Sprinkler assembly

• US 8,444,063 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2009
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Lichte, Leo James, Zimmerman, James, McKenzie, Jeff, Wright, James T. III, Janku, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman, Darren W
• Application Number:
  US12/608,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20100044465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 239200-206, 239/600, 239/DIG.1, 239/237, 239240-242
• US Class Current: 239/203
• 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 sprinkler comprising:

a sprinkler body having an outer wall;

an inner wall forming a central compartment disposed within said sprinkler body;

a riser having a nozzle connected to a water passage in selective communication with a water source;

said riser being disposed within said central compartment, spaced from and movable relative to said central compartment;

a plurality of body compartments surrounding a top region of said central compartment and formed from said outer wall, said inner wall, a bottom surface and a plurality of compartment sidewalls; and

,

a cover removably connected to form a top surface of said sprinkler and to cover a top opening of said plurality of body compartments.

2. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said cover encloses all of said plurality of body compartments.

3. The sprinkler of claim 2, wherein said cover further comprises an aperture through which a portion of said riser can pass through.

4. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of body compartments includes a pilot valve.

5. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said plurality of compartment side walls are removable.

6. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of body compartments includes a solenoid.

7. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said plurality of body compartments further comprise an integrally molded compartment.

8. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said outer wall has a top portion having a first diameter and a lower portion having a second diameter;

and wherein said second diameter is smaller than said first diameter.

9. The sprinkler of claim 8, wherein said plurality of body compartments are located only within said top portion.

10. A sprinkler comprising:

a sprinkler body having an outer wall;

a riser disposed within said outer wall and having a nozzle to selectively rise out of said sprinkler body;

a riser wall forming an outer circumference of said riser;

a plurality of walls connected to said outer wall so as to form a plurality of body compartments surrounding a top end of said riser wall;

said body compartments spaced apart from said riser wall; and

,

a cover removably connected to form a top surface of said sprinkler and to cover a top opening of said plurality of body compartments.

11. The sprinkler of claim 10, wherein said cover encloses all of said plurality of body compartments.

12. The sprinkler of claim 10, wherein said outer wall has a top portion having a first diameter and a lower portion having a second diameter;

and wherein said second diameter is smaller than said first diameter.

13. The sprinkler of claim 12, wherein said plurality of body compartments are located only within said top portion.

14. The sprinkler of claim 10, wherein said plurality of walls are removable.

15. The sprinkler of claim 10, wherein at least one of said plurality of body compartments comprises a solenoid.

16. The sprinkler of claim 10, wherein said plurality of body compartments include at least two compartments of different sizes.

23. The sprinkler of claim 10, wherein at least some of said plurality of body compartments each encompass different radial portions of said sprinkler body.

17. A sprinkler comprising:

a sprinkler body having an outer wall;

a riser disposed within said outer wall and having a nozzle coupled to a water passage to selectively rise out of said sprinkler body;

an inner wall located around and positioned away from a perimeter of said riser, forming a compartment space;

a plurality of walls connected to said outer wall and said inner wall so as to form a plurality of body compartments within said compartment space and having a top opening at a top of said sprinkler; and

,

a cover removably connected to form a top surface of said sprinkler and to cover said plurality of body compartments.

18. The sprinkler of claim 17, wherein said cover encloses all of said plurality of body compartments.

19. The sprinkler of claim 18, wherein each of said plurality of compartments further comprise a plurality of removable inserts.

20. The sprinkler of claim 17, wherein at least one of said plurality of body compartments further comprises either a solenoid or a pilot valve.

21. The sprinkler of claim 17, wherein said plurality of body compartments have varying sizes.

22. The sprinkler of claim 17, wherein at least some of said plurality of body compartments each encompass different radial portions of said sprinkler body.