WATER SPRINKLER WITH TUBE ADAPTER MEMBER

• US 20100078502A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gilmour, Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Gilmour, Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Goetz, Michael H., Burnworth, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,931,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/240
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0436 by reversing the direction of rotation of the rotor itself
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/044 Tubular elements holding several outlets, e.g. apertured tubes, oscillating about an axis substantially parallel to the tubular element
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0454 relative to the angular position of the outlet or to the direction of rotation of the outlet, e.g. for spraying non circular areas

Abstract

A sprinkler apparatus comprises a sprinkler motor configured to rotate an output gear and a sprinkler tube configured to move in a repeating pattern in response to rotation of the output gear. The sprinkler apparatus further comprises a tube adapter interposed between the output gear and the sprinkler tube. The tube adapter is fixed in relation to the sprinkler tube. The tube adapter includes a first set of teeth and the output gear has a plurality of extending flexible fingers defining a second set of teeth which engage the first set of teeth. The output gear and the tube adaptor include water passages through which water advances from the sprinkler motor to the sprinkler tube. The flexible fingers on the output gear allow the second set of teeth to slide over the first set of teeth and provide a torque limiting relationship between the output gear and the tube adaptor.

Claims

1. A sprinkler apparatus comprising:

a sprinkler motor configured to rotate an output gear;

a sprinkler tube configured to move in a repeating pattern in response to rotation of the output gear;

a tube adapter interposed between the output gear and the sprinkler tube, wherein the tube adapter is fixed in relation to the sprinkler tube, wherein the tube adapter includes a first set of teeth, wherein the output gear has a plurality of extending flexible fingers defining a second set of teeth which engage the first set of teeth, and further wherein each of the output gear and the tube adaptor include water passages through which water advances from the sprinkler motor to the sprinkler tube.

2. The sprinkler apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output gear and the tube adaptor are substantially cylindrical in shape and are coaxial with a portion of the tube adaptor positioned within the flexible fingers of the output gear.

3. The sprinkler apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tube adaptor includes a circumferential groove that engages a circumferential rib on the output gear.

4. The sprinkler apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible fingers on the output gear allow the second set of teeth to slide over the first set of teeth and provide a torque limiting relationship between the output gear and the tube adapter.

5. The sprinkler apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one spray adjustment member positioned on the tube adaptor, wherein movement of the at least one spray adjustment member changes the repeating pattern of the sprinkler tube.

6. A sprinkler comprising:

a water motor comprising a rotatable output gear defining an axis of rotation;

a spray member configured to receive water passing through the output gear;

an adapter member positioned between the output gear and the spray member, wherein the adapter member engages the output gear such that the adapter member is releasably secured to the output gear in a circumferential direction and is releasably secured to the output gear in an axial direction.

7. The sprinkler of claim 6 wherein the output gear comprises a first plurality of clutch teeth and the adapter member comprises a second plurality of clutch teeth that engage the first plurality of clutch teeth.

8. The sprinkler of claim 7 wherein the first plurality of clutch teeth is provided on fingers extending in an axial direction from the output gear.

9. The sprinkler of claim 8 wherein the fingers are flexible in order to allow the first plurality of clutch teeth to slide over the second plurality of clutch teeth when a torque on the first plurality of clutch teeth exceeds a threshold torque.

10. The sprinkler of claim 6 wherein the adapter member snaps into the output gear in order to secure the adapter member to the output gear.

11. The sprinkler of claim 10 wherein the output member includes a circumferential rib that fits into a circumferential groove on the output gear when the adapter member snaps into the output gear.

12. The sprinkler of claim 6 wherein the output shaft and the adapter member are substantially cylindrical in shape and coaxial.

13. The sprinkler of claim 6 further comprising an O-ring seal positioned between the output gear and the adapter member.

14. A sprinkler comprising:

a water motor configured to rotate a driven member, the driven member including a first clutch surface;

a sprinkler tube configured to move in a repeating pattern in response to rotation of the driven member;

an adapter interposed between the driven member and the sprinkler tube, wherein the sprinkler tube is fixed in relation to the adaptor, wherein the adaptor is releasably connected to the driven member in a torque limiting relationship, the adaptor including a second clutch surface engaging the first clutch surface to provide the torque limiting relationship, and wherein the adaptor is configured to pass water from the driven member to the sprinkler tube.

15. The sprinkler of claim 14 wherein the first clutch surface comprises a first plurality of teeth and the second clutch surface comprises a second plurality of teeth.

16. The sprinkler of claim 15 wherein the first plurality of teeth is provided on fingers extending from the driven member.

17. The sprinkler of claim 14 wherein the driven member comprises an output gear of the water motor.

18. The sprinkler of claim 15 wherein the driven member is substantially cylindrical in shape.

19. The sprinkler of claim 18 wherein the tube adaptor is substantially cylindrical in shape and fits within the driven member.

20. The sprinkler of claim 14 further comprising at least one spray adjustment member positioned on the adaptor, wherein movement of the at least one spray adjustment member changes the repeating pattern of the sprinkler tube.