Programmable sprinkler

• US 4,613,077 A
• Filed: 04/09/1984
• Issued: 09/23/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffry D. Aronson
• Original Assignee: Jeffry D. Aronson
• Inventors: Aronson, Jeffry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Mary Beth
• Application Number:
  US06/598,529
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 239/DIG. 1, 239/69, 239/97, 239/236, 239/240-242
• US Class Current: 239/97
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0459 the rotor axis not being parallel to the rotation axis of the outlet, e.g. being perpendicular thereto
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/01 Pattern sprinkler

Abstract

A sprinkler body, to be anchored in the ground or to some structure, includes a chamber and a fluid inlet to the chamber. A rotatable head assembly mounted on the body includes a ring gear within the chamber and an external head with a laterally directed nozzle for directing a stream of fluid to cover a selected area around the sprinkler. A fluid operated motor within the body chamber, driven by the fluid passing through the sprinkler, drives the ring gear through reduction gearing. A Variable flow control valve consists of a slide mounted in the head for controlling the flow of fluid to the nozzle. A programmed cam is mounted on the body and a cam follower mounted on the valve slide follows the cam to vary the valve opening in relation to the rotational position of the head relative to the body. The valve controls the volume and throw of the fluid stream so that the sprinkler covers uniformly an area of irregular noncircular configuration. Motor fluid for the motor bypasses the valve to provide constant rotational speed of the head assembly. For a remote control sprinkler, a rotary valve in the body inlet may be operated by an electric motor, and a coacting index mechanism between the body and head, signals to the control mechanism the rotational position of the head relative to the body.

Claims

1. A sprinkler comprising

a body having a chamber, and a fluid inlet passage to said chamber;

a head rotatably mounted on said body, communicating with said chamber;

said head having nozzle means for directing a fluid stream laterally relative to the axis of rotation thereof, and passage means communicating said nozzle means with said body chamber;

drive means including motor means for rotating said head relative to said body;

control valve means for varying the flow of fluid to said nozzle means;

coacting control means mounted on said body and said head, responsive to the rotation of said head relative to said body for controlling said control valve means;

said control means comprising a platelike cam mounted on said body and disposed perpendicular to said axis of head rotation;

said platelike cam having a peripheral edge cam surface;

said flow control valve means comprising a valve slide mounted in said head adjacent to said platelike cam for reciprocation transverse to said axis of head rotation, said valve slide having a port coacting with said passage means for varying fluid flow in response to reciprocation thereof;

and said control means further comprising a cam follower mounted on said valve slide for coacting with said cam surface, and means urging said valve slide in a direction to maintain said cam follower in engagement with said cam surface;

flow passage means bypassing said flow control valve means for effecting uniform flow of fluid through said motor means;

said motor means comprising fluid activated motor means.

2. A sprinkler comprising

a body having a chamber, and a fluid inlet passage to said chamber;

a head rotatably mounted on said body, communicating with said chamber;

said head having nozzle means for directing a fluid stream laterally relative to the axis of rotation thereof, and passage means communicating said nozzle means with said body chamber;

drive means including motor means for rotating said head relative to said body;

control valve means for varying the flow of fluid to said nozzle means;

coacting control means mounted on said body and said head, responsive to the rotation of said head relative to said body for controlling said control valve means;

said control means comprising a platelike cam mounted on said body and disposed perpendicular to said axis of head rotation;

said platelike cam having a peripheral edge cam surface;

said flow control valve means comprising a valve slide mounted in said head adjacent to said platelike cam for reciprocation transverse to said axis of head rotation, said valve slide having a port coacting with said passage means for varying fluid flow in response to reciprocation thereof;

and said control means further comprising a cam follower mounted on said valve slide for coacting with said cam surface, and means urging said valve slide in a direction to maintain said cam follower in engagement with said cam surface;

said motor means comprising fluid actuated motor means to be driven by fluid passing into said body;

said fluid actuated motor means including a housing having an inlet and an outlet;

conduit means associated with said head for communicating said motor housing outlet with said head passage means, said conduit means bypassing said control valve means, whereby fluid flows through said fluid actuated motor means independently of said control valve means.

3. A sprinkler as set forth in claim 2 including

said conduit means being disposed in the axis of rotation of said head;

said conduit means defining bearing means for supporting said motor housing outlet.

4. A sprinkler as set forth in claim 2 including

said conduit means including a tube disposed within said head and extending through said port of said valve slide.

5. A sprinkler comprising

a body having a chamber, and a fluid inlet passage to said chamber;

a head rotatably mounted on said body, communicating with said chamber;

said head having nozzle means for directing a fluid stream laterally relative to the axis of rotation thereof, and passage means communicating said nozzle means with said body chamber;

drive means including motor means for rotating said head relative to said body;

control valve means for varying the flow of fluid to said nozzle means;

coacting control means mounted on said body and said head, responsive to the rotation of said head relative to said body for controlling said control valve means;

motor means for driving said control valve means;

said control means including coacting indexing means mounted on said body and said head;

said indexing means including signaling means responsive to rotation of said head relative to said body for controlling the operation of said control valve motor means.

6. A sprinkler as set forth in claim 5 including

said control valve motor means comprising electric motor means;

said indexing means comprising peripherally spaced detent means mounted on said head;

and said signaling means comprising electric switch means mounted on said body, coacting with said detent means to transmit electric signals identified with respective said detent means.

7. A sprinkler as set forth in claim 6 including

said head having keying detent means, associated with one of said indexing detent means, for coaction with said switch means to identify a selected rotary position of said head relative to said body.