Sprinkler assembly

• US 9,889,458 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• 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, III, James T., Janku, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman, Darren W
• Application Number:
  US15/456,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20170239677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• 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 main valve located within said sprinkler body;

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

said body compartment having a compartment wall separating said body compartment into a first sub compartment and a second sub compartment;

a cover that is removably disposed over said body compartment;

a pilot valve located within said first sub compartment and configured to open and close said main valve; and

,

an electronics module located within said second sub compartment.

2. The sprinkler of claim 1, further comprising a solenoid located in said first sub compartment;

said solenoid being coupled to said pilot valve.

3. The sprinkler of claim 2, wherein said solenoid is operationally connected to said electronics module.

4. The sprinkler of claim 3, wherein said electronics module communicates water flow control signals to said solenoid so as to open or close said main valve.

5. The sprinkler of claim 4, wherein a check valve is at least partially located in said first sub compartment and configured to open when said pilot valve is connected to it and configured to close when said pilot valve is removed from it.

6. The sprinkler of claim 5, wherein said body compartment extends completely, radially around said riser assembly.

7. The sprinkler of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle position sensor configured to sense a radial position of said nozzle.

8. The sprinkler of claim 7, wherein said nozzle position sensor further comprises a magnet and a magnet sensor.

9. The sprinkler of claim 1, further comprising a communication tube connecting between a check valve within said body compartment and an inner chamber of said main valve, and a rib extending radially out from said lower side of said sprinkler body, and further filling a space between said communication tube and a lower side of said sprinkler body.

10. 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 main valve located within said sprinkler body;

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

said body compartment having a radially inner wall and a radially outer wall;

said body compartment further having a first compartment wall, a second compartment wall, and a third compartment wall, that each extend between said radially inner wall and said radially outer wall, thereby creating a first sub compartment, a second sub compartment, and a third sub compartment within said body compartment;

a cover that is removably disposed over said body compartment;

a pilot valve located within said first sub compartment and configured to open and close said main valve; and

,

an electronics module located within said second sub compartment.

11. The sprinkler of claim 10, further comprising a solenoid located in said first sub compartment;

said solenoid being coupled to said pilot valve.

12. The sprinkler of claim 11, wherein said solenoid is operationally connected to said electronics module.

13. The sprinkler of claim 12, wherein said electronics module communicates water flow control signals to said solenoid so as to open or close said main valve.

14. The sprinkler of claim 13, wherein a check valve is at least partially located in said first sub compartment and configured to open when said pilot valve is connected to it and configured to close when said pilot valve is removed from it.

15. The sprinkler of claim 14, wherein said body compartment extends completely, radially around said riser assembly.

16. The sprinkler of claim 10, further comprising a nozzle position sensor configured to sense a radial position of said nozzle.

17. The sprinkler of claim 16, wherein said nozzle position sensor further comprises a magnet and a magnet sensor.

18. The sprinkler of claim 10, further comprising a communication tube connecting between a check valve within said body compartment and an inner chamber of said main valve, and a rib extending radially out from said lower side of said sprinkler body, and further filling a space between said communication tube and a lower side of said sprinkler body.

19. 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 main valve located within said sprinkler body;

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

said body compartment having a radially inner wall and a radially outer wall;

said body compartment further having a first compartment wall, a second compartment wall, and a third compartment wall, that each extend between said radially inner wall and said radially outer wall, thereby creating a first sub compartment, a second sub compartment, and a third subcompartment within said body compartment;

a cover that is removably disposed over said body compartment;

a pilot valve located within said first sub compartment and configured to open and close said main valve;

a solenoid located within said first sub compartment and connected to said pilot valve;

an electronics module located within said second sub compartment and operatively connected to said solenoid so as cause electrical activation of said solenoid.