Unitized sprinkler assembly with adjustable water control mechanism
First Claim
1. A unitized sprinkler assembly comprisinga first housing assembly having an inlet end constructed and arranged to be connected with a source of water under pressure and a spaced outlet end,a second housing assembly having an inlet end and a spaced outlet end,the inlet end of said second housing assembly being constructed and arranged to mate with the outlet end of said first housing assembly and being connected in water pressure communicating relation therewith,a manually adjustable control mechanism carried by said first housing assembly between the inlet end and outlet end thereof constructed and arranged to control the flow of water under pressure from the inlet end thereof to the outlet end thereof in accordance with the manual adjustment of said manually adjustable control mechanism,a sprinkler head assembly having an inlet end disposed to receive water under pressure flowing from the outlet end of said second housing assembly,a base assembly constructed and arranged to support all of said assemblies on a ground area to be sprinkled and having said assemblies disposed in supported relation thereon,a structural connection between said sprinkler head assembly and said second housing assembly constructed and arranged to enable said sprinkler head assembly to oscillate about an oscillatory axis with respect to said second housing assembly,an oscillating mechanism mounted in said second housing assembly constructed and arranged to be operated by the flow of water under pressure between the inlet end and outlet end of said second housing assembly and connected with said sprinkler head assembly to oscillate said sprinkler head assembly about said oscillatory axis through repeated oscillating head cycles,said sprinkler head assembly being constructed and arranged to discharge water under pressure flowing through the inlet end thereof in a predetermined stream configuration so as to be distributed on the ground to be sprinkled in a predetermined water pattern determined by the oscillating head cycle thereof,each of said oscillating head cycles including a head stroke in one direction and a return head stroke in the opposite direction so that a corresponding dimension of said water pattern corresponds with the distance of the head stroke of each oscillating head cycle, andan adjusting mechanism constructed and arranged to enable the distance of the head stroke of each oscillating head cycle to be adjusted within a range between a minimum head stroke distance and a maximum head stroke distance so as to vary the corresponding dimension of said water pattern within a range between a minimum dimension and a maximum dimension.
3 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Unitized sprinkler assembly including a housing assembly having an inlet end constructed and arranged to be connected with a source of water under pressure and a spaced outlet end, a manually adjustable control mechanism carried by the housing assembly, a sprinkler head assembly having an inlet end disposed to receive water under pressure flowing from the outlet end of the housing assembly, a base assembly constructed and arranged to support the assemblies on a ground area to be sprinkled, a structural connection between the sprinkler head assembly and the housing assembly constructed and arranged to enable the sprinkler head assembly to oscillate about an oscillatory axis with respect to the housing assembly, an oscillating mechanism mounted in the housing assembly constructed and arranged to be operated by the flow of water under pressure and connected with the sprinkler head assembly to oscillate the sprinkler head assembly about the oscillatory axis through repeated oscillating head cycles, an adjusting mechanism constructed and arranged to enable the distance of the head stroke of each oscillating head cycle to be adjusted within a range between a minimum head stroke distance and a maximum head stroke distance, and a control member to control selectively the width of the spray patter discharged from the sprinkler head assembly. The housing assembly may include first and second housing assemblies.
48 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A unitized sprinkler assembly comprising
a first housing assembly having an inlet end constructed and arranged to be connected with a source of water under pressure and a spaced outlet end, a second housing assembly having an inlet end and a spaced outlet end, the inlet end of said second housing assembly being constructed and arranged to mate with the outlet end of said first housing assembly and being connected in water pressure communicating relation therewith, a manually adjustable control mechanism carried by said first housing assembly between the inlet end and outlet end thereof constructed and arranged to control the flow of water under pressure from the inlet end thereof to the outlet end thereof in accordance with the manual adjustment of said manually adjustable control mechanism, a sprinkler head assembly having an inlet end disposed to receive water under pressure flowing from the outlet end of said second housing assembly, a base assembly constructed and arranged to support all of said assemblies on a ground area to be sprinkled and having said assemblies disposed in supported relation thereon, a structural connection between said sprinkler head assembly and said second housing assembly constructed and arranged to enable said sprinkler head assembly to oscillate about an oscillatory axis with respect to said second housing assembly, an oscillating mechanism mounted in said second housing assembly constructed and arranged to be operated by the flow of water under pressure between the inlet end and outlet end of said second housing assembly and connected with said sprinkler head assembly to oscillate said sprinkler head assembly about said oscillatory axis through repeated oscillating head cycles, said sprinkler head assembly being constructed and arranged to discharge water under pressure flowing through the inlet end thereof in a predetermined stream configuration so as to be distributed on the ground to be sprinkled in a predetermined water pattern determined by the oscillating head cycle thereof, each of said oscillating head cycles including a head stroke in one direction and a return head stroke in the opposite direction so that a corresponding dimension of said water pattern corresponds with the distance of the head stroke of each oscillating head cycle, and an adjusting mechanism constructed and arranged to enable the distance of the head stroke of each oscillating head cycle to be adjusted within a range between a minimum head stroke distance and a maximum head stroke distance so as to vary the corresponding dimension of said water pattern within a range between a minimum dimension and a maximum dimension.
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13. A sprinkler assembly comprising
a housing assembly including an inlet end constructed and arranged to be communicated with a source of water under pressure and a spaced outlet end, a sprinkler head assembly connected in water pressure communicating relation with said housing assembly outlet end constructed and arranged to discharge water under pressure received from said housing assembly outlet end in a predetermined stream configuration therefrom, said housing assembly including a peripheral wall portion extending axially between the inlet end and the outlet end of said housing assembly, said peripheral wall portion having a cam slot formed therein to extend from one end thereof peripherally to an opposite end thereof displaced axially from the one end thereof a distance substantially less than the peripheral distance between the ends thereof, said housing assembly inlet end communicating with an inlet cylindrical wall extending axially within an inlet end of said peripheral wall portion, said housing assembly outlet end communicating with an outlet cylindrical wall extending axially within an outlet end of said peripheral wall portion, a movable cylindrical wall having opposite end portions disposed in sealed telescoping relation with said inlet and outlet cylindrical walls, a handle fixed with respect to said movable cylindrical wall and extending within said cam slot outwardly thereof in a position to be manually engaged, said handle being constructed and arranged with respect to said cam slot to be guided axially by said cam slot when manually moved through a peripheral extent thereof so that the axial position of said handle within said cam slot determines the axial position of said movable cylindrical wall in telescoping relation with said input and output cylindrical walls, said movable cylindrical wall and one of said input and output cylindrical walls having cooperating flow control surfaces movable relatively axially toward and away from one another as said movable cylindrical wall is moved axially with the handle in response to a manual peripheral movement thereof, said cooperating flow control surfaces being constructed and arranged to vary the flow through said cylindrical walls in accordance with the position of said handle within said cam slot.
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18. A flow control assembly for use between a source of water under pressure and a sprinkler assembly, said flow control assembly including
a housing assembly having an inlet end constructed and arranged to be connected with a source of water under pressure and a spaced outlet end constructed and arranged to be connected in water pressure communicating relation with a sprinkler assembly, said housing assembly including a peripheral wall portion extending axially between said inlet end and said outlet end having a cam slot formed therein to extend from one end thereof peripherally to an opposite end thereof displaced axially from the one end thereof a distance substantially less than the peripheral distance between the ends thereof, said housing assembly inlet end communicating with an inlet cylindrical wall extending axially within an inlet end of said peripheral wall portion, said housing assembly outlet end communicating with an outlet cylindrical wall extending axially within an outlet end of said peripheral wall portion, a movable cylindrical wall having opposite end portions disposed in sealed telescoping relation with said inlet and outlet cylindrical walls, a handle fixed with respect to said movable cylindrical wall and extending within said cam slot outwardly thereof in a position to be manually engaged, said handle being constructed and arranged with respect to said cam slot to be guided axially by said cam slot when manually moved through a peripheral extent thereof so that the axial position of said handle within said cam slot determines the axial position of said movable cylindrical wall in telescoping relation with said input and output cylindrical walls, said movable cylindrical wall and one of said input and output cylindrical walls having cooperating flow control surfaces movable relatively axially toward and away from one another as said movable cylindrical wall is moved axially with the handle in response to a manual peripheral movement thereof, said cooperating flow control surfaces being constructed and arranged to vary the flow through said cylindrical walls in accordance with the position of said handle within said cam slot.
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19. A sprinkler assembly comprising
a housing assembly having an inlet end constructed and arranged to be connected to a source of water under pressure and a spaced outlet end, a sprinkler head assembly connected in water-pressure communicating relation with the outlet end of said housing assembly constructed and arranged to discharge water under pressure therefrom in a predetermined stream configuration, a structural connection between the outlet end of said housing assembly and said sprinkler head assembly constructed and arranged to enable said sprinkler head assembly to be oscillated about an oscillatory axis with respect to said housing assembly, an oscillating mechanism carried by said housing assembly adjacent the outlet end thereof including an oscillating output member connected with said sprinkler head assembly constructed and arranged to move said sprinkler head assembly about said oscillatory axis through repeated oscillating head cycles during which water under pressure discharged from said sprinkler head assembly is distributed in a predetermined pattern on a ground area to be sprinkled, each of said oscillating head cycles including a head stroke in one direction and a return head stroke in the opposite direction so that a corresponding dimension of said water pattern corresponds with the distance of the head stroke of each head cycle, an adjusting mechanism constructed and arranged to enable the distance of the head stroke of each head cycle to be adjusted within a range between a minimum head stroke distance and a maximum head stroke distance so as to vary the corresponding dimension of said water pattern within a range between a minimum dimension and a maximum dimension, a water flow valve carried by said housing assembly adjacent the inlet end thereof constructed and arranged to be moved between (1) a closed position preventing the flow of water under pressure from the inlet end to the outlet end of said housing assembly and (2) an open position permitting the flow of water under pressure from the inlet end to the outlet end of said housing assembly, a valve-moving mechanism carried by said housing assembly constructed and arranged to be manually moved away from a valve-closing position into a selected watering position within a range of watering positions between a minimum watering position and a maximum watering position, said valve-moving mechanism being constructed and arranged with respect to said flow control valve to enable the flow control valve to be (1) in the closed position thereof when said valve-moving mechanism is in the valve-closing position thereof and (2) in the open position thereof when said valve-moving mechanism is within the range of watering positions thereof, a constant stroke producing mechanism carried by said housing assembly including (1) an oscillating input member connected with said oscillating output member to be moved thereby through repeated oscillating input cycles corresponding to the repeated oscillating head cycles said sprinkler head assembly is moved by said oscillating output member and (2) a constant stroke output member constructed and arranged to produce a movement stroke of a constant distance for each head cycle irrespective of the stroke distance with said range of stroke distances of each head cycle, and a motion-transmitting assembly carried by said housing assembly constructed and arranged to transmit the movement strokes of said constant stroke output member to said valve-moving mechanism to move said valve-moving mechanism from a selected watering position within said range of watering positions into said valve-closing position so that the amount of water delivered to the water pattern per unit area is determined by the selected watering position irrespective of the corresponding dimension of the pattern within said range of dimensions.
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27. A sprinkler assembly comprising
a housing assembly having an inlet end constructed and arranged to be communicated with a supply of water under pressure and a spaced outlet end, a water jet and impeller reversing assembly within said housing assembly including a movable member constructed and arranged to be moved between first and second positions, a rotatable impeller, structural surfaces for directing a continuous supply of water under pressure from said inlet end in jet formation onto said impeller to rotate the same, and a rotatable output member, the arrangement being such that when said movable member is in said first position said output member is connected to be rotated by the rotation of said impeller in one direction and when said movable member is in said second position said output member is connected to be rotated by the rotation of said impeller in an opposite direction, a planetary gear assembly mounted within said housing assembly comprising a multiplicity of gears including coaxial sun and ring gears and carrier mounted planetary gears in meshing relation between coaxial sun and ring gears, one of said ring gears being a movable ring gear mounted within said housing assembly for arcuate movement about an axis thereof between first and second positions, said movable ring gear being connected with the movable member to move said movable member (1) from the first position thereof into the second position thereof when said movable ring gear is moved from the first position thereof to the second position thereof and (2) from the second position of said movable member into the first position thereof when said movable ring gear is moved from the second position thereof into the first position thereof, a sprinkler head assembly connected in water pressure communicating relation with the outlet end of said housing assembly constructed and arranged to discharge water under pressure in a predetermined stream configuration therefrom, a structural connection between the outlet end of said housing assembly and said sprinkler head assembly constructed and arranged to enable said sprinkler head assembly to be moved about an axis, said multiplicity of gears including an input gear connected to be moved about the axis of said movable ring gear by the rotatable output member and an output gear movable about the axis of said ring gear and connected to move said sprinkler head assembly about its axis in a direction corresponding to the direction of movement of said output gear, a stop system acting between said sprinkler head assembly and said housing assembly constructed and arranged to determine first and second stopping positions for said sprinkler head assembly, the arrangement being such that said sprinkler head assembly is moved about its axis (1) in a direction toward said first stopping position when said movable ring gear is retained in the first position thereof with said rotatable output member rotating in said one direction and said input and output gears moving in directions corresponding thereto so that when said sprinkler head assembly reaches said first stopping position the movement of the sprinkler head assembly is stopped while the continued rotation of the rotatable output member in said one direction and the corresponding movement of said input gear cause said movable ring gear to be moved about its axis from the first position thereof to the second position thereof and (2) in an opposite direction toward said second stopping position when said movable ring gear is retained in the second position thereof with said rotatable output member rotating in said opposite direction and said input and output gears moving in directions corresponding thereto so that when said sprinkler head assembly reaches said second stopping position the movement of the sprinkler head assembly and output gear is stopped while the continued rotation of the rotatable output member in said opposite direction and the corresponding movement of said input gear cause said movable ring gear to be moved about its axis from the second position thereof to the first position thereof.
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41. A sprinkler assembly comprising
a housing assembly having an inlet end constructed and arranged to be connected with a source of water under pressure and a spaced outlet end, a sprinkler head assembly mounted on said housing assembly in water-pressure communicating relation with said housing assembly outlet end constructed and arranged to discharge water under pressure therefrom in a predetermined stream configuration, a structural connection between said sprinkler head assembly and said second housing assembly constructed and arranged to enable said sprinkler head assembly to be moved about an oscillatory axis with respect to said housing assembly, an oscillating mechanism carried by said housing assembly constructed and arranged to be operable by the flow of water under pressure between the inlet end and outlet end of said housing assembly to move said sprinkler head assembly about said oscillating axis through repeated oscillating head cycles during which water under pressure discharged from said sprinkler head is distributed in a predetermined pattern on the ground, each of said oscillating head cycles including a head stroke in one direction and a return head stroke in the opposite direction so that a corresponding dimension of said water pattern corresponds with the distance of the head stroke of each head cycle, an adjusting mechanism constructed and arranged to enable the distance of the head stroke of each head cycle to be adjusted within a range between a minimum head stroke distance and a maximum head stroke distance so as to vary the corresponding dimension of said water pattern within a range between a minimum dimension and a maximum dimension, said adjusting mechanism including first and second side-by-side adjusting rings mounted on an annular housing section of said housing assembly constructed and arranged to be moved into first and second selected adjustment positions within first and second ranges of adjustment positions, said first and second rings having first and second fixed stop surfaces thereon disposed in arcuately spaced relation to one another when said rings are in first and second selected adjustment positions, said sprinkler head assembly having cooperating first and second stop surfaces thereon disposed in a position to engage said fixed first and second stop surfaces at the end of each head stroke and return stroke of said sprinkler head respectively, said first and second rings each being split so as to define a pair of side-by-side end portions having (1) a pair of pinching elements fixed thereto and extending outwardly therefrom so as to present oppositely facing digital engaging surfaces and (2) a pair of short arcuate sections having a plurality of inwardly facing serrations on the interior thereof, said annular housing section having a series of outwardly facing serrations on the exterior surface thereof of a size and shape to mesh with the plurality of serrations of said arcuate sections, said first and second ring each being constructed and arranged to be moved from any first or second selected adjustment position respectively to any other first or second selected adjustment position respectively within the first or second ranges of adjustment positions respectively by (1) digitally engaging the digital engaging surfaces of the associated pinching elements, (2) pinching the digital engaging surfaces toward one another to enlarge the interior circumference of the associated ring and displace the associated inwardly facing serrations with respect to the outwardly facing serrations of the annular housing section, (3) moving the associated ring from the one selected adjustment position arcuately in the appropriate direction into the other selected adjustment position while retaining the associated pinching elements in pinched relation and (4) releasing the associated pinching elements after the arcuate movement of the associated ring into the other selected adjustment position to engage the associated inwardly facing serrations in meshing relation with the engaged outwardly facing serrations of said annular housing section.
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44. A wave sprinkler assembly comprising:
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a housing and base assembly providing a water inlet for communication with a source of water under pressure and an outlet communicating with said inlet, a tubular spray assembly mounted on said housing and base assembly for oscillatory movement with respect thereto, said tubular spray assembly having an inlet end disposed in sealed water communicating relation with said outlet so that an interior of said tubular spray assembly receives water under pressure from said outlet, a closed end and a series of longitudinally spaced water stream outlets between said inlet end and said closed end, an oscillating mechanism carried by said housing and base assembly constructed and arranged to be operable by water flowing between said water inlet and said outlet to oscillate said tubular spray assembly when said water inlet is communicated with a source of water under pressure, said tubular spray assembly including a hollow tubular member and an elongated strip of flexible material positioned inside the tubular member, the strip having a number of said series of longitudinally spaced water stream outlets extending therethrough, said tubular member including an elongated section having transverse opening-defining and interior strip-engaging surfaces thereon, said strip having an interior pressure responsive surface and an exterior mounting surface constructed and arranged so that when said strip is positioned inside said tubular member, the interior pressure responsive and exterior mounting surfaces of said strip are engaged respectively (1) by the water under pressure within the interior of said tubular spray assembly and (2) by an interior strip-engaging surface of said tubular member so that engagement of the water under pressure with the strip enhances engagement of the strip with the tubular member, each water stream outlet in said strip extending within an opening in said tubular member defined by an opening-defining surface of said tubular member so that water under pressure within the interior of said tubular spray assembly issues from said series of longitudinally spaced water stream outlets as a series of longitudinally spaced water streams which oscillate as the tubular spray assembly is oscillated to provide a desired sprinkler pattern on a ground area to be sprinkled. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A sprinkler assembly comprising:
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a housing assembly having an inlet end constructed and arranged to be connected in fluid communication with a source of water under pressure and a spaced outlet end, a sprinkler head assembly having an inlet end disposed to receive water under pressure flowing from the outlet end of the housing assembly, a base assembly constructed and arranged to support the housing assembly and the sprinkler head assembly on an area to be sprinkled and having the housing assembly and the sprinkler head assembly disposed in supported relation thereon, a structural connection between the sprinkler head assembly and the housing assembly constructed and arranged to enable said sprinkler head assembly to oscillate about an oscillatory axis with respect to the housing assembly, an oscillating mechanism connected to the sprinkler head assembly and constructed and arranged to oscillate the sprinkler head assembly about the oscillatory axis through repeated oscillating head cycles, such that each oscillating head cycle includes a head stroke in one direction and a return head stroke in the opposite direction, said sprinkler head assembly being constructed and arranged to discharge water under pressure flowing through the inlet end thereof in a stream configuration so as to be distributed in a water pattern determined by the oscillating head cycle thereof, and a manually adjustable control mechanism carried by the housing assembly, the control mechanism being constructed and arranged to control the flow rate of water under pressure to the sprinkler head assembly in accordance with manual adjustment of the control mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification