# US 4,391,410 A · Sprinkler with transversely mounted splash plate

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- Number: US 4,391,410 A
- Document ID: US4391410A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/248,959
- Filed: 1981-03-30
- Granted: 1983-07-05
- Earliest claimed: 1981-03-30
- Inventors: Allan L. Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4391410A

## CPC

- B05B 1/265: {the liquid or other fluent material being symmetrically deflected about the axis of the nozzle}
- A01G 25/023: {Dispensing fittings for drip irrigation, e.g. drippers}
- B05B 15/658: the spraying apparatus or its outlet axis being perpendicular to the flow conduit
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)

## Abstract

A sprinkler having a body with a fluid receiving portion, having a cutting edge deployed to cut out a portion of a conduit during installation thereon to receive the fluid receiving portion, and an opposite fluid discharging portion; an arm mounted on the fluid discharging portion of the body; and a splash plate removably mounted on the arm in spaced relation to and in alignment with the fluid discharging portion for deflecting a fluid stream impinging thereupon from the fluid discharging portion into a predetermined pattern.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sprinkler comprising a body having a fluid passage extending therethrough and communicating with the exterior thereof for the release of a fluid stream therefrom substantially along a predetermined axis, an arm mounted on the body having a portion defining a track disposed in substantially right angular relation to said axis, a splash plate having a predetermined impact point for contact by said fluid stream when the splash plate is in an operating position and a mount engageable with the portion of the arm defining the track for movement of the splash plate along the track to carry said impact point along a path substantially intersecting said axis, and means for interlocking the splash plate and the arm in fixed position relative to each other when said impact point is in substantial coincidence with said axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein said interlocking means includes portions borne by the arm and the splash plate adapted for snap fitted engagement when the splash plate reaches said operating position during said movement of the splash plate along the track.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein contact of the fluid stream on the impact point of the splash plate forms a spray pattern, the arm has a portion interconnecting the body and the portion of the arm defining the track, and a member is mounted on the splash plate in a position to extend in juxtaposition to said interconnecting portion when the splash plate is in said operating position and between the interconnecting portion of the arm and said axis to deflect fluid about the interconnecting portion of the arm in such a manner as to minimize disruption of said spray pattern.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the splash plate mounts a plurality of vanes thereon spaced from each other and substantially equidistant from said impact point, said vanes having substantially blade-like edges nearest the impact point and substantially parallel to said axis when the splash plate is in said operating position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The sprinkler of claim 4 wherein the impact point of the splash plate forms the apex of a substantially conical surface extending from said apex and to said blade-like edges of the vanes forming acute angles with respect thereto.

### Claim 6

A sprinkler for forming a predetermined spray pattern comprising:
A. a body having a mounting portion, an opposite discharge portion and a fluid passage extending through the body from the mounting portion to the discharge portion and communicating with the exterior of the body in the discharge portion through an orifice adapted to release fluid under pressure therefrom in a fluid jet substantially along a predetermined path;
B. an arm mounted on the body having a first portion extending endwardly from the discharge portion off set relative to said predetermined path and a second portion extending through said predetermined path in substantially right angular relation thereto and in spaced relation to the orifice and having oppositely extending shoulders;
C. a splash plate having a mount with a passage therein dimensioned to receive the shoulders of the second portion of the arm to permit sliding movement of the mount along said second portion of the arm for moving the splash plate to an operating position, a predetermined fluid jet contact position thereon for impingement thereagainst by said fluid jet when the splash plate is in said operating position, and a plurality of fluid vanes spaced from each other and having substantially blade-like edges facing and substantially equidistant from said contact position, said blade-like edges being substantially parallel to the predetermined path of the fluid jet when the splash plate is in said operating position; and
D. means borne by the splash plate and the arm for releasably interlocking when the splash plate reaches said operating position substantially precisely to position said contact position thereof and the vanes relative to the predetermined path of the fluid jet to form said predetermined spray pattern.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The sprinkler of claim 6 wherein said predetermined spray pattern is composed of substantially discrete, radially projecting fluid streams and the vanes are substantially wedge-shaped in cross section extending from their respective blade-like edges to separate fluid impinging on said contact position and radially deflected thereby against the vanes into substantially discrete fluid streams individually formed by passage between adjoining vanes.

### Claim 8

A sprinkler adapted to form a predetermined spray pattern comprising a body having a fluid passage extending therethrough and communicating with the exterior thereof for the release of a fluid stream therefrom substantially along a predetermined axis, an arm mounted on the body having a plate mounting portion disposed in substantially right angular relation to said axis, a plate having a surface for contact by said fluid stream when the plate is in an operating position and a mount engageable with said plate mounting portion of the arm for movement of the plate along the plate mounting portion to carry said surface along a path substantially intersecting said axis, and means for terminating said movement of the plate along the mounting portion of the arm and fixing said plate relative thereto when said surface is in substantial alignment with said axis whereby said fluid stream directed against the surface forms said spray pattern.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The sprinkler of claim 8 wherein said surface of the plate has a predetermined impact point for contact by said fluid stream when the plate is in said operating position and said terminating means terminates said movement of the plate along the mounting portion of the arm and fixes the plate thereto when said impact point is in substantial coincidence with said axis of the fluid stream.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The sprinkler of claim 8 wherein the arm has an interconnecting portion extending between the plate mounting portion of the arm and the body of the sprinkler and a member is mounted on a side of the plate having the surface and in position to extend in juxtaposition to said interconnecting portion of the arm when the plate is in said operating position to divert fluid about the interconnecting portion of the arm so as to minimize disruption of said spray pattern.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The sprinkler of claim 8 wherein a plurality of vanes are mounted on a side of the plate having said surface spaced from each other and having blade-like edges facing said surface with portions thereof substantially parallel to said axis of the fluid stream when the plate is in said operating position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The sprinkler of claim 8 for installation on a perforable conduit wherein said body has a fluid receiving portion remote from the plate mounting portion of the arm with a cutting edge circumscribing the distal end of said fluid receiving portion to cut a hole in the perforable conduit by removing a portion thereof to receive the fluid receiving portion of the body.