Patents by Inventor Wilson V. Cochran

Wilson V. Cochran 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: 5226602
    Abstract: An adjustable arc sprinkler nozzle comprises a nozzle body which has a plurality of radial channels for forming radial streams out of water flowing into the nozzle from a sprinkler body to which the nozzle is joined. A crown shaped deflector member includes a plurality of vertically extending fingers which operatively coact with the radial nozzle channels to restrict the amount of water flowing therethrough. A selectively operable adjusting member is cooperatively engaged with the deflecting member for moving the deflecting member vertically relative to the nozzle body to vary the position of the fingers relative to the channels to change the amount of water restriction imposed by the fingers on the water flowing through the channels, whereby the throw radius is selectively adjusted by vertical movement of the deflecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Wilson V. Cochran, John L. Staylor, Michael J. Grundy, Glendale Grizzle, Stephen L. Tyler
  • Patent number: 4681260
    Abstract: A variable stator for use in a sprinkler head has a two piece stator housing which includes flexible inner sidewalls overlying spaced apertures in an outer sidewall. The stator housing includes a plurality of drive ports which pass a controlled portion of the fluid flow against an impeller that is part of the drive mechanism for rotating the nozzle of the sprinkler head. The inner sidewalls flex inwardly as a function of fluid flow around the stator relative to the controlled fluid flow to the impeller to selectively open the apertures to keep the rate of rotation of the sprinkler nozzle relatively constant. By locating the impeller within the stator, upstream of the remaining fluid flow around the stator and through the spaced apertures, wear on the impeller is minimized. In addition, turbulence through and around the stator is minimized to further reduce wear and for increased fluid flow control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventor: Wilson V. Cochran
  • Patent number: 4191331
    Abstract: A stream director is disclosed adapted for mounting on a rotary sprinkler head to redirect the water stream during a segment of the rotation of the sprinkler from its intended portion of the irrigation area to another portion. A plurality of closed adjacent smoothly curved channels are employed to confine and redirect the stream emanating from the nozzle prior to its break-up whereby the spray pattern from the sprinkler is substantially as if the sprinkler were rotating through only a portion of a circular area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1980
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Jon A. Bivens, Wilson V. Cochran