U.S. patent number 3,854,664 [Application Number 05/405,690] was granted by the patent office on 1974-12-17 for sprinkler systems.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Toro Company. Invention is credited to Edwin J. Hunter.
United States Patent |
3,854,664 |
Hunter |
December 17, 1974 |
**Please see images for:
( Reexamination Certificate ) ** |
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
Abstract
Improvements in sprinkler systems having fluid under pressure
flowing therethrough and a sprinkler head with a pop-up nozzle
actuated by fluid pressure. An impeller is actuated by the fluid
flow to rotate the nozzle and thus rotate the spray of fluid
therefrom. A transmission is disposed between the impeller and the
nozzle for transmitting rotation of the impeller to the nozzle. The
transmission is sealed off from the fluid passing through the
system by a resilient expandable diaphragm at one end. A fluid
pressure responsive seal is provided in the system in sealing
engagement with the nozzle. The sealed-off portion of the
transmission is completely filled with a lubricating medium which
is free to selectively contract or expand against the diaphragm in
response to varying ambient conditions encountered by the sprinkler
head. The nozzle may also include means for varying the pattern of
the sprayed fluid and may be comprised of molded plastic components
which may be assembled together.
Inventors: |
Hunter; Edwin J. (Rancho Santa
Fe, CA) |
Assignee: |
The Toro Company (San Marcos,
CA)
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Family
ID: |
26994862 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/405,690 |
Filed: |
October 11, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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346445 |
Mar 30, 1973 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
239/206;
239/DIG.1; 239/240 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B
3/0422 (20130101); B05B 15/74 (20180201); Y10S
239/01 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B05B
15/10 (20060101); B05B 15/10 (20060101); B05B
15/00 (20060101); B05B 15/00 (20060101); B05B
3/02 (20060101); B05B 3/02 (20060101); B05B
3/04 (20060101); B05B 3/04 (20060101); B05b
003/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/201,203,204,206,237,240 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wood, Jr.; M. Henson
Assistant Examiner: Mar; Michael
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 346,445, filed Mar.
30, 1973.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a sprinkler system having fluid under pressure flowing
therethrough, and a sprinkler head operatively connected to said
system having a nozzle for dispersing said fluid therefrom, the
improvement which comprises:
impeller means associated with said head operatively engaging said
nozzle for rotating said nozzle in response to said fluid passing
through said system, said impeller means including transmission
means for transmitting movement of said impeller to said nozzle,
said transmission means being sealed off from engagement by said
fluid at one end by an expandable diaphragm separating said
transmission means from said fluid and closed-off in a fluid-tight
manner at the other end and a lubricating medium completely filling
the sealed-off portion of said transmission means, said lubricating
medium being free to selectively contract or expand thereby
displacing said diaphragm in response to varying ambient conditions
encountered by said sprinkler head.
2. In the sprinkler system of claim 1 wherein the lubricating
medium is of a differing coefficient of expansion than the
materials comprising said transmission means.
3. In the sprinkler system of claim 1 wherein said transmission
means includes reduction gearing means disposed in said sealed-off
portion and in operative engagement with said impeller means for
transmitting rapid rotation of said impeller means to slow rotation
of said nozzle.
4. In the sprinkler system of claim 1 wherein screening means is
disposed in said sprinkler head adapted to screen fluid entering
said system before said fluid contacts said impeller means.
5. In the sprinkler system of claim 4 wherein said screening means
includes a screen member encircling said impeller means, said
screen member having a plurality of openings therein for screening
fluids passing therethrough.
6. In the sprinkler system of claim 4 wherein said screening means
includes a screening member disposed within said sprinkler head in
contact with said fluid entering therein, said screening member
having a main central imperforate body portion and a plurality of
radially outwardly extending upstanding ribs, said ribs forming
generally triangular openings between adjacent ribs, said
triangular openings tapering from said central body portion
outwardly to the periphery of said screening member forming a
plurality of peripheral spaced openings disposed about the
periphery of said screening member and in fluid communication with
the spaces between adjacent ribs, the portion of said screening
member between said peripheral openings and said central body
portion also being imperforate.
7. In the sprinkler system of claim 1 wherein said nozzle includes
a first nozzle cap portion operatively connected to said impeller
means and rotatable thereby, and a main nozzle body having a
plurality of passageways extending therethrough, said passageways
having openings leading into said passageways for receiving fluid
from said impeller means and orifices leading from said
passageways, for spraying fluid therefrom, and means associated
with both said nozzle cap portion and said main nozzle body for
transmitting rotation of said nozzle cap portion by said impeller
means to said main nozzle body.
8. In the sprinkler system of claim 1 wherein said main nozzle body
includes an upper nozzle body portion and a lower nozzle body
portion, three sides of said passageways extending through said
upper nozzle body portion and leading into said orifices with said
orifices open on one side thereof and the fourth side of said
passageways and the closing-off of said orifices being formed by
the interengagement of said upper and lower nozzle body portions,
guide means associated with both of said nozzle body portions for
guiding said nozzle body portions into interengagement in a manner
whereby said fourth sides closes off said passageways and said
orifices in said upper nozzle body portion in a fluid-tight manner,
and said openings being disposed on said lower nozzle body
portion.
9. In the sprinkler system of claim 8 wherein said upper and lower
nozzle body portions are welded together.
10. In the sprinkler system of claim 7 wherein said openings are
generally trapezoidal in cross-section.
11. In the sprinkler system of claim 7 wherein said openings are
generally rectangular in cross-section.
12. In a sprinkler system having fluid under pressure flowing
therethrough, and a sprinkler head operatively connected to said
system having a nozzle for dispersing said fluid therefrom, said
nozzle having a plurality of passageways extending completely
therethrough, the improvement which comprises:
impeller means associated with said head operatively engaging said
nozzle for rotating said nozzle in response to said fluid passing
through said system, said impeller means enclosed by a housing
having an upper portion and an open lower end for receiving said
fluid therein, and sealing means disposed between the upper portion
of said housing and said nozzle for preventing fluid entering said
housing from passing between the upper portion of said housing and
said nozzle while permitting said fluid to flow out of the
passageways in said nozzle, said sealing means being adapted upon
application of fluid under pressure to increase the pressure
between it and said nozzle and the upper portion of said
housing.
13. In the sprinkler system of claim 12 wherein said impeller means
includes transmission means therein for transmitting movement of
said impeller means to said nozzle, said transmission means being
enclosed by a second housing, and an expandable diaphragm seal
disposed within said second housing between said impeller means and
said transmission means.
14. In the sprinkler system of claim 12 further including template
means associated with said sprinkler head disposed between said
nozzle and said sealing means adapted to set a predetermined
pattern of spray of fluid under pressure from said nozzle.
15. In the sprinkler sytem of claim 14 wherein said template means
is a metallic disc having aperture means therein shaped for
providing said predetermined pattern of spray in a fluid
communication with the fluid entering said sprinkler head and in
selective fluid communication with the passageways of said
nozzle.
16. In the sprinkler system of claim 15 wherein the upper portion
of said housing includes an inwardly extending flange having a
downwardly extending lip thereon, and said sealing means includes a
resilient ring member having a first generally upright portion and
an integral generally horizontally extending flange portion, the
intersection of both of said portions forming a lip bearing against
the underside of said disc with a first space formed between the
lip of said housing and the upright portion of said ring member and
a second space formed between said flange portion and the flange of
the upper portion of said housing.
17. A sprinkler head comprising:
an outer housing;
an inner housing coaxially mounted therein and moveable from a
first position within said outer housing to a second position
extended from said outer housing;
a nozzle rotatably mounted at the upper end of said inner housing
having a plurality of radiating fluid discharge passageways opening
beyond said outer housing when said inner housing is extended out
of said outer housing, said passageways being in fluid
communication with the interior of said inner housing;
biasing means operatively engaging said inner housing for biasing
said inner housing to its first position; and
impeller means associated with said inner housing in operative
engagement with said nozzle for transmitting rotation of said
impeller means to said nozzle, said impeller means including
transmission means disposed within said inner housing, said
transmission means being adapted to convert rapid rotation of said
impeller means to slower rotation of said nozzle, said transission
means having a portion sealed-off from the atmosphere with an
expandable diaphragm disposed between said sealed-off portion and
said impeller means, and a lubricating medium completely filling
said sealed-off portion, said lubricting medium being free to
selectively contract or expand thereby displacing said diaphragm in
response to varying ambient conditions.
18. The sprinkler head of claim 17 wherein said lubricating medium
has a differing coefficient of expansion than the coefficient of
expansion of the internal portions of said sealed-off portion.
19. In a sprinkler having a head mounting a nozzle for dispersing
fluid through said head and out of said nozzle and impeller means
associated with said head operatively engaging said nozzle for
rotating said nozzle in response to said fluid passing through said
head, said impeller means including transmission means for
transmitting movement of said impeller means to said nozzle, the
improvement comprising:
sealing means for sealing off at least a portion of said
transmission means from engagement by said fluid including a
displaceable member separating said transmission means sealed-off
portion from said fluid; and
a lubricating medium completely filling the sealedoff portion of
said transmission means, said lubricating medium being free to
selectively contract or expand and thereby displace said member in
response to varying ambient conditions encountered by said
sprinkler.
20. In the sprinkler of claim 19, wherein said displaceable member
is an expandable diaphragm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
The invention relates to sprinkler systems; and, more particularly,
to improvements in sprinklers used in such systems wherein water
under pressure causes the sprinkler head and nozzle thereof to
pop-up to disperse water therefrom.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In both commercial and residential water sprinkling systems, it has
been conventional in the past to employ means for selectively
opening and closing remotely located automatically operated water
line valves to selectively operate sprinklers in various areas of
such systems.
In my U.S. Pat. No. 2,909,325, I disclosed a sprinkler system
wherein sprinkler heads of the pop-up type are utilized. In this
system, a small water turbine wheel rotating at relatively high
speed effects slow rotation of the sprinkler nozzle means. The
instant application is an improvement over the sprinkler head of
the aforementioned patent and discloses improved means for
dispersing the water therefrom, for transmitting rotating from the
turbine wheel to the sprinkler nozzle means, and discloses
generally improved sealing means so that leakage or the like is
prevented therefrom and dirt cannot enter such sprinkler heads in a
manner rendering them inoperative. Further, a unique method of
lubricating the internal parts is also disclosed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved means for
dispersing fluid under pressure from the sprinkler head of a
sprinkler system.
It is a further object of this invention to provide improved means
for converting fast rotation of an impeller actuated by fluid under
pressure in such sprinkler heads to slow rotation of the nozzle
thereof.
It is an even further object of this invention to provide a sytem
which allows for changes in ambient conditions encountered by such
sprinkler heads which changes may interfere with the operating
parts thereof.
It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved
sprinkler head which admits water under pressure and sprays the
water therefrom, yet seals out dirt or the like which could
interfere with the operation thereof.
It is even another object of this invention to provide an improved
sprinkler head, the components of which can be easily and
economically manufactured, then preassembled into subassemblies
which can be quickly and easily connected together.
These and other objects are preferably accomplished by providing a
sprinkler head having a pop-up nozzle actuated by fluid pressure.
An impeller is actuated by the fluid flow to rotate the nozzle and
thus vary the spray pattern therefrom. A transmission is disposed
between the impeller and the nozzle for transmitting rotation of
the impeller to the nozzle. The transmission is sealed-off from the
fluid passing through the system by a resilient expandable
diaphragm at one end a fluid pressure responsive seal is provided
in the system in sealing engagement with the nozzle. The sealed-off
portion of the transmission is completely filled with a lubricating
medium which is free to selectively contract or expand against the
diaphragm in response to varying ambient conditions encountered by
the sprinkler head. The nozzle may also include means for varying
the pattern of the sprayed fluid and may be comprised of molded
plastic components which may be assembled together to form the
nozzle passages. In addition, varying types of screening means may
be provided for screening fluid entering the sprinkler head.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a water valve
apparatus in accordance with my invention;
FIG. 2 is a horizontal view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken
therein along the plane II--II;
FIG. 3 is a horizontal view, partly in section, of the apparatus of
FIG. 1 taken therein along the plane III--III;
FIG. 4 is a horizontal view, partly in section, of the apparatus of
FIG. 1 taken therein along the plane IV--IV;
FIG. 5 is a horizontal view, partly in section, of the apparatus of
FIG. 1 taken therein along the plane V--V;
FIG. 6 is a horizontal view, partly in section, of the apparatus of
FIG. 1 taken therein along the plane VI--VI;
FIG. 7 is a horizontal view, partly in section, of the apparatus of
FIG. 1 taken therein along the plane VII--VII;
FIG. 8 is a detailed sectional view of a portion of the sealing
means of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the subassembly of a
portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is a partial sectional elevational view of a modification
of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a partial horizontal view, partly in section, of the
apparatus of FIG. 10 taken therein along the plane XI--XI;
FIG. 12 is a partial horizontal view, partly in section, of the
apparatus of FIG. 10 taken therein along the plane XII--XII;
and
FIG. 13 is a partial horizontal view, partly in section, of a
modification of the portion of the apparatus of FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a sprinkler head 10 is shown
having an outer generally cylindrical housing 11 and a coaxially
mounted generally cylindrical inner housing 12. Housing 11 is
reduced at its lower end and internally screw-threaded to form a
water inlet 13. A water supply line 14 is screw-threaded therein as
shown. The upper end of housing 11 is open and includes
screw-threads 15 on the upper outer periphery thereof. A cap 16,
having a downwardly extending marginal flange 17 with threads 18 on
the inner periphery thereof, is screw-threaded onto threads 15 as
shown.
The inner housing 12 is a riser slidably mounted within outer
housing 11 and is arranged to protrude from cap 16 as shown in the
dotted lines. A channelled ring member 19 is disposed below cap 16
and includes a generally vertical cylindrical wall 20 with housing
12 slidable therealong. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the upper surface
of cap 16 is bevelled as at 21 to form a cavity or the like for
seating a nozzle cap ring 22 (See also FIG. 9). A nozzle cap 23
seats on ring 22 and includes a downwardly extending tubular
portion 24 having an axial passageway 25 extending
therethrough.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, the underside of cap 23 is configured so
that it makes a tight seal with ring 22 but leaves a space 25a
between ring 22, cap 23 and the top of nozzle 26. As will be
discussed further hereinbelow, nozzle 26 includes a plurality of
spaced passageways 27 (See also FIG. 9) communicating at the bottom
with the interior of housing 12 and at the top with the outer
periphery 26a of nozzle 26 (See also FIG. 9).
A dimple 28 is formed on the upper surface of nozzle 26 extending a
short distance into space 25. A downwardly extending dimple 29 is
also provided on the underside of cap 23. This dimple 29 is also
spaced from the upper surface of nozzle 26 so that no interference
therebetween is present. As cap 23 is rotated, as will be explained
further hereinbelow, dimple 29 engages dimple 28 to transmit
rotation to nozzle 26. It can be seen in FIG. 9 that elements 22,
23 and 26 may be quickly and easily snap-fit together to form a
nozzle subassembly of the head of FIG. 1.
The underside of nozzle 26 abuts against the top 30 of inner
housing 12. In this manner, the downward extent of nozzle 26 is
prevented by engagement with top 30.
Transmission means for imparting rotation to cap 23 is disposed
within sprinkler head 10 and includes a transmission housing 31
mounted generally coaxially within inner housing 12.
A peripheral flange 32, having a downwardly extending lip portion
33, is integral with the inner wall 34 of inner housing 12. As can
be seen in FIG. 1, an apertured disc 35 (See also FIG. 6) is
disposed between the bottom of nozzle 26 and the top of flange 32.
Means for sealing these members in the form of a resilient sealing
ring member 36, the exact structure of which will be described
further hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 8, is disposed between the
underside of disc 35 and the top of flange 32 (and also the outer
surface of lip portion 33 as shown).
Screening means in the form of a generally cylindrical screen
member 37, having a plurality of openings 38 therein, is mounted in
sprinkler head 10 between the outer wall 38a of inner housing 12
and the inner wall 39 of outer housing 11. Screen member 37 may
include a plurality of horizontally and peripherally extending ribs
40 as shown and ring member 19 may include a peripheral channel 41
or the like separated by a divider wall 41a, for receiving in one
side thereof the upper end 42 of screen member 37 in close-fitting
relationship. Ring member 41 is preferably of a yieldable material,
such as plastic or the like, so that when the inner housing 12 is
retracted into sprinkler head 10, the ring member 41 acts as a seal
between cap 16 and cap ring 22. Thus, when head 10 is inactive, low
pressure water is prevented from seeping out of the head 10 and
dirt is excluded from entering. Ring member 41 also wipes clean the
outer wall 38a of inner housing 12 when it is retracted back into
head 10.
As shown in FIG. 4, the inner wall 39 of outer housing 11 may
include longitudinally extending spaced splines 43 of the like for
receiving notches 44 or the like on the upper end 42 of screen
member 37 so that rotation is prevented between screen member 37
and housing 11 and the screen member 37 is properly aligned
therein.
The lower end 45 of screen member 37 is generally conically shaped
as shown terminating in a rib 46. Rib 46, as shown in FIG. 3,
extends transverse of the interior of housing 11 and abuts against
the upper end 47 of inlet 13. Finally, a return spring 48 is
interposed between the other side of channel 41 of bearing member
19 and a peripheral lip portion 49, having an upstanding portion 60
forming a channel 51 or the like, integral with the bottom of inner
housing 12. Spring 48 thus urges inner housing 12 from its
retracted position in FIG. 1 to its extended position (indicated by
the dotted lines at the top of sprinkler head 10 in FIG. 1).
As shown in FIg. 4, the inner wall 52 of screen member 37 may also
have one or more longitudinally extending splines 53 for engaging
notches 54 formed on the outer periphery of the upstanding portion
50 of inner housing 12 for keying the inner housing 12 to its
proper non-rotating position within screen member 37.
A more complete description of the operation of sprinkler head 10
will be given further hereinbelow. However, for convenience of
illustration, fluid, such as water, enters inlet 13, as indicated
by arrow 55, passes into the space 56 formed between the bottom of
the lower end 45 of screen member 37 as indicated by arrow 57, then
enters the space 58 formed between the outer wall 38 of screen
member 37 and the inner wall 39 of housing 11.
As indicated by arrow 59, the fluid then enters openings 38 in
screen member 37 and enters, as indicated by arrow 60, upwardly
into the interior of inner housing 12.
The means for impelling fluids entering inner housing 12 as
indicated by arrow 60 and out of the top thereof will now be
described. Such means may include an inverted apertured cup member
61 having a bottom peripheral lip portion 62 adapted to abut the
top surface 63 of the lower end 45 of screen member 37. Cup member
61 includes a generally cylindrical wall 64 press-fitting into the
bottom of inner housing 12. The aperture 65 at the top of cup
member 61 is closed off by a dish-shaped member 66 integral
therewith. The peripheral wall 67 forming aperture 65 includes a
plurality of spaced openings 68, which may be either circular in
cross-section, as shown in FIG. 4, or square, or any other suitable
configuration through which fluid exits as indicated by arrow 68a.
Transmission housing 31 is mounted within inner housing 12 as
previously described and carries a rotor 69 having a plurality of
impeller blades 70 spaced thereabout (See FIG. 4) at its lower end.
The plane of these blades 70 may be angled from the vertical (i.e.,
inclined) to assit in the impelling of fluids striking such blades
70. Rotor 69 includes a generally centrally located apertured boss
71 or the like for receiving a pin 72 in tight press-fitting
relationship.
As particularly contemplated within the present invention, the
transmission housing 31 is provided with expandable diaphragm
means. In the exemplery embodiment, such diaphragm means comprises
a pin 72 which passes through a suitable aperture 73 generally
centrally located in an expandable diaphragm 74, which may be of
rubber or the like. Diaphragm 74 includes a peripheral downwardly
extending lip portion 75 snap-fitting into a groove 76 of a ring
member 77. Groove 76 may be bevelled on its inner surface.
The transmission housing 12, which may be made up of one or more
parts snap-fitting or otherwise secured together, has its lower end
78 press-fitting or the like into ring member 77. Thus, diaphragm
74 is retained therein by ring member 77 and the lower end 78 of
housing 12.
The lower end 78 of housing 12 includes an upstanding boss 79
centrally mounted on a divider wall 80. Boss 79 has an aperture 81
at its lower end communicating with a passageway 82 at its upper
end. Pin 72 is press-fit at its upper end into apereture 81 and
into a first shaft 83 press-fit or the like in passageway 82 as
indicated by the dotted lines. Divider wall 80 includes a plurality
of spaced openings 84 therein surrounding boss 79.
The reduction gearing means of the transmission means will now be
described. Such means may include a small center gear 85 which is
either press-fit onto shaft 83 or otherwise rotatable therewith.
This gear 85 is in meshing engagement with a first set of a
plurality of larger diameter planetary gears 86 through 88 (See
FIG. 5), three such gears being shown, which are in meshing
engagement with the splined inner surface 89 of transmission
housing 31.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, a plurality of spaced protruberances 90
extend about the outer periphery 91 of transmission housing 31 for
properly aligning the transmission housing 31 within inner housing
12. A plurality of spaced longitudinally extending ribs 92 are
disposed about the inner wall 34 of inner housing 12 below flange
32. These ribs 92 include a first tapered portion 93 for guiding
transmission housing 31 into the upper portion of inner housing 12,
then an abutment portion 94 for stopping the upward movement of
transmission housing 31. In this manner, transmission housing 31
may be quickly and easily properly aligned within and spaced from
the inner wall 31 of inner housing 12 (See also FIG. 5).
The planetary gears 86 through 88 are rotatably carried on pins 95
integral with and depending downwardly from a generally circular
plate 96. Any suitable means may be provided for rotatably mounting
such gears on pins 95 while retaining gears 86 through 88 in their
proper location within transmission housing 31.
A small center gear 97 is carried by the top of plate 96 and
rotatable therewith. Gear 97 is in meshing engagement with a second
set of planetary gears 86 through 88 also in meshing engagement
with splined surface 89. A second plate 96 with pins 98 thereon
carries the second set of gears 86 through 88 as described
hereinabove. A second gear 97 is disposed at the top of plate 96
and in meshing engagement with a third set of planetary gears 86
through 88 also in meshing engagement with splined surface 89.
These latter gears are also rotatably mounted on pins 98 depending
downwardly from top plate 99. Plate 99 thus differs from plate 96
previously described in that no center gear is carried at the top
thereof.
The upper end of transmission housing 31 terminates in a generally
frusto-conically shaped portion 100 having a generally axially and
downwardly extending apertures boss 101 therein. The bottom 102 or
lowermost portion of boss 101 abuts against the upper surface of
plate 99.
A sleeve member 103 is press-fit or the like in a fluid-tight
manner into aperture 104 of boss 101. Sleeve member 103 includes an
axially extending threaded aperture 105 communicating with
passageway 25 in nozzle cap 23. Finally, a threaded bolt 106
extends through passageway 25 and is threaded into aperture 105 for
fixedly connecting the cap 23 to sleeve member 103 and thus to the
transmission housing 31. The slotted head 107 of bolt 106 may be
selectively loosened or tightened, as by means of a screwdriver or
the like.
It can be seen from the foregoing that the various elements carried
by the transmission housing 31, i.e., including rotor 69, diaphragm
74 and the various gears and means for connection thereof can also
be quickly and easily snap-fit together to form a transmission
subassembly for the sprinkler head 10. In addition, the
transmission subassembly is completely sealed off from fluids
entering head 10 through water inlet 14. Further, the previously
described nozzle subassembly (See FIG. 9) can be quickly and easily
coupled to the transmission subassembly via bolt 106.
The assembly of the various components to make up the completed
sprinkler head 10 will not be described. First, spring 48 is
mounted on the outer wall 38a of inner housing 12 and retained at
its lower end in channel 51. Ring member 19 is now placed on
housing 12 above the upper end of spring 48. The spring 48 is
retained within channel 41. Cap 16 is now placed over ring member
19. The disc 35 and ring member 36 are assembled in inner housing
12 as shown in FIG. 1. Elements 22, 23 and 26 are then
pre-assembled as described hereinabove with respect to FIG. 9 to
make up the nozzle subassembly and placed onto the open upper end
of housing 12. The transmission subassembly is also pre-assembled
as previously described. These assemblies may now be connected
together within housing 12 via bolt 106 with disc 35 and ring
member 36 disposed between the subassemblies. The transmission
housing 31 is keyed within inner housing 12 as previously
described. Cup member 61 may now be press-fit into the open bottom
of housing 12 below rotor 69.
Screen member 37 may now be mounted within outer housing 11 and
keyed therein as previously described. The previously completed
nozzle-transmission-cap subassembly may now be inserted into the
screen member-outer housing aub-assembly and keyed therein as
previously described to form the final assembled sprinkler head 10
when cap 16 is threaded onto the top of outer housing 11.
The operation of the assembled sprinkler head 10 will now be
described with respect to FIG. 1. The fluid, such as water, under
pressure enters the bottom of head 10 through inlet 13 as
previously described. The fluid is jetted through openings 68 and
against the inclined blades 70 of rotor 69. The blades 70 are
rotated while the fluid is thrown centrifugally outwardly so that
it rushes up the space formed between the outer wall 91 of the
transmission housing 31 and the inner wall 34 of inner housing 12.
This force acting on housing 12 overcomes the force of spring 48,
causing inner housing 12 to extend to the dotted line position in
FIG. 1 (i.e., the nozzle assembly carried by housing 12 pops-up to
the FIG. 1-dotted line position) with the fluid sprayed out of
passageways 27 as indicated by arrow and the dotted lines. The
resilient ring member 19 prevents dirt or the like from entering
into housing 11. The compression of spring 48 and the portion 50 of
inner housing 12 controls the upward extent of the nozzle assembly
22, 23 and 26.
As soon as nozzle assembly 22, 23 and 26 is clear of cap 16, water
flowing against the inclined blades 70 of rotor 69 rotates first
center gear 85 via connecting pin 81, which in turn actuate the
first set of planetary gears 86 through 88. These gears 86 through
88 in turn rotate the various plates 99 and the transmission
housing 31 and the remaining gears in the gear reduction system all
as previously described. Due to this reduction gear system, the
nozzle assembly 22,23,26, coupled to trasmission housing 31 via
bolt 106, revolves at a reduced rate. In this manner, the rate of
revolution of the nozzle assembly 22,23,26 and thus the amount of
spraying of water from passageways 17 may be controlled. Of course,
the total number, size and location of the gears may be varied
accordingly. For example, although three sets of center gear and
planetary gears have been described, the total number of sets of
gears may vary. Also, the reduction at each stage may be varied.
For example, an 8:1 reduction may exist at each stage. Thus, the
relatively fast rotation of rotor 69 is converted into slow
rotation of nozzle 26 via cap 23.
It is to be understood that, aside from pin 81 and diaphragm 74,
all of the components making up the transmission subassembly may be
made of a suitable plastic material or the like. Such material
permits the snap-fitting of parts as previously described and
results in a relatively inexpensive and durable subassembly.
However, it is desirable to lubricate the inner working parts
(i.e., the various gears) of the transmission subassembly. Thus,
the entire interior of the transmission subassembly may be filled
with a suitable lubricant having a different coefficient of
expansion than the plastic used in manufacturing the transmission
subassembly. That is, the transmission subassembly is vacuum-sealed
with a suitable lubricant. This difference in coeffients is
important because temperature differences between the fluid
entering the head 10 and the ground or the like in which it is
mounted are generally different. Such differences may result in an
expansion of the lubricant with resulting damage to the
transmission subassembly unless a lubricant of a differing
coefficient than the coefficient of the materials of the
transmission subassembly is used.
It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the lip portion 75 of diaphragm 74
forms a bead about its outer edge which fits snugly into the groove
76 of ring member 77. Thus, diaphragm 74, which is resilient and
expandable, may expand with its lip portion 75 retained against the
bevelled lip of groove 76 trapping diaphragm 74 between ring member
77 and the bottom of transmission housing 31. The diaphragm 74 can
thus expand as the lubricant changes its volume.
The disc 35 which is situated below nozzle 26 may be keyed to a
spline 109 on the inner wall 34 of inner housing 12 above flange 32
ss shown in FIG. 1. As also shown in FIG. 1, disc 35 may have an
opening 110 therein so configured as to close off one side of the
passageways 27 while opening the other side. Since disc 35 is keyed
to inner housing 12 and thus remains stationary while nozzle 26
rotates, the pattern of spray may be varied. That is, as the
passageways 27 are rotated over the stationary guide disc 35, the
water enters differing passageways 27 in nozzle 26. Of course,
discs similar to disc 35 with various types of openings therein may
be substituted for disc 35 to obtain any desired spray pattern.
As particularly contemplated within the present invention, sealing
means are provided for sealing the interior of inner housing 12 so
that fluids cannot bypass housing 12 when entering nozzle 26. In
the exemplary embodiment, such sealing means comprises, as shown in
FIG. 8, a ring member 36. Ring member 36 is comprised of a
resilient material and includes a first generally vertically
extending ring portion 111 and an integral generally horizontal
flange portion 112. The intersection of these portions 111 and 112
forms a lip 113 which abuts against the underside of disc 35 as
shown in FIG. 8. However, flange portion 112 extends from lip 113
generally outwardly and downwardly as shown to thus form a space
114 when it is seated on top of flange 32. It can also be seen that
the lip portion 33 of the flange 32 of inner housing 12 is inclined
from the vertical, that is, extends generally downwardly and
outwardly as shown, to form a second space 115 between lip portion
33 and ring portion 111 when ring member 36 is seated as shown.
The foregoing is the normal position of ring member 36 when in its
operative position within inner housing 12. The lip 113 is thus
squeezed under disc 35 and a water-tight seal is created at the
point of contacts 116, 117 and 118. Water pressure on ring member
36 at point of contact 116 causes the ring member 36 to seat;
however, the resiliency of ring member 36, at lip 113 and point of
contact 118, permits a slight amount of up and down travel. That
is, since disc 35 is of metal or the like and nozzle 26 is of
plastic or the like, a problem is encountered in maintaining a seal
between such dissimilar materials. However, ring member 36 acts as
a spring holding disc 35 firmly up against the bottom of nozzle 26.
Even if nozzle 26 wears during use, the ring member 36 bears
against the underside of disc 35 to maintain disc 35 in sealing
engagement with the bottom of nozzle 26. In fact, such seal may
even be improved during wear. The resiliency of ring member 26 and
the aforementioned configuration thereof, together with the
configuration of flange 32 and the spaces formed therebetween,
assist in carrying this out.
Referring now to FIG. 10 wherein like numerals refer to like parts
of the sprinkler head 10 of FIG. 1, outer housing 12 of FIG. 1 may
be modified by providing an outer housing 119 having screw-threads
120 on its outer peripheral bottom thereof. A separate outer
housing bottom portion 121 having an upwardly extending generally
circular portion 122 which screw-threads 123 on the inner periphery
thereof may be screw-threaded onto screw-threads 120. Water inlet
124 having internal threads therein is carried by bottom portion
121 for connection to water supply line 14.
In this embodiment, the cup member 61 of FIG. 1 may also be
modified and, as shown in FIG. 10, is of a unitary construction.
That is, cup member 125 has a lip portion 126 similar to lip
portion 62 and a cylindrical wall 127 similar to wall 64. However,
disc-shaped portion 128 is integral with cylindrical wall 127.
Openings 129 are thus part of portion 128 and formed in the top
generally horizontally extending peripheral wall 130 as shown.
Further, screen member 37 may be eliminated and replaced by a
disc-shaped screen filter 131 (See also FIGS. 11 and 12). As shown
in FIG. 11, filter 131 includes a depressed central portion 132
having a plurality of spaced radially extending ribs 133 on its
upper surface (See also FIG. 10). Filter 131 also includes an outer
portion 134 having a plurality of spaced openings 135. These
openings 135 are generally rectangular, as shown, at the upper
surface of filter 131. However, as shown in FIG. 12, the underside
of outer portion 134 includes a plurality of radially outwardly and
downwardly extending elongated members 136 forming a web. These
members 136 may be generally triangular in cross-section and may
also form generally triangular spaces 137 between adjacent members
136 as clearly shown in FIG. 12. That is, the web tapers from the
point of engagement with central portion 132 to the openings 135 so
that, as can be seen in FIG. 10, if a piece of dirt 138 or the like
enters the web, it is pushed to the outside and water can bypass
the dirt 138 to enter the interior of housing 11 via openings 135
as indicated by arrow 141.
As discussed hereinabove, with respect to FIGS. 1 and 9, as nozzle
cap 23 is rotated, dimple 29 engages dimple 28 on nozzle 26 to also
rotate the same. This engagement directs the spray through
passageways 27 in a more thorough pattern. The openings 139 at the
bottom of nozzle 26 leading into passageways 27 have been
illustrated in FIG. 7 as being generally trapezoidal in
cross-section; however, as shown in FIG. 13, these openings 140 may
be generally rectangular in cross-section, if desired. The
variation in configuration of such openings 139, and 140 enables
one to obtain better control over the disposition of water. The two
configurations described hereinabove are given by way of example
only; obviously, openings 139 and 140 may be triangular, square, or
any other suitable configuration. Further, nozzle 26 has been
described as of unitary construction; however, nozzle 26 may be
comprised of two or more parts secured together in any suitable
manner. In the latter case, various components which include the
openings 139 and 140 leading into passageways 27 may be substituted
as desired.
Thus, referring once again to FIG. 9, nozzle 26 may be comprised of
an upper housing portion 141 and a lower housing portion 142. Upper
housing portion 141 may have a plurality of spaced depending
dimples 143 which fit into a plurality of like spaced apertures 144
on lower housing 142. Passageways 27 have three sides thereof on
upper housing portion 141 which are closed off on their fourth
sides by the inter-engagement of portions 141, 142. The orifices
145 on the outer periphery 26 of upper housing portion 141 are also
closed off by engaement with the margin 146 of lower housing
portion 142. These two portions may be welded together, as by
solvent or sonic means, to obtain the integral nozzle 26 of FIG.
1.
Other than the materials specifically referred to hereinabove, any
suitable materials, such as plastic or the like, may be used
throughout the sprinkler head 10. It can be seen from the foregoing
that I have described an improved sprinkler head having a pop-up
nozzle which head screens out dirt or the like while rotating the
nozzle thereof under reduced speed. The means for rotating the
nozzle is well lubricated and sealed off from the water flowing
through the sprinkler head.
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