Lawn sprinkler

• US 3,921,912 A
• Filed: 07/08/1974
• Issued: 11/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerry R. Hayes
• Original Assignee: Jerry R. Hayes
• Inventors: Hayes, Jerry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Lloyd L.
• Application Number:
  US05/486,587
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 239/242,587,590.5,DIG.1
• US Class Current: 239/242
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/12 capable of producing different kinds of discharge, e.g. either jet or spray having selectively-effective outlets B05B1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3402 to avoid or to reduce turbulencies, e.g. comprising fluid flow straightening means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/654 using universal joints
• 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: Y10S 239/01 Pattern sprinkler

Abstract

A rotary-type lawn sprinkler that is reversibly rotatable through any angle. The angle is set by means on the exterior of the sprinkler while the reversing is fluidic and takes place completely within the sprinkler. A slip clutch allows manual rotation of the sprinkler head. The nozzle is angularly adjustable in a vertical plane through 80*, and the nozzle diffuser is adjustable to provide an infinite number of stream diffusion patterns; adjustment of either can be made during operation. A magnetic coupling between the reversible turbine and planetary reduction gearing allows sensitive reduction gearing to be sealed from the water flow.

Claims

1. A lawn sprinkler having a nozzle assembly comprising a. a supply of water under pressure, b. a tubular nozzle having one end adapted to be connected to said supply of water under pressure and a delivery end for delivering water from said supply to an area to be sprinkled, c. a nozzle face terminating the delivery end of said nozzle, said nozzle face having an eccentric orifice therein, and d. a nozzle diffuser having a tubular body portion surrounding said nozzle face and mounted on said nozzle for pivotal movement with respect thereto, and a Face portion having at least one pointed member forming a border of an orifice therein, said orifice in said nozzle face and said orifice in said nozzle diffuser face portion cooperating to change the diffuseness of the water stream issuing from said nozzle depending upon the relative orientation of said nozzle and said nozzle diffuser.

2. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 1 wherein said orifice in said nozzle diffuser face portion is eccentric relative to said orifice in said nozzle face.

3. stop means carried by said water distributing assembly for rotation therewith and between said stop tabs for engaging the same to determine the arcuate extent of the rotative oscillatory movements of said nozzle between said stop tabs.

4. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 1 wherein a means is provided for both providing frictional maintenance of said nozzle diffuser with respect to said nozzle in the position to which it is pivoted and for sealing the area of engagement between said nozzle diffuser and said nozzle for preventing water flow in any path except through said nozzle face and said nozzle diffuser face portion orifices.

5. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 4 wherein said sealing and frictional maintenance means comprises an O-ring between said nozzle and said nozzle diffuser tubular body portion.

6. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 1 wherein said nozzle diffuser is rotatable through 360* with respect to said nozzle.

7. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 1 wherein said nozzle diffuser is pivotal with respect to said nozzle to adjust the diffuseness of the water stream therethrough even during operation of said sprinkler.

8. A lawn sprinkler having a water distributing assembly rotatable about an axis comprising a. a source of water under pressure, b. a nozzle having a nozzle face having a delivery orifice therein for delivery of water from said source to an area to be sprinkled. c. means for adjusting the throw of water issuing from said delivery orifice for a given water pressure, said means including (i) a first rotatable member, (ii) a second rotatable member, said second member rotatable with said first member about said axis and pivotally movable in a plane containing said axis of rotation with respect to said first member, said second member operatively connected to said nozzle, and (iii) frictional means for maintaining the relative inclination of said second member with respect to said first member throughout the rotation of said members about said axis.

9. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 8 wherein said second member is pivotal throughout an arc of 80* with respect to said first member.

10. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 8 wherein said water distributing assembly further comprises water conducting passages through said first and second members for conducting water from said source to said nozzle and a tubular output shaft for conducting water from said source to said first member and rigidly connected to said first member for rotating said first member and said water distributing assembly as a whole therewith.

11. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 10 wherein said tubular output shaft and said first and second members have a common interface.

12. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 11 wherein means are provided at said common interface for both sealing said interface so that water being delivered can only pass from said output shaft through said passages, and for providing said frictional maintenance of the relative inclination of said second member with respect to said first member.

13. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 12 wherein said sealing and relative inclination maintenance means comprises an O-ring at said interface.

14. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 10 wherein said second member includes in the passage therein adjacent to said nozzle means for reducing the turbulence of water flowing through said passage to thereby increase the throw of said delivered water for a given pressure and relative inclination between saId first and second members.

15. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 14 wherein said turbulence reducing means includes a vane.

16. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 8 wherein said second member may be pivoted with respect to said first member even during operation of said sprinkler.

17. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 8 wherein said second member has trunnion pins thereon received within corresponding openings in said first member for allowing said relative pivotal movement of said second member with respect to said first member but for preventing any other relative movement therebetween.

18. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 8 wherein said orifice is located eccentrically within said nozzle face and wherein said water distributing assembly further comprises an adjustable nozzle diffuser having a tubular body portion mounted on said nozzle for pivotal movement with respect thereto and a face portion having at least one pointed member forming a border of an orifice therein, said orifice in said nozzle face and said orifice in said nozzle diffuser face portion cooperating to change the diffuseness of the water stream issuing from said nozzle depending upon the relative orientation of said nozzle and said nozzle diffuser, and said nozzle diffuser and said second member being adjustable together to provide for efficient sprinkling of any area within the range of said sprinkler despite any wind or terrain conditions.

19. A rotating lawn sprinkler having an adjustable stop assembly for restricting rotation of a rotatable water distributing assembly of said sprinkler to less than 360* and for initiating reversal of the direction of rotation of said water distributing assembly, or for allowing unrestricted rotation thereof, said sprinkler comprising a. a relatively stationary sprinkler housing, b. a means carried by said sprinkler housing for receiving a supply of water under pressure, c. two stop collars, one mounted atop the other on and external to said sprinkler housing for adjustment with respect thereto and to each other, d. a stop tab extending from each of said stop collars, e. a water distributing assembly mounted on and external to said sprinkler housing and rotatable with respect to said housing and said stop collars, f. drive means located completely within said housing for rotating said water distributing assembly with respect to said housing and said stop collars and g. a stop member carried by said water distributing assembly for rotation therewith, and h. means mounting said stop member for movement to (i) a part-circle position with respect to said assembly wherein said stop means during its rotative movement with said water distributing assembly will abut said stop tabs and thus restricts said sprinkler to rotation of less than 360*, and (ii) a full-circle position with respect to said assembly wherein said stop means during its passive movement with said assembly cannot abut said stop tabs thereby allowing unrestricted rotation of said assembly.

20. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 19 wherein said means mounting said stop member comprises a shaft for pivotally mounting said stop member for pivotal movement in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said water distributing assembly, and wherein said sprinkler further comprises a pair of recesses located in said stop member and a spring-biased detent member mounted in said water distributing assembly, said detent member engaging one of said recesses in each of said part-circle and full-circle positions of said stop member.

21. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 20 further comprising engagement means associated with said stop collars and engaging complimentary means formed on said sprinkler housing, said engagement means providing for incremental adjustment of said stop collars with respect to said housing.

22. A rotatable lawn sprinkler comprising a. a pressurized sprinkler housing, b. a water inLet in said housing for supplying water under pressure to said sprinkler housing, c. a water distributing assembly mounted on said housing for rotation relative thereto, d. stop means mounted on said housing for stopping the rotation of said water distributing assembly and initiating reversal of the direction of rotation thereof, e. means within said housing for reversing the direction of rotation of said water distributing assembly, said means including (i) a reversible turbine responsive to water flow under pressure through said inlet, (ii) planetary gear reduction means operatively connected to said turbine and to an output shaft for rotating said water distributing assembly, said planetary gear reduction means including a housing-gear, (iii) means for mounting said planetary gear reduction means housing-gear for no relative movement with respect to said sprinkler housing during normal rotation of said water distributing assembly but for limited movement with respect to said sprinkler housing upon said stop means stopping said water distributing assembly, and (iv) means responsive to the relative movement between said housing-gear and said sprinkler housing for reversing the direction of flow of water impinging upon said turbine and thereby the direction of rotation of said turbine and said water distributing assembly.

23. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 22 wherein said means responsive to the relative movement of said planetary gear reduction means housing-gear with respect to said sprinkler housing comprises a fluid amplifier and a member operatively associated with said mounting means for said gear reduction means housing-gear for covering or uncovering signal ports of said fluid amplifier.

24. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 23 wherein said fluid amplifier comprises a nozzle opening connected to said water inlet for said sprinkler, two outlet channels, one for supplying water to said turbine to rotate it in one direction, and the other for supplying water to said turbine to rotate it in the opposite direction, and two signal ports for providing communication between water withiin said pressurized sprinkler housing and said fluid amplifier when uncovered by said member operatively associated with said mounting means for said gear reduction means.

25. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 23 wherein said member operatively associated with said mounting means for said gear reduction means may uncover only one of said two signal ports of said fluid amplifier at any position of travel of said member.

26. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 23 wherein said member has a position wherein it covers both said signal ports.

27. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 22 wherein said mounting means for said gear reduction means housing-gear comprises a member rigidly connected to said gear reduction means housing-gear, said member having a plurality of arms, a friction shoe associated with each arm, and a relatively stationary means for cooperation with said friction shoe for providing sufficient frictional force to prevent said limited relative movement between said gear reduction means housing-gear and said sprinkler housing during normal operation of said sprinkler but allowing said limited relative movement when said rotation of said water distributing assembly is stopped by said stop means.

28. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 22 wherein said friction shoes are spring-biased, and wherein said means cooperating with said friction shoes are plates rigidly attached to the interior of said sprinkler housing.

29. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 22 wherein said stop means comprises two stop collars, one mounted atop the other on and external to said sprinkler housing for rotation with respect thereto and to each other, a stop tab extending from each of said stop collars, and a movable stop lever carried by said water distributing assembly for rotation therewith but pivotally movable with respect thereto in a plane perpendicular tO the axis for rotation of said water distributing assembly, said lever in one position thereof engageable with said stop tabs for stopping said rotation of said water distributing assembly and thereby initiating reversal of the direction of rotation of said water distributing assembly.

30. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 29 wherein a spring biased detent extends from said water distributing assembly, said spring biased detent engaging one of two recesses on said stop lever, said recesses corresponding to location of said stop lever in an extended axial position with respect to said water distributing assembly for engaging said stop tabs, and a retracted position with respect to said water distributing assembly so that engagement with said stop tabs is not possible.

31. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 30 wherein said stop collars are mounted in engagement with and for rotation with respect to said sprinkler housing, and wherein engagement means are provided on said stop collars for cooperating with said sprinkler housing, said engagement means providing sufficient force to maintain said stop tabs stationary when engaged by said stop lever thereby allowing initiation of said reversal of the direction of rotation of said water distributing assembly.

32. A lawn sprinkler comprising a. a sprinkler housing for containing water under pressure, b. a water inlet for supplying water under pressure to said housing, c. a water distributing assembly mounted on said housing for rotation relative thereto, said assembly distributing water from said source to an area to be sprinkled, d. means for adjusting the diffuseness of the water stream issuing from said water distributing assembly, e. means for adjusting the throw of the water stream issuing from said water distributing assembly, f. means for maintaining said throw constant throughout the rotation of said water distributing assembly, g. means for optionally limiting the rotation of said water distributing assembly to less than 360* and for adjusting the limits of said rotation, and h. means for reversing the direction of rotation of said water distributing assembly to oscillate between said limits of rotation.

33. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 32 wherein said stream diffuseness adjustment, said throw adjustment, and said limits of rotation adjustment can all be made during operation of said sprinkler.

34. A lawn sprinkler having a drive assembly comprising a. an inlet for supplying a flow of water under pressure, b. a turbine responsive to water flow through said inlet, c. an output shaft operatively connected to a water distributing assembly of said sprinkler, d. planetary gear reduction means operatively connected to said turbine and to said output shaft for driving said output shaft at a speed less than the speed of rotation of said turbine, said planetary gear reduction means including (i) a housing-gear portion, (ii) a cap-gear portion, and (iii) means between said portions for normally maintaining said housing-gear and said cap-gear portions together while allowing relative movement therebetween should said output shaft be subject to an overload to thereby protect said gear reduction means and said turbine from damage.

35. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 34 wherein said means between housing-gear portion and said cap-gear portion also is a means for preventing entry of water between said portions.

36. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 35 wherein said means between said housing-gear portion and said cap-gear portion is an O-ring providing frictional engagement therebetween.

37. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 34 wherein said turbine is operatively connected to said gear reduction means by permanent magnet means acting through said housing-gear portion for allowing said gear reduction means to be completely sealed while not interfering with the rotation of said turbine.

38. A lawn sprinkler assembly comPrising a. a sprinkler housing for containing water under pressure, b. an inlet for supplying water under pressure to said sprinkler housing, c. a water distributing assembly mounted on said housing for movement relative thereto for distributing water from said inlet to an area to be sprinkled, d. a reversible turbine rotatable in response to directed flow of water from said inlet, e. a planetary gear reduction means, f. an output shaft operatively connected to said gear reduction means for operatively moving said water distributing assembly, g. a housing-gear portion of said planetary gear reduction means for completely sealing said gear reduction means from the flow of water through said turbine, h. permanent magnet means for coupling said turbine to said gear reduction means through said gear reduction housing-gear portion for allowing said gear reduction means to be completely sealed while not interfering with the rotation of said turbine, and i. means associated with said planetary gear reduction means for reversing the direction of movement of said turbine and said water distributing assembly upon stoppage of the movement of said water distributing assembly.

39. A lawn sprinkler assembly as recited in claim 38 wherein said means associated with said gear reduction means housing-gear portion for reversing the direction of rotation of said turbine includes means mounting said gear reduction means housing-gear portion for limited movement with respect to said sprinkler housing and fluid amplifier means responsive to the relative movement of said gear reduction means housing-gear portion with respect to said sprinkler housing for reversing the direction of flow impinging upon said turbine and thereby the direction of rotation of said turbine.

40. A rotatable lawn sprinkler comprising a. a sprinkler housing for containing water under pressure, b. a water inlet for supplying water under pressure to said sprinkler housing, c. a water distributing assembly mounted on said housing for rotation relative thereto and for distributing water from said housing to an area to be sprinkled, d. means acting between the exterior of said housing and said water distributing assembly for selectively stopping the rotation of said water distributing assembly in either direction, e. a hollow shaft extending from said housing to said water distributing assembly for supplying water under pressure from said housing to said water distributing assembly and rotating said water distributing assembly, said hollow shaft the only means extending from the interior of said housing to said water distributing assembly, f. a single means for sealing said hollow shaft to prevent water flow out of said housing except through said hollow shaft, and g. means within said housing responsive to a relative motion occurring within said housing after said hollow shaft is stopped for reversing the direction of rotation of said water distributing assembly.

41. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 40 wherein said means within said housing for reversing the direction of rotation of said water distributing assembly comprises planetary gear reduction means operatively connected to said tubular shaft including a housing-gear for enclosing said planetary gear reduction means, a reversible turbine responsive to water flow under pressure through said inlet and operatively connected to said gear reduction means, means for mounting said planetary gear reduction means housing for no relative movement with respect to said sprinkler housing during normal operation of said sprinkler but for limited movement with respect to said sprinkler housing upon said stop means stopping said water distributing assembly, and means responsive to the relative movement of said planetary gear reduction means housing with respect to said sprinkler housing for reversing the direction of flow of water impinging upon said turbine and thereby the direction of rotation of said turbine.

42. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 41 wherein said means responsive to the relative movement of said planetary gear reduction means housing-gear with respect to said sprinkler housing comprises a fluid amplifier and a member operatively associated with said mounting means for said gear reduction means housing-gear for covering or uncovering signal ports of said fluid amplifier.

43. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 42 wherein said fluid amplifier comprises a nozzle opening connected to said water inlet for said sprinkler, two outlet channels, one for supplying water to said turbine to rotate it in one direction, and the other for supplying water to said turbine to rotate it in the opposite direction, and two signal ports for providing communication between water within said pressurized sprinkler housing and said fluid amplifier when uncovered by said member operatively associated with said mounting means for said gear reduction means.

44. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 42 wherein said member operatively associated with said mounting means for said gear reduction means may uncover only one of said two signal ports of said fluid amplifier at any position of travel of said member.

45. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 42 wherein said member has a position wherein it covers both said signal ports.

46. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 42 wherein said mounting means for said gear reduction means housing-gear comprises a member rigidly connected to said gear reduction means housing-gear, said member having a plurality of arms, a friction shoe associated with each arm, and a relatively stationary means for cooperation with said friction shoe for providing sufficient frictional force to prevent said limited relative movement between said gear reduction means housing-gear and said sprinkler housing during normal operation of said sprinkler but allowing said limited relative movement when said rotation of said water distributing assembly is stopped by said stop means.

47. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 46 wherein said friction shoes are spring-biased, and wherein said means cooperating with said friction shoes are plates rigidly attached to the interior of said sprinkler housing.

48. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 41 wherein said turbine is operatively connected to said gear reduction means by permanent magnet mans acting through said housing-gear portion for allowing said gear reduction means to be completely sealed while not interfering with the rotation of said turbine.

49. A lawn sprinkler comprising:

a. a relatively stationary sprinkler housing;

b. a water distributing assembly carried by said housing having a discharge nozzle extending upwardly and outwardly with respect to the upper portion of said housing, and rotatable in either direction about a vertical axis with respect thereto;

c. drive means located completely within said housing for conducting the water under pressure received in said housing to said water distributing assembly and for converting energy in the water conducted into oscillatory rotational movements of said water distributing assembly in opposite directions, and d. adjustable means for determining the arcuate extent of the oscillatory rotative movements of said nozzle disposed on the exterior of said housing in physical relation with said nozzle unobstructed by exterior drive means structure so as to clearly visually indicate to an operator the determined arcuate extent and the position of the part-circle water distribution pattern with respect to said sprinkler housing when said sprinkler is operated, said adjustable means comprising;

50. A lawn sprinkler as recited in claim 49 wherein said last mentioned means further comprises indicia located on said housing adjacent said stop collars for providing accurate alignment of said stop tabs at arcuate angular positions a specific pre-determined arcuate extent apart.