US 4,787,558 AGranted

Rotary drive sprinkler

AssigneeRain Bird Consumer Products Mfg. Corp.

InventorsTimothy C. Sexton, George H. Lockwood, David E. Robertson, Joseph D. Mason, Mark J. Mattson, Robert W. Patterson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An improved rotary drive sprinkler is provided for rotatably driving a pop-up spray head in a stepwise manner through a full-circle or reversibly within a selected part-circle path. The sprinkler includes a reversing trip mechanism having a pair of spaced-apart stops rotatable with the spray head and defining preset end limits of a part-circle path, wherein a stationary trip wire is engageable with the stops to switch an internal rotary drive assembly, such as a ball drive assembly, between forward- and reverse-drive operation. The trip wire flexes to accommodate forced spray head rotation to a maladjusted position beyond the end limits and, upon subsequent sprinkler operation, rides over ramped surfaces on the stops for automatic return to reversible operation between the preset end limits. Alternatively, the stops can be set in side-by-side relation with their ramped surfaces oriented for the trip wire to ride resiliently thereover without switching of the rotary drive assembly. Positional adjustment of the stops is performed quickly and easily from the exterior of the sprinkler after which a vandal-resistant lock device can be installed to prevent inadvertent or unauthorized stop adjustment. In addition, flow of irrigation water through the sprinkler is regulated to obtain improved control over spray head rotational speed irrespective of water pressure and spray head nozzle size.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A rotary drive sprinkler, comprising:

a sprinkler housing adapted for connection to a supply of irrigation water;
a rotary drive assembly including a drive sleeve and means for rotatably driving said drive sleeve generally about a central axis thereof;
a spray head on said drive sleeve and including a nozzle for discharge passage of a stream of water from the sprinkler, said spray head being rotatably driven along with said drive sleeve for moving said stream of water through a prescribed arcuate path;
reverse means for reversing the direction of rotation of said drive sleeve, said reverse means including first and second stops rotatably carried with said drive sleeve, said second stop being releasably carried with respect to said first stop, and trip means engageable with said first and second stops for reversing the direction of rotational driving of said drive sleeve upon engagement with one of said first and second stops;
said drive sleeve being movable between a normal operating position and an adjustment position;
means for releasing said second stop relative to said first stop and for locking said second stop against rotation with said drive sleeve when said drive sleeve is in said adjustment position, said drive sleeve and said first stop being thereupon rotatable relative to said second stop to adjust the arcuate spacing between said first and second stops;
and
said first stop being carried by a drive ring rotatable with said drive sleeve and said second stop being carried by a trip ring releasably carried by said drive ring, and further including means supporting said drive sleeve and drive ring for movement relative to said rotary drive assembly between said normal operating position with said trip ring rotating with said drive ring and said adjustment position with said trip ring locked against rotation with said drive ring, said drive sleeve and said drive ring being rotatable relative to said trip ring when in said adjustment position to adjust the arcuate spacing between said first and second stops.

5 more elements

A rotary drive sprinkler, comprising:

sprinkler housing means adapted for connection to a supply of irrigation water;
a spray head for spraying irrigation water outwardly therefrom;
a rotary drive assembly within said housing means for rotatably driving said spray head in a succession of small rotational steps;
reverse means for reversing the direction of driving of said spray head, said reverse means including a first stop rotatable with said spray head, a second stop, means for mounting sid second stop for rotation with said spray head and said first stop, said second stop mounting means being releasable to permit relative rotation between said first and second stops, a trip member engageable with said first and second stops for switching said rotary drive assembly respectively between forward- and reverse-drive modes of operation;
means for supporting said spray head for movement relative to said housing means, betwen a normal operating position with said second stop rotating with said first stop and an adjustment position with said second stop released from rotation with said first stop, said spray head and said first stop being rotatable relative to said second stop when in said adjustment position to adjust the arcuate spacing between said stops;
and
interengageable lock means ooperating between said housing means and said second stop for locking said second stop against rotation with said first stop and said spray head when said spray head is in said adjustment position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/041,661Filed 20 Apr 1987 · division
Priority: 16 May 1985
Granted: 29 Nov 1988
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B05B 15/74
Using hydraulic or pneumatic means: driven by the discharged fluid
B05B 1/0856
Rotated by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. liquid rotated turbines: the pulsating mechanism comprising movable balls
B05B 3/16
With oscillating elements; with intermittent operation: driven or controlled by the liquid or other fluent material discharged, e.g. the liquid…
B05B
Spraying apparatus