Automatic water inlet switching device for an oscillating sprinkler

• US 7,422,162 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yuan MEI Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yuan MEI Corporation
• Inventors: Lo, Shun Nan, Wang, King Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): MCGRAW, TREVOR EDWIN
• Application Number:
  US11/349,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20070119978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 239/240, 239/242, 239/262.2, 239/262.3, 239/262.4
• US Class Current: 239/242
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0436 by reversing the direction of rotation of the rotor itself
• 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

The present invention relates to an automatic water inlet switching device for an oscillating sprinkler that has a sprinkle control unit having a blade equipped gear transmission set housed therein, working together with a water inlet switching device having an operation unit and a movable swinging seat. The bottom of the movable swinging seat is provided with two water stop ends in opposite to two outlet holes defined on a coupling unit with a concaved bounded space placed at the center thereof. An action stick of the operation unit is operable inside the bounded space so that in the water inlet switching operation the swinging angle of the action stick is limited within the bounded space and the action stick will move against the push end thereof so as to produce a built-up force to instantaneously spring away the movable swinging seat no matter what the water pressure is high or low in operation.

Claims

1. An automatic water inlet switching device for an oscillating sprinkler comprising a sprinkle control unit which drives a sprinkle means to produce angular swinging movement;

said sprinkle control unit having a blade-equipped gear transmission set housed therein and working together with a water inlet switching device having an operation unit and a movable swinging seat;

said movable swinging seat being provided with two water stop ends at the bottom thereof, in opposite to two water outlet ports defined on a coupling unit and one of said water outlet ports being selectively blocked by one of said water stop ends in operation; and

a concaved bounded space having push faces defined therein and placed at the center of the top of said movable swinging seat to operate in cooperation with an actuation stick of the operation unit which comprises an drive rod in connection to said actuation stick operable inside said bounded space so as to move in linkage with said actuation stick;

whereby as said sprinkle unit swings to a limiting position set up by a restraint connector in the water inlet switching operation the swinging angle of said actuation stick is limited within said bounded space and said actuation stick will move against said push face of said bounded space so as to gradually produce a built-up force to instantaneously spring away said movable swinging seat whether the water pressure is in high or low operation.

2. The automatic water inlet switching device for an oscillating sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coupling unit is equipped with a pair of vertical boards each having a restraint groove with a pivot stop defined at a U-shaped bottom end of each said restrain groove;

said two water outlet ports being disposed between said two vertical boards and said movable swinging seat being provided with a pivot protrusion on each side so as to permit said pivot protrusion to be guided along said restraint grooves on said vertical boards and pivotally held in place by said pivot stops whereby said movable swinging seat can be swung back and forth to selectively block one of said water outlet ports accordingly.

3. The automatic water inlet switching device for an oscillating sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operation unit is made of plastics.

4. The automatic water inlet switching device for an oscillating sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operation unit is equipped with a taper section at the middle thereof whereby a sealing ring can be led through said operation unit and is in urging contact against said taper section for sealing purpose.

5. The automatic water inlet switching device for an oscillating sprinkler as claimed in claim 4 wherein said taper section is provided with a reinforcement root at each of two parallel sides at the bottom thereof.

6. The automatic water inlet switching device for an oscillating sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable swinging seat is provided with a narrow bounded space and a wide operation space defined at the top of said movable swinging seat with a low push face and a high push face on each two opposite sides thereof respectively;

said actuation stick is of a flat flexible plate and is integrally formed with said operation unit and said actuation stick placed in said operation space of said movable swinging seat with its tip end in urging contact with one of said low push faces and working with said restraint connector to pivot one of said water stop ends of said movable swinging seat to seal one of said water outlet ports and to keep the other water outlet port in an open state.

7. The automatic water inlet switching device for an oscillating sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operation unit is equipped with a spring engagement post at the bottom of said drive rod for the mounting of a spring means which serves as an actuation stick means.

8. The automatic water inlet switching device for an oscillating sprinkler as claimed in claim 7 wherein a taper section is defined between said drive rod and said spring engagement post with a sealing ring in sealing engagement with said taper section for sealing purpose.

9. The automatic water inlet switching device for an oscillating sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operation unit is equipped with a vertical slot opening with said actuation stick positioned at the center of said slot opening and an end of said actuation stick in contact engagement with said bounded space of said movable swinging seat.

10. The automatic water inlet switching device for an oscillating sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operation unit is equipped with a vertical slot opening and said actuation stick extends from said bounded space of said movable swinging seat and is in contact engagement with said vertical slot opening of said operation unit.