Sprinkler assembly

• US 9,242,255 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• 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:
  US14/299,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20140284401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 riser assembly;

positioned in said sprinkler body;

moving into, out of, and rotationally, relative to said sprinkler body; and

,

having a nozzle through which water flows during operation of said sprinkler;

a body compartment located between an outer wall of said sprinkler body and said riser assembly;

said body compartment extending entirely around a riser wall of said riser assembly and being configured to house a removable pilot valve; and

,

a top of said sprinkler body having a cover which is removable to allow access to said body compartment;

said top of said sprinkler body said cover terminating at an outer circumferential edge of said outer wall of said sprinkler body such that said cover does not extend beyond said outer wall and that an outer surface of said top of said sprinkler body remains uniform in diameter.

2. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said sprinkler body has a profile with a uniform top portion and a reduced diameter bottom portion.

3. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said body compartment further comprises a plurality of walls that extend from said outer wall of said sprinkler body so as to create a plurality of sub-compartments.

4. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said body compartment is disposed around said riser assembly and which, when closed, is sealed off from said riser assembly.

5. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said body compartment comprises a plurality of sub-compartments.

6. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said cover has an aperture through which the riser assembly extends through during operation of said sprinkler.

7. The sprinkler of claim 1, further comprising a rib along an outer surface of said outer wall of said sprinkler body;

said rib supporting a communication tube extending between said body compartment and a bottom portion of said sprinkler.

8. A sprinkler comprising:

a sprinkler body having an upper region and a bottom region;

a riser assembly;

positioned in said sprinkler body;

moving vertically and rotationally relative to said sprinkler body; and

,

having a nozzle ejecting water during operation of said sprinkler;

a body compartment located completely around said riser assembly and remaining enclosed during irrigation by said sprinkler;

a top of said sprinkler body terminating at an outer wall of said sprinkler body such that said upper region of said sprinkler body is uniform in diameter;

wherein said body compartment contains a removable pilot valve;

said pilot valve being accessible by removing a cover located over said body compartment.

9. The sprinkler of claim 8, wherein said bottom region of said sprinkler body has a smaller diameter than said upper region of said sprinkler body.

10. The sprinkler of claim 8, wherein said cover portion is shaped to entirely cover said body compartment.

11. The sprinkler of claim 8, wherein said body compartment is located between said outer wall of said sprinkler body and said riser assembly.

12. The sprinkler of claim 11, wherein said body compartment is separately enclosed from said riser assembly.

13. The sprinkler of claim 8, wherein said body compartment further comprises a check valve that is selectively connectable to said removable pilot valve.

14. A sprinkler comprising:

a sprinkler body including an outer wall and a top surface;

said sprinkler body having a profile with a uniform outer diameter top portion and a reduced diameter bottom portion;

a riser assembly positioned in said sprinkler body so as to move vertically and rotationally relative to said sprinkler body;

a body compartment located between a wall of said riser assembly and said outer wall of said sprinkler;

said body compartment extending entirely around said wall of said riser assembly and remaining closed during irrigation by said sprinkler; and

,

a rib located along an outer surface of said sprinkler body;

said rib supporting a communication tube extending between a pilot valve and a main valve which are both located within said sprinkler body.

15. The sprinkler of claim 14, wherein said top surface further comprises a cover, removable to access said body compartment.

16. The sprinkler of claim 15, wherein said body compartment further comprises a plurality of sub-compartments, at least one of which being configured to contain a pilot valve.

17. The sprinkler of claim 14, wherein said body compartment is sized and configured for housing a pilot valve, and being user-accessible through a top of said sprinkler.