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US 6,186,413 B1Granted
Debris tolerant inlet control valve for an irrigation sprinkler
AssigneeAnthony Manufacturing Corp.
InventorKenneth L. Lawson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeAnthony Manufacturing Corp.
InventorKenneth L. Lawson
Estimating the term…
An improved inlet control valve is provided for controlling water inflow to an irrigation sprinkler, wherein the inlet control valve exhibits improved tolerance to passage of small grit and debris. The inlet control valve includes a valve member normally engaging a valve seat to prevent water inflow to the irrigation sprinkler, and adapted for movement to a modulated open position to permit water inflow to the sprinkler at a regulated pressure. The valve member carries a flow restrictor disposed upstream from the valve seat to produce, when the valve member is in the open position, a first pressure drop which cooperates with a second pressure drop between the valve seat and valve member to regulate the water inflow pressure. The inclusion of the upstream flow restrictor and the associated first pressure drop effectively reduces the magnitude of the second pressure drop across the valve seat and thereby permits the valve member to open with an increased clearance relative to the valve seat. Such increased clearance enhances flush flow passage of grit and debris past the valve seat, with reduced risk of particulate entrapment between the valve member and valve seat.
In an irrigation sprinkler having a sprinkler case defining a hollow interior and an inlet fitting for water inflow from a water supply source into said case interior, an inlet control valve including a valve member movable relative to a valve seat between a closed position preventing water inflow into said case interior and an open position permitting water inflow into said case interior at a regulated pressure, and a water-powered sprinkler mechanism mounted within said case interior for delivering irrigation water to a surrounding terrain area when said valve member is in said open position, the improvement comprising:
An irrigation sprinkler, comprising:
In an irrigation sprinkler having a sprinkler case defining a hollow interior and an inlet fitting for water inflow from a water supply source into said case interior, and an inlet control valve including a valve member movable between closed and open positions relative to a valve seat for controlling water inflow to the sprinkler, the improvement comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.