and a piston is fixed to one end of the spool. The spool-enclosing portion supports a stationary bushing having a bore receiving an opposite control end of the spool, the bushing formed with a first plurality of radially-oriented passages opening into an annular groove formed in the bore, the groove having sloped side edges. The spool supports plural ring-seals arranged to engage the sloped side edges of the annular groove and thereby seal off the radially-oriented passages when the spool is in a neutral position. Movement of the spool is adjustably limited in one direction and dampened in both axial directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Crawford, Robert D. Klein
  • Publication number: 20130312849
    Abstract: A spool valve includes a housing having a spring-enclosing portion and a spool-enclosing portion aligned along a longitudinal axis. A spool is mounted for reciprocal axial movement in the housing and a piston is fixed to one end of the spool. The spool-enclosing portion supports a stationary bushing having a bore receiving an opposite control end of the spool, the bushing formed with a first plurality of radially-oriented passages opening into an annular groove formed in the bore, the groove having sloped side edges. The spool supports plural ring-seals arranged to engage the sloped side edges of the annular groove and thereby seal off the radially-oriented passages when the spool is in a neutral position. Movement of the spool is adjustably limited in one direction and dampened in both axial directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. CRAWFORD, Robert D. Klein