Adjustable sprinkler nozzle

• US 5,526,982 A
• Filed: 12/23/1993
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: McKenzie, Jeff R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Application Number:
  US08/173,174
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 239/DIG. 1, 239/DIG. 12, 239/602, 239/443, 239/587.1, 239/588, 239/562, 239/581.1, 239/74, 239/563, 239/206, 239/240, 239/246, 239/247, 239/263
• US Class Current: 239/240
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1672 the selectively-effective outlets being arranged on a tube or pipe
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/652 whereby the jet can be oriented
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/74 driven by the discharged fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/02 with rotating elements electric spraying discharge apparatus characterised by having rotary outlet or deflecting elements B05B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/01 Pattern sprinkler

Abstract

An improved sprinkler nozzle comprises a nozzle body having a nozzle received in a recessed seat provided in a peripheral wall of the nozzle body. The nozzle is formed with a plurality of nozzle ports formed by the radially outer ends of a plurality of vertically flexible nozzle tubes. The flow volume of the water stream being thrown by the sprinkler nozzle is adjusted by selectively operating a flow volume adjustment member carried on the nozzle body to selectively open or close various of the nozzle tubes in various possible combinations. The flow volume of the nozzle will comprise the combined or aggregate flow volumes of the water sub-streams being thrown by those nozzle tubes that are left open. The trajectory of the water stream being thrown by the sprinkler nozzle is adjusted by selectively operating a trajectory adjustment member carried on the nozzle body to bend the flexible nozzle tubes about their vertically fixed, radial inner ends to raise and lower the radial outer ends of the nozzle tubes.

Claims

1. A sprinkler nozzle for a rotary sprinkler having a drive means for rotating the nozzle about a rotational axis, wherein the nozzle throws at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time, the sprinkler nozzle having an adjustable flow volume, which comprises:

(a) a nozzle body having means for throwing a plurality of discrete water sub-streams directed together in generally the same outward direction relative to the rotational axis of the nozzle body such that the water sub-streams are grouped together to collectively form the water stream;

(b) flow adjustment means carried on the nozzle body such that every component of the flow adjustment means rotates in unison with the nozzle body during rotation of the nozzle body, wherein the flow adjustment means includes means that operatively controls flow through multiple ones of the nozzle ports for selectively changing the number of water sub-streams thrown from the nozzle body, thereby to adjust the flow volume of the water stream; and

(c) means on the nozzle body for receiving a rotary force from the rotational drive means to allow the nozzle body to be rotated about its rotational axis.

2. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 1, wherein the flow adjustment means comprises means for selectively blocking at least one of the water sub-streams.

3. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 2, wherein the flow adjustment means comprises means for selectively blocking a plurality of the water sub-streams.

4. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 1, wherein the nozzle body has means for throwing at least four of the discrete water sub-streams.

5. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 1, wherein the flow adjustment means comprises a user operable, flow adjustment member that is movably carried on the nozzle body.

6. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 5, wherein the flow adjustment member is rotatably carried on the nozzle body.

7. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 1, wherein at least two groups of water sub-streams are provided with each group of sub-streams having at least one water sub-stream therein, the sub-streams in the first group having a first predetermined flow capacity and the sub-streams in the second group having a second predetermined flow capacity which is different from the first flow capacity.

8. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 7, wherein the flow adjustment means is capable of selecting a desired number of sub-streams from each of the two groups of such sub-streams for simultaneous use in forming the water stream.

9. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 8, wherein the flow adjustment means is further capable of selecting a desired number of sub-streams from only one group of such sub-streams for simultaneous use in forming the water stream.

10. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 9, wherein the flow adjustment means comprises means for selectively blocking a plurality of the water sub-streams.

11. A sprinkler nozzle for a rotary sprinkler having a drive means for rotating the nozzle about a rotational axis, wherein the nozzle throws at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time, the sprinkler nozzle having an adjustable flow volume, which comprises:

(a) a nozzle body having means for throwing a plurality of discrete water sub-streams directed together in generally the same outward direction relative to the rotational axis of the nozzle body such that the water sub-streams are grouped together to collectively form the water stream;

(b) flow adjustment means carried on the nozzle body such that every component of the flow adjustment means rotates in unison with the nozzle body during rotation of the nozzle body, wherein the flow adjustment means includes means for selectively blocking at least one predetermined increment of multiple ones of the water sub-streams, thereby to adjust the flow volume of the water stream; and

(c) means on the nozzle body for receiving a rotary force from the rotational drive means to allow the nozzle body to be rotated about its rotational axis.

12. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 11, wherein the flow adjustment means comprises a user operable, flow adjustment member that is movably carried on the nozzle body.

13. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 11, wherein the flow adjustment means comprises means for selectively blocking at least one of the water sub-streams in its entirety.

14. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 11, wherein the flow adjustment means comprises means for selectively blocking a plurality of the water sub-streams in their entirety.

15. A sprinkler nozzle for a rotary sprinkler having a drive means for rotating the nozzle about a rotational axis, wherein the nozzle throws at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time, the sprinkler nozzle having an adjustable flow volume, which comprises:

(a) a nozzle body having a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending downwardly from the top wall with the rotational axis being generally perpendicular to the top wall of the nozzle body;

(b) a plurality of individual nozzle ports provided in the sidewall of the nozzle body which ports are grouped together in an array on one side of the nozzle body to point outwardly relative to the rotational axis;

(c) flow adjustment means carried on the nozzle body such that every component of the flow adjustment means rotates in unison with the nozzle body during rotation of the nozzle body, wherein the flow adjustment means includes means for selectively blocking a desired number of nozzle ports in the nozzle port array with the other ports in the array remaining open, thereby to adjust the flow volume of the water stream being collectively thrown by those nozzle ports which remain open; and

(d) a torque receiving member on the nozzle body which is rotatably driven by the drive means.

16. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 15, wherein the flow adjustment means abuts against the nozzle port array and is movable relative thereto for selectively opening or closing the desired number of nozzle ports.

17. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 16, wherein a portion of the flow adjustment means is accessible from the top wall of the nozzle body to allow the user to selectively operate the flow adjustment means from above the sprinkler nozzle.

18. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 16, wherein each nozzle port in the nozzle port array has a radially inner end that is open to a water flow passage inside the nozzle body, and wherein the flow adjustment means abuts against the radially inner end of the desired number of nozzle ports which are to be selectively opened or closed in the nozzle port array.

19. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 18, wherein the flow adjustment means comprises a relatively thin skirt that is flexible under the pressure of the water contained in the water flow passage to be bent radially outwardly against the radially inner ends of the desired number of nozzle ports to selectively close and seal against such ports when the skirt is positioned adjacent such ports, the skirt having a plurality of notched sections provided therein which may be selectively aligned with various ones of the desired number of nozzle ports to selectively open such ports.

20. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 19, wherein the skirt is rotatably carried in the nozzle body to be movable past the nozzle array, the skirt having an extended length with the various notched sections being provided in the skirt spaced along the length thereof to sequentially register with the desired number of nozzle ports to open various combinations of such ports as the skirt is rotated past the nozzle array.

21. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 15, wherein the flow adjustment means is accessible from the top wall of the nozzle body to allow the user to selectively operate the flow adjustment means from above the sprinkler nozzle.

22. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 21, wherein the top wall of the nozzle body includes a scale means for indicating to the user the flow volume of the currently open nozzle ports.

23. A sprinkler nozzle for a rotary sprinkler having a drive means for rotating the nozzle about a rotational axis, wherein the nozzle throws at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time, which comprises:

(a) a nozzle body;

(b) nozzle means carried on the nozzle body for discharging water from the nozzle body, wherein the nozzle means comprises a plurality of flexible nozzle tubes which are grouped together in an array on one side of the nozzle body to provide a water stream projected generally in the same outward direction relative to the rotational axis which water stream is made of the combination of individual sub-streams issuing from the nozzle tubes;

(c) selectively operable means carried on the nozzle body for vertically bending at least some of the flexible nozzle tubes up and down to raise or lower the trajectory of the water sub-streams exiting from the bent nozzle tubes; and

(d) means on the nozzle body for receiving a rotary force from the rotational drive means to allow the nozzle body to be rotated about its rotational axis.

24. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 23, wherein the bending means is configured to vertically bend all of the nozzle tubes up and down.

25. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 24, wherein the bending means is configured to simultaneously bend the nozzle tubes as a group as the bending means is selectively operated.

26. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 23, wherein the bending means is configured to simultaneously bend as a group those nozzle tubes that can be bent as the bending means is selectively operated.

27. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 23, wherein the nozzle tubes each have a radially inner end which receives water from the water flow passageway and a radially outer end spaced from the inner end of the tube, and wherein the inner ends of all the nozzle tubes are vertically fixed relative to the nozzle body, and wherein the bending means vertically raises or lowers the outer ends of those nozzle tubes that can be bent relative to their inner ends to vertically bend the tubes.

28. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 23, wherein the bending means comprises a trajectory adjustment member carried on the nozzle body, and wherein the trajectory adjustment member has an array of openings corresponding in number to the numbers of nozzle tubes that are to be bent with one nozzle tube passing through each opening and with the opening engaging that nozzle tube radially outwardly of a vertically fixed inner end thereof, and further including means for vertically moving the trajectory adjustment member on the nozzle body to allow the trajectory adjustment member to bend the nozzle tubes up or down about their vertically fixed inner ends.

29. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 28, wherein the openings in the trajectory adjustment member have fixed sizes which receive the nozzle tubes and allow the nozzle tubes to pass therethrough without constricting the nozzle tubes.

30. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 28, wherein the openings in the trajectory adjustment member engage the nozzle tubes adjacent radially outer ends thereof.

31. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 28, wherein the trajectory adjustment member is vertically slidable on the nozzle body.

32. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 28, further including a rotatable actuation member carried on the nozzle body for sliding the adjustment member up and down on the nozzle body.

33. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 32, wherein the actuation member is accessible from and may be rotated from a top wall of the nozzle body.

34. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 33, wherein the actuation member is vertically fixed on the nozzle body and has a threaded connection to the trajectory adjustment member such that rotation of the actuation member on the nozzle body raises or lowers the trajectory adjustment member on the nozzle body depending on the direction of rotation of the actuation member.

35. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 33, wherein the actuation member includes a top end terminating proximate to the top wall of the nozzle body.

36. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 28, wherein the trajectory adjustment member comprises a plate-like member.

37. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 23, wherein the nozzle tubes are each fixed to a common support surface with the nozzle tubes extending away form the support surface in a cantilever manner to terminate in radially outer ends, and wherein the inner ends of the nozzle tubes are fixed in place in the nozzle body by fixedly attaching the support surface to the nozzle body.

38. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 37, wherein the nozzle tubes and the support surface are integrally formed as a unitary piece.

39. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 38, wherein the nozzle tubes and the support surface are integrally molded from a flexible elastomeric material.

40. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 38, wherein the support surface comprises a sheet-like membrane.

41. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 23, wherein the nozzle tubes each have an individual flow capacity that is constant with the maximum flow capacity of the nozzle means being the sum of the individual flow capacities of all the nozzle tubes, and further including selectively operable means of opening or closing off various ones of the nozzle tubes to adjust the gallonage of the flow provided by the water stream issuing from the nozzle means.

42. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 41, wherein the flow adjustment means comprises a user operable, flow adjustment member that is movably carried on the nozzle body.

48. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 40, further including means on the nozzle body for receiving a rotary force from a rotational drive means to allow the nozzle body to be rotated about a rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time.

49. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 48, wherein the top wall of the nozzle body includes a scale means for indicating to the user the directions in which the trajectory adjustment means should be operated in order to raise or lower the trajectory.

50. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 48, wherein the top wall of the nozzle body includes a scale means for indicating to the user the adjusted flow volume of the nozzle means.

43. A sprinkler nozzle for a rotary sprinkler having a drive means for rotating the nozzle about a rotational axis, wherein the nozzle throws at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time, the water stream having an adjustable trajectory, which comprises:

(a) a nozzle body having a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending downwardly from the top wall;

(b) a plurality of individual nozzle ports provided in the sidewall of the nozzle body which ports are grouped together in an array on one side of the nozzle body to point generally in the same outward direction relative to the rotational axis, wherein the nozzle ports are formed by radially outer ends of nozzle tubes carried on the nozzle body and wherein such tubes have radial inner ends, wherein the nozzle tubes are flexible between their inner and outer ends;

(c) a trajectory adjustment member carried on the nozzle body for vertical movement on the nozzle body, wherein the trajectory adjustment member is operatively coupled to the nozzle tubes such that the vertical movement of the trajectory adjustment member raises or lowers the outer ends of a plurality of the nozzle tubes relative to their inner ends to raise or lower, respectively, the trajectory of the water stream being formed by the water issuing from such adjusted nozzle tubes; and

(d) a member on the nozzle body suited to be connected to the rotational drive means to allow the nozzle body to be rotated about its rotational axis.

44. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 43 wherein the trajectory adjustment means is configured to bend up or down all of the nozzle tubes simultaneously as a group.

45. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 43, wherein the radial inner ends of the nozzle tubes are vertically fixed relative to the nozzle body, the trajectory adjustment member having an array of openings corresponding in number to the numbers of nozzle tubes that are to be adjusted with one nozzle tube passing through each opening and with the opening engaging that nozzle tube radially outwardly of the vertically fixed inner end thereof, and further including means for vertically moving the trajectory adjustment member on the nozzle body to allow the trajectory adjustment member to raise or lower the outer ends of the nozzle tubes relative to their vertically fixed inner ends.

46. A sprinkler nozzle for throwing at least one adjustable water stream, which comprises:

(a) a nozzle body having a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending downwardly from the top wall;

(b) nozzle means provided in the sidewall of the nozzle body for throwing a water stream to one side of the nozzle body;

(c) flow adjustment means carried on the nozzle body for selectively adjusting the flow volume of the water stream being thrown by the nozzle means, wherein the flow adjustment means is accessible from the top wall of the nozzle body to allow the user to selectively operate the flow adjustment means from above the sprinkler nozzle;

(d) trajectory adjustment means carried on the nozzle body for selectively adjusting relative to the horizontal the trajectory angle of inclination of the water stream being thrown by the nozzle means, wherein the trajectory adjustment means is accessible from the top wall of the nozzle body to allow the user to selectively operate the trajectory adjustment means from above the sprinkler nozzle; and

(e) wherein the flow adjustment means and the trajectory adjustment means are separately operable from one another such that adjustments of the flow volume and of the trajectory angle can be made independently of one another.

47. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 46, wherein the top wall of the nozzle body includes a scale means for indicating to the user the adjusted flow volume of the nozzle means.

51. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 46, wherein the flow adjustment means includes a first rotatable actuation member carried on the nozzle body, and wherein the trajectory adjustment means includes a second rotatable actuation member carried on the nozzle body.

52. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 51, wherein the first and second rotatable actuation members each rotate about a rotational axis that is substantially perpendicular to the top wall of the nozzle body.

53. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 52, wherein the first and second rotatable actuation members each have an upper end that is substantially coplanar with the top wall of the nozzle body.

54. A sprinkler nozzle for a rotary sprinkler having a drive means for rotating the nozzle about a rotational axis, wherein the nozzle throws at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time, the sprinkler nozzle having an adjustable flow volume, which comprises:

(a) a nozzle body having a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending downwardly from the top wall with the rotational axis of the nozzle body being generally perpendicular to the top wall of the nozzle body;

(b) a plurality of individual nozzle ports provided in the sidewall of the nozzle body which ports are grouped together in an array on one side of the nozzle body to point outwardly relative to the rotational axis;

(c) a rotatable flow adjustment member rotatably carried on the nozzle body and having a surface that is movable past the nozzle array as the flow adjustment member is rotated, wherein the surface abuts against the nozzle port array for selectively blocking desired ones of the nozzle ports in the nozzle port array with the other ports in the array remaining open, and wherein the surface has an extended length with a plurality of differently shaped notched sections being spaced along the length thereof such that the differently shaped notched sections each sequentially register with the nozzle port array to open various different combinations of nozzle ports in the nozzle port array as the surface is rotated past the nozzle port array and the different notched sections are brought into registry with the nozzle port array; and

(d) a torque receiving member on the nozzle body which is rotatably driven by the drive means.

55. A sprinkler nozzle, which comprises:

(a) a nozzle body;

(b) nozzle means carried on the nozzle body for discharging water from the nozzle body, wherein the nozzle means comprises a plurality of flexible nozzle tubes which are grouped together in an array on one side of the nozzle body to provide a water stream projected generally in the same direction which water stream is made of the combination of individual sub-streams issuing from the nozzle tubes;

(c) selectively operable means carried on the nozzle body for vertically bending at least some of the flexible nozzle tubes up and down to raise or lower the trajectory of the water sub-streams exiting from the bent nozzle tubes, wherein the bending means comprises;

(i) a trajectory adjustment member carried on the nozzle body, wherein the trajectory adjustment member has an array of openings corresponding in number to the numbers of nozzle tubes that are to be bent with one nozzle tube passing through each opening and with the opening engaging that nozzle tube radially outwardly of a vertically fixed inner end thereof; and

(ii) a rotatable actuation member carried on the nozzle body for sliding the adjustment member up and down on the nozzle body to allow the trajectory adjustment member to bend the nozzle tubes up or down about their vertically fixed inner ends, wherein the actuation member is accessible from and may be rotated from a top wall of the nozzle body.

56. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 55, wherein the actuation member is vertically fixed on the nozzle body and has a threaded connection to the trajectory adjustment member such that rotation of the actuation member on the nozzle body raises or lowers the trajectory adjustment member on the nozzle body depending on the direction of rotation of the actuation member.

57. The sprinkler nozzle of claim 55, wherein the actuation member includes a top end terminating proximate to the top wall of the nozzle body.

58. A rotary sprinkler, which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a nozzle rotatably carried on the housing for rotation about a rotational axis, the nozzle configured to disperse at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time;

(c) drive means for rotating the nozzle about the rotational axis; and

(d) wherein the nozzle comprises;

(i) a nozzle body having means for throwing a plurality of discrete water sub-streams directed together in generally the same outward direction relative to the rotational axis of the nozzle body such that the water sub-streams are grouped together to collectively form the water stream;

(ii) flow adjustment means carried on the nozzle body such that every component of the flow adjustment means rotates in unison with the nozzle body during rotation of the nozzle body, wherein the flow adjustment means includes means that operatively controls flow through multiple ones of the nozzle ports for selectively changing the number of water sub-streams thrown from the nozzle body, thereby to adjust the flow volume of the water stream; and

(iii) means on the nozzle body operatively connected to the drive means for receiving a rotary force from the rotational drive means to allow the nozzle body to be rotated about its rotational axis.

59. A rotary sprinkler, which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a nozzle rotatably carried on the housing for rotation about a rotational axis, the nozzle configured to disperse at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time;

(c) drive means for rotating the nozzle about the rotational axis; and

(d) wherein the nozzle comprises;

(i) a nozzle body having means for throwing a plurality of discrete water sub-streams directed together in generally the same outward direction relative to the rotational axis of the nozzle body such that the water sub-streams are grouped together to collectively form the water stream;

(ii) flow adjustment means carried on the nozzle body such that every component of the flow adjustment means rotates in unison with the nozzle body during rotation of the nozzle body, wherein the flow adjustment means includes means for selectively blocking at least one predetermined increment of multiple ones of the water sub-streams, thereby to adjust the flow volume of the water stream; and

(iii) means on the nozzle body operatively connected to the drive means for receiving a rotary force from the rotational drive means to allow the nozzle body to be rotated about its rotational axis.

60. A rotary sprinkler, which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a nozzle rotatably carried on the housing for rotation about a rotational axis, the nozzle configured to disperse at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time;

(c) drive means for rotating the nozzle about the rotational axis; and

(d) wherein the nozzle comprises;

(i) a nozzle body having a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending downwardly from the top wall with the rotational axis being generally perpendicular to the top wall of the nozzle body;

(ii) a plurality of individual nozzle ports provided in the sidewall of the nozzle body which ports are grouped together in an array on one side of the nozzle body to point outwardly relative to the rotational axis;

(iii) flow adjustment means carried on the nozzle body such that every component of the flow adjustment means rotates in unison with the nozzle body during rotation of the nozzle body, wherein the flow adjustment means includes means for selectively blocking a desired number of nozzle ports in the nozzle port array with the other ports in the array remaining open, thereby to adjust the flow volume of the water stream being collectively thrown by those nozzle ports which remain open; and

(iv) a torque receiving member on the nozzle body operatively connected to the drive means which is rotatably driven by the drive means.

61. A rotary sprinkler, which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a nozzle rotatably carried on the housing for rotation about a rotational axis, the nozzle configured to disperse at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time;

(c) drive means for rotating the nozzle about the rotational axis; and

(d) wherein the nozzle comprises;

(i) a nozzle body;

(ii) nozzle means carried on the nozzle body for discharging water from the nozzle body, wherein the nozzle means comprises a plurality of flexible nozzle tubes which are grouped together in an array on one side of the nozzle body to provide a water stream projected generally in the same outward direction relative to the rotational axis which water stream is made of the combination of individual sub-streams issuing from the nozzle tubes;

(iii) selectively operable means carried on the nozzle body for vertically bending at least some of the flexible nozzle tubes up and down to raise or lower the trajectory of the water sub-streams exiting from the bent nozzle tubes; and

(iv) means on the nozzle body operatively connected to the drive means for receiving a rotary force from the rotational drive means to allow the nozzle body to be rotated about its rotational axis.

62. A rotary sprinkler, which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a nozzle rotatably carried on the housing for rotation about a rotational axis, the nozzle configured to disperse at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time;

(c) drive means for rotating the nozzle about the rotational axis; and

(d) wherein the nozzle comprises;

(i) a nozzle body connected to the drive means, the nozzle body having a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending downwardly from the top wall;

(ii) nozzle means provided in the sidewall of the nozzle body for throwing a water stream to one side of the nozzle body;

(iii) flow adjustment means carried on the nozzle body for selectively adjusting the flow volume of the water stream being thrown by the nozzle means, wherein the flow adjustment means is accessible from the top wall of the nozzle body to allow the user to selectively operate the flow adjustment means from above the sprinkler nozzle;

(iv) trajectory adjustment means carried on the nozzle body for selectively adjusting relative to the horizontal the trajectory angle of inclination of the water stream being thrown by the nozzle means, wherein the trajectory adjustment means is accessible from the top wall of the nozzle body to allow the user to selectively operate the trajectory adjustment means from above the sprinkler nozzle; and

(e) wherein the flow adjustment means and the trajectory adjustment means are separately operable from one another such that adjustments of the flow volume and of the trajectory angle can be made independently of one another.

63. A sprinkler nozzle for a rotary sprinkler having a drive means for rotating the nozzle about a rotational axis, wherein the nozzle throws at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time, the sprinkler nozzle having an adjustable flow volume, which comprises:

(a) a nozzle body having a plurality of nozzle ports pointing together in generally the same outward direction relative to the rotational axis of the nozzle body such that the nozzle ports throw a plurality of discrete water sub-streams which together form the water stream;

(b) at least one flow adjustment member which operatively controls flow through multiple ones of the nozzle ports for selectively changing independently of the nozzle body'"'"'s rotational position the number of water sub-streams thrown from the nozzle body, thereby to adjust the flow volume of the water stream; and

(c) a drive connection on the nozzle body for receiving a rotary force from the rotational drive means to allow the nozzle body to be rotated about its rotational axis.

64. A sprinkler nozzle for a rotary sprinkler having a drive means for rotating the nozzle about a rotational axis, wherein the nozzle throws at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time, the sprinkler nozzle having an adjustable flow volume, which comprises:

(a) a nozzle body having a plurality of nozzle ports pointing together in generally the same outward direction relative to the rotational axis of the nozzle body such that the nozzle ports throw a plurality of discrete water sub-streams which together form the water stream;

(b) at least one flow adjustment member for selectively blocking independently of the nozzle body'"'"'s rotational position at least one predetermined increment of multiple ones of the nozzle ports, thereby to adjust the flow volume of the water stream; and

(c) a drive connection on the nozzle body for receiving a rotary force from the rotational drive means to allow the nozzle body to be rotated about its rotational axis.

65. A sprinkler nozzle for a rotary sprinkler having a drive means for rotating the nozzle about a rotational axis, wherein the nozzle throws at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time, the sprinkler nozzle having an adjustable flow volume, which comprises:

(a) a nozzle body having a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending downwardly from the top wall with the rotational axis being generally perpendicular to the top wall of the nozzle body;

(b) a plurality of individual nozzle ports provided in the sidewall of the nozzle body which ports are grouped together in an array on one side of the nozzle body to point outwardly relative to the rotational axis;

(c) at least one flow adjustment member for selectively blocking independently of the nozzle body'"'"'s rotational position a desired number of nozzle ports in the nozzle port array with the other ports in the array remaining open, thereby to adjust the flow volume of the water stream being collectively thrown by those nozzle ports which remain open; and

(d) a torque receiving member on the nozzle body which is rotatably driven by the drive means.

66. A rotary sprinkler, which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a nozzle rotatably carried on the housing for rotation about a rotational axis, the nozzle configured to disperse at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time;

(c) drive means for rotating the nozzle about the rotational axis; and

(d) wherein the nozzle comprises;

(i) a nozzle body having a plurality of nozzle ports pointing together in generally the same outward direction relative to the rotational axis of the nozzle body such that the nozzle ports throw a plurality of discrete water sub-streams which together form the water stream;

(ii) at least one flow adjustment member which operatively controls flow through multiple ones of the nozzle ports for selectively changing independently of the nozzle body'"'"'s rotational position the number of water sub-streams thrown from the nozzle body, thereby to adjust the flow volume of the water stream; and

(iii) a drive connection between the nozzle body and the rotational drive means to allow the nozzle body to be rotated about its rotational axis.

67. A rotary sprinkler, which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a nozzle rotatably carried on the housing for rotation about a rotational axis, the nozzle configured to disperse at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time;

(c) drive means for rotating the nozzle about the rotational axis; and

(d) wherein the nozzle comprises;

(i) a nozzle body having a plurality of nozzle ports pointing together in generally the same outward direction relative to the rotational axis of the nozzle body such that the nozzle ports throw a plurality of discrete water sub-streams which together form the water stream;

(ii) at least one flow adjustment member for selectively blocking independently of the nozzle body'"'"'s rotational position at least one predetermined increment of multiple ones of the nozzle ports, thereby to adjust the flow volume of the water stream; and

(iii) a drive connection between the nozzle body and the rotational drive means to allow the nozzle body to be rotated about its rotational axis.

68. A rotary sprinkler, which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a nozzle rotatably carried on the housing for rotation about a rotational axis, the nozzle configured to disperse at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time;

(c) drive means for rotating the nozzle about the rotational axis; and

(d) wherein the nozzle comprises;

(i) a nozzle body having a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending downwardly from the top wall with the rotational axis being generally perpendicular to the top wall of the nozzle body;

(ii) a plurality of individual nozzle ports provided in the sidewall of the nozzle body which ports are grouped together in an array on one side of the nozzle body to point outwardly relative to the rotational axis;

(iii) at least one flow adjustment member for selectively blocking independently of the nozzle body'"'"'s rotational position a desired number of nozzle ports in the nozzle port array with the other ports in the array remaining open, thereby to adjust the flow volume of the water stream being collectively thrown by those nozzle ports which remain open; and

(iv) a torque receiving member on the nozzle body which is connected to and rotatably driven by the drive means.

69. A rotary sprinkler, which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a nozzle rotatably carried on the housing for rotation about a rotational axis, the nozzle configured to disperse at least one water stream outwardly relative to the rotational axis such that rotational movement of the nozzle causes the water stream to traverse over and sprinkle an arc of ground that is wider than an arc segment sprinkled by the water stream itself at any given instant of time;

(c) drive means for rotating the nozzle about the rotational axis; and

(d) wherein the nozzle comprises;

(i) a nozzle body connected to the drive means, the nozzle body having a top wall and a peripheral sidewall extending downwardly from the top wall;

(ii) at least one nozzle port provided in the sidewall of the nozzle body for throwing a water stream to one side of the nozzle body;

(iii) a user settable flow adjustment member movably carried on the nozzle body for selectively adjusting the flow volume of the water stream being thrown by the nozzle port, wherein the flow adjustment member is accessible from the top wall of the nozzle body to allow the user to selectively operate the flow adjustment member from above the sprinkler nozzle;

(iv) a user settable trajectory adjustment member movably carried on the nozzle body and operatively coupled to the nozzle port for selectively adjusting relative to the horizontal the trajectory angle of inclination of the water stream being thrown by the nozzle port, wherein the trajectory adjustment member is accessible from the top wall of the nozzle body to allow the user to also selectively operate the trajectory adjustment member from above the sprinkler nozzle; and

(e) wherein the flow adjustment means and the trajectory adjustment means are separately operable from one another such that adjustments of the flow volume and of the trajectory angle can be made independently of one another.