Sprinkler with internal compartments

• US 10,328,444 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2018
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Wright, III, James T., Renquist, Steven C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jonaitis, Justin M
• Application Number:
  US15/982,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20180264497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 239204, 239200, 239201, 239203, 239205, 239206, 239210
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/00 Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/60 Arrangements for mounting, supporting or holding spraying apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/70 Arrangements for moving spray heads automatically to or from the working position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/74 driven by the discharged fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A sprinkler includes a compartment that surrounds its riser portion in an offset or asymmetrical configuration. More specifically, the distance of the compartments walls from those of the riser vary (i.e., increase or decrease) at different locations surrounding the riser. Put another way, the riser is closer to one side of the compartment than other sides of the compartment. This non-concentric configuration allows larger components to fit inside the compartment than would otherwise fit if the riser was symmetrically surrounded by the compartment.

Claims

1. An irrigation sprinkler comprising:

a sprinkler riser that rises during irrigation and lowers when irrigation is stopped; and

,

a compartment positioned entirely around said riser;

wherein said sprinkler riser is positioned closer to one side of an outer wall of said compartment than an opposite side of said outer wall.

2. The sprinkler of claim 1, a wireless communication device located in said compartment;

said wireless communication device establishing a wireless mesh communication network with other remote wireless communication devices within other sprinklers.

3. The sprinkler of claim 1, further comprising a check valve and a pressure receptacle located in said compartment.

4. The sprinkler of claim 3, wherein said pressure receptacle is fixed over an aperture though a side of a housing of said sprinkler riser.

5. The sprinkler of claim 4, wherein said pressure receptacle further comprises a cavity that is open towards a top of said irrigation sprinkler.

6. The sprinkler of claim 1, further comprising a fin connected to an outer surface of said sprinkler riser and being injection molded around a metal communication tube.

7. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said compartment contains a pilot valve and a two-wire decoder that is connected to activate said pilot valve.

8. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said compartment contains a removable check valve.

9. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said compartment contains a pilot valve removable from said compartment.

10. An irrigation sprinkler comprising:

a riser housing containing a sprinkler riser that rises during irrigation and lowers when irrigation is stopped; and

,

a compartment disposed around said riser housing and being selectively openable at a top portion of said compartment;

wherein said riser housing is asymmetrically positioned relative to an outer wall of said compartment;

wherein said compartment contains a wireless communication module that is configured to receive communications from a soil moisture sensor and relay said communications from said soil moisture sensor to a central controller.

11. An irrigation sprinkler comprising:

a sprinkler riser; and

,

a compartment located entirely around said riser;

wherein said sprinkler riser is positioned through an off-center location of said compartment.

12. The sprinkler of claim 11, wherein said compartment is selectively removable from said sprinkler riser.

13. The sprinkler of claim 11, further comprising a pressure receptacle that is fixed over an aperture extending through a side of a housing of said sprinkler riser;

said pressure receptacle engaged with a pressure port of a pilot valve.

14. The sprinkler of claim 13, further comprising a check valve in communication with a main valve, and a removable retaining member surrounding said check valve.

15. The sprinkler of claim 11, further comprising a metal communication tube connected to a check valve and a main valve;

wherein a portion of said sprinkler riser is injection molded around said metal communication tube.

16. The sprinkler of claim 11, wherein said compartment further comprises a wall separating said compartment into a first sub-compartment containing a decoder and a second sub-compartment containing a pilot valve.

17. A method comprising:

removing a top cover from a compartment that completely surrounds an outer portion of a sprinkler riser of a sprinkler;

said sprinkler riser being closer to one side of said compartment than an opposite side of said compartment;

removing a first pilot valve through a top of said compartment without stopping a supply of water to said sprinkler body and without causing irrigation of said sprinkler; and

,

connecting a second pilot valve within said compartment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said connecting said second pilot valve further comprises connecting a first port of said pilot valve to a pressure receptacle that is coupled to a passage through a wall of a housing of said riser housing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said connecting said second pilot valve further comprises connecting a second port of said pilot valve to a check valve.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, replacing a decoder from within said compartment.