With Spring Assisted Retraction Patents (Class 239/205)
  • Patent number: 11925294
    Abstract: Systems are disclosed for cleaning a fryer using a washing element coupled to a bottom wall of a cooking chamber. An upper portion of the washing element extends above the bottom wall of the cooking chamber and includes a plurality of spray jet nozzles that are separated at predetermined angles relative to one another around a periphery of the upper portion of the washing element to orient the plurality of spray jet nozzles so as to spray a plurality of pressurized streams of the cooking medium to predetermined areas of the cooking chamber, including at least one corner of the cooking chamber. Also disclosed is a fryer that includes a spreader bar that maintains an electric heating coil in the serpentine pattern. The spreader bar is coupled to the upper surface of the electric heating coil and is disposed at a predetermined distance away from the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Caudill, Mark Gogel
  • Patent number: 11285396
    Abstract: A spray nozzle for use in a water slide feature is disclosed. The nozzle includes a nozzle body with a connection portion for connecting to a fluid supply and a support portion for affixing to a support structure. The nozzle further includes a nozzle tip removably connected to the nozzle body. The nozzle tip is prevented from being removed from the nozzle body by at least a releasable lock. The lock includes a member movable to release the lock, the member being accessible to a user from an exterior of the nozzle. Also disclosed is a nozzle with a tip portion having a passageway with three curved portions with different radii of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ProSlide Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Hunter, Raymond T. Smegal
  • Patent number: 11110477
    Abstract: A pressure regulator for use in a sprinkler assembly including a riser and a sprinkler basket includes an outer sleeve mounted in the riser at an inlet thereof and a pressure responsive member, movably mounted in the outer sleeve and movable from an open position allowing flow of water between the top surface of the filter basket and the bottom edge of the pressure responsive member and up the riser and a closed position where the bottom edge of the pressure responsive member contacts the top surface of the filter basket to prevent water from flowing. The pressure responsive member is biased in the open position and moves into the closed position when downstream water pressure exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: K-Rain Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Danhui Luo
  • Patent number: 11097694
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a telescoping device for cleaning a vehicle surface. The telescoping device includes an extendable piston moveable from an inactive position to active position at a predetermined extension pressure. The piston includes a supply tube, a cleaning fluid outlet provided at a distal end of the supply tube, and a check valve comprising a cracking pressure that is greater than the predetermined extension pressure. Vehicles and systems incorporating a telescoping cleaning device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: A. RAYMOND ET CIE
    Inventor: Larry M. Rachow
  • Patent number: 10814343
    Abstract: A sprinkler riser extension kit elevates a pop-up sprinkler that has a riser and a head detachable from the riser. The kit includes a gripping head having a channel extending therethrough, and a riser extension configured to slide within the channel and having a length corresponding to the length of the channel. The lower end of the gripping head is configured for attachment to the sprinkler, e.g., by a plurality of flexible pawls spaced evenly about the lower end. The riser extension includes means for attachment between the sprinkler head and the sprinkler riser. To elevate the sprinkler, the head is detached, the riser passed through the gripping head, the riser extension attached to the riser, the head attached to the riser extension, and the gripping head attached to the top of the sprinkler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Inventor: Kody J. Ketterling
  • Patent number: 10618084
    Abstract: A nozzle for water jet equipment and a method of use thereof. The nozzle has a body including a base with a shaft extending outwardly therefrom. The shaft is inserted through a bore of a sleeve that rotatable about the shaft. The base and shaft define a bore therein. At least one opening is defined in the shaft and one or more grooves are milled into the shaft's exterior surface. Each opening places the body's bore in fluid communication with one of the grooves and the sleeve's bore. Water flowing through the body's bore will flow through each opening, into the associated groove and into a space between the shaft and sleeve. The shaft terminates in a conical section usable as a battering ram to break up blockages in pipes during cleaning operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Terydon, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry D. Gromes, Sr., Gary L. Manack, Jr., Kristen E. Gromes
  • Patent number: 10464083
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rotor or sprinkler that allows its watering arc to be rotated, increased, or decreased by user-rotation of the sprinkler's rotating nozzle base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Travis L. Onofrio, Hyok Lee, Ralph E. Faupel
  • Patent number: 10344493
    Abstract: A cleaning head for an in-floor pool cleaning system is provided. The cleaning head includes a sleeve having a passage and an insert extending through the passage of the sleeve. The insert includes a flow path and an aperture, wherein the flow path is a curved, such as a question mark shape, and exits through the aperture. The insert is moveable between a first position with the aperture retained with in the sleeve and a second position with the aperture extending beyond the sleeve. The flow path may include an overturn at the aperture. The insert includes a nozzle, a nozzle housing, an upper guide, a lower guide and a weight with the flow path extending through each component. The nozzle includes an angled inlet opening that corresponds to an angled outlet opening of the nozzle housing that engage each other when the nozzle is coupled within the nozzle housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Blue Square Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Scatterday, Michael Landis, Jason Addink, Mark Johnson, David Johnson, Robert Michael Long, Timothy Murphy
  • Patent number: 10322423
    Abstract: An irrigation nozzle with a rotating deflector is provided whose rotational speed may be controlled by a friction brake. The nozzle may also 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: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel C. Walker, Lee James Shadbolt, David Eugene Robertson
  • Patent number: 10232830
    Abstract: Arrangements described herein include washing systems for vehicle truck beds. The system can include one or more nozzles and one or more conduits operatively connected to the truck bed. In some arrangements, the conduits can be formed integrally with the truck bed, such as being molded with an inner panel of the truck bed. The system further includes a fluid inlet operatively connected to the vehicle that is in fluid communication with the one or more conduits. When a fluid is supplied in the fluid inlet it can be routed to the one or more nozzles for spraying into the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott L. Frederick, Scott P. Robison, Adam D. Holmstrom
  • Patent number: 9995352
    Abstract: A rotational speed control device maintains a shaft rotation speed. The device includes a housing containing a viscous fluid and a shaft disposed in the housing and rotatable relative to the housing. A rotor is coupled with the shaft for rotation in the viscous fluid. The rotor is axially displaceable along the shaft between a low-shear position and a high-shear position. A spring mechanism is disposed in the housing and biases the rotor toward the low-shear position. The rotor may be designed to cooperate with the housing or other nonrotating features within the housing to vary a shear gap according to the axial position of the rotor. The rotor, housing and spring mechanism can be designed to cooperate to create large changes in braking torque in response to small changes in shaft rotational speed. This allows the rotation speed to be controlled within a relatively narrow range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: NELSON IRRIGATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lee A. Perkins, George L. Sesser, Craig B. Nelson, Riley D. Greenwood
  • Patent number: 9987639
    Abstract: A long throw Pop-Up Irrigation Nozzle assembly has no oscillating or rotating parts and includes a cylindrical body having a fluid inlet and a sidewall defining at least one fluidic circuit configured to generate a selected spray pattern when irrigation fluid flows through the body. In order to throw long distance, droplet velocity, droplet size and droplet initial aim angle determine the throw to provide a low precipitation rate (“PR”) for fluidic sprays. The nozzle assembly and method of the present invention achieve a PR of 1 in/hr or less and good spray distribution with a scheduling coefficient (“SC”) of about 1.5 without utilizing any moving components to provide a significantly more cost effective nozzle assembly, as compared to prior art rotator nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: DLHBOWLES, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Russell, Shridhar Gopalan, Christopher South, Russell Hester, Eric Koehler, Kerrie Allen, Srinivasaiah Sridhara
  • Patent number: 9955635
    Abstract: A process, using simple tools, is provided for the removal and replacement of lawn sprinkler units in a manner that facilitates alignment of threaded components and prevents entrance of lawn soil into water distribution piping that feeds the sprinkler units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventor: James R Sanders
  • Patent number: 9914143
    Abstract: A sprinkler can include a nozzle turret having a removable nozzle carrier. For example, the nozzle carrier can be removably installed within a recess of a nozzle housing. The nozzle carrier can include one or more nozzle ports configured to receive sprinkler nozzles. The nozzles can have varying characteristics including flow rate, output range, spray pattern, etc. In some cases, a primary nozzle can be removably coupled with the nozzle carrier. The primary nozzle can include a body (e.g., inlet) portion having a first axis and a tapered (e.g., outlet) portion having a second axis non-parallel to the first axis. The primary nozzle can be configured to be installed in the nozzle carrier in at least two orientations. In some cases, one or more secondary nozzles are removably or permanently connected to the nozzle carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Clark, Zachary B. Simmons
  • Patent number: 9682386
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler including a base defining an axis, a pressurized water inlet mounted onto the base, a nozzle, communicating with the inlet, and providing a pressurized water stream which is generally outwardly directed relative to the axis and a water stream deflector for engaging the pressurized water stream and deflecting at least part of the water stream azimuthally with respect to the axis, the deflector including a first pressurized water stream engagement surface and a second pressurized water stream engagement surface downstream of the first engagement surface, the first engagement surface having a pressurized water stream directing configuration arranged to direct a first portion of the stream impinging thereon, which does not exceed a predetermined quantity, onto the second surface and to direct at least a second portion of the stream impinging thereon, which at least a second portion exceeds the predetermined quantity, not onto the second engagement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: NAANDANJAIN IRRIGATION LTD.
    Inventors: Lior Eliahu Mareli, Eli Armon
  • Patent number: 9415406
    Abstract: A speed limiting mechanism for a turbine-driven fluid distribution apparatus usable with compressible fluid such as compressed air and incompressible fluid such as water. In one form, a flow restrictor is located in the turbine discharge flow path, with the turbine discharge port area selected in relation to the turbine inlet port area according to the desired turbine speed with compressed air. In another form, the incoming fluid flows downstream along the surface of the turbine stator, and is then diverted to enter the rotor chamber in the proper direction. A bleed area on the stator which permits a portion of a compressible fluid which has expanded as it flows along the stator surface to flow to bypass the turbine rotor. In another embodiment, a valve may be provided upstream from the turbine to selectively divert at least a portion of the pressurized fluid around the turbine when the pressurized fluid air or a combination of air and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventor: Carl L. C. Kah, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9338949
    Abstract: A self trimming pop-up sprinkler head that is able to cut/trim vegetation or herbaceous material that is negatively impacting the functionality of said sprinkler head. The self trimming pop-up sprinkler head comprises a main body, a trimming mechanism, and a piston assembly. The main body functions as the enclosure that receives pressurized fluid. The piston assembly functions as the telescoping/extendable component that is activated by the pressurized fluid. The trimming mechanism is the integrated component that is operatively coupled to the piston assembly and the main body. Through the operative coupling of said components, the trimming mechanism is able to cut/sever vegetation as well as herbaceous material through the ascending and descending actions of the pop-sprinkler. The trimming mechanism accomplishes this through the use of a pair of cleaver assemblies containing a scissionable alignment that cuts/severs vegetation or herbaceous material that intersects said alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Michael James White
  • Patent number: 9314952
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel C. Walker, Vahik Nazaryan
  • Patent number: 9302287
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes an outer case having an upper end and a tubular riser telescopically mounted in the outer case for extension and retraction from the upper end of the case. The riser has an upper portion with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures sized to allow debris to be carried through the apertures with flowing water. A riser seal is positioned and configured to substantially prevent water from escaping between the riser and the outer case when the riser is extended. A drive assembly is mounted inside the riser and includes a drive shaft that is co-axially mounted at an upper end of the riser and rotates when pressurized water is supplied to the outer case. A cylindrical nozzle housing is co-axially coupled to the drive shaft and is rotatable relative to the riser. The nozzle housing is positioned and configured to define a gap between an outer cylindrical wall of the nozzle housing and a complementary outer cylindrical wall of the tubular riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Dunn, David W. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9179652
    Abstract: A water exchange device for cleaning a birdbath with a basin comprises a turret, a stationary mount, a first channel, a second channel, and an inlet channel. The turret is coupled to a center point such that the turret may rotate around the center point, and the mount mounts the turret of the water exchange device to the birdbath basin to be cleaned. Both the first and second channels include an aperture, and the inlet channel is coupled to the first and second channels such that when water flows into the inlet channel, the water flows out the apertures of the first and second channels into the basin. When the water does flow at a certain pressure, the turret rotates around the center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: John Barton Huber
  • Patent number: 9149827
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler includes an outer case, a riser telescopically extensible from the outer case, and a nozzle at an upper end of the riser. A coil spring surrounds the riser and normally holds the riser in a lower retracted position within the outer case. The coil spring is dimensioned and configured to permit extension of the riser to a raised upper position when pressurized water is introduced into the outer case. A shock absorber is positioned between a lower end of the riser and a rigid structure in the lower end of case for lessening the forces otherwise exerted on the riser during rapid retraction of the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: HUNTER INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Ronald H. Anuskiewicz
  • Patent number: 8998107
    Abstract: A sprinkler head includes a first housing carrying a center stem having an inlet at an upstream end and an outlet at a downstream end. A second housing is supported within the first housing and encloses a nozzle and a pressure regulator in axially-aligned relationship, defining a flowpath between the inlet and an orifice of the nozzle. The second housing is normally biased to a retracted position but is moveable to an extended position relative to the first housing and to the center stem. A surface of the pressure regulator cooperates with the outlet of the center stem as the second housing moves relative to the first housing to regulate pressure to the nozzle orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventors: George L. Sesser, Craig B. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8905327
    Abstract: The invention refers to a headlamp cleaning device comprising at least one nozzle carrier (7) for mounting on a cleaning liquid supply tube (4a, 4b), the nozzle carrier (7) defining at least one cleaning liquid supply conduit (8) for a pressurized cleaning fluid and being provided with at least one cleaning fluid distribution chamber (13), said chamber communicating with said cleaning liquid supply conduit (8) and with at least one spray nozzle (9) mounted on said nozzle carrier (7), wherein said distribution chamber (13) is provided with at least one inlet port (20) which in a non-pressurized state is closed by a fluid valve and wherein said fluid valve is designed as a springless valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kautex Textron CVS Limited
    Inventor: Paul Hartnell
  • Patent number: 8876019
    Abstract: A cleaning device (1) for a lens (2) of a headlight of a motor vehicle has two telescoping tubes (6, 7), the outer tube (6) holding a spray nozzle (9). The outer tube (6) is also surrounded by a protective tube (8) to be fixed in the motor vehicle. When the outer tube (6) is pulled out (9), the spray nozzle is displaced over the lens (2). The connections of the tubes (6, 7) are reliably protected from dirt accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Discher, Matthias Goldbach, Uwe Martin, Rolf-Dieter Schlein, Annegret Kuech
  • Patent number: 8857742
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sprinkler valve includes an actuator member that is rotatably disposed within a sprinkler head and restricted from vertical movement. The inside of the actuator member includes a helical groove within an inner cavity. A plunger at least partially fits within the actuator member's inner cavity and further includes a thread that mates with the helical groove of the actuator member. As the actuator member is rotated by a user, its helical groove causes the plunger to move downwards toward the top of a tube or water passage. If fully extended downward, the flat portion of the plunger fully covers and seals the top of the tube, preventing water from escaping from the sprinkler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventor: Travis L. Onofrio
  • Patent number: 8833672
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler is provided having a nozzle and a flow control device for reducing fluid flow through the sprinkler when the nozzle is removed, such as might occur due to vandalism. The flow control device is coupled to the nozzle and is moveable between a first irrigating position and a second signaling position. In the first position, the sprinkler discharges fluid for irrigation. In the second position, the sprinkler discharges a reduced amount of fluid and signals that the nozzle has been removed and should be replaced. The flow control device also allows sufficient fluid flow for flushing debris out of the sprinkler when a flush cap is mounted to the sprinkler, instead of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Skripkar, Krishnadidya G. Arkalgud, Gregory S. Palumbo
  • Publication number: 20140252123
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler includes an outer case, a riser telescopically extensible from the outer case, and a nozzle at an upper end of the riser. A coil spring surrounds the riser and normally holds the riser in a lower retracted position within the outer case. The coil spring is dimensioned and configured to permit extension of the riser to a raised upper position when pressurized water is introduced into the outer case. A shock absorber is positioned between a lower end of the riser and a rigid structure in the lower end of case for lessening the forces otherwise exerted on the riser during rapid retraction of the riser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Ronald H. Anuskiewicz
  • Patent number: 8622317
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler has a generally tubular riser assembly including a nozzle turret rotatably mounted at an upper end of the riser assembly and a drive assembly coupled for rotating the nozzle turret. The riser assembly has at least one locking recess formed in a lower end of the riser assembly. A debris screen is removably mounted to a lower end of the riser assembly. The debris screen is formed with a plurality of apertures for filtering debris from water flowing through the apertures. The debris screen is dimensioned and configured to mate with the lower end of the riser assembly. The debris screen has at least one lock that is dimensioned and configured to be received in the locking recess for holding the debris screen to the riser assembly. In an alternate embodiment, the lock can be located on the lower end of the riser assembly and the recess can be located on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald H. Anuskiewicz
  • 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: 8533874
    Abstract: A pool cleaning system, method of designing a pool cleaning system and method of making a pool cleaning system comprising origin cleaning heads, transition cleaning heads and debris capture zones. Transition heads comprising net water flow vectors may be positioned to establish net water flow in the direction of one or more debris capture zones. Transition heads may comprise incrementally rotating pool cleaning head assemblies or a recessed incrementally rotating nozzle assembly configured to establish the net water flow. Cleaning head structure may comprise a slidably rotatable reverser between upper and lower portions of a cam assembly, the slidably rotatable reverser adjustable between first and second positions such that an incrementally rotating stem slidably mounted to the cam assembly incrementally rotates clockwise when the reverser is in its first position and counter clockwise when the reverser is in its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: GSG Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Goettl
  • Patent number: 8534572
    Abstract: A riser seal cartridge for an irrigation sprinkler. The cartridge is formed of a rigid self support shell, and a sealing member formed of a resilient material covering the shell in areas which provide the seal. The sealing member includes a first portion which seals the top end of the sprinkler body, a second portion which seals an outer surface of the riser, a third portion which connects the first and second portions, and a fourth portion extending from the third seal portion which provides a seal for the support shell lower end portion. The first seal portion provides a high pressure seal to prevent leakage when the riser is in a fully extended position; and the second seal portion provides a low pressure seal during pressure build-up as the riser is extending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Carl L. C. Kah, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8313043
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a riser, an impeller mounted in the riser, and a nozzle rotatably mounted at an upper end of the riser. A drive assembly including a reduction gear train couples the impeller and the nozzle. A friction clutch is located in the drive assembly between an output gear of the reduction gear train and an input gear of the reversing mechanism and provides a positive drive connection under a normal load and slips under an excessive load. An alternate embodiment utilizes the friction clutch in a rotor-type sprinkler in which the nozzle rotates continuously through a continuous 360 degree arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Crooks, Fred M. Danner
  • Patent number: 8308081
    Abstract: Methods of cleaning a swimming pool using a swimming pool cleaning head. A first method may include intermittently raising a nozzle head under water and ejecting a stream of water under water, incrementally rotating the nozzle head in a clockwise direction, retracting the nozzle head, sliding a cam reverser, and reversing the direction of rotation of the nozzle head with the cam reverser to counterclockwise. A second method may include rotating a stem by sliding at least one pin coupled to the stem through at least one channel in a cam, the stem configured to release a stream of water under water in a swimming pool. The method may further include reversing the direction of rotation of the stem by sliding a slidable section of the cam with the at least one pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: GSG Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Goettl
  • Patent number: 8297533
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a riser having an inlet end and an outlet end and a nozzle rotatably supported at the outlet end of the riser. The nozzle has a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending stream forming channels. A gear drive is coupled for rotating the nozzle. A stationary arc plate has an upper surface adjacent a lower surface of the nozzle and includes a first aperture that directs water into terminal ends of the stream forming channels. A manually adjustable orifice plate is mounted in overlapping relationship with the stationary orifice plate. The adjustable orifice plate has a second aperture shaped and aligned with the first aperture so that manual rotation of the adjustable orifice plate increases or decreases an arc of an arc shaped water distribution pattern. A ratchet mechanism including radially deflectable tabs releasably locks the position of the adjustable orifice plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Dunn, Glendale Grizzle
  • Patent number: 8272578
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a stream nozzle with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending stream forming ports. A non-rotating arc adjustment sleeve is mounted for axial movement relative to the stream nozzle to selectively block the stream forming ports to vary an arc of coverage of a plurality of streams of water ejected from the stream forming ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Clark, Daniel E. Hunter
  • Patent number: 8181889
    Abstract: The invention relates to irrigation by means of sprinklers for agriculture, lawns, golf courses and other applications. More particularly, the invention provides a sprinkler arranged to distribute water evenly over a field area of almost any shape. Preferably the invention relates to a pop-up sprinkler thus, when not in use, i.e., when no water pressure is applied, the entire device is level or below ground surface. The invention comprises: a lower water inlet, an inner member, within an upper housing, suspended on a vertical axis within the lower water inlet. An inner member within the upper housing being free to revolve around a vertical axis and revolvably supporting; at least one nozzle assembly having at least one water inlet and an outlet jet and being supported on a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Accurate Watering Ltd.
    Inventor: Haim Shahak
  • Patent number: 8162235
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler is provided having a housing and a riser assembly for the distribution of irrigation water that includes a wiper seal to prevent bypass flow. The sprinkler includes a first flow path that delivers water to a nozzle for irrigation and a second flow path that delivers water to a cavity between the riser assembly and the housing. The water in the cavity is substantially prevented from exiting the cavity because of an annular wiper blade and a secondary sealing blade that substantially contact the riser assembly through the riser assembly's reciprocal movement between retracted and elevated positions. The water in the cavity is additionally prevented from exiting the cavity due to a primary sealing blade that substantially contacts the riser assembly for a limited period of time when the riser assembly is in the elevated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Albert McAfee
  • Patent number: 8136742
    Abstract: The telescoping pop-up sprinkler includes a telescoping piston assembly that allows the piston assembly of the pop-up to extend upwards at a greater height than the length of the pop-up sprinkler body. The telescoping pop-up sprinkler has a main body with a piston assembly that includes two or more pistons that engage internally with one another, with stops provided at one end of each piston to limit the stroke of each piston. Multiple internal seals are provided to prevent the bypassing of water around the outer diameter of each piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Paul M. Cordua
  • Publication number: 20120024982
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes an outer case having an upper end and a tubular riser telescopically mounted in the outer case for extension and retraction from the upper end of the case. The riser has an upper portion with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures sized to allow debris to be carried through the apertures with flowing water. A riser seal is positioned and configured to substantially prevent water from escaping between the riser and the outer case when the riser is extended. A drive assembly is mounted inside the riser and includes a drive shaft that is co-axially mounted at an upper end of the riser and rotates when pressurized water is supplied to the outer case. A cylindrical nozzle housing is co-axially coupled to the drive shaft and is rotatable relative to the riser. The nozzle housing is positioned and configured to define a gap between an outer cylindrical wall of the nozzle housing and a complementary outer cylindrical wall of the tubular riser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Richard M. Dunn, David W. Davidson
  • Patent number: 8083158
    Abstract: A sprinkler comprising a housing fitted with an inlet port connectable to a water supply line and extending into an inlet chamber, a hollow stem member with an inlet end thereof being in flow communication with said inlet chamber and an outlet end thereof being in flow communication with an irrigation head, a diaphragm seal sealingly fixed at peripheral boundaries thereof to the housing and sealingly articulated to the stem member and supporting it at an essentially upright position. The diaphragm is deformable between a first position in which the irrigation head is retracted within the housing and a second position in which the irrigation head projects from the housing. The sprinkler comprising at least one guard portion adapted to prevent insects and undesirable material from entering the sprinkler housing during said second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Naan-Dan Irrigation Systems (C.S.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Zohar Katzman, Oded Katzman, Micha Ben David, Vitaly Gandin
  • Patent number: 8011604
    Abstract: A pop-up water jet assembly comprises a housing having a vertical, central axis, an upper end, a top surface, a lower end, an interior and a water inlet adjacent to the lower end communicating with the interior of the housing. A pop-up member having an upper portion, a top surface, a lower portion and an interior in communication with the interior of the housing, is movable relative to the housing between a raised position in which the upper portion of the pop-up member extends from the upper end of the housing and a lowered position in which the top surfaces of the housing and the pop-up member are substantially flush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: B & S Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Holtsnider, Francisco Hinojosa, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7971804
    Abstract: A channeled shaft check valve assembly includes a conduit with an internal valve seat with a central opening. An actuating member is contained inside the conduit between an outlet fixture and the valve seat. A valve member mounted within the sleeve includes a disc on the opposite side of the valve seat from the outlet end of the conduit and a channeled shaft extending outward from the center of the disc and through the central opening in the internal valve seat. The opposite end of the channeled shaft may also have a disc mounted thereto, allowing for a three position valve. The valve is urged closed under pressure unless an outlet fixture urges the valve open allowing fluid flow along the channeled shaft and through the central opening in the valve seat. In a two disc valve member, the valve may have two closed positions and one open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: James C. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7926746
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler is provided with a housing configured for a fluid flow therethrough. A pressure regulating device having a gasket configured to variably move between a first position to a second position is disposed within the housing. The pressure regulating device includes an outlet with a variable opening formed from the cooperation of fluid passages in the gasket with a portion of the valve bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Thomas Melton
  • Patent number: 7900851
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an irrigation pop-up with a flexible stem which may be a pulsating or conventional (i.e., non-pulsating) irrigation sprayer or sprinkler. The flexible stem enables an extended stem to be bent instead of being severed, as experienced by traditional irrigation systems, if impacted by an outside force. In one embodiment, the flexible stem contains a lower rigid segment and an upper rigid segment, each having a passageway extending from an inlet, through the segment, to an outlet. An elastic hollow member, such as a rubber tube, is coupled to and in fluid communication with the passageways of the lower and upper rigid segments. Therefore, a water flow path extends from the water inlet, through the passageway within the lower rigid segment, through the channel of the elastic hollow member, through the passageway within the upper rigid segment, and out through the nozzle, such as a sprayer or sprinkler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Developed Research for Irrigation Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Gideon Ruttenberg
  • Patent number: 7896261
    Abstract: A Y-shaped plumbing fitting comprises three generally radially extending tubes connected together for transmission of fluid therebetween. The radially outward end of each tube is terminated by a pipe connector. The axes of the three tubes extend radially in a common plane and intersect at a single point, subtending angles of 120° with each other. A further connector is provided extending substantially perpendicularly to the common plane of the three tubes to connect a fitting to the three tubes. An irrigation system, using the Y-shaped plumbing fitting comprises a network of pipes connected by the “Y” shaped fittings. Each pipe in the network is connected at each end to a leg of a respective Y-shaped fitting such that the pipes each form one side in a hexagonal shaped pipe network formation. Alternate “Y” shaped plumbing fittings are fitted with watering outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventor: Tony Holmes
  • Publication number: 20110036925
    Abstract: The telescoping pop-up sprinkler includes a telescoping piston assembly that allows the piston assembly of the pop-up to extend upwards at a greater height than the length of the pop-up sprinkler body. The telescoping pop-up sprinkler has a main body with a piston assembly that includes two or more pistons that engage internally with one another, with stops provided at one end of each piston to limit the stroke of each piston. Multiple internal seals are provided to prevent the bypassing of water around the outer diameter of each piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventor: Paul M. Cordua
  • Publication number: 20110024523
    Abstract: A sprinkler head includes a first housing carrying a center stem having an inlet at an upstream end and an outlet at a downstream end. A second housing is supported within the first housing and encloses a nozzle and a pressure regulator in axially-aligned relationship, defining a flowpath between the inlet and an orifice of the nozzle. The second housing is normally biased to a retracted position but is moveable to an extended position relative to the first housing and to the center stem. A surface of the pressure regulator cooperates with the outlet of the center stem as the second housing moves relative to the first housing to regulate pressure to the nozzle orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventors: George L. Sesser, Craig B. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7861947
    Abstract: A wall-mounted lawn sprinkler system disposed along an exterior wall of a building for watering a lawn or garden area adjacent to the building. The system includes at least one sprinkler water supply conduit connected with the existing pressurized water supply line associated with the building, at least one housing mounted on the exterior wall of the building, and a water sprinkler device housed within each housing. The sprinkler device has a body with an interior chamber connected with the water supply conduit, a retractable member slidably mounted at a first end in the chamber having a sprinkler head at a second end exterior of the chamber, and a spring engaged with the retractable member to bias it into a normally retracted position. The retractable member and sprinkler head are extended outwardly of the housing when water under pressure is supplied to the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: Ricardo Watson, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7823804
    Abstract: The telescoping pop-up sprinkler includes a telescoping piston assembly that allows the piston assembly of the pop-up to extend upwards at a greater height than the length of the pop-up sprinkler body. The telescoping pop-up sprinkler has a main body with a piston assembly that includes two or more pistons that engage internally with one another, with stops provided at one end of each piston to limit the stroke of each piston. Multiple internal seals are provided to prevent the bypassing of water around the outer diameter of each piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Inventor: Paul M. Cordua
  • Patent number: 7819338
    Abstract: A swimming pool cleaning head. Implementations may include a cleaning head assembly having a housing having a cam assembly with an upper section, a lower section, and a rotatable section disposed between the upper section and the lower section. A stem having an outlet configured to eject a stream of water under water therethrough under water pressure force may also be included, the stem extending through the cam assembly. The stem may also include at least one pin slidably engaged within the cam assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Paramount Pool & Spa Systems
    Inventor: John M. Goettl