Adjustable oscillating wave-type sprinkler

• US 5,098,020 A
• Filed: 04/22/1991
• Issued: 03/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Consumer Products Mfg. Corp.
• Inventors: Beal, Craig E., DeLaby, Aaron D., Cooper, Randy J., Beal, Glenn I., Hildwein, Roger L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Application Number:
  US07/689,443
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 239/230, 239/231, 239/242, 239/225.1
• US Class Current: 239/230
• 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

Abstract

An adjustable oscillating wave-type irrigation sprinkler having an impact or impulse drive type mechanism for effecting side-to-side oscillation by a spray tube about a horizontal axis, the drive mechanism including a pair of drive spoons coupled to impact arms journaled for rotation relative to the spray tube and intercepting streams of water from the spray tube to produce incremental rotation of the spray tube about the horizontal axis.

Claims

1. In an oscillating wave irrigation sprinkler of the type primarily intended for use in watering lawns, flowers, shrubs, and the like, said sprinkler including a support base, a spray tube assembly rotatably mounted to said base for side-to-side oscillation about a generally horizontal axis, a plurality of individual spray openings formed in said spray tube, said openings being formed to eject discrete water streams outwardly of said spray tube in a fan-shaped spray pattern, and drive means for effecting limited side-to-side oscillation of said spray tube about said generally horizontal axis, the improvement wherein said drive means comprises:

an impact drive arm assembly mounted to said spray tube for rotation with respect thereto about said generally horizontal axis, said impact drive arm assembly including;

a drive spoon disposed to intercept the path of one of said discrete water streams from one of said spray openings thereby to rotate said drive arm relative to said spray tube and move said drive spoon away from the path of said one stream;

a spring means coupled between said drive arm and said spray tube, said spring means urging said drive spoon into the path of said one discrete water stream;

impact means on said drive arm for impacting said spray tube to impart incremental rotation to said spray tube in one direction with each return of said drive spoon into the path of said one stream; and

reverse drive means for causing said impact drive assembly to effect incremental rotation of said spray tube in a direction opposite to said one direction when a preselected limit of oscillation in said one direction of rotation has been reached, thereby to drive said spray tube in limited side-to-side oscillation relative to said base about said generally horizontal axis.

2. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reverse drive means includes a reversing anvil attached to said drive arm and a reversing dog coupled to said spray tube, said reversing dog being moveable between a forward drive position with said reversing dog out of the path of said reversing anvil and a reverse drive position for impact engagement with said reversing anvil.

3. The improvement as set forth in claim 2 wherein said reverse drive means includes selectively adjustable means coupled to said base for shifting said reversing dog between said forward and reverse drive positions.

4. The improvement as set forth in claim 3 wherein said selectively adjustable means comprises a pair of arc adjustment collars moveably mounted to said base, said arc adjustment collars including trip tabs for engaging said reversing dog to move said reversing dog between said forward and reverse drive positions.

5. The improvement as set forth in claim 4 wherein said arc adjustment collars are mounted to said base for independent relative rotation about said horizontal axis.

6. In an oscillating wave irrigation sprinkler of the type primarily intended for use in watering lawns, flowers, shrubs, and the like, said sprinkler including a support base, a spray tube assembly rotatably mounted to said base for side-to-side oscillation about a generally horizontal axis, a plurality of individual spray openings formed in said spray tube, said openings being formed to eject discrete water streams outwardly of said spray tube in a fan-shaped spray pattern, and drive means for effecting limited side-to-side oscillation of said spray tube about said generally horizontal axis, the improvement wherein said drive means comprises:

an impact drive assembly coupled to said spray tube for rotation relative thereto about said generally horizontal axis, said impact drive assembly including a drive arm having a pair of axially spaced drive spoons attached thereto, means mounting said drive arm to said spray tube for oscillating swinging rotation of each of said drive spoons about said axis and into intercepting engagement with one of said discrete water streams from one of said spray openings and into impact engagement with said spray tube, and spring means for urging said drive arm to swing said drive spoons toward intercepting engagement with said one of said water streams and impact engagement with said spray tube, whereby said impact drive assembly incrementally rotates said spray tube about said axis in a forward rotational direction relative to said base in a succession of relatively small steps;

a reversing mechanism mounted to said spray tube and including a reversing dog moveable between a forward drive position with said reversing dog out of the swinging path of rotation of said drive arm and a reverse drive position for impact engagement by said drive arm to rotate said spray tube stepwise in a reverse rotational direction; and

means for shifting said reversing mechanism between said forward and reverse drive positions in response to rotational oscillation of said spray tube to an end limit of predetermined arcuate rotational path about said generally horizontal axis.

7. The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein said reverse drive means includes a reversing anvil attached to said drive arm and a reversing dog coupled to said spray tube, said reversing dog being moveable between a forward drive position with said reversing dog out of the path of said reversing anvil and a reverse drive position for impact engagement with said reversing anvil.

8. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 7 wherein said drive arm comprises a pair of generally radially disposed and axially spaced disk-shaped walls centrally journaled to said spray tube for rotation relative thereto about said axis, said disk-shaped walls being journaled to said spray tube adjacent opposed axial ends of said spray openings, and including means for impacting said anvil.

9. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said drive spoons is attached to one side of one of said disk-shaped walls facing toward said spray openings.

10. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 9 wherein one of said disk-shaped walls includes a reversing anvil engaging said reversing dog when said reversing mechanism is in said reverse drive position.

11. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 10 wherein said reversing anvil comprises a projection extending outwardly in an axial direction from the side of said disk-shaped wall opposite said one side.

12. The improvement as set forth in claim 11 wherein said reverse drive means includes selectively adjustable means coupled to said base for shifting said reversing dog between said forward and reverse drive positions.

13. The improvement as set forth in claim 12 wherein said selectively adjustable means comprises a pair of arc adjustment collars moveably mounted to said base, said arc adjustment collars including trip tabs for engaging said reversing dog to move said reversing dog between said forward and reverse drive positions.

14. The improvement as set forth in claim 13 wherein said arc adjustment collars are mounted to said base for independent relative rotation about said horizontal axis.

15. The improvement as set forth in claim 14 wherein said drive spoons are each attached to said drive arm at locations axially spaced on opposed sides of said spray openings, and said one of said spray openings comprise the spray openings disposed adjacent the axial ends of said spray tube.

16. The improvement as set forth in claim 15 wherein said spring means comprises a torsion spring coupled between said spray tube and said drive arm.

17. An oscillating wave irrigation sprinkler comprising:

a support base;

a spray tube assembly rotatably mounted to said base for side-to-side oscillation about a generally horizontal axis;

means for coupling said spray tube assembly to a source of pressurized water;

a plurality of individual spray openings formed in said spray tube, said openings being formed to eject discrete water streams outwardly of said spray tube in a fan-shaped spray pattern; and

drive means for effecting limited side-to-side oscillation of said spray tube about said generally horizontal axis, said drive means including an impact drive assembly coupled to said spray tube for rotation relative thereto about said generally horizontal axis, said impact drive assembly including a drive arm having at least one drive spoon attached thereto, means mounting said drive arm to said spray tube for oscillating swinging rotation of said drive spoon about said axis and into intercepting engagement with one of said discrete water streams from one of said spray openings, and into impact engagement with said spray tube, and spring means for urging said drive arm to swing said drive spoon toward intercepting engagement with said one water stream and impact engagement with said spray tube, whereby said impact drive assembly incrementally rotates said spray tube about said axis in a forward rotational direction relative to said base in a succession of relatively small steps;

a reversing mechanism mounted to said spray tube and including a reversing dog moveable between a forward drive position with said reversing dog out of the swinging path of rotation of said drive arm and a reverse drive position for impact engagement by said drive arm to rotate said spray tube stepwise in a reverse rotational direction; and

means coupled to said base for shifting said reversing mechanism between said forward and reverse drive positions in response to rotational oscillation of said spray tube to an end limit of predetermined arcuate rotational path about said generally horizontal axis.

18. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 17 wherein said spray tube assembly includes a generally hollow, axially elongated housing and having means to journal said housing to said base for side-to-side oscillation about said axis, said housing defining a convex upper surface through which said spray openings extend.

19. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 18 wherein said spray openings are formed as discrete spray nozzles arrayed along said upper surface.

20. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 19 wherein said spray nozzles are arrayed in a plurality of axially extending side-by-side rows to produce said fan-shaped spray pattern.

21. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 18 wherein one of said discrete spray nozzles has a size larger than the remaining nozzles, said larger nozzle producing said one water stream intercepted by said drive spoon.

22. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 21 wherein said larger size nozzle is disposed adjacent one axial end of said housing.

23. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 22 wherein said housing has a generally rectangular horizontal cross-section.

24. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 18 wherein said spray tube assembly includes an anvil coupled with said housing and engageable by said impact drive assembly to effect incremental forward rotation of said spray tube.

25. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 24 wherein said drive arm comprises a generally radially disposed disk-shaped wall centrally journaled to said spray tube for rotation relative thereto about said axis, said disk-shaped wall being journaled to said spray tube adjacent one axial end of said housing, and including means for impacting said anvil.

26. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 25 wherein said drive spoon is attached to one side of said disk-shaped wall facing toward said housing, and said means for impacting said anvil comprises an impact hammer projecting in the direction of said housing from said one side of said disk-shaped wall.

27. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 26 wherein said disk-shaped wall includes a reversing anvil engaging said reversing dog when said reversing mechanism is in said reverse drive position.

28. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 27 wherein said reversing anvil comprises a projection extending outwardly in an axial direction from the side of said disk-shaped wall opposite said one side.

29. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 28 wherein said means for shifting said reversing mechanism includes a pair of arc adjustment collars moveably mounted to said base, said arc adjustment collars including trip tabs for engaging said reversing dog to move said reversing dog between said forward and reverse drive positions.

30. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 29 wherein said arc adjustment collars are mounted to said base for independent relative rotation about said horizontal axis.

31. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 30 wherein said spring means comprises a torsion spring coupled between said spray tube and said drive arm.

32. An oscillating wave irrigation sprinkler comprising:

a support base;

a spray tube assembly rotatably mounted to said base for side-to-side oscillation about a generally horizontal axis;

means for coupling said spray tube assembly to a source of pressurized water;

a plurality of individual spray openings formed in said spray tube, said openings being formed to eject discrete water streams outwardly of said spray tube in a fan-shaped spray pattern; and

drive means for effecting limited side-to-side oscillation of said spray tube about said generally horizontal axis, said drive means including an impact drive assembly coupled to said spray tube for rotation relative thereto about said generally horizontal axis, said impact drive assembly including a drive arm having a pair of axially spaced drive spoons attached thereto, means mounting said drive arm to said spray tube for oscillating swinging rotation of each of said drive spoons about said axis and into intercepting engagement with one of said discrete water streams from one of said spray openings, and into impact engagement with said spray tube, and spring means for urging said drive arm to swing said drive spoon toward intercepting engagement with said one water stream and impact engagement with said spray tube, whereby said impact drive assembly incrementally rotates said spray tube about said axis in a forward rotational direction relative to said base in a succession of relatively small steps;

a reversing mechanism mounted to said spray tube and including a reversing dog moveable between a forward drive position with said reversing dog out of the swinging path of rotation of said drive arm and a reverse drive position for impact engagement by said drive arm to rotate said spray tube stepwise in a reverse rotational direction; and

means coupled to said base for shifting said reversing mechanism between said forward and reverse drive positions in response to rotational oscillation of said spray tube to an end limit of predetermined arcuate rotational path about said generally horizontal axis.

33. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 32 wherein said spray tube assembly includes a generally hollow, axially elongated housing, and including means to journal said housing to said base for side-to-side oscillation about said axis, said housing defining a convex upper surface through which said spray openings extend.

34. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 33 wherein said spray openings are formed as discrete spray nozzles arrayed along said upper surface.

35. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 34 wherein said spray nozzles are arrayed in a plurality of axially extending side-by-side rows to produce said fan-shaped spray pattern.

36. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 35 wherein two of said discrete spray nozzles have a size larger than the remaining nozzles, said larger nozzles producing said ones of said water streams intercepted by said drive spoons.

37. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 36 wherein said larger size nozzles are each disposed adjacent opposed axial ends of said housing.

38. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 37 wherein said housing has a generally rectangular horizontal cross-section.

39. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 38 wherein said said discrete spray nozzles are formed as nozzle openings through a flexible strip having a generally rectangular horizontal cross-section and coupled to said upper surface of said housing.

40. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 38 wherein said flexible material is an elastomeric material.

41. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 33 wherein said spray tube assembly includes an anvil coupled with said housing and engageable by said impact drive assembly to effect incremental forward rotation of said spray tube.

42. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 41 wherein said drive arm comprises a pair of generally radially disposed interconnected disk-shaped walls centrally journaled to said spray tube for rotation relative thereto about said axis, said disk-shaped walls being journaled to said spray tube adjacent opposed axial ends of said housing, and including means for impacting said anvil.

43. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 42 wherein each of said drive spoons is attached to one side of one of said disk-shaped walls facing toward said housing, and said means for impacting said anvil comprises an impact hammer coupled to said interconnected disk-shaped walls.

44. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 42 wherein one of said disk-shaped walls includes a reversing anvil engaging said reversing dog when said reversing mechanism is in said reverse drive position.

45. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 44 wherein said reversing anvil comprises a projection extending outwardly in an axial direction from the side of said one disk-shaped wall opposite said one side.

46. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 45 wherein said means for shifting said reversing mechanism includes a pair of arc adjustment collars moveably mounted to said base, said arc adjustment collars including trip tabs for engaging said reversing dog to move said reversing dog between said forward and reverse drive positions.

47. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 46 wherein said arc adjustment collars are mounted to said base for independent relative rotation about said horizontal axis.

48. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 42 wherein said spring means comprises a torsion spring coupled between said spray tube and said drive arm.

49. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 48 wherein said spray openings are formed as discrete spray nozzles arrayed along said upper surface.

50. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 49 wherein said spray nozzles are arrayed in a plurality of axially extending side-by-side rows to produce said fan-shaped spray pattern.

51. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 50 wherein two of said discrete spray nozzles have a size larger than the remaining nozzles, said larger nozzles producing said ones of said water streams intercepted by said drive spoons.

52. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 41 wherein said larger size nozzles are each disposed adjacent opposed axial ends of said housing.

53. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 52 wherein said housing has a generally rectangular horizontal cross-section.

54. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 53 wherein said said discrete spray nozzles are formed as nozzle openings through a flexible strip having a generally rectangular horizontal cross-section and coupled to said upper surface of said housing.

55. An oscillating wave sprinkler as set forth in claim 54 wherein said flexible material is an elastomeric material.