Sprinkler assembly

• US 8,746,591 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• 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:
  US13/718,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20130105604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 239200-207, 239240-242, 239/583, 239/600, 239/DIG.1, 251/82, 251/83, 251/142, 251/149, 251/149.1, 251/149.6, 251/149.9, 137/614, 137/614.06
• 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;

a main valve located within said sprinkler body and having an open position that allows water to flow through said sprinkler body and having a closed position that prevents water from flowing through said sprinkler body;

a communication passage connected to a chamber of said main valve;

a check valve coupled to said communication passage;

a pilot valve removably mounted to open said check valve and removable to close said check valve.

2. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said check valve comprises a biased valve member.

3. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said check valve comprises a valve member shaped as a disk, a ball, leaflet member, a duck-bill valve member, or a conical member.

4. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said pilot valve further comprises a nozzle tip having a main opening at an end of said nozzle tip and a secondary port located on a side of said nozzle tip.

5. The sprinkler of claim 4, wherein said secondary port has a circular shape or an arch shape that connects with said main opening.

6. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said check valve comprises a valve member spring-biased to prevent passage of water.

7. The sprinkler of claim 1, further comprising a rib member located on an outer surface of said sprinkler body and supporting a communication tube forming part of said communication passage.

8. The sprinkler of claim 7, wherein said rib member fills a space between said communication tube and said sprinkler body.

9. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said communication passage further comprises a communication tube that is engaged with said check valve.

10. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said check valve is selectively removable from said sprinkler.

11. A sprinkler comprising:

a sprinkler body;

a main valve located within said sprinkler body and having an open position that allows water to flow through said sprinkler body and having a closed position that prevents water from flowing through said sprinkler body;

a communication passage connected to said main valve;

a check valve coupled to said communication passage; and

,

a pilot valve engaged with said check valve so as to maintain said check valve in an open position;

said check valve closing upon disengagement of said pilot valve from said check valve.

12. The sprinkler of claim 11, wherein said check valve is a ball valve, leaflet valve, duck-bill valve, or a disk valve.

13. The sprinkler of claim 11, wherein said communication passage is at least partially composed of a communication tube that extends outside of said sprinkler body.

14. The sprinkler of claim 13, wherein said communication tube is composed of a rigid material.

15. The sprinkler of claim 14, wherein said communication tube is composed of stainless steel.

16. The sprinkler of claim 11, wherein said pilot valve and said check valve are located in a sprinkler compartment accessible from a top of said sprinkler body.