Multiple pattern spray nozzle

A multiple pattern spray nozzle for connection to a supply of water under pressure and adjustable to provide a plurality of different spray patterns, said spray nozzle comprising:

• a nozzle housing subassembly including a generally cylindrical nozzle housing having a rearward end defining an inlet fitting for connection to the water supply and a generally open forward end, and a stem unit within said nozzle housing and having a generally cylindrical stem with an open rearward end for receiving water flow through said inlet fitting, said stem further having a substantially closed forward end disposed in spaced relation with said nozzle housing and having at least one radially open flow port formed therein at a position generally adjacent said forward end;
• and
• a faceplate subassembly including a selector ring supported on said nozzle housing in an externally accessible position and axially movable relative to said nozzle housing, a faceplate carried by said selector ring in a position extending generally across the forward end of said nozzle housing, said faceplate having first and second nozzle outlets of different geometry formed therein, an inner flow control sleeve carried by said faceplate in surrounding relation with said first nozzle outlet and extending from said faceplate in surrounding relation with a forweard end portion of said stem, inner seal means carried by said inner flow control sleeve for axially sliding, substantially sealed engagement with said stem, and an outer flow control sleeve carried by said faceplate in surrounding relation with said first and second nozzle outlets and extending from said faceplate into said nozzle housing in spaced relation therewith, said nozzle housing further including a generally cylindrical seal surface and a radially enlarged flow recess formed generally at the forward end of said seal surface, and further including second seal means carried by said outer flow control sleeve for axially sliding, substantially sealed engagement with said seal surface when said faceplate subassembly is in the first and second positions, said faceplate further defining a third nozzle outlet formed therein at a radial position outside said outer flow control sleeve;
• said faceplate subassembly being axially movable with said selector ring as a unit relative to said nozzle housing subassembly between a first position with said inner seal means disposed rearward relative to said stem flow port to permit water flow between said stem and said inner flow control sleeve for discharge through said first nozzle outlet, a second position with said inner seal means disposed forward relative to said stem flow port to permit water flow outside said inner flow control sleeve for discharge through said second nozzle outlet, and a third position with said inner seal means disposed forward of the stem flow port and with the outer seal means disposed forward of said nozzle housing seal surface to permit water flow from said stem outlet port through said nozzle housing flow recess for discharge through said third nozzle outlet.

A multiple pattern spray nozzle for connection to a supply of water and adjustable to provide a plurality of different spray patterns, said spray nozzle comprising:

• a generally cylindrical nozzle housing having an inlet fitting at a rearward end thereof for connection to the water supply, and a diametrically enlarged forward end portion defining a generally cylindrical inner diameter seal surface bordered on the forward end thereof by a radially enlarged, generally annular flow recess, said forward end portion further having external threads formed thereabout;
• a generally cylindrical hollow stem having an open rearward end seated within said inlet fitting for receiving a flow of water from the water supply, said stem extending from said inlet fitting generally coaxially into said forward end portion of said nozzle housing in substantial spaced relation therewith and having a substantially closed forward end, said stem further having at least one radially open flow port formed near said forward end;
• a swirl cap supported generally on the forward end of said stem and extending therefrom generally coaxially therewith in a forward direction, said swirl cap including a generally truncated conical hollow base supported on said stem and defining a swirl chamber and further defining at least one inlet port opening generally tangentially into said swirl chamber, said swirl cap further including a relatively small discharge barrel defining a small bore mist nozzle outlet extending from said swirl chamber in a forward direction, said discharge barrel having a radially enlarged deflector ring formed thereabout;
• a generally annular selector ring having internal threads for threaded engagement with the external threads about said forward end portion of said nozzle housing, said selector ring being rotatably and axially movable relative to said nozzle housing;
• a generally circular faceplate supported generally at the forward end of said selector ring for movement therewith and generally overlying the forward end of said nozzle housing, said faceplate having formed therein a soaker flow nozzle outlet defined by an outer annular array of relatively large soaker flow channels, a shower spray nozzle outlet defined by an inner annular array of relatively small shower spray openings, and a central conical nozzle outlet of generally truncated conical shape;
• an inner flow control sleeve carried by said faceplate in surrounding relation with said conical nozzle outlet, said inner flow control sleeve extending into said nozzle housing in generally concentric spaced relation relative to said stem;
• means forming a generally cylindrical jet nozzle outlet generally at the rearward end of said conical nozzle outlet;
• means forming a valve seat carried by said first flow control sleeve at the rearward end of said jet nozzle outlet for substantially sealed engagement with said swirl cap base at a position forward relative to said inlet port therein;
• first seal means carried by said inner flow control sleeve for substantially sealed, axially sliding engagement with said stem;
• an outer flow control sleeve carried by said faceplate generally radially between said shower and soaker flow nozzle outlets, said outer flow control sleeve extending into said nozzle housing in radially spaced relation with said forward end portion thereof and with said inner flow control sleeve;
• and
• second seal means carried by said outer flow control sleeve for substantially sealed, axially sliding engagement with said seal surface;
• said selector ring being rotatable about said nozzle housing to a first position with said valve seat seated upon said swirl cap base and with said first seal means engaging said stem rearward relative to said stem flow port and with said second seal means engaging said seal surface to permit water flow through said stem flow port between said inner flow control sleeve and said stem into said swirl chamber for discharge through said mist nozzle outlet as a substantially mist spray pattern;
• said selector ring being rotatable about said nozzle housing to a second position with said valve seat spaced forward from said swirl cap base and with said first seal means in an rearward position relative to said stem flow port and said second seal means in engagement with said seal surface to permit water flow from said stem flow port through said jet nozzle outlet and further through said conical nozzle outlet, said deflector ring being disposed within said conical nozzle outlet to deflect the water flow into a generally conical spray pattern;
• said selector ring being rotatable to a third position about said nozzle housing with said first seal means rearward relative to said stem outlet port and with said second seal means engaged with said seal surface and with said deflector ring disposed generally within said jet nozzle outlet in closed spaced relation therewith to permit water flow therethrough in a narrow profile jet spray pattern;
• said selector ring being rotatable to a fourth position about said nozzle housing with said first seal means shifted to a forward position relative to said stem flow port and said second seal means engaged with said seal surface, said first seal means diverting water flow from said stem flow port to the exterior of said inner flow control sleeve for discharge through said shower spray nozzle outlet with a shower spray pattern geometry;
• said selector ring being rotatable further to a fifth position about said nozzle housing with said first seal means in a forward position relative to said stem flow port and with said second seal means in a forward position relative to said seal surface to permit water flow additionally about said outer flow control sleeve through said flow recess for discharge through said soaker flow nozzle outlet with a generous low-force soaker flow spray pattern.