Abstract: A method and apparatus provides a controlled, continuous up-and-down motion of a pop-up sprinkler head device during an irrigation period to approximate a modified sine wave output from the pop-up sprinkler device assuring uniform coverage of an area to be irrigated without excessive watering.

Abstract: A spray nozzle for pop-up underground sprinkler comprises a main fixed body and a revolving ring nut that is associated with the aforesaid main body in order to allow the adjustment of the spray angle. The main body and the ring nut as a whole create an area for the containment of water that communicates with the outside through an adjustable scroll-shaped radial passage. The ring nut in addition forms in communication with the aforementioned area an accumulation chamber in which the water flow is subject to compression for the formation of a uniform output spray.

Abstract: A combined nozzle set and lift tool is provided for use with a pop-up sprinkler, wherein the lift tool comprises a tool body in the form of an injection molded runner formed integrally with a plurality of individual nozzle inserts. An elongated tool stem projects outwardly from the tool body and has protruding tabs at a tip end thereof for reception into an undercut recess formed in a pop-up sprinkler spray head to permit lifting of the spray head from a normal position spring-retracted substantially within a sprinkler housing or case, to an elevated position for facilitated access to the spray head. A selected one of the plurality of nozzle inserts can be separated from the lift tool as by snap-off detachment, whereupon the selected nozzle insert can be mounted on the elevated spray head to individually tailor the characteristics of a water stream projected therefrom during normal sprinkler operation.

Abstract: A trim ring is placed around an in-ground lawn sprinkler to discourage grass growth around it and to protect the sprinkler assembly by indicating its location. The sprinkler trim ring comprises two complementary plates, each having a notch or indents which, when assembled, forms a central aperture fitting around a sprinkler body. The overlapped plates are engaged and secured to each other by screws through slots in the upper plate and screwed into the lower plate. The slots permit sliding of the plates to increase or decrease the tightness on the sprinkler body. Grooves are provided on the bottom of both plates allowing breaking off portions to adapt to a larger sprinkler body and/or to installation site limitations.

Abstract: A fence sprinkler system is described in which tubular posts include an interior cavity, a water line extends upwardly through the cavity, and a sprinkling unit is connected to the water line at the upper end of each post. The sprinkling unit can be recessed into the upper end of the post, and a cap is attached to the top of the sprinkling unit to close the upper end of the post when the sprinkling head is retracted into the post.

Abstract: A method for achieving movement of a gas burner of a cooking hob relative to a cavity in which said burner rests when not in use and from which it partially emerges for its activation, by which following a command for activating the burner a magnetic force is generated on the heating element which causes it to move and partially emerge from the cavity, said force ceasing when a burner deactivation command is given, with its consequent return to its rest position within the corresponding cavity. The method is implemented by a device comprising fixed conductor means arranged to cooperate magnetically with magnetically sensitive means associated with the movable burner.

Abstract: An adjustable riser is provided for coupling an irrigation sprinkler to a water supply line, wherein the riser is adapted for quick and easy longitudinal adjustment to variably select the elevational position of the sprinkler relative to ground level. The adjustable riser comprises a pair of telescopically interfitting inner and outer riser tubes coupled respectively to the sprinkler and to the water supply line. The inner riser tube has a keyway formed on the exterior surface thereof, and the outer riser tube carries at least one key protruding into and engaged with the keyway. In the preferred form, the keyway comprises at least one recessed channel defined by an axially spaced succession of part-circumferential segments interconnected at opposite ends by axial segments extending in opposite directions.

Abstract: A sprinkler having an output orifice through which water operatively flows, includes a flush cap adapted for movement relative to the output orifice from a free position wherein the cap is disengaged from the sprinkler, to a locked position wherein the cap is generally fixed to the sprinkler and substantially covers the output orifice. The flush cap in the free position is angularly displaced in a single plane from the flush cap in the locked position. A deflector, disposed at an obtuse angle to the axis of the cap, biases the cap to the locked position during a flushing operation. Pulling grip portions of a handle also biases the cap to the locked position. An associated method includes the step of tilting the flush cap in a single plane in order to engage the sprinkler in the lock position.

Abstract: A pop-up sprinkler head is provided with a mechanism that shuts off the water when the nozzle portion of the riser is removed for maintenance. A stopper element reciprocally mounted in the riser moves to a shut off position when the nozzle is removed. A valve seat member and a stopper element may be provided to retrofit the riser of an existing sprinkler head.

Abstract: An improved pop-up irrigation sprinkler with integral flow control valve, and an improved separate flow control valve, defined by a dual flowpath for pilot flow within the flow control valve; a stem-flushing feature using an interrupter disc (54) mounted on a piston (48), providing a flowpath for a brief hydraulic flushing cycle after a momentary interruption of flow; a direct acting hydraulic pilot valve (92) to permit hydraulic control of an electric type sprinkler or a separate flow control valve; an improvement of the bearing guide (80) by the addition of a resilient barrier seal (84) to prevent seizing of the stem to the bearing guide when fully extended, the seal maintaining a close fit to the stem and yet being sufficiently resilient to permit the flushing of the stem; and a variable orifice in the inlet to the bonnet chamber to retard the initial opening rate of the valve.

Abstract: A pop-up-sprinkler housing has a cap sleeve (1) that slides adjustably into a base sleeve (2) having a base plate (3) with a fluid conveyance (4) that screws onto underground sprinkler plumbing (10) and into sprinkler shafts (8). A housing cap (11) on top of the cap sleeve has a sprinkler-shaft aperture (12) that is sized and shaped to allow ingress and egress of pop-up portions (13) of select sprinkler shafts and has cap-sleeve shoulders (14) that extend over the base sleeve and a support surface (15). Threaded fasteners are provided for attaching the fluid conveyance to the sprinkler shafts and to the underground sprinkler plumbing. A plurality of sprinkler adapters 31 are provided for adaptation to different sizes and types of pop-up sprinklers.

Abstract: A sprinkler unit with riser damping comprises a tubular housing having an inlet for connecting to a source of water, a tubular riser reciprocally mounted in the tubular housing and moveable from a retracted position within the housing to an extended position from the housing, the riser having an outlet having a nozzle for distributing a stream of water outward from the housing, a passage connecting the inlet to the outlet, a retraction spring normally biasing the riser to the retracted position, and a shock absorbing ring mounted on the riser for damping movement of the riser to the extended position.

Abstract: A sprinkler comprises a turbine rotor (64) and a nozzle means (20) driving the latter, the water jets emerging from the nozzle means (20) as fanned jets so that the water impinges the surface area to be irrigated at a relatively small distance away from the sprinkler also under high pressure. The nozzle means (20) is mounted rotatably to enable differing sectors or sectors differing in size to be irrigated.

Abstract: A sprinkler unit comprises a tubular housing having an inlet for connecting to a source of water, a tubular riser telescopically reciprocally mounted in the tubular housing and moveable from a retracted position within the housing to an extended position from the housing, the riser having an outlet having a nozzle for distributing a stream of water outward from the housing, a passage connecting the inlet to the outlet, a retraction spring normally biasing the riser to the retracted position, and a shock absorbing coating on the retracting spring for absorbing the shock of movement of the riser to the extended position.

Abstract: An irrigation apparatus (10) includes a conduit housing (14) with at least one elongated, flexible irrigation conduit (12) received in a retracted position therein. A water supply arrangement associated with the conduit housing (14) allows water to be supplied through the housing to a proximal end (20) of each irrigation conduit (12). Also, a conduit deployment arrangement associated with the conduit housing (14) allows the irrigation conduits (12) to extend from the housing to an extended position in response to water supplied to the housing through the water supply arrangement. In the extended position, each irrigation conduit (12) extends over an area to be irrigated, and emitters along the length of each conduit emit water to efficiently irrigate the area under and immediately surrounding the extended conduit. A conduit retracting arrangement (32) retracts the irrigation conduits (12) back to the retracted position once the water pressure is withdrawn from the device.

Abstract: A sprinkler head support apparatus and pipe support apparatus for an underground sprinkler system. The sprinkler housing support includes an open cage to permit drainage of water from the sprinkler head housing. The pipe support and pop-up sprinkler housing support can be placed completely beneath the soil limiting the exposure of the sprinkler system to above ground activities and possible damage. The pipe supports are made from a durable plastic and hollow inside to permit compact stacking in storage.

Abstract: A swing connector assembly for connecting a sprinkler unit to a supply line includes an elongated conduit having a pair of swivel elbows connected to it by barbed fittings at each end thereof providing for three degrees of orthogonal rotation for enabling unlimited positioning of the sprinkler unit within the length of the conduit.

Abstract: A pop-up irrigation sprinkler including a sprinkler case having an open upper end through which a sprinkler nozzle coupled to a sprinkler mechanism can be extended, the sprinkler mechanism being retained within the case by a retaining ring mounted in a groove in the case, and a retaining cover and sealing assembly for sealing the open end of the case around the nozzle and for preventing the split ring from being inadvertently unseated from the groove.

Abstract: An in-ground sprinkler head guard is disclosed, which includes a canister embedded in the ground and having a central channel for receiving the sprinkler head. A chamber is disposed about the channel and includes spaced apart inner and outer walls, a closed bottom portion and an open top portion for selectively introducing a ballast material into the chamber. A lid is engaged with the canister and disposed proximate the surface of the ground to cover the top portion of the chamber. The lid has a central opening that is generally axially aligned with the sprinkler head and disposed generally above the sprinkler head, at least when the sprinkler head is inactive.

Abstract: Disclosed is a joint for connecting sprinklers to underground water pipes which is used to raise the head of sprinklers above the lawn by its double shelled inner and outer pipes engaged with each other by their male and female threads depending on the rise of the ground surface by supplying rich soil to the lawn, improved by providing a non-threaded portion to the end of female thread on the inside of an outer pipe so that male thread on the outside of an inner pipe can disengage from the female thread when the joint is lengthened up to its maximum length and/or improved by providing a plurality of stepped male threads to the end of the inner pipe with the smallest diametered one at the top and the largest diametered one at the base and providing an annular groove to the foot of each thread.

Abstract: A pop-up sprinkler having a nozzle housing threadably coupled to a pop-up stem, and including an axially projecting tab formed on the upper end of the stem which cooperates with spaced ribs formed on the inside of the nozzle housing to prevent over tightening of the nozzle housing relative to the stem during assembly and which resists unthreading of the nozzle housing from the stem to prevent vandals from unthreading the nozzle housing from the stem.

Abstract: A one piece molded combination retaining housing and tee, and a one piece molded combination retaining housing and 90.degree. elbow, for new installations of lawn watering systems, and a separate retaining housing for use with conventional tees and 90.degree. elbows in existing or new installations of lawn watering systems, to eliminate foreign matter from entering into the underground water piping system when a pop-up head is removed for repair or replacement. Adapters, to increase the height of the retaining housings, and retaining housing caps to allow standardization of the retaining housings of these three parts are also a part of the invention. All parts would be made of PVC today, but the material would not be limited to PVC.

Abstract: A sprinkler head having a readily accessible top plug which can be removed and replaced by a pressure-reading gauge that is in fluid communication with the head's interior pressure. Each individual sprinkler head includes a manually-adjustable pressure adjusting screw which is accessible at an exposed location for the installed sprinkler head. Pressure adjustment for an individual head, while it is operating in either a manual or an automatic mode, is available. After individual pressure adjustment for a sprinkler head has been performed the gauge is removed and the plug is replaced for normal sprinkler operation.

Abstract: A pop up sprinkler utilizes a diaphragm valve oriented in a vertical manner within the sprinkler water inlet. The valve has a circular bellows surrounding a core and is movable between an expanded position embracing the core and a relaxed position displaced from the core. In the displaced position water flow through the sprinkler is allowed, such flow passing about the core in a manner which creates minimal pressure loss in the valve.

Abstract: A pop-up guard or shield for use with a pop-up sprinkler mounted in a casing buried in the ground to protect against the entry of dirt, sand, weeds, and the like into the casing during sprinkler operation. The guard includes a spring biased sleeve which pops up together with the sprinkler during sprinkler extension to the operative position, and is retracted into the casing during movement of the sprinkler to the inoperative position.

Abstract: A turbine operated rotary sprinkler comprising a rotary nozzle, a water supply, operated turbine and rotary drive coupling means coupling the turbine to the nozzle so as to impart a rotary drive thereto, the turbine comprising a turbine wheel having a plurality of equiangularly distributed vanes each having a plane of symmetry located along a radial plane of the wheel, a pair of turbine inlets being located with respect to the wheel that water inflow sequentially through the inlets drives the wheel in respectively opposite senses, sealing means being provided for sequentially sealing the turbine inlets, displacement means being provided for displacing the sealing means into sequentially sealing the turbine inlets, displacement actuating and transmission means being provided which comprise an impact member and a rotational range defining member, the latter including a pair of spaced apart abutment elements, one of the members being rotatable with the nozzle and the other of the members being responsively coupl

Abstract: Apparatus for enhancing the performance of a sprinkler assembly or the like, the apparatus having a frame slidably mounted on the sprinkler assembly. The frame mounts a spring-biased plunger which is operable, selectively, to release fluid to the sprinkler assembly when the sprinkler assembly is deployed at a predetermined attitude above the surface of the earth.