Spray Fluid Operated Patents (Class 239/381)
  • Patent number: 7988067
    Abstract: A sprinkler apparatus comprises a spray tube configured to move between a first side position and a second side position. The sprinkler apparatus also comprises a first side adjustment mechanism and a second side adjustment mechanism. Each adjustment mechanism comprises markings indicating lesser to greater degrees of sprinkling coverage area. The sprinkler apparatus further comprises a coverage indicator component attached to the spray tube. The coverage indicator component includes at least one window defined therein. The first side adjustment mechanism and the second side adjustment mechanism are independently moveable in relation to the coverage indicator such that the markings on the first side adjustment mechanism and the second side adjustment mechanism are selectively viewable to the user through the window. The positioning of one of the markings within the window results in a related degree of sprinkling coverage area by the sprinkler apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: David W. Miller, Doug Burnworth, Michael H. Goetz
  • Patent number: 7861948
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a drive mechanism mounted in a riser that rotates a nozzle at the top of the riser. The drive mechanism enables a user to select between oscillation of the nozzle through an adjustable arc and uni-directional full circle rotation of the nozzle. The sprinkler includes an automatic arc return feature that enables the nozzle to resume oscillation between a pair of original pre-set arc limits when the nozzle is twisted by a vandal outside of the arc limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Crooks
  • Patent number: 7857240
    Abstract: A rotary shower head for showering includes an outer case to house a universal joint, an inner case assembly, a driving mechanism and a water discharge disc. Water entering the shower head provides a water discharge force to thrust the driving mechanism to generate automatic turning of the water discharge disc to achieve water-saving effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventor: So Mel Huang
  • Publication number: 20100282867
    Abstract: A self-powered nozzle assembly for use within a tank has a stationary body and a rotatable body rotatably connected to and in fluid communication with the stationary body. The rotatable body has an axis of rotation with at least one offset nozzle such that, as fluid is ejected from the at least one offset nozzle, the fluid applies a rotational force to the rotatable body. A rotational speed dampener is connected to the rotatable body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Donald D. Savard
  • Patent number: 7770820
    Abstract: A spray apparatus comprises a housing having a fluid inlet, a plurality of tubes for dispensing fluid from the housing, and an integrating member operatively coupled to at least a subset of the plurality of tubes for effecting coordinated movement of the coupled tubes in response to movement of the integrating member. An actuator, such as a turbine or an adjustable control ring, is employed for inducing movement of the integrating member. The dispensing tubes may be flexible so as to allow for easy adjustment of the fluid-dispensing direction or shape by the application of a lateral force at one or more locations along the length of the tubes. The flexibility also facilitates amplified direction/shape changes (compared to rigid dispensing tubes) in the dispensed fluid streams, e.g., when the tubes are subjected to a lateral force on one side and an opposing pivoting force (axially offset from the lateral force) on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Moen Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph H. Clearman, Jack F. Clearman
  • Patent number: 7740191
    Abstract: A shower device includes: a driving unit including a housing and a core allowed to reciprocate by water which is introduced into the housing; a shower part allowed to swing; a water guide channel introducing water which is introduced into the housing to the shower part; and a power transmission part transmitting a motion of the core to the shower part. The shower part sprinkles water while swinging when water is introduced into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Ohashi, Ryoko Ishimaru, Kazuki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7740186
    Abstract: An improved shower head having multiple modes of operation. The shower head may include a first turbine and turbine, each disposed within a unique flow channel. The first and second turbines may interrupt water flow through their respective flow channels, thereby providing at least one pulsating water spray emanating from the shower head. The shower head may include a third flow channel having no turbine disposed therein, such that water flowing through the third flow channel is not interrupted and thus emitted from the shower head as a drenching spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Damian Macan, Michael J. Quinn
  • Patent number: 7731103
    Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing a viscous, flowable product such, for example, as a spin-art paint solution, comprises an axially extending container that defines an opening and an interior chamber for receiving and storing the flowable product. A discharge assembly is coupled to the container, the discharge assembly being dimensioned and arranged to spin, relative to the container, as it receives the flowable product from the interior chamber. The spinning motion of the discharge assembly, which may be accompanied by a linear movement of the container itself relative to a target surface, allows the user to cleanly and evenly distribute the flowable material onto a target substrate in an attractive, curvilinear deposit pattern. Optionally, the discharge assembly may be configured with a pivoting nozzle that can be moved from a position for obtaining a helical (curvilinear) deposit pattern to a position for obtaining a rectilinear deposit pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Tropical Ventures LLC
    Inventor: Alan B. Amron
  • Patent number: 7721976
    Abstract: An atomizer assembly (10) drives an atomizing bell (108) to apply paint onto a part (14). The atomizer assembly (10) includes a core (24) having at least one paint line (26) extending therethrough, a turbine device (40) circumscribing an axis (A) and disposed in the core (24), and a turbine unit (62) surrounding the pain line (26) and having a shaft (104) rotatable relative the turbine device (40) with several turbine blades (130) connected to the shaft (104). A plurality of nozzles (64, 66, 68) are defined in the turbine device (40) and are positioned relative a turbine wheel (106) connected to the shaft (104) to drive fluid, i.e. gas onto the turbine blades (130). An annular wall (94) extends outwardly from one of the terminal ends of the turbine device (40) to define a seat (96) for engaging the core (24) to maintain a fixed gap between the paint line (26) and the shaft (104) and to eliminate contact therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Durr Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans J. Nolte, Harry Krumma, Frank Herre, Michael Baumann, Stefano Giuliano, Bjorn Lind
  • Patent number: 7654474
    Abstract: The rotating sprinkler head valve includes an upper assembly with a stationary rigid cone received in a conical interior chamber of a rotor, and a cylindrical shaft extending through the stationary rigid cone and rotor. A lower assembly includes a bottom helix member, a strainer adapter having an internal transverse slotted plate and a rotatable slotted flow plate to permit flow when the flow plate slots are aligned with slots in the internal transverse slotted plate. A base top member includes a downwardly extending inner tubular portion and a lower interior edge surface with a helical lower surface forming an adjustable helical aperture in cooperation with the bottom helix member, and a recessed inner helical lip is configured to receive the upper helical surface of the bottom helix member for adjusting a helical aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventor: Paul M. Cordua
  • Patent number: 7635095
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor nozzle, in particular for high pressure devices, having a nozzle housing which has a swirl chamber between a rear inflow opening for a fluid, in particular water, and a front outlet opening, with a front end of a rotor, which is inclined during operation toward a longitudinal axis, being supported at a bearing, in particular a cup-shaped bearing, in said swirl chamber and being able to be driven by fluid flowing into the swirl chamber to make a rotary movement around the longitudinal axis such that the fluid exits the nozzle housing via the outlet opening in the form of a conical jet, and having a gravity circuit which includes at least one movable switching element and which switches between at least two different operating modes by movement of the rotor nozzle in the space, wherein the gravity circuit is arranged in the front region of the rotor nozzle downstream of the swirl chamber, wherein the switching element releases the outlet opening and closes a functional opening o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Inventor: Anton Jaeger
  • Publication number: 20090308948
    Abstract: An ultrasonic waterjet apparatus (10) has a mobile generator module (20) and a high-pressure water hose (40) for delivering high-pressure water from the mobile generator module (20) to a hand-held gun (50) with a trigger and an ultrasonic nozzle (60). An ultrasonic generator in the mobile generator module (20) transmits high-frequency electrical pulses to a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer (62) which vibrates to modulate a high-pressure waterjet flowing through the nozzle (60). The waterjet exiting the ultrasonic nozzle (60) is pulsed into mini slugs of water, each of which imparts a waterhammer pressure on a target surface. The ultrasonic waterjet apparatus (10) may be used to cut and de-burr materials, to clean and de-coat surfaces, and to break rocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: VLN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mohan M. Vijay, Wenzhuo Yan, Andrew Tieu, Baolin Ren
  • Patent number: 7584906
    Abstract: An assembly for converting a fluid flow includes a housing having an inlet end for receiving the fluid flow and an outlet end for issuing a converted and output fluid flow. One or more rotatable components are supported within the housing, in a path contacting the inlet fluid flow. A selected component exhibits a plurality of arcuate and flow conducting surfaces, such as which are arranged about a circumference of the rotating component. A fluid dampening element is operatively connected to the rotating component and restricts a rotational speed associated with the rotatable component, in response to rotational forces imparted by the inlet fluid flow, and in order to modify at least one of a flow and pulse rate of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Inventor: Mordechai Lev
  • Patent number: 7571867
    Abstract: A showerhead with a turbocharger mechanism including a showerhead housing and a turbo-compressor unit is provided. The showerhead housing has a water inlet port for introducing a water flow, a case wall that gradually expands, and a water drainage panel. The turbo-compressor unit is accommodated in a housing chamber and includes a compressor compartment where the water flow is converted into a vortex flow, a turbo-pump impeller accommodated in the compressor compartment, and a turbo-generator capable of generating electric energy. The turbo-generator is electrically connected to an illumination means, so as to emit light beams. The present invention is provided with the turbocharger mechanism, so as to make use of the water flow flowing through the showerhead effectively to generate electricity for illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Inventor: Wei Hu
  • Patent number: 7566012
    Abstract: A multi-functional sprinkling apparatus structure comprises an outlet mount with support lugs to fix on top of a water motor, and a water-guiding member transversely mounted to assembly holes of the support lugs. The assembly holes have water ducts fluidly connected to water-inlet passages of the water-guiding member. A rotary member with a channel and a water shield with actuation holes are pivotally mounted to the middle section of the water-guiding member. The channel of the rotary member has multiple outlets with spray nozzles attached thereto to generate various sprays, and recesses to engage with a movable elastic element mounted to the water-guiding member. The rotary member can be switched to change the outlet matching to a water-discharge orifice of the water-guiding member for a certain spray. The water shield can be bent to one side to adjust the angle of the water-guiding member and the rotary member for sprinkling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Yuan Mei Corp.
    Inventors: King Yuan Wang, Shun Nan Lo
  • Patent number: 7552878
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor nozzle, in particular for high pressure cleaning devices, having a nozzle housing which has a swirl chamber between an inflow opening for a fluid, in particular water, and a discharge opening, with a rotor inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis during operation being supported at its front end at a bearing, in particular at a cup-shaped bearing, in said swirl chamber and with the rotor being able to be driven to make a rotating movement around the longitudinal axis by fluid flowing into the swirl chamber, wherein an adjustment device is positioned in front of the swirl chamber for the speed regulation of the rotor and forces the inflowing fluid to make a rotary movement around the longitudinal axis for the generation of a rotating fluid field before the transition into the swirl chamber, and wherein the rotating fluid field is disrupted more or less pronouncedly on the transition into the swirl chamber in dependence on the position of the adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Inventor: Anton Jäger
  • Patent number: 7530553
    Abstract: A high-velocity water misting gun with a very high-speed radial inflow hydraulic turbine mounted on the same shaft with an axial flow air compressor wheel compressing air discharged at high velocities through an exhaust air nozzle. A preferred embodiment utilizes a plastic-metal hydraulic turbine wheel in which the plastic portion of the wheel other than blades is solidly anchored within a metal containing wheel. High pressure water drives the hydraulic turbine and provides water lubrication to high-speed bearings supporting a rotating shaft. The preferred embodiment utilizes hybrid bearings (part hydrodynamic, part hydrostatic) suitable for low-viscosity fluids such as water. In the preferred embodiment all of the water discharging from the hydraulic turbine wheel is channeled through a hollow shaft to a set of high-speed, shaft-mounted rotating orifices providing a fine water mist discharging into a high-velocity air flow provided by the axial-flow compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Inventor: Davorin Kapich
  • Patent number: 7520448
    Abstract: A shower head providing an improved pause mode that restricts the amount of water emanating from the head. The shower head includes a first and second outlet nozzle, a valve body operative to be in fluid communication with a shower pipe, the valve body having first and second flow channels in fluid communication with the shower pipe, each of which is also in fluid communication with one of the outlet nozzles. The first and second flow channels have different cross-sectional areas. In another embodiment, the valve body further includes a valve center in fluid communication between the first flow channel and the shower pipe, and is also in fluid communication between the second flow channel and the shower pipe. The valve body further defines a first hole in fluid communication with the first flow channel and the valve center, and a second hole in fluid communication with the second flow channel and the valve center, with the second hole having a smaller cross-sectional area than that of the first hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold A. Luettgen, Gary D. Golichowski, Gary L. Sokol
  • Patent number: 7516908
    Abstract: The present invention may be used for discharging a fire retardant material. A container element may be connected to a pressurized gas source controllable to pressurize the container element and to flow a gas and fire retardant material mixture through a discharge conduit. A discharge device may be connected at an inlet to the discharge conduit. The discharge device may have an inlet duct attached to an inlet end of an expansion section. The expansion section may be connected to an inlet end of an outlet duct having an outlet nozzle. A diffuser may be disposed in the inlet duct and an upstream portion and may be attached in the upstream portion. The diffuser may have a nose element attached by a diffuser shaft to a base element with a rotor element having multiple vanes rotatably attached to the diffuser shaft intermediate the nose and base elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventor: George E. Sack
  • Patent number: 7494071
    Abstract: An energy efficient water sprinkler has a housing with primary and secondary water chambers each with a turning wheel for translating the force of impacting water to rotational motion of a central shaft journal. Water is forced through a central channel in the rotating shaft and discharged from the housing. A portion of the discharged water is directed to deflection fins on the outer surface of the housing to further impart rotational or energy to the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Shamrock Research & Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery D. Baird
  • Publication number: 20080315015
    Abstract: A showerhead with a turbocharger mechanism including a showerhead housing and a turbo-compressor unit is provided. The showerhead housing has a water inlet port for introducing a water flow, a case wall that gradually expands, and a water drainage panel. The turbo-compressor unit is accommodated in a housing chamber and includes a compressor compartment where the water flow is converted into a vortex flow, a turbo-pump impeller accommodated in the compressor compartment, and a turbo-generator capable of generating electric energy The turbo-generator is electrically connected to an illumination means, so as to emit light beams. The present invention is provided with the turbocharger mechanism, so as to make use of the water flow flowing through the showerhead effectively to generate electricity for illumination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Wei HU
  • Publication number: 20080315016
    Abstract: A spray nozzle designed to be mounted in a push button of a liquid distribution system, including a body equipped with an assembly tube that is defined by a front wall in which a distribution orifice is formed, wherein the inside face of the front wall is equipped with a vortex chamber that communicates with the distribution orifice, at least two radial tubes to supply liquid to the vortex chamber, and an annular duct to supply liquid to the upstream end of the tubes, in which the lateral inside wall of the tube is equipped with at least two axial grooves which respectively extend between an upstream end opening onto the rear edge of the tube and a downstream end opening onto the annular duct, wherein the grooves are positioned angularly so that each downstream end of a groove is equidistant from the two upstream ends of the tube adjacent to it on either side along the length of the annular duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Octeau, Pierre Dumont, Jean-Pierre Songbe, Herve Imenez
  • Publication number: 20080283631
    Abstract: A shower head according to the invention comprises a rotor with a closing plate which bears against a jet disk with jet passage openings and, when the rotor is rotated, alternately opens and closes said jet passage openings. Pulsed massage jets are generated at the outlet of the jet passage openings as a result. A further jet outlet disk with jet out let openings is arranged downstream of said jet disk, with said jet outlet openings being aligned axially opposite the jet passage openings of the jet disk. Ventilation chambers are arranged between the two disks, said ventilation chambers being connected to the outside of the shower head. The pulsed jets are ventilated downstream of the jet passage openings as a result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Markus Wohrle, Ulrich Kinle
  • Patent number: 7427038
    Abstract: A dual-axis rotating sprinkler has a nozzle, an adjusting assembly, a rotating assembly and an adapting tube. The adjusting assembly is attached to the nozzle. Pivoting the adjusting assembly easily changes the elevation angle of the nozzle to change the spray area. The rotating assembly is attached to the adjusting assembly. The adapting tube is mounted around the rotating assembly, connects to the water pipe to allow the water passing through the adapting tube and filling into the rotating assembly. The water drives the rotating assembly to rotate the adjusting assembly. Therefore, the dual-axis rotating sprinkler rotates by the rotating assembly to spray in all directions and can be pivoted by the adjusting assembly to change the spray area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Inventors: Po-Hsiung Wang, Tzu-Meng Wang
  • Patent number: 7410107
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for distributing gas and/or liquid phase substance from an inlet to multiple outlets with reduced variations and distribution. The apparatus includes a body having an inlet and a plurality of outlets. In one aspect, a rotatable impeller is positioned between inlet and plurality of outlets. The impeller includes a spiral fluid pathway relative to direction of substance through the inlet so that the substance passes through the impeller and is distributed to the outlets through a spinning impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Mark Hanna, Paul M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20080164343
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor nozzle, in particular for high pressure devices, having a nozzle housing which has a swirl chamber between a rear inflow opening for a fluid, in particular water, and a front outlet opening, with a front end of a rotor, which is inclined during operation toward a longitudinal axis, being supported at a bearing, in particular a cup-shaped bearing, in said swirl chamber and being able to be driven by fluid flowing into the swirl chamber to make a rotary movement around the longitudinal axis such that the fluid exits the nozzle housing via the outlet opening in the form of a conical jet, and having a gravity circuit which includes at least one movable switching element and which switches between at least two different operating modes by movement of the rotor nozzle in the space, wherein the gravity circuit is arranged in the front region of the rotor nozzle downstream of the swirl chamber, wherein the switching element releases the outlet opening and closes a functional opening o
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Anton Jager
  • Patent number: 7389950
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes hollow tube with a plurality of apertures and a plurality of nozzles are respectively inserted through the apertures. Each nozzle is connected to a bellow which is engaged with the aperture. A guide member is rotatably mounted to the hollow tube and includes a plurality of inclined slots in which the nozzles are movably engaged. The positions of the nozzles are adjusted by rotating the guide member so as to have different patters of watering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Inventor: Sun-Nan Lo
  • Patent number: 7278591
    Abstract: A spray apparatus includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlets, and a turbine carried for rotary movement within the housing under fluid flow from the fluid inlet to one or more of the fluid outlets. An integrating member is preferably operatively coupled to the turbine for oscillatory movement relative to the housing under rotary movement of the turbine, and a plurality of tubes are each disposed in one of the fluid outlets for dispensing fluid from the housing. At least a subset of the plurality of tubes are operatively-coupled to the integrating member for coordinated movement of the coupled tubes in the respective plurality of fluid outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Inventors: Joseph H. Clearman, Jack F. Clearman
  • Patent number: 7273188
    Abstract: An embodiment of an internal self-rotating fluid nozzle includes a rotor rotatably moveable within a nozzle body cavity. The rotor may include a jewel holder that carries at least one jewel member and spins against a rotor seat disposed near the front of the cavity. The rotor seat may be floating. At least one fluid drive passageway may be disposed within, and oriented angularly relative to the central axis of, the cavity. A fluid flow director may be included, extend around the inner circumference of the cavity and include a protruding portion that directs fluid into a forward portion of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventor: Darrell R Saha
  • Patent number: 7240860
    Abstract: A rotor plate for a sprinkler includes a water impingement surface bounded by an annular peripheral wall and having a radial center, and adapted to be impinged upon by a stream emitted from a nozzle. The water impingement surface is formed to include at least one radially extending drive channel having an entrance proximate the radial center and an exit in the peripheral wall, the drive channel curving from entrance to exit in a first direction so as to cause the plate to rotate when the stream exits at an offset from the center of rotation; at least one range channel extending substantially radially with little or no curving, from entrance to exit; and at least one brake channel curving from entrance to exit in a second direction opposite the first direction to thereby resist rotation of the plate caused by at least one drive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventor: Loren Vander Griend
  • Patent number: 7226000
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a housing disposed on a base, and a sprinkler tube coupled to a oscillating mechanism, for allowing the sprinkler tube to be rotated relative to the housing and the base by the oscillating mechanism, the oscillating mechanism includes a receptacle disposed within the housing, and a casing rotatably attached to the receptacle, and coupled to the sprinkler tube, for allowing the casing and the sprinkler tube to be rotated relative to the receptacle. A device may be used for swinging the casing and the sprinkler tube relative to the receptacle in reciprocating action, to allow the water to smoothly or swiftly flow out of the sprinkler tube in various kinds of water spraying patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Yuan Pin Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen-Tung Huang
  • Patent number: 7134613
    Abstract: A turbine assembly for a rotary sprinkler head includes a flow control valve, a turbine housing having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet ports, and a rotor mounted in the housing. The flow control valve is moveable between a closed position and a maximum open position, and is spring biased towards the closed position in which all of the fluid flowing into the sprinkler head initially flows into the turbine assembly. When the flow rate through the sprinkler head is sufficient to open the valve, a portion of the fluid flow passes through the valve to bypass the turbine assembly. As the flow rate continues to increase, the valve opens further until it reaches the maximum open position. Once the valve is opened to a predetermined point, as it opens further, up to the maximum position, the valve also increasingly throttles the fluid outlet ports up to a point short of complete blockage of the outlet ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventor: Carl L. C. Kah, III
  • Patent number: 7118051
    Abstract: A rotor nozzle includes a nozzle housing having an inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening at another end and has a rotor which is arranged in a turbulence chamber and which is provided at its front end facing the outlet opening. A nozzle is supported in a cup bearing and has an inflow opening. A bypass device changes a radial or a tangential component of the liquid flowing into the turbulence chamber, which sets the rotor into rotation. A control surface is provided in the turbulence chamber. A restoring device is provided which is active between the front end of the rotor and the rear rotor end, wherein as the rotor rotary speed increases, the inclination of the rotor increases against the action of a restoration force of the restoring device and the restoring device reduces the rotor inclination as the rotor rotary speed decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventor: Anton Jager
  • Patent number: 7114666
    Abstract: A shower head having dual turbines. The shower head includes a body having an inlet for connection to a water conduit, a first outlet nozzle formed on the body, a second outlet nozzle formed on the body, a first turbine operably connected to the first outlet nozzle, and a second turbine operably connected to the second outlet nozzle. The shower head may include a flow actuation system taking the form of an actuator ring, a valve connected to the actuator ring and forming a flow channel, a first actuation point defined on the actuator ring, a second actuation point defined on the actuator ring, and a plunger situated within the flow channel. The plunger extends radially outwardly from a center of the valve when aligned with one of the first and second actuation points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold A. Luettgen, Gary D. Golichowski, Gary L. Sokol
  • Patent number: 7111795
    Abstract: A shower head with structural features for providing a water spray pattern having revolving characteristics is disclosed. The shower head includes an inlet assembly connectable to a water source and a cooperatively engaged outlet assembly including a body having a front facing surface, an impeller having a plurality of blades and a rotator assembly having a spray surface defining a plurality of spray apertures. The rotator spray surface forms a portion of the front facing surface. A seal spacer disposed between the inlet assembly and the front facing surface has a plurality of radially spaced ports. Each port is axially transverse to a plane of the seal spacer. Water flow through the ports creates a multi-directional water current downstream from the spacer to drive the impeller and consequently, cause rotation of the rotator spray surface and water emission in a revolving spray pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Waxman Consumer Products Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Chow Hwa Thong
  • Patent number: 7100839
    Abstract: A method for servicing companies associated with a spray device operating under guidelines of a regulatory body includes capturing in vitro actuation data associated with operation of the spray device and distributing the data to a company associated with an aspect of the spray device. The company may use the data for testing the spray device to ensure continued compliance with prior approval of the spray device by the regulatory body. The method may also include converting the data to parameters and distributing the parameters. Capturing the in vitro actuation data may include sorting the data based on in vitro age groups. Distributing the data may include providing the data in a format executable by an automated actuation system. The company receiving the data may be a drug development company, spray device manufacturer, or testing service. The regulatory body may be the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Image Therm Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Dino J. Farina, Donald C. Swavely, John A. Vennari, Leticia M. Broome, Franklin A. Bales
  • Patent number: 7066407
    Abstract: A shower head assembly includes an outer housing, an inner housing, a catch cap, and an impeller. Thus, the catch cap catches the water flow and introduces the water flow through the water inlet hole into the air chamber so as to reduce the water flow rate, thereby achieving the purpose of saving water. In addition, the water flow is ejected outward in a radiating manner by rotation of the impeller, thereby providing a massaging effect to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventor: Tung Hsien Lu
  • Patent number: 7063274
    Abstract: A nozzle for use in cleaning applications is provided. The nozzle has a rotatably supported nozzle body, on which one or more nozzle orifices are provided. The nozzle housing itself serves as the rotary drive, which is carried along by a fluid led into the housing with torque. In order to stabilize the drive action, at least one braking device is provided on the nozzle which generates a braking torque by fluid action, preferably through the recoil on a nozzle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Spraying Systems Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Feller, Ernst Steinhilber
  • Patent number: 6997400
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for distributing gas and/or liquid phase substance from an inlet to multiple outlets with reduced variations and distribution. The apparatus includes a body having an inlet and a plurality of outlets. In one aspect, a rotatable impeller is positioned between inlet and plurality of outlets. The impeller includes a spiral fluid pathway relative to direction of substance through the inlet so that the substance passes through the impeller and is distributed to the outlets through a spinning impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Mark Hanna, Paul M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 6991362
    Abstract: A tank agitator connects to a low head feed and causes agitation by discharging through a port that might rotate, oscillate, or otherwise issue a pulsing stream. This agitator has a housing with a turbine plenum and an exhaust plenum. A turbine in the turbine plenum spins by the flowthrough of the feedwater and exhausts to the exhaust plenum. A hollow drive shaft is spun by the turbine and extends through the exhaust plenum and to terminate outside the housing. It has an aperture that allows water in the exhaust plenum to flow into its lumen. A nozzle caps the shaft and is bent such that the discharge issuing therefrom sweeps in circles with the spinning of the drive shaft. A variant form of the agitator includes a drive train that incorporates a drag link to convert the spinning input of the turbine into an oscillating output in the drive shaft. In another variant form, the discharge is pulsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Anthony E. Seaman
  • Patent number: 6988676
    Abstract: A spray cleaner (10) is provided for rotatingly cleaning an interior of a vessel or the like. The spray cleaner has a main body (12) and a rotating spray body (14). The main body is at a proximal end of the spray cleaner, and the rotating spray body is at a distal end of the spray cleaner. An internal flow conduit (22) in the main body of the rotating spray body communicates a fluid inlet in the main body to a plurality of spray nozzles (18) in at least one spray head which is a part of the rotating spray body. A drive train (30) for rotating the spray body is positioned in the main body, such that the flow conduit passes around the drive train in an annular passage coaxial with the drive train, providing cooling thereto. A vaned rotor (26) in the flow conduit is connected to an input shaft (28) of the drive train, which transfers torque to an output drive system (42) that is fixedly connected to the rotating spray body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Crane Pumps & Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Schreur, Doug Shawver, Dan O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6953161
    Abstract: A nozzle, especially an atomizing nozzle for an oil burner, has a housing with a nozzle opening, and a distributing insert which from the interior of the housing lies on the housing in the area of the nozzle opening and is held in the housing with the help of a deformed housing section. To better assure the functioning of the nozzle an elastically deformable element is arranged between the housing section and the distributing insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Birthe Noergaard Laursen, Chinh Minh Trinh
  • Patent number: 6932279
    Abstract: A wobbling sprinkler head has a sprinkler head main frame having a nozzle base having a nozzle therein and at least one arm extending therefrom supporting a deflector supporting base. The nozzle base is attached to a water supply and has a water inlet for directing water through the nozzle and against a water deflector head. The water deflector head has a shaft movably riding in the deflector supporting base and has a water deflecting surface attached to one end of the shaft and positioned to deflect water being emitted from the nozzle and a counterweight attached to the other end thereof to dampen vibrations. The water deflecting surface has a predetermined shape to cause rotation of the water deflector head responsive to water being directed thereagainst and has a protrusion extending therefrom to force an initial tilt and wobbling action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Senninger Irrigation Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory S. Burcham
  • Patent number: 6908047
    Abstract: An improved shower sprayer is provided which includes an oscillating head to provide improved water coverage for a shower user. The valve may include a base, at least one oscillating sprayer head supported by the base and a turbine system driven by a current of water fro a water source. The turbine system actuates the oscillating sprayer head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Nottingham Spirk, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Saunders, Jeffrey Kalman, Jerry DeGreen, Lindsey Tufts, John R. Nottingham, John Spirk
  • Patent number: 6860437
    Abstract: A jet barrel adapted for use in a spa jet housing having a rotor rotatably supported on a spindle pin aligned along a longitudinal axis in the bore of the jet barrel. The spindle pin is supported at upstream and downstream pivot points. An offset nozzle extends from a conical base of the rotor, an inlet to the rotor being aligned with an outlet from the jet barrel's bore. As water exits the jet barrel bore into the rotor, the rotor and spindle pin are caused to co-rotate. Hard water deposits, sufficient to prevent rotation do not readily build around the pivot points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Blue Falls Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Darcy S. Amendt, M. Peter Van't Hoff
  • Patent number: 6827295
    Abstract: A high pressure misting nozzle is disclosed having a nozzle stem body with a fluid inlet and a first chamber in communication with the fluid inlet, a fogger nozzle attached to the nozzle stem body, the fogger nozzle having a nozzle orifice and a second chamber in communication with the nozzle orifice and the first chamber, a valve member movably located in the first chamber and movable between a closed position preventing fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the first chamber, and an open position which allows fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the first chamber, and a nozzle pin movably located in the second chamber, the nozzle pin having fluid metering notches and being freely movable between a first position in which it is displaced away from the nozzle orifice, and a second position in which it is located adjacent to the nozzle orifice, the fluid entering the second chamber urging the nozzle pin toward the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: VAL Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney Rhyne Hendren, Kenneth Eugene Parsons
  • Patent number: 6796273
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a water director for distributing a surge or flow of water to one or more of a plurality of output ports, which can vary in shape, size, and number, typically for use in marine and fresh water aquariums. Water pumped through a conduit into the hermetically sealed Switching Current Water Director (SCWD), powers an internally mounted gear driven fluid motor, which turns a rotational valve, alternately opening and closing a plurality of water outlet ports. When mounted externally to an aquarium, proper placement of output nozzles, which are connected to a water conduit attached to the various SCWD outlet ports, provides the desired opposing, or switching back and fourth currents. Depending on the inlet and outlet port configuration, the SCWD can be adapted to suit many applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventor: Paul Michael Muscarella
  • Publication number: 20040178285
    Abstract: A high pressure fluid jetting system generally includes a fluid cylinder pump, a drive assembly, a pressurized liquid supply and an applicator gun. The drive assembly includes a diesel or electric powered motor which drives a rotatable drive shaft. The drive shaft drives a triple plunger which are reciprocally driven. The plungers communicate fluid from the supply to the gun to selectively jet water from the gun at a pressure of approximately 50,000 psi and 10.0 gallons per minute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventor: Jamie A. Forrest
  • Patent number: 6769449
    Abstract: Water is first caused to flow through a first passage and rotate a first impeller. Rotation of the first impeller is linked to rotation of a second impeller, which is in fluid communication with a second, discrete passage. Vanes on the second impeller are constrained to move faster than vanes on the first impeller. Water is subsequently caused to flow through the second passage and to be more aggressively advanced by the second impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20040124266
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler with two viscous brakes. The viscous brakes work in conjunction with each other to maintain a low RPM and also to rotate a water stream diffuser. The water stream is first directed toward a deflector that offsets the stream and angles it toward the area to be watered. The offset stream applies a torsional force on the deflector causing it to rotate. The stream is then interrupted intermittently by the diffuser that is rotating at a different RPM. The end result is a sprinkler that rotates slowly and breaks up the stream of water intermittently to create an even pattern of water on the area being sprinkled without using mechanical parts, such as ratchets or gearing. This is desirable for smooth operation and less chance of the operation being interrupted from contamination by dirt, insects, debris, etc. Also, a more random diffusion of the water is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel R. Pinch, Gregory S. Burcham, Theodore G. Santiesteban