Sprinkler assembly

• US 7,631,813 B1
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Wright, James T. III, Janku, Peter, Zimmerman, James, McKenzie, Jeff, Lichte, Leo James
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman; Darren W
• Application Number:
  US11/303,328
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 239/11, 239/63, 239/64, 239/67, 239/69, 239/71, 239/73, 239/200, 239/201, 239203-206, 239/225.1, 239/263.1, 239/DIG.1, 239/DIG.15, 700/283, 700/284
• US Class Current: 239/11
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/00 Self-acting watering devices, e.g. for flower-pots
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3006 the controlling element being actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed B05B11/0062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/70 Arrangements for moving spray heads automatically to or from the working position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/74 driven by the discharged fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/0454 relative to the angular position of the outlet or to the direction of rotation of the outlet, e.g. for spraying non circular areas
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 43/006 the auxiliary valve being held open by the main valve
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/142 using Hall-effect devices measuring magnetic variables using Hall-effect or other galvanomagnetic devices G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/01 Pattern sprinkler
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/15 Sprinkler systems with controls

Abstract

The present invention includes an improved sprinkler design having a magnetic sensing system for determining the position of the riser nozzle, a waterproofed motor housing and related cables, configurable sprinkler body compartments, and a pilot valve with a check valve assembly, both of which are located within the sprinkler body.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a sprinkler comprising:

providing a sprinkler body having a riser assembly which is vertically movable within said sprinkler body and at least a portion of which is rotatable relative to said sprinkler body, said riser assembly including a nozzle;

providing an X and Y axis reference device on said riser;

sensing X and Y data from said X and Y axis reference device;

comparing said X and Y data with reference X and Y data and thereby determining orientation information of said riser assembly; and

,

delivering water through said riser and said riser assembly, out said nozzle, according to the determination of said orientation information of said riser assembly.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the providing of an X and Y axis reference device includes providing a dipole magnet.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said sensing of X and Y data includes sensing X and Y information from said dipole magnet with a two axis magnetic sensor.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said sensing of X and Y data includes sensing X and Y information from said dipole magnet with a two axis magnetic sensor which is offset from an axis of said dipole magnet.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determining of orientation information of said riser includes determining an angular location of said nozzle.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determining of orientation information of said riser assembly includes determining a vertical location of said riser.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determining of orientation information of said riser assembly includes determining rotational angular direction of movement of said riser assembly.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determining of orientation information of said riser assembly includes determining rotational angular speed of said riser assembly.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determining of orientation information of said riser includes determining a geographical orientation of said riser assembly relative to the earth'"'"'s magnetic north pole.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising generating said reference X and Y data by conducting a calibration event.

11. A method according to claim 6, wherein the determining of a vertical location of said riser includes sensing a magnitude of said X and Y data and comparing said data with threshold reference data indicative of a vertical position of said riser.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sensing of X and Y data includes sensing two sine waves wherein said two sine waves are offset by ninety degrees.

13. A method of watering comprising:

providing a sprinkler body with a nozzle assembly therein;

providing a nozzle assembly monitoring system within said sprinkler body;

determining a rotational position of said nozzle assembly with said nozzle assembly monitoring system;

determining a vertical position of said nozzle assembly with said nozzle assembly monitoring system;

providing water to a nozzle within said nozzle assembly;

electronically rotating said nozzle assembly with an electric motor located in said sprinkler body;

detecting said nozzle assembly position at an end of a watering arc with said nozzle assembly monitoring system;

stopping electronically rotating said nozzle assembly after said nozzle assembly has rotated to said end of said watering arc; and

stopping providing said water to said nozzle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining a rotational position of said nozzle assembly and said determining a vertical position of said nozzle assembly further comprise sensing X and Y data from an X and Y axis reference device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining an orientation of said nozzle assembly relative to the earth'"'"'s magnetic north pole.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising sensing of X and Y data from a dipole magnet with a two axis magnetic sensor.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining rotational angular speed of said nozzle assembly.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising sensing two sine waves wherein said two sine waves are offset by ninety degrees.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining a vertical position of said nozzle assembly further comprises detecting if said nozzle assembly is position selected from the following group:

a fully raised position, a partially raised position or a fully retracted position.