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US 2020/0047195 A1Published application
Serviceable sprinkler with nutating distribution plate and wear ring
AssigneeSenninger Irrigation, Inc.
InventorMark Healy
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, a stem supported by a bearing, and a contact portion upstream of the distribution plate to contact an outer race that limits a range of movement of the distribution plate. The sprinkler assembly can be disassembled and reassembled with minimal tools and effort for servicing.
Claims20
A sprinkler assembly comprising:
- a water inlet;
- a frame connected to the water inlet;
- a nozzle in fluid communication with the water inlet and positioned downstream of the water inlet, the nozzle configured to direct water out of the nozzle along a nozzle axis;
- a bearing positioned downstream of the nozzle and supported by the frame;
- and
- a deflector assembly between the nozzle and the bearing and supported by the bearing, the deflector assembly including:
- a distribution plate configured to deflect water from the nozzle, the distribution plate positioned downstream of the nozzle,
- an upper wear ring support having one or more arms connected to the distribution plate, the one or more arms extending upstream from the distribution plate,
- a wear ring removably positioned on the upper wear ring support such that the wear ring is positioned downstream of the water inlet and upstream of the distribution plate;
- and
- an outer race connected to the frame and at least partially surrounding the wear ring, the wear ring having one or more surfaces configured to contact an inner surface of the outer race,
- wherein:
- the deflector assembly is configured to move with respect to the nozzle axis in one or both of a rotational and a tilting direction;
- the bearing is configured to bear substantially all of a weight of the deflector assembly;
- and
- the outer race limits a tilting motion of the deflector assembly.
13 more elements
A sprinkler assembly comprising:
- a water inlet;
- a frame connected to the water inlet;
- a nozzle in fluid communication with the water inlet and positioned downstream of the water inlet, the nozzle configured to direct water out of the nozzle along a nozzle axis;
- a deflector assembly downstream of the nozzle, the deflector assembly comprising:
- a distribution plate configured to deflect water from the nozzle, and
- a stem extending from a side of the distribution plate facing away from the nozzle and terminating at a free end,
- a bearing supported by the frame and contacting a concave surface of the stem at the free end of the stem;
- and
- an outer cover coupled to the frame, the outer cover comprising an inner surface configured to contact a contact portion of the deflector assembly, the contact portion positioned upstream of the distribution plate;
- wherein:
- the deflector assembly is configured to move with respect to the nozzle axis in one or both of a rotational and a tilting direction;
- the bearing is configured to bear substantially all of a weight of the deflector assembly;
- and
- the outer race limits a tilting motion of the deflector assembly.
11 more elements
A method of providing irrigation using a sprinkler assembly so that water is dispersed in different directions, the method comprising:
- receiving water at a predetermined pressure at an inlet of the sprinkler assembly;
- directing water from the inlet through a nozzle positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the inlet, the water exiting the nozzle along a nozzle axis and impinging a distribution plate of a deflector assembly of the sprinkler assembly, the distribution plate positioned downstream of the nozzle and at a first angular position relative to the nozzle axis;
- dispersing water out of the sprinkler assembly in a first direction through one or more curved grooves on a side of the distribution plate facing the nozzle, wherein the distribution plate rotates and/or translates to a second angular position relative to the nozzle axis as water impinges the distribution plate, wherein a contact portion of the deflector assembly contacts an inner surface of an outer race of the sprinkler assembly during movements of the distribution plate to operably limit ranges of movements of the distribution plate, the outer race and the contact portion positioned upstream of the distribution plate;
- and
- dispersing water out of the sprinkler assembly in a second direction through the one or more curved grooves of the distribution plate at the second angular position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.