Patents by Inventor William D. Holton

William D. Holton 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: 9481003
    Abstract: A pop-up rotor-type irrigation sprinkler includes an outer case and a riser assembly telescopically extensible from the outer case. A coil spring surrounds the riser assembly and normally holds the riser assembly in a lower retracted position within the outer case. The coil spring is dimensioned and configured to permit extension of the riser assembly to a raised upper position when pressurized water is introduced into the outer case. A cushion made of an elastomeric material is retained in the outer case adjacent an end thereof and surrounds the riser assembly. The cushion may be solid and may move between hard structures to facilitate absorption of the shock of the impact caused by rapid extension of the riser assembly to its raised upper position. The cushion may also include a plurality of voids that facilitate deformation and shock absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Clark, Zachary B. Simmons, William D. Holton
  • Publication number: 20130270361
    Abstract: A pop-up rotor-type irrigation sprinkler includes an outer case and a riser assembly telescopically extensible from the outer case. A coil spring surrounds the riser assembly and normally holds the riser assembly in a lower retracted position within the outer case. The coil spring is dimensioned and configured to permit extension of the riser assembly to a raised upper position when pressurized water is introduced into the outer case. A cushion made of an elastomeric material is retained in the outer case adjacent an end thereof and surrounds the riser assembly. The cushion may be solid and may move between hard structures to facilitate absorption of the shock of the impact caused by rapid extension of the riser assembly to its raised upper position. The cushion may also include a plurality of voids that facilitate deformation and shock absorption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Michael L. Clark, Zachary B. Simmons, William D. Holton
  • Patent number: 6736334
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Hunter, William D. Holton, Loren W. Scott
  • Publication number: 20020162901
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Richard E. Hunter, William D. Holton, Loren W. Scott