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US 12,582,998 B2Granted
Serviceable sprinkler with nutating distribution plate
AssigneeHunter Agriculture Incorporated
InventorGregory S. Burcham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sprinkler assembly with a nutating distribution plate can improve even distribution of water. The distribution plate can tilt and/or translate upon water impinging the distribution plate to disperse water in different directions. The sprinkler assembly can have a deflector assembly including the distribution plate and a spindle supported by a starter cap.
Claims14
A sprinkler assembly comprising:
- an inlet configured to receive water;
- a bracket supported by the inlet;
- a nozzle in fluid communication with the inlet and positioned downstream of the inlet, the nozzle being configured to direct the water out of the nozzle along an axis;
- a shaft positioned downstream of the nozzle and supported by the bracket;
- a bearing surface on a distal end of the shaft;
- a deflector assembly configured to move with respect to the axis in one or both of a rotational and a tilting direction, the deflector assembly comprising:
- a distribution plate positioned downstream of the nozzle and configured to deflect water from the nozzle,
- a spindle extending from a side of the distribution plate facing away from the nozzle,
- a starter cap disposed between the bearing surface of the shaft and the spindle, and
- a bearing insert supported by the spindle, the bearing insert comprising a lower bearing surface,
- wherein the starter cap is sized and shaped to independently articulate with respect to both the shaft and the spindle at least during a startup of the sprinkler assembly, and wherein the starter cap comprises an outer bearing surface contacting the lower bearing surface at least during the startup.
8 more elements
A sprinkler assembly comprising:
- an inlet;
- a bracket connected to the inlet;
- a nozzle in fluid communication with the inlet and positioned downstream of the inlet, the nozzle configured to direct water out of the nozzle along a nozzle axis;
- a deflector assembly downstream of the nozzle and configured to move with respect to the nozzle axis in one or both of a rotational and a tilting direction about a pivot point, the deflector assembly comprising:
- a distribution plate configured to deflect water from the nozzle,
- a spindle extending from a side of the distribution plate facing away from the nozzle and terminating at a distal end, the distal end comprising a receptacle,
- a bearing insert disposed in the receptacle, and
- a starter cap disposed in the bearing insert;
- a shaft positioned downstream of the nozzle and supported by the bracket;
- and
- a bearing surface on a distal end of the shaft and contacting the starter cap at least during a startup of the sprinkler assembly,
- wherein the starter cap is sized and shaped to independently articulate with respect to both the shaft and the spindle at least during the startup of the sprinkler assembly.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.