Rotary stream sprinkler unit

• US 4,967,961 A
• Filed: 06/26/1989
• Issued: 11/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hunter Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Edwin J. Hunter
• Inventors: Hunter, Edwin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Application Number:
  US07/371,379
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 239/DIG. 1, 239/228, 239/240, 239/262, 239/396, 239/500, 239/520, 239/589, 239/232, 239/246
• US Class Current: 239/240
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/10 Releasing means, e.g. electrically released
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/74 driven by the discharged fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0422 with rotating outlet elements
• 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: Y10S 239/01 Pattern sprinkler

Abstract

A rotary stream sprinkler unit comprises a body having a water flow passage in which is disposed a flow control unit having one or more arcuate passages configured to control the volume and pressure of a primary stream delivered to a rotary distributor head rotatably mounted at the outlet of the housing for dividing each primary stream into a plurality of final streams and rotating each of the final streams through a selected arc during the rotation of the rotary head.

Claims

1. A rotating stream sprinkler unit comprising:

a tubular housing having a central axis, an inlet, an outlet, and a flow passage communicating therebetween for conducting a stream of water from said inlet to said outlet;

first nozzle means defined by said outlet spaced radially outward from said central axis for forming said stream of water into at least one substantially thin wide primary stream parallel to said axis at said outlet for establishing the shape of an area of coverage; and

a rotating distributor head having an outer surface of a generally inverted concave conical configuration having an apex spaced radially inward from said first nozzle means and having a plurality of flow channels therein defined by a plurality of axial grooves formed in said outer surface and spaced axially outward from said first nozzle means rotatably mounted at said outlet for receiving said stream at a position axially outward from said first nozzle means and forming said primary stream into a plurality of individual final streams and directing said plurality of streams over said area of coverage.

2. A rotary stream sprinkler according to claim 1 wherein:

said first nozzle means comprises at least one substantially arcuate flow passage in said housing disposed in a circular arc about said axis and extending along said body member parallel to said central axis toward the outlet.

3. A sprinkler unit according to claim 2 wherein:

said passage has variations in cross-section from one side to the other about said axis.

4. A sprinkler unit according to claim 2 wherein:

said first nozzle means comprises a plurality of said passages that differ in configuration for generating different shaped streams.

5. A sprinkler unit according to claim 4 wherein:

at least one of said passages has a uniform cross-section throughout the length thereof.

6. A sprinkler unit according to claim 4 wherein:

at least one of said passages has a stepped decrease in cross-section from the inlet to the outlet thereof.

7. A sprinkler unit according to claim 4 wherein:

at least one of said passages has a progressively decreasing cross-section from the inlet to the outlet thereof.

8. A sprinkler unit according to claim 2 wherein:

said flow channels on said distributor head are open channels.

9. A sprinkler unit according to claim 8 wherein:

said passage is shaped at the outlet thereof for providing a substantially rectangular distribution pattern.

10. A sprinkler unit according to claim 9 wherein:

said passage covers a generally 180 degree arc and is shaped to have enlarged portions at the sides thereof and at two positions intermediate thereof.

11. A rotary stream sprinkler unit comprising:

an elongated generally cylindrical housing having a central axis and coaxially disposed inlet and outlet means at opposite ends thereof;

a flow passage in said housing for communicating a fluid flow from said inlet to said outlet;

first nozzle means spaced radially outward from said central axis at said outlet of said housing for generating at least one thin wide flow stream at said outlet, said nozzle means comprises an outlet of at least one restricted passage having a generally arcuate configuration with a width that is greater than a multiple of the height thereof for establishing the shape of an area of coverage; and

a rotating distributor head having an outer surface of a generally inverted concave conical configuration with an apex spaced radially inward from said first nozzle means and a plurality of grooves in said outer conical surface thereof defining open stream channels spaced axially outward from said nozzle means for receiving said stream at a position axially outward from said first nozzle means and directing said flow stream in the form of a plurality of streams over selected areas.

12. A rotary stream sprinkler according to claim 11 wherein:

said restricted passage is formed in an annular arc in said cylindrical body member and extends along said cylindrical body member parallel to the axis thereof.

13. A sprinkler unit according to claim 12 wherein:

said restricted passage has a uniform cross-section throughout the length thereof.

14. A sprinkler unit according to claim 12 wherein:

said restricted passage varies in cross-section between the ends thereof.

15. A sprinkler unit according to claim 14 wherein:

said restricted passage has a progressively increasing cross-section from one side thereof.

16. A sprinkler unit according to claim 12 wherein:

said restricted passage is shaped to provide a generally rectangular distribution pattern.

17. A sprinkler unit according to claim 12 wherein:

said restricted passage has enlarged corners at the sides thereof.

18. A rotating stream sprinkler unit comprising:

an elongated generally cylindrical tubular housing having a central axis, an inlet, an outlet, and a flow passage communicating therebetween for conducting a flow of water from said inlet to said outlet;

nozzle means comprising at least one elongated substantially arcuate passage spaced radially outward from and curved about the central axis of said housing for forming said flow of water into a thin wide primary stream at said outlet for establishing the shape of an area of coverage;

a rotating distributor head having an outer surface of a generally inverted concave conical configuration with an apex spaced radially inward from said first nozzle means and a plurality of grooves formed in said face thereof for defining a plurality of open flow channels therein rotatably mounted at said outlet for receiving said primary stream at a position axially outward from said first nozzle means and dividing said stream into individual streams via said grooves and continuously directing said plurality of individual streams over a predetermined area; and

a turbine in said flow passage responsive to flow of water therein for rotating said distributor head.

19. A sprinkler unit according to claim 18 wherein:

portions of said passage differ in configuration for generating different volume portions of said stream.

20. A sprinkler unit according to claim 19 wherein:

said passage has an enlarged cross-section at the sides thereof and at least one position therebetween.