Vandal-proof oscillating irrigation sprinkler

• US 4,972,993 A
• Filed: 04/10/1989
• Issued: 11/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Garden America Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gardenamerica
• Inventors: Van Leeuwen, Timothy O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weldon, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US07/335,694
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 239/240-242, 239/DIG. 1, 239/206
• US Class Current: 239/206
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/74 driven by the discharged fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0431 the rotative movement of the outlet elements being reversible B05B3/0445 takes precedence

Abstract

An irrigation sprinkler which may include a pop-up assembly driven by a water-flow powered motor. A nozzle is mounted on the upper end of the pop-up assembly and is rotated through an adjustable arc to irrigate a sector of a particular size, and it is automatically reversed at the end points of the selected irrigated sector to oscillate back and forth across the sector. The sprinkler is constructed so that if the pop-up assembly is rotated forceably beyond its preset arc of coverage, either by vandals or others, the sprinkler itself is not damaged, but it will automatically reset itself into its previously preset arc of coverage.

Claims

1. In a sprinkler head comprising a tubular housing, and an assembly rotatably mounted within the housing, the combination of:

a drive member mounted in said housing and movable between first and second angular positions to cause said assembly to turn in said housing;

a reversing mechanism mounted in said housing and movable between first and second positions to cause said drive member to rotate said assembly in one direction of the other; and

at least one trip tab mounted on said assembly for engaging said reversing mechanism to move said reversing mechanism between its first and second positions so as to reverse the direction of rotation of said assembly, said reversing mechanism being shaped for rigid inflexible engagement with said trip tab immediately to initiate movement of said reversing mechanism between its first and second positions when said trip tab is moving in a first direction so as to reverse the direction of rotation of said assembly and said reversing mechanism being further shaped so that said trip tab passes said reversing mechanism without deflection of said trip tab or damage to said trip tab or to said reversing mechanism when said assembly is turned forcibly with respect to said housing so as to force the tab in a direction opposite the first direction.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, in which said tubular housing has an inlet at one end, said assembly is a pop-up assembly having a nozzle mounted on the end thereof, said pop-up assembly being mounted within the housing and movable longitudinally with respect to the housing from a retracted position within the housing to an operational position in which the pop-up assembly protrudes through an end of the housing opposite the one end thereof to enable the nozzle to discharge water over a sector of land to be irrigated in response to water introduced under pressure into the housing through the inlet.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, in which said reversing mechanism has at least one member positioned to be engaged by said trip tab to shift said reversing mechanism and to be depressed by said trip tab when the assembly is turned forceably in a first direction with respect to said housing, so that the tab passes over the resilient member, said resilient member being shaped so that said trip tab moves over said resilient member without shifting said reversing assembly when the pop-up assembly is turned in the opposite direction.

4. The combination defined in claim 1, and which includes first and second trip tabs mounted on said assembly for selectively moving said reversing mechanism to its first and second position.

5. The combination defined in claim 1, in which said reversing mechanism is pivotally mounted in said housing for pivotal movement about a pivot point to reduce friction and abrasion wear.

6. In a sprinkler head comprising a tubular housing, and an assembly rotatably mounted within the housing, the combination of:

a drive member mounted in said housing and movable between first and second angular positions to cause said assembly to turn in said housing;

a reversing mechanism mounted in said housing and movable between first and second positions to cause said drive member to rotate said assembly in one direction or the other;

said reversing mechanism has at least one resilient member shaped as a ramp which allows deflection in the axial orientation; and

at least one trip tab mounted on said assembly for engaging said resilient member where said resilient member is to shift said reversing mechanism between its first and second positions and to be depressed by said trip tab when the assembly is turned forcibly in a first direction with respect to said housing, so that the tab passes over the resilient member, said resilient member being shaped so that said trip tab moves over said resilient member without shifting said reversing mechanism when the pop-up assembly is turned in the opposite direction.

7. In a sprinkler head comprising a tubular housing, and an assembly rotatably mounted within the housing, the combination of:

a drive member mounted in said housing and movable between first and second angular positions to cause said assembly to turn in said housing;

a reversing mechanism mounted in said housing and movable between first and second positions to cause said drive member to rotate said assembly in one direction or the other;

first and second trip tabs mounted on said assembly for selectively moving said reversing mechanism to its first and second positions; and

said reversing mechanism has first and second resilient fingers to be respectively engaged by said first and second trip tabs to shift said reversing mechanism and to be depressed thereby when said assembly is turned forcibly with respect to said housing, said fingers being ramp shaped so that the tabs pass over the fingers without shifting said reversing assembly upon subsequent reverse rotation of said assembly.