With Impact Motive Means Patents (Class 239/230)
  • Patent number: 6095432
    Abstract: A fixed part and a mobile part. The mobile part includes a pipe head offering a curved path with an initial portion that commences axially and is deflected to form a final portion having a certain inclination. The inclined final portion is very short and forms a seat for an interchangeable nozzle selectable from a series of nozzles having tapering through orifices of different inclinations and all connectable to the deflection of the initial portion. Different inclination angles are thus possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Antonio Casagrande
  • Patent number: 6079501
    Abstract: A fire prevention device that allows a fire prevention fluid obtained from a fluid source to flow therethrough when subject to a melting temperature includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A conduit is disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and a meltable material is disposed within the conduit. The meltable material sufficiently melts when subject to a temperature of at least the melting point of the meltable materials so that the fluid can exit via the conduit through the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Inventor: Franklin D. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5984203
    Abstract: A rotary sprinkler including a water discharge assembly having a water discharge outlet for discharging water laterally of the sprinkler, and a connecting passageway fluidly coupling the inlet to the water discharge outlet. The water discharge assembly is rotated by a drive including a rotary turbine in the connecting passageway rotated by the water flow therethrough, and a ball carried by the rotary turbine and movable radially outwardly thereof by centrifugal force during the rotation of the rotary turbine. An abutment is located to be impacted by the ball when in its radial outward position during the rotation of the rotary turbine to thereby rotate the water discharge assembly in a series of stepped increments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventor: Peretz Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 5718381
    Abstract: In a circular sprinkler, as a result of an intermediate gear, the turbine wheel runs muck faster than the jet splitter operating upstream thereof in the flow direction and also constructed as a turbine rotor, so that the sprinkler starts substantially independently of the water flow and an adjusting device can be provided with which it is possible at any time to manually adjust the sector to be watered. A slot-like bottom with an extension of the guide faces connected thereto is used for further increasing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Gardena Kress + Kastner GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Katzer, Franz Lopic, Lothar Mitzlaff
  • Patent number: 5647541
    Abstract: A fluid flow regulator readily attachable between a rotary sprinkler and a fluid conduit for regulating the water flow and pressure to the sprinkler to irrigate an irregular pattern such as a square. The regulator icludes a body having a streamlined channel leading to a straight through flow variable orifice and being connectable with a respective fluid port member of the sprinkler and the conduit. A rotatable port piece mounted in the body has a straight through flow port, centered on the axis of rotation and communicating with the straight through flow orifice of the body. This port leads to a streamlined channel which exits into the sprinkler shaft. The port piece has a means for coupling rotational energy from the sprinkler. The port and orifice have an identical design such as a four point star or equilateral concaved octagon adapted for watering in a square pattern. The rotational position of the port piece in relation to the body regulates the flow of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventor: Michael C. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5622316
    Abstract: A self adjusting jet breaker device for impact sprinklers having a spout connected to a pressurized water supply line using a rotary coupling, a terminal nozzle for generating a water jet, and an oscillating arm having a baffle. The device is arranged on the oscillating arm and includes an active surface adapted to interact with the water jet between two successive oscillations of the arm. The active surface of the device has an angle of inclination with respect to a longitudinal axis of the arm such as to be substantially tangent to the water jet as the first surface moves downward from above. The angle of inclination increases during the entire downward transit and decreases during an upward transit, so as to always receive an upward thrust from the water jet. The device optimally distributes and breaks up the jet, and increases the beat frequency of oscillations of the arm in an automatic manner, i.e. adapting to both high and low jet supply pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Inventor: Arno Drechsel
  • Patent number: 5370311
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a main body, a head part, a bracket and a swinging arm. The head part has two outlets disposed therein and the bracket has an extending strip disposed thereon and is disposed above an upper end of the head part. The extending strip has a first distributing plate with a rough surface formed thereon and which is rotatabiy engaged thereto. The swinging arm is pivotally engaged between the head part and the bracket via a spring disposed between the bracket and the swinging arm, and extends transversely through the bracket. A second distributing plate, having a rough surface formed thereon, is engaged to an end of the swinging arm, such that water ejected from one of the outlets will impact on the first distributing plate after impacting the second distributing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventor: Hung-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 5353989
    Abstract: A rotating impact sprinkler comprising a device for connecting the pressurized water column to a rotating joint which supports a rotating assembly which is formed by a tubular body with a nozzle for generating a jet, an oscillating arm and deflection element mounted at the end of the arm so as to interact with the jet. The deflection element comprises at least one main deflector which oscillates elastically in a direction which is transverse to the arm between a central equilibrium position, in which the surface effected by the jet is minimal, and at least one lateral abutment position, in which the surface effected by the jet is maximal. The change from the minimally effected surface to the maximal one is sudden, so as to instantly increase withdrawal of energy from the jet and generate impulsive forces on the deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventor: Arno Drechsel
  • Patent number: 5267689
    Abstract: A deflector cap for use in connection with a conventional pop-up or other type of rotary sprinkler head is held in a fixed angular position with respect to the sprinkler head housing by means of a downwardly extending rod that slides within a tube fixedly attached to the sprinkler head housing. An annular array of individually-adjustable, wedge-shaped, flat deflector plates is mounted to the underside of the deflector cap. Each of the deflector plates is formed to have an outer wide end and an inner narrow end. The inner end of each of the deflector plates is hingedly attached to the deflector cap at a uniform radial distance from the center of the deflector cap, thereby permitting vertical movement of the outer ends of each of the deflector plates. Vertical movement of the individual deflector plates is facilitated by a screw adjustment mechanism associated with each of the deflector plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Inventor: Karl Forer
  • Patent number: 5238188
    Abstract: An impact drive sprinkler including a body defining a nozzle arranged to provide a stream of pressurized liquid; spring loaded stream deflector and hammer apparatus for intermittently engaging the stream and providing in response to the engagement a force causing intermittent rotation of the body about a rotation axis; and apparatus for selectably limiting the amplitude of motion of the deflector and hammer apparatus and thus determining the direction of rotation of the body and the overall range of the resulting spray. The selectably limiting apparatus has first and second orientations corresponding to rotation of the sprinkler in respective forward and return directions and comprises a first hammer engagement surface that is engaged when the sprinkler is rotating in the forward direction. The first hammer engagement surface is arranged such that hammer engagement therewith retains the apparatus for selectably limiting in the first orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Naan Irrigation Systems
    Inventors: Michael Lerner, Moshe Gorney
  • Patent number: 5209404
    Abstract: A novel speed adjustment device for control of the operation frequency of the splatter arm in a sprinkler adapted for watering a garden or a lawn. The speed adjustment device is provided with an adjustment knob which is disposed on top of a bias spring in connection to the splatter arm at one end and to the underside of the adjustment knob at the other end, and an urging spring is disposed on top of the adjustment knob so as to always urge the same downward. The underside of the adjustment knob is provided with a plurality of spaced stop protrusions which are in selective engagement with a pair of stop members disposed on the rotatable main body of the sprinkler so that the turning of the adjustment knob can vary the tension of the bias spring in connection to the splatter arm thereby the operation frequency thereof can be changed accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Ting Yang Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mei-Be Jun
  • Patent number: 5172864
    Abstract: A rotary sprinkler of the kind wherein an outlet nozzle having an integrally formed impeller element is adapted to be driven by a drive ball located within a drive ball enclosure wherein a first major axial portion of the side wall extends from the base wall of the enclosure to an intermediate peripheral position thereof and defines a first angle .alpha..sub.1 with respect to a normal to the base wall while a second minor axial portion of the side wall extends from the intermediate peripheral position to an edge rim of the enclosure and defines a second angle .alpha..sub.2 with respect to a normal to the base wall, .alpha..sub.2 being substantially greater than .alpha..sub.1, the impact element being spaced from the intermediate peripheral position by a distance which is not substantially less than one half the diameter of the drive ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Dan Mamtirim
    Inventor: Benjamin Spencer
  • Patent number: 5098020
    Abstract: An adjustable oscillating wave-type irrigation sprinkler having an impact or impulse drive type mechanism for effecting side-to-side oscillation by a spray tube about a horizontal axis, the drive mechanism including a pair of drive spoons coupled to impact arms journaled for rotation relative to the spray tube and intercepting streams of water from the spray tube to produce incremental rotation of the spray tube about the horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Rain Bird Consumer Products Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Randy J. Cooper, Aaron D. DeLaby, Craig E. Beal, Glenn I. Beal, Roger L. Hildwein
  • Patent number: 5090621
    Abstract: A constant drive nozzle for use in combination with an impulse or impact drive sprinkler includes a tubular nozzle body with a drive orifice and a range orifice formed in its outlet end. The stream issuing from the nozzle is formed into a drive stream portion and a range stream portion by the drive and range orifices. Since only the drive stream portion intercepts the drive spoon of the arm which impacts and rotates the sprinkler body, various diameter range orifices can be used in conjunction with a single diameter drive orifice without affecting the rotational speed of the sprinkler body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Charles A. McMillen, Hans D. Christen
  • Patent number: 5052620
    Abstract: A rotary water sprinkler includes a plunger reciprocatable within the nozzle to restrict and englarge the nozzle throat so as to enable larger size nozzles to be used for obtaining a larger range, while the reciprocating plunger cyclically restricts and enlarges the nozzle discharge nozzle to restrict the discharge rate. The sprinkler further includes a pivotal arm impacted by the water jet and returned by a spring in order to reciprocate the plunger and also to rotate the sprinkler head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Inventor: Isaac Rinkewich
  • Patent number: 5031835
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved sprinkler arm rotatable in and out of a stream of water. In particular, the reaction surface of a sprinkler arm's spoon is improved to direct more water close to the sprinkler. The reaction surface in the preferred embodiment is provided at least one groove which directs some of the water downward from the rest of the water exiting the reaction surface. An alternate embodiment employs at least one pin in the reaction surface instead of or in combination with at least one groove. The improved spoon applies more water near the sprinkler ("enclosed water") without interfering with maximum distance of the water when the arm is rotated out of the stream ("canon shot").
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Western Brass Works
    Inventor: Marco Rojas
  • Patent number: 4978070
    Abstract: A pulsating sprinkler incorporating a three-position trip mechanism facilitating forward/reverse rotation and continuous rotation. The trip mechanism includes a trigger for reversing direction of rotation of the sprinkler, a latch for engaging an impact arm, and a control arm for maintaining the trigger in a fixed position. The trigger, latch and control arm are joined to a common pivot on the sprinkler body. A multiple position diffuser and deflector lever is adjustable for various degrees of diffusion or deflection of a water stream. The sprinkler body is easily removed from the bushing assembly by compression of snap fingers located at a terminal end of the spring body. Further, an O-ring radially seals a space between the bushing assembly and the sprinkler body. An impact arm having two plates with separated vanes extending between the plates or an impact arm with a single plate with two downwardly projecting vanes may be used for ease in molding and increasing manufacturing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Hunter-melnor, Inc.
    Inventor: Ho Chow
  • Patent number: 4971256
    Abstract: A rotary sprinkler device having a fluid inlet adapted to be secured to a water line, a nozzle head defining a plurality of differently configured or sized outlet orifices therein, a body member disposed between the fluid inlet and the nozzle head, a bearing spindle at least partially disposed within the body member and selectively communicating the fluid inlet with one of the outlet orifices in the nozzle head for obtaining the desired water distribution therefrom. The bearing spindle is mounted for relative rotation between the bearing spindle and the body member. A ball drive is disposed within the body member. The ball drive is operatively connected to the nozzle head and responsive to fluid flow through the bearing spindle to the nozzle head for rotating the nozzle head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Inventor: William R. Malcolm
  • Patent number: 4964572
    Abstract: A rotary sprinkler includes a rotably-mounted sprinkler head, an oscillating arm for impacting the sprinkler head to impart a rotary motion thereto, a spring urging the oscillating arm in one direction, and a reaction member carried by the oscillating arm and having an inlet alignable with the discharge nozzle for receiving the water jet, and an outlet laterally of the inlet for imparting a rotary motion to the oscillating arm in the opposite direction by reaction. The reaction member includes a cylindrical tube bent to define a single helical loop which produces a helical path of travel of the water from its inlet to its outlet extending laterally of the discharge nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Inventor: Noam Lemelshtrich
  • Patent number: 4927082
    Abstract: A ball-type water sprinkler of the sector type includes two inlets into the ball chamber oriented to direct the water to flow in opposite directions circumferentially around the chamber, and a shutter rotatable with the rotor and movable either to a first position with respect to the rotor covering one inlet and uncovering the other inlet to cause the water to flow in a first direction, or to a second position uncovering the one inlet and covering the other inlet to cause the water to flow in the opposite direction. The shutter is actuated by a member rotatable with the rotor and cooperable with the sector stops of the sprinkler, the actuator being coupled to the shutter by an over-center spring coupling producing a snap action movement of the shutter to either its first or second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Lego M. Lemelshtrich Ltd.
    Inventors: Ilan Greenberg, Amir Cohen
  • Patent number: 4907742
    Abstract: An impulse sprinkler includes a base and a main body having a nozzle for dispensing water. The main body also includes a frame defining a window. The main body is pivotably mounted on the base so that the main body can rotate about a vertical axis. The sprinkler further includes an impulse arm for deflection by water dispensed by the nozzle with the impulse arm being pivotably mounted on the main body so that the arm extends through the window and is also rotatable about a vertical axis. A spring is positioned in the window for biasing the impulse arm to a position where it will be deflected by water from the nozzle. The sprinkler also includes an elongate deflector pivotably carried by the main body so that the deflector can rotate about a horizontal axis. This deflector is of one-piece molded construction and has a deflector head overlying the nozzle, a tail for grasping by the user, and an intermediate portion supported by the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Suncast Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen P. Whitehead, Michael D. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 4858829
    Abstract: A universal advancement deflector for impact irrigators, comprising a cylindrical surface portion (15) pivoted about an axis (11) spaced from its barycenter, and urged towards the irrigation jet so that it becomes inserted therein with one of its edges and its longitudinal axis disposed respectively tangentially and orthogonally to said jet, so that it inclines in order to provide a reaction component which causes it to emerge from the jet; the load which the surface (15) presents to the jet and its rocking range being adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Inventor: Arno Drechsel
  • Patent number: 4842199
    Abstract: A self-adjusting rotary-arm irrigation sprinkler comprises an intermediate piece (8) between the propulsion tube (1) and rotary arm (13), which supports the rotary arm and the position of which is adjustable in height relative to the propulsion tube by means connected to the propulsion tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Inventor: Arno Drechsel
  • Patent number: 4819875
    Abstract: A contour control device for use with rotary irrigation sprinklers to water irregular areas about the sprinkler. The device includes a housing defining a chamber within which is disposed a throttling means comprising a flexible, resilient band and a plurality of adjustment pins which cooperate with a rotating inlet to the sprinkler to throttling the volume of water flow to the sprinkler in accordance with the rotary position of the sprinkler relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Rain Bird Consumer Products Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: Glenn I. Beal
  • Patent number: 4813606
    Abstract: An oscillating sprayer for spraying water on surrounding areas including a cylindrical main body and a support for rotatably supporting a lower part of the main body. An inclined nozzle extends radially outwardly and upwardly from the main body and an adjustable water stream deflector is disposed on the main body for adjusting the height of a water stream ejected from the nozzle by intercepting the water stream at a plurality of points spaced from the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Uniflex Utiltime S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giacomo Brusadin
  • Patent number: 4807654
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dishwasher having a rack which has a circular protusion formed around its outer periphery so that the rack can be removably suspended from the upper inner periphery of the diswasher tub. A rotary nozzle head assembly is rotatably secured to a central portion of the bottom of the dishwasher tub and connected at its lower end to a water pressure supply. The rotary nozzle head includes a plurality of nozzles for spraying the contents of the dishwasher tub retained in the rack. One of the nozzles in the nozzle head is located to spray against one of the impeller vanes formed on a rotary impact impeller provided at the top of the rotary nozzle head assembly. This causes another impeller vane to impact against an annular supporting frame secured to the top of the rotary nozzle head. In this way, the rotary nozzle head rotates intermittently for effective washing of the contents of the dishwasher tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Inventors: Ho Jui-Chi, Wu Shun-chih
  • Patent number: 4787558
    Abstract: An improved rotary drive sprinkler is provided for rotatably driving a pop-up spray head in a stepwise manner through a full-circle or reversibly within a selected part-circle path. The sprinkler includes a reversing trip mechanism having a pair of spaced-apart stops rotatable with the spray head and defining preset end limits of a part-circle path, wherein a stationary trip wire is engageable with the stops to switch an internal rotary drive assembly, such as a ball drive assembly, between forward- and reverse-drive operation. The trip wire flexes to accommodate forced spray head rotation to a maladjusted position beyond the end limits and, upon subsequent sprinkler operation, rides over ramped surfaces on the stops for automatic return to reversible operation between the preset end limits. Alternatively, the stops can be set in side-by-side relation with their ramped surfaces oriented for the trip wire to ride resiliently thereover without switching of the rotary drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Rain Bird Consumer Products Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Sexton, George H. Lockwood, David E. Robertson, Joseph D. Mason, Mark J. Mattson, Robert W. Patterson
  • Patent number: 4784325
    Abstract: A rotating stream sprinkler is provided with an improved spray head for sweeping one or more outwardly projected water streams through a prescribed arcuate spray path, wherein the spray head is adapted for enhanced self-flushing operation to prevent accumulation of grit and the like which could otherwise impair sprinkler performance. In the preferred form, the spray head is mounted at the upper end of a pop-up stem for movement to an elevated spraying position upon supply of water under pressure to the sprinkler. The water flows to the spray head and normally pressure-loads a plurality of valve balls onto a respective plurality of seats to prevent water flow through the seats to associated nozzle passages. A drive assembly rotates the spray head relative to a nonrotating cam positioned to lift one or more of the valve balls from their respective seats to permit outward discharge of one or more water streams through the nozzle passages, within the limits of the prescribed arcuate path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Rain Bird Consumer Products Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Samuel C. Walker, George H. Lockwood, Kenneth V. McCarthy, Raymond P. Feith
  • Patent number: 4781328
    Abstract: A rotating stream nozzle is provided particularly for use as an irrigation sprinkler, wherein the nozzle provides a plurality of outwardly directed and discrete water streams which are rotated in steps through a prescribed arcuate spray path. The rotating stream nozzle is adapted for mounting onto a water supply conduit and includes a swirl plate through which water under pressure flows with a swirling action into a relatively small drive chamber. The swirling water flow forces a drive ball within the drive chamber to move into repetitious impact engagement with raised anvils formed on the inner diameter surface of a cylindrical rotor lining the drive chamber and mounted for rotation within a nozzle cap. The rotor is displaced through a small rotational step each time the drive ball strikes one of the anvils, and the water is discharged from the nozzle as discrete rotating streams passing through small discharge ports in the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Rain Bird Consumer Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: David E. Robertson
  • Patent number: 4754925
    Abstract: A miniature sprinkler has a fixed, vertically extending nozzle having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being for communication with a supply pipe. A flow diverter has an axially extending inlet in register with the outlet of the nozzle, the diverter including bearing apparatus for rotatably engaging the nozzle to rotatably mount the diverter at the top of the nozzle. The inlet in the diverter merges into at least one side outlet which extends generally horizontally and from which the water is emitted in the form of a jet, and a drive apparatus is coupled to the diverter in such a position that at least part of the flow from the diverter outlet impinges on the driver apparatus to cause the rotation of the diverter, the drive apparatus including a turbine slideably and rotatably mounted above the diverter for impingement thereon of the flow to cause rapid rotation of the turbine with a sliding motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Inventor: Zvi Rubinstein
  • Patent number: 4720045
    Abstract: A sprinkler head capable of generally uniform operation under varying local source pressure conditions in a part circle mode wherein reversing directions of movement at the ends of the part circle pattern is accomplished without establishing excessive reversing loads so as to render the sprinkler head acceptable for use as an end gun in a pivot move irrigation system, as well as for use in other systems such as solid set systems and traveling sprinkler systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventor: Larry P. Meyer
  • Patent number: 4669663
    Abstract: A large capacity agricultural irrigation sprinkler head of the rotary step by step impulse type operating in a part-circle mode with a step by step reversing movement. The sprinkler head embodies an improved sprinkler body including an elongated barrel leading to the outlet having a longitudinal axis intersecting (1) at an included angle greater than 90.degree. with the rotational axis of the sprinkler body and (2) at an angle of 90.degree. with the pivotal axis of the impulse arm assembly at a position spaced outwardly in a downstream direction from the intersection thereof with the sprinkler body rotational axis. The impulse arm is mounted by a yoke pivotally mounted on the barrel about an axis constituting the pivotal axis of the impuse arm for movement between first and second operating positions corresponding to the first and second operating positions of the impulse arm and pivotally connecting with the impulse arm about an axis constituting the oscillating axis of the impulse arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Company
    Inventor: Larry P. Meyer
  • Patent number: 4637549
    Abstract: A rotary, impulse water sprinkler having a rotatable water dispensing head includes a water nozzle for directing a stream of water with a movable splash plate extending over the outlet of the nozzle to selectively deflect the water stream issuing from the nozzle to control the distance that the water stream will project from the water nozzle outlet. The impulse water sprinkler has a pivotally mounted impulse device with a vane at one end thereof adapted to be selectively disposed in the water stream from the nozzle outlet thereby causing the dispensing head to rotate. A rotation speed control device is operatively associated with the impulse device to control the amount by which the impulse vane is disposed within the water stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Inventor: Joel Schwartzman
  • Patent number: 4632312
    Abstract: An impact drive sprinkler is provided from a relatively small number of easily assembled components which can be formed predominantly from lightweight molded plastic or the like. The sprinkler includes a unitary sprinkler body having a lower riser tube rotatably supported within a one-piece bearing sleeve adapted for connection to a water supply riser or the like, wherein the lower riser tube is joined to an upper range tube through which an irrigation water stream is projected. An oscillatory impact drive arm and a spring are snap-fit mounted with a controlled spring preload onto the sprinkler body for spring-loaded rotation of the drive arm toward a position with a deflector spoon unit thereon interrupting the projected water stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Rain Bird Consumer Products Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Premo, Billy J. Hobbs, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4625913
    Abstract: A sprinkler of the impact drive type is constructed substantially of plastic and includes a separate cap which is snap-fit over a pair of upwardly extending legs from a sprinkler body to form a bridge for an impact mechanism window. Provision of the separate bridge-forming cap facilitates automated assembly of the sprinkler, and also allows protective bearing-surface shields to be formed integrally with other sprinkler components and positioned about critical wear regions of a fulcrum pin for pivotally supporting an impact drive arm. When a plastic fulcrum pin is used, these bearing-surface shields protect the pin from abrasives, such as dirt, which can otherwise become lodged between the pin and the drive arm to cause accelerated pin wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: Hans D. Christen
  • Patent number: 4595141
    Abstract: A reaction drive sprinkler including an improved drive nozzle assembly for rotating the sprinkler in steps about a water supply standpipe. The drive nozzle assembly comprises a fixed drive nozzle through which an inclined stream of irrigation water is projected for passage through a diverter tube mounted in front of the drive nozzle for movement between forward- and reverse-drive positions. The diverter tube is shifted between the forward- and reverse-drive positions by a spring-loaded, over-center reversing mechanism for slightly diverting the water stream for alternated interruption by a pair of laterally oppositely angled deflector spoons on a pivoting reaction drive arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Assignee: Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Michael Cherundolo, Charles A. McMillen
  • Patent number: 4580724
    Abstract: An impact drive sprinkler is provided for projecting a water stream in a generally upward and outward direction from a water supply riser. The sprinkler includes a sprinkler body formed from a length of tubing mounted for rotation on the riser wherein the tubing is bent at a selected angle to define a smooth, substantially uninterrupted flow path from the riser to a discharge nozzle. An impact drive assembly is mounted on the tubing and includes a spring-biased drive arm formed preferably from inexpensive stamped metal parts for interrupting the projected water stream at regular intervals and for impacting the tubing to rotate the tubing in increments about the riser. The drive assembly is mounted on the tubing at a position downstream from the tubing bend such that the construction and operation of the drive assembly is unaffected by the magnitude of the angular bend in the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Brown, Hans D. Christen
  • Patent number: 4566632
    Abstract: A step-by-step rotary sprinkler head comprising a sprinkler body having an inlet and at least one outlet communicating with the inlet, a mounting assembly supporting the sprinkler body for rotational movement about a generally vertical axis operable to communicate the inlet of the sprinkler body with a source of water under pressure, a nozzle in the outlet for directing water under pressure communicated with the inlet outwardly of the nozzle in a cylindrical water stream flowing in an upward and outward direction, a drive spoon arm assembly mounted for rotational movement with the sprinkler body and for cyclical movements with respect thereto between a position of stream engagement and a spaced position out of stream engagement for effecting step-by-step rotational movement of the sprinkler body in conjunction with the cyclical movements, and a stream diffusing assembly disposed outwardly of the position of stream engagement of the drive spoon for engaging the cylindrical water stream when the latter is out o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventor: George L. Sesser
  • Patent number: 4565323
    Abstract: Improvements in an oscillating sprinkler having an improved discharge of fluid wherein the fluid being discharged enters two side by side curved chambers and is split into two separate streams. The spring controlling the oscillation of the sprinkler is centered on the impact arm of the sprinkler by a spring retainer and a boss on the arm itself so as to provide a smooth transition for the water and disperse it evenly with less operating pressure. The arm may have a removable reactor spoon portion so that the spoon portion can be quickly and easily replaced, if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Action Pact, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald R. Berkan
  • Patent number: 4540125
    Abstract: A rotary sprinkler comprising a base, a stem mounted on the base for rotation relative thereto, the stem having an inlet for receiving a pressurized water supply, a water discharge nozzle mounted on the stem and being rotatable together therewith relative to the base, water driven drive apparatus for rotating the stem relative to the base, selectably positionable deflector apparatus for engaging a stream of water emitted by the nozzle for determining the maximum radius of the stream, and cam apparatus for operating the deflector apparatus and including manually settable cam apparatus for selecting an overall size and pattern of sprinkler stream coverage, and second cam apparatus for determining the desired sprinkling pattern as a function of the azimuthal orientation of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: Naan Mechanical Works
    Inventors: Moshe Gorney, Michael Lerner, Amos Shavit
  • Patent number: 4537356
    Abstract: A reaction drive sprinkler includes an improved drive assembly for rotating the sprinkler in steps about a water supply standpipe. The drive assembly comprises a fixed drive nozzle through which an inclined stream of irrigation water is projected for passage through a movable diverter tube mounted in front of the drive nozzle. The diverter tube is shifted by a reversing mechanism for slightly diverting the water stream for alternated interruption by a pair of laterally oppositely angled deflector spoons on a pivoting reaction drive arm. More particularly, the diverter tube directs the water stream for cyclic interruption by one of the deflector spoons to rotate the sprinkler stepwise in one direction through a selected arcuate path and then shifts the diverter tube to direct the water stream for interruption by the other deflector spoon for stepwise sprinkler rotation in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Lawson
  • Patent number: 4531674
    Abstract: An impact irrigator with controlled return, which comprises a rapid return deflector (28) disposed at the end of a lever (27) which rocks in the vertical plane to the side of the propelling tube (1), and is controlled by a motion reversal linkage (20, 19, 21, 24, 25, 26), the rocker lever (27) being slidably mounted on its pivotal shaft (77) in such a manner as to move along the shaft (77) and away from the propelling tube (1) when the deflector (28) is immersed in the jet; elastic reaction and repositioning elements (34) for the lever (27) are provided, and this latter comprises a cam (36) arranged to rest on the jet outlet nozzle (13) in order to regulate the degree of immersion of the deflector (28) as a function of the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Inventor: Arno Drechsel
  • Patent number: 4498626
    Abstract: A reaction drive sprinkler, particularly of the large gun type, is provided with an improved drive assembly adapted for full- or part-circle rotation of the sprinkler in steps about the axis of a water supply standpipe. The sprinkler includes a relatively large and outwardly inclined range tube from which a relatively high energy water stream is projected a substantial distance for irrigation purposes. The drive assembly comprises a drive nozzle mounted on the range tube for bleed passage of a relatively low energy portion of the irrigation water supplied to the range tube and for directing this low energy stream into engagement with one of a pair of oppositely angled deflector spoons at the end of a counterbalanced and pivotally mounted reaction drive arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: Edward J. Pitchford
  • Patent number: 4497441
    Abstract: A pulsating sprinkler utilizes an improved method of anchoring the helical torsion spring at one end to the sprinkler body and at the other end to the impact arm to facilitate the assembly process and provide a more reliable and uniform spring action. A radially ridged member adapted for connection to a fluid source carries a pair of sector stops, each extending totally about a circumference thereof and having a single tab enabling rotation of the sector stop in both directions. When employed as a full circle sprinkler, the sprinkler automatically corrects the direction of rotation of the sprinkler body in the event that it initially rotates in the wrong direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Assignee: Melnor Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ho Chow
  • Patent number: 4496103
    Abstract: A reaction drive sprinkler, particularly of the large gun type, is provided with an improved drive assembly adapted for full- or part-circle rotation of the sprinkler in steps about the axis of a water supply standpipe. The sprinkler includes a relatively large and outwardly inclined range tube from which a relatively high energy water stream is projected a substantial distance for irrigation purposes. The drive assembly comprises a drive nozzle mounted on the range tube for bleed passage of a relatively low energy portion of the irrigation water supplied to the range tube and for directing this low energy stream into engagement with one of a pair of oppositely angled deflector spoons at the end of a counterbalanced and pivotally mounted reaction drive arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: Edward J. Pitchford
  • Patent number: 4493458
    Abstract: A two-part housing in which is mounted an elastically stretchable diaphragm dividing the interior of the housing into a substantially peripheral inlet chamber, and a central outlet chamber. The underside of the diaphragm is accessible to the pressure prevailing in the inlet chamber while at least one substantially tangentially oriented passageway connects the peripheral inlet chamber and the central outlet chamber. An inverted cup-like rotor having a hollow shaft is rotatably mounted in the housing, and a tubular projection substantially aligned with the hollow shaft extends inside the rotor. The rotor has an annular peripheral wall, the inner surface of which is provided with at least one discontinuity serving as a race for a ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Inventor: Dan Bron
  • Patent number: 4492339
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a sprinkler comprising a rigid structure cooperatively receiving a flat resilient flow control washer in a position such that when the water under pressure is communicated with the upstream side of the washer the periphery of the downstream face remains generally in a retained relative radial position while the remainder is distorted axially in the downstream direction an amount which increases progressively in a direction toward the interior opening of the washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Kreitzberg
  • Patent number: 4484709
    Abstract: A sprinkler deflector including a generally flat, elongate base and upwardly and outwardly V-shaped deflector arms is mounted between a sprinkler head and a riser via a hole in the elongate base. The V-shaped deflector arms deflect water from the sprinkler head upwardly and outwardly to provide unwatered areas about the edge of an otherwise circular watered area. The unwatered areas are positioned to coincide with the tree trunks in an orchard. The width and the depth or minimum radius of each unwatered area is changed by changing the angle at which the deflector arm extends from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: William C. Hosie, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Hosie
  • Patent number: 4457470
    Abstract: An impulse sprinkler assembly is provided with a liquid stream-intersecting arm formable by open-and-shut injection molding techniques and having a pair of stream-diverting surfaces. Control over the direction of stream discharge is improved by providing a plurality of upraised ribs on the face of at least one of the stream diverting surfaces to minimize liquid thickness nonuniformities during flow thereacross.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: R. M. Smith, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry L. Hauger, Glenn I. Beal
  • Patent number: 4449668
    Abstract: An improved impact irrigator comprising a rapid return device constituted by a deflector disposed at the end of a rocker lever and arranged to be immersed into the jet when in its operating position; the rocking movements of the lever are induced by a linkage controlled by an appendix which, at the end of the outward and return rotations of the irrigator, interferes with two fixed stops; when the rocker lever is in its rest position with the deflector outside the jet, the configuration of the linkage is such as to keep the lever locked in position, so making it insensitive to external stresses; the connection between the linkage and lever is made with a certain slack which enables the lever, when outside its rest position, to rock further through a short distance without changing the configuration of the linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Inventor: Arno Drechsel