Sprinkler apparatus and related methods
OwnerDonald Olsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a sprinkler apparatus and related methods for the distribution of fluid. The invention preferably includes a nozzle rotatably driven by a pressurized flow of fluid along a fluid path. The invention preferably includes a housing separating a magnetic drag coupling assembly from the fluid path. The coupling assembly preferably includes spaced apart magnets configured to exert an attractive force on each other to rotate one magnet in response to the rotation of the other magnet, and a resistive/drag force to oppose the continuous rotation of the nozzle. Pressure offsetting structures minimize or even neutralize the upward/downward forces that the flowing fluid otherwise would exert on the rotating shaft assembly.
Claims29
A sprinkler, comprising:
- a nozzle having a fluid path formed between an inlet and an outlet, the nozzle rotatably driven by a pressurized flow of fluid along the fluid path;
- and
- a housing separating a magnetic drag coupling assembly from the fluid path, the magnetic drag coupling assembly configured to exert a drag force in opposition to the fluid flow force rotating the nozzle.
A sprinkler, comprising:
- a housing having a magnetic drag coupling assembly, the coupling assembly including at least one reactionary and at least one drive magnet rotatably positioned in the housing, the driver magnet being attached to a nozzle portion of the sprinkler and positioned so as to exert an attractive force on the reactionary magnet, said reactionary magnet being positioned within said housing have imposed upon it a drag force opposing rotation of the nozzle.
A sprinkler, comprising:
- a nozzle having a fluid path formed between an inlet and an outlet, the nozzle rotatably driven by a pressurized flow of fluid along the fluid path;
- and
- a housing separating a magnetic drag coupling assembly from the fluid path, the magnetic drag coupling assembly having spaced apart magnets configured to exert an attractive force on each other to rotate one magnet in response to rotation of the other magnet, said housing further including a material positioned to exert a resistive force on one of the magnets to provide a braking force against free rotation of the nozzle.
A sprinkler comprising:
- a rotation control assembly comprised of magnets positioned to exert an attractive force on each other to rotate one magnet in response to rotation of the other magnet, and a resistive force to oppose rotation of the nozzle.
A pressure offset mechanism for use in irrigation, including a first element positioned within a second element, said first element configured to facilitate flow of an irrigation fluid therethrough and having a downstream portion that crosses at least a portion of the fluid flow path, a plug and seal structure distal and upstream from said downstream portion, an inlet flow for the irrigation fluid into the first element located intermediate the downstream portion and the plug and seal structure, said plug and seal structure providing a cross-sectional area exposed to the fluid pressure which area is generally equal to the cross-sectional area upon which the fluid pressure acts on the downstream portion of the tube, so that the pressure exerted by the fluid flowing through the first element is applied to approximately the same effective cross-sectional area in both directions.
A sprinkler assembly method, comprising the steps of:
- providing a nozzle, a rotor assembly including a central rotor shaft having a fluid flow path formed therethrough, a rotation control assembly comprised of magnets positioned to exert an attractive force on each other to rotate one magnet in response to rotation of the other magnet, and a resistive force to oppose rotation of the nozzle, and a rotor housing adapted to receive the rotor assembly and the rotation control assembly;
- receiving the rotor assembly within the rotor housing;
- operatively affixing the rotation control assembly to the outside of the central rotor shaft;
- and
- positioning the nozzle on the rotor housing to secure the structural relationship between the rotor assembly, the rotor housing, and the rotation control assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.