Rotary sprinkler with arc adjustment guide and flow-through shaft

• US 6,869,026 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Janku, Peter, McKenzie, Jeff, McCormick, Chad Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganey, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US10/455,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20040050958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 239/71, 239/73, 239203-206, 239/237, 239/240, 239/241, 239/242, 239/569, 239/570, 239/571, 239/580, 239/590, 239/590.5
• US Class Current: 239/237
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/265 the liquid or other fluent material being symmetrically deflected about the axis of the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/304 the controlling element being a lift valve
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/32 in which a valve member forms part of the outlet opening B05B1/3033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/74 driven by the discharged fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0431 the rotative movement of the outlet elements being reversible B05B3/0445 takes precedence

Abstract

A rotary sprinkler having an adjustable arc segment whose angular extent and absolute direction relative to the ground are represented by an arc indicator, which arc indicator may comprise a band whose visible length represents the angular extent and whose position on the sprinkler points to the direction. The sprinkler may have the arc segment adjusted by a movable arc limit stop that is coupled to a toggle member only at drive reversal, and the sprinkler may be converted to full circle operation by raising the arc limit stop relative to a cooperating trip tab. A buckling spring assembly used to shift the drive comprises a compression spring held between two spaced pivot members, and the drive can be built in continuous and intermittent drive versions by replacing a few normal rotary gears with multilated gears. A friction clutch having asymmetric teeth for smooth operation prevents damage to the drive during forced nozzle rotation. A nozzle assembly includes a pivotal nozzle that carries a radius adjustment screw with the head of the screw received on top a flexible portion of a top cover, which top cover has laser etched indicia relating to various adjustments of the sprinkler. A flow shut off valve includes stream straightening vanes and a collar may be used to support the sprinkler on a stake or post for above ground installation.

Claims

1. A rotary sprinkler, comprising:

(a) a drive housing including a drive mechanism for providing rotation;

(b) a rotary nozzle assembly carried on the drive housing and rotatively coupled to the drive mechanism, the rotary nozzle assembly including a water supply tube in fluid communication with the rotary nozzle assembly; and

(c) a flow shut off valve having at least a portion thereof extending into and through the water supply tube, wherein the flow shut off valve comprises a shaft having a valve positioned on a distal end of the shaft and a threaded section adjacent to the proximal end of the shaft;

an aperture positioned below the threaded section, wherein the aperture extends through the shaft; and

one or more vanes extending from the shaft, wherein the one or more vanes are positioned between the aperture and the valve.

2. The rotary sprinkler of claim 1 further comprising a flexible top cover carried on a top of the rotary nozzle assembly.

3. The rotary sprinkler of claim 2 wherein the flexible top cover comprises a plurality of access slits that correspond to a plurality of adjustment members for the sprinkler, and at least one guide body positioned between the access slits and the adjustment members.

4. The rotary sprinkler of claim 3 wherein the guide body comprises a generally tubular body having an open top and a base having an opening, wherein a diameter of the open top is larger than a diameter of the opening in the base.

5. The rotary sprinkler of claim 4 wherein the open top of guide body is funnel-shaped.

6. A flow shut off valve for a rotary sprinkler, comprising:

a shaft having a valve positioned on a distal end of the shaft and a threaded section adjacent to the proximal end of the shaft;

an aperture positioned below the threaded section, wherein the aperture extends through the shaft; and

one or more vanes extending from the shaft, wherein the one or more vanes are positioned between the aperture and the valve.

7. The flow shut off valve of claim 6 wherein a top wall and a bottom wall of the aperture are angled to minimize turbulent water flow through the aperture.

8. The flow shut off valve of claim 7 wherein the top wall and the bottom wall of the aperture are angled towards the proximal end of the shaft.

10. The flow shut off valve of claim 7 wherein the top wall and the bottom wall of the aperture are in skewed relation.

11. The flow shut off valve of claim 7 wherein one or more vanes include tapered corners.

9. The flow shut off valve of clam 7 wherein the top wall and the bottom wall of the aperture are substantially parallel.

12. A rotary sprinkler, comprising:

(a) a drive housing including a drive mechanism for providing rotation;

(b) a rotary nozzle assembly carried on the drive housing and rotatively coupled to the drive mechanism, the rotary nozzle assembly including a water supply tube in fluid communication with the rotary nozzle assembly; and

(c) various adjustments provided in the drive mechanism and the rotary nozzle assembly for varying operation characteristics of at least one of the drive mechanism and the rotary nozzle assembly, the various adjustments being operable from a top of the rotary nozzle assembly through a top cover, wherein the top cover comprises a plurality of access slits corresponding to the various adjustments, and at least one guide body positioned between the access slits and the various adjustments.

13. The rotary sprinkler of claim 12 wherein the top cover is made of rubber.

14. The rotary sprinkler of claim 13 wherein the guide body comprises a generally tubular body having an open top and a base having an opening, wherein a diameter of the open top is larger than a diameter of the opening in the base.

15. The rotary sprinkler of claim 14 wherein the open top of the guide body is funnel-shaped.

16. A rotary sprinkler, comprising:

(a) a drive housing including a drive mechanism for providing rotation;

(b) a rotary nozzle assembly carried on the drive housing and rotatively coupled to the drive mechanism, the rotary nozzle assembly including a water supply tube in fluid communication with the rotary nozzle assembly;

(c) a flow shut off valve having at least a portion thereof extending into and through the water supply tube, wherein the flow shut off valve comprises a shaft having a valve positioned on a distal end of the shaft and a threaded section adjacent to the proximal end of the shaft;

an aperture positioned below the threaded section, wherein the aperture extends through the shaft; and

one or more vanes extending from the shaft, wherein the one or more vanes are positioned between the aperture and the valve; and

(d) various adjustments provided in the drive mechanism and the rotary nozzle assembly for varying operation characteristics of at least one of the drive mechanism and the rotary nozzle assembly, the various adjustments being operable from a top of the rotary nozzle assembly through a top cover, wherein the top cover comprises a plurality of access slits corresponding to the various adjustments, and at least one guide body positioned between the access slits and the various adjustments.

17. The rotary sprinkler of claim 16 wherein a top wall and a bottom wall of the aperture are angled to minimize turbulent water flow through the aperture.

18. The rotary sprinkler of claim 17 wherein the top wall and the bottom wall of the aperture are angled towards the proximal end of the shaft.

20. The rotary sprinkler of claim 17 wherein the top wall and the bottom wall of the aperture are in skewed relation.

21. The rotary sprinkler of claim 17 wherein one or more vanes include tapered corners.

22. The rotary sprinkler of claim 21 wherein one or more vanes have different lengths.

23. The rotary sprinkler of claim 22 wherein an edge of one or more vanes includes one or more notches.

24. The rotary sprinkler of claim 23 wherein the top cover is made of an elastomeric material.

25. The rotary sprinkler of claim 24 wherein the guide body comprises a generally tubular body having an open top and a base having an opening, wherein a diameter of the open top is larger than a diameter of the opening in the base.

26. The rotary sprinkler of claim 25 wherein the open top of the guide body is funnel-shape.

19. The rotary sprinkler of clam 17 wherein the top wall and the bottom wall of the aperture are substantially parallel.